wordsmith

Here, most motorcycles have a headlight on all the time. It was once mandatory, but that stipulation was removed some time ago, but manufacturers continue to incorporate the feature. I wonder if the 'dipped' beam is also modulated? Just an idle thought...

No diss to Sargent, who appear to have a good rep, but that's pretty poor. It looks to me as if they've rushed into production before they had it right. Unless they can do better it will surely harm their brand-reputation.

Woddizzit, and wodduzzit do?

I have, of course, been reflecting on this suspension upgrade, with its K-Tech components. Of course, they are vital to the exercise, but even more so is the skill, expertise, and all-round experience of the guy doing the work, Joe Salter in this case. It certainly hasn't been work that I could even dream about attempting myself, having neither the skills and knowledge, nor the vast array of specialised tools that the pros have at their fingertips.

The new tyre looks like the Michelin Road 5 - is it, and if so any comments please?

Thank you, betoney. I understand where you are coming from with these comments, but to be entirely truthful I have no interest whatsoever in being a 'more aggressive rider', 'attacking corners', etc. I don't exactly potter along as it is - why, only last week I got into fifth gear on a long downhill run, and later saw triple digits - 250 - on the display screen: it was 2.50pm.

Sorry, michiel, I didn't keep the link, but the E Bay motorcycle parts and accessories vendor is <mini-motor 3025>.

SERVICE ABOVE AND BEYOND In an earlier post on this subject I stated that I didn't want to try to convince others here that my GT's K-Tech suspension upgrade gave a magic carpet ride. It was indeed a decided improvement over OE, but after my 1000+km circuit of a few weekends ago, over very widely-varying road surface conditions, I did feel - inexperienced in these matters as I am - that there may have been more to gain. So today, back to Joe Salter at Ride Dynamics. I had gathered my thoughts, which in summary were that the rear shock seemed still to allow a little more harshness through than I'd have expected, and the front felt as if it was 'pitter-pattering' or 'chattering' over some very slight but closely-spaced corrugations - all very subtle, but still there. Joe explained his intentions, and set-to. Working methodically as usual and without taking any breaks for a ciggie, a cuppa, or lengthy 'phone calls, off came the front fork legs for him to replace the 9.0 springs with slightly less-stiff 8.5 springs, which I mistakenly thought he'd installed first time out. This also entailed shortening the plastic sleeves inside the fork leg to accommodate the now-longer springs. This took about an hour of steady work. Joe then turned his attention to the rear shock. Accessibility is not a strong point of the GT's rear suspension, but having the proper tools helps, and it was not long before two turns were taken out of the preload (increasing sag, for you sag-obsessives, by about 4-5mm): 7 clicks taken off the compression: and two clicks off the rebound. All-up, about and hour-and-a-half's work - and in my ignorance I'd though that few turns of a couple of screws would have fixed it! How wrong can you be! But wait, there's more! After taking the bike for a short ride to check everything out, Joe returned, saying that he was going to change the springs in the front fork again: it seems that he detected some noise and surmised that the new springs may have been rubbing against the inside of each fork leg. If so, and if he'd left it at that it's more than likely I'd never have noticed it - or if I did wouldn't have had a clue as to what it was. Top marks, Joe. Off came the fork legs again, no need to shorten the plastic sleeves, and a fresh pair of springs was quickly fitted. On measuring the new/ discarded springs it was found that they were over-size in diameter by a mere 0.75mm, a tiny amount but enough to cause some concern to Joe. Another test-ride, and he came back and gave a 'thumbs-up' signal on returning. The entire job had taken about two hours of steady work, and of course I thanked Joe profusely, for he had also tightened the drive-chain that had developed far too much slack since new. "That's alright", he said, "you've paid for the job and I just want you to be happy". And indeed I am. The ride home was Nirvana, and I cannot think that the suspension could be any better, suiting me to a tee. The front fork is fully settled with no signs of 'chattering', while the rear is now well-planted with no unwanted residual harshness. There's a total absence of 'pogo-sticking' or wallowing, and minor undulations in the road-surface are completely ironed-out. Time to go for another 1000km test-ride I think! The new BAGSTER seat, now being made for me, will complete my comfort on this most excellent bike, and happiness will reign supreme. Finally, I cannot recommend too highly the work and skills of Joe Salter at Ride Dynamics. I have no shares in his business, but I wish I did! Pic below - at rear - the 'old' 9.0 spring taken out: front - the new 8.5 to be installed. Red shock is not mine!

SIDE-STAND FOOT ENLARGER PLATE I installed this item today, from <mini-motor 3025>, costing AUD$21, USD$12, and delivered a mere eight (8) days after ordering. It is one of the best-engineered pieces of kit I have seen (and I've seen plenty!), and it's a pity in a way that it is to be located out-of-sight 'down there'. The base is a chunky 10mm in thickness, which means that the bike will stand a fraction more upright when on the side-stand - that will suit me. Functionally, it is very well done. I have seen similar items held onto the side-stand foot by the heads of three screws, highly dodgy I'd think. This version has two u-shaped plates that are fastened by no less than eight (8) hex-head screws, which I secured with some blue Loctite. A measure of the quality is the fact that the item was packed in a moulded acetate case with some protective foam inside: many other bits I have bought costing far more than this have obviously been thrown into the mailing box or envelope by an ill-trained gorilla. Very highly recommended.

I bought the Amber version a few years back from ebay seller "madzell79" who it looks like at one point listed a lot of these, but hasn't for a long time. Looks like someone else on ebay now has the white version so if you like that one this may be your best bet. I bought the amber version because it was easily available and I wanted to use with the turn signal module. If you want that amber version you'll have to try and contact the seller via ebay or try and navigate the dzell korean site (http://www.dzell.net/98) if that's even possible The link above to dzell shows a version of the handguard-mounted 'position LEDs' for our GTs. I had an earlier version for Gen1 Tracers - excellent. They are ideally mounted high up and wide apart, for maximum visibility to other road-users.

Very interesting, this! What effect does the 'bar reversal have on reach, etc? I'd like to try this as I note a long-standing shoulder injury (bursitis) creeping back, and I'm ready to blame the fact that 'bar width on the GT is appreciably less than Gen1 Tracers - by about 5" IIRC - and I did like to stance to the 'bars then, very reminiscent of that on my late GS. If trying this, would my back be more or less upright? I'll appreciate input from those who have gone before...

That is an excellent Idea, flyfifer - much stuff made for cyclists and their machines can be used on and/ or adapted to motorcycle use. On my Tracers and now GT I carry a small nylon bag that is called a 'saddle-bag' on biking websites, fastened to the centre-portion of the handlebars, right in front of me as I ride. I use it as a small alternative to a tank-bag (which I don't much like) and it handily carries my small digital camera, readily accessible for instant on-bike use (saves having to dismount each time a photo opportunity occurs): cell-phone: eye-drops: and one or two other small items. I intend looking at some on-line sources for just this tail-end use, and would also like to be able to carry my electric pump there if possible. Great tip! LATER - heaps of ideas! This one - pic below - may suit and at AUD$29 is a fraction the USD$119 price of the Touratech item, excellent though that almost certainly is. 23cm x 13cm x 14cm or 9.1" x 5.1" x 5.5". Waterproof too, with straps, etc. In a day or two I'm gonna head to the bike shop with my elec pump in-hand to see what they have...

Thank you. My original post did ask if someone could create the formal survey - I didn't expect guys to be so quick off the mark with replies. Have you added the replies so far to the survey - I've been away and am not yet up-to-date.

That works too...

noice!

This is for both Tracer and GT riders. Could someone brighter than me put up a survey to get comment on pillion use of our machines. Purely FYI and general interest. Question to be asked: How often do you carry a pillion-passenger? - always - often - occasionally - never. Thank you – results might make interesting reading.

This is for both Tracer and GT riders. Could someone brighter than me put up a survey to get comment on pillion use of our machines. Purely FYI and general interest. Question to be asked: How often do you carry a pillion-passenger? - always - often - occasionally - never. Thank you – results might make interesting reading.

FWIW - this silver piece (also on my 2019 GT) is not just an 'accent piece'. It is a push-to-click part of the pillion-seat securing mechanism.

This entire topic would have been rendered wholly unnecessary if only Yamaha had built decent seats into the bikes in the first place.

The answer is in OP mikerbiker's last two words - "me likey". Nuthin' wrong with that!

I took the bike to an expert. It's what he does. But as explained in an earlier post - :The new unit has adjustable length, so about 10 or 12mm (half-an-inch) was wound out, lowering the bike's rear by that much after I said that I like to be able to fully flat-foot at rest, which is barely achievable with the OE unit.

I don't understand the concern. I will usually type in directly for shorter less well-considered comments, but use WORD - both here and elsewhere - when the submission is to be lengthy and needs careful composition. Do others have any problems with this? But thank you for your offer of help...

Cut-and-paste from WORD.

(1) I've plenty of past very positive experience with BAGSTER seats on Gen 1 Tracers. (2) dazzler24 may chip-in here as he is currently running his new BAGSTER seat. (3) my own new BAGSTER seat for my 2019 GT is currently being made. Expected in about 5 weeks - and will then report.

Send it back.