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

[Dpl900]

Hello friends for me today had several changes in Yamaha tracer 900.

some time ago I bought a final exhaust akrapovic and I decided to make handmade headers

The exhaust needed repair so I did everything in the workshop 

I liked the final result very much I can say..their construction cost 320 € 

 

[Warchild]

Got the Bridgestones all mounted up. Front wasn't horrible, but the rear 180 tire was indeed a butt-pain, it was really uncooperative at first, even after baking in the sun a couple hours.  🙄  Finishing up the balancing, then back on the bike they go.

 

[2and3cylinders]

I installed the McCruise as did Betoney on his FJ and new VFR1200; expensive but wonderful. 

I have throttle locks on my other bikes (NEP and Vistacruise) but there's no comparison with an electronic CC.

However, in town or on my very infrequent group rides (max 4) I never use either (unless I'm in serious pain as basically all my joints are bad).

[3sum]

1 hour ago, Warchild said:

Got the Bridgestones all mounted up. Front wasn't horrible, but the rear 180 tire was indeed a butt-pain, it was really uncooperative at first, even after baking in the sun a couple hours.  🙄  Finishing up the balancing, then back on the bike they go.

 

 

I've had both the current 22's and previous 21's.  They'll give you a better than you'd think life, at least they did with me.  I currently have a set on my 2018 Monster 1200 and once the PR5's are used up on the Tracer, I'll put another set of 22's on it.

And you're right about the effing sidewalls.  Think a 180 is bad?  The 190/55 on the Monster almost had me throwing tools.  I even had to break out some additional spoons to aid the No Mar.

[petshark]

19 hours ago, Dpl900 said:

Hello friends for me today had several changes in Yamaha tracer 900.

some time ago I bought a final exhaust akrapovic and I decided to make handmade headers

The exhaust needed repair so I did everything in the workshop 

I liked the final result very much I can say..their construction cost 320 € 

 

Nice job!!

[draco_1967]

On 5/7/2022 at 6:31 PM, Warchild said:

Got the Bridgestones all mounted up. Front wasn't horrible, but the rear 180 tire was indeed a butt-pain, it was really uncooperative at first, even after baking in the sun a couple hours.  🙄  Finishing up the balancing, then back on the bike they go.

 

That's interesting. I just had the opposite problem. I was removing a Dunlop RS2 rear that was stupid stiff. It took about an hour to get that beast off. The new Bridgstone T32 went on like butter. I need to pick up some beat helper tools, like this one, to keep the bead in the drop center. On the rear, it is much harder to do with those wide tires.

 

[2and3cylinders]

15 minutes ago, draco_1967 said:

That's interesting. I just had the opposite problem. I was removing a Dunlop RS2 rear that was stupid stiff. It took about an hour to get that beast off. The new Bridgstone T32 went on like butter. I need to pick up some beat helper tools, like this one, to keep the bead in the drop center. On the rear, it is much harder to do with those wide tires.

 

I don't know how well those work or their quality but they're 2/3 the price of just one NoMar 3rd hand!!!

[texscottyd]

On 5/7/2022 at 6:22 PM, Dpl900 said:

some time ago I bought a final exhaust akrapovic and I decided to make handmade headers

The exhaust needed repair so I did everything in the workshop 

That is impressive work!   I will need to fabricate a new exhaust system for my Interceptor/Raptor hybrid build project, and have been wondering the best way to go about that.  

Did you weld all the stainless yourself?   I don't think I have the equipment or the skills to do that on my own... 

[Dpl900]

1 hour ago, texscottyd said:

That is impressive work!   I will need to fabricate a new exhaust system for my Interceptor/Raptor hybrid build project, and have been wondering the best way to go about that.  

Did you weld all the stainless yourself?   I don't think I have the equipment or the skills to do that on my own... 

I made the stainless steel headers together with my friend who has the workshop .... my friend made them, I just helped him ...!

From the factory I can say that I like them more 😜From the factory I can say that I like them more 😜

[knyte]

On 5/7/2022 at 5:22 PM, Dpl900 said:

The exhaust needed repair so I did everything in the workshop 

I liked the final result very much I can say

NICE!!  Those look great.

[Wintersdark]

On 5/9/2022 at 8:23 AM, draco_1967 said:

That's interesting. I just had the opposite problem. I was removing a Dunlop RS2 rear that was stupid stiff. It took about an hour to get that beast off. The new Bridgstone T32 went on like butter. I need to pick up some beat helper tools, like this one, to keep the bead in the drop center. On the rear, it is much harder to do with those wide tires.

 

Those look interesting! I've just been using C clamps personally, they're cheap and readily available anywhere tools are sold, and they work spectacularly.   But those would be a fair bit more portable and light I think, vs. the big 8" clamp I use for the rear tires. 

[petshark]

2 hours ago, Wintersdark said:

Those look interesting! I've just been using C clamps personally, they're cheap and readily available anywhere tools are sold, and they work spectacularly.   But those would be a fair bit more portable and light I think, vs. the big 8" clamp I use for the rear tires. 

For my first tire change last summer I built a contraption in my workshop that involves an iron bar and weight from a bench press and a wooden anchor screwed onto the wall. It worked but I am on the lookout for a better solution for breaking the bead next time.

Interesting that large C clamps work spectaculary! I bought these Irwin clamps just recently: 

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0001IW4TG/ref=pe_27091401_487027711_TE_SCE_dp_1

But 135 Kg of pressure is probably not enough? Don't want to break my new clamps. 

Otherwise I might buy some regular steel ones. Or that tool that @draco_1967posted if anyone can vouch for it.

[piotrek]

On 5/9/2022 at 10:23 AM, draco_1967 said:

I need to pick up some beat helper tools, like this one, to keep the bead in the drop center. On the rear, it is much harder to do with those wide tires.

I used one of these clamps for my RS3 tire change, and it worked very well. Locks and stays put. It helps to soap the tire contact surface of the tool just before working it onto the rim.

[Wintersdark]

3 hours ago, piotrek said:

I used one of these clamps for my RS3 tire change, and it worked very well. Locks and stays put. It helps to soap the tire contact surface of the tool just before working it onto the rim.

I'm a strong, strong supporter of using actual tire lube personally, I've had much better results with it anyways.  That said, for sure, if soap works for you then that's a lot simpler.  Just that I struggled a lot when learning (and damaged some tires) and it suddenly got WAY easier once I was just using tire lube.  

But yeah, I definitely agree with the tool lubing. I straight up dip my irons into my lube bucket before using them, and it makes a lot of difference.  

 

...working very hard to avoid making the obvious because-I'm-actually-13 jokes here.  

[piotrek]

2 hours ago, Wintersdark said:

I'm a strong, strong supporter of using actual tire lube personally, I've had much better results with it anyways.  That said, for sure, if soap works for you then that's a lot simpler...

Yes... agree... and tire lube is what I really meant. I use Counteract Euro Paste... stuff is fantastic. Stays effective long enough to do the job without having to rush through it.

Edited May 11, 2022 by piotrek