OZVFR

You're all assuming it's either open or closed. It could be like alarm systems that look for resistance. IE: high resistance is open, low resistance is closed, no resistance (open circuit) is fault.

Nothing too out of the ordinary. There’s a bit of a mouse plague in places at the moment, and we had one night where they were trying to get into the tent all night. Kangaroos, wombats and wallabies while riding, but this is more of a worry at dusk or in the dark. Kookaburras that steal your food while cooking is another issue. Spiders and snakes everywhere but they don’t normally cause much concern. On a recent ride my mate who was riding up front had to evade a brown snake (poisonous and outright mean) that lunged at him, he hit it with the rear tyre and it got flung between my right knee and elbow as I quickly steered to the left so it wouldn’t end up on my lap. Oh yeah, sharks have been a bit of a problem last few years, they’ve eaten a few people, and salt water crocodiles up north. Australia has 4 of the most poisonous snakes in the world, as well as poisonous octopus and deadly stingers in summer. Come to think of it, there’s also been a few dingo attacks lately as well. Apart from that not much really.

Agree. After the 2001 VFR which I sold with 146,000km I bought a Triumph 1050 Sprint ST after giving up on Honda producing something that would entice me. Absolutely loved the Sprint after suspension upgrades, but loaded up it was a heavy bike. One day I sat on a Tracer while picking up bits at a bike shop and couldn’t get over how light it was and how low it carried the weight. To me the only thing the bike needs is upgraded suspension as stock is abysmal, good sport tyres which I’ve already done, a slightly longer swingarm to place more weight on the front wheel to get better feedback, and a windshield that actually does more than produce noise and turbulence. I’m not going to sell it because of the whine, but I definitely don’t need to like it. That’s not engine character, it’s bad engineering. I bought my Tracer privately from original owner who had only done 7400km in 6 years and only used it locally. Still had the original square tyres FFS. He was a vegetarian that wore a head bun and long beard, what more can I say

Ha, agree it’s no Honda. Not even a Triumph either. I didn’t think a sprocket change would achieve anything as the noise is internal. I now hold 5th to over 110kmh as it gets better at high revs. At around 80kmh it penetrates and hits my WTF part of the brain. I do like the bike. If it was a cassette type gear box I would pull it out and investigate. My guess would be that it’s factory tolerance related, hence why some are worse than others. The other thing I’d like to address is the fact that every trip I lose bolts or screws. It doesn’t vibrate badly, so don’t get it.

From what I've read, it seems some bikes are noisier than others. I always wear plugs on trips, it's only around town that I sometimes don't. I never said I wanted silence, I've always got rid of the stock muffler on every bike I've owned as hearing it is part of the ride experience. I think every bike I've owned in the past 30 years has had a counter balancer shaft, and nearly every bike I've owned in the past 45 years has had straight cut gears, as most bikes ever made and I've never had anything like this. It's a shame as the bike has great potential with a great chassis and fantastic motor. I got rid of the noisy, turbulent stock screen and installed a wider shorter sports screen that got rid of the buffeting and wind noise. It's just the seriously annoying whine in 6th that I wish I could get rid of. "Is it the bike or the person?" 400 ride? I just got back from a 2100km ride in 3 days and the 6th gear noise is bad. I was asking a question, not complaining, you know the old saying? Better let people think you're an idiot rather than open you're mouth and leave no doubt.

I know this has been discussed already, but couldn’t find an answer. My low kilometre (7400km) 15 that I bought a couple of months ago has a noisy 3rd, somewhat noisy 4th and a really noisy 6th gear. So much that it’s hard to ride the bike without ear plugs. The other gears are normal. It now has 10200km. Are all bikes the same or is mine a bad sample? And is there a fix?

Ride/camp at the Oxley Wild Rivers National Park.

Does anyone know where to get a 15 model flashed in Sydney at a reasonable price. I don’t want a individual tune, just get rid of the ridiculous fuel shut off at closed throttle and enable a quickshifter.

Finally got my Powerbronze sport screen ripoff sample to try. Not bad for AU$35 including postage. What a difference, gone is the unacceptable noise and buffeting. My helmet is now in free air, the wind is directed at my chin, and I no longer get that annoying noise at all speeds that was making me ride with ear plugs all the time.

We cop it here in Oz, the hottest long ride I ever did was at 46°C (114F) and wore my full leathers with the vents opened. It was only bad when you stopped, and you get used to it, continuously hydrating is very important. I do have a mesh jacket and kevlar jeans but won't wear them on long trips.

I remember reading somewhere that the 15 tracer doesn't communicate well with most readers. Is this correct?

I can weld myself as I have all the gear and I’m good at it. Will look at it on the weekend when I have more time. ATM I need to get the seat to an upholsterer to get cover restapled, as I reshaped seat but the plastic is really hard and thick and my stapler won’t go through it.

I figured that out and tried, but my boots don’t have a sharp edge on the heel and I don’t have enough reach to finish the stroke. It all depends on ground angle. I really don’t want to lower the bike anymore than the 15mm I already have. I only have a 29” inseam, but only weight 74kg (160ld), and I sometimes ride too aggressively to lower it any more. I was thinking of another pin just below the spring so it’s not so far down the side stand.

Nothing to do with lowering the side stand, just can't reach the side stand lowering pin properly when my right foot is on the ground. I'm not the first to complain about the side stand design. I'm guessing this is not a problem if you're tall.

If you’re short like me, the stock side stand is nearly impossible to use. I’m thinking of welding another pin just below spring to make it easier to use. Has someone done this and have pictures?

Bugger, I don't want to drop it any more, might have to look at modifying the seat instead. The front has also been lowered 10mm. Thanks again guys.

Thanks folks, I suspected that as whoever did work beforehand rounded the nuts. It must be a 10mm drop link, as I ordered 15mm drop links and they are only 2mm shorter that the ones I have.

Hmm, is yours a 15/16 model? Mine measures around 60 and it has 2-BB-F+53PO

Does anyone have a set of stock rear shock dog bone linkages laying around? I need the measurements of hole spacing. I don’t think the ones on my bike are original.

Bought this 15 model Tracer a couple of weeks ago with 7400km. It now has 8500km and a few small modifications. It still had the original square tyres, so I replaced them with new Rosso III's. Ditched the bark busters and installed new heavy bar end weights. Raised the forks 10mm to place a bit more weight on the front wheel. Installed a cheap Chinesium tail tidy and reflective rim tape. Stock suspension is seriously crap and does not complement that fantastic motor at all, so will be addressing this as soon as funds allow. Will also consider a flash as I find that throttle response and fuel shut off very annoying. What a fun bike though. Love the light weight and low center of gravity.