roadwarrior

On 1/17/2024 at 10:02 AM, T9 Jeffrey said:

Installed new Yamaha 34L top box. 
Was able to order matching Redline Red color panels from Flood Marine in Ireland. Not available in the US. 

The 34L is the perfect size for me. Big enough to easily stow helmet if side cases are full or if I leave the side cases at home to split freeway traffic when have to go to LA. 
Also small enough that it is completely behind me so it doesn’t catch extra wind. Aerodynamic. Other cases are too big in my opinion. 

If detach the top case, the new mount actually doesn’t look bad. Extends the top of the rear to match the fender thing.

Question: See pic with side cases installed. Those are the stock black color panels. I can order red ones from Europe. Should I, or is it enough red already?

Where did you get the colored panels for the top case?

For the last couple of years I've been using wax/silcone plugs. I use them for motorcycling, snowmobiling, and swimming.

They are not as effective as more traditional in-ear plugs, but do cut down on wind noise significantly. 

The upside is they are super comfortable and you're not fighting with them taking your helmet on and off. I also swim laps a lot, so they can pull double duty for that activity.

On 2/15/2024 at 5:27 AM, Ride365 said:

Sleds might be even more fun to ride for me than motorcycles.......just don't get enough snow where I live to ever have or enjoy one. LOL

Yea, if I had to pick one, I would probably take snowmobiles as you get the dirtbike and streetbike experience combo-plattered into one machine.

Here in northern MN we get about four months of snowmobiling and five months of motorcycling. It generally works out pretty good. It's those in-between months that are hard to take. 

20 hours ago, Heavy said:

Nice sled.  Love the XC's.  Can't make it out on my phone ... 850 or 650?

2022 Polaris 850 Switchback XC

Glad it all mostly worked out in the end. Now you'll just have to keep the bike a long time to get that annual cost of ownership down to an acceptable level.

It's been a weird winter in MN. I have more miles on my motorcycles than I do on snowmobiles.

Buying non-titled vehicles (four-wheelers, dirtbikes, snowmobiles, etc...) in MN can be a real stressful situation. I always ask for proof of ownership by registration and sales receipt. If they don't want to provide that, then that's a deal breaker.

For liens, you can do a UCC search but that is super expensive if you purchase it yourself and most banks won't do it unless you are financing with them.

I recently dropped $12,500 large on a used snowmobile, and even when you try to take all the precautions, you still walk away not feeling 100% sure...

Sweet bike!

I don't think you will find it too much bike.

22 hours ago, kilo3 said:

I really like want low maintenance which I was hoping out of a underpowered 4 stroke air cooled. 

You're describing the DR 250/350 to a T.

There's a nice unmolested 350 with 3.1K miles on Facebook marketplace up North. Seems to be priced reasonably.

How about a DRZ400 ? If trying to save a few bucks look for the older DR350.

I've owned both and they are both pretty much indestructible and low maintenance, particularly the DR350.

Here's my DR

I have the MT-09 adventure pegs on my '19 GT and really like them. However, I don't think you can get them anymore. I believe they are the same pegs that the Super Tenre used/uses so you could try that search.

Puig makes a couple of different varieties that are similar and may work. I would think any peg labeled for the MT, FJ, or Tracer should fit but don't quote me on that.

Whoa, scary stuff!

On 8/14/2023 at 5:43 AM, RonZuidhoek said:

...What are the pro's and con's, comments and experiences. 

I have no idea but I got a feeling you are going to love it.

Welcome!

Where abouts in MN are you? I'm in Hermantown, just outside of Duluth.

Like your aviator photo. I spend as much time as I can on or around the water in the summers.

Had a nice ride up the North Shore of the big lake they call gitche gumee, and then over to Ely over this past weekend.

Cheers🍻

Would love to have the new GT+. A lot of nice features and tech, especially the updated quickshifter & dash, new braking system, semi-active suspension, and lean-angle TC. I probably could do without all the adaptive radar stuff, but who knows, I really like it in my cages...

But damn, $18K+ OTD is probably way more than I'm to ever pay for a bike.

I paid $13K OTD for my '19 GT. That was A LOT of money for me to spend on a bike then. I'm a low mileage guy, so at age 55, I figured that would be my forever bike.

I'll chime in with my experiences.

I have the Madstad touring. When adjusted fully upright and all the way up, it is the smoothest quietest ride I've ever had. Now granted, in this position, I'm looking through the shield if I'm slouching, and about three-four inches above the screen if sitting upright and attentive (which you should 🙂). Because it's fully adjustable, you can easily lower it I think up to another three inches or two if desired. Tilting it back would lower it even further.

From an aesthetic standpoint, I don't particularly care for a larger screen on any bike. So I use it on longer rides and in the spring and fall when the weather is cooler.

Otherwise I run a Puig sport screen during the summer.

It takes me about 20 minutes to swap out the screens so not a big deal there.

On 6/26/2023 at 7:03 AM, Suzukiguy said:

Installed the Seat Concepts kit on my 2020 Tracer 900GT. Only got in about 15 miles after the install, but my initial impression is that it is a vast improvement over the stock seat! Forward lean is all but gone and in the low position I can still flat-foot the bike. More extensive testing will be required this week!

How is it to install the Seat Concepts foam and cover onto the existing pan?

Any pictures of the seat on the bike?

On 5/26/2023 at 3:08 AM, Darren69 said:

New seat! Top sellerie. Haven’t ridden yet. And nice front brake reservoir cover.

Nice looking seat but I'm curious about your bicycle

On 1/18/2023 at 2:06 PM, 2and3cylinders said:

 Hence your handle?

Ha! Definitely taken from the movie and not my iron butt status.

Usually around 3k-5k on the bikes and another 2k on the snowmobiles.

I do a fair amount of fishing/camping in the summers and that eats into my available motorcycle time. 

Rides tend to be in that 15mi - 150mi range. I've never really enjoyed doing big miles.

On 12/28/2022 at 9:38 AM, kilo3 said:

@roadwarrior is that railroad tunnel/track under ely peak a snowmobile trail as well in the winter?

That railroad tunnel would be below us and to the left of the picture. But yes the same general area.

We were on Barton's Peak on Skyline Blvd.

I put my bikes away once the first salt hits the road and don't think about them again until spring, spending my winters snowmobiling.

We had a top 4 snowiest Decembers ever and am currently enjoying an incredible snowmobile season.

I have the Pinlock on my Shoei RF 1400 and leave it on year round.

This year I was still commuting into the middle of November with temps in the mid to high 20's in the morning. In years past this would of required the use of a snowmobile helmet. With the Pinlock there was no issue.

The Pinlock with a Transitional lense is a game changer. You never have to change your lense or helmet, regardless of the conditions. I'm big into 'set it and leave it'.

Seems like Yamaha continues to listen to their customers and the '23 GT shows it.

I'm a big fan of linked brakes on the few bikes I ridden with them. I love electronic cruise but think once active cruise control was needed, I'd just take over the throttle anyway to be in total control.

Of course with the extra features comes additional cost. With the price creep, it makes my '19 GT at $12,825 OTD seem like a pretty good price.

I recently bought a new Honda Accord Hybrid. When looking at the available colors, I was really smitten with the blue but wasn't sure what about the color that I liked so much. It wasn't until I got the car home that I figured it out. THEY'RE BOTH BLURPLE.

I always use B mode for pillion riding. My wife is not out set any land speed records when riding double up. B mode smooths out the ride and makes for a more enjoyable experience for her.

A mode is all for me 🙃

Love my Madstad I use mine like a barn door on longer trips and in colder weather. It's almost eerie how quiet it is. The wind protection is second to none.

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