basstodave

12 hours ago, runnerhiker said:

RS is better at:

engine power and torque, wind protection, stability at highway speeds, has a shaft drive, larger panniers, TPMS, self cancelling turn signals, 3 year warranty, GPS control at handlebar wheel works very well, quick shifter is up & down, the control buttons layout on the handlebar cluster is excellent (no desire for any design changes).

 

The GT is better at:

$7,000 less although it doesn't have all the features the RS has, I like the TFT instrument better, smoother shifting transmission, it's 95% as good as the RS in anything the RS is better.

 

Not a pro or a con, but the character of the engines are really different.  I like revving the GT engine better than revving the RS when I am riding fast.  And believe it or not, I like running low RPM's on the GT better when I am just plodding along.  And the power of the GT seems about 90% as good as the RS even though it's 105 HP vs 125 HP.

 

Let me know if there is something specific you'd like for me to say more about.

Thanks for the interesting encapsulation. How tall are you and how do you compare the ergonomics between the two? Lastly if you found an RS used that still had two years of warranty and cost the same as a new GT, but could only buy one, which would you choose? Thanks

On 11/4/2018 at 4:53 PM, runnerhiker said:

In addition to my Tracer GT, I also have a BMW R1200 RS (boxer twin), and I have road tested the S1000 XR on several occasions.  I considered the XR when I got RS 3 years ago.  And I rode the XR again when I got the Tracer GT 3 months ago.
 
The XR just doesn't grab me, I don't like it, we don't fit well together.  The BMW features are great, my RS has them all, and they all work very well:  GPS integration, all control buttons on the handlebar are well laid out, and on and on.  The list of good things would be long.  And the XR has all these features.  Except that it doesn't grab me.
 
The cost difference between the BMW's and any other bike is probably justifiable if you put a retail value on any and all features that the BMW's come with.  But quality and finish is not one I would identify as different between a Yamaha and a BMW.  BTW, the BMW's come with a 3 year warranty.
 
 

Runnerhiker, can you briefly compare the pro's and con's between the RS and the GT? Thanks

I installed the Fiamm 72112 Freeway blaster. It is a low and Loud! upgrade for $15. It bolts right in place of the OEM useless toot.

I need to replace my battery (2015 FJ09).  Comes with Yuasa YTZ10S.  It has been stated that the YTZ12S will fit based on dimensions (by removing the rubber filler piece in the battery tray). 
Has anyone ACTUALLY used the YTZ12S without fitting problems?
 
Paul

I just replaced the OEM Yuasa with the larger capacity YTZ12S equivalent from the local Battery Plus store. Take out the foam spacer and it is a perfect fit for the slightly taller battery. Loved the sound of my FJ firing up with the new (higher CCA) battery.  
 

Has anyone tried the Fiamm 72112 Freeway blaster at less than half the price of the Stebel Magnum?

suncoaster...did you use the high or low Magnum horn? Is it significantly louder and is it a straightforward install? No extra wiring, hooks up to OEM connectors?

If you fit the mounting bolts from the front and put the nuts on the rear, there is more room for the clutch cable to pass by without rubbing against anything.

 To be certain then, these KTM hand guards will fit without any modification, with or without the OEM bar end weights installed?  Thanks.

i fitted the original balancers onto the KTM Handguard. the buzzing/vibrations on my hand continued for a few days after i returned from a long trip.  
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14166405/20150912_192241.jpg

Would you post a pic of where the handguard mounts on the handlebar near the screen? Thanks 

@wessie That sounds like it works, but I'd like to avoid that clip-on if I could. I'm not a fan of how it looks. But if that's what I need to do, then I will
 
@perporter
I look forward to the pictures of the madstad. For me it's between that and the Calsci large.
 

Here are some pics of my Madstad bracket with an MRA windshield adapted to fit, for summer riding. The pics will at least show you the bracket. The Madstad website has pics of their windshield mounted on the FJ-09. I'm 5'6" and it works great. In the cooler months I will put on the larger windshield. I think you can buy the bracket separately also. 
http://imgur.com/a/MKI42
 

Although I am a Motoport fan I picked up a new Olympia Airglide III jacket in charcoal and black. It is far better quality fit and protection than my Tourmaster Draft jacket. It equals the quality of the Rev'it mesh line up. It isn't Kevlar mesh like Motoport but I feel pretty confident it will offer decent protection in a crash and slide.

Has anyone fitted the puig handguards yet? http://www.puig.tv/tuning-bikes/yamaha-mt-09-tracer-2015/hand-guards/c171en/f1-r392-m6443/

I would if I can find them in the USA. Looks like they attach to the OEM hand guard mount. Easy install. 

I'd certainly pick up a set of those Acerbis guards, at some point(darn priorities lol), if they clear the madstad screens. Maybe whoever fits different handguards should comment on what windshield they have and any clearance issues or additional clearance with their new guards

I have the Acerbis and the stock screen and they clear it with about 4 -5 cm I would guess

Never mind. 

bunyip, 
that changes the whole look of the bike, making it look a lot sportier. It looks really nice.
There is a post out there where a guy makes his own screen from scratch and posts videos on how to cut and bend and finish the screen.
 
I really dislike the standard flat screen. Having swapped the original hand guards for some acerbis guards I find that I have much more clearance so I can have a wider screen at the bottom and the wind noise I quieter as well.
 
I was toying with the idea of buying a MRA double bubble screen and trying that but I try buying a FZ6 screen and using that as a template for a custom build screen

Could you post a pic of your Acerbis hand guards and tell us what model they are? Thanks 

I'm 5'9, 31 inch inseam. I bought the madstad 20" figuring it would be just about right, sure it looks like a barn door but I knew the extra air behind the screen would help eliminate some of the noise as well. I was on the edge of getting the 22 as I will only use this shield if I plan to take log trips so the wind doesn't wear me out, and it regularly gets to be nearly 90 when I'm headed home from work.
 
While it is certainly much quieter the air rattles my helmet and head, the only way I can get away from this is if I duck my head a few inches. I will continue playing with the angle and height to see if I can get away without adding anything extra on. Devising some sort of laminar lip may be needed but for my trip this weekend it will have to do and will still be much more comfortable than stock.
 
If anyone has a 22" madstad and wants to trade/try a 20" let me know and I'm sure we can work something out. I'm located in southern Indiana

Madstad has a 60 day return I believe. Perhaps they will accommodate an exchange. Unless you are outside the return window? The Givi is the barn door. Madstad more the garage door. 

Motoport. But...I ride in SE Arizona and sometimes wear a Tourmaster mesh jacket with armor and my fingers crossed. When it's consistently 90-110 daily for 5 months nothing really works too well. It's your tolerance to heat that let's you ride or not.

This is the comparison I've been looking for before pulling the trigger on a Motoport.  
Is there a difference in overall comfort (fit), temperature comfort, and convenience? I understand the theory behind the difference in protection (not sure if it really makes a difference in practice).

Motoport is custom fit both jacket and pants. So that beats off the rack right there for most of us. A proper fit with comprehensive armor is theoretically and practically ideal for minimizing injury. The materials they use as I understand it are some of the best you can utilize for the protection we require for the type of accidents we will encounter. The options for material (Kevlar mesh or Stretch Kevlar) armor, zippers, vents, pockets, collars, etc. etc. are numerous and they will customize to suit you. I had a 3" wide mesh panel that zips onto the front zipper for added air flow on my stretch Kevlar jacket. I will not ride without their stretch Kevlar pants. Any weather any distance. Armor from hip to ankle. The jacket I use in cooler weather and on road trips. I am saving for the mesh 'shirt' they make. My $100 mesh jacket is arguably laughable in comparison but far better than a t-shirt when riding locally in extreme heat. I also have a Vanson leather and mesh jacket that has decent protection but it doesn't flow enough air. Thanks for giving me the opening to praise Motoport's many good features. Their price for a custom jacket starts at around $450 I think. In my opinion $1000 for some of the best riding gear you can own to help you survive a fall and slide is cheap insurance. I work in a level one trauma center. I'm no oracle and I know I'm sounding pedantic. It is simply very good gear for our sport. There is a long Motoport thread on ADV Rider and if you Google Motoport I believe you will find lot's of first hand reports about what I have stated. Use your imagination when thinking about what you want your gear to do for you, how it should fit and what modifications to suit your style of riding and weather you will typically encounter. 

Motoport.
But...I ride in SE Arizona and sometimes wear a Tourmaster mesh jacket with armor and my fingers crossed. When it's consistently 90-110 daily for 5 months nothing really works too well. It's your tolerance to heat that let's you ride or not.

I modified an MRA shorty from my Kawasaki Versys to fit the Madstad adjustable brackets.  Needs black screws instead of the stainless steel or I'll paint them. Looks OK except for the Kawasaki sticker.
 
http://imgur.com/a/MKI42
 
It works Fantastic up to 70mph depending on what's around me on the slab! I'm 5'6". Calm air at lower speeds around town and on two lane backroads. Nice clean air flow to helmet and bearable with visor Open! I appreciate the shorty shield here in 100 degree 40% humidity Tucson. Everyone go online and buy the Madstad brackets at least.   Mount your windshield of choice. Take off the handguards for the wider shields and Voila! The design Yamaha should have built for us!
 
The 20" Madstad shield required the handguards to come off on my bike. They have sent me a slimmer, less wide, 20" shield to test with handguards on.
The 20" is the bomb for everything, the shorty I mounted is better for clean air to my upper body and helmet, Without turbulence.
No More painful noise and beat about the head turbulence!
 
 
 

I received and installed the Puig windscreen extender today (on the stock screen), and it's definitely an improvement. There is a lot of tweaking you can do to change the height and angle of the screen, so it'll just take some time to dial it in a bit further. I can't say it's quiet behind the screen(s), but it's way less buffeting than before. And I can REALLY hear the bike now - it was kind of shocking how loud the bike became under me. I like it

Pics please 

Someone mentioned they thought removing the handguards also made for less turbulence. I removed mine for clearance on a 20" Madstad. 1) the Madstad is excellent. 2) Without a proper test I also 'Suspect' the guards cause some of the trouble we are having with the OEM set-up. When shopping for Barkbusters I compared their bracket shape and dimensions, and where they line up in relation to the levers , bars and windshield. It dawned on me the Yamaha handguards are an abomination. LOL! I may still use them. But why the huge mounting bracket, weird shape and mounting so far away from the bars?

The Madstad is the ticket FJ-09 owners. There is an issue with the OEM handguards contacting the screen but I am working on the set up still. I will write a review when I have it completely sorted but it is like night and day from the stock screen to the Madstad.

FWIW, I had the Puig spoiler on too, but the Madstad system is still superior in every way. Less wind noise, less buffeting and more wind protection in the crucial lower torso. This equates to much better rain protection as well. The spoiler only helps with buffeting on the top of your head.

In about an hour UPS should be dropping off my screen.  

I found the stock screen with an MRA Xcreen sport deflector to work much better than stock screen alone. With screen in lowest position, air flow was very smooth with little noise. Left your head in nice clean air. Due to neck surgeries and bad back I needed something taller. Went with a CalSci tall +7 1/2". It is wonderful. I can ride with face shield open, no buffeting or noise. Definitely not sporty looking but not ugly, and very functional. I am 6'3" with 36" inseam. Table on CalSci site indicated a medium height screen would work best but I was looking for ultimate protection and tall has worked out great. I have no trouble looking over the screen. My 2 cents.  PS  I always wear ear plugs.  I want to be able to hear my fellow inmates when we're sitting around the old folks home reminiscing about all the motorcycles we road back in the day.

I ordered a Madstad, but was considering a spoiler. I decided against the spoiler convincing myself the OEM screen too flexible. Well your experience shoots that to pieces. I'm 5'6" so it sounds like the spoiler would have directed the air flow over my helmet. Do you have a pic of the MRA spoiler on the original screen? Fit and looks was something I also had doubts about.
 

I also just ordered the Madstad 20". Cant wait to get it. Stock 1 is awful

I ordered a light tint 20" today.  

 
Hi, i've read all the thread looking for the best solution for the buffeting/roaring noise given by the stock screen (i'm 183cm tall); i've two options (i think):
 
1) a small Sport screen like the Ermax or the Puig or the MRA (this one isn't looking too good, it's too rounded i think), with that i can stay in clean air, with wind directly on my Shark Speed-R, having only wind noise and no more head shaking or air "rumbling" around it.
 
2) a wind deflector, like the MRA X-Creen, using that with the stock screen is possible (i've seen here on the forum another user with that) and i've read on another forum that a deflector is very useful for the elimination of the turbulences (that thread was about the Givi Shield+ deflector).
 
I'm very confused... the pricing is almost the same (about 90 euros for the Ermax Sport Screen and 80euros for the MRA XCreen)...
 
 
Let us know if you add a spoiler to the stock screen. Pics, too. I am curious if the OEM screen is too flexible to adequately support a spoiler?

 

Is this a valid request as follows? We are all trying to make our riding experience on the FJ better by experimenting with different windshields. So when you tell us which one you bought and installed please measure from the top of the instrument panel to the top of the screen with it in the lowest position. (This is partly how you measure for the Madstad) Then I can take that and roughly determine if my results will be similar if I install the same screen. The manufacturers listing the overall length doesn't tell me the length from the top screw to the top of the screen, and I think that matters as much as the overall shape.
 
Read more: http://fj-09.org/thread/1748/thoughts-on-awful-wind-noise?page=2#ixzz3dzpBevFC