Back up and running again. Kicker arrived with a broken foot, the large one at the back so needed to wait for a replacement. Then i stoopidly sent back the shim and had to wait for that along with the foot (i ride an 8-speed).
it sounds different from the 2017 model i had, not bad, just different, i'm sure the pawls are just of a different material.
good to be back up and running now that the really crappy weather is here. it was 17F this morning and my car has no heat and is a rag top to boot. brrr.