She goes tomorrow

[Teacher]

Well tomorrow is the day I say good by to my GTR.
Am trading her in for the MT09 Tracer and the new bike gets delivered tomorrow.
Test road one a couple of weeks ago, and feel it better suits my needs.
I love my GTR but just haven't done the long distance touring I anticipated, which was why I bought it. Most of my riding is a couple of hundred miles week end day jaunts up in the lakes/ Northumbria/ scottish borders or the dales, and for week end blasts I think the Tracer is going to be better suited. The sheer lightness and agility of the bike impressed me, and it's quite manic too 
It's with a little sadness I will say goodbye to the GTR- she brought me home from Geneva in one 850 mile stint in one day.

So it's not quite goodbye, because I enjoy this forum, and who knows, I might just return from the "darkside"   

[beegee]

Bike looking nice, but lot different...
Makes me think bout my honda transalp... Sitting muchdifferent and nice biking on small roads but not for long trips, cause on highways lot of wind...

Take care and maybe one day you'll be back ;-)

[O.C.]

Good luck with the new aquisition Teacher, and not owning a GTR doesn't mean that you can't still visit and contribute to this forum   

Oh BTW owning a Yamaha doesn't mean you've gone to the "darkside" my friend, its more a case of you exercising your prerogative to experience another option   

[100milesaway]

There is a lot to be said for lighter more agile bikes, especially as we get older (I'm 67 ya know) . The Tracer should feel like a real lightweight    compared to the GTR.  Enjoy the new bike, and report back with your opinions on it. 

[virginiajim]

I'm going for a heavier mode of transportation....convertible.

[Charlie747]

I'm going for a heavier mode of transportation....convertible.

[alibx11]

Funny, was just reading in this weeks MCN a test on the Tracer, gets good reviews.

You didn't keep your GTR long but sometimes you need to live with a bike to see if it suits your real world - everyday needs and you can get the intended use out of it.

I don't use mine much, but the runs I do still suit this big tourer, but can see myself going for something a bit lighter and easier managed at some point.

Good luck and hope you enjoy the new ride just be sure to come back and post some photos and your opinions on it..

[tomp]

Teacher, I do believe you did good.  The Tracer is known as th FJ-09 in the US.  Haven't seen one yet.  Visited a Yamaha dealer this past Saturday, none yet.  Y'all always get the new bikes before we do.  Please post a pic or two here.  Would love to see an actual shot, not just ad slicks.  tomp

[flatfour]

My brother called this morning to say that he has just bought a new Tracer. It is in red and whilst he could, he tells me have had black from stock or silver next, week the red will take a month to obtain. I agree with him though that if that is the colour that he wants, there is little point in compromising with anything else for just a few weeks.

He owned a Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom for some while and then bought a new Honda CB1100 around 18 months ago. He does seem to prefer the "Trailie" style and says that he also wanted to move to a lighter bike than his Honda. He did test the Suzuki 1000 V-Strom as there are some very good offers on those, however it didn't suit his riding style, he tells me.

Anyway, I am sure that we will see what it is like (as well as my daughter's BMW X1000SR that she is waiting delivery on) when we all go to Spa in July, for our annual trip to the Biker Classic weekend.

All of this makes me feel that I should buy a new bike myself!