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betoney

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betoney last won the day on March 26

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About betoney

  • Birthday 10/24/1966

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  • Location
    Olympia, Wa
  • Bike
    2015 FJ-09

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  1. The FJ or Tracer will definitely meet your needs and can be extremely versatile as a comfortable long distance ride as well as a very sporty machine, in fact I could argue that for just cruising around at 65-70mph it could be considered overkill as you can achieve the same relaxed ride on a smaller displacement, more economical bike. The CB500X you mentioned can get 60+mpg at freeway speeds and 70-80+mpg cruising back roads.
  2. Thanks, that was my thought as well. Are you aware of any negative effects to engine or clutch from lugging the motor in top gear that low in the rev range? When you grab a handful of throttle and there is a slight delay before it downshifts a few gears, there can be chugging and lurching. Thankfully the other modes shift normally.
  3. I have the DCT transmission on my VFR1200X and that default mode is the one thing I really dislike about it. I have read a lot of different forums for bikes with the DCT (Goldwing, Africa Twin, VFR1200X,NC700/750X etc) and a lot of riders find it frustrating and question WHY? Why did Honda develop a mode that is so subdued that it gets to 6th gear ASAP -my 1200X will get to 6th by 35mph! I tried it once or twice and didn't enjoy it at all. Fortunately they offer manual mode with the finger paddles or Sport mode S1/S2/S3 which is much more akin to how I would realistically shift the bike even under moderate acceleration. You are correct in that it takes a while to figure out how the bike likes to be ridden, a lot of people I have talked to think it is a twist and go like a scooter and you could do that but to ride it effectively takes some learning through trial and error. For a more relaxing experience while touring or commuting in traffic it is hard to beat but I enjoy my manual FJ09 for exhilarating sporty riding.
  4. I have a few Dremel tools which I use on a regular basis but it can be easy to get ripples when sanding on a flat plane with such a small sanding disc. For your application, sanding a longer flat edge, it might be easier to using a sanding block with various grits. Even sanding a small area, the flat surface of the sanding block will help keep the flat surface of the screen edge even.
  5. Have fun with the Honda, it looks like a great bike!
  6. The next few days are forecast for 70F. I have my grandkids today and tomorrow so they take priority but I definitely plan on getting out for a bit on both bikes.
  7. With all of the time and effort you are pouring into 'spring maintenance', by the time you are finally able to ride again the bike should ride like brand new. 👍🏻
  8. I actually still order some parts through my local Yamaha dealer, if they don't have it in stock and order it for me, they cover the shipping or freight fee and as a long time customer they give me 10% discount on their mark up which negates any local sales tax. They are relatively close so I just pick up the part on my way home from work or when I'm out running errands. So unless I'm ordering from some deep discounted online store, it can be slightly cheaper for me to have my local shop order the part for me.
  9. Bret Since buying my bike brand new my throttle pull always felt heavy or stiff, it was never sticky and always moved open and closed smoothly it was just a heavy effort. My buddy also has a '15 FJ and we swapped bikes many times and the difference in throttle feel was immediately noticeable, infact I was always surprised how two identical 2015 bikes could feel and ride so differently, it always felt like 2 completely different models. Over the years I tried different cable lubes including Dri Slide Cable Lube and nothing made any noticeable improvement, the cable pull was still smooth open and closed but took a lot of effort. Finally a few years ago I bought new cables and it was like a brand new bike, throttle could easily be opened with just thumb and forefinger. I haven't had a single issue with it since. Mine may have had a kink or defect in the cables from the factory?? As @OZVFR mentioned, the throttle housing and cables are essentially a 'closed system' from the top, you would have to put some effort into introducing dirt or contaminants into the cables.
  10. Honest question, have you ridden a bike with a warped rotor before to know what pulsating brakes feel like? I have ridden a few bikes with pulsating brakes and it is immediately evident, If you say you don't feel ANYTHING abnormal then I would personally talk with the mechanic and have him show you what he is finding wrong.
  11. I agree, when I bought my 2015 the only features I found missing for my needs were cruise control and heated grips, both of which I added immediately after purchase. The 2019 and 2020 Tracer GT added everything I personally need as basic equipment, the 2021 and newer models were 2 steps forward in tech and refinement but (subjective opinion) a step backward in styling, the only thing I like about the 2024 model is the TFT screen and improved switch gear. I think the '19-'20 model Tracer 900 GT is the sweet spot in the model evolution, if my current bike was stolen or totaled, I would probably consider a 900 GT over the 9GT+
  12. Rick - What were the circumstances for getting the same bike back to back? Was one damaged in a crash?
  13. For a suspension upgrade, I wouldn't get hung up on the brand name. Ohlins is only as good or bad as it is configured (springs and internal valving). ANY brand can be configured to be plush and comfortable if it is set up correctly. If you had a suspension specialist change the springs and revalve the forks and you didn't notice ANY difference, they must have done something horribly wrong or you could possibly have unrealistic expectations for how a a road-only bike should feel? I have never used Ohlins but have had the suspension on EVERY bike I have owned set up for my intended use and the difference is an immediately noticeable improvement. I have the forks revalved with correct springs and replacement shocks, My current and previous Yamahas used Penske shocks and my Honda has a YSS shock.
  14. I am fortunate to live about 2 hours away from a motorcycle seat builder, all of my bikes have had custom seats. Ride in, get measured and get your seat modified specifically for YOU. I have tried Sergent and Corbin but NOTHING beats a personally fitted custom seat.
  15. If I have been stuck inside for weeks during winter and am really itching to ride, I will venture out if its down to 40F but only if it is dry. I have been caught in the rain on several occasions but would never chose to ride in the rain on purpose. I have a heated vest but have only used it about a dozen times in almost 15 years, it works very well but gets too hot. My Tourmaster winter jacket and pants both come with zip-in thermal liners that are surprisingly warm, if I need an additional wind block I wear a light Columbia rain shell under my jacket.
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