betoney

I agree 100%! Last year while on a road trip gas prices were through the roof, even more so in California where some remote areas were over $8 a gallon for premium. However it was one of my favorite road trips (Mt Shasta, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Mountain, Death Valley, Kern River Canyon, Pacific Coast Highway, Yosemite, The Redwoods) and I wouldn't have changed a thing, I had no regrets spending that much money for the experience and lifelong memories.

As high or low as you want. Its a custom tailored seat, measured and built specifically for you and only you, each seat he builds is unique. When I went to Rich's he stripped off the cover and had me sit on the bike in my normal riding position and stance. He had a sharpie and started marking up the foam, then pulled the seat off the bike and went to work cutting and reshaping the foam to my wants and needs. He repeated the process a few times and then had me go on a test ride and based on how it felt, he repeated the process until I was satisfied. After the seat is built, he offers free adjustments within the first year, which I took advantage of, luckily I only live 2 hours away.

Thats really weird, I just tried myself and there is a big red "Start New Topic" button.

You can remove the peg feelers but you can also get the correct rear spring so it doesn't compress so much when diving into corners. Have you tried adding preload to the stock spring?

I agree, its a terrible design. Like @2and3cylinders mentioned, I went with the Spiegler lines which bypass those junction points, each line goes straight to the ABS pump and having the "clockable" banjo bolts to enable use at any angle was the selling point for me. Glad you got it all finished, its a frustrating job but its finished now. Time to RIDE!

In Europe the bike is offered as Tracer 9, tracer 9GT and Tracer 9GT +

I have watched a few youtube reviews of the GT+ and in Europe they mention 3 models, the Tracer 9, Tracer 9GT and also the GT+ which has the radar. In North America the Tracer doesn't seem to sell well like other countries so we only get one model.

Bret, thanks for posting that. Same plug as the one I bought many years ago.

My guess is since you have already replaced the crush washer twice, the pan could either be cracked or slightly warped. Carefully lay the bike on its side on some blankets and thoroughly degrease and clean the area surrounding the plug, remove the plug and inspect the inner threads and seating surface for a small crack. I use the oem flush mount plug from the R1, sorry, I don't remember which year.

@HGP61 @miweber929 @Jayzonk @PhotoAl Thanks for responding to my question. I guess I travel differently, I'm not retired so when on a road trip I already know where I'm going, I have a set number of days and my route is pre-planned and loaded in my GPS before I leave, I don't have time off work to just "wander East" and see where I end up, maybe someday 👍🏻. I plan the entire trip, separate routes organized by day (my GPS can store multiple routes at once) so I just press "Day 1" and go, the next day press "Day 2" etc.

I'm curious, to those that ride with a GPS and cell phone, what do you use a paper map for? I have traveled with both paper maps and a GPS and have never used the paper map, not even once, so I stopped carrying them years ago. A smart phone navigation app or GPS is infinitely easier, more accurate, always up to date, can create a route in an instant, immediately tell you the distance and ETA down to the minute, show you gas stops along your route with real time prices all without touching the device, you just use your voice. I have ridden in deep, dense forests and at high elevations in the Rocky Mountains and have never lost satellite connection on my GPS.

Just curious, how did you manage to wear yours out in only 21,000 miles? Mine shows very little wear at 74,000 miles. FJ09 - 1RC-22151-00-00 Seal, Guard Tracer 900 - B5C-22151-00-00 Seal, Guard On the Parts Fiche its listed under "Rear Arm"

So the battery is holding a charge correctly?

My towing coverage through my insurance coverage isn't much better. Last year I needed assistance and called my insurance, they connected me in a 3-way call with a tow company, they said towing was covered but they would only tow me to the closest bike shop even though it was a different brand shop than I owned and was even further away from home than my current location. I was about 80 miles from home, I asked them how much to just tow me home, she asked my zip code and quoted me just under $900. 😳

Same question as @Heli ATP have you added any electrical extras? Anything direct to the battery or on a non-switched circuit? The battery might be able to hold a charge just fine but something on the bike is possibly draining it. You could try removing the battery from the bike and charge it on your work bench and then let it sit and see if it drops the charge over time, that would tell you whether it is holding a charge or if something on the bike is draining it.

Or you can use the quick disconnect SAE connector for the battery tender, they are always connected and ready to go.

Wire it direct to the battery.

Don’t judge a bike by a number on a spec sheet, judge it by the test ride. My VFR weighs 630# fully gassed up, but the test ride sold me instantly.

Correct, that 12v socket only works when the key is on. I have powered a Garmin on that circuit since the bike was new, (2015 model still on the original battery) when the key is turned on, the Garmin starts up, when the key is turned off, the Garmin shuts off. If your bike is suddenly going dead, the previous owner might have botched some home made wiring job for electrical accessories.

If you are planning on a 2 week trip a few thousand miles from home I would get fresh tires before you leave. Leave NOTHING to chance. I have tried to push my luck on a road trip before, thinking I could make it the entire trip on used tires (I had a fresh set of tires in the garage waiting for me) and ended up running it to the cords in the center a day before making it back home and needing to find a bike shop for a new tire. Make sure your chain is in very good condition, air filter is clean, fresh oil change, battery is charged and everything is in perfect working order. I normally go out for a day ride prior to leaving on a trip and make sure everything on the bike operates normally. For tools, at a minimum bring everything required to remove the rear wheel (I bring tools for the front as well) and the body panels should you need to get under the tank. I prefer a dedicated GPS and never travel without one, there is nothing nicer when out in the middle of nowhere, than pressing a button "Nearest Gas". One other word of advise on fuel stops, get fuel before you need it. I have filled up and then topped off again 50-60 miles later just because I knew I was going to a very remote location (central Nevada or Death Valley) where anything can go wrong or a gas station no longer exists, again, leave nothing to chance. Even though you are going in the summer BRING RAIN GEAR, I have encountered many unexpected rain storms.

If you got a CEL, what error code came up on the screen?

I agree with @HGP61 on a cool day mine also stays around 70C while moving, temp rises a bit when sitting in traffic. Riding on a warmer day mine will be 80-90C while moving.

I highly recommend to not go by the manual for the air filter schedule for servicing, that is WAY too long to ride with a dirty filter. I put reusable filters in all of my vehicles (I'm not trying to start a debate- use what you are comfortable with) and the bikes get cleaned and re-oiled about every 5k miles and they are always dirty and filled with insects.

Same as @Ride365 - No vehicle safety inspection necessary in Washington.