I've been reading post after post on this site and let me say you guys are dedicated and knowlagable bunch, as i posted earlier i am looking for a 'berg to pair up with my HP2 so i can run some tighter trails. I have been offered a 550 which has been raced, it's 15 months old but the price is okay, it's a '05 and i can get it for $6k ozzie. Now i don't mind ex race machinery because it means it has been constantly maintained, it has 4500k's, and needs some cosmetic work,.............question is it worth taking the gamble on this bike or are the possible problems on '05 550's not worth the risk. I do enjoy working on my bikes and i have nothing in the garage at the moment that needs work........i'm boared.......what do you think?? :?: