Beau-Kat

Thanks for the info. I'm gonna put those screwdrivers on my short list.

Partial Quote: "As for the VStar... thats a newer bike then mine! But.. nice find.. thanks!" My wife's bike is a 2002 VStar Classic and we love it. Enouigh power, good fuel mileage, low maintenance, etc. She is 5'1" tall and likes it just fine. However, I'm only 5'9" and can tell you, your son with his height would absolutely not be comfortable on this bike. When I ride it, I am forever begging for a longer stretch between the floorboards and the seat back. Another note, I only rode one VStar 1100, but that one had a custom seat designed for a woman. So it seemed short to me also. I don't know about the stock VStar 1100 seat arrangement.

The response I received from the seller: "We have revised the listing". Thank you. The revision: Part is off a 2007 Yamaha VMAX with 8,067 Miles This Is A Royal Star Venture Final That Has Been Adapted To A VMAX http://www.ebay.com/itm/380835892775?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_5148wt_802

Sounds like a good choice to me. Expecting a loaded bike with trailer trip would make you appreciate the lower gearing of the VMax diff. Good luck. I just got a response from the seller of that 2007 VMax diff on ebay. Let me see what it says and I may post it on here, for educational purposes.

I have been teaching young and old, men and women to ride (pro bono, I'm not yet an MSF certified instructor) for a very, very, long time. Before I begin to work with them, they have to agree to take a MSF course when I'm done. I also will help them maintain their bikes as a fellowship and instructional opportunity. I advocate an older standard type bike and generally liability insurance (with good medical coverage) for starters. If he lays his ride down, not much lost out of pocket. If he changes his mind and either wants a different ride or just doesn't like riding at all, same thing. I like the standard bikes because they are more easily managed than cruisers. You have your feet under you and on pegs, not out front on floorboards. And, most standards can be ridden all day without much discomfort brought on by the body positioning of many cruisers or crotch rockets. A long, no hump seat helps to allow some wiggle room for someone with long legs. My son began his riding on my 1981 Maxim, because that's what I had that fit him at the time. The seat isn't flat, but he wasn't over 6 foot tall, so that worked out well. He learned maintenance and safety checks. He eventually bought his own Yamaha 1996 Seca II. Crotch rockety to his liking, but not front wheel lofting as some of the newer 600 bikes. And it got great gas mileage to boot. After he joined the service, he bought a Hyabusa becuase it spewed testosterone at anyone near it. Eventually, he (possibly) made a bad decision on take-off and wrecked it, damaging his shoulder. He is currently without a bike and ok with that for the time being. An older bike also mandates a certain amount of hands-on to keep it running well. This introduces him to the idea of checking over his bike often before riding. In many, that in itself forms a connection to the bike and to riding. Education, responsibility, safety, and respect for riders and machines should be taught early on. As they grow and mature in their desire and love of riding, they can try out what they like and then make the major purchase of a newer bike if they want.

Well, at 55, physically, I'm in great shape, so that's not my concern. But we do have a 4 year old son and will be adopting another this summer. He will be 4 when we get him. So, I kinda have to start being careful...at least reasonably so. Hence, the sidecar project.

Yup. I bought one from a brand new wrecked 2007 Venture with only 67 miles on it. Drilled and mounted the shock boss and installed it on my '98 VMax. Love it. I'm 55 now and don't hooligan (much) anymore. So, I don't miss the original acceleration of the VMax. With only a 4 gallon gas tank on the VMax, the extra mileage I get really helps out. I may take the stock VMax diff I still have and mill out the speedo boss and try it on the Millenium just for kicks. If I end up installing our two person sidecar on the MM and not the Royale, I'll definitely do that swap. Good luck with your endeavors.

All 1st gen (1985-2007) VMax speedos were cable driven from the front wheel. The one on ebay listed as coming off a 2007 VMax http://www.ebay.com/itm/07-Yamaha-VMAX-V-Max-Rear-Final-Drive-/380835892775?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A2007%7CModel%3AVmax+1200&hash=item58ab968e27&vxp=mtr#ht_5090wt_802 makes me think it is a Venture differential that had the shock mount boss milled and stud inserted to mount it on the VMAX. I did the same to my VMax. If that's the case, this one on ebay has the same gearing that you have on your bike, not a true VMax ratio. So, you would gain nothing if you bought this one. But it would be ideal for a VMax if someone wants to lower rpms.

Looks great! I really like the Harley tour packs, mainly because they open from the side. Can't say how many times I gotten off my bike, put my helmet on the passenger seat, and then went to open the trunk, which, of course, was limited by the helmet. I've seen Harley riders even go into a tour pack with the passenger seated and scooting up slightly.

Praying for you and your family.

Maybe a 500 Holley 2bbl would work. Don't remember the specs for that carb though. In the 70s, I had one on a souped up 240 ci Ford straight six. A 650 carb was too much, but the 500 made it run like a hot rod.

It is kinda like cheating, isn't it. She loves the MM, but don't like and won't ride the Royale. The '88 Royale shoulda been a 2007 FJR1300, but we spent too much redoing the kitchen.

I spend a little time looking at those two. Then a little time looking at the other 5 and usually end up riding the Maxim unless it's gonna be a long trip or one of my kids wants to go along. I believe in the "Don't hide 'em. Ride 'em" slogan.

Cooper is the guy and that's just how we eat ice cream! Oh yeah...and pizza too.

Yeah, they vibrate quite a bit. 19 miles can sometimes feel like 119! I had a 1978 that I rode in the winter for a 240 mile trip. When I arrived at my destination, I could hardly peel my hands off the bars my finger joints were so stiff. Like my hands use to feel after racing my old 2 stroke CR250 in the mid '70s. I'm on my second SR500 now, a 1979. I actually love it, kick start and all. Haven't done any straight up 240 mile jaunts on it though. I would love it more with EFI. If you even think about touching the throttle during start-up, you can flood these things so easily. Then, yes, an electric start would be oh so welcome. The guy was right on with the fuel mileage. 60+/- is about right what I get.

No 1st gen/2nd gen debate here. Just get twins and they both photo well, together or apart.

Did some more research. Looks like some 920s were shaft driven.

I agree with the well-known starter clutch issues on the Viragos. Aggravating! The 920 is unique in that it had an enclosed chain drive. So, there you pick up some maintenance over the shaft driven Viragos. It was only made for a year or two. Europe had an "R" version kinda like a Seca. The 750s and 1100 are much more plentiful if you ever need parts. The '82 750 Virago I had also had two petcocks (one on each side of the tank). That was a pain. Don't know if the 920 is like that. The 750 had great handling and was fun while I had it. I also had a 1996 Virago 535. That was a small but fun bike. Bottom line, I wouldn't trade unless that guitar was signed by someone like Dylan, Stevie Ray Vaughn, etc.

Appreciate the prayers from forum members and friends for my family during this time of loss. My brother, Ricky, suffered with heart disease, diabetes, etc., etc. for many years. Now, he suffers no more. He was Christian, so I see it as a celebration. My brother was not married and lived alone. He was one of our 7 siblings. He had no will, but owned nearly nothing, so that was not a problem. I was elected to be his family representative. But getting the other 5 brothers and sisters to agree on his arrangements and a get-together for a private family memorial has been a challenge. It has taken a week and I don't believe everyone completely agreed on all of the decisions made but we made some progress. We will gather tomorrow afternoon to spread his ashes at his favorite fishing hole. You can still pray for unity within our family. Thanks. Rusty

Mission Riders #318 Charleston SC Past Road Captain and Chaplain Do less of that these days and focus on youth ministry and my second family. Simon will be 4 in a couple of weeks. We should receive Evan (3 1/2 now) sometime this summer. I do miss the motorcycling community fellowship. In a couple years, I'll have them both in the sidecar and hope to be back at it with CMA. Bless ya brothers.

Since I just got a sidecar and will probably be putting it on the MM, I'll more than likely go that route with the Vmax differential I took outa my Vmax when I installed the Venture differential in that bike. Got a lot to do with the sidecar before I get to that point though. And I'll probably go with a car tire on the bike later too.

Now, that's just too funny.

How about BOOMERANG 'Cause all that smoke blowin' about them 2nd gens is coming back at him now.

Appreciate it. Thanks and talk later.

Thanks. I'm good mechanical and electrical, but not much in the fabrication or welding/milling department. Got any photos of the lower attachments on your bike? Just want to get an idea of how this car attached to the Wing. When I was scavenging from the bike, I found some sort of frame mount thing lying beside the bike. It looks like a wide "C" with two holes on either end and one boss for a short sidecar connecting arm in one of the curves. The piece has some scrapes on the under side of both "curves", leading me to think it was mounted below the bikes frame. Maybe I can get a photo of that tomorrow.