Leaderboard

My sister and I headed out on my 1999 Honda Valkyrie Interstate crossing the boarder at Port Huron, destination- northern California. We allowed ourselves 6 weeks for this adventure but ended up completing it in 32 days. We drove up the east side of Michigan to Mackinaw City and across the Upper Peninsula and across the northern states. I learned that the Mississippi River headwaters are in the upper part of Minnesota-never knew that before. The landscape started to get interesting once we were in South Dakota as we toured the Badlands, Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore. We bought a national park pass at the insistence of the park ranger which is good for one year and it more than paid for itself as we explored multiple parks over the trip. We headed to Billings Montana and the next day drove the Bear Tooth Pass-that was spectacular. Full concentration and eyes on the road when going up the pass and the views were amazing. Stopped several times to take it all in. Spent 3 days in Gardiner and used the Travel lodge as home base as we explored Yellowstone. Kept my eyes open to get a picture of Kevin Kostner for my wife-but didn't see him. 😁 My wife told me later that he was killed off in season 2 anyways. I think it was the perfect time of year to be there as the crowds were not too large yet and it was plenty warm. We saw some majestic landscape as well as pronghorns, black bear and cub from a distance, bison and elk. We said goodbye to Yellowstone after seeing Old Faithfull and drove to Idaho Falls and had a down day as we found a nice Best Western right across the road from the river and some green space. They even had peddle bikes we could sign out, so we explored the market and the restaurants along the river. This was a cool hotel as the GM was the one making omelets in the morning at their continental breakfast-a nice touch. The hotel had been in her family for over 50 years. We met a group of young people while sharing a beer at one of the local outdoor patio's. The one gentleman was an Evie Knievel fanatic and insisted that we go to Shoshone Falls and see where Evel Knievel tried to jump the Snake River. We never considered this attraction but glad we checked it out as the falls were spectacular. From here we made our way to Craters of the Moon National Monument. This wasn't on our list of things to see but we were driving right by, it looked interesting so decided to stop. It was amazing to see all the small flowers blooming amongst the old lava flows indicating the resiliency of nature finding a way to flourish in this desolate environment. I didn't realize how desolate parts of Idaho and eastern Oregon are and also very desert like. I made sure to fill up at every gas station in these parts and also carried a small jerry can which fit nicely in my saddle bag as it had a tapered fit to take up less room. We literally drove hundreds of miles without seeing a home and the one's we saw looked like they had been abandoned, a testament to the harsh conditions of trying to make a go of it as farmers in this area. It appeared that the successful farmers need to use spray irrigation-otherwise there would be not much of a crop. Headed to Oregon and Crater Lake National Park (got to use my park pass for the 6th time) to check it out. Well worth the ride in. Still snow on the sides of the road as we got higher in elevation. Beautiful water, almost purple in colour. No water gets in from external sources and it's not spring fed, so there's no silt at all in the lake and has this amazing colour. Also, the deepest lake in the USA (thank-you Google) as a result of a volcanic explosion. From here, on to northern California to see the redwoods. Toured Redwood National Park and then up the coast of Oregon. The Oregon coast was beautifully rugged and was cool and overcast for several days so we decided to have a down day in Bandon. (It's helpful the iPhone records the location of most pictures when recalling names of places). This was my sister's favorite part of the trip on the Oregon coast. This was probably my least favorite part because as the driver, this was the most challenging for me, following Hwy 101, fully loaded pulling a small single wheel trailer through the twisties and up and down was tough. Also, made the mistake of not checking tire air pressure enough and my tires could have been pumped about 4 lbs higher so there was some wear starting to show. Made it through Washington and crossed into beautiful British Columbia. I'm convinced that there is no part of BC that isn't beautiful...at least the parts we saw. Stopped to see my nephew in Kamloops for lunch. The best part of ride for me was from BC to Banff Alberta on the trans Canada hwy. The bike was easier to drive on this hwy and the scenery was just amazing with snow covered peaks around every corner. From here it was the trans Canada all the way to Winnipeg, then south and crossed over once again into Minesota and back to where we started. When we crossed back over into Canada the boarder guard asked, "so where are you coming from"...I smiled and said, where do I start? Made it safely back having travelled 11 K kms. All in all a great trip...and my sister and I are still on speaking terms😀 Bucket list ride completed. Mark

Yep, there are handle bars, a seat under your but, throttle to twist, air in your face, invisible on the road and an eye to the sky or rain clouds. The rest is different. The lean is different, steering is different, cornering has a learning curve, wind can come from your back and make the flags fly forward,,,, but once learned you'll be surprised at the wonderment of it all.

The wife and I rode to lunch after church yesterday afternoon. DANM, IT WAS HOT!!!! We got about 100 miles in before we found the shortest way home and put it up. It was a fun ride, but very different than a bike and was even different from the Venture Trike I had. I will get used to it and am looking forward to our first long trip. Probably to the Northeast so I can ride in the 7 states I haven't ridden yet. 😁

This past Monday I picked up a used 2021 Can Am Spyder RT Limited. It was well maintained an in EXCELLENT condition with only 362 miles on it. A fine older gentleman and his wife had a pair, and he sold his due to neck problems. I am very lucky to find one in this condition for a decent price.

First day of riding (in a parking lot for my wife). She has never ridden by herself and only been a passenger behind me for 7 years! But she’s game to learn to ride! I’m very proud of her!

I call this Surtur's Dog. Drone shot in WNC.

I was able to get out last weekend for the First Time since the stoke in April. Still a little shaky with backing the bike up without the sure assist but everything else was good. Was a little nervous but all was well. Hope to get out between raindrops this weekend.

You. You. Traitor. Well, I guess you can park it beside my Road Glide.

I did indeed....'Still Riding the Star Venture'. Today was dry, hot and very humid but this did not stop me from riding. It is a blessing to get another round of wind therapy. Ride safe wherever your destination may be.

It won't be long, she'll be "riding into the sunset' and you'll be left alone by yourself at home. Just kidding... Glad to see she has a sweet smile on her face. That CanAm is a perfect match for your wife.

Beautiful Machine..... I'm Jelly.....

Looks great. Hope you get many years of pleasure.

...and they lived happily ever after. Congrats on the CanAm. If I were you, don't worry too much on mpg. Focus on the good times. Ride safe.

Well, we pulled the trigger and bought a CanAm for the wife. We were vacationing in Roundup MT with our son and his family and my wife was checking the FB marketplace for CanAm’s and one popped up that was in Billings, an hour away. It was what we had wanted but were not looking to buy one 1200 miles from home. The price was right and God orchestrated the details, so Monday at noon, we were leaving Billings with a 2017 CanAm in the family! It does kinda stink that the car gets 20 mpg more than the bike! Now all we have to do is teach her how to drive it since she has never ridden her own!

Well I'm a bit late posting this as it occurred on this past April 19th, and on that day, I replaced the standard manual petcock with a vacuum operated petcock. Got tired of remembering to get up and go shut it off hours after parking the bike. But also on that same day I did something that some may consider controversial if not downright heretical - I removed the fuel pump from my 2nd gen 2001 RSV. I've only ridden 675 miles since then. With no issues. Many of those miles in the twisties of the Blairsville, GA area including hwy 129, as well as high speed interstate cruising. Gravity seems to work just fine! So if you're on the road and your fuel pump gives out, just re-route that fuel line directly from the petcock into the carb inlet and cruise on!

I have ridden 2 175-mile trips in the past week and did really good with the Venture. I'm going to keep riding it solo for a while but want a Spyder to ride with the Wife. Going to look at one Sunday and I'll share how that goes next week.

Some camp at Vogel state park, some rent cabins at the park. Most of the others stay at seasons inn in Blairsville. The events are riding curvy roads during the day and hanging out in the evenings. There is no sign up or fee. What it cost depends on where you stay. It's just a bunch of laid back folks who like to ride and enjoy some comradery. Hope to see you there!

We ended up getting a couple of LS2 Advant-x helmets in matte black. I'll be riding up to the cabin with friends this weekend so I'll break it in. Seems very soft, comfortable but a bit tight on the cheeks, sales guy says that'll get better after a bit of use. Dangerous stuff going into Iron Pony Motorsports.....They had a burgandy Can Am Spyder Limited ......Damn, it was nice. Not quite ready yet, but if I was, I'd have pulled the trigger on that right on the spot.

Paul, we hate to hear that but maybe later. Next year we should be back at Asheville but where ever we are you will be welcome to join us.

Well I traded in the RSV on a used 1800 Goldwing. so now Rooster has a new perch. As a result I have some RSV related stuff to sell which I am listing in the appropriate section. All reasonable offers accepted.

The 88 Venture Royale is starting to feel pretty wore down with 106k miles. Engine wise she feels strong, but its needing more and more TLC in the suspension and electronics department. I know it'll go another 100k miles, and i'll never sell this venture, but we will certainly be upgrading to a 2021+ goldwing soon

Good morning to all. Beautiful Saturday morning over here. Both bikes will have new plugs today. Found the best deal for RSV plugs online for $3.50 a plug. I still remember they cost less than a dollar two decades ago.

It is a different animal for sure! But you can squirm around and change positions without tipping over. Stretch out and put your feet on the front fenders, play with all the electronic gizmos the RSV doesn’t have etc!

What I've found out.... Clutch - Side Stand - Neutral Safety interlock system has MULTIPLE intermittent faults in the wire harness. Figured the bike is 25yrs old and trying to find wiring faults in tight confines is probably causing me to break more contacts than I'm fixing. I ended up bypassing the the safety system and the bike is working fine. My other MC does not have any of the safety interlocks, so I'm already accustomed to checking for neutral before I turn the bike on. Not necessarily helpful to anyone else, but at least a resolution.

Glad you made the trip and got back safely. It's a once in a lifetime experience at your age. Thanks for sharing.

I'm still riding the Venture but going to look at a Can Am Spyder Sunday for making trips with the wife. I'm planning a trip to the Northeast states soon with the Venture. I need 7 states to get all of the lower 48 on a motorcycle and I don't want to count any of them on a Trike. I don't want to stop riding just cause I've gotten old...☹️

August 13-17. I’m not sure if we’re heading down on the 12th or 13th. I’m going to trailer down for a change, not sure yet how the back will handle long trips. Some of us are staying at Season”s Inn in Blairsville, others camping.

Looks sharp! Congrats!

This one left this morning. One more to go if I don’t change my mind.

Steve you still thinking about going to Vogel?

Very nice! Congratulations!

Been out a few times this week but mostly late afternoon as temperatures were a bit too warm out to be comfortable. Wife talked me into having yard sale so will be busy tomorrow. Selling all her coats, chaps etc as she hasn't rode with me in 4 years so just taking up space!

I'll be there Tuesday afternoon.

Dan and I are at Seasons Inn

I don’t know, I didn’t read the whole law. What I saw is that they have annual inspections and it’s an automatic failure to have a car tire. My wife asked me the same question and my only answer is that we’ll find out if they stop me.

say it isn't so, I have two car tires on mine. 😊

Click forums and scroll down to”darksiders”. Lots of info there

Yes I'll have the coffee ready

I have the LS2 and I love it. I like the way it fits and the way the chin bar flips to the back so the wind does not catch it. Also the cheek pads are removeable in a emergency should you have a accident The built in sunshield is nice. There is a switch you can slide forward or back to raise or lower it.

IMHO there should be a washer between the gear and the aluminum case

I went and put 1000 miles on mine, over 6/19 thru 6/22, had great fun touring the lower part of Iowa. 100 degree heat index and some 50 mph wind gusts. Just have to get on and go!

Paul they’re leaving out a big part of the info:FOOD. Lots of good eating and a nightly run to the ice cream stand. After all many refer to us as an eating club with a motorcycle disorder.

Paul, It's always a good time, good riding and good food. This has been going on for nearly 20 years.

You've got a leak. That white crusty stuff in your picture is dried brake fluid. The up side is you have a master cylinder that looks to be in good condition. The rebuild kits are on e-bay for a reasonable price. Pull it, clean it, soak the circlip in oil for a day and free it up. The rebuild is a breeze. XXX steel will used gently will smooth the corrosion, if any, on the inside. A small wire brush will get the big stuff on the outside. Check the tube to the reservoir for leaks, check the o-ring on that black plastic spigot the hose connects to. Clean carefully, degrease, blow it out with compressed air and paint with rustolium or some such to protect the aluminum. You'll be good to go. You can reuse the copper seals by heating them bright orange and quenching them quickly in cold water. Let us know how it goes !

Getting Closer and Getting Excited!

Hey guys! Friday I took off from Omaha, Nebraska and road down Highway 75 to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. I then went southeast to Van Buren, Arkansas, and then from Van Buren to Crescent Iowa on I40 to I49 to I29. (I went to crescent because I was going to be about 8 miles short for the full 1000 miles). I took off at about 3:15AM and got home a little after 10:00PM. It was 102 degrees in Omaha that day, and low to mid-90s in Oklahoma and Arkansas and muggy. I could have done it a little faster, but I took more breaks because of the heat. I had a tremendous headwind going south and an even stronger tail wind going home. If you've never been on I49 coming north from Fayetteville, it is a beautiful stretch of interstate. The 1988 Yamaha Venture, of course, performed flawlessly. I got poor mileage on the way down and great mileage on the way up! My start mileage was 104,331.8 and my ending mileage was 105,344.4. I still have to get the paperwork sent in to be verified

Did mine in August of 2020, had it planned for a few years but life kept getting in the way.... Covid shut-downs and nothing much to do so 2 buddies of mine figured lets go. Left the south side of Lake Michigan at the IL/IN boarder and headed up into Michigan, up and over into Green Bay, WI, pushed out to Madison WI then back south into IL. I don't wear a vest, but I wanted to nice certificate to hang up in my office. Everyone asked why, or that sounds like torture... but hey, bucket list item checked off.

These are the four specific brands and patterns that I'm always looking for. From the top. Fight 'm Rooster, Case, Schatt & Morgsn, and Bulldog. .

Gear position Indicator upgradefor standard Ventures (Non-Royales) I have installed a gear position indicating system on my 1983 Venture. This is the stock model without the dash readout from the factory. This is the second Venture I have owned. The first one was a 1984 Royale. Two of the things I really miss from that bike were the gear indicator and the cruise control. The cruise control is coming later. I have all of the stock parts now needed to install it. I obtained a Neutral Switch Assembly from a 1984 Venture Royal through an Ebay auction for under $10.00. This assembly will exchange with the stock neutral switch assembly from a standard Venture. The neutral switch assembly is located between the back end of the stator cover and the front of the middle drive. It sets back in about four inches and is difficult to see, but is accessible. Removal of the middle drive cover is needed to access. To indicate what gear the bike is in I mounted three LED lights in the gauge cluster above the volt gauge. The left light is lit it indicates 1st gear. The left light and the center lights lit indicate 2nd gear. The center light lit indicates 3rd gear. The center light and right lights lit indicate 4th gear. The right light lit indicates 5th gear. The neutral light works as normal. In neutral none of the LED’s are lit. I could also use five LED’s, using one for each gear, but I like the 3 light system as it is easy to see and once familiar with the pattern, it is very easy to determine what gear I am in with a quick glance down at the gauges. I initially used a red, green and amber LED’s but the green and amber had poor visibility in the daytime. I replaced with all red ones. I also painted the part of the LED’s that are inside of the cluster with black paint to keep the light from the instrument cluster from bleeding through the LED’s translucent housing. I used four diodes and three LED’s from radio shack for the light logic circuit. Four IN4004 rectifier diodes. Price $.99 for two Three Red LED assemblies. Price $1.99 each The new Neutral Switch Assembly has a six pin plug on the end that sets in the same area that the stator and rectifier plugs are near the fuel pump. I had two spare diode assemblies that I have obtained in the past and used the plug from one of these to mate up with the plug on the Neutral Switch cable. I had to take one extra wire connector from the second diode assy. As the diode assembly plug only used five wires. You do not need to use this connector if you do not want to though. I retained this plug as I will be replacing the wiring harness when I install the cruise control. I put the diodes in the circuit near the plug connections on the end of the neutral switch assy. I then ran three 18 gauge wires up to the instrument cluster. I used a trailer four conductor plug I had to make a connection at the instrument panel. I have attached a PDF file with pictures and a wiring schematic to install this.