BratmanXj

You can still make a 2-wire side marker blink. I did it on my C10 Kawaski Concours so that the side markers glowed with the front markers lights and then flashed on-off opposite of the front turn signals. I believe I wired them in-series with the hot leg of the front marker light and they "short" out when the turn signal flashed.

I will agree that road signs tend to light up better from the LED, and now that I re-read what I wrote I definitely did not present my complaint very clearly. With the LED bulb installed in the Venture headlight: Good forward throw "into space" but very little light illuminating the road. Signs and reflective markings pop'd but the pavement surface was still dark. High beam gave me enough to illuminate the pavement so I didn't feel like I was riding into "fog" but then you'd have a lot of sidescatter and blind oncoming traffic. I played with the mounting orientation and aim with no real improvements, thus I went back to a standard Halogen. I put in a 7" LED Projector Headlight housing in the other bike and the beam focus is better at illuminating the road in front of the bike.

Buddy and I split a set from Amazon that seemed to be the "go to" model a year or two back. It wasn't bad, I had to run high beam on rural backroads to get any real forward throw of light but then you'd get to much side-scatter. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FJS9WVA/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_XXN7DbFDG1E0E

. http://www.thediamondcutguy.com/about.html

Any suggestions for a complete driving light kit - including the light bar, LED driving lights, wiring harness, switch, relay, hardware, etc.? Will I be able to use my existing turn signals or should I just put LED bulbs in the turn signals? As far as the headlight, it looks like just replacing the bulb with an LED bulb is the way to go rather than replacing the whole front light with a 7 inch LED. I can do any wiring changes myself. When I installed a passing lamp bar on my '99 3 years ago I researched and found out the OEM Yamaha parts were the best option. There is a model for the Venture that has the holes for lower deflectors and there's a model for the Tour Deluxe that doesn't have those holes. I found a used RSTD and installed OEM Yamaha passing lamps since they had the proper hardware to reuse the original turn signal housings. You can use a generic spot lamp setup but would have to fabricate mounts for the factory turn signals or switch to aftermarket. I installed a H4 direct replacement LED bulb but was less than impressed with the light scatter in our stock reflector. I recently went back to a bright white halogen bulb with LED spot lamps. There are instructions on the form of how to "gut" the original headlight and glue in a Projector LED housing. I also want to replace my rear brake light and side reflectors with LEDs - any suggestions on this? Would like to add a strobe for the brake lights - where can I find information on this? Custom Dynamics made a direct replacement LED board that fit inside our Tail/Brake housing and plugged into the OEM socket. Last time I checked I did not see it on their page for sale, but you might try reaching out to them and asking about it. They also make drop-in boards that plug directly into the 1157 rear turn signals and are held in place by the cover screws. You'll either have to install a solid state flasher unit (and loose self canceling turn signals) or load-balance resistors.

I want to say it only cost me around $65 with a little bit of internet shopping. I think the rebuild kit and hone would have cost me $45 but I'd still be dependent on my own abilities. $20 was worth the "guarantee" it would be replaced with a good working part. About an hour 1/2 to replace and bleed out, one difficult to access bolt but otherwise straight forward.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabelas usually run them for $329 a few times a year, I think the last go round also included a $25 or $50 store gift card that brought you down to just under $300 adjusted. The local gun shop will reasonably match prices as well. I had a lunch & learn a few weeks back at the gun range that came with a few free boxes of ammo. The instructor for the class is also a semi-pro shooter. He's got a Springfield XDM9 with a modified 1.5lb trigger that he uses for 3-gun completion, don't blink or you just pushed off a round but it was a fun toy to play with. He just picked up a SIG 365XL and this was his 1st time out with it... My 1st shot went a little wild but the next 6 were perfect grouping. I'm seriously debating ditching the M&P and find myself one of these.

Why I usually tell people 1st Gen Road Star Warriors ('02-05) or 2nd Gen Road Star 1700cc (not the 1600cc) as they either black or silver calipers. I have a '99 venture in the 2-tone silver/champagne and the guy I bought my calipers from painted them Hurst Oldsmobile Gold....win!

What brake pads did you load them with?

I guess they are the same as the RoadStar. The early 1600cc bikes have 2-piston like our RoyalStar, but the later 1700cc have the 4-piston. I've only been around 1 Roadliner and it's been a few years since I hung out with that guy. I know the RoadStar and Warrior line of bikes pretty well as I ride with and maintain a few. The 4-piston calipers are factory matched to the 14mm master cylinder. The factory 2-piston are matched to a 5/8" master cylinder. As I've said before, I don't have the exact math in front of me but the point is to have the same master-to-piston ratio for optimal lever travel and feel. I did test my 4-piston with the stock 5/8" and it feels pretty good. To me personally, the 14mm master gives you a little more "take-up" on the lever to gently apply the brakes vs a quicker take-up on the 5/8".

The Roadliner & Stratoliners (same 1900cc bike, just different options) both appear to have the same 4-piston calipers as the Star Roadstar & Warriors. I believe the hand controls are more sculpted "art deco" style and not a match for our clutch master if you want to add the matching 14mm brake master.

You need to unbolt the caliper AND the bracket from the fork legs and the R1/R6 will bolt directly to the fork legs. I don't have any better photos at this time but can get some more this evening with the old caliper next to the current setup.

I've always liked the Honda ST1100-1300, they seem a bit more relaxed riding than the other Jap sport-toureres and more like a BMW. In the Chicago market they are usually double the price of a comparable FJR1300 so it just wasn't justifiable.

I'd go with a plastic polish. I've used this on helmet face shields, motorcycle windshields, safety glasses with good results. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UCYRZU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't have all the information (bore & stroke of Master & Calipers) in front of me to show the complete math....but the simple explanation: When you change from the stock 2 piston to the 4 piston you've changing the VOLUME of fluid necessary to move all the brake pistons a certain distance. The factory sizes the Master Cylinder to the Calipers on the bike with the proper ratio of master volume to caliper volume so that brake lever travel is consistent across the entire throw. You CAN USE the factory 5/16" master cylinder and it will work. I previously owned '07 Road Star Warrior, and still wrench on it to this day after my buddy purchased it from me. I know what the factory Warrior brakes feel like in terms of braking power and feel. My experience on the Venture with 4-piston calipers and factory 5/16" master was better braking power but the feel (modulation of braking effort) was severely lacking. You'd have a soft lever for the 1st part of the travel until engagement of the brakes, then a small window of modulation until hard braking. With the matching 14mm master you have a more consistent "feel" throughout the brake lever travel.

You can also look for '02-'05 Road Star Warrior or '07 and newer 1700cc Road Star bikes to get the calipers and also get the matching 14mm master cylinder to go with the calipers

Just to verify Roadflyer, Harley Davidson "Road King" mufflers, or any touring model muffler Harley as they are all interchangeable. I have Screaming Eagle take-offs from a Road Glide. Ultra Classic, Classic, Street Glide are all the same. Aftermarket pipes from Rush, Vance & Hines, etc. that fit a touring bike will work too but those tend to be louder. I do not believe that Yamaha Road Star mufflers will fit on a Venture.

I have a stock master & front caliper set off my '99 RSV sitting on the shelf in the garage. I'll try and get a few photos tonight when I get home from work.

I still come here and read almost daily, but haven't been active as much this year. Been on the Russian motorcycle forum a lot lately since I bought the Ural last year; its getting most of the love taking the kid to school and running errands. The Venture only has about 1,000 miles this year but that was mostly back and forth to meetings, can't complain when you get paid to ride. Few upgrades and projects planned for the winter though.

Since I got my Ural a year ago I think the wife's ridden in it twice, the 6yr old has claimed ownership to that bike.

So adding a gear indicator to a 2nd Gen might not be all that hard...interesting.

I've never been on a 1st gen, do they have a gear indicator for all gears or just a neutral light? Seems like a lot of contacts for just a neutral switch.

All Balls makes rebuild kits that are about $20 a caliper and include the piston seals & crush washers, but does NOT include the o-ring you speak of. If you own a dremmel tool get brass brushes to clean out the piston seal groves and flush-flush-flush with cleaning solution. If you find a lot of corrosion inside the caliper you check to make sure nothing is pitted and could tear a seal or leak. At worst case I have a set of calipers in my spare parts bin if yours are in bad shape.

Valkyrie trike if you still want "cruiser" looks, but that's only a 1500 vs the 1800 in the newer wings. If you really wanna go bonkers Triumph Rocket with the 2.3L I-3 motor. I spoke to someone a few years bake on why he sold his Wing & HD for a Triumph when those were fully outfitted touring rigs vs a bagger. He pulled a camper behind the bike and it was the only thing that could keep an 85mph clip through the mountains.

Greater Chicagoland area was 88-ish with thick humidity on Monday & Tuesday, today we are a high of 64 and a low of 50 over night.