YamahaLarry

Hopefully I won't have this issue. Due to the light blue crap they put on the whitewalls, tires where scrubbed using Purple Power after they were mounted on the wheels to remove all the light blue crap. Maybe it removed the coating as well, cause I washed that area too. There seemed to be a dark brown sticky substance between the plastic wrap on the tire and the tire.

Yeah, I guess it could be a combination of both changes. Regardless, I think I will like the adjustments once I get used to them. Another note, while I was under the bike yesterday, I noticed that my rear shock is leaking some. Looks like a new shock is in the very near future. Just hope it doesn't decide to totally go out while I am wrestling with that Dragon.

Thanks puc, and not sure if they have them to fit the 1st gen. After installing them yesterday, I was beat and only took it for a quick ride in the neighborhood to mostly make sure I had them balanced. Rode the bike to work today (as I generally do) and about 15 miles of that is interstate. I am pleased. I used a Shinko tire once before on the rear of a VStar, and didn't get as many miles out of it that I did with the factory installed Dunlop, so I am not yet sold on Shinko. But, once I get her repainted, I may end up going back to black walls. Will just wait and see how ww looks with the new paint job in a few months. BTW, I think I got both tires delivered for under $230

Yes, they are "leveling links", the longer ones were in the "lowering kit" installed by PO. I took those out and went with shorter links. I think I only referred to them as lowering links in the original post. Maybe I should have said lower level links. Didn't realize this would be confusing to anyone.

The previous owner installed the lowering kit, which has longer links. I replaced those links with factory links to raise the back of the bike back to original height, about 1" higher than the lowering kit links. As for smaller front tire, it isn't really much smaller in total diameter, only like 6mm or so, or a 1/4" since it is a 90 and not an 80.

Definitely a difference vs the recommended 150/18. May just be my psycho, but the front seems lighter, meaning that it handling turns much easier without that heavy feeling, but on open highway, seems it may be a little 'looser', in that bike moves a little. Gonna take just a little getting used to the different feel, but overall, so far I am very pleased. The Tail of the Dragon in a couple of weeks will be the real test. Really diggin' the slow ride, especially in this gigantic parking lot at work.

I took the cheap route due to going to repaint the bike in candy magenta in a few months and wasn't sure if I would like WWW with the magenta look. Shinko. Looked at the Avons, and may end up wishing I had went that route.

Yes, in memory of a 6 year old boy from Ashville, AL that passed away - childhood cancer, Thomas J. Sullivan, aka Superman.

Mike, I will leave it for now. Left bracket on there by suggestion of someone on here. I don't really like them shining under the bottom, but I am in no hurry to pull that back tire again. Was my first time and somewhat of a learning curve for me. I went to get my 1-1/16" wrench, and it was not in my tool box. So, had to make a trip to Harbor Tool, and all they had in 1-1/16 was impact sockets. So, that made me remove the left side saddle bag. Did it all in my drive way, hot sun, 85-90 degrees and it drained me. Luckily my oldest son showed up in time to help me out with the front tire. Gonna hit the Dragon with it in a couple of weeks and hoping that I will no longer be scraping the pavement in those sharp turns.

Mounted my new tires today and I am worn slap out. While I had the rear wheel off, greased splines, flipped rear pads and replaced lowering links with factory links. Left the relocation bracket for rear caliper in case I wanted to go back to lowered bike. After first ride, the answer is no. I love the new height. I went with a 130/90 on the front. Can't wait to get it out on the open highway and really put it to the test. I love the whitewalls!!!

PCH south of San Fran, especially Big Sur. There isn't even a close 2nd for me personally.

Sweet looking '99. I too have a '99 and love it. Took a while to get used to the whine, but mostly ignore it now. Very comfortable bikes, and if I had any real complaint, would be the heaviness in those slow parking lot sharp turns.

Man, that's tough to read. Hope all turns out for the better and you are back in the saddle soon.

Great read and loved the video of Tweaks and Tip. You seem to have a very happy and strong relationship with both.

That's a bummer, but good thing is brother in law is ok and that it was a corn field vs trees or worse. As for lower left cowling, you can get it from boats.net for a little over $200, but it doesn't seem to be available in the color for the MM, you would have to get it for another model and repaint. Insurance is gonna cover repair costs, right?

IMO, dead center top of the dash behind windshield, pointed up to the sky for all to see.

I just wanted to share with everyone, a picture of the reason I am painting my bike purple, in the memory of Princess Emma Mitchell. She was my sweetheart, even though I only knew her for a short 1-1/2 years prior to her gaining her heavenly wings. I have had a few great honors in my life, and 2 of the greatest involved her. One was the day I did a bike ride for her and I intentionally put myself in the rear of the ride so I could stop and give her a hug as we rode by her at the back of the church (she wasn't really supposed to be around a lot of people at the time, high risk of catching something and she passed away less that 2 months later). And the greatest honor, was being asked by her mom to be one of the 4 pall bearers. Out of all the family members and church members, me, someone she only known for 1-1/2 years, had been loved enough to take such an honorable position. This photo was in October 2013 at a halfway point of a bike ride for breast cancer. Emma came out to meet us at the restaurant originally to have lunch with me, but ended up having to go pick up her puppy that she finally got permission from the doctors to have. I told her that if she would hear her pink doo rag I gave her, that I would wear mine and my purple and pink Team Emma shirt. This video is July 19th of last year, 2 months before she passed away. I put on a bike ride for Team Emma to help them with all their expenses and her and her family were at the back of the church when we came thru. She was supposed to have brought me a pink tutu to wear.

I didn't realize that there was a person still using Emron. My wife's uncle had a 39 coupe painted back in the 80s using black emron and it looked awesome, til one day a kid cutting grass slung a small rock that hit one of those beautiful fenders.

She looks great! I just hope that I can make it just close to 94.

Lots of stuff bouncing around in my head the past few weeks about base coats. I have seen illustrations online using white, pearl white, silver and gold, but not that exact candy magenta. And, if I do end up putting new base coat on the entire bike, leaning toward 2 tone pearl/gold. The pearl will allow me to perhaps get a ghost image that I want, but applying it maybe in between the coats of candy. Just thinking with little knowledge of candy applications. I have painted a few cars in another life, but that was long ago and simple 1 color application.

Prior to finding this candy magenta, I was leaning 2 tone purple/silver or purple/gold. I do a lot of rides and other support for local area childhood cancer patients, and came close to 2 very special children. The first was Thomas J. Sullivan, aka Superman and the other was Princess Emma Grace Mitchell, both 6 year old. The bike will be in memory of them both with a ghosted "in memory of" most likely on the trunk. The bike, regardless of how I choose to implement the purple, will be pinstriped in red, yellow and blue, the Superman colors. I will need a pinstripe artist if I can't find one locally that is willing to dedicate their time for the sake of childhood cancer. BTW, I do a lot of items to supply to the families, plus sell to the public, like cut vinyl, tee shirts and many other items. So, if any of you guys ever need a vinyl design to place on bike, helmet, etc., please hit me up. Proceeds from all my work go to supply childhood cancer patient families with items for their use and for them to sell. Edited.... I also have these emblems that will go back on the bike, but maybe in a different location:

I have been wanting to paint my 99 RSV since losing a dear 6 year old close friend (little girl from Oxford, AL) to childhood cancer last September. Her favorite colors were pink and purple and I even hosted a Princess Ride last July in her honor. Anyhow, been wanting to paint it purple in her memory and have finally found the purple I want. I pulled into a BBQ place a month or so back and there was a Goldwing trike sitting in the parking lot that was just gorgeous. Went in, found the owner, and the color is actually the factory 2004 Kelly Magenta. After investigating, I have discovered it is a CANDY color. No wonder it looked so great. It being candy, I am just curious how it may look with me keeping my current bike colors as the base? Is the darker gray on my bike really too dark for the final coat to even resemble purple?

That looks like a ton of fun. Love it!

Will do, and it is indeed a beautiful piece of history.

I mounted my tires myself, that also lets me take care of cleaning/greasing the splines too. I static balanced mine using clip-on lead weights, no issues. Did my last ones myself (on previous bike) and used the adhesive lead strips and it must have worked just fine, no vibrations at any speed. Hardest part was breaking the bead on the old tires. I like the idea of Ride-On being self sealing, but at approx $15 per tire, not sure if it's worth it. I keep a pump and plugs in my bike.