just to add to this im down in the southwest and regulary ride over the mendip hills witch can be very hard on the suspention but iv done nearly 5k on my 749r and my sump plug is untouched, a mate of mine has a 04 999r and his sump plug is gauged badly, the difference between the bikes? his suspension is standard settings and in my opinion very soft while i have mine set very hard and have set the sag for my weight and leathers could it be for deff a suspension proplem rather than a design proplem ie how far the sump hangs down if u get my drift. | 