HGP61

Sorry, forgot to add the close up shot (Solid Gold coloured valve caps)

My bike saw the light of day this morning after nearly three and a half months of hibernation WOO HOO. All ready to head out to the MOT garage. I'm not usually an unnecessary bling adding rider but couldn't help but add an extra bit of colour to take away the all black look.

Will be OK, the power outlet is protected by a 2amp fuse. but if you are intending to use the sat nav frequently it would be better to connect it to one of the spare sockets behind the dash. I used the power socket initially when I first got the bike but found that the connection would frequently get lost and the sat nav would switch off. the female yamaha conections are easily obtained and can be crimped or soldered to the sat nav power cable.

I think I have seen a 30mm lowering kit listed on e-bay that might make the wee bit of a difference for you. Although I might be worried about the ground clearance

A previous bike (Yamaha XJ900 Diversion) I owened had been lowered 25mm and was much more difficult to get up onto the centre stand and was much easier when I fitted the standard dogbones. It also changed the angle the bike sat at when on the side stand and made it a bit too upright on some surfaces. It was a heavy bugger of a bike at about 250KG. The light weight of the Tracer might not have the same issue with a lowering kit.

Pleased that you got out to enjoy the bike, it's also nice to add stuff to make it yours. I hope to get mine out from under the covers in the shed sometime next week for it's first outing since last November. Nothing momentous I can only go as far as the MOT station but might manage the long way back on the return trip. I pulled the hand guards off the bike before I SORNed it last year and want to give it a try with a shorter or more sporty screen than the big barn door of a PUIG touring screen that i've been using. Looking forward to that.

There will be a regulation somewhere about where the measurement will be taken from, probably centre to centre between the wheels.

Hi Mark, I enjoyed your write up and have similar memories of the day I brought my bike home to Lanark from Batley in Yorkshire. What I felt was a Snatchy throttle and horrible noisy screen when I hit the motorway had me regreting my decision No regrets now the Tracer has been a fantastic bike for me over the last three years and 20'000 miles. Probably got the run home much easier than you however because I bought mine in June.

UK, I think the wheelbase measurement between the wheels on the same axle is 600mm more than that it's a trike less than 600mm it's a bike.

Last March I paid £89 for my present fully comprehensive insurance policy. Our planned tour this year is over to Ireland so the quote I am looking for this March is to include European breakdown cover (I know it's a Tracer and is not likely let me down) but just for the peace of mind and I was quoted £194 for the combined cover.

It's a scientific fact and Mathmatical certainty or so I have explained to others (wife included) that once you have more than 1 bike then the perfect number of motorbikes in a colection is N+1 where N is the number of motorbikes currently owned. So, to prove the principal for the rest of us that want a collection, what you got your eye on for the next bike in your collection.

I wouldn't think this would be an issue for the insurance company after all it's designed and fitted to make it less likely that a minor fall would cause damage and it's not a performance enhancing upgrade. Good choice of bike by the way, my riding buddy picked up a new GT9 a few months ago and loves it. This months ride magazine has come out and said it's "Britain's best distance bike" and "The perfect bike for a tour". I also think it is Always best to declare stuff to an insurer just because I don't particularly trust them if they can find out a way of not paying out on a claim they could take it.

It's easy enough to test the output of the stator and battery with a voltmeter if the bike starts up I think it should be reading about 14 volts output and a fully charged battery should be about 12.7 volts, but I'm sure others on the forum with a lot more knowledge will be chipping in shortly with advice

I went down the non-GT route when I traded up three years ago. but the main reason (apart from the price difference of going second hand) was the panniers on the GT at that time were only 22L each and I felt they were too small for my touring needs. That dosen't apply for the new tracer 9 because Yamaha have made them a more useful size. I tweeked with the standard suspension until it worked for me and fitted yamaha heated grips. The only thing I hanker after is cruise control but the new Tracer 9 comes with that as standard. If I was in the market for trading up I would probably go for the non-GT tracer 9 but fit My SHAD panniers to it.

The first change I made to my bike was put on a PUIG touring screen on it. I have no issues with it and it works well for me. I was thinking of going smaller for next season and might try fitting an old honda screen I've got lying gathering dust in the shed to see if going sportier suits me before buying something more in keeping. Already got the old screen drilled and fitted to the windscreen bracket but was also planning to connect a USB socket before getting the screen fitted.

Did that too, Drove down to Batley in West Yorkshire to pick up my two year old bike, enjoyed a leisurely lunch in a restaurant near the dealership then rode the bike 240 miles back home Lovely day out, pleasant run home and still saved a few hundred quid compared to the bike I was looking at closer to home. (picture from the day I picked it up)

Good choice (but I could be a wee bit bias) thats what I did. I picked up a 17 plate gen one nearly 3 years ago now. By 2017 they had fixed the oil pan issue and had also upgraded to a slipper clutch. Buying used or pre-loved as I prefer also has the advantage that the previous owner may have lavished the stock bike with extras mine came with Yamaha comfort seats and a SHAD 3 box luggage set. I bought my bike after test riding a new GT model and I think the only thing I have a hankering for is the cruise control but for the limited time I would use it I can get by with My £5.00 throttle lock.

Its more likely that the customer decides on the lifespan of niche products. No point in Yamaha making them if they are not being snapped up from the showroom floor. No profit in that.

Similar situation with the dealer My friend likes in Scotland. Their initial allocation of 8 bikes expected around march have already been pre-sold and my Triumph Tiger riding pal wants to change up for something with a bit more power. He was contacted by the dealer recently to see if he wanted to leave a refundable deposit with them to secure a bike from the second allocation sometime next summer (maybe)

I still can't get past the thought of an alien insect trying to burst out of it's motorbike host. IMO It isn't a particularly good looking bike, would it put me off buying one?? NO CHANCE of that!! bikes are about the riding experience and how it makes you feel, I didn't think the first generation Tracer 900 was good looking but the test ride was enough for me and decision made to buy before I was finished. (come to think of it that might be why I passed on the test ride for the new 9)

Liked the video but I would like to think I could have pulled the bridesmaid if I had turned up with a Tracer outside

My 91 year old Dad suggested recently we get a powered chair for my 88 year old Mum, I was shuddering at the thought and was imagining similar incidents. I usually have a couple of trips away with my two pals but thinking of an extra Europe trip next year to visit My brother in Switzerland But because of the lovely motorbike roads I would like to ride there and back I think I would want a two week trip. Will need to break the news of that gently.

Are you sure that's wise, be very very careful, My pal went to the dealer for a "Look at the 9" a month or so ago. His lovely new Icon silver and black Tracer 9 is now sitting happily in his garage and I'm sure his wife will start talking to him again eventually. I found it very very difficult to resist the temptation mind you being retired and on half the income I was a few years ago probably helped. 😃How do you set up crowd funding for a new toy?😃

Agree, My bike came with a SHAD 3 box set and for most of my days out the 39 litre top box is an ideal size. Certainly prefer it to the huge metal box my pal fits to his Tiger (on the other hand He can get a case of beer in that for our camping trips It's nice having obliging friends so please don't change it for a smaller box.)

Hi and welcome, I was looking at the new GT a few weeks ago when I went with my friend when he picked up his new 9GT and like you was very tempted by the new model but will run My 17 reg example at least another year.