ZigMerid

Do motorbikes have a "limp mode" like cars do? My bet is that it'll be some computer glitch or a sensor glitch that's causing the shutdown.

Earlier in this thread I quoted the specs that show that the 2021 9GT seat is lower than the 2020 900GT. My thinking was that this makes the bike more accessible to, ahem, height challenged riders. But I didn't take width into account - and the Yammy sites make no mention of it in the specs. But on reflection, width obviously impacts "height". It seems obvious in retrospect, but the raw seat-height specs are not the be-all and end-all of understanding the bike. A lesson learned. For me.

Not that I can talk about avatars. Mine is merely a photo of a best friend who died much too young... But @Skidood, I tried to zoom in on your avatar and I'm none the wiser. Is it a cultural reference I'm missing? Why is @rlambke19so impressed? And apropos this topic: if you are such a cool cat, why are you riding a 2019 Tracer rather than a 2021 9GT? 😀

More interesting in my view is comparing the speculation with the reality. Dealers saying stuff they have no clue about, members offering opinions on whether Yamaha would even introduce a new 2021 model, incorrect photos, supposed euro 5 constrains on "new" models and much more. Not that I'm going to wade thru 55 pages, but it'd be interesting to get a right/wrong score count on those who made claims about the model. Certainly fun to speculate and wish and hope, as I do, but my gut feel is that we probably got a solid C-minus in speculative accuracy. We'll have to sharpen our pencils if we want to do better with the 2022 model :-)

Yeah, fair enough. I've never been concerned about seat height as long as I can get my tippy toes on the ground. Flat footing never seemed essential to me. Heck, you can always get one foot firmly on the ground. What more do you need :-)

Gotcha. I see what you're saying. No, nor I. Just trying to understand the perception around seat height. Surely that will happen as a matter of course with the major after-market seat manufacturers and there are seat specialists out there that will build-to-order, so it hardly seems like this should be a show-stopper if everything else suits your needs? Yes, no?

According to the GT9 spec sheet, the seat height is adjustable: "The riding position was designed to accommodate riders of varying physiques and includes a two-level adjustable main seat. The handlebars and footpegs can also be adjusted to two different positions, allowing riders to set a position that gives them a secure feeling the moment they get on the bike. The handlebar clamps can be rotated 10mm forward changing the bar position 9mm forward and 4mm up, and the footpeg mounts can be raised 14mm higher as well as 4mm rearward." In the old money they say the GT9 seat can be set to either 31.9in or 32.5in which is lower than the older 900GT which, again according to the spec sheet, is stated as being either 33.5in or 34.1in. So as best I can tell, the GT9 seat is lower than previous models. (Sorry rest of the planet, the spec sheet I have only talks in inches).

Oh noes! Proof that every motorbike discussion degenerates into a discussion about engine break-ins, oils and Harleys. Is this the Godwin's Law for motorbikes?

Of course, based on my Owner's manual which has dedicated subsections on the breaking-in recommendations for Tires, Brakes, Clutch and Engine. To limit the number of honkers, these are what I stick on the back window of my Ford. If you ask nicely I might be able to find a spare set for you :-)

True. I am working my way thru the GT9 manual just to see if there is anything interesting and/or unusual to discover. Nothing so far, but I am up to the break-in part :-)

A sample of one bike not run-in according to the book. Anecdotes do not equal statistics. Besides, what does "identical" mean? Assembled in the same plant, by the same people with the same care using identical components produced by the same component manufacturers with identical raw-material inputs? The notion that any two bikes are identical is absurd. Just ask racers who blue-print their engines. If they did the same test with 1,000 bikes over a long manufacturing time-period and all of them returned identical results, then they might have something to say. Otherwise their anecdote has no bearing on whether a bike that has yet to be manufactured will exhibit the same characteristics. Having said all that, I agree that the manufacturing standards are pretty high and you can likely get away without a run-in, but that's ignoring the principal that a run-in is effectively an insurance policy; for you and the manufacturer. You're basically saying no one ever needs that insurance when they buy a new bike. And you're probably right 999 times out of a 1,000. Pity the poor bunny who happens to be bike-buyer #1000 who gets a bike that does need the run-in but listens to the "no run-in needed" chattering class and ignores the manufacturers advice.

Which is exactly why no one should listen to self-opinionated run-in advice on the Internet. A dyno run has nothing to do with an engine and drive-train run-in which takes at least 16 hours worth of riding - according to the book. Mr Yamaha definitely does not run your new bike on a dyno for nearly a day exercising all parts of the bike at varying rev ranges. Which book? In this case the Yamaha Owner's Manual which on pg 64 entitled "Engine break-in", very clearly states: "There is never a more important period in the life of your engine than the period between 0 and 1600km (1000 mi). For this reason, you should read the following material carefully. Since the engine is brand new do not put excessive..." So who you going to believe? Some random on the Internet or the engine manufacturer who wants your engine to perform properly over a long warranty period and well beyond? Yeah yeah, we all hear of anecdotes where engines go just fine without a run-in; that's why they're called anecdotes rather than statistics. Besides-which there are lots of other reasons for the break-in period. The drive-train, the brakes, the tires and more all need bedding in. Also, if there are any manufacturing faults, such as loose bolts or poorly connected brake lines and the like; much better to discover those during cautious riding than when going flat-bunny five seconds out from the dealer. So yeah, follow the manufacturer's guidance and ignore all else.

I've visited Sweden a number of times. Wonderful place, but unfortunately I don't know the language. Translation? Are you saying the Swedes are lucky ducks getting the GT9 before the rest of us? If so, I think it's time I re-visited my local dealer to get an update.

Yes, I had noticed that trend in the responses. Not one person suggested waiting. Surprise, surprise surprise. A bit like asking my puppy dog whether it wants to eat now or later. Later is never an option.

As my legion of followers know, I'm Jonesing for the 2021 GT9 - leastwise when it shows up on my shores. Now I don't *need* to get the 2021 as my current bike is running just fine and it'll likely run fine for the next 12 months at least. IOWs, I'm in the "want" not "need" category. My question to the hive mind is this: Given that the 2021 GT9 is much more like a new bike than an evolution of the previous tracer, will it suffer from new-model bugs and glitches? As a consequence, will the 2022 likely have a lot of little fixes and changes that Mr Yamaha learns about over the course of the 2021 model once it's ridden in the real world? Now I come from the software world, so we expect early versions to be full of bugs with lots of fixes scheduled for the second and subsequent releases. I know that vehicle manufacturers are far less blasé about their first release than we software bods, but still, first-release models do have a bit of a reputation for glitches, flaws and oversights which are fixed in later models. Having said that I don't really recall a lot of first-year motorbikes having serious problems, so maybe I'm being paranoid for no good reason? So what say you? If you could wait for 2022 would you wait? Do you have experience of first-year glitches with new models?

Me Three More seriously, I wonder whether A mode is really intended as a "Track Mode" for serious track racers? I've done a couple of track days, but that was more for training. I aint no racer boy, that's for sure, so I have no idea what real racers require in throttle control. So is anyone here a fair-dinkum racer who can comment on what racers like in a throttle and whether A mode gets them there?

That big guy's chin-warmer sure is cute. But don't you only wear those when you're actually riding?

Reminds me of that saying about never meeting your heroes. You'll always be disappointed. I too recall days of midnight repairs on the side of the road and camping on a pool of freezing mud waiting for the mechanic to wake up so I could weld a broken exhaust collector. I look back at them fondly, but keeping them firmly in the past is so much better than reliving them. Yup. If @2and3cylinders likes old-school, who am I to judge? Some like the destination, some like the journey and some like the Zen-like experience of road-side maintenance in freezing rain. Hmm. Maybe I will judge after all :-)

Speak for yourself buddy. Speak for yourself. Those ancient, wheezy death-traps that failed at a whim in the middle of nowhere? Not for me, not by a long shot. The only reason we think those motorbikes of yore were any good is that our memory is misted over by the exuberance and naivety of youth. And maybe a tad too much party-time. Each generation of motorbike I've ever ridden has gotten better, safer, faster and more reliable than the previous iteration. I for one much prefer to spend more time riding and less time wiping off the fuel oozing from a leaky carby, or the oil from a weepy sump, or the cold sweat from my brow after one too many tank-slappers.

Well this rider is getting close. He's got the dog in place, now all he needs to do is convince the pillion to have a little lay down :-)

I know you can carry a passenger in a side-car, but that totally compromises the motorbike and is dangerous to boot. Question: Is it legal to carry a passenger in a motorbike trailer? Less compromise to the motorbike handling and easily disconnected when travelling solo. And way more fun to ride than a Spyder trike thingie. Yes, a little tongue-in-check, but motorbike rules are so weird and wonderful in different parts of the world that it might just be legal somewhere...

You have to wonder whether the situation will be reversed in 6-12 months from now when presumably most of the world gets vaccinated and starts to return to the old "normal". Are there going to be a zillion "keep-me-entertained-during-COVID" motorbikes and campers and mountainbikes and surf skis and stand-up paddle boards and rolls of toilet paper that suddenly become surplus to requirements? I'm thinking the market for "distraction" toys is really going to slump at that time so I plan to wait it out and see what happens. Yes, there are a lot of "if", "buts" and "maybes" in that, but I figure humans will revert to their mean. Most of these newbie motorbike riders are going to climb back onto their treadmill of life and get tired of tripping over the motorbike taking up space in their garage.

It's hard to know how much longer as the official blurb only says "The Tracer 9 GT features a new, longer swingarm that is now located inside of the frame." Note that the overall wheel-base remains unchanged. Along with the various other geometry changes, I think this is going to feel quite different from the earlier models, both in ride feel and rider position. It'll be very interesting to hear what folk like yourself say if/when you get a chance to ride one. Yep. there are definitely nicer looking bikes, but that's not going to stop me going after one of these if it suits my riding requirements.

Yeah, something easily verifiable and touted to the public is certainly vulnerable to sanction here. That would at least mean publishing a correction and possibly a fine. Funny thing is, my brother works in marketing and he says that it's most often their competitors who file complaints if products are not exactly as advertised. So you can bet that Honda, Suzuki and others are having a close look at the spec sheets and other marketing material published here. Of course when it comes to unverifiable hyperbolebullshit, our marketers are right up there with the rest of the planet.

Oh? Ok. I didn't realise. Sorry 'bout that. You can tell I'm still waiting to acquire my first Tracer :-)