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Beau-Kat

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  1. Beau-Kat
    Haven't been on this site in a while. Things are slowing down some now, so I thought I'd share an update on Simon. Simon is now 2 years old. Growing like a weed and seems to be very smart too. Sticks to me like velcro. He rides (with a helmet, very slowly, and only on our subdivision streets) about two miles on my Sportster everyday. Trying to include a couple of recent photos. Rusty
  2. Beau-Kat
    Hey Bob. I remember back two years ago when you, Jerry, and Dan met me and my friend, Jeff, at Westfield Yamaha to pick up my '88. It was a real treat to have met all of you. I could tell right off that you each represented so many who are such helpful souls on this forum. Sorry, I haven't been on here in a while (my new 20 month old adopted son, Simon, keeps me busy , so I just now read of Dan's situation. I wish I would have known before now and had been able to pray sooner. As a Christian, Venturerider member, and fellow motorcyclist, I can truly appreciate all of the prayers, concerns, and updates about and for Dan and Rose. I also am so very thankful for the medical intervention that the lady gave him on the side of the road. Thank God for folks who care enough to stop and render whatever assistance thay can. Dan is still here with us thanks to her efforts. I'm joining all of you sending up prayers for Dan. Rusty
  3. Beau-Kat
    I run Metzlers on my Millenium and Dunlop E3s on my '88 Royale. Great mileage out of the Metzlers and great handling out of the E3s. Haven't had the opportunity to put too many miles on the '88, so I can't yet brag on the E3 mileage or wear. I got really good mileage out of the original Dunlop 404s that came on the Millenium, but they just seemed too hard to me. Seems the Metzlers grip better to me. But that's just my own assessment. Never have tried the Venoms. Good luck with whatever you choose. Also, since you've been away from riding for quite a while and may have forgotten about the tire mold release on new tires, just don't forget to scuff your new tires up really good as soon as you install them.
  4. Beau-Kat
    I don't know if the 170 will fit on the RSV due to the shaft drive clearance needs. But it may. I run Metzlers on my Millenium. Third set with no issues. Run 44psi in the rear and about 41 in the front. I get great mileage from those tires too. I also run Metzlers on my wife's VStar 650 Classic. Funny thing, my RSV's stock rear tire is a 150 and the VStar's stock rear is 170. I woulda thought Yamaha would have had that the other way around. My '88 Royale had Dunlop E3s on it when I bought it a couple of years ago. Haven't put a lot of miles on that bike yet, but the E3s seem to work really well.
  5. Beau-Kat
    Agree. My bike has around 54 k on it. So, I bought one of those and have it and some hose in my saddlebag as a just in case. I also have a copy of the ignition switch bypass procedure as another just incase. I got some other "just in case" stuff (called Charmin) in there. You know, just in case...
  6. Beau-Kat
    Some better photos of Simon and a little info. At about one month old, Simon was abandoned at the entrance to an orphanage in Zhenzhou, Henan, China on March 27 of last year. Our daughter began volunteering in that orphanage last summer. One day, she was emailing photos of all of the kids there. She named them American names to identify with them and keep up with them more easily. So, she actually named him Simon. Although I grew up in foster homes myself, understand how God took care of me that way, love kids, and work in youth ministry today, my wife and I had not even had the remotest consideration or discussion of any kind of adoption, my wife was just reviewing all of the photos of the kids our daughter was caring for. Oh well, once my wife saw Simon's photo...she just immediately teared up and crumbled...and that was it! I saw his photo, talked to my wife and crumbled myself about three days later. God worked His miracles and we now have Simon forever. The last photo is of us at Lucy's restaurant in Guangzhou China. They served cheeseburgers and fries. Oh, it was good!
  7. Beau-Kat
    Yeah, I hear that. My wife already told me to look in to maybe finidng a sidecar. Could put one on either of the Ventures, but I sure wish they had a reverse... What did you get to replace your 99 that got banged up? On another note, I'm trying to decide if Art or Simon have the whitest hair. Ha! I guess I'll have to go see Art soon. We brought Simon home (from China) on 6-30-11. To try to get Simon settled in with us and get all of his medical checkups done, I've taken off work until 8-04-11. I should be done with work (i.e. have my replacements trained) within a year. I've been liking staying home with my wife and Simon.
  8. Beau-Kat
    I got the C.R.A.B.S. Can't Ride A Bike Syndrome I'm a confessed bike addict and literally ride every day. But, I haven't ridden a bike in over 5 weeks! However, I really do have such a good reason. After a year of extensive paperwork and travel, my wife and I just adopted our 16 month old son, Simon Joseph. He is considered special needs - Albinism. He is just beautiful! We are in our early 50s and have four grown children. So, we are starting over. I'm gonna try to attach his photo. Rusty
  9. Beau-Kat
    Thanks. Got some good answers from some very helpful HD folks on another forum, other than Sportster.org. Here is what I've found out on XLFORUMS.net: My damper rods are apparently for a Hugger. 883R damper rods are two inches longer. So, that's where I'm headed, to get some stock 9" 883R damper rods. That should take me back up to what is aprarently a stock normal 5.5" of fork travel on my bike. I really appreciate your responses. Rusty
  10. Beau-Kat
    Hey guys. I asked these questions on the Sportster.org forum, but got no responses. Maybe because my avatar is the same one I use here (VMAX). I hope that's not the case. I also went to our area Harley dealer today and spoke to the service dept. He really tried to assist me, but could not offer any measurements either. At least he tried. Now, any of you Sportster owners who can take some measurements for me or answer some of my questions will go straight to #1 on my list. So, below is what I posted on Sportster.org. "O.k. Maybe I was asking the wrong question, or in the wrong way, in my previous post. So, I think I am barking up the right tree this time. Please bear with me on this. My 2003 883R was lowered by the previous owner, but I don’t like the loss of travel and the stiffness. I want a better ride and to return the sporty-ness of my Sportster. I think it was lowered with Progressive springs. Looks like the stock damper rods were probably replaced with shorter ones (from a Hugger maybe?). Now I need stock damper rods (and maybe fork tubes) to install because I want to return the forks to stock height. I have a couple of questions: On the 883R bikes, what is the stock distance between the bottom of the lower triple tree fork clamp and the top of the chrome dust cover ring on the forks? Right now, with my bike in lowered style, that distance is only 3 1/2 inches. Looking at other Sportsters, I think that maybe should be about 5.5 inches or more, but I don’t have any Sportsters near me to measure. So I need some help please. Also, what length are the stock damper rods, top to tip (and if you know, the length of the shock tubes also) of a 2003 883R? And, can anyone offer a source for the stock damper rods? Or, does anyone have any that they have taken out when lowering their bike and they want to part with them? Any assistance is greatly appreciated. Thanks a mucho gazillion!" Rusty
  11. Beau-Kat
    I musta missed something in the posts. I didn't see where anyone stated that Sears "made" their lift. I think we all know that stuff is sold, but not made by Sears. But I agree, powder coatings and paints cover up a lot of what's underneath. That's why we ask about stuff others on here have tried. That's the best and most honest way of getting a review of something...ask your friends what they use. And honor their opinions. They won't steer you wrong. Ride on. Rusty
  12. Beau-Kat
    Probably like the majority of motorcyclists, I have no biases against anyone or any bike. I like people and I love bikes. I don't purchase stuff to promote anything. My daughter found out I bought an 883R, so she gave me a Harley tee shirt for Christmas. I do wear it often. it's a nice shirt. I wear it whether I'm on a Harley, Yamaha, Honda, makes no difference to me. If someone wants to GIVE me a Yamaha shirt, I'll gladly wear it also...no matter what bike I'm riding when I'm wearing it. But I won't spend the bucks to buy a shirt like that. I do love my Sportster, but my Harley friends chide me about it being a girl's bike. That's o.k. with me. One of the best things I like about the Ultras is the tour pack. I wish my Yamaha trunks opened to the side. Makes a lot of sense and is easier than making the passenger get off to open it. I may one day consider owneship of a Street Glide. All that said, congrats on your new ride!
  13. Beau-Kat
    Thanks Wally. I'll look her up. Rusty
  14. Beau-Kat
    That looks great! And to cut that fuel cap glare would be wonderful. Who makes/supplies those bibs? Costs? Thanks. Rusty
  15. Beau-Kat
    I used a relay and installed a Stebel. Great loud sound. A little like air horns without the air system. I'm loving it! You'll have to make a little 'L' shaped mounting bracket for it, but that's easy.
  16. Beau-Kat
    Yup, Yup. That's the inexpensive ticket.
  17. Beau-Kat
    My wife had that problem on her 535 Virago. Of course, that bike did not have cruise control. But it was with the tassles blowing in the wind that made her brake light flicker at highway speeds.
  18. Beau-Kat
    Gotta love that Versys! From reading reviews and looking at them at the dealer, I think that is a great bike. I want to ride one sometime.
  19. Beau-Kat
    Love my Sporty. It ain't my primary ride. Just for play. And about your mods...the latest HD rage is a triple plated chrome radiator cap. I hear they are quite popular. So popular that you'd be hard pressed to find one on the dealer's shelf. Jokes aside, I hope you truly enjoy a very long relationship with your new ride.
  20. Beau-Kat
    I agree. I can't get used to using mine and it is in the way also. It just seems too high to use. Some folks love them, but H/T shifters ain't for me. I cut off the one on my wife's VStar 650 Classic. She kept hitting it with her heel it in parking lot maneuvers and would knock her bike into neutral. She about went over a couple of times when she went to use the throttle for control and the bike had been knocked into neutral. After that, she obviously felt uneasy about parking lot speeds. I hated to cut up that nice chunk of chrome, but she let me know it was her bike and it oughta be set tp the way she wanted it. I had to agree. So, out came the saw and a bit of black paint to cover the scar. Actually looks good and works out great for her. She now has regained her parking lot confidence. And that's a plus for me too.
  21. Beau-Kat
    My original set of Dunlops went 21,000 miles. The rear was cupping, but I think I was only running 38 psi in it. Shoulda been running more psi, I guess. Anyway, I replaced them with Metzeler 880s and went to 40 psi front and 42 psi rear. Got 18,000 on that set and replaced them with some more Metzelers. Now to clarify, at 18,000, that front was still ok, but I changed it anyway because I like the new tire handling. Anyway again, I now have 15000 on these, but I got a cut in the rear. I may replace them with more Metzelers or E3s, haven't decided yet. My '88 has E3s and they seem to work nicely, but I haven't ridden any distance on them yet. Good luck with your choices. Rusty
  22. Beau-Kat
    Plug the following number into your cell phones so you can call authorities quickly if you see anything: If you have information please call them at (423) 542-1845. I have three grown daughters lliving away from me. I pray for there safety always. I am praying for your daughter's discovery and safe return now. I believe God will hear and answer. Rusty
  23. Beau-Kat
    Now that sounds innovative...and oughta be very cool too! Would like to see a photo of the finished product.
  24. Beau-Kat
    What do you mean that the release broke on them? What actually happened? Maybe I might oughta watch out for something failing on mine. Just want to know what to watch out for. I haven't had any problems, so I haven't researched replacement parts yet. Ida thunk that you could get parts for any tool that Sears sells. I could always find parts for my drills, saws, etc. Maybe I oughta research my lift. Thanks for your input Snaggletooth. Rusty
  25. Beau-Kat
    I like my Craftsman too. But I have since bought a drive on lift and don't use it much anymore. The Craftsman lifts are good quality.
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