samklr650

I've decided to spend this year riding and visiting War Memorials. Thought I would get other riders involved as well. While riding if you come a crossed one. Stop take a picture with your bike and post here along with a location of the memorial so others who see it here can go visit. Here's my 1st post. This is a memorial located in Southern Ohio on RT217 in Lawrence County. Its dedicated to Vietnam war soldier Sgt.Danny C. Hayes.

What tire pressure do you guys usually run? This is my 1st big bike and I've heard everything from 35-40 psi.

Back in 2008 I had a front tire blow out at 65mph on my KLR650. A rep for Rideon sent me two bottles for free to try out. Since the KLR ran tube type tires I felt more confident with rideon in there. It worked great! I would not ride a tube type bike without ride on. During a tire change I found a puncture in my rear tire and rideon kept it from blowing out. Impressive stuff! I thought about putting Rideon in my RSV tires, but haven't don it yet. Your thread convinced me! Thanks' for posting!

Thanks for the advice chief! Btw, what rate are you? I was an ABF aboard the USS America.

For anyone thinking about buying a set of Bead Rider Seat Beads. Let me just say their customer service is TOP NOTCH!! I accidentally order the wrong size seat beads for my passenger seat and without question they let me exchange them. They were very nice and understanding. I haven't used them yet, due to a bought them for warmer weather, but I can't wait to see how they work.

Bike Bandit has the Scalarider Q3 on sale. I've been wanting to get a system so my wife and I can communicate on rides. I thought about buying the J&M headsets, but they are only good on the bike and if I buy a new bike later, I would have to upgrade anyway. My question is, does anyone have the ScalaRider Q3 and how do you like it?

I haven't removed them, but they look like sealed beam lights.

What LED light bulb did you install in your passing lights? Maybe that is all I need to do for better lights, well that and a better head light bulb.

I thought about putting my lights there. But I don't want anything hanging off my crash bars. I still think I'll mount mine on the light bar. I will just have to fabricate a bracket.

Im curious on how you are mounting them on the crash bars. Are you mounting them on the ends or are you cutting holes in the lower cowl for the to stick through?

I was looking at them and really liked the looks and functions. One of my lower wind deflectors broke off last summer while riding, so I just removed the other one. I haven't notices much difference without them, so i'm thinking of using that mount location for accessory lights. I figure i can make a bracket to attach the lights to the light bar pretty easy. Right now I only have the stock head light with the accessory light bar. They are not that great and that why I'm looking to upgrade.

djh3, those look like nice lights!! Let us know how well they work. I'm interested in them. I was looking at LED Rider | The Motorcycle LED Lighting Source at their Cyclops long range distance lights. But at almost $300 a pair they are real pricey! But, after riding on a rainy night through Western KY on my way to Branson last summer, I know I need a good set of lights. Sam

I bought a set of Bead Rider seats beads, and they threw in a Iron But Assoc. Magazine with the package. After spending some time reading the magazine, it got me thinking about the lights on my RSMV. IBA members are always updating to better performing lights. I haven't been real impressed with my head light and the smaller fog lights don't do anything. I figure they are just on there for looks. I think I'm going to spend the money and upgrade my head light and try to find something that works better for the fog lights. I think I may spend the money and buy a PIAA H4 Extreme White head light bulb to replace the stock Bulb. What are most of you using on your RSV?

I have highway pegs, however they are so far out there, I rest my heel on the floor boards and place my toes on the highway pegs. I never noticed any flex in the bars. After disassembling the lower fairings, i realized I could pull aft on the crash bar and bend it back into place. it was shoved up and forward about an inch. this made everything align incorrectly. I hope to have it all back together soon.

Yeah, looks like that is what I'm gonna have to try. Carbon One brackets? where do you get them?

My 2005 RSMV was involved in a wreck before I bought it. After carefully looking it over I decided to buy it. They did a great job fixing everything that was bent or broken, but I noticed a misalignment of the panels on the Left lower leg protectors. During Christmas vacation I had time to tear into it and see what was going on. The left engine guard/crash bar is slightly tweaked. I might be able to bend it back, but I thought I would post on here to see if anybody would by chance have one they would want to sell? I found a couple on e-bay, but they don't look like they are completely there or in good shape. There was a new one, but it was $260!!

My wife wants a small bag and a cup holder attached somewhere she can access them while we're riding. So I'm needing some ideas. We went to Iron Pony and I bought a cheap(soft) cup holder and a leather tool bag thinking I could just attach them to the grab handles. Well, they hang funny and look goofy. I can't fasten them rigid, because you have to lift them up to open the side bags. Do any of you out there have any ideas?

I read the same post you are talking about and considered what to do. I met a guy at Iron Pony in Columbus who had made the switch, using the Michelin Commander II front and told me it was the best Mod he had performed on his RSV. He rides about 10-15K a year. I ride about the same amount and decided it was worth the try. After the tire install, we put over 600 miles on the bike last weekend. I never noticed any handling issues at all. In fact, just the opposite, I found the bike handled better and rode better than ever before. We rode several 4 lane highways at speeds of 65-75mph and it performed great! BTW.... Iron Pony has 130/90-16 Michelin Commander II for $130 right now. Best price I've seen so far.

Your Right. Leveling links raise the back end one inch. I'm pretty sure my bike had lowering links, like yours, because when I installed the leveling links it raised the bike more than one inch. It was scary to ride on twisters.

I'm pretty happy with the RSV power. I ride with my wife on the back and fully loaded with a bag on the trunk rack and have not longed for more power. But then again I'm not trying to race anyone. Most folks I have talked to who are not happy with the power of the RSV are riding in the wrong gear. I ride two lane roads no higher than 4th gear and only use 5th gear for 4 lane highways. The handling was what I was most unhappy with. The bike handled like a pig until I made the changes mentioned above. The Leveling Links and 130 front tire made a huge difference and now its a joy to ride through the twisties.

I just have to give a "Thumbs up" to this website and all the advice received on my 2005 RSV. I changed out the Rear Links and raised the rear end 1" and then installed a 130/90-16 front tire. My Bike handles GREAT!!! My wife and I went with friends last weekend and rode through the WV mountains on some great curvy roads and the bike handled like a sport bike. Those two mods really changed it for the better. I could not believe the difference. I also installed a Clear View Windshield(Stock Height) and I really like it! Clear view is an excellent company to deal with and the shield is awesome. I haven't rode in the rain yet, but its supposed to work better then OEM shield. I'll find out soon,I'm sure. Sam

Yeah, I agree with you there. Not sure if I want to keep running this tire or not. Monty,as for braking habits. I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I have been riding on and off road for 36yrs, so I think I have that down. However, this is my first "Big" Bike, so you might be right. I always count on my front brake for most of my stopping power and only use back for assist. But with this bike I have notcied you need both in most situations.

Last weekend I rode out to Branso Mo. Taking the Bluegrass Parkway and the Western Kentucky Parkway to Paducah Ky. Then I took US Rt60 the rest of the way to Springfield Mo. then heading south on RT65 to Branson. I just have to say, These are GREAT Routes!!! If you need to make time going West and don't want to battle trucks and traffic on the Interstate use this route!!! Its relaxing scenic and there are not allot of semi's to deal with. You do have to ride short sections of interstste, such as Interstate 65 for 2 miles, Interstste 24 for about 20miles, and Interstate 57 for about 15 miles. But other than that the rest of the route is really nice. You can average about 80mph without getting in too much trouble with the local troopers

Last Month I installed a Michelin Commander II tire on the rear of my 2005 RSMV. It has roughly about 4K miles on it. Well Last weekend is the 1st time I got caught in the rain with this tire and several times, and on various types of pavement, when trying to stop the tire would break traction on wet pavement. I use my front brakes for most of my stopping and the back brake as only assist. I was fully loaded and I run 36psi on both front and rear. Of course this made me nervous when trying to corner on wet pavement. Has anyone else had issues with these Michelin tires? They say this is a 20K tires, which to me means its a very hard compound. But if its so hard I can't ride in the rain, this tire is getting removed!

I'm interested in the answer to this question. Like you I like the traditional look and was planning on removing the covers when I put a new front tire on.