Stew

Thanks Dodgy Knees. It's definitely the loch today.

Thanks TripleTrouble, I've always been a fan of michelin tyres, so I'll bear that in mind come the time.
I've done all the mad sportsbike 170mph stuff , I'm happy to wave other riders past me, I just want to be on corners all the time, not straight bits, anybody can twist a throttle in a straight line.
I'll fiddle with the suspension on a bit of bumpy road tomorrow, up and down till it feels as good as I can get it. (Although I might end up going out on the canoe on the loch if our summer holds up for another day

I could do both at the same time I suppose, but I'm not sure if my cargo net would hold the canoe in place

Very smart, looks like it was designed with the tracer sort of look to it.

It really is. I bought the bike without ever having ridden one, or even seen one in real life. I was ever so nervous about it, but oh my goodness, it has brought back all the fun of riding a bike again, just like when I got my first bike in the olden days.

1 minute ago, betoney said:

Unless it already adjusted to its limit, try adding a few more clicks of rebound damping to the shock, clockwise, that should minimize the bounce.  Try 2 clicks at a time and then fine tune it with 1 click, ALWAYS ride with a screwdriver for this very purpose.👍

I'm blushing here, I didn't realise it had adjustment, other than spring preload.
I absolutely will. Thanks Betoney. (I must pay more attention to detail, rather than just jumping on and riding)

I have a tall puig screen on mine, and can ride with my visor up with no wind on my face at all. I'm 6ft. I couldn't say about noise, as I have never ridden one with the std screen. (on and it's a 2015 tracer, not a gt.

It was horizontal rain yesterday.
I had to go out again this evening for another wee 25 miles , just chilling and enjoying the grunt of the engine. I think I can foresee a new rear shock at some point, it is a bit bouncy at times (I'm only 9 1/2 stone) , and as far as I can tell, could do with a wee bit more damping. (i'm no expert). The brakes are brilliant, really confidence inspiring. And these Dunlop Sportsmax tyres are giving me good feedback. I put them down from 36f48r to 33f37r and it is giving me a lot more feel.

Telling you, I am loving this bike. I'm super slow on it, but I don't care. I walloped the throttle wide open a couple of times tonight, and was whooping like a madman, it was brilliant.

Aye, Clatteringshaws and all that way, it's brilliant. Tell you what though, that wee A712 is amazing, you'd love it.
NExt time you're heading down this way gimme a shout, I'm a couple of miles from Castle Douglas.

Orra best.

Just a lovely ride out, around 100 miles or so, all over the back roads around me, mostly 3rd and 4th gear twisty quiet roads, with hardly any traffic. No idea where I was going most of the time, just enjoying every moment, and working on my lines through bends and on getting the feel for the bike a bit more, especially the wider rear tyre and the engine braking.

Stopped by the lochside for a cool off and a drink and a smoke.

The chicken strips are slowly narrowing.

I cannot believe how much fun I am having on this bike, I was giggling and laughing on one particular amazing road, the A712 between Crocketford and New Galloway. Well surfaced, and just corners all the way, I would pay to ride it. It is one of the most fun roads I've ever ridden, and it's only a few miles from my home.

Got home to Eric the pheasant and his lady friend dining on scattered birdseed, 2 yards from my window. As an archer the temptation is great!

4 hours ago, trevinator said:

 

 

 

 

I do like the look of those handguards.

1 hour ago, FrankQC said:

+1 for the Givi. Problem is the three black allen bolts you see there have spacers underneath to accomodate the black ring. If you remove everything and expect it to look OEM, you’ll have to get 3 OMG chromed bolts to replace these.

Thanks, I thought that. I'll take one out and see what I've got that is shorter, or get something from the local hardware shop. Not bothered about chromed or anything, just no point in having a bit of a clamp there that I will never use.

Thanks, I'll just take it off. I just use a cargo net and soft panniers.

The thing on top of the fuel cap, I assume is for fitting some sort of tank bag.
 

Bike looks great, enjoy every mile on it.

15 hours ago, betoney said:

I would like to give it a full day test ride, maybe 300-400 miles in all different conditions.

I would absolutely put it on the list of possible bikes, in no way would I NOT consider it.  I came away very impressed.

When I finished the demo ride I was talking to one of the safety riders and he said the reaction is exactly the same as yours "It looks so weird"... until they ride it and then the reaction is usually like mine.   He said its one of those bikes that no one wants to like but then they usually come away very surprised.

Aye, that makes sense. I never think about what my bike looks like when I am on it.

It just looks so wierd though, but a great write up, sounds like you had a good time.
Question is, would you buy one?

I used to ride big sportsbikes, but I dunno, there's smething about the way the power comes in on this bike that thrills me more than my in line 4's ever did, and compared to my tired old vstrom 650 it's insane , hahaha, it's ages since I was looking out the window at 9:40 pm thinking, should I just go out for another wee quick run

Aye, I realised that after a while. It just constantly wants to go as well, like it is saying 'come on you, lets get on with it'

I love it.

2 hours ago, BBB said:

Nice looking in all black @Stew. I see rad guard, led indicators, screen, beak and driving lights? Any other mods?

Heated grips, crash bars, front fender extender and a rear rack. And I think there are mirror extenders on it as well, I'd need to have a look more closely at a completely stock bike.
It rides brilliantly, It absolutely brought back the sheer joy of riding a bike, I'd got a bit too used to just riding a bike. I was a bit rubbish on the bends, thanks to no idea what gear was best and brand new tyres, but the bike didn't mind.  I was repeatedly looking at that wee gear indicator, and realising I was taking bends in 4th and 5th.
Only opened it up a couple of times, and you may have heard my whoops of joy from your area if you listened hard.

If there are any bits that you or anyone else would recommend, please let me know, although I was trying to find fault, I failed.

Aye, they are almost identical.

I was along some of the A702 , after taking a single track road to Moniave, I went along the A702 to St Johns Dalry. That was when the rain lashed down, but I was surprised how good the bike felt. It'll take me a wee while to get used to it properly, as I am more used to the bigger front wheel and narrower tyres from the vstrom, and I was in the wrong gear (clothing and enginewise) a lot of the time, but I am gagging to get out again tomorrow if the weather is ok.

What a brilliant bike, better than I even hoped for. Everything just works well.

Great idea, thanks. I'll have a look for those or similar, they'd also do me for canoeing when it's colder as well.
Much appreciated.

Tada!!!!

50 miles today, on some lovely roads. Still grinning.

my mistake, it was the Richa Rain Warrior trousers and jacket I bought.

Believe it or not, I got a pair of those delivered last week, and was so impressed with them I ordered the overjacket as well. It was such glorious weather here that I thought, nah, won't need them
You'd think I'd know better, it is Scotland after all.

Anyway, it let me know how planted the bike felt riding in rivers, even with the dreaded brand new tyres.
THanks though.