TomTracer

6 hours ago, miweber929 said:

As someone who owned a Harbor Freight changer for several years and now owns a NoMar changer, I’m going to caution you a bit on this thinking: If you find a place that installs tires reasonably, like $25 or so per wheel which is not hard to do (locally Cycle Gear does if you buy from them, there are several local racers that do it out of their garage no matter who you buy tires from and a local parts store sells tires at or under online costs and mounts and balances for $10 per wheel) you have to change tires a lot to make up that initial cost. And it takes multiple changes to get good, fast, accurate and not scratch your rims, even with the NoMar setup. 
 

Supplies aren’t cheap either. 
 

My dad and I are finally getting the hang of it and doing it pretty but between us we have like 9 bikes and he rides enough to make it worth it. He goes through 2 or more sets a season. I do usually 1 of my bikes a season but usually have a shop do it because it’s quicker and easier and takes less of my time to have them do it. 
 

If you have 1 bike, and change tires once a season or less it’s not really worth it. You said you did it before so you probably buy know this but if others are following along, really run the costs out. 

All valid points. I started changing tires because I like to tinker, and I had space to do it. My first bead breaker was hinged 2×4 mounted to  wall stud. I'm not wealthy but everything isn't about $. Moving to a smaller abode meant selling some bikes. Hand problems meant giving up golf and tire mounting. Then I found a guy who would mount/balance for $25. Then Cycle Gear opened in the area. With 1 bike and hand issues that was the way to go. I still miss the satisfaction I got out of DIY. 

25 minutes ago, Ride365 said:

Buddy of mine never balances his wheels on his motorcycle, he either has stupid crazy luck with tires or it perhaps doesn't matter as much as we like to believe? Knock yourselves out with the messy beads, cars and trucks still use static balancing so that's good enough for me.  

What, when you used beads you dropped the bottle? 

18 minutes ago, Ride365 said:

Many of us are still skeptical.

Years ago when I had 4 bikes and a HF tire machine  dynabeads were a topic. I mounted/,balanced lots of tires for many summers. I made a balancer snd had  Mark Parnes, stick wts. I tried for 5+k/3 of the street bikes. If tires didnt look like they'd make a whole trip I changed them, then remounted the old tires to use them up. I experimented with the beads using different brands of tires, on 3 bikes. They worked. I was a naysayer, but without using them I was just another rider with an unproved opinion. I don't care who believes it or not, nor do I care who does what and am not trying to convince anyone. But in my experience the beads worked.

Most if the problem likely is that the socket is mounted flush on a vertical surface. If the surface had some horizontal tilt to it vibration would help keep the plug seated rather than make it fall loose or out. IMO of course.

Lots of options, black velcro likely the most inconspicuous.

On 8/23/2022 at 2:44 PM, Heli ATP said:

Recently added some Kiwav mirrors with running lights and turn signals to the Niken, worth a look.

https://kiwavmotors.com/en/parts/controls/mirrors/turn-signals/led-neat-stem-mirrors-lucifer-with-sequential-effect-black-for-yamaha-detail

Is the wiring fully hidden?

1 hour ago, Heli ATP said:

Easy to say but with a 29” inseam I was always worried about a fall. Easily happens at a stop with uneven surfaces. I lowered my Niken and my fun has tripled.

Look at all the ways you can lower your rider height vs doing links right off thebat. I've used links on a couple bikes but beware the sidestand will decrease bike lean at rest. And despite claims it doesnt affect centerstand operation it does, 5 bikes experience.You can raise front fork tubes, change seats ($), shave seat bumpers, etc which may get you to a more comfortable foit position at stop. Try things like those first. Good luck.

1 hour ago, duckie said:

Well damnit…..I aint getting old…..no matter how much my body aches.

Enjoy……

 

 

Don't let the Old Man in! 

6 minutes ago, 2and3cylinders said:

Funny of the coincidental kind you posted this subject.

My body also demanded over the years that I mutate my 98 Honda VTR1000F (Superhawk) into a sport tourer by finding first Helibar, then some adjustable Italian followed by Moto 3D adjustable clipons that are almost 3" up and 1.5" back with more sweep. I also installed the excellent MFW Vario adjustable footpegs that are about .75" lower and .625 forward.  I've modified my ancient Sargent saddle 2 times more to my liking.

However, as my cervical and lumbar disc's degraded even more (after a high speed bicycle incident with / by another bicyclist), severe stenosis, bulging and slippage that my neck and lower back could not tolerate forced me onto a leftover 15 FJ-09 in 16.  Yet while a proverbial comparative couch, I still needed to go to Renthal Street Naked bars, a Sargent and now also adjustable footpegs. Yet the higher FJ-09 saddle still forces me to mount and dismount by stepping up on the left footpeg like one uses the stirrup to mount a horse.

The contrast between the two fastest red steeds was highlighted even more just last night when, after eliminating some of the spaghetti like wiring and 5 inline fuses abd a +/- buss distribution bar that went back to the early 2000s under the saddle with a FZ-1 Fuzeblock, and being just about ready to replace my antique incandescent spot driving lights with LED, I took the VTR out last night for a shake down run.

Where it was a gorgeous night and the Ole VTR was glorious and so much lower (I can swing my leg over) quicker, torqueyer and sneaky faster than the FJ, I felt like a Gorilla on a 16-inch bicycle! 

It seemed my knees were above my hips and feet radically up if not too much more rearward, and my hands of course a fair bit lower, forward and closer together.  Yet I managed, and reveled in the boom, bark and on rushing road felt at speed, where though I still was not quite acclimated back to the handling, it was almost telepathic, needing only slight counter steering input and lean to promote comparatively significant turn in and bending sprightly through tight or more open sweepers.

I only did 64 miles and after my lumbar fusion a year ago almost exactly (!) and my cervical disc repair on hold because both my shoulder rotator cuff repairs failed and myst be redone; we'll just have to see how far I can tolerate my VTR however much I hope I can rekindle our affair. 

The FJ won't mind, just as my RD400 has had to bide its time.

Cruiser riding position really stresses my lumbar, can't even use hiway pegs. I've ridden enough different type bikes since I started a lifetime ago to know what works for me. I even have to be as upright as possible in my cars. Some cars had my stretched out and getting in/out put my hips lower than my knees. That kills my lumbar area. Riders who don't have back problems are very fortunate. Those of us with disc issues gotta be careful with riding position, or walk around in that contorted grimace faced "my back went out" look. Master Yoda works for me.

On 8/11/2022 at 2:42 PM, Geez said:

I was thinking of buying a used Tracer gt but the only Yamaha powersport (private equity/hedge fund?) owned dealer in town gets $165 per hour. And I won't know if the 'mechanic' is trained to any legitimate degree. Someone on this thread mentioned the high cost of BMW ownership. Sorry, there is no longer a gap between Japanese and the local BMW shop that has factory trained and certified technicians that likely earn good wages and have been working there for over 20 years. The Yamaha does have a longer valve check interval but would I trust them to do it correctly? 

I had 3 BMW's. I learned what to do and how through svc manuals and forums. Brake bleeds, spline lubes, throttle body balance, etc are easy. But you have to know your abilities and pay for what you cant do. A dealer I used even helped me with service guidelines, copies of instructions, etc. Rare, but they did. 

3 hours ago, Mark Jackson said:

One of the many reasons for mew getting a Tracer 900 was the riding position. Over the 21 years I've had my ZRX1200 I'd modified it as my body slowly demanded more comfort. Higher handlebars, then risers, I made brackets to lower the footpeg brackets then put some MFW Vario style extensions on. I'd got it well sorted and the fact that the Tracer had even more leg room, rear set at that, seemed to be the perfect match.

Having just taken the ZRX out for a ride this weekend I started to wonder if the Tracer's riding position is a little too much. The position the ZRX puts my legs seems to elevate some pressure on my backside compared with the tracer which drops then pulls the legs back which in turn shifts  the weight on my backside. I'm 6 foot tall with a 32" inseam, just wondering if anybody else has noticed this?

Back issues have made riding position paramount, I must sit erecf  feet directly below hips, very little forward lean. Cruisers are out of question. Master Yoda Riding Position is my guide, after 30 of my 64 yrs riding. I just put Heli Bar risers on my 2020 900gt, which with my Sargeant seat puts me in the best Yoda position. Suggest you check into Yoda.

On 8/9/2022 at 6:46 PM, motoontheweekend said:

Hi Ya'll, I recently purchased a used 2021 Tracer 9 GT (< 4k miles) and am noticing an odd little issue with the bike. Every time that I take off from a stopped position, there is a slight vibration feeling whenever I release the clutch during take-off. It seems to happen right at or after the clutch hits the friction zone and there is this brief vibration that I can feel through the bike. I can't seem to replicate this any time other than during take off. It feels a bit off coming from my previous bike (Kawasaki Z650) so I'm wondering if anyone knows what might be causing this? The weird thing is that I recently rented a 2021 Yamaha XSR900, which exhibited the same behavior though to a lesser degree. Maybe this is a just a Yamaha thing that is benign? 

A 2021 bike with 4K when you got it is unlikely to have that problem IMO. What's on the odo now? Sure don't see any/many posts with that problem. Maybe the P O messed with the clutch. Anyway, it'll be interesting to hear what your shop says. Good luck in any case.

I always reused the nut and crimp washer on every chain bike I've every owned. Red lock tight too, torqued to spec. Talk about accelerated wear, as we as disaster!

Good catch, and "beware" for others. Thanks.

With every bike I've ever had, at various mileages, I may detect a noise I has not noticed before. Then I focused on it as if something is seriously wrong. Then I'd hear another one, and so forth. All bikes have inherit noises the bike design manifests. Accept that and enjoy the ride, imagine the worst, which could be the case, and each ride will be ruined. FWIW.

15 minutes ago, TomTracer said:

If you get to Cortez, look up CO Norton works. Out in the middle of nowhere and you cant just drop in, but well worth checking out!

Monticello just S of Moab has very good restaurant, think The Grainery. Worth it.

If you get to Cortez, look up CO Norton works. Out in the middle of nowhere and you cant just drop in, but well worth checking out!

13 minutes ago, maximo said:

Yup. On the trip now, got a hiccup on the way. If I can figure out how to post on my phone I'll write about it. Meanwhile, I'm stuck in Moab. 

Oh no! "Stuck" in Moab! Go to Naturita and N to Gateway. Nice ride, great people in Naturita. Rim Rock hotel is good.

1 hour ago, Sunde said:

I think you might be looking for a different kind of vehicle there 
 There is a solid difference (imo) between safety features (ABS/TC) and all kinds of assists (Cruise control, quickshifters and whatnot) 
I dont think anyone really wants the bike to ride itself? 
But i mean automatic braking in case i get distracted, why not?

 

I get the "cant trust part" because obviously this isn't something you just test for shits and giggles. 
But assuming in a dystopian future full of even more mandatory rider aids, that a radar controlled auto braking system gets implemented / forced on all motorcycles. Would it not better to have a system that might be able to intervene or at least slow you down before an impact than nothing? 
 Unless you think its going to make you crash? I guess it would suck if such a system gets spooked during a corner. Although you'd think it would be hooked up to an IMU, so it wouldn't activate during hard lean etc. 
 

Last couple of my cars had lane departure, braking, adaptive cruise. I trust it BUT don't blindly rely on it. 2 of the cars auto braking was dangerous if a car changed lanes in front of me, slammed on brakes, which was not necessary, cars weren't that close. I always checked rear view mirrors and avoided 2 rear ends because I did. No matter how reliable automation.is supposed to be, I stay in control. 

I like the cruise on my 900gt. If it had adaptive anything I'd know how to use it, but likely wouldn't. 

Ah. $50 is cheap!! I met a guy at a bike rally who owns a wrap business. Said they can do any colr and usually can color match perfectly. Seems a forum member posted previously about wrap. 

Have you considered having the lids wrapped. Might check that out, as thoe shops might have some scraps left from a car job. Likely much cheaper than new bags/lids.

2 hours ago, DavidS said:

Thanks for all the feedback, I suspect the combination of 1) Motorcycle Rider, 2) On a Red Motorcycle, 3) Driving Quick (but not fast) out of the stop sign, and 4) Boredom for the Trooper were the critical factors to getting the attention, but I'll never get that 30 minutes back again!

Or the hours spent stewing about something you can't change.

Let it go!

The dealer may have, I couldn't close on it until all outstanding recalls were corrected. Really don't remember. 

Code readers are cheap and can save chasing your tail. Likely running in gear on the center stand caused some of your issues. My gt us a 2020 also.

The post is difficult to read with the black background, imo. But imo that's a good looking bike, sounds well set up. Should sell quickly. I'd go that route vs trade-in. Good luck.