RichNDC

Attack of the Drones!

New video from the warped minds of JP & Rich. With new cast member Devin, the stooges take on the challenging Northeast Back Country Discovery Route.

This is excellent and exactly why I asked in this forum. Thanks Wintersdark! Ride safe! 

These are slightly different. I'm riding home to DC from the Canadian border after the BDR. I would rather have more highway friendly shoes. 

Has anyone done this to their Tracer 900 GT? I am thinking of putting these on for the NEBDR run I am doing in June. There is differing ideas about putting a 170 tire which is the widest Continental TKC Rocks, on a rim that is 180.  Is 10mm a bridge to far? Let the arguments commence and I thank you in advance. 

I would say I love the Avons. Not gonna handle the mud or deep sand, but I am not anywhere near an expert rider. Some of the BDR roads, I was slipping and sliding all over, but kept her steady and luckily did not drop the bike once. My amigo with more knobby tires had a much easier time. 

Avon Trailrider. My options for off road tires were not many, but they did the trick. That said, my partner in crime had a Tiger 900 with real off road tires and fared better in deeper dirt, very rocky roads, sandy spots. I am no expert rider, far from it. However, I made it and didnt dropt he bike. Plan on doing more, but the real technical BDRs would likely tear up my suspension at some point, or I drop the bike which has no crash bars or skid plate and I would be very sad. I ride plain old gravel roads frequently on weekend rides. Northern Virginia has many of them. 

I did a whole BDR on Tracer 900GT. Here's a funny video and proof! 

Exactly right. Sad about Coleman, because they have lots of inventory, and gear for sale. My situation got so bad that a national rep from Yamaha got involved and ended up fully paying for my first major service. About $600 or so. I bounce in and out of here, but wanted to say, I finally got new shoes for this pig and the wobble is gone. It was the factory tires. My guess--something about the geometry of the bike makes is more susceptible, and some tires may have just enough defect in them to cause this. The wobble was worse when there was more weight on the rear of the bike (loaded  top box, more gear in side cases). Now, it's gone. So much so that the new "off road" tires I got allowed me to ride all of the MABDR. Who said this pig was not an ADV bike?!?!? I beg to differ and there is video proof!  By the way, this video was also featured in an article in Revzilla, we did not submit to them, they found it somehow. 

So, I am gonna do the MABDR this summer on my Tracer 900GT.  I know this is not an ADV bike!  I am looking for tires in the 80/20 usage and not finding much. We are not doing the more difficult parts, no log jumping, no serious climbs. Just away from the roads. I already ride fire roads and gravel with OEM tires, even a little mud. What suggestions would you all have? I dont ride fast (too often) on the street, and I like to think I hug the corners, but I still have a 4mm band of chicken strips.  Doing this BDR instead of the track day (that was last year!) 

On 7/30/2019 at 1:43 PM, superfist said:

I had the issue with mine as well.  When I had about 500-1k miles I noticed a slight wobble.  Chased it round and round and the dealer's aadvice was "We can't find anything, stop taking your hands off the bars!".

By the time I replaced the tire there wasn't any evidence of scalloping or odd wear on the stock front tire.  I've had a front Metzler Roadtec 01 and now a Michelin Road 5 front and both have been absolutely steady.

I too have been super puzzled by this. Got 5K on the factory tires, so another 3-4 K and I will replace them, maybe sooner. I have tried this with, without, top box and bags, all sorts of suspension settings, tire pressures. Wobble happens at 42 exactly when side bags or top case are present. Without, it is there, but barely, seems to have gotten slightly worse, but I am one of those who mentally obsesses over such things, so it could be me. Had the steering head bearing checked (before I took it on the track). I believe, as you and many have said, that when I replace the tires, the wobble disappears. Hope that is the case for me. XSR900 was smoother than silk. 

I had this on mine, nothing to do with your helmet. Note the piece this arrow points to--this piece is kinda loose. I took some foam, like the kind you seal around doors and windows with (where one side is sticky) that was about 1/4 inch thick and put some pieces around this piece to seat it permanently. No more weird whistling. It drove me nuts when I first got the bike. I had to work the foam in there with a screwdriver, you want pressure on this piece from all sides to keep it firmly in place. Never heard it again. Been through serious heat and rain, so far, that foam has held steady. It goes without saying foam placement should be out of sight. It happened from the moment I had the bike, fixed it right away. Good Luck! 

Well, thanks for all the replies. I am curious to see if others who are experiencing this have it disappear when they change tires. I only have 3600 on mine, no tire change in my near future. Mine was totally absent when the top box was off, but it has now shown up slightly with no box or side cases.  I am just gonna live with it. I know for sure the head bearings are set right, have played with tire pressure, pre load, all of that. It just is. 

On 5/26/2019 at 1:38 AM, Motocheck said:

Hey guys,

2019 Tracer GT, 5000KM still on factory tires. Correct sag has setup for my 200lb weight. Tire pressure is F33/R36 PSI. Givi v47 top box and side cases were installed. MRA X-Creen Touring Clamp-On Windscreen Spoiler was installed on OEM screen (I took it off today as it was useless).

I noticed wobble when decel and both hands off the bars. I was fixing my gloves liner, mostly I ride with both hands on the bars. 

As suggested I will check steering head bearing. Before that I will ride without any luggage install on the bike and see if this will fix. If it does then I think it might required stiffer springs. 

Tires and wheel are in good shape.

In need of replacing OEM seat, thinking about Yamaha comfort seat, any other suggestions for 200lb rider? Planning a 9000km ride next month and OEM seat is painful after 90 min. 

You likely got a seat already, but I was gonna let you know. I bought a custom Corbin. I like it. I dont know if I like it for $500 like it though. I still get a bit saddle sore and had previously done a 6 day ride with the factory seat and it was fine. I think you get sore no matter what seat you got. The custom Corbin does look good on the bike though. I will post some pics tomorrow. 

On 5/19/2019 at 11:09 PM, betoney said:

OK, the curiosity has gotten the best of me... I have to ask... why are you decelerating with no hands on the bars only at 42mph?  Is this like one of those tide-pod challenges all the kids are doing on you tube?  😉

Nope, I dont do it to show off either. I honestly cant say how it started. Just when the road is clear and I am slowing down, sometimes I let my hands drop, then I guess it became more like a "thing".  Try it--then bring them back up on the bars just in time to smoothly stop the bike.

 I still have a slight wobble, again, only when hands off the bars and only exactly at 42mph, on decel. However, if the top box is off the bike, then it does not do it. I think there is something about the wind drag and the geometry of the frame. But, it's nothing to sweat. 

I have had mine mounted for months, done long trips, have not had this issue yet. Maybe set the screws with a little glue? I had already decided to put silicone over them if there were any leaks after a hard rain, but so far, none. Sorry you had that. 

So...I had the steering head bearing checked--torque was set correctly. Tires, chain, suspension settings....Last week I did a 6 day ride that culminated on a track day. Bike performed excellent, or as excellent as I am able to make it perform (which, was not much, thought I was a pretty good rider until I got on the track with the real deal guys). Coming back, bike was loaded. Top box, side cases and a 30L SW Mototech bag on the pillion. Wobble, ever present, again--only at 42mph during decel and hands off the bars. Then I get home...I take off all bags, wobble is now GONE. I cant make it wobble. The thing is, early on, I tested all bags, some bags, stuff in bags, bags empty--wobble always seemed present. Without the top box, there is NO WOBBLE. So, dont buy a top box for this bike, unless you like a wobbler. .....and if you do, I now have one for sale. Today, I got my Corbin seat.  Lovely. BTW--dont get electric blue welts or siding--it is not even close to matching. Some vinyl paint and I now have gloss black carbon fiber sides and welts. 

Definitely proper rotation direction, first thing I checked. Chain has been adjusted twice and I use micro calipers to set distance to ensure the rear wheel is straight.  I am about to do a 6 day trip, then track day. If this shimmy bothers me, I will replace tires upon return. 

You are correct sir. Any other ideas? It is still there, as slight as it is. Bike and tire are brand new of course. I am not going to worry about it. It only happens precisely at 45mph and with no hands on the bars. I dont think the steering head bearing is too tight or loose. I will be pissed if it goes away when I eventually replace the tires. Here is hoping I ride so much it happens soon! I got 9K out of the factory set on my XSR900. Once I saw the steel belting on the rear tire, I figured it was past time to change them out. 

UPDATE--I didn't mention tire pressure, it seemed too obvious. I keep it at 36psi and typically check it prior to every ride. I have also checked the play in sterring with front wheel off the ground, no friction, very smooth. However, after talking with great local shop (not the dealer, Coleman Powersports in Falls Church has been useless, frustrating) I double checked rear end alignment. I usually use a tape measure to set evenness on both sides when setting the chain. However, just got  precise calipers with digital gauge. It was off, though with a naked eye or tape measure it seemed nearly identical. It was about 3mm difference. I have not been able to ride since this adjustment, but will tomorrow. I am betting that this does it. Again, the wobble was only happening under the following conditions: decel, 45mph, and hands off the bars. No other time. I do have a good quality and precise tire gauge. Thanks all, here and looking around the net, I learned a good bit over this. Word to the wise in N VA, stay away from Coleman Powersports. It's a clown show over there, sad to say. For those suggesting a new tire, this bike is brand new, only about 900 miles. I have spun the tire with the wheel off the ground and no visible deformity or out of round. 

Thanks everyone. I am hesitant to take to this local dealer. Dealing with them buying the bike turned into a  fiasco ending up with the state AG involved. 

I have set the pre load and damping at various settings to test.  Still get the wobble. Yes, on track day it will be set to stiffest, which I am happy is very easy to do on this bike. I have not raised the fork or attempted to. 

I have read a lot about this and I am still confused. New Tracer 900GT, about 900 miles. I have tried various suspension settings and tried with and without the side bags and with and without the top case (I bought the Yammy 50L top case).  If I am going 45, let the throttle go, at around 40mph the handlebars wobble (a good bit), but only if my hands are not on them. If I keep my hands on the bars or grip them, they don't. It's also hard to detect with hands on the bars. I have checked the tire for out-of-round or deformity, check the brake discs for warp, check the wheel bearings. Is this something to get checked out? I have not been above 80mph yet as I am waiting to get past 1K miles. I suspect the front end might shake at high speeds. I had the XSR900 for 20K miles and had it over 130mph, smooth as silk. I am puzzled. Any ideas? (I will pre-emptively thank those who make smart ass remarks--THANKS!). The only thing I can think of is the wheel might be slightly out of balance. btw--I am 5'10" 210 lbs. Doing a track day in 2 weeks, want to be sure I can let her rip.