tktplz

What a long strange trip it's been. I hope you get those health issues taken care of. And as my Mom always said, The flowers are prettier than the roots!

I see more trucks and cars out on the road these days that I personally would consider GROSSLY "overpriced" 

I'm keeping my 1999 Taco at only 185,000 miles and I drive a company car. My Taco gets maybe 2,000 miles a year at the most. Trucks are more than double these days to try to get you to buy electric instead of gas or diesel. I'll keep what I have, I can still work on it. And it's still as clean as the day it came off the assembly line under the hood. 

On 7/28/2023 at 8:45 AM, Warchild said:

Not sure it would fit without some sort of adapter plate. I went with the tried-n-true SW-Motech rack, it has been perfect on my 2020 Tracer GT:

Have the same case on my 2015. Have used the rack on top also. They make a nice bungie that works on that rack perfectly. 

I figured out years ago and I use a Garmin. Phones use towers and a GPS uses satellites. If I'm riding these days it's in the mountains. Phones don't work in mountains but Garmin does. Garmin can find satellites, phone to tower in the mountain... not so much. My phone stays in the tank bag, just in case. . 

On 5/21/2023 at 1:54 PM, TomTracer said:

AR 125 to Peel has a free ferry across an arm of the lake heading to Ozark, MO. 

125 above the ferry is EXCELLENT! One of the roads we love the most. Plus while you're in the area, 341 Push Mountain Road into Norfork, AR Heidi's Ugly Cake and Sandwich Shop has a great Rubin. Low carb burger or sweet cakes till the cows come home. 

On 5/21/2023 at 12:42 PM, etex said:

I've ridden out of Hot Springs during two rain sodden days last spring.   Road to Petit Jean and parts east and west.  Lots of twisties and scenery.  Arkansas is a beautiful state.  I'll be visiting again sometime.  And the next time I'll be on my Tracer 9.

Right next to Petit Jean is Mount Magazine Hwy 309. A buddy and I usually turn around at the sign/overlook at the top. Run back to the bottom and back up its that good. Also the Best Western in Russellville is around 65.00 bucks for 2 queens for a night. And no, Joe and I aren't queens. Get your minds out of the gutter!

Welcome, I'm just southeast of Shreveport/Bossier, LA. You are also close to some of the best motorcycle roads in the United States, in Arkansas. You cut up through OK to the Talihina Parkway going over into Mena, AR. From there it's go north to Hwy 23, The Pig Trail into Eureka Springs. Then you're on 21, 103, 74, 123, 7. Then further east to Mountain Home. Then off to 125, 177, 14, 263, and you can't forget 341, Push Mountain. Just paved top to bottom 2 years ago. Wasn't fun the fall of 2021. They just re-did it with fresh chip seal, oh God.  Then go back west to home. Best roads since North Carolina with the Tail of the Dragon, Cheroholla? Skyway, Moonshiners Highway, Wahaya? Road. Arkansas is quite comparable. Here we are at the Mini-Dragon

1 hour ago, Ride365 said:

Local motorcycle mechanic who was a Kawasaki team racer for years, says that most motorcycle engines he checks need their valves adjusted. Matter of fact he won't leave any valve alone unless is middle spec.......or it gets adjusted.

Yup, loved my ZX1100 Ninja and ZRX1100 motors from Kawasaki. Very easy valve adjs even though they were every 7,000 - 8,000 miles. It was SO easy. He will know. I loved that motor and I love my FJ09 motor too. Not as easy on the Valve adjs for sure. Even the VMX1200 I had 3 of those you had a tool from Yamaha to push the valve spring down to pull the shim with a magnet. This will be my 1st bike to have to take out the cams. Even though my cousin and I changed the ZRX1100 to the ZX1100 Cams. Had to move the double valve springs over to the ZRX1100 motor if you wanted to use the EPU. You got 1,000 more RPMs with the ZX1100 EPU. But that motor from Kawasaki was as easy as setting the valves every 3,000 miles on my 1964 VW Bus. Don't want to suck a #3 exhaust valve do ya? I think it was exhaust??? That was late 70s early 80s. I was following the Grateful Dead around. Hum, can't remember just remember having to adj them every 3,000 miles. 

Moderator, how do I mark this as I have a pipe coming

Thanks for all the replies guys! 

Looking for a stock exhaust didn't know till I looked on OEM parts that the whole exhaust is 1 piece. CAT is made to the pipes. Bent tubes, need stock exhaust to replace. Not into piping the bike. Stock is what I want. 

1 hour ago, peteinpa said:

Heck, just did the jet dance last winter on my QT50.  Bigger bore, bigger carb, and pipe. Hard part is finding where to begin.

Only thing to go on was WAY off.  Main was bigger than any logic.

It's now doing 45 mph.  Stock from Yamaha it did 27 mph.

Yeah, I've got a 2008 ZUMA 2-smoke with the carb mod. It used to do 35 on the flat and 38 down hill. Now it does 40 on the flat with me, 240 lbs. and 45-46 down hill, LOL!

On 8/15/2022 at 2:41 PM, kilo3 said:

I've learned I have to sit smashed against the gas tank for the best overall feel. Feels like i'm right over the bars but that's where it's most comfy for me.

This is my seating position when I get in the twisties. In the businessman's position I call it. Regular sport touring I do a more relaxed seating, mid-seat. I needed gen-mars on my ZRX1100 but the FJ doesn't need them. I never get the pain between the shoulder blades on the FJ. 

Welcome back! Get well soon, looks like a nice color combo.

Looks nice. Can you say Café? I know you can. Enjoy! Well, enjoy from 6 till 11 AM. Cook after that, LOL!

Oh yeah, the chains on the wrong side, LOL!

1 hour ago, petshark said:

So, I did two one-hour test-rides and I'm going to pass. I love the way you sit on the bike, the brakes, dash and electronics are so great and I so want them but the character of the bike just makes no sense for me. 

It is very fast and I love the rush but it didn't scare me contrary to what I had expected. Took it to the redline and rode around in Dynamic mode and Dynamic pro but it don't want to ride around waiting for that power to come in above 7K RPM. It is a sports bike and I would love to own it but I only have room for one bike and the Tracer makes so much more sense. I'm looking at upgrading to the 9 GT again even though it is a real eyesore compared to the XR IMO. 

It was really hard but I'm going to chose function over form.

One of the bigger motorcycle retailers here in town had a used XR with 23,000 miles for about 7,500. Thought about it but then remembered that with BMWs as well as Aprilia's you need to know your machinic by first name. I decided to say no, and keep the 2015 FJ-09. I didn't test ride it, just saw it on the internet. it was the red and white version, very attractive and the HP was very attractive also. I probably won't do anything different till I retire in about 4 years. Buy that retirement bike. IF, and that's IF I am still riding much at that point. Have had a few friends, acquaintances die the last year in bike wrecks. Since last year in September I've ridden maybe 900 miles of the 3,500 to 4,000 I would have ridden. Still just don't have the urge. I've ridden 1 trip of 3 trips the group has had. I pulled the bike out and rode it once around our lake, 48 miles, an hour ride, That I usually do 2-3 times a month. But that's a talk for another time. Hope you find something that does it for you. 

On 2/9/2022 at 12:31 PM, roy826 said:

I do live in a state where 28% of the people on the road driving have NO insurance at all. That could be a problem in all this.

Yeah, I'm right next door in Louisiana. I have State Farm, Liability with Uninsured Motorist. We have even more people without insurance here, hence the Uninsured Motorist. 2015 FJ is 73 bucks every 6 months and a ZUMA scooter is 21 bucks every 6 months. What makes the scooter cost so much is the coverage because it might be stolen I've been told. My 1999 Tacoma has the same coverage as the bike and is 153 bucks every 6 months. Insurance is why I got rid of a 2000 ZRX1100 and a 1996 ZX11. I'm over 60 and have 1 speeding ticket in 30 years. A couple of warnings in that time. I use cruise control and go 5 - 7 miles over the limit but I drive a company car everywhere and do 30,000 miles a year easy. Insurance is a 150 a month line in the budget. It's not fun for sure. 

Sent you a PM

On 4/15/2022 at 9:02 AM, texscottyd said:

kind of a surreal experience.      

I hit thumbs up since they don't have a "WOW" emoji, LOL! Living in Louisiana for the 60 something years of my life and haven't had that happen. No, I'm not jealous, !

16 hours ago, micah2074 said:

That sure is purdy!

2 minutes ago, betoney said:

Fortunately I have plenty of tires for the FJ but it would be nice to get an extra set for the VFR while they have a rebate.

I have this set and it will work for the 2 trips in the spring but need another set for in the fall. Like you it would be nice to get in on the rebate!

On 3/11/2022 at 10:43 PM, betoney said:

Very recently, I was checking on supply of tires for my VFR (adventure tire sizes) from several different online retailers and all of them were out of stock of at least the front or rear from several different brands, nobody had a complete set available in the sizes I needed.  I'm still waiting on email notifications of back in stock.

I was looking till about 2 weeks ago. Revzilla gave me 15 bucks and I had some money there from earlier purchases. They had the front and rear Roadsmart IIIs and with all the discounts it was 236.00 for the set. Wanted to try the Bridgestone T32's. Am real happy with the S22s. The rear has 2350 miles on it and I think I could get another 500 miles. Now that I have the no mar tire changer might save them and throw them back on to see how far they go. Only takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours for the ole man here to pull the tires off the bike, change and balance and put them back on the bike. Inflation has gotten to the T32s but the Dunlop's were priced right with both in stock. I usually use https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/tires-and-wheels/tires. they also file you paperwork for the VISA credit rebates. But at this point Revzilla.com did it for me. Not my first choice but had what I needed at a deal. 

17 hours ago, betoney said:

I would love to ride the MT10 but as much as I love to ride to out of the way places and long road trips, the horrible fuel economy wouldn't work for me as my only bike.

I end up sport touring with Gen1 and Gen2 VMaxes that need gas every 100 miles even though I can do 150 miles easy "Sport Touring". So for me switching to a bike that needs gas every 100 miles, I'll be like everyone else. Well, not everyone. We do have a Victory bagger and a BMW, early 1000 in line 4. I get gas every stop now because I can't make it to the 2nd stop. AND twisted throttle has a hardbag set up for them, . And still around 462 lbs. wet, new. And we ride the Ozarks and NC_Tenn_Ga. area, and have for years. We're old! We know where every gas station is in all the Podunk towns, LOL! I can do it because luckily, it works for me. 

52 minutes ago, betoney said:

**update**

Since I am getting it ready for summer road trips I have had it out several times in the past 10 days adjusting, tweaking and fiddling.  I have my GPS installed and compared it while riding the FJ and then VFR back to back, the FJ speedometer and tripmeter are off a bit from the readings of the GPS (the FJ reads 2-2.5 mph higher than the GPS) where the VFR is dead nuts accurate.  The FJ fuel average readout is about 7% optimistic (displaying 47mpg is actually about 44mpg) where the VFR is the opposite by a small margin, if the readout says 40mpg average, real world calculations put the fuel economy at 40.6-40.8mpg based on 3 tanks of fuel run to reserve. 

Every tank of fuel has consistently netted a true calculated average 40-41mpg with the display switching to 'distance to empty' countdown reading of 42-48 miles remaining at around 170-175 miles.  The fuel capacity is .8 gallon more but the fuel economy is less resulting in the same tank range for both bikes.

The last thing of note, magazine reviews report that the bike is deceptively fast and that it is easy to get in over your head without realizing it, very true.  Its so relaxed riding that I often find myself 20-30mph over what I thought I am traveling, it just doesn't feel that fast until I look at the speedo and realize that I'm going 80mph through these sweeping curves.  😎👍

Thanks for the update betoney. I still have a bit of dive bomb kid left in me and I keep thinking I might sell the FJ for a MT10. I'm glad Honda is filling the urge you are looking for. Always was a Honda man till I bough my first VMax, a Yellow 1994. I know the motor has to be buttery smooth. Honda doesn't push any of their engines anymore. It will last forever. Even though you are happy with the suspension I'm sure you will get some correct springs for your weight, and a rear shock. Have a wonderful spring and summer riding the new member of the family. 

Sorry I didn't get in on this till now betoney. It is sexy, and red too! And it being a Honda it should be buttery smooth. Waiting to read the reviews in the "Other" bikes category. Heck yeah man, SCORE!!!!  

On 10/15/2021 at 11:20 AM, Clegg78 said:

I ride with people on 1200cc plants, and yeah they just always have a TON of grunt anywhere, where I need to be in the right gear.   

I understand totally. I ride with Gen1 and Gen2 VMaxes, Aprilia Tuonos, Z100 Ninjas. It's tough at times coming out of the curves onto a couple mile straight stretch. They just kick it to 5th and blip it to 150-160 and I'm back there flogging the ole FJ. Been really thinking of going the full monte and getting the MT-10. We're still not talking the 197-200 HP of the Gen2 VMaxes but I'm not at the top of 700 almost 800 lbs. either. Be more like the Aprilia but not having to have a mechanic named Tony on speed dial. The MT10, with some suspension work and a set of hard bags, I'm right there with the Gen1 and Gen2s having to have gas every 100 miles. But hey, when you want over 150 HP gas mileage is irrelevant. It's the "SPORTY" Tourer. And I'm not having to work back through the pack to get to 2nd or 3rd in line. Yes, I feel your pain.