Jayzonk

12 hours ago, roy826 said:

I have the all Black US GT+ model on order. Looking like a April 2022 delivery I hope.

All black?  I looked at the US website but didn't see it.  I like both current color combos - silver/black or red/black.  

I really like the idea of this thread, and it would be interesting to know how closely Yamaha would track the suggestions that we provide.  Seeing that we know they must look at what's in the forum, it's probably wise to suggest changes that we would at least think would be within the same current budget for this bike.  

But I haven't ridden the new one, so my only reference point is my 2020.  Hmmm.  

Is the 3M adhesion promoter removable if you want to restore the panniers to original?  

Even if you can't find a specific color match, a flat black wrap might be the answer.  I haven't tried plasti-dip bulbs one others may have.

Well, I have a pretty serious back issue as well, and I highly recommend ATTACKING the back problem before anything else.  For me, I have a personal trainer who works with me in the gym twice a week, and my back problem has been greatly minimized.  My personal trainer is worth more to me than my doctor, any chiropractor, physiotherapist.  

Let things heal, then work with a personal trainer who understands these issues and can start building you from your core up.  Keep it up twice a week...forever.  He has me squatting and deadlifting again...two things I have feared and swore I could never do again in my life, but here I am doing that, and strengthening my back in the process.  
Once you get solid, you won't be worried about what bike you need to switch to.  That being said, a DR650 with its cush drive would be lighter, easier to mount, and good for some short rides.  Or an SV650.  But, as I say, hang on, get your trainer, heal and build.  

Of course!  I suspect that any setup you use will be better if you are starting with better components.  My biggest issue (and it's not that big) is that there seems to be some excessive rebound (which might have been better with  a slightly longer wheelbase, like the 9GT) and a bit of a "clack" when I go over larger pavement cracks.  It's not really an issue but thought that better suspension might smooth it out.  As for handling, I'll adjust my riding style to match the setup.  

This kind of thing might be interesting, but it's for Touratech aluminum panniers.  Wondering if there's anything similar for our Tracer panniers.  

1 hour ago, Wintersdark said:

I wrapped mine originally when I was going to wrap the whole bike; but I ended up pulling it off the lids and only wrapping the lower front "triangles" (mine's grey & red with white triangles; wanted them black).  Wrapping the lids is actually pretty easy - took me two tries to get it right (so have a bunch of extra vinyl) but once you have the technique down it's simple.  

No trimming needed for the reflector.  Get a heat gun, or even hair dryer.  Heat it, then run some fishing line underneath: it's just stuck on with some double sided body tape.  Heat and peel off the remaining tape, and if you still want them, just stick them back onto the wrapped lid with new bodywork tape.  They come off - and go back on - really easy, and the tape is readily available for just a couple dollars. 

 

Cool.  Now matching my metallic burnt orange color is going to be fun.....

1 hour ago, Wintersdark said:

Looks pretty good, but like @betoneyI'm not a huge fan of all the plastics.  I suppose it's more a "classic" sport tourer (that is, an overweight fully faired sportbike) but I prefer the more Naked Bike/ADV hybrid style the Tracer has.

With that said, the Suzie is at least way better looking than the new Honda, which particularly in the silver colourway is about the most boring looking new bike I've seen this year.  And that Suzie DOES look very fun to ride.

Me too.  Pretty smitten with my 2020 GT and no real complaints.  Just for pure hobby's sake, I was thinking about adding the Ohlins front and back, to perhaps add some plantedness feeling in the suspension.  I'd like to at least experience the difference and see what I'm missing.  

1 hour ago, Wintersdark said:

Looks pretty good, but like @betoneyI'm not a huge fan of all the plastics.  I suppose it's more a "classic" sport tourer (that is, an overweight fully faired sportbike) but I prefer the more Naked Bike/ADV hybrid style the Tracer has.

With that said, the Suzie is at least way better looking than the new Honda, which particularly in the silver colourway is about the most boring looking new bike I've seen this year.  And that Suzie DOES look very fun to ride.

Of all the big sport tourers, I think it's pretty light, though.  I think the H2SX, Concours, FJR all have 75 to 100 lbs on it.  Not dissing any of those particular bikes....some guys like the weight and the planted feel.  Depends on what you're after.  

8 hours ago, Ride365 said:

No centerstand, that's a killer for me.....otherwise it's the bike I've been waiting for Zuk to build.

I haven't checked to see if it's an accessory.  Have you?  For lubing the chain, I don't mind rolling the bike ahead as I apply it, not a big deal.  Tire repair on the other hand is going to be out if you can't get the back wheel off the ground, I think?  Or can the plug system still work?  

8 hours ago, Skidood said:

A Londoner, eh?  I grew up 1/2 hour SW of there.  

Glencoe?  Shedden?  Dutton?  West Lorne?  

Thanks!

The GSX-S is an interesting move though.  If it works for Suzuki, how easy would it be for Honda to follow through with its own inline four 1000cc in the CB1000?  Keep the mainframe, change the subframe, design the fairing and you're off to the races.  

Or this one:  Good rise of the fairing up, alongside the screen for extra protection.  

The Versys 1000 is almost there but needed the fairing to extend up the screen a bit:

This whole windscreen thing keeps going on over and over and over.  I wish someone would develop an ADV bike or upright bike like the Tracer with a bulbous fairing up front with an integrated screen (wrapped by the fairing) so that it doesn't oscillate all of the time.  Pretty sure that's better than bolting anything up at the bottom with four bolts.  

Think: Tracer GT with FJR fairing up front (but smaller obviously!)

On 7/5/2021 at 7:21 PM, MotoMario said:

I have been screwing around with windshields, fairings etc for 50 years. Vetter, Pacifico, Rifle, National Cycle, Slipstreamer, Puig and others I can't remember across the US, Canada,Western and Eastern Europe.  On my tracer I tried the stock with MRA deflector, V Stream sport touring, V stream with MRA, Puig and they all either beat me or my ears up (at this age I can't afford to do that).  Part of the problem I think is the factory mounting hardware.  Once buffeting starts it sets up a harmonic motion that's like the old motels with the vibrating bed (sorry you younger guys missed this exotic era).  So after screwing around since I had a trip coming up to east coast and outer banks, I broke down and bought a MadStad system.  NOTHING AND I MEAN NOTHING compares to this set up.  No ear plugs, no vibration, no buffeting and when I got stuck for a 100 miles or so of good rain I could watch the rain drops fly over my head.  I wear a Shark Evo One helmet which is noisy but I can and did ride with the chin bar pulled back (only one certified to do so).  Best 300 bucks I have ever spent on a motorcycle.

That's not even that tall of a screen!  There's a few that are so tall that I think I'd actually be looking through them than above them.  This one looks decent.  How tall are you?  And are you looking completely over it?

As for the lights, I just keep telling myself that the engineers must know what they're doing when they put those small lights on the bike.  

What I don't understand is that they could use larger lights and larger light housings to not only improve the lighting, but to add wind protection for the rider.  

I think what we're leaving out of the equation here is the difficulty in working with LED lights to properly project light down the road.  They don't work on the same principles as our older incandescent lights, where the light would radiate into the concave parabola then be directed down the road.  They use other principles, but haven't really looked into it much.  I suspect that this different way of illuminating the road with LED's explains the smaller lights and housings.  

I agree, a few degrees of lean angle on the upper body is actually preferable to a completely upright riding position.  I can just move around on the seat to achieve that for the most part, but it's not quite the same as having the bike deliberately made in that configuration.  I had a 2010 VFR1200F and it had the perfect setup that way.  Totally regret selling that bike.  

On 12/30/2021 at 5:01 AM, petshark said:

I get that the old headlamp style is "old" tech and they are phasing it out so I actually prefer the angry robot look of the MT10 to the undecided-in-between look of the T9 with the double headlights. 

Love it or hate it... It is a no-compromise design choice.

Yes, really deliberate Transformer robot look.  But why??  It's such a departure from everything else they do.  I can't make myself like it, no matter how hard I try.  Makes me wonder if Yamaha had some secret marketing information about the type of person who rides a naked four cylinder litre bike!!  Like they concurrently watched sci-fi movies?  Hmmm

On 12/30/2021 at 2:14 PM, Yamajank said:

Right now I'm 90% certain I'm picking up the 2022 KTM RC390.  

Have they improved that engine?  The high compression/ high rpm has left them somewhat unreliable, but fine after rebuilds.  

3 hours ago, OutlanderBC said:

Nothing fancy, but added black reflective tape to the backs of both the panniers. you don't see it until the light hits it.
I've been told it's super bright & reflective. Then I added some white reflective pinstriping to the front wheel and sides panels.

This looks fantastic and gets rid of the need for color matching.  Nicely placed and not overwhelming.  

3 hours ago, Suzukiguy said:

Got it today and it DOES NOT MATCH! Way too much "chrome" colored. Oh well! Gotta keep looking I guess.

Not surprised!  It's a pretty unique color.  Where are you trying next?

Nice graphics.  Looks a little like the Japanese sunrays in blue and silver.  Done yourself?