chitown

Like plans and getting punched in the face... everybody has a projected usage until they're doing a panic stop. Creating some sort of equivalency between tires and suspension upgrades and how fast someone intends to go is something that comes up on the internet a lot and IMO is ignorance. Speed doesn't kill, rapid deceleration does.

One can never ever exceed the posted limits and still be highly skilled and experienced. You (yes all of you) can scrape a peg at parking lot speeds and do a stoppy from surface street speeds.

When I buy a new Japanese bike tires and suspension are just part of the cost -- but it wasn't always that way. Experience, feel, etc.

Developing a feel for tires is something some will just never have the experience or talent to achieve. And there will always be some that have more experience and talent than just about all of us here. Welcome to the internet.

1 hour ago, Ride365 said:

Hmmmmm I have still yet to receive anything from Yamaha or a call from my dealer about this recall?

Yamaha Recalls Over 18,000 Bikes For Faulty Front Brake Switch - Adventure Rider

---

Yamaha is recalling numerous models for a problem with the front brake...

On 3/23/2021 at 7:07 PM, Jayzonk said:

Yes, I might try an Aerostich.  Not really sure what the difference is between the Roadcrafter and the Darien, other than the ability to zip the pants to the jacket on the roadcrafter.  

I have some Aerostich pants that are 15 years old and still in excellent shape.  They are so easy to get on and off that i go to them frequently.  I ordered them a bit on the big side, so the knee pads sit a bit low when standing.   Because of the sizing,  I wouldn't say they are the sexiest things going.  But then again, I really haven't had any safety gear that looks "great" because,  after all, it IS safety gear, and the pads and textiles don't really make them amenable to fashion.  So might as go Aerostich and get the quality, customization, all at a fair fair price.  

From 

"The Roadcrafter provides more double layers of fabric over a larger area than the Darien. These include the elbow/shoulder/knee areas of ballistics nylon and additional Roadcrafter pockets. On the other hand, the Darien is lighter and cooler to wear. Crash events most commonly occur between 30 and 70 mph. Within this range the Darien, DarienLight and Roadcrafter all provide useful abrasion protection. All three provide more than jeans and windbreaker jackets. Riders on powerful sport bikes will prefer the closer fit and greater protection a Roadcrafter suit offers. Roadcrafters are available in short, regular, and long, and Dariens are all regulars, so if you are extra short or tall, go with the Roadcrafter. Getting a good fit is more important than the functional differences."

Own a Roadcrafter one piece and Motoport two piece. Both ugly as sin but don't buy them for looks. Mainly bought them for abrasion resistance, custom fit, durability, factory backed alterations and repairs,  machine washable. In younger years could never picture spending on gear but they've both ended up less expensive than south Asian low priced gear that would have been replaced multiple times. Heck the Stich was a steal on ebay used and stained. Sent it to the factory for armor updates and alterations and still less than half price of new. 

+1 on the Gilles. 

My oem block wasn't as bad as some of the pictures but was showing more deforming than it should have after a few years.

On 2/9/2021 at 12:29 PM, micah2074 said:

When I say look on the web I’m talking about buying YES from a Yamaha dealer online. Any Yamaha dealer can sell you the YES. Some will for much cheaper than others. 
I never purchase insurance expecting to recoup the cost. 

Sorry if I wasn't clear... everything I am saying matches with the above except "cheaper".  See the post just above. Fremont is also a Kawasaki dealer. In 2010 purchased a Good Times extended warranty from them at a deep discount. Life was grand

In 2015 contacted them about the FJ-09 and they explained why they could no longer discount if selling to CA, FL, & WA. 

The recouping cost was mentioned because that's exactly how folks market extended warranties. "It will pay for itself..."

18 hours ago, Tango said:

Thanks for that info. Made me take a look. In June or July this year my first year is up and I was considering the YES warranty. However I will be re-registering the bike from NJ to Florida. I guess Florida is on that list after reading the "Note" on this Yamaha plan purchase page at the bottom just above Exclusions.

Edit: And then I find this so maybe Florida is not on that list...

Buy it before you re-register and you should be able to get a deeply discounted price and it's all above board. 

Fremont Motor Sports in Florence, CO is a Yamaha dealer. They'll sell you YES at a good discount -- if you answer no to the question: do you live in CA, WA or FL? 

If the answer is yes, they will tell you they are obligated to sell it by the price established by the YES administrators with that state's insurance regulators and the state will punish Yamaha who will in turn punish the selling dealer. 

1 hour ago, micah2074 said:

Look on the web. You can find it at a better price. Will your bike break? Who knows? It’s a voluntary insurance policy. 

True but also read the fine print. If the registration is in a state that regulates insurance prices (extended warranties are insurance products) they'll end up refusing to sell it or voiding it and returning your money. WA, CA, a few others. If you decide to proceed legit dealers advertise them on ebay for steep discounts. 

My anecdote: only ever purchased extended warranties on a couple first year model vehicles and even then never recouped the cost.

Wouldn't hesitate to call Traxxion (and other vendors) and have a discussion, get another opinion, etc. Over 15 years they've helped me assess options and set up several street and track bikes without buying a thing. 

Also suggest watching "Suspension For Mortals", a series of videos on youtube by Max from Traxxion. 

18 hours ago, daboo said:

It would suck being out in the middle of nowhere in temps that'll give you heat stroke if you stop to cool down your phone so you know where you're going...especially if the gas level is in the lower portion of the gauge.

The first time I saw the iPhone's overheat thermometer image was riding in central CA. Was using it for nav and waiting for a text to intercept a couple riders coming from another direction. Doah!

Have used phones, cheap auto units, and zumos. Phones are great up to a point but I've killed a few and they weren't inexpensive. The weak point of the automotive GPS' is often the charging interface. The Zumos were pricey when new, but are rocks. They've been tossed down in gravel, dirt, and on concrete. Gloved operation easy. The first one from 2006 is still working, screen digitizer had to be replaced with a cheap part from ebay at some point. The second one was bought inexpensively on closeout and is six years old. The '05 model won't take map updates but they aren't very necessary unless in areas of new development. Given how hard I am on things and the cost per year of life, I like the Zumos. YMMV. 

6 minutes ago, Wintersdark said:

I can't really see the Super Tenere being the right way to go there if you're looking for a better two-up experience than the Tracer, unless you're intending on riding off-road.

I mean, it's a bit smoother and weaker, but... eh.  The FJR would be a much, much better choice IMHO if you're looking for comfy two-up touring, and a step up in power instead of down.  The FJR's are damn nice rides.  I suppose that depends heavily on how - and more importantly, where - you ride though.

I could see it and well, have seen it

tl;dr It's taste and the rider IMO, all of the bikes mentioned above are great do it all rides.

My firefighter buddy replaced his totaled FJR with a SuperTen. Doesn't off-road at all. Thinks it does everything better including 2-up. He's 6'2 crossfit body and his wife is average. From IA they met me two up in Nova Scotia, and he also met me riding solo in Dawson City for the run to Prudhoe Bay. I was on my FJR. 

Have ridden Super Teneres and can see what he means but prefer the FJR other than for rider legroom.  Actually, now I prefer my FJ-09 to them all. YMMV.  

That's disappointing. 

Would definitely be curious to see the measurements from the first valve check. Like many have reported my '15's intake were fine but several tight exhaust valves at first check performed well ahead of schedule. 

If it seems like I know a lot of western roads all the credit goes to my friend Roger. Retired in his early 60s. Had not ridden since his 20s but couldn't afford to fly his Baron for a hobby so motorcycling became his obsession. He's 83 now and has been riding virtually every day of the last 20 years. Remembers every road. And rides a liter hypersport. No GPS, no aux lighting, no cruise, no hyviz. His one concession is an airbag vest because if he falls he doesn't want to lose riding days to recover. He once bought a bin'd Gixxer and welded the aluminum frame back together in his garage. Then put 80k miles on it. 

We are not worthy

A lot of very happy riding days and trips in my memory are due to him. The Pyrenees trip I mentioned earlier is something a few of his friends have arranged as a gift to him. Unfortunately covid keeps pushing that back and we don't know how long he'll continue riding.  

1 hour ago, nhchris said:

I am getting lots of emails from Easy Rider rentals offering all sorts of incentives. 

One of my bucket list rides is a BMW rental out of Vegas with return in Flagstaff.  I'd love to tour the south western parks and roads.  Anyone ever done this?

Haven't used Easy Rider but have friends that do and are happy as far as renting Harleys goes. Have definitely left Vegas on a motorcycle and toured the southwest and many of the parks and roads. 

Two years ago was the latest southwest tour and it was 109F high in Vegas when I arrived.

We can only tolerate a bit of tourist stuff and on this trip North Rim and Pike's Peak were those spots. Parks on this trip were GC, Arches, and Bryce  as one of the riders had never seen them. On past trips we've done Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, all the Cali parks etc. This route was 

to Vegas via slab (had a plan for a non-interstate day but the heat scuttled that)
to North Rim via obvious route
to Cortez via 89,98,160,163,191,162,402/G,160. 
to Salida via 160,550,50 with an in/out on 92 (Black Cyn). 
to Frisco (on I-70) via 50,9,11,24,Pikes Peak,24,67,126,285,Guanella Pass,I-70. 
to Moab, made it up on the fly. 141 was in there as I recall lunch in Gateway.
to Cedar City via I-70,24,12,Bryce Cyn,12,89,14. 

Performance award in Arches. They don't report to other systems (yay for no insurance bump) unlike my one other park ticket, Death Valley.  

10 hours ago, wanderer said:

I concur. I would also add for consideration the less obvious M-50, or Mountain Highway 99, or whatever it is called from California Hot Springs to Johnsondale.

This!!

Those roads are usually closed for winter. But I may have gone around the closed signs more than once

And in good weather it's glorious. Almost no traffic and miles and miles of sequoias and twistys.

58, Bodfish (becomes Caliente Bodfish Rd),  pick a side and continue north around Lake Isabella (I usually fuel in Wofford Heights), Sierra Way (becomes Mtn Hwy 99), M90, 190. Fuel in Springville. If it's a day ride slab back south. If not, Wagner, Yokohl Valley, and work my way along the Sierras. 

Another fun ride in that area is Sherman Pass (also closed for winter) and Nine Mile down to 395. 

Yamaha has never published US sales broken down to model level.

Ohio is a good place to be from. Go Bucks!

10 hours ago, maximo said:

This road is dead

That's a bummer. Going to have to check it out when it's dry. Unpaved doesn't bother me but I only attempt sand of any depth on a bike I don't mind dropping and picking up multiple times

3 hours ago, PhotoAl said:

That looks like the road to the Lick Observatory which is just east of San Jose.  LOL I was driving a rental SUV with marshmallows for suspension plus my wife gets carsick so had to take it easy.  If I can get back on my Tracer next year will defiantly have to do that ride.

Been there many times with my norcal buds. Mt. Hamilton, Mines, Del Puerto etc. I am in SoCal but have worked remote for a couple Palo Alto and SF based companies and would ride up and back every few weeks. Usually met local friends for a bite at Alice's then use a day or three to meander home avoiding interstate as much as possible. 

Rossi's has to be experienced on a bike and in a good handling car. The fish eye effect on the gopro doesn't do it justice

3 hours ago, betoney said:

@koth442, @maximo, @chitown, @keithu or anyone familiar with the Bucks Lake/ La Porte loop between Quincy and Oroville, does that area have seasonal snow closures? 

2 Years ago we rode through that area before riding Markleeville and Sonora Pass in mid-June and Sonora had just been cleared a few days prior and still had a lot of snow at the summit.  Not sure of the elevation of Bucks Lake loop and if I need to plan accordingly for snow closures.

Buck's Lake area is a hair over 5,000'. Buck's Lake Road and Big Creek (use this unless you want to actually stop at the lake to eat, there's a nice place with a patio etc) can close during winter but the norcal folks probably have better info than me.

My last trip up there is generally the last week of Sep with 1-2 nights in Tahoe and 2-3 nights in Quincy. Then generally don't ride the area again until the paved passes to 395 are open as that's what I use to blast north/south. This year we almost made it as those counties were doing ok on covid but the fires and smoke were bad so we switched to Taft at the last minute. If I'm unsure about weather/fires I'll look around online and call the motel in Quincy (Ranchito) and see what I can find out. 

32 minutes ago, keithu said:

 

I don't think I've ever ridden CA229. I'll have to add that to my list.

I think you still have to ride the boring part of 33 from McKittrick to Maricopa if you want to get from 58 to Hudson Ranch Rd. There's a road through California Valley and across the Carrizo Plain, but I don't think it was paved the last time I checked 28 years ago. 🤨

229 is a unicorn. Do laps on it when I get the chance. Can only surmise somebody wealthy and influential may have once owned one of the ranches on that road... it's a weird road to be a CA state highway.

58 tees into 33 technically in McKittrick city limits I guess but there's nothing there except the tar pits. The "town" is a bit north so most won't go through it unless headed east. Yes, you still have to ride past the derricks into Taft unless you do Soda Lake Road. Not paved. It is gnarly loose over-sized gravel in long sections so not much fun on street tires. Can be done but not worth it since most folks will want to fuel in Taft.

Here's some video from running CA229 in my Miata. Following a Juke. Cause I like musicals and chick cars.

15 minutes ago, keithu said:

Carmel to Morro Bay on PCH isn't the gnarliest road in the world, but I wouldn't call it boring. The coastal scenery is beautiful IMO. If possible I recommend riding it early in the morning, like sunrise early. You'll have the road to yourself before 8:00am. From there I would talk CA-58 over to McKittrick, then go south on CA-33 all the way into Ojai.

And since you'll be in SoCal, you should pay a visit to the Rock Store if you've never been. Sundays are best because the parking lot is always filled with exotic motorcycles. It's a legendary hangout surrounded by the numerous twisty canyon roads of the Santa Monica mountains.  

If you're going to recommend 58 you have to recommend Rossi's Driveway CA229. It's like a rule or sumpin 

58 is one of my favorite roads in the universe. But not in any quantifiable way. More Zen. A few smoking hot sections of twisties, some whoops, utter solitude unless they're working on solar farms or something, and look there's a tarantula-looking thing crossing the road.

Nobody actually goes all the way to McKittrick unless they've an old GPS that thinks there's still a gas station there lol. And if going 33 to Ojai... cut out a big chunk of boring straight 33 by doing Hudson Valley & Lockwood Valley as a long cut. Altitude for better views and temps. Much better roads.

The Rock Store is fun once every ten years or so. Leno will come by in a jalopy etc. Folks can argue about why they lowside at Edwards... ah the good ol days.

1 hour ago, betoney said:

Any particular reason I shouldn't try and plan a ride to the Southern half (Monterey to Pismo Beach) of PCH?  Bad traffic or road conditions or...?

Not being from that area, what I view as a possible dream ride, locals might just shrug their shoulders and say "Meh..."

I was planning for possibly late May, riding a lot of the NW corner of the state, then Avenue of the Giants, Clear Lake, Lake Berryessa etc. before heading to Monterey.  I have ridden the Northern half several times but never been South of Santa Cruz on a bike.

Traffic and most of it distracted. If you've never seen that stretch yes there is definitely some beauty there so likely worth doing it at least once but with all the people and traffic not so beautiful that I'd put it on my list 

Few opportunities for legal passing. Draws a lot of international travelers. Rental motorhomes. Folks pulling trailers. If you're gawking those folks in the cages are gawking too. Every season there are multiple tourists from LH driving countries that have head ons on this stretch of PCH as they leave turnouts to reenter the road. I can identify since I frequently visit their countries. 

Pre-covid, once you get to San Simeon area there's the addition of LA getaway folks who like to visit the wineries in the area. Add wine-tasting to the distracted tourist factor.

Other than that it's great and haven't had any long-term closures for awhile now. Morro Bay/SLO/Paso Robles is an area where I meet with friends from the Bay Area quite a bit but we tend to avoid the scenic route on those trips. 

If the weather's good do at least an up and back for photos at Nascimiento-Fergusson Road. Stunning view of the coast as the road climbs steeply before turning inland. If you did continue on it's also fun to ride (in Top 10 road lists in many motorcycle mags) and can be used to get inland as well, passing thru the outer training areas of Fort Hunter Liggett. The fort also contains the only Spanish Mission in the US where you can actually spend the night (straw mattresses and all). 

Enjoy the ride!

53 minutes ago, keithu said:

Regarding IOM: Assuming one doesn't have a friend from Texas with a local house, what are the options for accommodations during the TT? Are there plenty of rooms to rent, or do most people camp? I should have included this one on my bucket list.  

First trip booked a hotel room in Douglas. There were also homes and rooms for rent via services like airbnb. But I think the majority camp. Camping ranges from a spot in a field to places that have fully built tents ready for you with services, just need to bring a bag etc.

Some of the smaller lodging places on the course would be cool to stay at but often have recurring reservations for folks that go every year so can be difficult to book.

Another friend that met up with us shipped camping gear over and flew into Douglas. Used buses to get around. The spirit is great tho, random folks he met in camp offered use of their bikes. 

If you plan on using the ferry from Liverpool *that* will be the most important reservation you make, even before lodging or camp spot. Folks start booking a year in advance. Getting over isn't bad because some folks will arrive early for practice week etc. But everybody wants to leave at the same time. 

Loved having the bike for the first trip because on the off days we explored. There are a number of neolithic sites and while staring at old rocks doesn't sound interesting the ancients often put these in interesting locations with fantastic views. We also used the bikes to scout different places along the course we wanted to watch from. We walked to the course one day and elbowed into a vacant lot at the bottom of Bray Hill, paid for grandstand at Creg Ny Baa another, donated a few quid for access to a lawn chair and wall in Glen Helen, and the other days I think were also small donations for watching from church yards etc. Good times.

In my forties was still "that guy" that never took much more than the occasional three day weekend for a vacation. Then my father and slightly older brother, both the same type as me wrt vacation, passed within a month of each other. So decided to start doing my bucket list. Alternate each year between international and domestic. 

So the below are bucket list trips I've done

Lots of Norcal. All most folks will ever need in terms of roads. Multiple entries on my list. Start with booking a motel in Fortuna and take CA33 to I5. Or, over in the Sierras start with any of the three highest paved passes in Cali and get lost for a week. 

Munich, Alps, & Dolomites. 1 week in the Alps & Dolomites on a guided tour (friend wanted guided, I didn't), then a week solo, renting in Munich and staying in Andermatt Switzerland for a week doing day trips over Alps passes. Van Goghs and beers in Munich.

Prudhoe Bay -- aborted -- Pacific NW, Jasper, Banff, Ice fields etc. Friend and I were on DRZ400SMs. Was supposed to be a blast all the way to PB but the night we got to Canada friend said he couldn't keep up the pace required physically. Ended up doing Jasper, Banff, glaciers etc, then extended time in WA & OR. 6k miles on dirt bike seats what could possibly go wrong?

Isle of Man. Wanted the full experience and had reasons to be in London so rented there, took back roads to Liverpool including a stop at Cat & Fiddle, took ferry over. Found my ancestors' graves on IOM, got the whole race week in with only one minor delay for rain, etc. Mad Sunday. Stayed for Castletown races. Ferry back to Liverpool. Spent a night there and hit John Lennon's favorite pub for a pint. Stopped at the National Motorcycle Museum the following day. All the Triumphs had drip trays (surprise!). Friend from Texas that went with just bought a house on IOM so won't need to pay for accommodation again

Prudhoe Bay Attempt Deux. Los Angeles to start of Alcan to meet up with friends from back east. On the way back I split from them and grabbed the Alaskan State Marine Ferry from Skagway back to WA. Kind of like a low-cost Alaskan cruise with orca sightings etc.

N. Ireland, Ireland, and the Northwest 200. Two week loop of island with the first on the move and the second based around the NW 200 races. Met McPint and got a photo with him. Had a pint at Joey's.

New Zealand. Self-guided tour hired bikes in Auckland, two week loop of north and south islands. 

More Norcal and SW with a few days at north rim of grand canyon. Thence to good riding in UT, CO etc. Pike's Peak just cause. 

N. Ireland and Scotland. Flew into Belfast and spent a few days at the Ulster GP. Ferry to Scotland and 10 day loop doing most of NC 500, checked out Orkney. 

It's all been fantastic. For roads, the nw corner of California has a lifetime of bucket list stuff. Some of my trips above were expensive but you can have just as much fun and adventure and great roads riding and camping in Norcal.

Fwiw, neither PCH (except a few stretches) nor Route 66 would be on my bucket list. I've ridden and driven them many many times for other reasons so take that with a grain of salt. 

Bucket List Right Now: Have a depo on a trip that keeps getting pushed back due to covid. Fly to Barcelona and do 10 days self-guided in the Pyrenees from coast to coast. Want to dovetail this with staying with my friend on IOM for a few weeks and work as a TT marshal.

On 11/26/2020 at 10:08 AM, rlambke19 said:

VLoggers (they seem to be getting invited to these things now too)

If the average knowledge and skill level of a vlogger was along the lines of most moto journalists I'd watch more. Sadly most are like this. He blamed the wind which still makes me laugh. 

WARNING: Language in video audio is NOT WORK SAFE