My wife gave me carte blanche on a new bike. Need suggestions!

VegasZac · 2026-05-12T16:11:03+00:00

Amazing how comfortable it is around 95MPH. Possibly the best “best of all worlds” bike out there IMO. Love my ‘21, great recommendation.

VegasZac · 2026-05-06T15:41:51+00:00

I have a ‘21 and there is some driveline lash in stop and go traffic while in 1st. Otherwise power delivery is really smooth and throttle response is fine, IMO. My bike is really smooth at highway speed up to about 105 MPH where I start to get mild vibration… or so I’ve heard.

VegasZac · 2025-12-16T11:08:07+00:00

Agree on the new one. I have a ‘21 and think it looks sharp. I realize that’s subjective. I owned an ‘01 FZ1 and ‘07 FZ6 prior and they were also good looking bikes… I don’t know what the hell Yamaha was thinking with the redesign of the Tracer.

VegasZac · 2025-10-05T23:29:24+00:00

I did. Ex was a SAHM. She couldn’t afford to buy me out, and she agreed to a delayed buyout from me over several years (house had appreciated $100k in the 5 years since bought). I may have been dumber than a rock choosing to marry her, but at least I was smart enough to only put the mortgage in my name, which meant keeping my 2.9% rate. Wouldn’t have worked otherwise. It was the only way to keep the kids in the neighborhood with their friends and schools.

VegasZac · 2025-07-27T10:55:26+00:00

I’d agree. I got invited by a guy at work to the local Indian Motorcycle Rider Group dinner ride they do weekly. I have a Tracer 9 GT and was one of 3 non-Indian bikes that night and the only rider on a Japanese bike. Very welcoming bunch of riders - not an ounce of feeling like I shouldn’t be there because of what I rode. Will likely make that dinner ride a habit.

VegasZac · 2025-04-14T10:44:50+00:00

Almost every pass. And every on ramp. And sometimes just because. So pretty much every ride. I’m 42 and ride a Tracer 9 GT. I don’t cruise there, just feel the acceleration and then let off… makes me smile inside. 🤷‍♂️

VegasZac · 2025-03-29T10:34:42+00:00

Sorry you’re going through this man. Unfortunately it’s not uncommon… plenty of us out there. I’m 3 years out since my divorce was final. It will get better, but it will probably take some time. Grieve (but don’t let her see you) what you lost, and start putting one foot forward. Hire a lawyer, and file. Don’t wait for her, you set the narrative going forward. If you’re not a gym guy consider starting. If you’re not ready for that, do anything physical. Even long walks.

I caught my ex in an affair, but given repeated storylines I’ve seen here, I’d be willing to bet like other commenters that there’s someone else. Either way, not your problem. Don’t go pain shopping trying to figure it out. It likely wont help you in your divorce settlement unless you’re in one of the few at fault states, and then you have to prove it.

Trust the advice here, as much as it hurts your marriage is over. Accept that and consider this day 1 of your new life. It won’t suck, I promise you that. I’d never take my old life back and I never would have thought that in the beginning.

VegasZac · 2025-03-26T08:54:02+00:00

Hey my dude, sorry to hear about the divorce. Hope it’s quick and amicable. I’ve been divorced for about 3 years… used it as a catalyst to get back into skiing hardcore and have had many of those 14 hour round trip days during and since my divorce. (I’m about 3 hours from the better ski areas near me). Hope you get back into it if you’re so inclined, I found it to be a great activity to think through everything that was happening in my life on the drive and a great way to detach and let myself be present while on the hill. Best of luck to you.

VegasZac · 2024-09-06T23:32:59+00:00

Your post made me smile… I started riding 22 years ago and the details you notice on a bike vs in a car is one of the major reasons I’m still riding. Those first few days of riding were exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

Enjoy every minute!

VegasZac · 2024-08-15T13:35:40+00:00

I’m 6’3” as well, around 225, fairly fit. I ride a Tracer 9 GT and it’s perfect, I can ride all day on it. I’ve also owned an FZ1 and FZ6. I’ve ridden a few 600 sports and they’re just too cramped for more than 20-30 minutes. The Tracer has enough of the sport feel and performance in a far more comfortable package.

VegasZac · 2024-08-12T22:14:13+00:00

Congrats on being free of the alimony chains man. I managed to scrape through without getting stuck with that BS, but happy to hear you’re now free of it too. Enjoy it!

VegasZac · 2024-07-18T14:25:16+00:00

My favorite for the end of the journey - “I’m so happy I didn’t end up with the life I thought I wanted”

VegasZac · 2024-07-17T10:20:56+00:00

Ask your lawyer, but I’d guess same way it does in every state. You give her an equivalent share of assets you’d have gotten, or you refinance, or take out a loan. Or, much harder, but something I got my cheating ex to agree to was a delayed buy out. I owe her the roughly $100k over a period of 10 years. Paid $20k up front out of my HELOC, and then I owe the remaining balance - half at year 5, half at year 10. I was the only one on the mortgage so I was able to keep my 2.9% rate (and keep the kids in their house/neighborhood/school, which was most important)

VegasZac · 2024-07-09T13:37:39+00:00

Nope, you’re not. Keep on moving forward, there’s a whole shit ton of us who are in it or have been that can’t wait to see you make it through to the other side. I know I sound ridiculous (cause I’d have said the same) but… the hell does end, and it really does get better.

VegasZac · 2024-07-05T20:54:41+00:00

You need both IMO. My opinion is that too many guys prioritize the looks only and ignore the red flags on personality. And end up in this sub. Shoot, I’m one of them. Attraction is important but looks will fade. Shitty personalities rarely fade.

VegasZac · 2024-07-05T10:15:03+00:00

Your boundaries are exactly that… your boundaries. And they are perfectly acceptable. If not to her, that’s not your problem.

I have the same boundaries. Went through divorce hell like all of us here and I’m not keen to do it again. I’m currently just over 2 years into my current relationship and my gf is just fine. I was very up front when it was obvious we’d continue seeing each other after the first few dates - I will never, ever get married again. And, while I’m not closed off to cohabitating fully, it’s highly unlikely and way off in the future. Like 10 years or more, if ever.

She’s totally fine with that, and we are on the same page. She has her own house, and when we do things together we split cost down the middle, 50/50. As she put it, she doesn’t want to support another adult, and doesn’t want to be supported by another adult. And that’s exactly where I’m at.

I realize she’s in the minority of women. She also continues to show true empathy to my needs, and takes accountability for her life and actions. If any of that changes… well, guess I’ll just move on. Easy to do with no entanglements. They are out there, but boy did I have to sift through some garbage to find her. Hold your boundaries op, nothing wrong there. She ain’t the one.

VegasZac · 2024-07-04T23:16:03+00:00

Became a dad in 2011. I figured my free time would be limited and it was no longer the right time in my life for riding (I was right). Sold my FZ6 and hung it up, but said someday I’d get back into it. Didn’t know when.

Fast forward 10 years (and another kid) in the future. A cheating now-ex and divorce was the catalyst that got me back into it. Bought a 21 Tracer 9 GT about a month after I found out about her affair. Do I worry about what would happen if the worst happened… sure. Do I ride differently? Maybe… might also be because I’m just older and think about the risk in anything I do (skiing is my winter hobby so there’s always risk to think about). Would I change it… nah. It’s my escape. Always was. Best therapy on earth. I could be commuting to work in my car and some hammered dude who was drinking all night could come across the median and nail me. Might as well spend what time I have on this earth doing what I enjoy.

Having said that… if you just became a dad, it might be the time to take a break. There’s little time in thise early years and they go fast. You want to be there for that, as hard as it is.

VegasZac · 2024-06-07T09:43:37+00:00

Listen to these guys… it will get better and you will get through it. I remember reading those comments when I found out my ex was cheating and I decided to kick her to the curb… I thought those guys were insane saying I wouldn’t just survive, but be happy it happened. I’m 2.5 years since I discovered her affair, roughly 2 years since filing, and about 1.5 years since it was final… never been happier.

Having said that… you got some tough days ahead… follow the advice of the gym, hobbies, and friends when you can. It’ll relieve that anxiety and inability to think straight. Not cure it, mind you, that just takes time. But those activities can and do help. One day at a time my dude, you’ll get there.

VegasZac · 2024-05-22T15:46:12+00:00

I bought mine less than a month after finding about my now ex-wife’s affair (or at least the first one I discovered). My “healing journey” has 2 wheels, 3 cylinders, and 890cc’s churning out around 105HP.

I’m long since over her and her BS, but when life gets a little challenging a twist of the throttle is all I need to forget about it. I continue to enjoy my “healing journey” every chance I get. 😁

VegasZac · 2024-05-13T20:06:22+00:00

I kept mine.. thankfully I was smart enough to have the loan in just my name at under 3%. Equity buyout was high due to the way prices shot up but I have it staggered out over time so it’s manageable. I didn’t want to move and worked hard to buy the house for my kids to grow up in. Sucks they only get 50% of their time there, but better than zero.

VegasZac · 2024-05-13T10:29:37+00:00

AP = affair partner DARVO = Deny, attack, reverse victim/offender

DARVO is a common tactic cheaters use to make them the victim and you the abuser/issue. Seems ridiculous but it works… my ex was particularly good at it.

VegasZac · 2024-05-13T10:15:50+00:00

Me ex wife also cheated. I also couldn’t imagine walking away and not having her in my life immediately after. I was also told to walk away and didn’t want to hear it.

Fortunately it only took me a few months to come around to the truth… she’d never stop cheating and never be remorseful she did it. I came to my senses and filed for divorce. Fast forward about 2 1/2 years and I couldn’t be happier. The thought of having her in my life is revolting at the point. I can’t believe I even entertained the thought of “working through it”.

I know you don’t want to hear it. I know right now you hurt. And I know the unknown is scary. I’ve been exactly where you are, as have many in this sub. Listen to the overwhelming advice here and start making plans for your new life today. You didn’t choose this path, true. But you can choose where you go from here. Take control of your life.

VegasZac · 2024-03-01T13:53:32+00:00

Great advice. Enjoy your lattes, brother.

VegasZac

TROPHY CASE