texscottyd

That really is a stellar deal… I’m surprised it hasn’t sold already. Your profile says Alabama, so I assume the bike is there? Best of luck with the sale, and the upcoming life chapters. The Miata should be a blast.

There… fixed that for you. 😀

Some interesting choices of bikes in there… thanks for posting. Most of it is what I would expect, but I’m surprised by the number of Super Teneres represented. And I have healthy amount of respect (and concern) for the guy on the Sportster. I own an XR1200, and while it’s really fun, I would never think of it as an IBR mount.

@Headgas - I picture the radiator guard and fender extender as serving two separate purposes, that just happen to overlap a bit. For protection, a good radiator guard is the way to go. The only noticeable ding I gave in mine is way up high on the radiator guard… obviously a rock or other debris that came directly in above the front fender. A mudguard isn’t going to do anything to lessen that risk. The fender extender should help keep the front of the motor & exhaust clean, but I wouldn’t count on it for protection beyond basic splash control.

Hi @2moronsgarage - welcome to the forum. We’re obviously a bit biased here towards the Tracer, but hopefully you’ll find a lot of useful information. I looked closely at a S1000XR around 2017 or 2018, but decided the FJ09 I already had was the better bike for me. The XR has a lot going for it: It’s got a ton of motor, the fit & finish was vastly better than the early FJs, and the wind protection is superior. But, I rode two different bikes, and they both had a very noticeable (and to me intrusive) vibration through one of the footpegs… it was the left side, as I recall. I love big four-stroke singles, so vibrations usually don’t bother me, but this one was a buzzing high frequency that I couldn’t ignore. Definitely ride one to see if it’s an issue for you. Honestly, the biggest thing for me was the relative lack of character of the XR vs the FJ/Tracer. What the CP3 lacks in power, it more than make up for in its fun, usable, always-ready-to-play personality. That motor is the reason I still have & enjoy the FJ after 7 years of ownership. The newer Tracers are more refined (especially the all-new T9), but they’re still bikes with a lot of personality. And to me, personality goes a long way…. Good luck in your search.

Sorry to hear on one level, but super happy for you on another. It’s good to be able to walk away from a career of riding on your own terms, and it sounds like this is the right time for you. No regrets, and a lot of fun memories still to be made with the new Miata. Please do stick around. It’s a neat community here… -Scott

Oops… that’s a big detail to misread. I’ve actually looked at the RS in the past; it’s a much more direct cross-shop to the Tracer than a GS.

This actually came up fairly recently…

Storms are moving in, but I got out for a couple of hours this evening while it was still pleasant. I still really enjoy riding this old dinosaur…

Yes… MUCH easier. 😀 The junction blocks on the stock lines are odd, and kind of a pain to work with… just ask @dazzler24 If it were me, I would look for a quality 5 line set from Speigler, Galfer, etc.

Hi @CPD419- Is it the footpegs themselves, or the location of the passenger pegs relative to the seat? Space is tight to move things around much, as the rider’s boots end up getting crowded if you try and move the passenger peg mounts.

I honestly think that may be the missing link. I’m still using the stock FJ master cylinder (with all the other brake mods you mentioned), and while it has great stopping power, the lever feel is a bit wooden. And I’m really picky about brake feedback… the Brembos on my Triumph and Aprilia just have a much better tactile feel.

Welcome @tgas! Congratulations on the new T9. There are enough of them in circulation now that we’re starting to see a lot more suggestions & how-to information about them here on the forum. I really need to ride one, and see how it compares to my old dinosaur FJ.

Thank you for saying what I was trying to figure out how to say, without sounding like a total poser. 😃 So, ‘yes’ I believe that good HH pads alone (along with a fluid flush) would get you 80% of these improvements at a fraction of the cost. But honestly, what‘s the fun in that?

Do it. You know you want to… 😈

Great upgrade. @roadrash83 - Do you still have any of the spacers available?

@betoney- My wife snuck up on me standing in the shop, just staring at the stable with a look of deep concentration. “Oh no, you are not seriously trying to figure out what’s missing, are you?”

😀 But seriously, congrats on the bike! Sounds like a great choice.

It lives, after a back-ordered clutch cable from Milwaukee finally arrived. So today, on the Memorial Day holiday here in the US, it seemed like the right time to take some American Iron out for a ride. I stand 100% behind my earlier assessment: It’s heavy, slow, crude, and incredibly engaging to ride. I’m shocked by how much I like this thing!

I know this is off-topic, but do tell: What do you think? I’ve been really tempted by a 660 Tuono or a 890 Duke R

Welcome @etex! Beautiful bike… I’m sure you’re going to love it. I’m 7+ years into my CP3 ownership, but my old FJ still makes me smile every time I ride it. What part of East Texas? I’m in Houston now, but grew up out near the Big Thicket, and we still have a lake house in southern Tyler county.

I love the gold wheels, and the white is surprisingly nice & clean looking to me. I need to ride a T9 and see what it’s all about. I’m sure it’s an objectively ‘better’ motorcycle in almost every way than my old FJ, but I still love the raw, semi-unrefined, hooligan nature of my bike. It’s hard to believe I’ve owned this thing for 7+ years, and I still enjoy it immensely.

Then you’ve come to the right place! This is a judgement-free zone. Except for beaks. Beaks we judge… 😀

You’re going to love it. It’s not just ‘better handling’ with the upgrade; these bikes take on a whole new personality with top-shelf suspension. Money well spent.

So 25 is the magic number! Good luck with the sale… nice looking exhaust