Kemp
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Posts posted by Kemp
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I added some goodies from SW-Motech today. The crash bars and front spoiler were discounted recently, and I took advantage of it. Hopefully, I'll never get to learn how well they work, but I think if something does happen these pieces will do their job. I also took a ride with my new Arai XD-4 and learned that you can do head checks at 90 mph without pulling your head off.
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14 minutes ago, 2and3cylinders said:
The SWMT crash bars leave your cases unprotected so thesese are recommended
Good to know. Thanks!
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Well, it looks like I bought my own Christmas gifts.
The front spoiler for my '20 Tracer was available at a pretty decent discount ($80 off), and I checked out the crash bars I've been eyeing as well, and they were $100 off! Got the CFO's approval, and they should be delivered this week.
https://sw-motech.us/bike/YAMAHA/900TracGT/2020/RN57/products/protection/crash+bar/
Now, to get approval for dual sport tires for the other ride.
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13 hours ago, 1moreroad said:
I was up there on 2 wheels last weekend, too, around Mountain View. A little different experience.
You are better than me. I need to be pedaling, but, dang, Mountain View? Some of those inclines had to be killers on a bicycle!
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15 hours ago, duhg said:
Every day is a good day for pie!
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16 hours ago, PhotoAl said:
Thanks for the ride description. I go thru Memphis and Jonesboro on my way out west. Springfield MO is 600 miles and a long 1st day. Been looking for a shorter trip in May/June if I can catch a break.
I've not ridden Crowley's Ridge, but I understand it's a pretty entertaining ride. I drove portions of it years ago, and need to get back over to try it on two wheels.
If you've got a few days, I definitely would recommend you do a little exploring in Arkansas. Some of the more entertaining roads can be found west of U.S. 65 and north of I-40; just pick a road and go! With four or five days, you could make a pretty fun trip out of it.
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5 minutes ago, Xstoff said:
Well, dark visor is good until it starts to get dark outside!
On another occasion, I also had that issue while riding in broad daylight but under dense forest... Opening the visor was ok until I started to get dust in my eyes!
I think that's what I'm reluctant about, although my eyes are more sensitive to light after my lasik surgery. I was wishing for a pair of sunglasses, but that wouldn't help the rest of my face. Maybe I cough up the dough for a photochromatic visor. But, for a Shoei, it's as much as I've paid for entire helmets. Ugh.
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2 hours ago, 2and3cylinders said:
#1 Born to ride, ride to work, work to ride for frozen custard.
Though strawberry pie is a great substitute!
#2 I recommend you get a dark tinted helmet visor because you seem to get a sunburn through your clear visor.
Great ride report except I have no clue of your locale so the route narration is lost on me and presumably others not familiar with your neighborhood. However, I hope some day soon to visit.
I definitely need to remember the sunscreen.
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Two weird "holidays" in a row - May the 4th (Star Wars) and Cinco de Mayo - prompted me to christen an official holiday in my honor.
I celebrated it this weekend. I call it, "Mike Rides for Pie Day".
A great thing about it - it can (and should) be celebrated more than once a year.
The inaugural holiday started with a rough idea of a destination - the Skylark Cafe in Leslie, AR, about 65 miles from where I live in Conway. The direct route wasn't that exciting, so I launched to see which meandering route I could take to get there.
I decided I would wind my way north and west over several state highways to Arkansas 27 just north of Hector, which is a twisting ribbon of relatively unoccupied asphalt. Lots of elevation changes, too, which meant when I stopped at a scenic overlook where I never had before, the scenery wasn't very visible.
27 kept up the fun for several miles until it dumped me in Marshall on Highway 65.
I proceeded north on 65 for about 10 miles, crossing the Buffalo National River and stopping at Coursey's for some smoked summer sausage, bacon and smoked Swiss cheese. It's a "must stop" for when we visit family in Missouri, and if there's one thing I like as much as pie (or more), it's bacon.
I doubled back on my path back through Marshall to my lunch destination in tiny Leslie, AR. The Cubano sandwich was delicious, but I lost all interest when they brought out my slice of strawberry pie.
I also dropped a text to check in with my wife. It appears I have picked a soul mate.
I left Leslie headed toward Mountain View with the possibility of hitting a rarely-traveled road, but realized I had made a tactical error: I forgot to fill up at Leslie and was in no-man's land as far as gas pumps go. I decided I might be able to make it the 30 miles to Mountain View, and found a station about 10 miles into reserve.
I chatted with a local rider who was admiring my Tracer, which shows his good taste, and we discussed his desire to trade in his V-Strom 650 for a cruiser. Not sure how it would handle the gravel roads he lives down, but to each his or her own.
Having gorged on delicious pie and equally tasty roads, I headed back home, but not before taking an obligatory shot of my Tracer at one of my usual stops in Clinton:
After a few miles on U.S. 65, I decided some less populated state highways made for a better ride back to my house, so I adjusted my course accordingly.
All told, I made it back home with a ride of just under 300 miles (296, I think), a full stomach and a much better attitude. Time to find another spot to celebrate my holiday.
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So, as far as the liners go, the ones for the FJR1300 will fit my Tracer, correct?
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Like many areas of my life, I feel like the side cases in my '20 GT could stand a higher level of organization. I do have some small pouches that I keep things separated (for example, my tire repair kit in one case, etc.) but I was wondering what others do to keep their side cases organized?
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On 4/4/2023 at 2:01 PM, 1moreroad said:
After a year of riding east in the morning/west in the afternoon, last night I bought a $170 LS2 Blaze helmet with a peak. Revzilla has a dual sport helmet section. I should have the helmet sometime next week.
I tried sunglasses + tinted visor and painters' tape across the top of an old visor, but it wasn't enough. I'm hoping the peak and a drop down tint visor are better.
I'll be interested in your thoughts regarding that helmet. I've been considering one for my dual sport.
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I have tried this with decent success: https://www.aerostich.com/helmets/helmet-accessories/universal-helmet-sunblocker.html
Same concept as the electrical tape hack, but you can see through it.
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Quote2 hours ago, Ride365 said:
I have been debating running the NTP, perhaps this is my year?
It's not a knee-dragging, adrenaline-filled ride, but it was fun for a couple of days. I spent a day getting there and a day coming back, leaving two days to ride the Trace. It probably could be done in one, but some of that would depend on your willingness to push the speed limit.
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Quote48 minutes ago, Suzukiguy said:
Just imagine how much fun you could have if the speed limit was higher! The northern end has lots of twisties but the speed limit takes away a lot of the fun! Cruise control is a must have!
YES! I was coming around a corner on the northern end doing 50-55, which did not feel that extreme, when I spotted an unmarked SUV at one of the pull outs. I quickly moderated my speed and it felt glacial.
I think I saw a total of four patrol cars on the entire trip, but two of them had a car pulled over so I know they do enforce the speeds. I got passed several times, and some of them disappeared, so they had to be in the 60-65 mph range. I just wasn't willing to write that check.
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Living in Arkansas, I'm lucky to have some top-notch roads just a few moments from my garage. However, I've had the itch to explore beyond the state lines to see what else is out there, and I settled on the Natchez Trace Parkway as my first solo outing on my Tracer. It seemed an easy reach from central Arkansas and an easy ride over a few days. So, this past week, I packed up and headed south to Natchez, MS to start the trek.
On my way south, I made it through Hamburg before a stop in Monticello for a quick lunch and Cuban coffee.
In no time, I was making my way through Louisiana before crossing the river over to Natchez. I spent the night there and explored the town a little bit. I need to go back with my wife to poke around some more.
I had decided to go south to north after learning that the northern section was a little curvier and fun (but failed to pick up on the 40 mph speed limit there) and began my trip on a cold but sunny morning.
With the intention of overnighting in Tupelo, and trying my best to adhere to the posted speed limit (cruise control made that a bit easier), I decided to make a few stops along the way. I had already determined that I wanted to see the sunken areas of the Trace as well as the Cypress Swamp, and then play it by ear for some of the others.
I also had planned to do some video along the way, but realized I left my chin mount at home before I left Conway, so no GoPro. No worries, I had my 360 camera and did do some video around Natchez, but along the Parkway, the clamp was on my hand guard, but I noticed at one of the stops that it had magically disappeared. If any of you notice it along the road, you're welcome.
Am I the only rider to put a Tracer on the old Trace? Yeah, I thought not.
Anyway, the first day was beautiful and there were plenty of dogwoods in bloom. Spring had arrived in Mississippi. But, I guess Tupelo didn't get the message; I woke up to a 29 degree morning and a frosty seat.
Fortunately, my gear served me well. I stayed relatively warm and comfortable as the temperatures warmed throughout the day. That made the trek north on day two quite enjoyable.
It was still icy in places at Fall Hollow:
And, I thought the sign for the northern terminus would be right at the end of the road, not at the pull off a mile or two back, so I missed it. But, in my mind, this IS the sign for the northern terminus:
Really, I think the main reason I rode from south to north was to reward myself with biscuits at the end.
The slog back home via I-40 was every bit as glamorous as you think, with the added caveat of rain that started in Jackson, TN, and pretty much stuck with me all the way through Arkansas. I had had enough of rain and dodging trucks and decided to stop in Forrest City at Delta Q barbecue. This is one you don't want to miss! Had a great sandwich and had the place to myself.
All in all, it was a great trip. Not a challenging road, and pretty relaxing. Oh, there was one detour for paving on the parkway, and I learned that my namesake it running for sheriff in Tishomingo County, Mississippi!
Now, to plan the next trip.
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This reminds me that my helmet's getting a bit funky.
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If your dang legs were just one size longer . . .
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After my trip to CO last week with my wife in her CR-V, I'm going to have to re-visit this thread to find inspiration for a two-wheeled trip out west! Thanks for sharing.
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Glad it worked out as well as it did! I'm wanting to make a trip to Colorado soon. I'll have to watch for your updates.
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https://www.rideapart.com/news/602837/italian-carabinieri-yamaha-tracer-bikes/
I always thought these make more sense than some of the motorcycles used by the police in the U.S.
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So, what about it didn't work for you? Wondering if this might be a good fit for me.
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Nice ride. I never ride in the Delta but have always found it a strangely beautiful place. I need to ride Crowley's Ridge sometime, too.
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Anyone with experience with these? Pyramid Plastics handguard extensions
What did you do to your FJ-tracer-gt today?
in FJ-09 Tracer 900 General Discussions
Posted
@2and3cylinders it's a 2022 Honda CRF300L, which is really why I bought the Arai. But, if it was good enough for adventure riders, I thought I might try it out on the Tracer as well. It will definitely be my winter helmet, since it performs so well with the peak attached. Takes care of that low sun.