Mrtwisty

That’s my last resort, I’m starting cheap and building up! 

Has anybody fitted adjustable footrests? If so, what and where from. I don’t want rearsets, I can’t be bothered to phuck around with the quickshifter.
I find that the way I’m forced to sit on the bike has an… unpleasant… effect on the blood flow to my nether regions. I’m wondering if changing the footrest position might be part of it. 

Well, finally caved and gave it to my wife. Took her 30 seconds as it was open. I’ve been trying for weeks. phucking unbelievable! 🤣🤣

2 hours ago, daboo said:

I just bought a F900 XR, so I've joined the chain gang.  After looking at a lot of different oilers on the market, this is what I ended up buying.

GIDIBII Motorcycle Chain Lubricator Oiler Auto Hand Control Motorbike Oil Cup Part (Black)

It works on a very simple principle.  Fill the cup with your favorite oil.  Twist the cap a quarter turn every few hundred miles and your chain is oiled.  No vacuum hoses, electrical connections or wind to complicate the issue.

The jury is still out on how well it works, but so far I'm pleased.

Chris

 

Yeah, I’ve had one of those on my desk for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately I can’t undo it to fit or fill it. I’m normally pretty good at opening stuff, and I’ve tried a range of chemical solutions, but no luck. It was apparently done up by the Chinese Tom Stoltman. A trip to the old man’s vice may be in order. 

45 minutes ago, thanks4thefish said:

I considered another Scotoiler for my FJ09 but learned about DuPont Chain Saver Wax Based Lubricant and found that so easy and quick I did not install the oiler 

I can clean AND lube in under 2 minutes but do have a 18x6 piece of dirty cardboard to deal with that drips off the chain I clean every 300 or so miles. Does not fling nor attract dirt, repels water. Love it.
 

not trying to start a chain lube war just my experience 

YMMV

 

Not available in the UK, unfortunately. There are other wax based lubricants, though. I may have a look at some of those, although a Chinese knock off cobra oiler is cheaper than any of the chain lubes on Amazon…

Thanks, folks. I’m leaning towards one of those myself, I’ve had scottoilers and Tuturos, or however you spell it! Both were good, but both not cheap. I looked at the Motobriiz too, but I’m very dubious about the whole ‘wind-powered’ aspect. 
 

I think I shall be on eBay or Ali express this afternoon looking for a ‘cobra’ oiler. 

Preach. Single sided swingers are excellent. Make chains easier if you have to have one.

Morning.

Do any of you beautiful people use a chain oiler, and if so, which one do you use?

I have tried a few on different bikes but then went for the ultimate chain oiler, a shaft. I'm now a bit out of the loop, so what would you recommend? I'm not going to spend a fortune, so budget is definitely a consideration. I work from home now, so the bike's a luxury!

While I'm here, anyone tried Kenda KM1 ST tyres? Just curious. Thanks! 

Back to BMW for me. Maybe an S1000XR, most likely another GSA. 1250 I think. The boost in mid  range over the 1200 was noticeable. The thing putting me off the XR is the same thing that nearly stopped me buying the Tracer. Bloody chains. I phucking hate chains.

One thing that has just occurred on conversation with my wife. About 15 years ago I had a TDM850 which I loved, but needed about an extra 35bhp, or a touch more. That would have been my ideal bike, and I think this is what I was looking for.
 

That got swapped for an FJ1200, then an FJR1300, Hayabusa, Multistrada, Hayabusa, R1200GSA, Tracer. It feels a bit like I’ve come full circle, but with that extra power and a bit more ability. The TDM was the first bike I took to Cadwell Park. Good times, good memories. 

Probably should have updated this really! I’ve had her for a couple of weeks, managed to put about 750 miles on her and she is an absolute belter! Way quicker than I expected, quicker than the GSA over short ish distances, not as quick anything over about 100 miles.

Handling is good, the guy that had her before used her 2 up with luggage so even at my 125kg in gear I’ve needed to soften the suspension a touch. It’s not the magic carpet that the GSA was, but very few things are. 

The engine is a peach, and the induction roar is addictive. My Hayabusas used to sound furious when you opened the throttle, this just sounds happy to be there! 🤣

I’m unconvinced about the tyres. Metzeler Roadtec, or something. They feel heavy and reluctant to change direction. I’ve fiddled with pressures to no avail so they will hopefully be going soon. Not sure what to replace them with. Toss-up between Dunlop Mutants and Pirelli Road 35’s, or whatever number we’re on. The Mutants look cooler, so they may be the choice. 😎
 

Other than that, I think I’ll just ride her as much as I can before the really horrible weather sets in. Now I have the luxury of not having to commute every day I shall allow myself to be a bit more of a fair weather rider. I don’t need to go out in -8c any more, so I won’t. 

I have decided that, as the ref number starts “KY69” she needs a stripper name. Ladies and Gentlemen, please say hello to Roxy Star-Twinkle. 

Well, I’ve pulled the trigger. Even better finance than I’d dated hope, £70 pcm, which seems ridiculous, but there you go. Just go to to wait for it to go through the workshop/MOT now. I am quite excited. 

46 minutes ago, JP3RKS said:

Seems like I'm swimming the opposite direction here.

Had a 2016 FJ09 for a couple years now... but this 2016 R1200GS caught my eye. Plus I've wanted to have a bit more flexibility for the dirt...

(FJ for sale if anyone is looking. Located in Los Angeles.)

So it. Awesome bikes, just absolutely brilliant, you won’t regret it. 

£6500, or, more importantly, £91 pcm! 14k miles, FSH, most of the mods I’d do already done, fingers crossed for tomorrow.  

On 8/14/2023 at 3:45 AM, PhotoAl said:

Something I neglected to mention in my previous post in this thread is heat.  All motorcycles make heat, some cook the rider and some do not.  I found my Tracer 900 GT to be a very cool bike.  Well if it was 95F it was going to be warm but the bike didn't add to with with engine or radiator heat coming back on the rider.  I've had bikes that did and it is not fun to be riding in 90+F temperatures at interstate speeds and feel like there is a hair dryer on high pointed at parts of your body!  On the Tracer 900 GT my feet didn't get hot from the engine either.  Now if it was 95F and I was stuck in stop and go traffic it would be toasty and when the radiator cooling fan kicked on I was going to feel it, I can live with that because when the traffic opens up I'll be able to cool off in the breeze.  Ive ridden in up to 106F and that for hours while wearing full gear including an airbag vest.  Had to drink lots of fluids and was hot but the bike didn't add to it.

Don’t ever ride a Hayabusa. Not a gen 1 anyway. They will cook your balls like nobody’s business. Worth it, though!

I hope that link works, I hate photophuckit. 

So I slapped a reservation deposit on this thing today, going for a look tomorrow, probably gonna buy it! https://photobucket.com/u/mrtwisty76/a/9590da25-d747-4f1a-9388-0c14dd3dcac9/p/0d67b538-149f-4102-9b3e-b3840d4c9f75

More good stuff, thank you all. 

22 hours ago, texscottyd said:

😳

How did you not end up in orbit over The Mountain?  

I sat on the tank and clenched! 
 

It helped that I had a serious moment in Hall Bends a few years prior and never really got my mojo back completely, so I was a bit ginger anyway. 

I had an FJR before the 2 Hayabusas and the Multistrada, and the GS. great bike, but I wanted it to be something it wasn’t. That was confirmed on a trackday at Cadwell Park. No matter the Ohlins, the power commander, the flat bars, all the other farkles, it was never going to work, so, Hayabusa. Now that was fun at Cadwell! Made the straights shorter. And not straight. 

I'm very aware that forums (fora?) are usually only full of the negative, which is one of the reasons I asked here. Loads of you guys actually seem to like the bikes. Coming from the world of the GS, this is new. 

Lovely stuff, guys. Thanks. I shall search for the 'gronk'.

Looking at a couple of other forums I'm a bit worried about the suspension, TBH. I'm used to the 'magic carpet' of that big BM so the comments about poor suspension are a bit of a concern. I'm not too bothered about the drop in power, but the drop in torque worries me a bit. Have to get used to revving an engine again! 

I don't commute to work any more, except for a once a month jaunt down to Bristol for a commercial meeting, so I won't be doing the 18-25k miles a year I did on the GSA, probably 4-6,000. Buying cars is so much easier than this. 

Hello. I'm looking at getting a Tracer 900GT, probably a 2019/20 and just want to know what I should look out for on a good one, any problems with them I need to cure straight away? Bit about me. I'm coming from a 2014 BMW R1200GSA which saved my riding. December 2016 I was knocked off my Hayabusa and broke my back.

When it came time to ride again, I rebuilt the 'busa and got on it. 20 minutes later I couldn't feel my left foot. I thought that was me done with bikes till my old man threw me the keys to his GS and I took it for a quick spin around the block. 2 hours later, when I came back, I knew I needed a GS. Which hurt. A lot. (I got taken home from the hospital in a Watsonian Squire chair attached to an R80/7. I've been fighting off BMW's ever since!).

So. I've had my final back op, the rusted heap that was a GSA is gone from the drive, and I need a new bike. my heart says MT10 or S1000XR or R, my head says Tracer 900GT. My wife also says Tracer 900GT because it's a bit less GAAAAARGHRGRHHRG!


Also I understand there is broad agreement across the forum on the best screen, tyres, and oil to use? Fascinating!

Edit: Just thinking, I'm lying to you all already! My heart, and other parts of my anatomy, say Hayabusa, but I tried to sit on one the other day and there was a strange cracking noise and I got a blinding headache. When I got off my wife was rubbing her hand like it hurt, but they can't be linked, can they?