Glorious weather

[dazzler24]

Been out every day this week as the weather has been threatening to turn for the worse (rain) so got to make the most of it!

Temperature today was a glorious 25 deg C and a little overcast so ....perfect!

 

This was how it was yesterday after I returned from a ride - thankfully!

52mls fell in 20mins.

[motochick]

Envious as my bike sits in garage for weeks, snow day again today. Play guitars!!

 

[2and3cylinders]

Say no more

[texscottyd]

So, at the risk of showing off a bit, I logged 250+ very spirited miles with a good friend last Saturday.   The cold front rolled through here on Sunday afternoon, so we knew it was our last chance for a week or so.   It sucks here in the summer, but winters aren’t so bad… 😀

[dazzler24]

27 minutes ago, texscottyd said:

So, at the risk of showing off a bit, I logged 250+ very spirited miles with a good friend last Saturday.   The cold front rolled through here on Sunday afternoon, so we knew it was our last chance for a week or so.   It sucks here in the summer, but winters aren’t so bad… 😀

Looking sharp there Tex with the new Suzi. 👍  How's those first impressions of it coming along given your initial thoughts were encouraging?

[2and3cylinders]

Both are very nice scoots! Almost British racing green!

Bundle up, you'll relax and concentrate better.

[betoney]

13 hours ago, texscottyd said:

So, at the risk of showing off a bit, I logged 250+ very spirited miles with a good friend last Saturday.   The cold front rolled through here on Sunday afternoon, so we knew it was our last chance for a week or so.   It sucks here in the summer, but winters aren’t so bad… 😀

 

 

Great looking bike and I'm super envious that you guys can ride this time of year. 

The only nit-pick I have with GX (and I'm trying really hard to find something) is the black exhaust tip.  With the silver rear rack, sub frame and side panel, I think a silver exhaust tip (like the GT below) would give it a nice separation and balance.  But then again Im being very picky.

[texscottyd]

On 1/10/2025 at 8:33 PM, dazzler24 said:

Looking sharp there Tex with the new Suzi. 👍  How's those first impressions of it coming along given your initial thoughts were encouraging?

Thanks my friend… very short answer is that the GX is a stunning motorcycle for what I personally want & need in a bike, and after about 2,000 miles I’m totally enamored with it.   

For being so similar to the FJ in concept, it’s very different in execution.  It’s hard to say if one is ‘better’ than the other, since they have different characters and do different things well.   Also, keep in mind that I’m comparing a highly modified 2015 FJ09 to a bone stock 2024 GSX-S1000GX+, which is kind of an apples & oranges deal.    And all the refinement and improvements of the new Tracer 9 GT+ undoubtedly would make this a much harder side-by-side compare for the new bikes in a heads-up evaluation.   

That said, the GSX lacks the raw hooligan aspect that I’ve always loved about the FJ (and specifically the CP3 motor).   The Suzuki is just a much more serous motorcycle… you can tell that it means business from the minute you press the starter.   That K5 GSX-R based motor is f-ing spectacular… I had forgotten how much I like that power plant:  Ridiculous power  everywhere, and just smooth enough (but not too smooth)… it has character, and usable power that just flattens the FJ.   Now, that may not matter to a lot of people, but I’m smitten with the GSX motor.  

But overall it’s just a more dedicated sport tourer, especially at higher speed.   It’s effortless cruising in the low triple-digits, with great wind protection and none of the occasionally nervousness the FJ had.   I’ve already done a couple of 300 mile days, and it’s great in that capacity.   The ergonomics are surprisingly more aggressive than my FJ (even with its lowered bars), but I love it at 6’1” & 220 pounds.   The upper body position is similar across the two bikes, but the footpegs on the Suzuki are a little father back & higher.   For me it’s long-distance comfy, and has plenty of leg room.   

The Suzuki active suspension works great in automatic mode on the middle damping setting… it’s rock solid in high speed stuff.  My first bike with any sort of adaptive suspension, and I’m sold on the concept now.   

Where the Suzuki doesn’t measure up is in the tighter & more technical stuff:   It’s about 50 pounds heavier than the FJ, and just isn’t as nimble at lower speeds & in highly technical sections of road.   The FJ is a better commuter and around town-bike, and would probably be the better choice if you ride a lot of very technical mountain & canyon passes.    There’s always a trade off, I suppose.   😀 

Keep in mind that I’m the type that wants something different when I upgrade, so after 8 years with the FJ, I couldn’t justify trading to a new Tracer 9.   So I went spiritually different, which the Suzuki definitely is.   IN A HEADS-UP, NET-NEW COMPARISON, WITHOUT MY CP3 HISTORY, IT WOULD A VERY HARD DECISION OF NEW TRACER 9 GT+ VERSUS NEW SUZUKI GSX-S 1000 GX+.   Both great bikes, and you have to really evaluate what you specifically want in a bike to weight the pros & cons of each.   

[texscottyd]

On 1/11/2025 at 9:43 AM, betoney said:

The only nit-pick I have with GX (and I'm trying really hard to find something) is the black exhaust tip.  With the silver rear rack, sub frame and side panel, I think a silver exhaust tip (like the GT below) would give it a nice separation and balance.  But then again Im being very picky.

Suzuki made a few styling decisions that seem a bit off to me, too.   The matte green & silver color scheme is growing on me, but I still would have preferred a more conventional Suzuki blue option… for now, this is the only colorway available in the U.S.  

I think I’m ok with the black exhaust, although the head pipes and under-motor cat/resonator are all stainless.  Weird.   And things like the black footpeg brackets on the silver subframe just don’t blend like they should.   

It’s great to ride; decent to look at… 😀

[dazzler24]

7 hours ago, texscottyd said:

Thanks my friend… very short answer is that the GX is a stunning motorcycle for what I personally want & need in a bike, and after about 2,000 miles I’m totally enamored with it.   

For being so similar to the FJ in concept, it’s very different in execution.  It’s hard to say if one is ‘better’ than the other, since they have different characters and do different things well.   Also, keep in mind that I’m comparing a highly modified 2015 FJ09 to a bone stock 2024 GSX-S1000GX+, which is kind of an apples & oranges deal.    And all the refinement and improvements of the new Tracer 9 GT+ undoubtedly would make this a much harder side-by-side compare for the new bikes in a heads-up evaluation.   

That said, the GSX lacks the raw hooligan aspect that I’ve always loved about the FJ (and specifically the CP3 motor).   The Suzuki is just a much more serous motorcycle… you can tell that it means business from the minute you press the starter.   That K5 GSX-R based motor is f-ing spectacular… I had forgotten how much I like that power plant:  Ridiculous power  everywhere, and just smooth enough (but not too smooth)… it has character, and usable power that just flattens the FJ.   Now, that may not matter to a lot of people, but I’m smitten with the GSX motor.  

But overall it’s just a more dedicated sport tourer, especially at higher speed.   It’s effortless cruising in the low triple-digits, with great wind protection and none of the occasionally nervousness the FJ had.   I’ve already done a couple of 300 mile days, and it’s great in that capacity.   The ergonomics are surprisingly more aggressive than my FJ (even with its lowered bars), but I love it at 6’1” & 220 pounds.   The upper body position is similar across the two bikes, but the footpegs on the Suzuki are a little father back & higher.   For me it’s long-distance comfy, and has plenty of leg room.   

The Suzuki active suspension works great in automatic mode on the middle damping setting… it’s rock solid in high speed stuff.  My first bike with any sort of adaptive suspension, and I’m sold on the concept now.   

Where the Suzuki doesn’t measure up is in the tighter & more technical stuff:   It’s about 50 pounds heavier than the FJ, and just isn’t as nimble at lower speeds & in highly technical sections of road.   The FJ is a better commuter and around town-bike, and would probably be the better choice if you ride a lot of very technical mountain & canyon passes.    There’s always a trade off, I suppose.   😀 

Keep in mind that I’m the type that wants something different when I upgrade, so after 8 years with the FJ, I couldn’t justify trading to a new Tracer 9.   So I went spiritually different, which the Suzuki definitely is.   IN A HEADS-UP, NET-NEW COMPARISON, WITHOUT MY CP3 HISTORY, IT WOULD A VERY HARD DECISION OF NEW TRACER 9 GT+ VERSUS NEW SUZUKI GSX-S 1000 GX+.   Both great bikes, and you have to really evaluate what you specifically want in a bike to weight the pros & cons of each.   

Thanks for that very balanced write-up Tex.  You could get a gig as a bike reviewer! 😉

You've given me an accurate insight into the differences between the bikes given that you've had the FJ for 8 years now.

Looking forward to hearing more about your 'connection' with the bike as you put more miles on.

Enjoy the new steed. 

Appreciate that feedback so thanks.

P.S.  These are the livery colours over here.  Think I'm liking the blue.

[piotrek]

17 hours ago, texscottyd said:

The Suzuki active suspension works great in automatic mode on the middle damping setting… it’s rock solid in high speed stuff.  My first bike with any sort of adaptive suspension, and I’m sold on the concept now.

That is reassuring... and the most important bit to get right on any bike. 👍

[2and3cylinders]

The October RRW&T issue had a positive review of the GX+

But I'm still old school and feel bikes have got too complicated, and thus more suseptible to failures.  That's why I still like carbs, I understand them and usually sort them out.  FI not so much.

My FJ09 is about a simple as they come now days but still has one too many cylinders.

The new 4th gen and it's ilk have just gone overboard and it's gotten out of hand.

Nanny systems are nice but stupidity will still "Trump" them...

[texscottyd]

12 hours ago, piotrek said:

That is reassuring... and the most important bit to get right on any bike. 👍

It was my biggest concern when I first started considering the GSX-S, since it’s not an easy fix (impossible?) if Suzuki got it wrong.    My riding partner on the Multistrada commented that it’s almost eerie to watch from behind, as it looks like it just floats across bumps with no noticeable movement in the bike itself.  

[texscottyd]

11 hours ago, 2and3cylinders said:

But I'm still old school and feel bikes have got too complicated,

Oh yeah… this thing has all kinds of stuff that I’m not even sure what it does.  Typical Japanese alphabet soup of SRAS, SAES, SIRS, SDMS-a… the list goes on & on & on.  

But, I love the cruise control, the ABS and traction control seem fairly unobtrusive, and the active suspension works just like I think it should.   Beyond that, I have no idea what sort of electronic wizards are at work under the fairing.  

[2and3cylinders]

Until they go poof!

Look at the issues the Gen 4 has had with the TBs etc

I added a S/A clutch (mechanical) and McCruise to my Fastest Red.

The ABS has only kicked in maybe a few times.  I recall it "ratcheting" braking over stutter bumps in the same turn on a road I used to seek out; I can't recall when else over the 65k miles we've covered together.

I've never discerned the TC kicking in, which I suppose means it's very good, though I know it's crude and simplistic.  So I presume my skills are such I've never needed or at least activated it. I do remember one instance where I had to pull out on riverwashed gravel and no matter how I tried slipping the clutch and I couldn't move until I realized and turned off the TC.

My FJ09 is my first and currently only motorbike with FI, ABS & TC. In fact, I have bikes that are kick start only and had breaker points ignition (until I installed "CDI"), and all have carbs, and one drum brakes F&R!

I'm a super strong believer in the KISS principle.

However, due to my hand issues, if I can ride again (which is by no meansat this point a certainly), I am yearning for that Honda E-Clutch, less so DCT and Yamaha's auto clutch...