videoarizona

Good question. My thoughts are to keep the air pressure near maximum and enjoy the ride.

((The readings changes almost daily or after riding awhile and stopping.)) OK...that's a decent clue right there: It doesn't help me, but maybe someone else will recognize this issue. I'm going to go back to the basics: 1: Speedo is driven by a black donut shaped unit mounted between the left front fork and the front wheel on the axle. The unit is somewhat round except on the top where two ridges exists. The unit is mounted such that these ridges are located between a ridge mount on the wheel. This is how the unit is "locked" in place. If the unit floats, your speedo readings will not be accurate. From there, the cable goes north to the speedo head...where it mechanically drives the speedo head. Simple system and reasonably accurate. I would take the front wheel off, being careful to note how the speedo unit is placed, take it off, clean it and grease it. Check interior parts for significant wear. If nothing appears wrong then put back together. Grease cable end as well. Make sure nut holding cable is secure to the speedo unit. Remount the speedo unit, axle and front wheel back together, making sure the ridges on the speedo "donut" are on either side of the ridge on the wheel and secure. Now try and get some grease into the speedo head itself. Some have been able to put grease on cable end at top and shove it in and that works. Others have had to use some pressure to get the lube into the speedo head to grease the bearings. Either way...try to grease it. That should eliminate any issues with speedo except the speedo head itself being bad. BTW, the electronic portion of the speedo signal also goes to the cruise control...but don't think your problem is there. The tach is electronic/mechanical. Signal originates at the coil of #2 cylinder, (LF) and goes to the tach. It's a green/yellow wire from coil. You might dig down in there and check that wire for corrosion at coil or anywhere else it goes....although I can't see it going anywhere else in the simplified schematic. Corrosion at either end could cause different readings based on moisture/heat/cold... ie, resistance flucuations, etc.. david

That or maybe you have a different rear end ratio!?!? Wonder if a different diameter front wheel would change speedo....Are you the original owner?

I'm with Jeff. I enjoy following where you are going with your VR. I'm learning as fast as I can read! Thanks for the pics as well! david

Came across a 5 pound container of silica. It's has a fine granular consistency. May be to fine for our 1st gen Class systems by itself. BUT, I bet someone could get creative and make a nice cylindrical pouch for it to fit in that is breathable and would fit in the tube container inside the CLASS hardware. Free to anyone who wants some. I can send it out in a sandwich baggie I guess...unless someone has a better idea. Or I can send the whole thing to one of our forum guru's and they can parcel it out. Let me know... david

Good site, although some of the reviews are not quite up to snuff. That's where we got our information for riding the Coronado Highway...old Devil's Highway..RT 191.

Hmmm....

LOL!! Meanwhile.....I'm

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?511-Tightening-the-Steering-Head

Shinkos

((@videoarizona Hope we can also meet in person someday! As you know, I have a house in Arizona as well....no Venture down there, only a Goldwing..but hope to take you up on a meet and eat if the moons align!)) Absolutely. Just need to let me know in advance when you'll be down.

Yes...but that is the only attachment I can see. The shaft of the center nut is "loose" around the top of the triple tree if the nut isn't there. So once the center nut is loosened, you can still tighten up the bearings. At least, that was the way I saw it when I did that this past summer. But maybe I was wrong....you know far more about it than I do...obviously. Guess I'll take another look at it when I lower the front end the rest of the way...another 1/4 inch.

Me either. Loosening the center main nut was all I needed to tighten up the bearings. To me, it seems the center steering stem "floats" in the top triple tree cover hole made for it...it isn't tied down to it at all other than the center nut.

((I'm mainly depressed with the look and design of the bike and limited range. I associate Motorcycles with Freedom and not being tied down....)) I hear ya. I agree about design. Right now I'm wondering if Yamaha does come out with a new Venture...will it be worth my investment to buy one with the limited amount of time I have left to ride. The hands hurt, the upper body strength is slowly going away and the fear of getting run over is becoming more than just a vagrant thought in my pea brain. We shall see... david

Before you go into leveling links, I would suggest you look into the free modification of lowering the front end. I lowered mine 3/4 inch and will lower it 1/4 in ch more. The difference was like adding power steering. That and getting my front tire repaired so it doesn't leak and keep pressure at 40 pounds would help tremendously in the slow corners. There is a lot of info and pictures here on an earlier post about lowering front end.....may even be in the tech library. It sounds like a lot of work and does take time, but it isn't difficult at all. Add to that, the head bearing adjustment, mine was to loose, and my 05 RSV's personality on slow speed maneuvers changed nicely! Yes I was tired from 100 plus miles of twisties on the Devil's Highway, but we had already ridden 6 hours to get there, and I ended up with a 12 hour day in the saddle. So I'm not complaining at all about riding the RSV anywhere! Remember I do have the stock front 150 size tire. Going to a 130 would make it even easier for slow speed turns. Bottom line: there are 3 things you can do to improve the low speed handling of an RSV and 2 out of 3 are free. Last, I have a 1st gen as well....if you really want another scoot...then my recommendation is to buy a late model 1st gen. It goes through twisties like a modern sportbike, just a bit heavier. Yes you will have to modernize the brakes and maybe do some other work on her, but will take 2 up through any twisties all day long! And yes, when I get off either of my 2 Ventures, I do look back and smile. If ya needs some help...I'm new at this stuff (about 2 years now on Ventures) but will be happy to chat about my recommendations. Phone in my profile. david

I put a Shinko on my 89. Had a bit of a sway, too. Found out if I pump the tire to 42lbs, all is good. Not sure if it was the tire at 38 or not. Just know the higher pressure stopped it for me. I have 230's on front and rear. Love how well it sticks and handles.

Whoa! Nice list Dion, thanks. When I got out in 73, I really felt like I had come back to a different country. The military was not appreciated. At least now, I'm beginning to think this is changing....slowly...but still changing. Hmm..if I want to drive back up to Tucson twice tomorrow, I can eat free all day. Doesn't beat my cooking...but does beat my having to wash the dishes!! Cool.

Yikes! Hope you don't feel bad...a lot of people don't know this. The only caveat to using antennas these days is how far the station is from your home. The old analog days, fringe reception was snowy but possible. Nowadays, the digital signal simply drops. The FCC calls the new stuff "progress". Well, I know a number of engineers that disagree with that. Yea it's a better picture, but very difficult to get in a city, in the car or from far away. (one of the reasons the old large antennas work so much better than any of the new ones). Once again, the FCC chose the wrong transmission format. Sigh...

Actually, you don't need an HD antenna. Any good old VHF/UFH antenna that used to work back in the analog days for your area...will still work today. I dusted off my large roof top antenna from 25 years ago and it's grabbing local Tucson channels over 40 miles away! Radio Shack and others might argue about this but the only thing that's changed is the signal is now digital instead of analog. That plus some stations had to re-align their frequency due to swapping of channels. It's still VHF or UHF carriers. Also...still against the law for any HOA to refuse to allow you to use a TV antenna.

Since many of youse is Vets (like the Engrish?)...suggest you may want to scarf up some free grub for lunch on Vet's Day...this Wednesday. http://www.texasroadhouse.com/ Enjoy! david Now where is my DD214 ??

Sounds like your scoot is getting anxious to hit the road! Good work! Keep us informed...

Interesting. On my 89 with stock tires, etc., 4100 rpm is about where I am at 75mph.

Is there a community college (or trade school or high school with welding/metal shop class) nearby? Sometimes they take on outside projects to teach the kiddies how to....

Yikes! Glad you are OK!!