Skidood

I'm glad to hear that...I still don't really know where I'm at with that.  I don't mind them but I do like bad-ass black...

Regarding the pic below, is this a 2018?  I dont know where I scooped this photo.

This thread will come in handy if I ever get up the ambition to paint my funky blue rims black...

For what its worth, my SUV is supposed to receive premium, which is what I put in it.  If I fill with 87, it just doesn't run as nicely, its noisier, has less power and gets poorer fuel economy.  And it has the knock sensor and will retard the timing if it senses knock aka pre-ignition.  Octane and regular vs. premium is one of the most common topics on automotive forums next to regular oil vs. synthetic.

Hey, now that oil has come up, is the Yamalube regular or synthetic?  I would imagine that when I change the oil first time on my new GT, I will not think twice about using synthetic, I'm a firm believer....OK, verbal diarrhea episode completed.

9 hours ago, 2and3cylinders said:

Taking personal gear and devices out of the shop and off the FJ

I've resigned myself that riding is over and that in a little more than a month maybe plus a couple of weeks I'm going to have the back surgery that's been put off for 2 weeks now

 

 

 

If you are having surgery to fix herniated discs, you will be able to ride no problem in the spring.  I had 2 herniated discs, L4, L5,  they went in from the rear, did a laminectomy for good access and just sliced off the herniations.  This was exactly 2 years ago...or was it 3?  Oh geez....anyway I was back at work in 2 weeks.  Hope yours is that simple.

9 hours ago, 2and3cylinders said:

There also should be a thin piece of braided metal wire with a loop at each end which is supposed to secure your helmet to the bike!

laughably

Precisely what I thought when i saw the cable..haha

Well the settings are inherently just preliminary until I get her out. I will want the ride to be a bit on the soft side due to back problems.  The damping settings I set around 60% for now.  They wont get dialed in for  another 4 or 5 looong months. 

Just set up my spring preloads as per "recommended methods", and thought I would share what I discovered as "optimal" settings for front and rear spring preload.  Maybe one day someone will find this a bit helpful.

Bike is brand new, zero miles.

I weigh 195 lbs.  I measured wheel travel (compression travel) while sitting down on bike, and compared to factory wheel travel specs.

I targeted 30% compression linear travel (suspension compresses 30% of full travel when rider weight is added.) (I started with baseline measurements with wheels off the ground)

Rear:  5 full turns in (clockwise) from fully backed off (full CCW)     (full span of adjustment is ~ 13 turns)   (the sweet black adjustor knob)

Forks:  9 full turns in        "              "        "         "           "        "       "    "      (full span of adjustment is ~ 16 turns)  

Hi all, so got my new bike home the other day and already playing with suspension setup and whatnot.

This rubber doodad came with it, can someone illuminate my brain as to what this is for?

On 12/1/2020 at 6:59 AM, johnmark101 said:

Invest in a set of quality stands to make the job safe and easy.  Pit bull makes some of the best.  Also the factory shop manual is worth it's weight in gold.

Hi, where can I get a copy of the factory shop manual?

Rob..yeah that's what they are, but at some point they added the powersports side ...the reason I went there is:  1.  They are super-close to me  which makes it WAY easier (in my case) to get the bike home without too much stress      2.  After some Google searches and calling around, it became apparent that there aren't very many bike dealers around anymore 

And yes, when you go there, it seems like the sales guys there are not into motorcycling at all and don't know jack- %@#@   about the bikes.

7 minutes ago, Rick123 said:

Welcome aboard and congratulation on you new ride. Another one from Mississauga here. Got mine back in October after having 13 V Stroms in the last 10 years. Already put 5000km on it 😄 and so far so good. I hope you got a good deal. Usually Ready Honda have pretty high prices. They have few 3-4 years old new bikes on the floor...

Hey, wow, another "Mississaugan"...yeah I got a decent deal, I think..$1100 off the MSRP plus they waved the $850 "PDI charge".

I didn't know some of those bikes there are used, you can't really tell, they didn't have signs on any of them.

13 V-Stroms in the last 10 years??? Wow. Wow...my take is that those are well-reviewed bikes so since you're happy with the GT, I'm even more happy now.

6 hours ago, MightBeSasquatch said:

The longest two days of your life, you're in them. 

Lol, yeah I am getting pretty excited!

6 hours ago, rlambke19 said:

Hi @Skidood

Welcome to the forum and great choice on your first bike back.

I'm in Cambridge, ON.

Which dealership did you get your new GT at and what model year did you get?

Cheers,

Rob

Hi Rob, it was Ready Honda in Mississauga, they are a car dealer but also have a powersports division.  There are about 35 new bikes on the floor there, none used, all different makes and models, they had 4  900 GTs, one of them had the red/white/grey color scheme, and they are closing up next summer so there may be some good deals to be had.  They have a WHOLE bunch of white Ninja 250's.  At least I think they are 250's.  I bought a new silver/blue/gold GT.

8 hours ago, gerrychuck said:

Welcome from the Prairies (Moose Jaw, SK).  I picked my new GT up a couple of weeks ago, and it is now patiently waiting in my hangar for spring riding weather.  I'm also waiting, but not as patiently.  So....I can't give you any useful info whatsoever!  We'll have to compare first ride impressions when we get the chance!

For sure!  Moose Jaw seems like a good riding destination, BTW! 🙂

Thanks guys, I thought maybe you'd have to undo something under the rear seat, and the key lock on the cases was just to open them.   Awesome!

I'm picking up my new GT a couple days from now and trailering it home.  I'd like to use ratchet straps on the rear of the bike as well as the front but it looks like the side cases (is that what you call them?) will be in the way of the straps.  There is nothing in the Tracer manual I downloaded off the net explaining how to remove them.  I will need to remove them at the dealer and this particular dealer is not the kind of dealer that you would want to ask to do it for you. 

Can someone let me know how to remove them?   Thanks so much.

Hey all, picking up my brand new 900 GT in 2 days!  I'm a returning rider, last bike was 25 years ago, a 1985 Yamaha Virago.

Look forward to being a member of the "community"!