dazzler24

Thanks for following up and clarifying. Looks like we're back to the 1st method of activating the ABS if we have a mind to, and that's out on the road the old fashioned way. Appreciate the time taken to investigate. 👍

Just to be clear, I like the look of them too and completely agree that the front of the 2015 bikes do looked 'unfinished' but have to ask - why is it such an abomination to stick something out the front (of the front) but not the back (of the front)? I refer of course to the much discussed 'beak/bill'. After all, Daffy had no problem with it either way as I recall! 😉

400km round trip today with a HD friend. Temps here are starting to cool off - at last! Plenty of native wildlife out and about which we managed to avoid hitting - bonus! But I managed to crash into a bee with my neck and she reacted accordingly by stinging me on my throat and then went walkabout inside my helmet. All in all a pretty good day on balance. Managed to find a dirt/gravel road on our travels.

The short answer is that I have not found it either!? I just took the @skipperT's word that it was in there .....until I went looking and couldn't find it but it could be because (as my wife would say), I had a 'man' look. I'll have another look and if I spot it I'll report but if someone else knows and wants to chime in then please feel free. EDIT - this is another reference that I found but doesn't answer your question exactly though. Here is a You Tube of someone doing the abs test/function on a 2013 Tenere.

There seems to be many devices out there that achieve the same thing using variations on a theme. As far as a decent solid workbench is concerned I'm fortunate enough to have that covered. Since writing my last post I've seen 'You Tubes' of people manufacturing home made ones that are yet again a variation on the theme. It is a relatively simple tool when all is said and done. And OK, I can understand why your wife has delayed touching the belongings of her late Mother. Very common reaction of course.

That's a very flash looking chain tension setter Bret! So, you still have to set the slack some other way first and then that device is then set up as a calibrated tool against your manually setup chain so you can check/compare in the future? On another note, I'm seriously thinking of getting myself a tyre changing device/kit after my most recent change. The shop operator managed to scratch the rear rim while taking an old rear wheel weight off after I'd asked specifically to look after my rims please. 😠 And the balancing of the rear was waaay off. I had to remove 20 grams of lead (out of 45 grams) for it to be close! How can the front be balanced fine and yet the rear to be not even close? Anyway, I know that the No-Mar gets a big tick of approval but I'm thinking of a more compact and portable kit like this one. I don't want to devote space in the shed or even drill holes so that it can be removed - after all, look what happens when the missus puts all her stuff in that spot! 😉 Also, I like the idea that it can be mounted to a tow point on a vehicle for stability. Bit more expensive than some hand tools for sure but much nicer and easier on an ageing body.

Righto! Finally managed to get out before some predicted rains arrived today and the initial verdict on the ride is a big thumbs up! 👍 I did around 200kms today, travelling on some of my more familiar tracks so that I could compare (as much as possible) the differences between the new boots and the old. Of course new boots are always going to be 'great' right out of the chutes but after some scrubbing in I pushed a little harder into some familiar corners and the feedback from both front and rear was confidence inspiring. My previous 5s were getting squared off, more so at the front, and cornering was getting sketchy so there was an immediate and satisfying feeling of being much more planted and line holding from the front 'foot'. This also might have something to do with the fact that the fronts on the 6s now have the 2CT+ construction like the rears giving a stronger sidewall. Whatever it was, it wasn't in my imagination. 🙂 I'm no boy racer and these tyres far exceed my capabilities I'm sure, but that's the kind of safety margin I like. Freshly scrubbed in.....

Good question. The GTs are designed for generally heavier bikes aren't they and hence have a stronger sidewall as I'm led to believe so that may well be enough to at least reduce it? Hmmm.

Will do Rob after I've put a few kms on them. In the mean time, check out @Wintersdark's thoughts on them. You guys are in a similar locale/climate so his report probably holds more credence for you. Cheers.

Good write up Winters 👍. Yes, that shape of wear was what I experienced as well on the 5s. Especially on the front. The 5s had a 2CT+ compound in the rear and a 2CT in the front. The front tyres of the 6s also now have the same construction as the rear tyres. That's the 2CT+ construction where they state that the sidewall is now stronger and from what you're saying and backed up through your experience, is living up to the promise of more stability. I'm excited by your italicized "dramatically better" description of the front. I did feel that I had to input mini adjustments to maintain a line when cornering hard on the 5s so am keen to see if the front is as good as you describe. Here's the 2CT+ blurb from Michelin (7 years ago!) I still haven't had a chance to get out there on the new rubber yet - family commitments! - but am keen to see if the front tyre feedback lives up to the promise. On a related side note, what pressures are you running in your 6s? I know you are in a significantly cooler climate from what I am but am curious to see what you're running in your summer and if I may ask - riding weight?

That makes good sense. 👍

And just to close the loop. The fresh meat - AKA New Michelin 6's are now installed and ready for launch.

Yes, I don't know why I've hesitated in the past. Like most jobs, you don't really know until you attempt it and once done it turned out to be a bit of a doddle. 👍

My 5's were squared off at around 14,300kms (~9,000miles)- particularly the front. Bit more wear was left on the rear before I bit the bullet and put on some 6's. Hopefully, PhotoAl statement of "significantly better in longevity and handling" will also be my experience as I really liked the 5's and also thought of them as a GREAT tyre. Just finished putting it all back together last night. Now for some scrubbing in and seeing if the hype is realised. 🤞

Ha! From your handle location I'm assuming that you're waiting for the weather gods to be kind to be able to escape? Spring would have sprung so can't be far away?

The rim colour is the same as the Cam cover and a couple of side covers on our 2015 Tracer(FJ). It looks close to the colour on the rims of the Honda you've shown. I've tried to find the colour name/number/ID that Yamaha would have called it but gave up after going up many dry gullies. The colour really changes character in different light. It can be almost black in low non reflecting light to a light tan in a bright light. Here's yet a few more shots, this time including the cam cover that show some reflected light and shadows that will give you an idea of the shades. No need to apologise about thread sidetracking. We're discussing aspects of the bike - good enough for me and that colour may even be a contender for a ceramic coat so nothing lost. 👍

Colour is always hard to convey on screen and dependant on lighting conditions at the time of taking the photo but here's another shot. I would describe it as a bronze colour and yes, that's an applied red rim tape. I don't know if the colours are the same in the US as here in Oz.

Toying with this idea. Curious as to what colours are available these days and any recommendations from those that have done it. Pics? I've seen a chrome like ceramic finish that looks pretty good. Or even trying to match the wheel colour. Open to suggestions for a charcoal bike.

Ha! Non-venomous and about 2M. Not a big one but a decent specimen.

Done. I pulled the swing arm and did all of the bearings in the relay arm as well. Thought that Yamaha short changed me a bearing on the right hand side of the swing arm but a quick check of the manual reveals that there are two on the left but only one on the right. I guess the left is where all the driving force is focused? On a side note, while I was working on the bike a visitor turned up. 🙂

Nearly 14,300kms (around 9,000 miles) if that tells you something about my riding style/capability. I have to say the Michys really were confidence inspiring for me and they stuck to corners like glue (not that I'm a super aggressive rider) so hoping/expecting the next gen 6 are just as good if not better.

There is definitely some more life in the rear but the profile is gone on both tyres, especially the front with some squaring off giving me some funky feedback in corners on some of the more inconsistent roads around here. Just thought it easier to get them both done in the one shot and not have to revisit the job a month or three later. I have thought about doing the forks myself and may do so in the future but ATM I'm already chewing on life and currently have a mouthful. 😄

Thanks for that. I did wonder about what crazy signals the ECU might have gotten under a completely unusual set of circumstances and hence a CEL. When I cleaned out the sidestand switch, while it appeared to be in pretty good condition, I felt that the little spring that presses the little copper bridge that completes the circuit when activated was possibly applying a weak force. So, just in case, I gave it a little stretch and it should be making positive contact now - if indeed that was the problem?! I really don't want it to happen again as I was lucky that it happened where it did - flat country road and zero traffic. I would have hated to have been in highway traffic or a steep climb or in a tight corner etc. Anyway, I guess if it does happen again I will be semi-prepared for it.

Time for some new boots! I've been on Michy Road 5's for last rotation of tyres and have, after much internal deliberation, decided to go for their latest incarnation and will be sporting Michy Road 6's tomorrow. I should note that I've had to remortgage the house, sell a tranche of Microsoft and Apple shares as well as offer up one of my kidneys on the black market to be able to afford them! The price of rubber has gone through the roof!! The front was past the wear marks on the right hand side of the tyre ( a driving on the left hand side of the road characteristic apparently) and the rear probably has some life but is so close that it's fate was decided. My other choice (for me) was to go with Bridgestone T32s and was tempted but they were only marginally cheaper and I really did like the Road 5s that I've been sporting so I'll give the Michys another whirl. Also opting to have the forks serviced while I'm at it - just taking out a personal loan for that one. 🙄 While she's all apart - I'm thinking that I should attempt a swing arm service? Never having done one, is there much to it? Looks like I've got two more bolts to remove and it's out? Advice from the learned always appreciated. Michy 5s when they were young and fresh.... And now when they're old and stuffed...

No? Not unless you count the bullet connectors that I relegate to the bin/trash? Here's an image of what was in the kit.