texscottyd

@petshark - Looking good! Are you happy with the T9GT as an upgrade from the previous Tracer?

Welcome @INDYST - Congratulations on the new bike! We look forward to hearing what you think...

I wasn't aware of this option, so just looked it up to see what it's about. I'll be interested to hear your feedback. Many of us here have taken the approach of having the factory ECU reflashed (several reputable shops offer the service) specifically to address fueling issues from the emissions-related lean settings from the factory. As a bonus, they can remove the top speed limiter, default to a different ride mode at start-up, etc... The downside is that you can't tinker with the tuning settings once it's done, which it looks like you can do with that Dobeck. Keep us posted on how it goes!

Hey @duhs10 - Any initial thoughts on the new-to-you Multistrada? I suspect it will be an amazingly competent motorcycle.

Thanks! I’ve had a thing for sport standards going all the way back to my CB400F and GPz550. The style of this one really caught my eye, with just the right mix of modern and retro. What impresses me most (so far) is that it’s a genuinely fantastic bike to ride, with no excuses or compromises in the name of style. Form AND function… yes please!

Now that’s the way to have a work trip, @piotrek! I had to convert things for my simple mind… that’s 2,700+ miles of paid travel time. Looks like beautiful scenery! I’m a bit jealous.

I found the ‘Sport’ ride mode setting this morning… even more fun ensued. 😀

In my eldest son’s calm, monotone voice, I’m hearing “Oh, great egret again?”

That’s the torque vectoring compensator for the crown of the highway in England, where they still ride on the opposite side of the road… I read that on an Internet forum, so it must be true. 🙄

After almost two years, I can reply to my own question: Yes, I have ridden a Triumph Speed Twin! And I liked it so much, I bought one… 😀 The 2022 models finally brought a few upgrades I wanted (320mm Brembo brakes & inverted forks, primarily), so I decided to start looking seriously. I scored a reasonable deal on a new one at a dealer in Temple, Texas (about three hours away), so I picked it up yesterday and rode it home… 225 ‘getting to know you’ break-in miles. My initial impression: It’s going to be a spectacular motorcycle. Ergonomics are great… typical sport standard layout, and it’s just big enough that it fits me fine at 6’1”. The fit & finish is gorgeous. And that motor… Jesus, that motor! I'm trying to be at least somewhat respectful of break-in rpm recommendations, but I can tell it has A LOT of motor... gobs of torque. I got rained on for part of the trip yesterday, so today it got its first bath. I feel like this is the beginning of a great relationship…

Oh, how I do know that feeling, Bret. Take it easy, but I’m sure the mental health benefits of riding will be more than worth it. Good luck to you!

I noticed that too… “Leave me alone. I’m trying to enjoy my breakfast”

Which? Alligators, or cuddly pythons? 😀

I haven't done it, but can't see a reason it would be any different than on a Tracer. The limiting factor for me has always been the width of the handlebars... those typically fall near exterior mirror height for automotive traffic, so that's the 'pinch point' you have to allow for. Based on what I've seen, the bars and/or mirrors on the Niken are the widest part of the bike: That said, your mind plays some very interesting visual tricks when you're lane-splitting. The wide fairing and the 'heft' of that front end may make it feel very uncomfortable for you, even if you still have adequate clearances. Just removing the hand guards from my FJ made it feel much lighter and narrower to me, even though the actually difference was only a few inches.

Hi @brad27 - I'm not familiar with the Hindle exhaust for the FJ/Tracer, but did have one on a VFR previously, and was very impressed with the fit and finish... quality part. I have a suspicion here: Is this pipe SPECIFICALLY for an FJ, or is it a FZ9 pipe? The overall design is very similar (same basic bike, really), BUT the FZ9 doesn't have a center stand, and there have been numerous reports of folks running into this very problem when trying to fit an FZ9 exhaust to the FJ... If you have the Hindle part number, maybe do some quick searching to find the fitment guide?

I’m really excited about this one! I did look at a Thruxton, but my knees and the fuel tank didn’t seem to get along. The more relaxed ergonomics of the Speed Twin suit my 6’1” frame much better… it actually kinda feels like my FJ. In the back of my mind, I’m thinking suspension upgrades may be in order at some point. I’ll ride it for awhile and then decide what to do.

I spent the morning assuring my FJ that I still loved it, and let it know that a younger brother would be coming home to the garage this weekend. 😀 Nice bookend to the FJ, and I’m excited to add it to the stable: 2022 Triumph Speed Twin

Well, that shortcut didn’t quite work out… 😀

That’s a big one! We classify the snakes here as ‘friendly’ (rat snakes, broad-banded water snakes, assorted grass & ribbon snakes), and ‘not-so-friendly’ (copperheads, corals, and northern cottonmouths). But even the ‘friendly’ ones I’m not up for playing with…

What is that? Damn it… another ‘Oh! I must have that!!’ model that isn’t available in the US

Trying to decide if I love it, or I hate it…. https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/motorcycles/enthusiast.html

Yep, but those tend to mask the unicorns… Seems to be an either/or photo decision. 😉

Honestly, that's a reasonable policy... I'm surprised that the local toll road authority has never said anything to me about it. I think I saw a vague invoice note several years ago to the effect that "one of your tags may not be properly affixed to your vehicle". It didn't even say which of the eight tags I have registered it was for... I'm going to see if there's a better option now for a transponder for the bikes than there was 6 years ago. The default auto tags here are a thick laminated paper with an embedded chip that mounts from the inside of the windshield. Per the website: "Certain vehicles with a high metallic content in their windshields and/or motorcycles may require a specialized EZ TAG. Please contact Customer Service." Ah yes, contacting Customer Service for a state agency always goes well... I'll keep you posted.

So, I’m not recommending this approach, but… I have a tag for my FJ (registered to the license plate), but for 6 years now it’s been in a box in the shop, and never has been attached to the bike. Never been a problem, as the plate readers and automated processing system bills to my account just like if the transponder was in place. Not sure if other states are as easy about it, but many of my friends here in Texas do exactly the same thing. Your mileage may vary, obviously…

Thanks for asking, as I've been wondering the same. My experience has been that a stuck/malfunctioning injector makes the bike run really badly, if it runs at all... Will be very interesting to see how this goes.