DavidS

I have taken my bike to a motorcycle suspension shop to have mine adjusted, but I didn't replace any of the parts or fork internals. It did improve the ride significantly, and I'm sure if I had replaced parts it would be even better. But, cost was an issue and in the end, I'm very happy with the performance after the changes.

I have used the Madstad screens since I have been riding the FJ-09 and Tracer many years ago. I think they are well made and effective. But not pretty....... But I guess that is in the eye of the buyer now isn't it.........

No question, Advanced Rider Courses will make you a better rider, but you should be prepared to drop your bike during the class. You can sometimes rent a bike and use theirs, but your skills will improve more if you are riding your own bike. Certainly add protective gear to protect the bike in the event of a fall. If you really don't like the protection, you can remove the gear after the class. As one instructor told me, if you aren't falling, you aren't learning......

Well that is a subjective thing to define. It is a triple, which does lend it to be a bit rumbly, but I frequently ride long distances (ie cross country) and I have never found it to be uncomfortable or difficult to ride long distances. A test drive should be able to help you assess the vibration level. But remember, it's not a Harley, it is a modern motorcycle built in Japan (and France I think)

The shop used the oil from their drum, I replaced it with Rotella T6 as soon as I got home.

When I was in Seattle, it was cold in the winter and the bike didn't get out much due to the snow and cold. I did keep it on a tender, but new batteries are less than $100, so I just replace them after 2 years and keep my peace of mind.....

I agree, on my tracer 900 GT I just drove it home and changed the oil. Of course it was winter in Seattle, so I wasn't going to do any long rides in that weather, but I got a good deal on the bike......... After that I change the oil every 3000 miles or so....

I'm with Eventhorizon, I will wait a bit more. It's not that I think the technology is bad, but the old batteries work fine. If I need to shed weight, going on a diet would be my first step. I'd hate to blow up my rear end just to lose a few lbs of weight. I know the odds are these things are safe, but I'll give it a bit more time before I jump in.

I replaced the unknown new oil they added at the shop with Rotella T6 - thats the only oil I use on my Tracer 900 gt

Rotella T6

I have also been using Shell Rotella T6 for years, and wouldn't use anything else. I just took my bike to have a safety check at my local mechanic, and when I arrived he told me he replaced the oil as a courtesy. When I asked him what oil he used, I just replaced the oil with Rotella T6 when I got back home.....

Yep, I had the same issue. I adjusted the height by adding shims under the front lip of the tank where the front of the seat meets the tank.

Mine stays at the top line, I check every time I do an oil change and haven't seen any loss - currently around 31K miles.

Well, if you live in IL, that might be a problem given the extended winters and weather But in Sunny California, you can ride year round, and that puts a lot of road grime and crud on the bike. I typically clean mine after about 3 or 4 rides, or when the bike ends up coated with grime.

I don't wash my bike after every ride, I know, I know........ But when it is time, I take it down to the self service car wash and put in a few quarters and spray it clean. I make sure I get everything soaking wet, and the bugs are soft and come off easily and stand back a ways to reduce the pressure on the bike. I have been doing this for a long time, and it seems to work great for me.

You need an ECU flash, I have used https://2wheeldynoworks.com/ twice. Once for my FJ09 and again for my Tracer 900 GT. They are based in Kirkland Washington, just outside Seattle. You can remove and send your ECU to them and they can do it remotely, or if you have someone near you that has the know-how and you trust them, you can have them do it locally. It isn't hard for them to do a flash, but you want to make sure they know what they are changing, and have the expertise to improve your bike's performance. Good Luck! When you get it done, you will have a very big smile on your face as you ride for the first time. (and every time after that too.......)

hmmmm, I never knew that - I just checked the left mirror Thanks for catching that betoney.....

Right handed...... but you should be able to turn them easily with a wrench. They aren't super tight and that way you can adjust them on a ride by just pushing the rear view mirror. Sometimes, if you get a used bike, someone might have cranked them down super tight, but I find that with them a little looser, they don't move much when riding, and I can make adjustments while riding for better visibility. hope this helps.....

My advice would be to NOT lower the bike. It is already very low to the ground and you risk bottoming out the oil pan if you hit something on the road. You aren't riding an off-road bike with loads of clearance, this bike can scrape the ground without working too hard, and that could be catastrophic for your oil pan........

Yeah, I know the BMW has more features and is more refined than the Tracer 900 GT, but the Tracer is more fun to ride in my opinion. Lighter to pickup up when dropped (BMW is 125 lbs heavier than the Tracer) More twitchy and flickable when riding More snappy when twisting the throttle And I can do all the maintenance in my garage, and even if I want to let Yamaha do the work it will be much less expensive than the BMW. Cost new is $15K for the Tracer and $21K for the BMW. And servicing at the BMW dealership will cost a lot more than Yamaha's service department. And doing basic maintenance by myself reduces the cost of ownership even more. I have ridden my Tracer across the country (and back), and I never once felt swapping for the BMW made any sense (or cents). I do have experience on the current BMW GS, and it is a phenomenal machine, but the additional costs make it a less attractive purchase.

I don't have any issues adjusting the chain on my Tracer 900 GT. It takes less than 5 minutes, and I always adjust them when I return from my rides. That way, they are ready to go when I want to get out of the house quickly and go riding. My post ride ritual is to put the bike in the garage, and do a quick inspection for loose items, and other things that could have become loose or lost during my ride. I wipe down the bike with some rags, clean the wind shield, and then check the chain adjustment (and adjust if necessary) I also re-check my chain tension before starting any rides. It really only takes a few minutes to accomplish all this, and gives me a chance to look for anything that may be a hazard before my next ride.

Don't re-use crush washers, they are disposable items and WILL start to leak over time..... AND, they are only about 50 cents each. Buy in bulk so you always have a bunch ready for your oil change.

I have both top case and side cases on my Tracer. The top case is much easier to get into and store things I will need frequently. The side cases are very handy for things I don't need very often, but need them when I need them. (Think tool roll, rain gear, clothes if taking a longer trip, etc.) I use my top case much, much more often than my side cases. It is just much easier to open the top case and find what I need. Side cases are great for luggage on overnight trips, tool rolls, and things you may not need very often, but you can't get by without them when you do need them.

Wandering is actually how I ride these days. Now to be clear, I am retired, and have the time to take trips (and I do). I also take day rides locally, typically averaging about 300-400 miles per day, 2-3 times a month. (I do slow down considerably in the winter, and spend my time wrenching in the garage to get ready for the next Spring) About once a year I plan a big trip, usually to see friends that I have abandoned in different parts of the country (US). But sometimes, I just pick a location and ride there, just to see what I find interesting. My longest trip was from Fresno California to Jacksonville Florida, North to Deals Gap (Tail of the Dragon) and across the middle of the US through Denver back home to Fresno CA. This trip required quite a bit of planning, and I had my daughter, who was my remote support team helping me find hotels and stopping locations for each night. ~7,000 miles round trip. I got new tires in Huntsville Alabama, and saw a lot of old friends along the way. I found that when you pull into a hotel on a motorcycle, anywhere across the country, and try to check in, there are lots of folks who want to ask you questions or chat with you about your trip. Occasionally, my wife insists I spend some time at home, and fortunately, I live in Central California, and can find many good motorcycle rides throughout the central and southern parts of the state. I haven't ridden much in Northern California, but I plan to get up there soon to check it out. To the South I can get to Los Angeles/San Diego, north I get to ride the Pacific Coast highway from Santa Barbara up to Monterrey. Depending on the weather and season. In the summer, I can ride to the Southern US Border south, or north to the tip of California. (While I can ride up to Oregon and Washington, I spent 20+ years in Seattle, so you won't likely see me making that trek anytime soon.) And if I head east of my home, I can ride Yosemite and the Sierra Mountains, or north to several National Parks and Forests. I certainly recognize how lucky I am, and plan to continue riding for as long as I am able. I'm sure the trips will someday get shorter, but there is really nothing like the experience of riding a motorcycle. I got my first bike at 19 years old, God Willing, I will continue to ride for another 20 years or so......