JimLor
Well-known member
1. Fork Brace - Put it on after about a year. Seemed to work well and made a positive difference. When I changed tires this last time, I didn’t put it back on just to see the difference. I like it much better without the brace. I think my skills have improved and the brace doesn’t add anything and the bike handles better without it.
2. D&D setback risers. Had them almost from the start and they’re great for the shoulders - I’ve never had sore shoulders. They do make the bike more apt to “fall into” a corner, but I’ve adapted to it as we human beings do. Think I’ll take them off just to see the difference.
3. $30 heated grip stick-on (Dual Stars) - I’ve had them for 5 years and they are the best 30 bucks I’ve spent on the bike! Only have a low - hi switch which works just fine for me - can’t imagine the bike without them.
4. FZ-1 mirrors. Second best $$ I’ve spent. I can see roughly 210 digress or so with each and wouldn’t change them for a ride on the vomit comet. To be frank, the mirror itself is a lower quality than the OEM mirrors, but the improvement in vision area is worth that small offset - besides, I gave my OEM mirrors away.
5. Hella FF-50s - biggest disappointment of all. Don’t provide any light farther out than hi-beams, in fact they don’t make any difference at all in that aspect, but the can be aimed to provide more light to the sides (which I do) and that makes them worthwhile, but don’t have any great expectations if you buy them.
6. BlueSea fuze panel. Great item that helped me learn more about electrical stuff, soldering, heat shrink, and relays. Works well too.
7. Spacers in the windshield to make it tilt back towards the rider. Supposedly helps with buffeting - Bullcrap (opinion). I had one fail and never replaced them. Face it, the best we can get is with the shield down or up an inch or 1.5”, after that there’s buffeting and your grape is pushed down and forward.
8. Race Tech fork springs. I learned a buttload about the bike doing this mod. Worth the time and effort for the education alone, but also provides a better ride and handling.
9. Various heat fixes. I’ve done them all, Cromeit, blankets, insulation under the gas tank, pipe insulation around the tank. I’ve removed all except the pipe insulation around the tank and the insulation stuck to the bottom of the tank. The other stuff didn’t make a whit of difference to me.
10. ESG Stator. The one farkle I wish I had never done. Hyped as the greatest thing since bras that unhook in the front, and have turned out to be a “consumeable”item. UNSAT and when my second one fails I’m done with this - expensive lesson.
11. Rick Mayer saddles: replaced both with Rick’s and am very satisfied. For me and for Lorie the stock saddles were torture after about 80 miles or so. No problems since I bought the seats 4.5 years ago and they are very high quality.
12. BMW grips - I replaced the stock grips with these and they’ve been on there for the last 40k miles. When and if they wear out I’ll buy another set.
13. Yamaha oil and oil filters - a ripoff from my local dealer and I have used Purolator filters and Delvac/Penzoil/Mobil 1/Rotella oil since I first changed the oil. Right now I have Delvac and a quart of Mobil 1 10/40 in there and I think it’s the best so far!
14. Larger windscreen. I bought a +4 +3 (I think) CeeBailey. Good investment and I use it most every winter. Larger size makes a noticeable difference (for the good) in cool/cold weather.
15. All Balls Steering bearings. Again, I learned a great deal about the bike but I can’t honestly say I noticed much of a difference.
16. Givi TopBox (46). Great investment and a solid piece of gear.
17. R&G sliders. I’ve dropped the bike on each side (both times in the garage) and the sliders worked. If I had to do it over again, I’d most likely get slides that don’t require drilling a hole in the side plastic - not a big deal and I’m not unhappy, but I’d probably not do the R&G again (I think they’re out of business anyway).
18. pillion peg extenders. Good investment and a quality product. I ask Lorie to “mount” the bike using my peg so as not to risk bending the longer peg, but I, and she, loves ‘em.
19. Last (I think) and not least, the Autocom intercom. Mine is now 5 years old and at least one generation behind. I’ll say it works fine. The helmet speakers mostly suck, but work. I would like the separate rider/pax volume and vox controls that are available now. I only use it when Lorie is with me; usually just as an intercom - we will occasionally plug in the iPod for music (also works fine). If I’m alone I’ll just stick in earplugs and go direct to the iPod. I’m not sure what’s available now - oh yeah, I have hooked a radio up to the Autocom and it worked in talking to Lorie in a car behind me - but I would continue to have an intercom. It’s worth the cost to be able to talk with Lorie while riding.
20. Tires. Metzler - came with the bike, my first so they seemed fine to me. Michelon Prs - great tires, I now have the PR2 and they’re great tires --my favorites. Bridgestones - won’t ever, ever, ever, buy a Bstone tire - car or bike - again. Dunlop - good tires but wore out way to fast. Avon - great grip, but after a bit the bike “wondered” at low speed - creepy and I won’t buy them again. I think those are all of the tires I’ve tried. I like to try different stuff so if there’s a good review on a new set, I may try them.
21. Taking advice from folks on the Forum. I’ve learned there are folks who know what they’re talking about; folks who sound like they know, but are full of crap; and folks who are somewhere in between. The trick is knowing which is which! I’ve found folks whose thoughts and opinions I will always respect, some I’ll never respect, and I’m still working on the other 90% of the forum. There is a wealth of information out there but you need to consider who is saying what.
Remember, these are my thoughts and OPINIONS and not a challenge to argue (although I do love a good argument). Discussion welcome and encouraged.
2. D&D setback risers. Had them almost from the start and they’re great for the shoulders - I’ve never had sore shoulders. They do make the bike more apt to “fall into” a corner, but I’ve adapted to it as we human beings do. Think I’ll take them off just to see the difference.
3. $30 heated grip stick-on (Dual Stars) - I’ve had them for 5 years and they are the best 30 bucks I’ve spent on the bike! Only have a low - hi switch which works just fine for me - can’t imagine the bike without them.
4. FZ-1 mirrors. Second best $$ I’ve spent. I can see roughly 210 digress or so with each and wouldn’t change them for a ride on the vomit comet. To be frank, the mirror itself is a lower quality than the OEM mirrors, but the improvement in vision area is worth that small offset - besides, I gave my OEM mirrors away.
5. Hella FF-50s - biggest disappointment of all. Don’t provide any light farther out than hi-beams, in fact they don’t make any difference at all in that aspect, but the can be aimed to provide more light to the sides (which I do) and that makes them worthwhile, but don’t have any great expectations if you buy them.
6. BlueSea fuze panel. Great item that helped me learn more about electrical stuff, soldering, heat shrink, and relays. Works well too.
7. Spacers in the windshield to make it tilt back towards the rider. Supposedly helps with buffeting - Bullcrap (opinion). I had one fail and never replaced them. Face it, the best we can get is with the shield down or up an inch or 1.5”, after that there’s buffeting and your grape is pushed down and forward.
8. Race Tech fork springs. I learned a buttload about the bike doing this mod. Worth the time and effort for the education alone, but also provides a better ride and handling.
9. Various heat fixes. I’ve done them all, Cromeit, blankets, insulation under the gas tank, pipe insulation around the tank. I’ve removed all except the pipe insulation around the tank and the insulation stuck to the bottom of the tank. The other stuff didn’t make a whit of difference to me.
10. ESG Stator. The one farkle I wish I had never done. Hyped as the greatest thing since bras that unhook in the front, and have turned out to be a “consumeable”item. UNSAT and when my second one fails I’m done with this - expensive lesson.
11. Rick Mayer saddles: replaced both with Rick’s and am very satisfied. For me and for Lorie the stock saddles were torture after about 80 miles or so. No problems since I bought the seats 4.5 years ago and they are very high quality.
12. BMW grips - I replaced the stock grips with these and they’ve been on there for the last 40k miles. When and if they wear out I’ll buy another set.
13. Yamaha oil and oil filters - a ripoff from my local dealer and I have used Purolator filters and Delvac/Penzoil/Mobil 1/Rotella oil since I first changed the oil. Right now I have Delvac and a quart of Mobil 1 10/40 in there and I think it’s the best so far!
14. Larger windscreen. I bought a +4 +3 (I think) CeeBailey. Good investment and I use it most every winter. Larger size makes a noticeable difference (for the good) in cool/cold weather.
15. All Balls Steering bearings. Again, I learned a great deal about the bike but I can’t honestly say I noticed much of a difference.
16. Givi TopBox (46). Great investment and a solid piece of gear.
17. R&G sliders. I’ve dropped the bike on each side (both times in the garage) and the sliders worked. If I had to do it over again, I’d most likely get slides that don’t require drilling a hole in the side plastic - not a big deal and I’m not unhappy, but I’d probably not do the R&G again (I think they’re out of business anyway).
18. pillion peg extenders. Good investment and a quality product. I ask Lorie to “mount” the bike using my peg so as not to risk bending the longer peg, but I, and she, loves ‘em.
19. Last (I think) and not least, the Autocom intercom. Mine is now 5 years old and at least one generation behind. I’ll say it works fine. The helmet speakers mostly suck, but work. I would like the separate rider/pax volume and vox controls that are available now. I only use it when Lorie is with me; usually just as an intercom - we will occasionally plug in the iPod for music (also works fine). If I’m alone I’ll just stick in earplugs and go direct to the iPod. I’m not sure what’s available now - oh yeah, I have hooked a radio up to the Autocom and it worked in talking to Lorie in a car behind me - but I would continue to have an intercom. It’s worth the cost to be able to talk with Lorie while riding.
20. Tires. Metzler - came with the bike, my first so they seemed fine to me. Michelon Prs - great tires, I now have the PR2 and they’re great tires --my favorites. Bridgestones - won’t ever, ever, ever, buy a Bstone tire - car or bike - again. Dunlop - good tires but wore out way to fast. Avon - great grip, but after a bit the bike “wondered” at low speed - creepy and I won’t buy them again. I think those are all of the tires I’ve tried. I like to try different stuff so if there’s a good review on a new set, I may try them.
21. Taking advice from folks on the Forum. I’ve learned there are folks who know what they’re talking about; folks who sound like they know, but are full of crap; and folks who are somewhere in between. The trick is knowing which is which! I’ve found folks whose thoughts and opinions I will always respect, some I’ll never respect, and I’m still working on the other 90% of the forum. There is a wealth of information out there but you need to consider who is saying what.
Remember, these are my thoughts and OPINIONS and not a challenge to argue (although I do love a good argument). Discussion welcome and encouraged.
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