YamahaLarry

Prayers for you for sure. In all the bike rides I do, I am around many types of cancer during the course of each year, with most of them being children. The success rate for Leukemia is very high. So hang in there, give it hell. As I have witnessed many times, it can be beat.

Yeah, I am thinking something internal with either the plates/spring or slave. Hydraulics are pretty much fixed, so not sure how one would do this. I do have a very small leak at the slave on the 99, and when it starts getting too low, the fully disengage will begin getting closer to the grip. And if I don't add fluid pretty soon, I lose fully disengage totally. That happened to me on a ride last year while having to set up road blocks at intersections. Things got pretty squirrelly by the end of the ride in coming to stops, keeping engine running and keeping the bike in the intersection. It's a wonder I didn't scorch the clutch. As for both of my 2nd gen RSV, with ample fluid, clutch is fully engaged until lever is pulled in maybe an inch or so and then the feathering begins, and is fully disengaged maybe 1 to 1-1/2" later. Just a guess. I am not sure about 4-1/2" of travel. Seems a much but may be true at the tip. Regardless, I have no problem feathering even for more extended times than the average bear. In leading a lot of bike rides, parades and even walkers, I have to do it quite often. Hand never really gets real tired as compared to dealing with the stop and go in heavy traffic. Both of mine are OEM. I had the 99 plates slip with me a couple times last year in lower rpm range 5th gear and trying to accelerate. So, I ordered a set of OEM plates. I had been using MotorKote additive for most every oil change. Changed the oil with no additive, and hasn't slipped since (have gone to using additive every other oil change). Anyhow, got me a set of plates when I do finally wear one of them out.

As mentioned by @djh3, I do not think this will be possible with the hydraulic clutch as is used on the RSV. On most bikes, you have maybe a 1 to 1-1/2 inch of travel (just guessing) from clutch partial engaged to fully engaged. On cable clutches, you can adjust where you would like for that range to be, top of the lever or closer to the hand grip. Even so much that you can't fully disengage or even to where it will not fully engage. Pretty sure there is no such range of adjustment on the RSV hydraulic clutch unless there is something you can do with the slave cylinder in how that it works with the clutch assembly. FWIW, I lead a lot of rides, some parades and have even escorted "walkers" (not the Walking Dead kind) before, and at times do quite a bit of feathering clutch/rear brake. I haven't came across a situation to where my hand gets tired in doing that. BUT, it does get tired in stop and go traffic like when there is an accident in the road ahead. I guess maybe it is the holding clutch in for prolong periods and not being able to work my hand. Just my thoughts.

I recently installed RK mufflers on my 09 RSV. They are a VERY tight fit. I did purchase the wide clamps from the local HD dealer, but got the pipes for free. As for the mounting brackets, you can make them yourself for well under $20 by purchasing 2 ea 2" x 12" plates from Lowes, Tractor Supply, etc. It will require 3 holes drilled in the plate and cut it off to 11" long. Some say you need 1/4" plate, but that is way overkill. I used a 1/8" plate (HR steel) and it's very rigid. You can find the locations for the holes by using Google.

@Woody, you should give it a try. They are very reasonably priced. One of the lesser expensive ways to vacation, especially if you are in driving distance of ports as we are. Very relaxing. The ships crew takes care of your every need. Food galore. My wife and I both love them. We are also timeshare owners with Wyndham, and have enjoyed that over the years as we were raising our children, and still enjoy it, but it doesn't even compare to the benefits of what the cruise lines have to offer. Plus, we get to visit cities and countries we otherwise would have never seen. Such as the Honduras.

I know @Freebird has already mentioned it to you and you resolved the 'current' issue with cruise control. Just wanted to add this note. On my '99, the front brake lever, no matter how much I adjusted it, would not spring all the way back out at times. This would cause not only the cruise control to not activate, but also obviously cause my brake lights to be on. I got very used to pushing lever back out every time I used the brakes. So much that it became like muscle memory. I still catch myself doing the same on my '09.

Woody and cowpuc, I had a great time. Always do on a cruise. Seems like I was born to do 2 things, ride my scooter and sail the ocean blue. The sailing weather was perfect for the most part. Did hit some rain very late on the 3rd night, and some wind in Cozumel. Especially Cozumel. They canceled the submersible part of my excursion due to the waves on the coast but was still able to go to the Mayan Cacoa store and discover how chocolate was made over 1k years ago, and got to go and learn about "real" Mexican tequila and even sample :225:a lot of it. Expensive stuff. Also, met a member of the Bandidos in the Honduras and he and I talked a bit. He is a member of the Waco, TX chapter that was on the news a few years ago with the shoot out at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco. Nice guy, but the kind you want to keep at arms length I guess. He wasn't at Twin Peaks that day, and wouldn't say a whole lot about it other than that the media had it all pretty much wrong. Pic of me enjoying the afternoon on the beach at Roatan, Honduras. Wish I were still there instead of sitting here at work fixing computer software bugs.

I'd kill myself, or at a minimum, lose a limb to those props.

As far as quality of motor oils goes, Amsoil is considered by many to the the best in several categories closely followed by Royal Purple Racing Oil. I used Amsoil for several years on my VStar and never had a clutch slip problem, and a firm believer in using it in the air cooled engines due to the extreme temps here in the South. So, when looking at anyone's list, if Amsoil isn't listed, I discredit the list pretty much immediately. And same holds true with Royal Purple and Mobil. I use the Rotella T6 due to recommendations here when I first my first RSV and have stayed with it due to the price and it works. Half the cost of Amsoil retail price.

While Flyinfool's video and pics were nothing short of awesome in the appearance category, this was a beautiful morning for me as well. Gonna miss the RSV for the next 8 days, but headed South this afternoon chasing the sun rays. Two nights with my sister in Fairhope, AL, catching the Veteran's Day Parade tomorrow, and then on Sunday boarding a Carnival cruise ship for 6 nights headed for Honduras Islands and Cozumel. Getting down into the lower to mid 30s here tonight, so I picked a great time to head southward. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. This old USCG guy loves to sail.

I'm really disturbed that you weren't on the bike. You guys up North can have that stuff. It is pretty, but just not my cup of tee. I am more of a July/August 95 degree kind of guy. But, I do like the fact that the cold, snow and ice kills off most of the pesky creature under the 1" size.

Thanks for AIS info. As for my RK mufflers, they are much louder than the OEM Yamahas and have a bit of a growl to them. But not so loud that it interferes with me listening to my music. I did upgrade the speakers to Polk db402s and that was a big step forward.

Not on 1st Gen, but have on 2nd Gen. I went with the tunable tip FireStick and it did a better job than the original. I did use SWR meter on it as well. And replaced the radio antenna with a matching non-tunable tip FireStick, and it did not do as well as the original whip antenna. You can order them and the stud mounts online or go to most any truck stop and get them. Man I miss Radio Shack!!!

I've been considering plugging it off, and may soon. Seems like a pretty simple chore to do on a rainy day.

Not really sure if that list is anywhere near accurate. It's not like Rotella T6 is all of a sudden unapproved.

Read an interesting article a few years back about the proper handlebar adjustment, assuming there is such an animal. Guy said to sit on your bike, close your eyes and wiggle in and get comfortable. Just sit there for a moment. And then slowly reach both hands out in front of you to where it is a comfortable position. Then, open your eyes, and that is where your hand grips should be. Seems to work okay for me on the RSV. I would like my hands maybe a little higher, but pulling the bars back you lose the height.

How much do you charge to do the exchange? Reason I ask, the 99 RSV that I am reassembling from swapping parts with an 09, I am putting the 09 shock in it and keeping the 1 year old OEM one that I had bought for the 99. Either the person that purchases the 99, or myself, may want to send it to you. I noticed the month or so that I rode the 09 that it was a little bit spongy, but I can't see that it had ever leaked any oil.

As I read the OP post, first thing that popped into my mind was Champion plugs in my lawn mowers over the years, but no way I will put them in my RSV. I think the NGKs are proven plug. That being said, he does have a point. But most often, as my fingers move across the keyboard, my mind wanders and I may end up typing anything. But, being in the 60+ age group, that should be allowed. I have accumulated a lot of info over the years and sometimes I just gotta get rid of it. Sticking to the RSV, for me, it's NGK plugs, Dunlop tires, Rotella T6 motor oil, Royal Purple in the final drive and 70s Rock in the CD changer. I will fudge on the tires a little as long as they are wide white walls, but the other options aren't really options for me.

UPDATE: Ended up getting a set of new RK mufflers from a dealer pull off of a 2016 (could have been 2015). Very nice looking, no blemishes, scratches or anything and just purchased a set of the clamps from the HD dealer as well. They were VERY tight going on. Took me a while to get them up to where they "almost" bottomed out on the little indention inside the muffler, but on far enough that the clamps hide all the ugly on the header pipe. Love the sound, and the newly acquired 2009 is running fantastic, BUT........ the right exhaust will every once in a while have slight popping sounds when I am changing gears, and most of the time from 1st to 2nd, and sometimes from 2nd to 3rd. And it doesn't seem to be linked to me being aggressive or non-aggressive, and is slightly noticeable, but noticeable. As tight as the pipes are on the header, I would think that there is no way that it is air entering at that point. I did have to put quite a bit of pressure on the header at times trying to get the muffler on, and more so on the right side. So not sure if maybe I may have caused a slight leak at the manifold gasket area, but I would think that I could hear a ticking or something if I did. After I adjusted the valves and installed new plugs, I temporarily installed the old mufflers and synced the carbs. They were pretty much dead on (though I was expecting them to be off since I had to replace every intake shim and 2 exhaust shims). There is no noticeable out of the norm popping during deceleration, only on the very occasion gear change as mentioned above. Just for the hell of it, I will be running some SeaFoam thru my next couple tanks of fuel. Any ideas, anyone?

Great read Puc. Would have loved to have been there. You need to write a book.

Orbit. Hilarious. Engine sounded good though. And of course, if anyone has it, Leno does.

So, you are saying, if/when I decide to take that solo road trip on the bike to Muskegon, MI to visit my old USCG ship mate (and maybe a Venturer or 2 along the way), I should just roll and strap.

No on T4, but use T6 in the RSVs. Go tween 5k and 6k before oil change. On the old air cooled V-twin while I had it, used Amsoil. I use synthetic oils in all our bikes/cars/trucks.

Yes. 130 x 90 will work fine. I've been running that size for last 3 tire changes. The tire is 3mm shorter than the 150, so your front end will sit about 1/8th inch lower. And it is obviously narrower, about 13/16" wall to wall.

Firm believer in "Get Out And Ride", that famous quote coined by a great man. Have been riding every day since I got 'er reassembled. Was quite chilly in the deep South this morning and had to embrace the old leather jacket for the first time of this fall season. 38 degrees, which is nothing for you folks up North. And yes, she's a sweetheart. Hope your brother is doing well.