Clegg78

Hey there, 

I am in the middle of tearing the bike down for a bunch of maintenance (Oil, Coolant, Air Filter, Valve check, Sprockets, Chain, Plugs, etc...)

While the bike is open, the ECU is out and able to be shipped easily. 

Curious if anyone knows (and I can call Ivans on Monday as well to check) Is the ECU reflash worth it on a completely stock bike?  Keeping the stock filter, exhaust, plugs... (the chassis has upgrades with Ohlins all around but that's not relevant) I do like some of the features of his flash.   

Just curious if anyone here has had his work done on a stock ride. 

5 hours ago, Wintersdark said:

The electrical wiring diagram is also in color.   It should be in the pdf too, I think.  That's pretty important to have in color otherwise it's largely useless.

ahh yeah 2 pages at the back are color, I have those printed out already.... I will say the quality of the graphic in the Yamaha PDF is lacking compared to other MFGs, but it works I guess.

16 hours ago, Wintersdark said:

Yamahapubs will sell bound, color versions that.  Not a cost savings, but it gets you a nice, pretty, bound version. 

https://yamahapubs.com/home/search?category_id=3&year=2019&family_name=TRACER+900+GT

 

There's also ebay ones printed in color and nicely book bound for $80ish - I've got these for both my Tracer and Tenere.  That's a bit more of a PITA to sort through though. 

The funny thing about "color" is that the only color part of the manual in PDF form (from Yamaha!) is the cover  

So, I put a shackle into a stud above where I work on the bike and use some ratchet straps the handlebars, and use the center stand.  I've done a few wheel swaps this way and a full suspension swap easily.  Its stable enough if you aren't a mad man around the bike    And clearly you need to be aware of balance, so it doesn't rock backwards.   But it works for me

In prep to do a lot of work on the bike (Chain, Sprockets, Air filter, Plugs, Coolant, Valve check/Adjustment, Oil/Filter) and a few other things like lubricating various parts... I took my PDF of the service manual and sent it over to FedEx office to be printed, bound and then I tagged the chapters.  I've found printed manuals FAR better when doing the actual work than going to a laptop or iPad for the info. 

Expensive though, since the manual is damn huge, $100 to get the manual done this way (its 300+ pages long, double sided!) yes,I know there are cheaper options on Ebay in 3 Ring binders, or printing it myself and binding it... I've found this to just be easier and I am busy. 

For coolant I just grabbed some of the Honda Motorcycle coolant, the local shop had a bunch of it and I know it's safe for these engines.  Kept the stock gearing as I like it for the new sprockets.  Keeping the OEM stock filters and not going to one of the fancy K&N style ones... the hassle of opening the bike to swap a filter, I'll just keep swapping the stock ones.

I am lining up to do a bit 20K bit of maintenance on the tracer, and one of the bits is the coolant.   What is everyone using?  I see the Yamacool stuff kind of hit/miss on being able to find it.   there are a ton of valid options, so I was curious what ya'll were going with. 

They all seem to be about a horse a piece between Nitron, K-Tech, and Ohlins at the same spec level.   Getting something that is tunable and rebuildable is key.  Basic shocks and forks may have limited tuning (Only Rebound, no remote preload, etc...) where teh higher end ones make tuning easy.  That YA535 above for a rear shock is about the best out there... rebuildable, has easy compression and rebound adjustments, and remote preload... I love it.   the NIX30 forks are good, but really not that much more special than K-Tech, or any other replacement cartridges.     You'll also start to learn about suspension tuning once you have those options. 

If you get it done at a suspension shop, they normally focus on a few brands or only one... so get what the shop you want to go to can build, tune, and maintain.   My dude was an Ohlins shop so I just did it all through him.  I want to say all up with parts (NIX30/YA535) labor for the install was $2300 (I think... I cant remember TBH).   In hindsight the rear shock I could have done myself easily.   the forks though I lack some tools for. 

5 hours ago, Ride On said:

Having fallen victim to a short fit of financial insanity, I ordered an Ohlins YA535 rear shock and their NIX30 cartridges. 

I'm buried in snow until April, so I'll hopefully receive and get a chance to install them prior to the spring riding season. 

THIS IS THE WAY.   I did the same upgrade in 2021, around the same time of year    Its such a nice upgrade of the bike... One of the key reasons I am not interested in the 2021+ GT's is I have zero interest in the electronic suspension package in that (the 2023 is better) since a solid well tuned setup like the NIX30/YA535 will blow away any electronic adjustable package overall. 

Just realized my inventory was off a bit, showed as sold out on a few things tonight - all fixed  

1 hour ago, fjrchuck said:

Yep, just ordered another kit. It's the bomb! 🙃

Just dropped it off a the mailbox   Thanks!

Figure I'd bump this as I've had a number of people email me and msg me here and on FB asking if these were still being made/for sale.   Yup!

2015-2020 Tracers: https://jk3d.us/product/yamaha-tracer-900-gt-seat-slope-modification/ 

2021+ (Works on 2022, every new MY will be evaluated to make sure Yamaha didn't do anything funny): https://jk3d.us/product/yamaha-tracer9-mt09-seat-slope-mod/  

(I know that URL says MT-09....I have a design concept for the MT-09 2021+ model but haven't had anyone actually help me test it after a few people said they were, so I can't sell that part yet.)

you guys replace the valve cover gasket every time?  I know on my Triumph I had to or it would leak pretty well.  I have one on order from partzilla for my valve adjustment coming up.  But was just curious.

Just ride it hard until the plastic is just carbon  

On 9/28/2022 at 8:16 AM, Satsteve said:

I used zip tie method to mount Michelin Road 5 tires.

This was my first time using zip ties to mount tires & I am a convert.  Front & back tires slipped on without using any tools!  So easy! 

First thing I did was heat up the tires by putting them in the sauna for about 10 minutes.  I think heating the rubber helps a lot, they definitely felt more supple.  Once heated I put 8 zip ties around the tires, just tight enough to squeeze the beads together.  The tires looked like donuts & were not distorted.  I used tire mounting lube that I got at Princess Auto; it' a gel consistency & very slippery.  With a foam brush I applied the lube to the rim edge & the tire bead.  I had my rims mounted on a BikeMaster tire change stand.  Then to put the tire on the rim, simply hold one side in the rim's valley then work the other side with both hands; both tires slipped on with very minimal force.  Amazing!

I also discovered that medium sized zip ties are good enough, just put 2 together to get the length.  Once the tire is on, cut 1 zip & reuse the other.  I had started with the jumbo sized zips, but ran out after cutting them when I did tire removal.

And on tire removal, the best way for me was to put 2-3 zips fairly close together on one side.  That held the bead in the valley & made it much easier to pop out the first bead with spoons.  Then I cut the zips & got the first bead off, then just spooned off the second bead.  I used tire lube & Windex to help the bead slip over the rim.

I balanced them on a stand as best I could using stick-on weights.

I'm going from Dunlop Roadsport II to Michelin Road 5.  The Roadsport's were a big improvement over the stock D222's and I'm hoping the Road 5's are even better.

So this is something I want to get into... I do all my own work on everything on the bike (everything that I've had dealer(s) do, including mounting tires, has been done wrong in some way...)  Been eyeing up a tire mounting station.     You mentioned you used stick on weights, you thought about beads?  I had them on a tire change from a local guy  (who closed up shop or I'd be going to him still) and I have to say they worked great. 

Like others, I get between 44 -50mpg on my Tracer 900GT with luggage on it and my fat ass slung on the seat.   The fuel gauge is largely useless.  I have one of the data field setups showing Miles ridden (trip 1 for me), and average MPG, and Fuel Consumed and Average MPG.  I reset both at every fill up.   Last trip I forgot to fill up before I headed out and was doing the maths on the ride if I would hit the reserve level before I got to a gas station.  Turned out I was fine.    

I've found fuel consumed to be the best measure to watch... its never accurate exactly, and on hot days if you ride and park or the bike sits for a while, you'll lose a measurable amount of gas in evap.   I think if I rode and it said I used 3.8Gal, when I fill up I would expect it to be 4 Gal going in to the tank.   

I plan for 180miles as a worst case scenario on a tank when I plan a trip... and that leaves extremely little wiggle room if there is a very strong headwind or something.   I try to aim for 150mi fill-ups when I am in the middle of nowhere. 

With all that said, the OP's FJ isn't getting the right mileage or distance on a tank at all. 

Cleaned the rain, mud, desert dust off my bike, and did a once over - found one of the clips that attaches the body work to the radiator (a little Philips head twist locking clip) broke, so I replaced it.   Other than that the bike and the chain are in fine shape for 12,000mi. 

So I haven' t had any issues with the Sykik unit, but I also 3D printed a little enclosure to keep rain and stuff off of it a bit (and sun a little so I can read it.)  I also 3D printed a new mount for it to keep it up at closer to eye level  now.   I havent released the part designs because I didnt think anyone would care or need this.  

I finished the ride yesterday, took a round about way from Steamboat to Denver.   Went down 125 out of Walden through the East Troublesome burn scar which was pretty impressive.    Total mileage was 1/2 what I planned to do on the WA trip, only about 1350miles over 4.5 days.  It was a good trip!  But I really want to go to some new places coming up

20 hours ago, piotrek said:

Sounds like a great ride. The landscape photos are just awes fantastic. 😎

Are you using a filter, or are the colours and shades just like that?

Just using a good camera (Sony A7RIII) and some very nice GM glass.    But the images which are all RAW are run through Lightroom which does punch up some of the colors.   But Truly, the colors in the Canyonlands pics are nothing even close to as impressive as the real life view!

Today I rode out from Moab, and went on one of my favorite roads - Castle Valley (just N of Moab, SE of Arches)... just stunning.  I got half way through and realized I forgot to get gas in Moab before leaving... so I did a good bit of mileage math to see if I can get to near Grand Junction on my fuel... I filled up in Loma, CO with plenty left, but was on the verge of the reserve level.  3.8gal put back in   

Besides that I seemed to follow rain all day, didn't get rained on, but was on soaking wet roads most of the day.   I went up Douglas pass up to Rangely, co and then over to Steamboat from there.   all pics today were from the Innovv K3 and the GoPro I have on the bike today.

I had some very spirited riding coming out of Canyonlands area...   enough that on a pass around a spastic jeep (that was going 20 or 90... randomly) going into one of the 180* hair pin corners on the highway up to Canyonlands...  I leaned over and prayed the tires would stick... they did... but you can see the rubber looks a bit well used after today   And yeah the bike is dirty as sin, but... it is what it is

13 hours ago, PhotoAl said:

Have fun in Canyonlands.  I was there a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.  I took a 0.9 mile hike, leaving my gear at the bike but wore my riding boots.  Took an almost full bottle of water with me and my Garmin inReach Mini.  It was hot and dry and by the time I got back to the bike I was vey hear heat exhaustion.  Drank a cold bottle of water that I had on the bike but did not drink the 3rd bottle of water as it was the last I had with me.  On the ride back felt a bit nauseous.  I'm an experienced hiker but wow that snuck up on me.

Moab was the first place I ate inside a resturant after everything shut down for the pandemic.  Had no planned on it but the smell of food got to me.  It was a steak place near the KOA that had great flatbread. 

Haha so I've stayed at that KOA and I walked to the same steak place you mention "Susies branding Iron"!   I am in downtown Moab this time.    It was a fun day, I hit up the Needles overlook, and Dead Horse Point.  I did Islands in the Sky years ago already so I wanted to check out the other places.    Also was able to cruise through Paradox Valley again for the first time in like 7 years.  I love that area so much. 

1 hour ago, 2and3cylinders said:

Scenery is just as awesome (hate that word), can't really see the town.

haha, it just looks like any mountain town   the scenery is the impressive part!  Tomorrow when I leave I'll grab a photo of main street. 

Riding to Canyonlands and Moab tomorrow (unless I dont and do something else... cause... thats how this trip has gone so far )   Planning for fuel stops  in the Needles area of Canyonlands is wild.   going down to the southern Needles visitors center requires a 20 mile detour to get gas! I had to break it out into 2 legs of 140 miles each, but doing 40-60mi of doubling back to get gas!    Good thing I was watching for that availability because that could be bad to realize you are going to run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere. 

12 hours ago, 2and3cylinders said:

I unfortunately have not been there since 1977.  Then it looked like it was out of a classic b&w Western.  The few hippies squated outside of town in teepees and were not uh, appreciated.  You'd walk in a bar or diner and everything would suddenly stop and all eyes would turn toward you and squint.

I understand it is now a outdoor playground for both have and have-nots, and the cost of living there, at least for visitors, is as high as the elevation.  I'm  told there is more than some resentment from old timers who were ranchers etc.  A high school buddy of mine had a shack there but lost it in 08.  His primary rez has been Boulder since 81; he then fell into a 15 year funk.  Booze apparently will do that to you.

Post pics of town!!!

Heres some pics of Telluride from today