Larz

Apologies for "whinging" up your thread; appreciate a review of the bike from someone who has owned previous iterations. I was disheartened to see this particular "all sports", albeit, authorized Yama dealer, put a new bike in that condition on the floor.

I previously purchased both my GT and TW from them, as they are certainly a cut above the other "big box motosport" dealer in my area. Perhaps the rarity of the particulr species induced a state of disregard for what are easily remedied minor cosmetic issues. The $$$ are just reality in our inflationary times,eh.

Spurred on by this review, just had to go look at a 9GT a local dealer has sitting in the showroom. Luckily, it's red; normally, that'd be the color I'd desire.... not in this case, however. Does not appeal to the eye the way the red FJ-09 does. Too Ferrari red, too much of it and the gold stanchions look way too "yuletidey" against the red body. The other hicccup is the $$$: 14,999 MSRP+ frieght& setup $1400+ doc fee $300+ sales tax... didn't get that far as I left at that point. Not to mention shipping and/or setup damage - broken left front turn signal, marred plastic on the right pannier, missing reflectors with the sticky pads still on. WTF, sloppy putting it out on the floor in that condition. ( breathes deep sigh of relief, woulda had to sell the GT900, the TW200 and still scrape up around 5K).

On 11/21/2022 at 6:16 AM, nhchris said:

Looked at a 2022 9 GT and liked what I saw.  Then we talked price…

…and I was shocked !   MSRP plus $1600.

No  November deals, minimal for my FJ 09 trade and take it or leave it attitude.  Hummm.

I also found it really hard to get the GT up on the center stand!

so they wanted just south of $17K? And this isn't the GT+ you're talking about, I take it.....hmmm🤑

Damnit man, stop posting these great reviews on the 9 GT; trying hard to remain satisfied with my 900 ( not that hard to do) 🤣

Did you ride it? Like it, or not? Be hard to find a bike more different than the FJ in engineering & character. Performance "Hardlys" are a bit of an acquired taste, but have their charms, as well as being great conversation starters. Still love my souped -up Dyna, totally primitive heavy metal riding experience compared to the Tracer.....

Can't speak to Dave's flash, but Ivan's cost me a few MPGs. Don't see how any flash that improves the LEAN stock map isn't going to consume a bit more petrol....

Like to ride one, try out the adaptive CC. My Mazda has a decent ACC and it's ruined the CC for me on the GT, I have to keep reminding myself that it isn't adaptive🙄

Yep, it ain't the mileage as much as the hard driving, eh.

63 years of " balls to the wall living", accidents, injuries, heavy manual labor and far too much alky+ various mind/body altering substances has me feeling the Reaper breathing down my neck the last year or so. I don't ride near as much now as I should or would like; I can still pull a 500+ mile day, yet even a couple 100 miles and I'm feeling it the next day.

I need to get out more on the bikes before I get any older....

Ivan's flash for the GT 900 was made using a bike with an Akro full system... 

On 4/22/2022 at 2:07 AM, petshark said:

I had hoped that I could get the cruise control to work at all speeds (for some pseudo-gymkhana practise) but in the Woolich racing software it's not an option unfortunately. I think I did read that Ivan's flash does provide this option.

I seem to have a faint memory of someone saying that it might be harder or even impossible to do on the new Tracers. Better security? I could be completely wrong about this but just another possible reason why it's taking so long. 

cruise control works at any speed with Ivan's flash for the 900. His flash will lock out the ECU from any other software or tuner, however. Each to their own; the most frequent compliment I get for my 900 is the sweet sound the Graves exhaust extracts from the triple....

4 hours ago, Heli ATP said:

Took the VanVan out for a ride today and all I can say is what a hoot. This has to be the easiest bike in the world to ride. I don't remember my GZ250 been so much fun. Highly recommend one if you have a newbie coming up. 

Best part of all is that I got a biker wave from a HD guy, something that rarely happens on the Niken 😁

yeah, that's how the TW 200 is, perfect beginer bike; albeit, the Van Van has a better seat by far. Pretty much everybody on a bike waves at the TW, I think it is the fat tires. Best part of riding the TW for me: makes my Tracer feel like a frickin starship. 

On 5/22/2022 at 5:57 PM, Eventhorizon said:

........I get a little bit of a "rumble" from the road 5s large water channels when cornering that I dont get with the T32's......

 

yeah i've noticed that with the Michelins, more noise than vibration, can't say that it has negative affect on actual stickiness when heeled over 

2 hours ago, Wintersdark said:

I loved my 4's as well - two sets of those used.  The 5's where largely the same (though they looked cooler), but the 6's have a much better front tire.  It's a noticeable difference in the twisties; the front feels much tighter and more responsive. Supposedly much improved wet grip, but to be honest the 4's had such good wet grip that more is a welcome safety thing I suppose but doesn't really make that much difference to me as I ride much more sedately in the rain as a rule of thumb.

Better stiffer carcass on the front 6 , eh? That would explain the excellent manners the tire exhibits at 100+ mph speeds; you really need a stout sidewall to smooth things out up in that range. doesn't take much flexing to make the bike feel "flighty" . Attribute the poor high speed performance of the Bridgestones  I had on to a minor carcass defect.....

Could there be a more subjective aspect to motorcycling than tires ? Perhaps oil, or color of bike, maybe seats or exhaust....

At the moment I'm quite pleased with the Road 6, feels good pushing the bike in the twistys and the smoothest tire I've run on the Tracer at triple+ digit speeds.  Pricey but will be worth it if I can get a full season out the rear- with three bikes to ride that's around 6k for the Tracer ( I have no clue how folks milk 10k+ out of a rear tire on any kind of motorcycle🙃) 

On 5/1/2022 at 11:15 AM, 2and3cylinders said:

My last 3 sets of Bridgestone tires, a S22 and two T32 last year were a bit over $200 each pair after their $50 rebate. ....... saw a set of S22s at Cyclegear for $300 the other day- probably best price ya could find right now .....

Which brings to mind an experience of mine back in my Yute.......

I remember buying for $55, a comparatively high price back in the day, for a pair of the very latest hot street bike and racing tires, Dunlops K81s, which sped up turn-in with a really pronounced V-shaped profile.  They were bias-ply 18 inchers, I can't recall front and rear widths but maybe they were 100/110 and 130.  I do remember them not being sticky by today's standards, as demonstrated one day going up San Francisco's 17th Street in 1972 or 73......... Oh yes the K81 was the shiznit back in the day, like '76 when I started riding everyone had to put a set on their Norton 850 Commando; CB 750; KZ 1000, even the RD400 and my own little CB 400/4 SS: they were considered sticky in their day,eh- tire tech come a long way since then.

 

True story. Sounds fun🤪 I got one for ya, just a couple of months ago on my Dyna ( yeah yeah, it's a Harley but I would bet $100 there ain't a person here would not come back without a big grin on their face if they took her for a ride- 10s of thousand of $$ into performance upgrades, man.

So I get these Carbon Fiber wheels for her- light as a feather they are. Wow, sportbike like handling. About 90 miles in, the left side rear wheel bearings go to shit. Get 'em replaced, having a great time for a couple of weeks chasing down Sportbikes and shit. End of long day riding headed back to the barn climbing Usery Pass rd, go to pass this cager- jump on the throttle and right as I'm next to the car I hear a chirp and the rear wheel locks up for a second and then BANG! The bike does this huge lurch to the left like a giant swatted her- I remember yelling "No" and grabbing the bike with everything I had and jerking to the right- whoa there's the car's door and a face in the window with huge round eyes. The bikes doing this insane wobble now and slowing down fast; I managed to get over to the shoulder. I was sure a tire had blown, but nope everything "looked" ok. i start her back up but she wobbles like crazy at walking speed. Stop again and now I see the drive belt is super tight, WTF I think, how did that happen. Well the left wheel bearings failed again and this time the left side of the hub collapsed and the belt pulley smacked the left side of the axle knocking it back .5 inch. Thank goodness I was doing about 65mph and not the Freeway at triple digits.

23 hours ago, betoney said:

......"bargain" Bridgestone tires....

ah I'm afraid my poor writing skills have caused you to misconstrue what I meant by Bargain Bin: I was referring too the Bargain Bin at Cyclegear- not any specific brand of tire- at least the Bargain Bin at the Mesa, Az store ( I never shopped tires at the Spokane store when I lived in Idaho so can't say whether they run specials on tires there). 

While it's true I'm not fan of Bridgestones, my experience with them is limited to the Bargain/ sale tires I put on the Tracer and the OEM tires that came on my old Vulcan 1500 so really cannot offer an informed opinion beyond I won't be buying anymore bargain or on sale  rubber of any brand for the Tracer. Honestly I wondered whether the Bridgestones were factory seconds they performed so poorly....

Finally got the Road 6s mounted on the GT- really like them! Bit more neutral turn- in than the Conti RA 3s, but much better than the OEM Dunflops or the Bridgestones. Very smooth at triple digits. Paid $437 for the set from Revzilla 🤑

By comparision paid $433 for the set of Conti RA 3s from Revzilla in early 2021- rear went at a bit over 3K

$ 320 for the bargain bin Bridgestones from Cyclegear- hated from day 1- look to have gone 5-6k on the rear but shitty turn-in, bad vibes at triple digits, not very grippy at sporty lean angles😶

If the Road 6s give me at least 4k on the rear they will be my go to, worth the extra $$ - ain't doing anymore Bargain bin crap- ruins the ride, for me at least

On 2/27/2022 at 5:17 PM, PhotoAl said:

.....my go to tire is the Michelin Road 5.  For the front went to a Michelin Pilot Power 5 just to have a bit more grip on a light front.  They have both done well although the Power 5 does scallop on the front - just like the Road 5 did.......

Have decided on the Michelins, so you feel that the power 5 is better on the front as opposed to the Road 5 there, then? How about the Road 6, as good as the 5? 

Going to to do Colorado Million Dollar Highway and such- already rode all the stuff in Utah: Beartooth, Hogsback,etc. probably do some New Mexico on the way back, so need to get at least 4k before rubber goes to shit. Way things are going likely blow retirement $$ on gas but WTH, ain't likely to get any cheaper in my lifetime

3 hours ago, texscottyd said:

Absolutely.  And everyone’s perception of ‘aggressive’ is based solely on their own frame of reference:  It’s funny how everybody slower than you is incompetent, while anyone faster is ‘f**king insane’.  😉

.....

Ain't it the truth often enough. Although I know people who ride slower than me but whom I consider to be very competent riders, just conservative. They are the folks who typically get more MPGs out of their bikes and more mileage out their rear tires than average. At best I would say I'm a "spirited" rider: I've ridden with kids on their Hyper-naked FZ-09s- it's cool to watch from the rear as a talented rider picks perfect lines through tight turns while pulling 11 o'clock wheelies at every exit🤪( of course when the road straightens a bit, what's left of my ego demands blowing by them at triple digits- why else have a fairing,eh) 

22 hours ago, Bill H said:

Im ok with the front wearing out about the same as the rear ,,makes making a decision to replace both easier ,,if that makes sense 

You might like the Conti RA 3 then, designed to replace front and rear at the same time

On 3/2/2022 at 5:03 PM, Bill H said:

Yeah I looked at that Raven but noticed they got a bad rap,,Only 4 k sounds harsh to me ,,so far so good with Verge .

I have to say the Battlax that game with my old fz 07 lasted a long friggin time ,I replaced that at over 10 k and could have gone longer ,,and I was anything but gentle on that bike 

hmmm, yeah the Battlax look too last for sure, at least in the rear; of course that's at the expense of good feeling grip and, to me at least, heavy turn-in which I do not like at all on the Tracer. The front cupping could be a carcass issue- bargain bin set- compounded by poor balancing+ shite suspension setup: full disclosure, I had the 15K service done at a shop, was a bit over 1k later that I realized they had turned all the fork suspension settings( Andreani carts) down all the way ( damn I thought she was handling funky but screw me over being stupid for not  checking the settings for that long,eh)

hmmm, cupping, strange magic there. Seen it on all my cruiser bike's front tires; on the Tracer only this set of Battlax have cupped in the front while rear looks perfect after a few thousand miles. 15" section is more radically cupped making me think a balancing issue

41 minutes ago, betoney said:

I am so excited to take it on a road trip, if all goes as planned, my first big outing this year is a trip to California in May.

Sounds awesome. This is the year to get out there and do it for sure. So that's an X... the CrossTourer, then? With the 19" wheel up front... totally cool. Should do pretty good on the gravel/hard pack,eh; don't think I'd be brave enough to take it anywhere rougher but I'm the sure bike and you could do it if you wanted.

Really nice bike! Should make for some very comfortable long distance rides.... and no chain to worry about👍

5 hours ago, peteinpa said:

Well you can always lurk there.

Naw, fascism turns me off. No biggie, if I want talk or read TW200 I'll do it over on ADVrider- other inmates there have recently been banned from that same TW200 forum- one for having the temerity to disagree with Doctrine&Dogma regarding tire choices, even