Hello from Northern Utah

Dave in Utah

Dave in Utah

Joined
May 25, 2025
Messages
8
Location
Northern Utah
Bike
NT1100 (ordered)
I have a deposit on an NT1100 at my local Honda/Yamaha dealer. I'm trading in a '19 Yamaha Tracer 900GT, which is a lot of fun on local canyons, but not so much on multi day rides. I also have a Royal Enfield INT 650 for shorter stuff. My last two ST bikes were a 2001 Concours and a later model ST1300, which I sold when I moved to Utah because it was just too hot. I was pretty active in the Concours Owners Group in the early 00s. I've also had a bunch of BMW Airheads, KLRs, and a lot of UJMs. Looking forward to the NT, it should be in some time in late June or early July.

One question- how does the direct message function work on this site? I see the envelope up by my name in the header, but can't find a way to send a message.

Thanks
Dave
 
No, cams were slightly pitted like most. But I had a connecting rod come through the engine case. It all started with a faulty fuel valve. Kawasaki replaced it twice and I replaced it one more time. They leaked gas. Together with that I had a leaky float valve on one carb which leaked gas into a cylinder. I was on a road trip. When I started it one morning it made a strange “puff” noise bu started. I think that it hydrolocked and bent the con rod. Several thousand miles later it made a loud “bang” and my left boot was covered with oil and antifreeze. I was 25 miles from the nearest town in the UP of MI. No cellular service and plenty of mosquitoes.

I bought a used engine off eBay and it ran much better than my old one. I also installed overflow tubes in the carbs (too late). (The EPA had decided several years prior that overflow tubes caused pollution and made them illegal). Sold the bike to my son and he rode it to work for a few more years before trading in on a C14 after the rear shock failed.
 
Last edited:
junglejim said:
No, cams were slightly pitted like most. But I had a connecting rod come through the engine case. It all started with a faulty fuel valve. Kawasaki replaced it twice and I replaced it one more time. They leaked gas. Together with that I had a leaky float valve on one carb which leaked gas into a cylinder. I was on a road trip. When I started it one morning it made a strange “puff” noise bu started. I think that it hydrolocked and bent the con rod. Several thousand miles later it made a loud “bang” and my left boot was covered with oil and antifreeze. I was 25 miles from the nearest town in the UP of MI. No cellular service and plenty of mosquitoes.

I bought a used engine off eBay and it ran much better than my old one. I also installed overflow tubes in the carbs (too late). (The EPA had decided several years prior that overflow tubes caused pollution and made them illegal). Sold the bike to my son and he rode it to work for a few more years before trading in on a C14 after the rear shock failed.
Click to expand...
I had a hydrolock but it locked up immediately after I hit the starter button, before the engine fired. No damage. I believe I converted the petcock to manual and probably installed overflow tubes. I did a couple of valve adjustments and noticed only very minor pitting on the cams, no problems there. A good bike, but with a few quirks.
 
I installed an aftermarket manual petcock too. But I found out later it ONLY works if the vacuum operated valve works. What a stupid idea. I should have read the instructions closer.
The Connie was a good long hauler and still good on rural twisties. I loved the 7 gal gas tank but it was top heavy - well just heavy in general. Many complained about the buzz but I didn't think mine was bad. The panniers were way better than the Honda NT700. Very good wind and rain protection. Six gears and looking for 7. But I don't miss adjusting 4 carburetors or getting the valve cover on/off. We were probably at some of the same Concours Owners Group events in the 2002-2010 years. Several other members on here are former Connie owners too.

The Conours 1000 was my second "last bike" (what I told my wife), and I'm on my 5th last bike now. But at 80 years old now my balance, eye sight, hearing, strength, reaction time, coordination, endurance, flexibility, and .............. are all in noticeable decline. And crowded roads, stupid drivers, and impaired drivers are making riding less fun. I don't mind taking my chances with things under my control, but I'm having trouble with those drivers and traffic out of my control.
 
Dave in Utah said:
I had a hydrolock but it locked up immediately after I hit the starter button, before the engine fired. No damage. I believe I converted the petcock to manual and probably installed overflow tubes. I did a couple of valve adjustments and noticed only very minor pitting on the cams, no problems there. A good bike, but with a few quirks.
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Boy, were YOU lucky. I ended up after listening to COG putting in a secondary manual fuel valve.
Spence1.jpg
 
The really good thing about the Concours was there were hundreds of people to help you out. Mine had an interesting issue. One of the two poppet valves in the gas cap...the one that let air in....locked up....so the engine would stop, you would look into the gas tank...see gas....start it up and go on down the road...LOL! Never saw pitting on my cams. 6th gear was too short and I was always reaching for 7th gear. My 5 speed FJR is geared perfectly....low could be a bit lower but its find.
 
BTW, what are the issues with the tracer? My dealer has a new one decked out for touring.
 
Dave in Utah said:
I have a deposit on an NT1100 at my local Honda/Yamaha dealer. I'm trading in a '19 Yamaha Tracer 900GT, which is a lot of fun on local canyons, but not so much on multi day rides. I also have a Royal Enfield INT 650 for shorter stuff. My last two ST bikes were a 2001 Concours and a later model ST1300, which I sold when I moved to Utah because it was just too hot. I was pretty active in the Concours Owners Group in the early 00s. I've also had a bunch of BMW Airheads, KLRs, and a lot of UJMs. Looking forward to the NT, it should be in some time in late June or early July.

One question- how does the direct message function work on this site? I see the envelope up by my name in the header, but can't find a way to send a message.

Thanks
Dave
Click to expand...
Click envelop, then new conversation.
 
I got mine (NT 1100) a couple of days ago.
From paying for it to getting it was over a month. I have 170,000 miles on my Super Tenere and I'll spiff it up and put it in the ads. Anyway... my first post so Hello!
 
Tombstone said:
I got mine (NT 1100) a couple of days ago.
From paying for it to getting it was over a month. I have 170,000 miles on my Super Tenere and I'll spiff it up and put it in the ads. Anyway... my first post so Hello!
Click to expand...
I'm glad someone else in Utah has theirs. Where did you get it, and what part of the state are you in?
 
Tombstone said:
I got mine (NT 1100) a couple of days ago.
From paying for it to getting it was over a month. I have 170,000 miles on my Super Tenere and I'll spiff it up and put it in the ads. Anyway... my first post so Hello!
Click to expand...
Welcome to both the NT forum and the ST forum. Great bunch of people on both. Check out the NatSToc event next month in Spearfish SD. to meet some great folks both ST and NT.
 
Tombstone said:
I got mine (NT 1100) a couple of days ago.
From paying for it to getting it was over a month. I have 170,000 miles on my Super Tenere and I'll spiff it up and put it in the ads. Anyway... my first post so Hello!
Click to expand...
Welcome aboard Tombstone ! The number of new NT1100 owners is growing. May be going that way myself, but hanging in to see if they ever bring the manual transmission version here.
 
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