Ride365

I took mine places I shouldn't have to be honest, and damn they suck to pick up when they fall. The biggest issue with the Strom is lack of ground clearance and a budget suspension "650", where the 1000 is better in the suspension dept for sure and honestly doesn't feel much heavier. But with proper tires, bashplate, engine guards and a big set of balls.....yeah they are capable off pavement. Get an Africa Twin or KTM 790 for that kind of riding, both are heads and tails better off pavement than a Strom, but the Stroms are dead reliable for sure and have a huge following and massive amounts of parts/upgrades available.

Looks like a good adventure, what's your top case and top rack mount set up?

I don't find it that bad at all, just needs to be a tad bit deeper back and wider for me.

Well damnit looks like I need to add this to my farkle list!!! LOL

Buddy of mine is an Aprilia guy, has a 16 RSV4 RR that he races many weekends, he said he will no doubt be adding this gem to his stable.

The FJR and Connie 14 "per the dyno" don't have much more than the Tracer does, and yeah I owned a 2008 Connie 14 for 4 years. Had my 2008 C14 dyoned and pulled 123hp, but that's also on a massive PIG of a bike which also feels that way.

Mine is doing exactly what the Op's bike was doing, who knows if it ever got corrected? I am going to adjust my shift lever position up a bit, and ensure my clutch cable has the right amount of free play, it currently looks to be "too tight" as the lever.

Yes both are different types of adjustments, I'll look into this more.

No issues ever finding neutral for me, must admit that my friction zone for the clutch is awfully far out from where I think it should be. Every bike I have owned the friction zone never started happening beyond the halfway point of the lever, this bike is damn near the end of lever travel.

Yeah I could do that and likely will, thinking might adjust the linkage up a tad and see what happens first.

Mine sure doesn't, sometimes its pure hell to shift into 3rd or 4th, totally confusing me as I have never owned a bike that's done this. Short shift and or at lows revs and it's fine, but when I roll that throttle on harder from 2nd trying to shift into 3rd......NOTHING/NADA have to slam my boot up hard for it to engage.

I love the QS when it is smooth, but like others who've already mentioned......feel like I am destroying the gearbox when it isn't smooth. Ok speaking of some issues I am having and which is frustrating the hell out of me, I can't for the life of me shift from 2nd to 3rd and sometimes 3rd to 4th even with the clutch, the transmission literally acts like it doesn't want to shift. Anytime I short shift or do so at lower RPM's it shifts pretty good, but anytime I take off even remotely agressive......it doesn't want to shift into 3rd or 4th!!!! Would perhaps adjusting the linkage up a bit or even up one spline on the shaft help? Bike has almost 500 miles on it now, has done this since I rode it home from dealer.

One of my best buds just got a new 1290 this past week, we are riding today matter of fact......we shall see who's faster "overall".

RAM mount clamp to center of bar with a 4" swivel arm, works great and nothing else would likely be more secure. I go back and forth between my phone being mounted or my Garmin Zumo 390, both have the appropriate cradle mount which attaches in seconds on the RAM mount.

I've been an on/off again Suzuki V-Strom owner since 2005 and have been helping run the largest V-Strom forum "Stromtrooper.com" on the net just as long, the difference in participation/traffic here between there is pretty dramatic. I have to assume that most here are out riding more, that and there are for sure fewer off topic sections than what are typical. Great forum and glad to be here, loving my new GT so far.........no more Stroms for me. The Tracer GT very much looks to be on par with the V-Stroms for overall reliability, I know there has been some ailments with the FJ-09 but none which are beyond remedy, they too seem very much to be loved by their respective owners. The difference in fit and finish and overall riding experience vs the V-Stroms is dramatic, they really are not an adventure bike like they are being touted as......compared to the GS, Tigers, KTM Adventure, but the new 1050 is for sure "getting" on par with the best out there in that segment. I'm more on the sport side of sport touring, and the Stroms for as good and flexible as they are.......be quite boring and Toyota Camry like. Hope to be a good contributor here for a long time.....cheers everyone, and loving this bike!!!

Yup very true, I just try not to ever let any gas sit undisturbed in my tank for long. I will ALWAYS run a minimum of 91 in this bike unless I don't have the choice on the rare occasion, what gas to use is getting as bad as oil.

Bravo sir......BRAVO, perhaps I could ride up there to PA one of these days and you can she me how it's done? Love your bike by the way, not sure why some don't like the color of our new 2020 GT's?

I was just up there in PA a few weeks ago riding, beautiful state you have there....welcome to the forum and the world of the Tracer/FJ. I won't wait quite as long for the valve interval, likely will do at around 20K miles.....peace of mind eh?

LOL wasn't referring to you by any means, but the good thing is that it will work for "everyone". So many myths and bad information/assumptions out there still about synthetic oil, the truth is that it has longer intervals, protects better at start up, longer/better film retention......and NO it's not more slippery. But yes sir do what works for you, but there is honestly zero reason to not switch to synthetic the day you bring your bike home. Some of the very worst advice we can be given is by a service person at a dealership, I do most of my wrenching but have a fantastic local independent shop as well. Hope you are enjoying your new steed as much as I am mine, have a feeling this is a keeper for a good long while.

Yeah I'll be installing a front fender extender much sooner than later, will likely do the same in the rear eventually.

Meh that's a very old wives tale......Ducati's, Aprilia, and BMW's come from the factory with synthetic as do many cars now. Your engine is most certainly broken in before 600 miles, and your bike was also "very likely" redlined at the factory on a dyno too. The reason most Japanese bikes don't come with full synthetic comes down to cost, that and why dump out perfectly good expensive synthetic oil at 600 miles?

UPS man delivered my Motul 7100 oil and K&N filter yesterday, should be at 600 miles by end of weekend.

The Puig sounds like a great solution for me, and wow the price is right too!!

I can't be without my tank bag, I keep too many easily and quickly accessible items in there. Do miss my top box for sure, hope to remedy that soon once I figure out what I want.

Awesome......thanks for that link!!!!