maximo

20 minutes ago, Lone Wolf said:

Wow that was a thorough write up comparing the bikes.

Had to find their web site - interesting that it is BMW only. Sounds like a great place.

It was great, I highly recommend it. They only have GS, but they welcome riders to bring in non GS bikes. In my group we had a guy with a KTM 1290, one with a Harley Panamerica, and another one on a Multistrada. But the training is definitely made for GS in mind. There were some exercises the KTM couldn't do (for example, walk beside the bike in first gear, walk it uphill using the clutch only (other hand on the seat rail). The KTM would lug and die, it needed gas to make it happen) 

Well guys, my time on the FJ has come to an end. Her new owner just took her away, leaving an empty slot in the garage.  She and I were friends, but we never became besties. We had a lot of good times, but she needed to be with someone who would not stop thinking about her. 

She did teach me one thing, that I really like the riding position. So much so that the empty slot in the garage will soon be taken up by a new R1250GS I just bought. 

This has been a fun and useful forum, thank you all for being a good group to chat with.  

You all take care, enjoy your rides, and be safe. I'll see myself out...

On 3/18/2023 at 10:20 AM, DavidS said:

What betoney said!!!!!!!!!

I once traded my old FJ09, fully outfitted with after market sparkles to the Tracer 900 GT. I quickly realized I had the newer version of my old bike, but not much improvement or extra features. I had added all the extra sparkles after market on my old bike, and my old bike was about the same in almost every way to the new tracer. And I still wish I could have the shorter wheel base like the original bike, I miss the character of the old FJ09.

Come take my FJ09 and sell your 900GT! It has all the farkles, including cruise control and the hooligan wheel base.  🙂 

Also, recall this thread:  

On 3/30/2023 at 11:49 AM, Lone Wolf said:

I tried tape on the upper visor a few years ago - then decided to put tape on top of the retractable sunglasses in my Shoei GT Air. I used blue painters tape. 

My shield is tinted, only pull the retractable sunglasses down when the sun angle is bad, then the tape is there so you can focus on the road and a bit above the road. Otherwise, no obstruction to view when sunglasses are retracted.

That's an interesting idea, to put the tape on the pull down shaded visor instead on the main visor. I will give that a try. 

7 hours ago, Ride365 said:

I honestly don't notice a much difference in noise between my full face HJC and my modular AT950.

Same here. I have both and find them equally noisy/quiet. 

As others have said, buy FIT first, features second. A lovely helmet with bells and whistles is useless if it gives you a headache after an hour. 

That said, I have the Scorption AT950, my first with a peaked visor, and I don't like it. I find that I have to pay too much attention to the position of my head in the wind stream so as to avoid the wind catching it and tugging my head up. 

What I have found to be equally effective in blocking the sun is a single strip of electrical tape on the top half of my visor. It does the same thing as putting your hand out in front of your face to block the sun, or wearing a peaked visor. And it's much less intrusive. 

21 hours ago, Brian said:

15 FJ-09 stock except Vcyclenut flash.

I am in Houston, TX USA (elevation about 3ft) and am about to trailer my bike to SW Colorado to ride the lower Rockies...some at 11,000ft near Silverton.

Can I expect any issues with the bike at that elevation?

35 years ago, My 1975 Chevy Blazer didn't run so well at high altitudes 

Hey Brian, I did this trip last year, you can read about it somewhere in a post here. Altho I'm not a sea level 3, I'm at sea level 200, should be comparable.  

In summary, I had zero problems with throttle, power, feel. 

Whatever pants option you land on, remember the plastic bag hack. Keep two plastic grocery bags (the throwaway kind you get when you shop) with your rain pants. When it's time to put on the pants, step into the plastic bags so they cover your boots. Your rain pants will slide on very easily, you won't be fighting the friction of your boots. 

Also, check out Seth Laam's saddles. He custom makes each one, so you could ask him to build it to incorporate the height you want, and the level of support that fits your particular backside. He's done all of mine and I swear by them. 

On 3/1/2023 at 5:22 AM, maximNikenGT said:

 

 

How often do you all clean your helmet?

Also this is the first time I've seen someone recommend applying carnauba wax to a face shield. Anyone attempt this?

https://www.araiamericas.com/care-and-cleaning

I clean it when I come near passing out when I don my lid.  I mean, it's not like I'm sharing my helmet, so my nastiness is ok with me, as long as it doesn't interfere with consciousness. 

I've tried various things on my face shield over time, and I always come back to just cleaning it and leaving it alone. Invariably whatever miracle thing I put on will smudge, smear, or attract bees (looking at you, lemon pledge). 

I don't have one of these beasts, but the pleasure of riding it y'all are describing makes me think of how I feel about my 24 year old SV650. 

I have to admit that I was one of those that really wanted the XR1200 when it came out, but I had just committed to another bike, and with the economy downturn in place I couldn't justify it. Maybe when I retire and have more time for my rotation I'll add it to the stable. 

Welcome that's some serious mileage on the RT! 

I'll combine your history with Brit bikes and XS bikes, and say that my first "big" bike was the gorgeous Brit Bike impersonator XS650SH.  

Looking forward to your stories on the Tracer and coast rides!

12 hours ago, Wintersdark said:

I've only ever hand washed it though, and that only... twice?  

 

Wait, you wash them? I've always believed that the built-up crud helps preserve the integrity of the garment. 

On 12/11/2022 at 11:30 AM, wanderer said:

I have a question on heated gear, like Gerbing heater jacket liners. Can you fold or stuff the gear into a bag (when not in use) without damaging the heating element wiring? It seems like the wiring would crimp and fail.

I use Gerbings, and I've never had an element fail after stuffing into a saddle bag. Seems like you could, tho, if you folded it and pressed hard on it. I typically loosely roll it and pop it in the trunk or bag. 

6 hours ago, duckie said:

There is no need, reason to push it on a track day. None. You can  go way faster on the track than street and never be pushing it on the track.
 

So true!  I'll often ride in C group when I'm focusing on a single aspect of riding (body position, brake markers, trail brake, etc). I'll put all my mental energy on that one thing, build some muscle memory, etc. Sure, going fast is fun, but riding well is even more fun. Coincidentally, that turns into faster riding, without the panic braking... LOL 

7 hours ago, kilo3 said:

Does track riding diminish your pleasure of street riding?
I always worry that if I start doing track days ( i have a small trackish type thing that's pretty close) that I wouldn't enjoy the street anymore.

Despite being in the same neck of the woods, I manage to get to Thill about once a year. I'd say it has increased my pleasure of street riding. Track riding has let me become more familiar and comfortable with lean angles, setting lines, and available traction. Now on the street I spend much less mental energy wondering about these things, and simply enjoying them (since on the street I'm way further inside my performance envelope).  So even though the street is much less aggressive than the track, it's become more pleasurable. 

On 11/17/2022 at 1:46 PM, Heavy said:

 

I hope you're in some part of Canada's banana belt ... 

Canadian banana belt

5 minutes ago, Heli ATP said:

HEAT-OUT Cool'R was a CycleGear / RevZilla product. Not sure if it is still produced.

 

I think the Heat-Out brand has been discontinued. Sadly.  Their hot weather base layer, the original one, was fantastic. I'm still using it, but it's getting very worn. I bought the newer stuff and it was no good. 

On 11/15/2022 at 1:42 PM, Heli ATP said:

Every now and again I come across an accessory I think I need. I learned long ago to wait a few days, or weeks before making a purchase for these items. Of course often the desire fades, and I pass. Today I saw a promo for kidney belts, are they for protection or warmth?

So what accessories do you use that you consider essential but it doesn't come up often in conversation? And... what about those Kidney Belts?

Back in the 80's I rode with a kidney belt, but honestly, only because it was cool. I suppose those with more snug fit, like lifting belts might do something. 

My must have for cold weather is a balaclava. It keeps my bald head toasty, while protecting my neck against cold drafts. 

On 10/26/2022 at 2:38 AM, Paddy01 said:

 I’ve seen so much that I can’t begin to imagine how you guys in North America choose where to go next in such a vast landmass. 
 

 

Sometimes I just point and shoot. Problem is, I can ride for 10 hours on the superslab and still be in the same State.... 

A few years back my brother and I took our dad on the trip we'd always dreamed of. For the Old Man's 80th, we set off on a two week, multi thousand mile adventure of Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Despite our best efforts to ride the old goat into the ground, he was the one at the end of the day to say "that's all you got? I'm just getting started!". 

His trusty Shadow 1100, started showing signs of age and abuse toward the end of the trip. By the time we sputtered him home, the bike only ran on duct tape, wires, and miracles (we dubbed his bike "La Milagrosa", a riff of young Che Guevara's bike "La Poderosa"). 

That was the last ride he took. He ended up giving La Milagrosa away the following year. He knew his riding days were effectively done, and wanted to have his last ride be the best one. 

He's still with us, and not a week goes by that I don't thank him for imparting his love of motorcycles with me. I remember with great clarity being six years old when he put me on the back of his Ducati Mark 3, with the crazy low clip ons, and said "hang on". 

Three cheers for the octogenarians still on two wheels! 

I tried a Corbin saddle back in the 90's on my FJ1200. I gave it two years, two uncomfortable years, and it never quite broke in the way it does for most people. I don't recall miles, but it was way over 2k, so there was plenty of saddle time. It just simply didn't mold to my backside the way it was intended to. For me, Seth Laam's saddles do the trick, right balance of rigid/give, with great weight distribution. I've only done ride ins for custom work, so I don't know how his shipped saddles are, tho. But I can  vouch for him carving a saddle perfectly so if he gets a chance to personally manhandle your bum.