wordsmith

Looks kinda like an Oz (or Kiwi) upside-down Monster to me...!

“See and be seen” part 2. (Part 1 appears as a separate post in this Thread on July 31 here). I have just completed the installation of one of the more satisfying safety-oriented farkles, the rear-mounted brake-operated flashing/ pulsing brake light. Components comprise the tiny E-Bay GS-100A Modulator, aka a ‘brake light strobe controller box’ which creates the pulsing function (AUD $6): some wire and solder: and of course the rear mounted E-Bay 240mm/ 9” long red LED bar (AUD$18). The few joints were soldered and heat-shrink tube applied: crimp-on connectors would be as good and easier, but I enjoy soldering. I pre-fabbed most of the wiring while awaiting the delivery of the Modulator, and made up the mounting bracket, so the final steps took only a short amount of time. The satisfaction is largely because I know as much about electronological stuff as the average Neanderthal cave-dweller, but this is the latest of several such installations I’ve done on various bikes, and it gets easier every time. The hardest part is waiting for some of the components to arrive from overseas, although this farkle was interrupted by some on-again-off-again bouts of unwellness (if that's a word)! I could afford a ready-made kit, say the P3 kit from Skene Lighting (excellent stuff that I have used before) but at AUD$200-plus I choose not to afford it: my set-up cost about AUD$30 and works almost as well. As with so many of these DIY farkles, it was fiddly rather than difficult, and took much longer than it should have, but resulted in a satisfying ‘job well-done’. All the components and wiring are neatly tucked-away behind the tool tray under the rear seat, while the LED bar is fastened to a short length of L-shaped aluminium extrusion bolted under the rearmost part of the luggage rack, for maximum visibility, in line-of-sight with the bike’s rear lights for maximum mass of red. When either brake is engaged, the LEDs pulse five or six times in rapid succession, then five or six times more slowly, alerting following vehicles that I’m braking, then remain ‘on’ in steady state until the brake is released. For anyone here interested in doing something similar I’ve posted the wiring diagram. It’s pretty easy stuff – if I can, you can! The last pic here shows the LED illuminated - believe me that it glows blindingly red!

BAGSTER seats - made in France - have been my #1 choice on a couple of past MT-09 Tracers and my late MT-09 SP. They can be highly customised in various materials and colours. Not cheap, even though non-EU residents do not pay the ~20% EU VAT (sales tax) which goes a very long way towards shipping costs.

Looks like a nice spot. I must confess - I don't like even riding past a pub, let alone entering and imbibing. Call me a wuss if you must!

As an ex-BMWF800GT owner I couldn't agree more! I sometimes mused that putting the CP3 motor and gearbox into an F800GT everything else would have made a marvellous bike, belt-drive 'n' all!

I don't know where you live, ZigMerid, or your particular circumstances, but my experience over far too many years is that test-rides are always readily available, assuming that the bike being considered is in stock. This experience covers both BMW and Yamaha brands. I have rarely been allowed to go out without a dealer/rep riding along too, but that has never bothered me. However, the usual $2000 excess insurance in case of damage might turn many off!

Noice lookin' bike!

A bit of bling was added in the form of a custom gold chrome decal across the screen reading 'MT-09 Tracer GT'. Impossible to photograph in daylight, hence the red towel placed behind the screen to allow the decal to show. The gold lettering chimes nicely with the 24 carat gold fork, so it's not too overdone!

I understand, but never ride - or very rarely drive - at night. I hope so too, otherwise it's going to be a wobbly ride!

If they do 'blind' the headlight they are doing their job! It's largely believed that DRLs like these are most efficient when mounted as high up and as far apart as possible - within sensible limits! Too low, and I suggest they may lose some of their effectiveness. On an earlier Tracer I was able to buy some LEDs that were attached to the front of the handguards, which I think met the 'higher' and 'wider' criteria, but they don't seem to be available any any more.

“See and be seen” is a pretty good mantra for road-users, especially we vulnerable bikers. The headlight output on many modern road-bikes is glow-worm-like, hence my wish for something extra, so today I fitted pair of small spot/ fog LED lights to give me that extra bit of visibility - it’s something I always do early-on with a new bike. The brand - STEDI - is a new one to me, but they arrived well-protected in a pair of chunky boxes from the local vendor within a few days of ordering. They are indeed quite tiny at only 43mm dia x 53mm long, boxed as MC-5 LED DRL motorcycle specific lights. And strangely they glow blue until switched-on! Unusually they come with two alternative fixing brackets – the usual U-shaped bottom bracket, and a side bracket, and plenty of fastenings. A length of 25mm x 3mm aluminium strip provided the mounting for the LEDs, screwed horizontally to the front of the bike immediately below the headlights. Fortunately, the underside of the headlight surround has two small slotted openings, which I used to insert the mounting bolts, one each side, and a couple of rubber spacers lowered the outer ends of the mounting strip to clear the pointy nose of the bike’s fairing. It’s not the prettiest of set-ups, but does the job and is largely out of sight anyway, but I’ll probably tidy it up later. In any case, it’s much cheaper than the AUD$157 of the specific Yamaha light mounting bar! Accessing the aux wiring plugs behind the screen is pretty fiddly. The wiring is hidden behind multiple onion-like layers of other elements of the bike (see pix) – the windscreen: then a heavy steel plate carrying the screen lowering-mechanism: then a complex moulded plastic plate secured by eight of those clever little plastic push-pins: then another small steel plate immediately in front of the wires and plugs. While all this was apart I took the opportunity to put some light grease onto the screen sliding mechanism. Getting there was tedious, but wiring was eventually done by connecting the positive wires from the LEDs to the auxiliary plug via a PosiTap, red to brown/yellow, and the black earth wire to a screw-head on one of the steel plates, for effective grounding. I switched on, and lo! - there was light,‘brighter than a thousand suns’. I've had this GT for eleven days now, but have yet to ride it. I enjoyed the bit of farkling I've done so far, but unhappily this cursed covid will not leave me, despite negative RAT testing, so if it doesn't clear up soon it's off to my GP.

I plead guilty to 'odd', in fact my grown-up daughter often refers to me as 'Eric', her kinder version of 'eccentric!'

I don't know the origin of this forecast, but it's one of a few that I seek occasionally. They differ, of course!

Nice ride, about the right distance too to make it worthwhile. Familiar pix as well! My GT has now been RWC'd, registered, and insured, and all ready for a similar outing, maybe this weekend, fingers crossed!

The Yamaha rear rack was fitted today, a very simple job, replacing the OE pillion handles. The rack is a fairly heavy piece of kit at 2.7kg, and I would have preferred it to be finished in silver - or even grey - instead of black, but that's no big deal, but at $AUD$311 the price is pretty steep, IMHO. I can now mount my small 26L top-box, which will carry all I need for long weekends away, or even more - though I do warn bystanders to stand upwind of me if necessary at the end of longer trips. But more often I'll carry a small ~8L Pelican-style case for day-rides, sufficient to take the camera and phone, spare gloves, puncture repair kit, and other small knick-knacks. I'll also mount the rear LED bar of flashing/ pulsing brake lights under the rack once I have the final part of that kit - more on that in due course. Today the bike was road-registered, so having now tested negative for covid - and about time too! - I hope to take that initial ride at the weekend. .

Thanks, Dazz - my bad as they say! 😪

BRAND-NEW NEVER FITTED rear rack complete with fitting instructions (very simple) and all fastenings. Does not fit my MT-09 Tracer GT and vendor in China is playing hardball about return. My original cost was AUD $224. Local pickup preferred or I will mail to you at my cost. Asking only $100. Please PM me on this Forum if interested. PIX ON THE FOLLOWING HELPFULLY-ADDED POST BY MY OLD CHUM DAZZLER

The Powerbronze blue frame sliders are actually much closer in colour to the 'blurple' wheels and 'swoosh' emblem on the tank than the pic shows. As are the covers for the front and rear brake fluid reservoirs and the oil fill cap, all fitted to the GT by the previous owner, and pictured below. While I'm not against a little bling I would not have bothered about any of these no-doubt expensive additions - but I am glad that he also fitted a tasty (and expensive) Powerbronze belly-pan fairing and same-brand rad guard. Thus far I have only sat on the bike a couple of times, and cannot wait to get out on it once all the legalities are completed. Mrs Wordsmith tested negative to her final covid test yesterday, PTL, having 'crashed' three or four days before I did, and is about to head-out a'hunting of the wild handbags oh, while I await tomorrow's last (hopefully) covid RAT.

My puppy has squeaky toys that are more attention-grabbing than any OE horn I have ever come across, so today's farkle was the simple job of replacing it with a decent made-in-Italy Stebel Magnum horn - plug 'n' play of the easiest kind. It makes a strident alto note that should penetrate nearby traffic without being obnoxiously loud. $AUD28 including postage, and I also made a little stretchy 'cap' to put over the horn-opening in rain - that will keep it dry while not minimising the decibels. This is my first farkle on this new-to-me 2019 Tracer GT, and I still am unable to get out on it thanks to lingering covid. But spring looms...

Thank you! I must confess that I had to resort to a little light sobbing and wheedling, but she finally came around. Of course, and I cannot stress this enough, her sole concern is my safety and well-being on the road - there is nothing selfish about her preference that I should cease motorbiking altogether. World's best wife! 😍

Thanks, fellers. I have located what I think is its 'natural' place, judging by some marks in that spot but its function still seems a bit iffy. But as suggested, possibly to minimise wear and/ or vibration in that rear of driver seat, front of pillion seat location. I wonder how many 2019s still have it in place!

What is this tiny item, please? I found it in the underseat tray - it looks as if designed to clip onto a thin frame member thereabouts, but there are quite a few such spots. I guess it's intended to give some sort of support or modest protection to that member. It's 2cm long x 1cm deep x 6mm thick along the slotted bottom. I very vaguely recall having seen this info long ago and far away, and shall not sleep until I know what it is and where it goes! TIA...

Well dear chums, I have returned to the Tracer GT family after some time away playing in another Forum with my now-departed MT-09 SPs, delightful little bikes that they are. I have scored a mint 2019 MT-09 Tracer GT, a rare beast here, and one I've owned and enjoyed before. That's the good news, the bad news being that the very day after it was delivered to my door I fell heavily with a very unpleasant dose of covid, despite having had all the jabs and boosters: my wife had succumbed a few days earlier, and I obviously caught it from her. Now, a few days later, after heroically battling this ghastly illness I'm tentatively and briefly up and about again, but have yet to even sit on the GT! That will have to wait until I've fully regained my strength - such as it is - and put the bike through the usual hoops of inspection, registration, and insurance. I'm looking forward to taking part again in this Forum, and contributing as and when I can. Meantime, I'll post a couple of earlier entries from the MT-09 Forum where I detailed my progress with the GT. FROM JUNE 15th: Within the last hour I have agreed to buy this mint 2019 Tracer GT. It currently resides in Perth, Western Australia, about 4500 km from me, and about as far as one could travel in a straight line in Oz! This will be my second GT, and it has all that I need for the light touring I want to undertake before I grow too old - comfy seat (a rarity on an MT-09), nice easily hand-adjustable screen, hard panniers, cruise control, etc. Not too much farkling will be done, and previous experience should help me to make the right decisions there - a small rear carry rack and a small top-box for day-rides, louder more attention-grabbing horn, twin front DRLs, rear flashing/ pulsing brake LEDs a la Skene. FROM JUNE 29th My new-to-me 2019 MT-09 Tracer GT is now on its way from far-off Perth in Western Australia. It's a very long haul, and I have entrusted it to a well-known company that only transports motorcycles, name of Bikes-Only. I have used this business before, both in sending bikes and receiving them, and have always been extremely satisfied. The map below shows what the route from the west to east is likely to be, at 5549km or 3448 miles, as it makes sense that there is probably more need for their services in the major cities along the way rather than in the sparsely-populated bush or outback. Much of this route is, in fact, the only road east-west along the southern edge of our vast country, and there's no direct east-west highway across the middle of Oz from Perth to our eastern seaboard. Some time ago I did ride from west to east as part of a 14,700km solo circuit of Oz, riding my BMW R1200 GS, and would have been quite prepared to do so again, but not in the winter months we are now in the midst of - after all, the next stop south is the Antarctic!. The GT is scheduled to arrive at my home on July 19th. I'd have preferred it to be a little earlier, but to be honest the weather here in Queensland has been dreadful for a long time now, and certainly not conducive to enjoyable bike outings. But there will be other times! FROM JULY 19th My new-to-me 2019 Tracer 900 GT was safely delivered today after a long (5500 km) and time-consuming trip across Australia from Perth. If anything, the bike is better than new, if such a thing is possible, as it sparkles from top to bottom and end to end, exactly as seen in the many excellent pix the owner sent me. I'm ready to start farkling, with knowledge of exactly what I want from a previous GT that I owned a few years ago, although this bike has a lot of useful stuff already fitted. My additions will also be of the bling-free nature, such as a rear luggage rack: front DRLs: louder horn: Grip Puppies: auxiliary mirrors and mirror riser/ extenders: etc. The all-important first ride will have to wait for few days, as unfortunately my wife has just been diagnosed with covid and I'm not prepared to leave her 'home alone' until she is better. Meantime, I've got to try hard to avoid this vicious virus myself, although Oz is experiencing a very widespread and serious resurgence of the virus, with many deaths daily in all States.

It is indeed, Dazz - top marks and thanks for your sleuthing. There was quite a bit more to it than my three remaining memory cells could retain, so I'm glad we were able to complete the tale! E-M on way...

When ever I see pix like these I marvel anew at the designers and engineers who are responsible for bringing such machinery to us. Brilliant stuff...