New driver, first bike owner, and a lot to learn.

[Pancala]

The fork oil change is quite simple, just drain it out the bottom and fill it (with the proper amount) in the top. Replacing the seals is a different story but really not difficult either.

Look HERE for tires and you'll get a lot better deal. No need to remove rotors to change tires, leaving them on does make for a better balance because you balance the rotors also.

I have 100-90/19 on the front and 139-90/16 on the rear, are those stock tires? And would it be possible for you to recommend some tires from that website? I have no clue at all waht to get and were just going to get whatever Yamaha offered. I really don't know what to look for or think about when it comes to a motorcycle tire

[BA80]

Yup, those are stock sizes for the special except the rear is a 130/90/16 not 139. If you get the E3 the size is MT90B16 bias ply.

The E3s and Shinkos are all I've really ever used, both good tires but the E3 is twice the price but lasts much longer on the rear. I am runnig an E3 on the rear and a shinko tourmaster (next front will be a 712) on the front and they work well together and from that store the rear E3 is $140 and the front Shinko 712 is $45 and shipping is free so you'll get out with 2 new tires for under $200

[Pancala]

Thank you for the correction. After looking over the site I Think I am going to go with the Shinko 777 for front and rear, even though my eyes are on the Dunlops. Maybe next time..

[BA80]

I'm tellin' ya.......get the 712s if your gonna go Shinko.

[crazy steve]

I'm tellin' ya.......get the 712s if your gonna go Shinko.

What don't you like about the Tourmasters? That's supposedly a 'better' tire in their line....

[BA80]

When I wore out my first set of 712s ( about 6-8K) I bought a set of Tourmasters. The rear only lasted about 2K. They are really soft and handle well but they just don't hold up.

Put them on the fall of 2010 and had to replace the rear spring of 2011.

[ddragon63]

I've only got 100 miles on my tourmasters so I can't speak of longevity.... but boy they handle nice. As easy as I ride my XS I would expect to get 7 or 8k out of them. we'll see how my theory holds up against the hot pavement when Summer finally get here... if I go thru a rear as fast as BA did I'll put something different on there. A tire on my XS should outlive one on my R1 by MILES!

[cywelchjr]

Proper shocks and springs help a great deal with that shaft business. I waited to fix mine until it threw me off.

Which might be why I don't notice it much on my bike much. The XJ shocks work so much better than the stockers did.

[BA80]

I've only got 100 miles on my tourmasters so I can't speak of longevity.... but boy they handle nice. As easy as I ride my XS I would expect to get 7 or 8k out of them. we'll see how my theory holds up against the hot pavement when Summer finally get here... if I go thru a rear as fast as BA did I'll put something different on there. A tire on my XS should outlive one on my R1 by MILES!

Yeah, they do handle good, not as good as the E3 but good, you'll probably get better mileage. I'm not nice to my tires.

You don't get months of 115º either. That's tough on softer compounds.

[ddragon63]

You don't get months of 115º either. That's tough on softer compounds.

God No! Us pale faced, web footed pacific north-westerners melt if it gets over 90! But we ride when its 35 out

[MaximPhil]

God No! Us pale faced, web footed pacific north-westerners melt if it gets over 90! But we ride when its 35 out

Phil

[BA80]

God No! Us pale faced, web footed pacific north-westerners melt if it gets over 90! But we ride when its 35 out

Yeah, I've lived (if that's what you want to call it) in Washington. If you don't ride in the rain and cold you'll only have about 6 weeks or 2 months of riding season.

[CaptonZap]

Yeah, I've lived (if that's what you want to call it) in Washington. If you don't ride in the rain and cold you'll only have about 6 weeks or 2 months of riding season.

Hey Greg,
Which two months was that? I am planning a trip to Seattle this summer, and was wondering when was the best time of year to go on a bike.
Any suggestions? CZ

[BA80]

July-August. You'll be riding in the hottest part of our summer down here though.


EDIT>>>>> Don't know why but I was thinking you were in Florida for some reason.

[crazy steve]

Yeah, I've lived (if that's what you want to call it) in Washington. If you don't ride in the rain and cold you'll only have about 6 weeks or 2 months of riding season.

Ah, c'mon... It's not that bad.. You can ride here from April through October, you just have to get adept at 'reading' the weather so you won't get caught in a torrential downpour. Granted, sometimes the rides are short (3-4 hours) to fit into a 'weather window', and you have to do some planning.

My mother was a Okie (born/raised in Norman) and she wouldn't have moved back for anything. Two BIG reasons she left? Tornadoes and snakes.... It's a little-known fact, but western Washington is the only place in the continental US that has no fatally poisonous critters, the worst we have is the rarely-seen Brown Recluse spider and it will merely make you sick.