PhotoAl

Welcome and of course we need photos 🙂 I event seen many computer problems on and bikes. The ECU gets unplugged and replugged when doing significant work on them like checking the valves and maybe syncing the throttle bodies yet no one seems to post up Help! my ECU died. Most electrical problems are contacts in connectors due to age and wiring that has been modified by people or rodents. There is some great riding out there. I have a son in Sunnyvale.

If you do it yourself you can do whatever you feel is OK. A shop will not knowingly go against a manufactures recommendation as it exposes them to liability. A tire problem can have catastrophic results and most places will not take that risk on knowingly. Even if one manufacture allows but others do not most shops will say no to all. I know others do but I would only patch a tire as an emergency measure. I would consider if near the centerline since I run Michelins but only on a new tire.

@Robber welcome, good comments but I don't need something that remembers max speed LOL. I've been frustrated by Garmin but wind up using my Zumo XT exclusively. A general irritation will pretty much all mapping programs particularly the common ones like Google Maps and Apple Maps is they don't show the small roads until you zoom in. I take lots of long trips and generally navigation is not too hard as I'm going to less populated areas. But getting there is something of an issue. For example 1st night is usually Springfield Mo and 2nd night is Grand Island NE. Routing programs route thru Kansas City but I don't like riding thru there. Ideally go west from Springfield and then north to Grand Island. I usually wind up finding a spot that is near the way I'd like to go and then using it as a waypoint. Mostly just route on the Zumo XT. To respond to an earlier post I can't remember the route I took as usually several different small towns and roads. On my BMW F800GT I used an iPhone on the bars with a RAM X-Mount (large). It worked well for me but the vibrations messed up the camera. The Tracer 900 GT is much smoother. As a backup to the Garmin I have a cheap (free) Samsung phone and a Quadlock case with a vibration pad. Something the Garmin Zumo XT does that I find extremely helpful is showing what's ahead. On the right of the screen it will show cities ahead, distance and what they have - food, gas, lodging. If there is no food or lodging it is a small place. This is an essential part of my in the moment stop planning as I was see a gas stop and a backup stop further ahead. While I find the Garmin frustrating it is also very useful - seems like lots of great products have wonderful features but also some vexing issues. EDIT: Been looking at the Oukitel RT3 rugged Android tablet. Looks like a very interest device, pretty big to stick on my bars but could be interesting if i could find a good Android route planning navigation app.

Good info, I work in gallons though 🙂 On my 2020 I try and use the fuel left in the tank when the low fuel warning comes on as an emergency reserve. Every time I fill up I reset the fuel used, MPG and a trip odometer. When under way I'll watch for the fuel to go to half tank and figure Iv'e use a little more than 1/2 tank. I'll also watch the average MPG at that point and the fuel used - usually 2.2 gallons. However seems like my bike always takes 0.2 gallons more than it thinks it's used. Knowing how far to the next gas stop is important. Have done a lot of trips in the western states where gas stations may be far apart so very important to know how far you can go. Always try and stop well before the tank gets down to the last bar which theoretically get me maybe 50 more miles. Mileage on my bike varies significantly based on elevation, speed and gas quality. If available will always get alcohol free gas.

Know what you mean, I get fussed at from time to time as there my Fathers 1890 vintage metal lathe is in front of my car. I do keep a scooter or motorcycle in front of her car as there is lots of room. She drives a Smart car. Don't have to worry about her getting something bigger as she loves it more than me I think LOL.

I use wired earbuds with my Cardo headsets. For short local rides I'll use the speakers for interstate and long trips its earbuds. Over the years have tried many different earbuds. Monoprice made some nice ones that were about $50 and fit well and were not uncomfortable when wearing all day. Looked at In Ear Monitors (IEM) and bought the Linsoul TINHIFI T3 Plus from Amazon. They have a nice resin shell that is comfortable to wear and doesn't stick out too much. LOL nothing like putting on a helmet and having it rake off earbuds that stick out too far! I wear a thin skull cap which makes putting on the helmet and having everything stay in place better. Wore the earbuds on a 300 mile ride last week and they did well. I used the factory silicon parts but may switch to foam. Sound is great and the noise isolation is great as well, can still hear noise but it is significantly muted.

Best way to not need heated gear is to always take it with you. Last year on my trip to Calgary Canada took my heated jacket and winter gloves. Never needed them, on the way back in Montana it hit 104F - was wishing for an AC vest! I've found the heated grips to be adequate, they are adjustable and each of the three levels can be adjusted. Haven't ridden in sub 30F temps but did ride across Beartooth Pass when it was in the mid to upper 30s and they were fine.

My 2020 has the clutch rattle but it's not too bad. It also has the whine which I think is the primary gears. Can be a bit loud at some speeds but at interstate speeds and slow speeds not noticeable. I've only got a little over 27,000 miles on it. Clutch basket rattle is most annoying when riding out of campgrounds at low speeds.

I'd keep the OEM heated grips. They wheel can be fiddly at times, seems like when I rush it then it messes up but when calm it works well. In cold weather heated gloves would be nice as the back of my hands gets cold.

Back when I was looking for a to-case for my 900 GT they were very hard to find. Wound up putting my email address in with Revzilla and was able to jump on one when it came available. Something I like about the Yamaha topcase is it can be keyed to match the ignition and side cases.

Where were you two weeks ago LOL. I just put a SW Motech Pro Trial tank bag on my 2020 Tracer 900 GT - $358.90 delivered! It is very similar but does not have the map pocket on top like the Yamaha one does. I am going to get one but it's $50 so total cost is over $400. The SW Motech bag replaced a GIVI Tanklock bag. The Tanklock bag has done well with one big issue - the main zipper came unstitched. The teeth are basically a long plastic coil that is stitched to a cloth strip. The "teeth" came unstitched. Last trip I stopped in a JoAnne's Fabric store in Helena MT and bought thread and needles an sewed it back together. Wasn't smooth but mostly worked - it was a few more days of riding to get back to Alabama. Other than the zipper the bag held up well but only had it two years. I do long trips and the tank bag gets opened a lot but still disappointed. This time I decided to try SW Motech.

Although I have a small top case my luggage are the two side cases and a 58 liter waterproof duffle I bought 4 1/2 years ago from Amazon. It has held up very well and always keeps my stuff dry. I like it as I can take it off without too much trouble and take it in my room or tent.

Thanks for the review. I'm a believer in airbag gear. I wear a Dianese vest under my jacket. It says equivalent to so many back protectors but I still put a CE 1 back protector in my jacket just in case. I have summer and winter jackets. On long trips it is always the summer jacket but when riding in colder temperatures I put my rain jacket over the jacket to stop air flow thru the jacket. Too many layers and it gets a bit snug but my Warm and Safe heated jacket does a great job so don't need lots of layers. Always travel with the heated jacket, a light fleece jacket and a couple of long sleeve t-shirts. Just in case something happens to the heated jacket. Of course last trip none was used and temperatures hit 104F in Montana - toasty! Airbag vest flows air nicely and I hydrate and sweat!

Yes! 20 minutes away and there a lot, IndyCar race weekend was great. Will be there for the BMW club this weekend. LOL my wife will not let me take my bike on track except a parade lap - too many pics of motorcycle crashes. Last year during the last race of Vintage Festival she was next to the ARMCO at Charlotte's Web when a couple of bikes got together at the start of the brake zone. A high speed crash with both bike ending up deep in the gravel all the way from the top of the hill at the first brake marker. She had a front row seat and while she has seen bike crashes it was the first violent high speed crash she has seen. Both riders were OK but one took a bit to wake up. All hope of my getting to do a track day vanished - but I still get to take long trips by myself.

I've looked at going across at Helena several times. Haven't done it as usually trying to get west as quickly as I can but a trip just to that area or nearby would be good. North of Hardy have to be patient, totally agree! If light traffic can be fun thru there but there is always "that vehicle"! I have seen folks pass on blind curves thru there and run across at least one crazy person out to do bad stuff to others. I don't like Memphis as it is fast and crazy drivers - yea I can go fast but don't like real fast plus crazy which seems to be a speciality of most big cities. Last two years I've gone north to Michigan to visit my sister then to the UP and west from there. 3 years ago stayed at the KOA in West Memphis and it was nice and the ride from there home was about 300 miles and not bad. Time to get the maps out and start looking.

Thanks for the ride description. I go thru Memphis and Jonesboro on my way out west. Springfield MO is 600 miles and a long 1st day. Been looking for a shorter trip in May/June if I can catch a break. I've gone to Utah a couple of times in June but don't think I have enough time this year. Places like this would be great for a 4 or 5 day trip.

my only issue with the Scott Oiler on my 900 GT is it needs to be fiddled with. On a long trip at constant engine speed it works well and can easily put too much oil on the chain. For shorter local trips it seems to not do as well and needs to be turned up. For the local riding I don't mind just using chain lube. It's the long trips where it is more difficult to lube the chain. Looks like the Tutoro Trek kit is similar to the basic ScottOiler.

Bud didn't have active suspension either 🙂 @daboo makes a good point as they will compete against used models that are more "upmarket" I've bought more new bikes than used but always looking for a good deal. Think as the supply chain slowly straightens out and more used bikes come into the market again the prices will come down. I like the IMU and the cornering ABS it brings and the active suspension. Those are still rare on used bikes and would certainly push me towards a new bike. I tend to take long trips and like a bike with lower miles but again if properly maintained and not abused engines and transmissions are very reliable and the big wear items can be inspected and maintained. I would not set out on a long trip with worn tires, a chain with kinks or leaking fork seals for example. IMO the biggest risk on a long trip with a high mileage bike is the charging system, specifically the stator. They are more difficult to judge when they are near the end of life. But such is a long trip, I'm retired and do not have to be back by a date and if the bike breaks then the trip takes a twist and a turn and become an adventure. I really like my Tracer 900 GT as it is comfortable enough for the 500 to 600 miles days getting there and sporty enough to enjoy the fun roads I encounter.

Any years ago we moved to Georgia. Had to get my Fiat 850 inspected. The blinker stalk had broken off recently and I had not had time to get it replaced (had a spare from parts car). Took a Radio Shack three position switch and wired it to the blinkers and it passed!

I'm with the OP on the BDRs. Would love to ride more gravel roads but the thought of a big BMW ADV bike on the gnarly routes does not sound like fun. I toy with the idea of a lighter bike but as the OP said getting there becomes hard. The T7 sounds like a good way to go but with clothes and camping gear still a lot of weight. I have figured out my Tracer 900 GT is not fond of gravel. It's a different feel but still seems quite unsettled. I've wondered about different tires maybe 80/20s. In SD, Kansas, Wyoming, Nebraska and Montana there are lots of gravel roads that seem to not be that difficult.

I ride with a GPS and TWO cell phones 🙂 but still carry the paper maps. I really like the motorcycle centric maps that are more plastic than paper. Big advantage is can spread it out and see all the roads. Rever is pretty good but nothing beats a paper map for spreading out and looking at all the different roads and where they go. I'll go to a computer to zoom in and maybe look at Google Earth for more details. When looking at maps on a phone it doesnt show the smaller roads until zoomed in and then can be hard to see where that road goes. For example I was looking for a route east across the Rockies, couldn't tell is the roads went thru but on a paper map can see which ones do and if they are paved or gravel. I try and do the main planning before I leave but some days looking a day ahead to see which route I'll take. Why 2 cell phones? iPhone and Android freebie, iPhone is the real phone and keep it on my person, Android freebie is the backup navigation device.

Mine is at 26,000+ but seems to have very little wear. I tend to keep my chain on the loos side but in specs.

Maybe we appear well versed cause we've made mistakes and learned the hard way LOL. I take what I think I'll need and then if I need something there are stores along the way. I've bought all kinds of stuff ranging from extension cords to small allen wrenches to needles and thread. Oh and must nor forget last trip I left with the pair of pants I had on! Got to my sisters in Michigan and said "hello we need to go to Target". Biggest stuff to get right before the trip are tires and bike maintenance. Inspect and make sure critical stuff like the chain, brake pads and fluids are in good condition and enough to last the trip. I carry a Garmin InReach mini for reliable emergency communication even if I don't have cell service. I'm always overloading and overstuffing my tank bag but essential stuff like maps for the day go in there. Maps for the next day are packed away in the duffle or a side case.

Good call on the dog tags, need to order a bracelet since I'm on a blood thinner. On my iPhone I have a list of my meds that can be accessed from the locked screen by first responders. Also has pertinent medical history. I try and minimize what I take. Last trip out left my really nice lightweight tent stake hammer at home. Kept looking at found one at a hardware store in Canada - aluminum meat tenderizer hammer that works perfectly.

It may be a not so good aftermarket battery. If it sat for awhile it may have gone the the great ZeroVolt beyond early. There are good and not good aftermarket batteries. I like the Yusha brand batteries even though they are expensive. Have looked at thought about the lithium batteries but they don't do well in very cold conditions - I don't ride but if I happened to get stuck in a cold snap on a long trip I'd want it to work.