i_ride45

Looks like they are getting some snow again this weekend too.

That sounds like a really nice setup with the Ohlin parts. I also plan to do some 2 up touring with loaded luggage and I've just begun talking with my local suspension shop about what I'm looking to do in the next month or two. The guy I spoke with actually has my same exact bike and he converted it to an adventure bike with spoked wheels and such. He also has an FZ1 and ZX6R and has built suspension on all of them. He recommended going with K-Tech due to their availability and slightly lower cost with similar performance. Does anyone have experience with K-Tech or info about them on the Tracer? I'm not sure what models but he is supposed to check availability and send me a written quote so I can check on specific part numbers at that point. Mine is a 2019 base model.

4 hours ago, CJ3cyl said:

My wife is 5'2" and I also have a 2019 base model. We don't have that issue. Huh.

I think it also has to do with the panniers I have on. If she tries to scoot back to the backrest, the backs of her calves hit the front of the panniers. I took off the panniers and should had no problem reaching the pegs this way.

14 hours ago, maximo said:

The original owner to my touring bike had a similar sized pillion and rather than fiddling with the footpegs, he went the other way and carved a piece of hard foam into a large backrest/armrest. He covered it in faux leather to match the saddle and secured it on the bike. I thought it was an ingenious solution. 

That’s a good idea. Do you have any pictures of that? 

For those of you with short pillions: what is your solution?

My wife is 5’1” (155cm) and can only put her feet on the pegs if she is sitting way in front of the passenger seat. We have a Shad top case with a back rest and if she’s scooted all the way back up to it her feet are just dangling. Only solution I can think of is custom made foot peg brackets to relocate them.

Today was our first 2 up ride on my 1 month old 2019 base model. We did 160 miles through the mountains almost all twisty roads and it performed very nicely, just passed 1,000 miles on the odometer today. The suspension is of course way too soft even with us only weighing 160 and 110 plus riding gear. We’ll be upgrading that and the seats but weren’t expecting this foot peg issue.

19 minutes ago, duckie said:

So, Kevins ride report got me thinking about visiting places and  roads I have not been be to in years, try decades. 

One of those places is Yosemite Valley. Thinks its been thirty years or more. 

Starting May 21, reservations are required to enter Yosemite park. FYI, those reservations go on sale April 21. 

So I was thinking of a Picnic day ride to the valley before May 21. When depends on weather, but fore sure not this week.

Google map indicate roughy 4hrs, 200 miles one way.  I was thinking on leaving San Jose around 6am, getting to the Valley around 10am, find a spot, eat relax and depart around 2pm. 

Anyone interested let me know. No firm date as of yet, be it will be before May 21 and will be on a Tues, Weds, Thurs...if possible, 

I wish I could ride mid-week

On 4/14/2021 at 4:33 AM, maximNikenGT said:

What do you consider "a lot"?

One of the posters in this thread mentioned he has been pulled over 30x+ which is what kinda caused this thread of discussion to get very lively. To me, I thought getting pulled over 5-10x is a lot, but when I saw 30, it had me wondering if I was somehow just lucky or am I way outside the normal distribution for getting pulled over on a motorcycle? 

Allow me to clarify, I have only been stopped about 4 times on motorcycle in 10 years of riding. The rest of those times were in a vehicle, but I was just speaking of my general experience with US cops. Also, most of those times were in my early 20's, driving rather flashy vehicles, in a  small town, late at night with not many other cars on the road. In other words, I was almost asking for it.

One of my motorcycle stops was after a CHP chopper spotted me doing 160+ on my R6 and called in the ground units to catch me at a stop light. They were very grateful I did not run and only wrote me a ticket for 100+ when they could have easily taken me in.

My second helicopter incident my buddy and I were riding our DRZ400 Supermotos on some twisty mountain roads passing many cars over double yellow lines. They followed us in the air for 13 minutes without us knowing and ground units had a mini road block set up when we pulled into town. Again, they could have taken us in but only gave us a reckless driving ticket. That video is fun to reminisce but I have since learned my lesson and toned down my street riding quite a bit.

The other 2 times were mild infractions and I was let got with no tickets.

2 hours ago, Salish900 said:

Man I would if I could, but honestly, riding those passes just whets my appetite for backpacking the region. Let me tell you, south of Sonora Pass is some sublime country when traveling on two feet! 

I usually alternate my summer weekends between motorcycle rides and backpacking trips. Though most of my backpacking trips are closer to the Tahoe area in Desolation Wilderness.

Monitor Pass on 89 is now open. It sounds like we'll have an early opening of Sonora and Ebbett's this year due to lack of snow pack. Anyone else waiting patiently to make a trip up here?

Anyone have a beak installed with the Givi aux light bracket? I'm trying to determine if they will fit together.

On 4/8/2021 at 4:37 PM, Wintersdark said:

It helps a lot to wrap or plastidip those white panels matte black, so they match the side pieces below the tank.  I wrapped, @Dodgy Knees plastidipped his, and it makes the bike look a lot better:

That said, it turns out you can just order new panels entirely in whatever color you want (that Yamaha makes them in, so red, red-orange, white, blue, black, and silver) for about $250CDN.  I've got black ones on the way.

Where can you find these side panels?

18 hours ago, Wintersdark said:

As to the OP:

In the US, I do:

Because US cops are unbelievably crazy. 

Here in Canada:

• Hazards on if I have them, turn signal if not.
• Kickstand down (it's also how I turn off the bike)
• Key off
• Open modular helmet, or remove non-modular helmet
• Remove gloves
• Get license and registration out

I've never had a cop show any anxiety with my hands doing stuff out of line of sight (helmet, gloves, papers) here.  I wouldn't take that chance south of the border though.

And yeah.  I try to always limit myself to being as polite as possible, but limited my responses as much as possible to yes sir, no sir.  

 

If I am riding with a camera, I will never disclose that.  I'm not going to draw their attention to evidence against me.  And even if it's exculpatory, I'm keeping it to myself and will contest the ticket later. 

 

It's all the stuff you see on TV bud. I've been pulled over nearly 40 times in the USA and never had a real problem other than a handful of tickets.

10 hours ago, Mattf said:

I installed a 3 post fused block from Eastern Beaver. Been using their products for years. Comes out of Japan.

Thanks. Also, did you have any trouble mounting the front turn signals? Any tips for holding them in place since the mount is different than the factory ones?

On 4/2/2021 at 5:40 AM, Mattf said:

I didn't like the look of the stock Tracer turn signal so after much research I decided to go with 12 O"Clock Labs turn signals and replacement flasher. Made in the US. Replacement lenses available! They are very bright. I ordered the optional Yamaha connectors so no cutting and soldering. The flasher is plug & play. Front running lights still work and there is an optional connection for rear running lights. I connected them to my Aux fuse block. Easy instal. Front panels come off easy. You need to remove the press fittings to separate the panel to get at the turn signal. I used a small screwdriver for that. When reassmbling I use a 8mm socket to press them back on. It's easier to remove the rear turn signal mount completely to replace the turn signals. Theres 3 connectors- left & right signals plus the license plate light. Then 4 nuts to remove under the seat. Don't lose the small spacers! On all the turn signals I used a little blue loctite on the threads.

Where is this aux fuse block you speak of?

Can someone shed some light for a newb on why the ECU flash is desirable?

Beautiful bike. The only way I can get another sport bike is if I keep it only on the track, otherwise I get in too much trouble lol!

Looks like a nice ride. What kind of mounting bracket did you use to put your lights on the lower fork?

2 hours ago, Waldo Jeffers said:

This is one of my favorites: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Route_96?wprov=sfti1

 

That's on my list for this summer

1 minute ago, betoney said:

We rode Sonora and Monitor Passes 2 years ago, I agree, AWESOME ride, that is why we wanted to explore Ebbetts and Carson Passes this time.  We will also ride up Donner pass as well.  👍

Good call. If you want a scenic route through Donner Pass, take Donner Pass Rd from Truckee to Soda Springs on the south side of I-80. It has incredible views of Donner Lake.

4 hours ago, betoney said:

Lovely!! 

We are going to be riding through there at the end of June.  The prior day we will be riding Monitor, Ebbetts and Carson Passes and the following day we will take your advice and ride Lake Berryessa/ Hopland/ Boonville area!

Day 4 of our route

Google Maps

 

Sounds like a great ride. If you haven't done Sonora Pass, I highly recommend it.

I've been wanting to check out this area. How far up did you make it before turning around?

Is there a preferred way to run power to this outlet?

I totally forgot about plasti-dip. Thanks!

36 minutes ago, micah2074 said:

I would use the high beam to trigger a relay to run the fogs.....But... I wouldn’t hack into the expensive headlight assembly or harness to do it. Easier and safer to just use a stand alone switch. 

That's a good idea. But yes, I also don't want to cut up factor wiring harnesses.

On 12/31/2019 at 6:04 AM, Dodgy Knees said:

Had these for a while,  thought I'd stick them on. Better or worse, I ain't sure.

 

Your vinyl wrapped white side panels look great! I may just have to steal this idea hahaha.