superfist

I'm going to have to look into this. I really like that it's not oily/runny and is soaked into the leather without the need to wipe residue off later. My bottle of Lexol conditioner is running low so I'll try this for my next cleaning/conditioning of my jacket this fall.

So, I purchased my Alpinestars leather jacket on clearance at Cycle gear about 3 years ago. It had obviously been in stock for a while since the leather was slightly yellowed and dusty in appearance. The leather was showing signs of drying, so I purchased the Lexol leather cleaner and conditioner. This worked well to restore the suppleness and flexibility of the leather, but didn't do anything for the off-white. I'd clean and condition it about every 6 months or so, but the white just got worse over time. So here, the Arm and Hammer toothpaste with peroxide and baking soda made all the difference for a deep clean that's whiter than when I purchased it! A scotch brite strip did the scrubbing and the toothbrush got into the crevices. So, a little water and toothpaste with the scotchbrite pad did the initial scrubbing (most of the way back to white). Where it was immediately wiped back clean with the (now dirty) washcloth on the left. Then it was cleaned with the Lexol cleaner, which did suprisingly better after everything was loosened up. I also used it to make sure any toothpaste residue was cleaned up. That got wiped away with the middle washcloth. Then I used the washcloth on the right to wipe the whole jacket down before hanging it and using a 4th washcloth to apply the conditioner. I'm happy with the results and here's some in progress and final shot of the cleaned jacket below. (Yes... a mouse got to the collar over the winter. The mouse is now deceased.)

@duhs10 I wonder if the older A*stars gloves were better made. I've ridden in exclusively Alpinestars gloves for years, and last year I got a pair that wore holes through the fingertips. I got the SP8 earlier this spring and the threads holding the top leather bit on for the wrist strap just fell out in the first week. I got it replaced under warranty at Cycle gear, and the second pair had threads starting to unravel. I also have an Alpinestars leather jacket and gore tex boots and they've been awesome. I think they moved glove production to cheaper factories after they started introducing the 'entry level' cheap gloves. I tried on a pair of Dainese gloves (Carbon D1 Long) and they felt so good I paid the extra difference and have been pretty happy with them so far (about 3 months now).

I haven't tried a 360 camera, but it might not fit for some styles of moto vlogging. I'd go with the Hero 7 Black, which I've seen on sale for 330-350 recently. They dropped price to compete with the DJI Osmo. I have the Hero 4 silver and Hero 6 Black. I'll probably get the 8 if they stick to their usual annual release schedule. Audio is actually as important as the image and shot, if you'll be vlogging. I've seen two good styles. * One is to record your adventures and rides, and dub over it in the editing process. There was a particularly good adventure vlog of a guy who rode to the arctic circle. A go pro, equivalent or 360 camera would be fine for this. - Found it! Alone to Deadhorse - A Solo Journey on the Dalton Highway The other is the more popular "along for the ride" talking in your helmet style. I hate the idea of the Go Pro mic adapter, but there's a way around it. When I had the Hero 4, I got the Sena Bluetooth Backpack for it. When I got the Hero 6, I found I could run a line from the Bluetooth backpack to an audio recorder (I use a Tascam) and get clean, wind-free sound through the Sena headset. If you don't use a Sena communicator, you'll have to find another way since it won't work without it. Standard audio options would be to run the Go Pro mic adapter with a lavelier mic or a lavalier mic with a separate audio recorder. There's a post on the motovloger forums of a guy who spliced a sena mic into a 2.5mm jack to get clean sound. If I had to do a brand new setup today as a starter setup, it would be the Hero 7 (or equivalent) with the Go Pro mic adapter to an in-helmet microphone). It's the "easiest" and one of the least costly ways to get started. Add a Sena communicator and the audio backpack with a sound recorder for best audio (I pieced these on over the years). Sometimes for non-talking, I put the audio recorder under the seat to get amazing exhaust capture without wind noise. I'm really looking to add a 360 camera to the kit, but that will be when the budget allows. For editing, there are some free options. But Davinci Resolve is free and professional level powerful. It's intimidating if you've never worked with a full feature video editing software. Check out Max Wrist (hate his riding) but he has really good edits and transition effects between a 360 camera and the go pro. He also does a great job of editing to music. The key is to find some moto vloggers who have similar styles to what you want to achieve and design your workflow around how you want to tell your stories.

@BBB - I looked at it and also looked at the Ogio All Elements. I eventually decided on the Knoxx Trekker Rucksack since it just popped back into stock the other evening for 130. Great price with some really nice features and also office friendly. I'll report on it after some use. https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/knox-trekker-rucksack

I don't know how you feel about filtering at lights, but I wish it would be formally legalized everywhere (even if separate from lane splitting). Stop lights are one of the more risky places for a motorcycle to be hanging around. On the commute front: Yesterday I got caught in the rain on my way home without rain gear. I gambled on that 7% chance and lost. I don't mind on the way home, but thankfully there was a bridge that I scrambled under and got my laptop and other things into plastic bags and back into my backpack. Now I'm shopping for a new, fully waterproof backpack that can handle laptop, charger, shoes, a change of clothes and a few other misc. items. I'm waiting for the Knox Trekker Rucksack to come back in stock, since it looks office/business friendly.

Isn't being happy and satisfied with your motorcycle the ultimate goal we all chase with new shiny bits? All that's left is maintenance and enjoying the ride. Unfortunately, I visited the stoltec moto, vcyclenut and 2wheelDynoworks websites last night and now my bank account is in fear of all the new ideas lurking beneath the proverbial bed. There are some surprisingly affordable options available.

Those updates are heartbreaking. I'm hoping for the best, but those updates have me fearing the worst.

Wow, this is exactly what I did from new. Put the bike on a rear stand and spray with it running while being very careful of the rotating assemblies. I have a little over 21,000 miles on the original stock chain and sprockets. It's just now starting to show some minor tight spots and some mildly tight links that don't flex as easily. All of the rubber seals are still in place with none missing. The sprockets are only showing the slightest amount of wear, but I'm going to replace the chain and both sprockets at the 24k service. Sooner if they look like they need it, I already have them on a shelf awaiting installation.

That was a fun watch. I'm glad that the theory of more front end grip was found to be true and not just a gimmick. The tires progressively sliding with lots of feedback instead of a tuck to low-side is also pretty nice. I think it's awesome, but I still don't want one for myself.

@texscottyd - I think you're spot on, actually. I refuse to take the FJ-09 to the track because of the suspension. It works fine as stock for daily commutes and road bump compliance, but I can totally feel it being off in the mountains when windy roads are ridden in a spirited manner. So I'm looking for something I can start riding for track days and those spirited rides. I do have a question though about any bike being taken to the track. What's your $0.02 cents on ABS at the track? I was watching some videos where ABS activated on the track and caused some unpredictability (ran wide but managed to stay in the concrete portion of the run-off area). Couldn't you just pull the ABS pump fuse in most bikes? I'm planning on keeping the FJ for daily commuting and running to the store for honey-do list tasks and such. I love this engine for the daily stuff and wringing it out is addictive. But I also absolutely love the scream of a 600 winding out, which oddly is one of the biggest reasons I'm wanting a 600 over the liter bikes. Not rational... but the sound of an I4 banshee wailing through shifts at 12-15k RPM makes me *Not Suitable For All Audiences*.

Oh, I know it isn't. But it's a number that I thought would sound reasonable and my wife didn't reject it, so... 😃

Yes! I totally do the same. Everything from "When is the T7 going to be released in the states?!?" to "Oh, an R1/ZX10R is definitely what I want!" with everything in between. I recently discussed with my wife that I need 3 motorcycles. A cruiser so she's comfy if she wants to ride, a proper dual sport that can crunch miles without complaint and a sport bike for track days and mountain rides. The FJ-09 is like having an AMAZING multi-tool that does everything you could ask, but then still wanting "the right tool for the job" despite the fact that my riding skill means it probably doesn't matter in any way.

Yeah, I completely agree with you and was thinking the same thing when I was looking around. I think Kawasaki is trying to bring back the affordability aspect with the new 2019 ZX6R bringing electronic package improvements and a quickshifter and pricing it at $9,999. However, they want another 1k for ABS equipped models. I was hoping for a refresh of the GSX-R750, but it looks like Suzuki is discontinuing the model. If they had just updated the electronics package and added an ABS option, I'd be all over it. I think I might just wait a few years for the Daytona 765 to get released.

Mine seems to run somewhere between 2 and 3 MPH high. I find it interesting that's it's a flat difference and not a percentage like many other bikes. My FJ doesn't register anything under 3mph. It's either 0mph or 3mph+. At almost all speeds, the indicated speed was 2 or 3 mph higher than the GPS speed without any deviation. Edit: I also seem to have found my way into the GT discussions by clicking things from the sidebar. Mine is a 2015, so it might be different from the newer GT models.

I have about 20,400 miles on my 2015 FJ-09, started riding it Feb 0f 2017 (purchased dec 2016). I replaced the clutch cable at 14k miles because it felt funny, which it had started fraying. I got the updated part. I replaced the front brake pads at 20k service. No problems at all with the bike. Recalls were performed without issue at the dealer. I loved it at first, then I didn't love it, and now I love it again. It's an amazing motorcycle that does exactly what it's designed to do. The CP3 engine has always been a wonderful experience. It's just a lot of fun. I think any issues I might have had from the bike are sourced from me either trying to make it into something it's not or expecting it to be something it's not. Mostly trying to get more aggressive ergonomics out of it.

Lol... I guess I spent too much time on the ADV forums reading a few of their wild threads.

That's really generous and I appreciate it.

Another RTW? As in 'Round The World? I think we need more information and stories! Glad to hear the forest rats didn't come running out of the woodworks.

Which track day group do you ride with? I was actually looking at N2 recently because Yamaha has some demo events listed at Road Atlanta and Roebling. It looks like all I'd need to do is get a tailor to sew the circumference zipper in my Alpinestars jacket to my leather pants so they can attach. Getting my first track day has been a goal for a while, but I've been hesitant to take the FJ-09. @betoney absolutely it's a blast to ride a slow bike fast. I think the lower overall cost of the 600's is also appealing, especially if I start doing track days where a crash is likely at some point.

They do after a day of riding along riverside trails and run through a puddle in the public dirt parking lot on the way out to discover that some 4x4 truck had dug the "puddle" deep enough to sink the KLR in water to thigh height (just above airbox intake). I mean... the KLR got me out the other side before it died, but man... So I disassembled the motor, got new gasket kits and cleaned everything up. Nothing looked damaged until I started reassembling and realized one of the camshaft caps had cracked. You can't by the camshaft caps separate, since they're mated to the head and a head assembly with camshaft caps was around 1200 when last I checked. I'm tempted to try to get the crack welded and throw it together, but I'm not sure if that's a part I'd trust a weld on. Edit: So yeah, it takes extremes to make a KLR die. Maybe we shouldn't say it died, but murdered by extremes might be more appropriate.

Yes! The R6 was at the top of my potentials until I saw the new 636 with the lower price tag. The fact that it's good on both street AND track might be what convinces me. I was also looking at used Daytona 675R models as well, but aftermarket support and parts availability at a reasonable price seems much more prevalent on the Japanese bikes. I think I'd take the new Street Triple of the FZ-09 if I were to go with a standard. But I'd like something different. My real dilemma is whether to get the T7 or a Supersport next. I'm leaning towards the Supersport and revive the KLR-650 from the dead.

So what are peoples opinions on the 600cc class? Do you think it's dying? might make a resurgence? Will you miss it? So Yamaha revamped the electronics and styling with the 2017 R6 and I think they did an amazing job. Kawasaki followed up with a bunch of new electronic features on the 2019 ZX6R and it's restyle is also great. Honda and Suzuki are a bit behind at the moment, and I wonder if they're just going to let them die. I really love that Kawasaki added a bunch of features and then also dropped the price to 9,999 for the non abs model! That makes the 600 class affordable again and widens the gap of the "I'll just save another 3k and buy a 1000cc bike" I personally think that as the small bike displacements hit 400 and 500cc that the 600 class will move to a 750 class. With the Daytona 765 on the horizon and the GSXR-750 waiting for a refresh, the class is waiting for a revival. It will likely take AMA or another racing body opening a 750 class as the 600cc sale decline. As someone who hasn't owned a super sport, I'm considering a 600cc class bike in the future. I look at the HP/Torque numbers though and wonder if I'll be disappointed in the performance vs the FJ-09 and if I should just get a 1000cc. The draw for me is that I LOVE the scream of the 600s hitting that 14-16k rpm and I also like the idea of riding the nuts off of one, in contrast to babying the throttle on a litre-bike. I'm going to test ride a few this summer and see how I like them. I kind of want one before they disappear and the ZX6R is looking really tempting.

I've never experienced the wobble on my 2015. Though, I once had a little shimmy on deceleration which was really just an old front tire that had begun to wear unevenly. The vast majority of instability issues I've seen here has been resolved by one or more of the following: Raise preload in the rear shock and make sure the suspension settings are correct for your weight + load Raise the fork tubes in the triple trees by 5-15mm remove the stock hand guards The speed limiter has not been an issue for me at all. well... there were a few times I sat on the limiter for a while, but I'm not sure I'd tell much of a difference from 115 or 125. You might want to get the ECU flashed anyhow, since it helps smooth the throttle and a bunch of other minor options.

It sounds like he got a lowball trade-in value at a dealer and decided to sell for a little above that. Recently two different dealers offered 4,400 and 4,900 for my 2015 FJ-09 which had 18k miles on it at the time. I just did the 20k mile service and it continues to run strong. Adding to what others have said, if it runs well then that's a great deal.