One month anniversary - mileage and lessons learned

[colorider]

Received mine July 28. Perfect timing as I had 2 trips planned in August. So far probably only 100 miles of gravel riding, locally & in the Black Hills. Prefer TCS2 on the gravel. Haven't felt the need to turn off the ABS but have run it up in second gear on the centerstand just to try it with it disabled. Some soft sand roads. Found out it's better to turn off TCS before getting in the sand as once it starts to sink in, it slows down to the point it will hardly run. The stock windshield made the visor (not the shield) on my AGV AX-8 Dual flutter until it broke on both sides (I'm 5'7"). The taller Yamaha (National Cycle) accessory windshield cured about 80% of it. Not perfect but acceptable. Looking forward to changing tires to something more off road oriented, but the stockers work well on pavement and are lasting well. Also need heated grips but can't believe how much Yamaha wants. Looking for the best aftermarket option. Satisfied with all the Yamaha luggage but the locks feel cheap. It's nice that they work with the ignition key. AltRider bars seem OK. AltRider Skid plate is nice but sounds like I have a garbage can lid bolted to the bottom of the bike. The bottom plate needs a stiffening rib or channel in it. Have a similar issue getting at the kickstand with my Sidi boots. Now I just lift the footpeg with the side of my boot and then push the stand down. In the first 5 weeks I put 12,500 kilometers on it with no issues (It now has 13,200). Every bike I've had before has an rpm range where the bike feels happy and I usually end up cruising at that speed. This thing is happy everywhere. I'm impressed with how smooth it is. With a 30" inseam, I may lower it a bit but it's still way better the than my YZ450F. Wish I could get the speedo to switch to MPH as many of my miles so far have been in the US. Throttle cables are going to get rerouted. Lots of little issues to address after it starts snowing but nothing that prevents me from riding. After a Black Hills trip with a side excursion through Wyoming & Colorado and a trip to the MotoGP race in Indianapolis I'm pleased with the bike & happy with my decision to buy it. With all the electronics on the bike it should be simple to put an electronic cruise control on it but Yamaha doesn't seem to have the ability or desire to produce that or a sound system for any of their bikes. (They could take a lesson from Victory here).

Welcome to the Forum!!!!! Did you wave as you came through Colorado???

 

[SisuTen]

LyleD,
Welcome Aboard!
Nice writeup, hope to hear more as time goes on. This type of stuff is valuable to the rest of us.
S-Ten

 

[Bappo]

One month old, 3600 miles after 1800 miles last weekend to do my Day Long ride in. Worst tank was 42 mpg, best was 56 mpg. Average for the trip was around 50 and about the same over all.

Seat mod works and is even better with a Russell seat.
Yamaha touring windshield is better around the side of the helmet but not over the top. Wind still hits in the middle of the faceshield. Ordered a Parabellum.
Yamaha panniers have a lot more room than I thought. My Roadcrafter one piece fits in one!. Locks scare me enough that I have to ride with 2 keys although they do work.
Fuel mileage is far better than I expected. Keep speeds below 75 indicated and you can stay above 50mpg.
The Day Long seat raised my seat height enough that I ordered a bar riser from Twistedthrottle and may get a Tabasco lowering link. Way worth it though.
No discernible tire wear yet.
The $38 grip heaters recommended here were easy to install with the controller opposite the power adapter. And boy do they work great.
haven't done much out of TCS 1, T mode other to see of the bike top speed was different in T or S. No difference.
Wish it had real cruise control. Using a twisted up coat hanger.
So far been in Idaho (duh), Montana, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

Love it ::012::

bappo

 

[LyleD]

You push and hold one of the buttons (odometer I think) on the speedo unit and it will toggle Kph/Mph. I found it buy accident (sitting still, key on) looking for the sequence to change the clock.

Thanks. I thought there must be a way. Dealer wasn't sure, nothing in my owner's manual and the guy I talked to at the demo rides in Sturgess didn't know.

Waved at a few people in Colorado but it was just a quick overnight trip from Spearfish over the Medicine Wheel Scenic Byway (snow), through Rocky Mountain National Park (over 12,000', very nice) and back to Spearfish.

Not sure if the ABS was truly disabled. The ABS light was blinking & reset after the bike was restarted. I was still on asphalt and had a difficult time locking it up (I should have just tried the rear). This bike has great brakes. Easy to stop with two fingers and I have a bad habit of not touching the rear so the linked system actually helps.

Just picked my paper service manual so hopefully will learn a few more things from it. Just over $120 from the dealer here. Also got the side wind deflectors but haven't installed them yet.

Thanks to everyone else as well for the tips I've learned as well.

 

[colorider]

Waved at a few people in Colorado but it was just a quick overnight trip from Spearfish over the Medicine Wheel Scenic Byway (snow), through Rocky Mountain National Park (over 12,000', very nice) and back to Spearfish.

That's a great route! Sounds like you went over Snowy Range in Wyoming. ::003::

 

[Mzee]

I have 41,000 kms and have experienced all the things you have said. ::021::