nhchris

I understand how cam lobe wear and shim wear can combine to make an intake valve go loose over time. But how can an exhaust valve get tighter over time given the wear factor. Motor heads please explain!!

Clegg, no matter how this ride goes its gotta be better than last year. No new oil pan required!

I am a lazy bum but I replace the filter on my FJ every oil change. IT'S THE EASIEST to access filter I've ever had on a bike with a center stand. Don't cheap out. You'll hate yourself in the morning!!

Clegg, are those the pressures you normally run on a tour?

And if you replace your helmet every 5-7 years that costs adds up. I replaced my 10-year-old Neotec with $160 Bilt modular from Cyclegear and never looked back. I will toss the Bilt after 3 years and buy a fresh model.

In the last month I've test ridden two BMW S100 XRs and sat on a Suzuki GSX S1000GT+ (No demo ride allowed). The GSX had less leg room than my FJ and my knees felt cramped very quickly. Seat is not adjustable, nor is windshield. The XRs were roomy, powerful and quite refined compared to the FJ. Not sure which is best for 2-up, but the XR has moved to the top of my list as an FJ replacement. Unfortunately they are quite pricy even pre-owned. 2021 with 6k miles was $17k minus $5k trade for FJ. A lot of dough for a used Bike. Ouch! So I'm looking at Versus 100 and Vstrom 1000 next.

My 2016 FJ09 behaves exactly as you describe your bike. 20k miles. Don’t worry, be happy!

What displacement were the sidecars? looks like a great little track.

As some sage on this board once said, the first and most important farkle for a Tracer is a pair of good ear plugs. Ride deaf, be happy!

Occam's Razor to the rescue! Ride on my friend…

I hope it is something simple like a blown fuse. Keep us posted and drink plenty of water!

Lots about chain tension on this site. Consensus seems to be about 25-35mm total movement on center stand.

Looks like a great day and ride. Love the scenery and that old-school, hard tail chopper. Ouch!!

I've stopped riding g two-up on my FJ. Uncomfortable and not very safe. Not sure about max load on Tracer, but FJ is around 400 pounds. With wife and luggage onboard we are over the top of that spec! And front end gets VERY light with a passenger. I'm eager to try a GSX S1000 GT, if in fact such a beast really exists.

Wordie, you never cease to AMAZE!!! Poor Mrs. Wordsmith must be in high dudgeon over this latest development. Good lord! In any case I salute you: you are a man strong enough to admit he might have made a wee mistake and then take drastic action to address the situation. Cheers from New England old sport.

I know it sounds like heresy, but I plan to sell or trade my FJ before the 24k service is required. (Got 18k on the clock now.) I’m patiently waiting for the GSX S1000GT to become widely available. And waiting……

Soooo, waddaya think of the Yami? I bet it’s not as fast as your K bike!

Friend of mine just broke three ribs crashing his E bicycle on the street. He sleeps in a chair, moves very slowly, and still can’t figure out how he crashed so hard. His doc’s fix for the injury was simple and inexpensive: “in six weeks you’ll feel a lot better.” Rock on…

Oh man that is awful news. And the truth is that could have happened to most of us. I was once run off the road by a box truck when attempting a multiple pass. And he seemed to enjoy it! The problem with the tracer is it accelerates like a rocket. I find myself nudging 80 mph when doing multiple-car passes on my FJ. Bad things can happen very quickly at that speed. But the frustration of noodling along at 30 mph on a twisty road behind a line of tourists can drive you (me) nuts very quickly also. I wish you rapid mending and I thank you for the reality check on what can easily happen during a long day of riding. Im sure whatever you decide will be the right choice for you.

Or buy one of these inexpensive and foolproof alignment tools... Also, once you replace the OEM chain with a high quality aftermarket one, you'll find the replacement chain does not need to be adjusted for slack very often.

I got one of these. 60L is more than enough. You'll fill a bigger bag but you won't need all that stuff. This one is very well made with lots of tie downs and it can be seen from a long was back in the rain. https://twistedthrottle.com/shop/luggage/tail-bags/sw-motech-drybag-600-tail-bag-60-l-signal-yellow-waterproof/ Whatever you get make sure it does not obscure the tail / brake light.

QUESTION-- How would you compare the noise level of the Tracer to the S1000GT+? Is the Suzuki quieter and more refined at highway speeds? That's a big issue for me. cb

Very scarce here in New England. And they usually sell as soon as they arrive at a dealer cause someone had a deposit down. I really want to ride one as a potential FJ replacement but can't get a dealer to work that out. And if you pay only MSPR consider yourself lucky. Gouging common on this popular and hard to get bike. There seems confusion on the GT vs. the GT+. The GT does not include hard bags. Not sure what MSRP is on the + model.

On a recent oil change I drained the oil till it dripped and replaced the drain bolt and went to bed. Next morning I was going to refill the crankcase but out of curiosity pulled the drain bolt first. I was shocked when about 2-3 ounces of additional oil came out! It takes a long time to fully drain the oil and if you refill immediately after a drain there will be a few oz in the engine that won't show up in the site glass until the bike sits for several hours. I have overfilled my FJ by filling to the top of the glass immediately after a drain and then having the glass show completely full later on. Just say'n.

Riding towards the Light along the coast of Maine.