What did you do to your FJ-tracer-gt today?

[joeszup]

Got my GIVI's today!
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[maxxam]

Looks great! Which tail bag do you have? 
 
 
 

 

[Buggy Nate]

[strong]New 43T rear sprocket fitted. [/strong]
As others here have also reported, I find myself searching for that 7th, or even 8th gear when in cruising mode at reasonable velocities. I know the Tracer’s engine – its finest attribute, I believe – is pretty much bullet-proof, but it does often seem to be revving too hard for my liking. It sounds kind-of stressed though it probably isn’t – but it makes [em]me[/em] a bit less relaxed than I like to be when on longer rides.
 
The recent loosening of the chain slack has reduced appreciably the whining noise from the bike, so I am a now little more accepting of the remaining mechanical noise at speed, but even so a reduction in rpm was next job on the list.
 
So today my dealer fitted a new 43T rear sprocket for me, at a cost of $60 for the part and a reasonable $55 for fitting.
 
It’s hard to be precise about the effect, given the rough tacho graduations, which rather resemble the teeth on a coarse comb used to groom horses, but I think it has reduced top-gear revs by about 300 - 350rpm at 100kph indicated.
 
Maximum posted speed limits here – often strongly policed with fixed or mobile radar – are usually 100kph or 110kph, so 100kph is a typical highway speed.
 
The bike certainly sounds and feels as if it’s working a little more easily now – it's highly subjective, I know, and not very scientific, but it’s a bit ‘softer’ and ‘smoother’ perhaps: not a huge difference, but I didn’t expect more.
 
From a brief ride home, higher-gear roll-on acceleration seems somewhat reduced, and acceleration in the lower gears is perhaps a bit like in B mode. It’s all rather more subdued compared to the frantic – if exhilarating – previous performance, but still acceptable to this no-wheelies/ risk-averse old rider.
 
If I need more I can easily slip briefly into A mode, and if over time I feel the bike has lost too much ‘edge’, well, the OE sprocket can quickly and easily be re-installed. Time and more kilometres will tell…
 
So along with recent tweaks to soften and improve the suspension, removal of the annoying and distracting transmission whine, and the excellent new Bagster seat, I’ve managed to nudge the bike a bit more towards the desired touring end of the performance spectrum, so I’m happy.
 
With at least one and maybe two long-ish ~4400km tours planned for later this year, on both of which there will be long, straight sections of highway calling for sustained moderate- to high-speed cruising (but within the posted limits, of course!) this small and quite cheap improvement may be worthwhile.

I too would like a taller gearing for 6th, but I am sure as shit not going to do it through the final drive, I do way too much first gear traffic crap and couldn't stand a even taller first... really wish first was shorter and sixth taller. The motor can handle it! I think the taller gearing will really help fuel economy though, keep a eye on it for interest sake.

[joeszup]

Looks great! Which tail bag do you have? 
 
 
 

Givi Outback Explorer Monokey.

[suncoaster]

Today I added a simple GPS mount.
The Givi 2122DT windscreen leaves a large gap above and behind the dash.
A couple of brackets and longer screws, and a piece of pipe from an old handlebar makes a nice place for a GPS/phone case.


I gave it a five hour road test, including using the "Map Factor Navigator" app on a 6 inch mobile phone on the trip home after dark tonight.
It was solid enough to read the battery percentage display in the status bar while moving.
 

.
 
 

[maxxam]

Givi Outback Explorer Monokey.

I meant the one one the luggage rack.

[joeszup]

Givi Outback Explorer Monokey.

I meant the one one the luggage rack.

LOL, didn't even see that you asked about the tail bag.  It's a MotoCentric Mototrek tank bag.  I have it tied on with 4 small black bungee cords, so I can quickly remove it and use it on my Katana.

[wordsmith]

I too would like a taller gearing for 6th, but I am sure as shet not going to do it through the final drive, I do way too much first gear traffic crap and couldn't stand a even taller first... really wish first was shorter and sixth taller. The motor can handle it! I think the taller gearing will really help fuel economy though, keep a eye on it for interest sake.

After a deliberately-chosen very mixed 320km circuit yesterday, taking in everything from long stretches on 110kph Freeways to country lanes, I've got to say that I now don't think the desired effect has been achieved, or if so only marginally.   The very short and traffic-congested ride home from the dealership after the job was done earlier this week wasn't really long enough to get a good handle on the result, but I now have it.   The minor improvement in the 'feel' of the bike is offset to a greater degree by the reduced rate of acceleration - it's still potent enough, but I do miss that 'rush', especially in the lower gears.
I have to be very honest and tell myself that I think I'm trying to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse - so far unsuccessfully - in hoping to build on the Tracer platform to get a halfway-decent touring bike, instead of an out-and-out sports bike with touring pretensions.
While the improvements to suspension, alleviation of transmission whine, and superb Bagster seat have vastly improved the comfort, the search for that 7th or 8th gear continues!
I think I'll give up now and just concentrate on the fun aspects of the bike and stop bothering about other characteristics that cannot be readily changed.   I'll leave the 43T sprocket on for the time being - it's a disappointment, not a disaster - and do my upcoming long trip with it before probably reverting to the OE gearing.
 

[johan]

that's interesting, I have the standard sprocket and only use 6th gear for high speed cruising. At legal speeds in the UK (70mph) I am typically in 5th.
 
PS I enjoyed the cricket recently...

[suncoaster]

 

Hi Suncoaster, what kind of seat is that?...it looks heavily padded and soft.

It's a mesh seat cover designed to keep the sun off vinyl seats on scooters, over a sheepskin, on the standard seat.
I'd seen and used the covers on rented scooters in Indonesia and Thailand. 
Very comfy.
Details here: http://fj-09.org/post/37946/thread

[caferacer]

[/img]Modified the stock rider and passenger seats with memory foam as per California Scientific's instruction guide found here:
 
http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/Seats.html
 
First try left some visible edges under the seat cover, so I went back and smoothed the edges with scissors and added some duct tape to the seams:
 
http://i64.tinypic.com/b7i3wh.jpg
 
Looks stock, but the memory foam makes a great improvement, not by adding support, but by relieving some of the pressure!
 
Note: I'd recommend ordering the foam from Cal Sci, or another source you know, I initially ordered some from www. Foam Online. com, but they sent me extra soft tempur foam instead of extra firm.

[fddriver2]

Took the hand guards off....  

The FJ09 looks better without the handguards.  And by the way what kind of side stand "foot" do you have?  Does it come into contact with the centerstand or anything. 

Sorry. It doesn't come into contact with anything.... 

[hlmiskelly]

I took the new bike down to the county court house to get it registered, taxed and tagged. Now it's all legal and ready for me to start putting some serious time in the seat.

[joese]

I just put this on as mirror extenders... Ill see if they blow off.
 
 
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/MTM0/03105.oap?ck=Search_03105_-1_-1&keyword=03105
 

[kimmie]

Changed the spark plugs today.
 
A couple of weeks ago though, my hubby did a front spring conversion for me (to help take out the wobbles in the front and plant it on the ground a bit better.
Thanks to Matt from pattonme for all his help and guidance.
 
Due to our crappy weather in Sydney, AUS  I haven't had the opportunity to get out for a ride to test it all out.
Fingers crossed for either tomorrow or Monday.