HGP61

+1 on the welcome to the forum, the legislation in the U.K. states that if the distance between the wheels on a vehicle is less than 600mm it counts as one wheel and it would be a bike. If the wheelbase is more than 600mm then it would be a trike. Motorcycle news had an article a few years ago about a bike/trike that used a couple of spacers to change the wheelbase and let the vehicle fall into the two different categories. After reading that back I realize that apart from the welcome to the forum bit(that is a genuine welcome) I must be bored and I've just spent ten minutes trying to find out unsuccessfully what the Niken front wheelbase is. I so much wish it wasn't below zero degrees and snowing outside and I could go out on my bike.

I have a vague memory from my GT test ride a few years ago and the salesman telling me before the ride that the quickshifter only worked above 4,000 revs and only in the top 4 gears or maybe 4th 5th and 6th. As i've said only a distant memory so could be mis-remembering and as much as I loved the GT I took out on test I went down the less expensive "pre loved" route when I went for the erlier model Tracer.

I was also thinking about changing my 4 year old model but finally thought WHY? I have a fantastic low mileage bike that I have spent time making the minor changes to make it suit me. When I test rode the Tracer 3 years ago the difference between the Honda CBF 1000 that I had and the Tracer made me desperate to empty my Piggy bank and throw money at the dealership. I feel that the difference between the Tracer I have now and the new Tracer 9 wouldn't be enough to want me to shell out £7,000 +my trade in to change. My riding buddy has just recently traded his 3 year old GT for the new Tracer 9 and was singing it's praises and I have no dought it is a fantastic bike His change was partly decided by the advantages of a new PCP deal and if I was in a similar arrangement who knows I might have changed as well. P.S. Don't let the comments above make you change your mind if you are thinking of going for a new Tracer 9 GO FOR IT it is a major upgrade (and might give me more choice in a couple of years when I am looking to change for a used or as I prefer to say pre-loved GT9)

My bike buddy did an e-bay search for FJR footpegs and came up with a good selection of aftermarket pegs that did the job. The set cheap he ordered were of good quality and felt strong enough but needed a touch with a file to fit perfectly. They have worked well and have easily put up with standing on the left side peg when mounting the bike.

I've got something like this making it's way from Foreign parts as I type. Costing me £4.01. (but sometimes you only get what you pay for) Fingers crossed it works out but it's not a big outlay if it don't work.

I think the internal thread on the handle bar end is 14mm I've recently ordered a set of bar ends that should screw straight in but may need to space out the right hand end to clear the heated grip.

Be careful fitting the bar ends if you have heated grips on the bike, the removable inserts you have pictured are a slightly different shape where they touch the end of the handle bars on the throttle side. with the heated grips on the thermal expansion when they get hot may stop the throttle spring from returning the throttle grip.

Yes, that sounds like me. I've just been on to e-bay and ordered a pair of Rok Straps that I probably won't need until my first trip away next May. Just because they caught my eye in a previous topic post.

Hi Mark I can measure mine up at some point tomorrow but I don't think their will be much difference in the measurements, I'm sure the swing arm lengthened by a couple of inches on the later models didn't affect the seat position. My riding buddy has the newer mark two Tracer 900 and riding both back to back there is no significant difference in the riding experience. His is definitely the better bike but for me the upgrades (clock display, suspension panniers) did not justify the extra cost. I do hanker after cruise control but for my riding it isn't needed for 90% of the time I am on the bike so I will put up with a cheap throttle lock.

Hi Max and welcome. The screen was the first thing i changed on mine, I went for a PUIG touring screen but I might try a shorter but slightly wider sports screen next year. The first owner had opted for the Yamaha comfort seat for the bike and I have found that works well for me. Enjoy your bike.

Hi Mark and welcome to the Forum. I have been running the mark one version of the tracer for the past three years and have enjoyed every mile. As you said it was the engine and riding position that convinced me, I have no regrets and it has been a fantastic bike to own. Have in mind that the swing arm length is longer on the mark two Tracer but I'm not sure if that will change the pillion seat to footpeg measurement. I can measure mine if you need the info.

Hi AVG, First thing I changed on mine was the original factory screen. Bike was bought from a dealership 250 miles from home and I rode it back after the purchase. Thought I had made a huge mistake when I reached the motorway and any speed over 70mph was awful. The PUIG touring screen I opted for works for me.

I have only experienced a steering wobble once also combined with tingling vibration through the bars and it was the day I picked up the bike from the dealer. I put that down to holding the bars a bit to tight because the bike was new to me. I haven't had a problem since that day three years ago and regularly have sat at 85 to 90 mph on motorways with occasional overtaking forays probably up to 110-115 mph. You will certainly want to change the stock generation one screen if it's still on the bike, that was my first modification and I went for a puig touring screen. If you go for the Tracer I am sure you will not regret it once you have made it yours.

With you on that statement, When I test rode the Tracer I was so blown away with the difference between that and the Honda CBF 1000 I had then that I was more than happy to empty the "piggy bank" and throw money at the dealer. It would have to feel the same before I would look at changing and trading up

With you on that, I don't mind spending on stuff but you have to feel its giving you value for your money. It doesn't seem that your re-flash gave you that

Sounds like the temperature gauge is "spot on normal," mine comes on at 105c (221F)and quickly drops to 98c with the fan. but coming from Scotland the ambient temperature being what it is the fan hardly ever kicks in even stopping at traffic lights. I can appreciate that if a bike is run regularly in heavy traffic and at regularly higher air temperature their could be a need to have the fan come on sooner. A good few years ago I fitted a car I had with a separate switch to the cooling fan that I switched on when needed, is that something that could be fitted to the Tracer and ease any worries about regularly running hot. (probably cheaper than a re-flash as well)

The colour on My exhaust pipes disappeared with the careful application of a pressure washer.

I think I would consider myself so lucky that I ride a bike and have the choice of so many suitable machines that are out there. I also would consider looking at the second hand market first (although I prefer the term Pre-Loved). I went for a low mileage two year old Tracer 900 two years ago and have loved every mile. You are doing the right thing by researching and asking opinions but what it all comes down too is that it is your decision to make so it can't be wrong. whatever you decide ride safe and enjoy every mile.

If mine is nice and stiff does that mean it does belong there.

Yes, I agree, you can and will change things to your requirements. I had read the spec sheets and watched the new videos and was expecting the new Tracer 9 to feel a little bit lower. Coming off my older 900 in the car park and then throwing a leg over the shop floor Tracer 9 I was surprised to find out I couldn't flat foot on both sides. But as i said previously that could in part be down to the brand new suspension. posting for the friend who wanted to change his Tiger 800 (low edition) for the Tracer 9 but unfortunately the seat height was a show stopper.

Yes on paper the seat is lower but it's also been made a bit wider at the front and the overall effect feels like the bike is taller. I'm not making this as a criticism of the new Tracer 9 I think Yamaha have done a fantastic job with the update and have made the bike a good bit more tour orientated I am planning to get back to the dealership when they get their demonstrator on the road to feel how the new engine works. But, for the short of inside leg riders i think the Tracer 9 is still a No Go unless customized with a different seat .

I'm 183cm (about 6 foot nothing for our American friends) and can easily flat foot my Tracer but could only touch down with my toes on the new GT 9 but as I said previously that might be down to the new suspension

I took a run out to the Yamaha dealers on Saturday with my two riding buddy's for a look at the new Tracer 9 on the showroom floor. All i need to say is "WOW" We all loved the look of the new bike one of us that was looking to change their bike was very disappointed that the height of the bike hadn't changed. With the wider seat on the new bike I felt it was taller than My Tracer but that could be down to the newness of the suspension on the new bike. One of us who hadn't been thinking of a change of bike sat down with the sales staff to seriously discuss cost of changing. I think I would trade up in a second if I could justify to myself the costs involved in changing. The only thing that stops me is knowing that I already have a very very good bike.

To stop a toerag (Bas*^rd bike thief) copying your registration number to put on their bike and running their bike without any insurance or road tax and running up speeding fines for you as they blast their "cloned" motorcycle through speed cameras.