Jayzonk

56 minutes ago, KellyL said:

I also happen to have a Kawasaki W800 and it is soooo much better to ride in city traffic than the Niken. On paper it seems like a crap bike, but it's just twist and go when I zip off to work or to the shops, with maximum fun. Specs aren't everything.

 

Agreed.  I drove a Triumph Speed Twin that was also really small and easy to tool around on the streets with.  I think a lot of bikes actually fit the bill without having to have really high specs, and I think that a lot of the high end stuff is really overselling the average rider's abilities.  

Using the FJ as a proxy for the MT07?  Really?  😅  You're talking about a 900cc triple in an upright, adventure style seating position with a touring windscreen versus a 700cc twin with a standard seating position and no fairing!  When bikes are this far apart, the whole "if A=B and B=C, then A=C" thing doesn't hold up!!  

As for not liking its "character", I'm not sure what you mean but it's the best do-it-all bike I've ever had, and the bike I feel the most confident riding.  

Sure.  I sent a message to Ktech to see if they've got a shop near me.  They cc'd a shop in New York State, which would only work if it is upstate, close to the Canadian border.  

7 hours ago, duckie said:

Gee upgrade the suspension on a Tracer and you will have fun also.

I really wish some riders lived close by just to show them what a properly setup Tracer GT can do even stock suspension.

This idea a Tracer cant handle tight twisty roads is bullshit and giving the Tracer a needlessly bad rep.

I just think most just dont know how to ride. 

 

How is your suspension set up? Stock?  

You're right.  I'm looking at the barely used market, the no helicoils market, the no engine scrapes market, the no modifications market....

I tend to agree with you.  I really like my Tracer and I never hit an area of curves in the pavement and go "Gee, I wish I had something different to ride here...."   My thought was that it would be nice to just have a smaller runabout bike for going for a spin downtown or heading to work...something that I might leave on the street at night so that it's ready to go in the morning, that type of thing (I keep the Tracer inside 😃)

Can't really fight you on it because I haven't ridden an SV!  I did sit on an R7, though, so if you think the MT-07 feels small, the R7 is even tighter.  Great if you're 25 though.  

Your Tenere 700 has the same engine...is the fuel map the same?  I rode the MT-07 and can't say that I was a big fan of the motor either, but it was an old one, so who knows...

What an amazing post.  Makes me want to do a K-Tech upgrade, but I don't know where the reliable suspension shops are in Ontario.  

Good point.  Would the seat to peg distance be the same between both models?  

Are  those the designations for the standard and the cage model?  They look like they're really similar, hard to go wrong with either.  Not sure how low those Clipons are in comparison.  

I guess that explains why SV's are in short supply in Canada at least.  I haven't heard anyone say that they didn't enjoy riding an SV and at this point I would seriously question them if they did.   How do you find the seat?  I hear some people say that it's not the greatest but others say it's okay.   My issue is that the aftermarket seats are all so big that they change the profile of the bike too much. 

That's interesting.  I'm pretty curious about Royal Enfield these days...looks like they've come a long way over the last few years and I think they're in a good displacement range as well.  

I think a Trident would be an interesting choice, and possibly the new Honda Hornet coming up, depending how they spec it.  Even the new 500 series Honda's have upgraded suspension, so possibly one of those.  I already have a litre bike in the garage that I can't sell.  Love the engine but the ergonomics make for a short ride. 

Not a bad idea but they are always tight on legroom.  I'd rather have something with more torque/low down power and less top end, but still have the decent brakes/suspension.  Not sure if it exists.  

I rode an older mt-07, probably the previous fj-07, on a race track after riding supersport 600's all weekend.  Needless to say, it didn't feel anything like the cbr's or the r6's so I wrote it off pretty quick.  Viby,  didn't corner as well.  

I'm 6' if that helps.  Sat on an SV today.   Knees were up a little higher than I'd like but wasn't too bad.  

Thought about a Street Triple but the pegs feel really high for me.  At 51, I need some legroom if I want to ride for more than an hour.  Speed triple ergos are much better but who needs 177 horsepower?  I had one when they were 144hp. Should have kept it. 

The honda cb500f and the cbr500r fit me well, and there's quite a few new old stock models sitting around the showrooms.  Lower hp but could be fun to pick up and tune or modify the suspension for better handling.  Not sure.

Might be worthwhile looking at the new Trident.  The reviews are saying that it's basically the old model street triple when it ran the 675cc engine.  Handling, riding position all very similar.   

Hey Everyone, 

Still love my Tracer, but was thinking about a smaller displacement, smaller-sized bike for running around town and also for a couple of open track days this spring.  There are quite a few SV650's around at great prices, but I found a great deal on a new, non-current Suzuki GSX-S750 that puts it right in the middle of SV650 price territory.  So I'm wondering if it's going to be a better handler, given the price, as I see it has nonadjustable USD forks.  

Not sure if anyone has run both, but would like to know.  Also wondering about other options.  

On 9/23/2021 at 1:17 PM, BVEBRAD said:

Hey Jonathan, sorry to hear about your issues.  Looks like we're facing the exact same problems as I was also unable to access the settings menu once the problem occurred.  My bike is in the dealer with unfortunately no parts available to fix it.  I was told I'm looking at mid to late October at the earliest for the parts to come from Japan.  The Yamaha Tech Line advised my dealer to replace the throttle bodies.  You should call Yamaha and bitch them out but unfortunately it will do you no good.  They have no regard for customer service.  I tried to get the parts shipped in the quickest manner possible but they basically said screw you.  Please let me know whatever you find out.  Good luck!

Is this really Yamaha providing bad customer service, or is it just unrealistic to try to get the parts right now due to the COVID production blip?  I guess I've found Yamaha pretty helpful through a couple of minor recalls over the years.  

Of the four, big Japanese firms, which one would you consider the best for providing customer support and warranty?  

Can any reputable bike shop do the Ohlins swap on a Tracer?  Or is it best to go to a RaceTech dealer?  

On 1/8/2022 at 11:10 PM, Larz said:

I agree cuz there's a lot out there in motorcycledom to choose from; albeit, the  new GT9 is moving out of the budget bike region,eh. On the other hand, apples to oranges- traded my 2018 Mazda Cx-5 in on a 2021 Cx-5 Signature Turbo. Really liked the 2018, notwithstanding bit under powered and unventilated white leather seats didn't get it in Arizona Summers. But the 2021, better car in every respect, handles better, better brake feel, even quieter; not to mention the turbo gives her some balls and the seats are ventilated brown Napa leather. 

So yeah, I can see peeps upgrading to the 9 for the improvements.

( man, this thread gone to shit, eh. Italian motorcycles, Mazdas.... delighted to see peeps talking about something aside from the seat on my 9 sucks😁

I was also questioning selling my 900GT for a 9 GT, and I went and looked at a silver model today.  The dealer had the bags mounted.  It looks good, the panniers are obviously bigger, have that shiny raised portion, and "YAMAHA" stamped on them...they look higher quality than what I have, but I couldn't open them to really see.  

The paint on the bike and the wheels is nice, but...I just can't pull the plug on my '20.  I don't care if the 9 GT has some suspension improvements.  I think there's a bit of a soul element missing in it, and I'm not sure how to describe it.  It seems perfected, and perhaps that's the problem.  I think bikes need to leave a bit of something on the table for the owner to consider to make them interesting.  Perhaps a weakness here or there gives us a reason to try to overcome it, to better it, or to just know about it.  I'm not sure, but this new iteration called the 9 GT is maybe a little too close to what "should be." 

If I didn't have one, I'd get a new one.  The fact that I have the old model, I'll keep it.  

Really sorry to hear this and hope your back and knee heal well.  Let the weight of the damage issues with the bike rise off of you BECAUSE YOU ARE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY OKAY!!!

Somehow I cannot see Yamaha saying, "Yeah, supplier, thin out those fork tubes a little so we can save some cash."  Just don't think it works that way, especially if they are made by a third party supplier.  And it certainly looks like they are, so I suspect those same stanchions are used on other bikes as well, perhaps in a different finish.  

With all of the focus on reducing weight, stanchion suppliers are probably trying to be competitive by working on their strength to weight ratio.  A little give, a little take...

Also slightly distracted by the scheme on the rear panniers?  Is that paint or a wrap?  

On 1/3/2022 at 11:39 PM, PhotoAl said:

I had a herniated disk over 20 years ago.  Used to play golf a couple of times a week but stopped.  Went to a chiropractor for months but gradually made progress and am now good.  I take care of my back with good lifting techniques etc and try to not lift too much.  Know something of what you are going thru.  I could drive but walking was very difficult and was hard to sleep.  Spent a lot of time lying on the floor watching TV.  My first bike was a Ninja 250, then a Yamaha FZ6.  I really like the forward lean position.  After the FZ6 got a 2012 CBR600RR.  That was a leaned forward ride but I got along with it well.  Biggest issues were hard seat (duh its a sport bike) and weight on the wrists.  Core strength is important and gripping the tank with my knees and building core muscles helped with ability to keep weight off wrists.  At speed wind props you up, it's the slow speed stuff that gets hard on the wrists.  I rode to work every day.  Good part was it helped my back.  Building core strength thru riding and the leaned forward position which did not put compression forces on my back really helped my back.  After the CBR600RR came a Kawasaki ZX6R 636 which was similar.  When I retired I traded the ZX6R for a BMW F800GT.  It was more upright but softer suspension but noticed the difference in how my back felt.  I got used to it and did many long days on the bike - 26,000 miles in 2 years.  Then the Yamaha Tracer 900 GT.  Similar seating position to the BMW.  Used to tell my chiropractor two things made my back better, splitting wood and riding my motorcycle.  Both were good for strengthening core muscle groups which helps the back.  As other have said first get the back stabilized then the motorcycle.

Have looked at photos and specs of the Suzuki.  Looked at the predecessor and thought seriously about buying one but got a Kawasaki ZX6R 636 instead.  The predecessor was a faired version of the naked bike but not really a touring bike.  Rear subframe was too weak.  Suzuki has lagged the other manufactures in electronic aids like ABS and traction control.  The new bike has good styling and all the good from the old bike with a very well done instrument panel.  Why is it so hard for manufactures to get the integration of a cell phone and a display?  Suzuki gets it right.  The weight is very nice as well.  I contemplated the Ninja 1000 but do not want the weight.  My 2020 Tracer 900 GT is on the heavy side of what I'd like.  However some big omissions, no center stand or IMU.  IMU brings so much value to the electronics.  I could live without the IMO (don't have it now) but center stand is essential for a long ride.  Repairing a flat lubing chain etc. really need a center stand.  Think their exhaust placement precludes a center stand.  HP would be nice but the Tracer has enough for me.  If I was buying today it would be the Tracer 9 GT.

Can you not fix a flat with the vulcanizing plug method without the centre stand?  I would have thought you could roll it to the right spot, prep, patch, vulcanize and fill regardless of whether the bike was on the stand.  Doesn't the air pressure push the bike up?  

On 1/3/2022 at 11:15 PM, roy826 said:

I would have picked the Triton blue one that every other market gets but the US oddly doesn’t get that color. I even love the blue wheels on the Triton colored bike. 

My 2021 GSXR-1000R 100th anniversary model is Triton blue and silver. My last road race bike was Triton blue with the SUZUKI graphics plastered on the side. I’m fond of that color but not the matte color blue the US market gets so I ordered a black one. 

Agreed, that's a sweet color combo.  There's just too many black vehicles around IMHO.