jimmy99

When I'm not at work I'm not bringing in any $$ and with my wife in university we need all the $$ we can get. I just have to keep the wolves at bay for another 2 years then she graduates; then our lives can return to something like normal. When she started school I had a great paying job - got downsized, career went sideways, re-invented myself with a new career that is always in demand. It pays less per hour but I can and usually do work tons of hours. When I do find a few days off I usually putter around the house or spend the time with family. I DID vote.

I used to joke about having a list of people that were too stupid to live... but it became unmanageable, lol. It really irks me when people are stupid. I understand that everybody makes mistakes from time to time, myself definitely included, but when people do stupid things all the time... I have no patience for them. I try to not let myself get wound up over these things anymore, causes too much stress.

That would be an awesome bike!! I really like my 88VR and can just imagine how much I would enjoy a modern 1700 V4 touring machine. Hello... Yamaha, you NEED to build this bike.

Thought I would update this. I bought the showchrome grips P/N 17-385 from MXmegastore. With shipping to Canada they were still less expensive than I had seen anywhere else. They are very nice, good quality, very comfortable. The heat is slow to rise and doesn't get as hot as my snowmobile grips, but it definitely takes the edge off. I think the metal content wicks the heat away preventing them from getting hot. If you keep your hands on them for 20 mins on high they will get fairly toasty, but if you move your hands the heat goes away quickly. They fit well, proper length, cables fit - the throttle tube is integrated, it is one piece with the grip. The cable attachment is kind of in the wrong spot for the VR and the heat wires end up being on the side of the grip that faces you. It is not ideal but i was able to route the wires so they are not in my way but they are more visible than I would like. I will add some pics later. Overall I am pleased with these.

Local bike wrecker had one. Thanks guys.

Air line.docx Not sure if this attachment will work, but... I found the air leak on the CLASS for my front end. I need the air line that feeds the forks, PN 67 on the diagram, Yamaha PN 1NL-2318K-00-00. Anyone in SW Ontario have one? I will be checking with a couple of local guys tomorrow, 1 small shop, 1 local bike salvage guy. Jeff

Great idea except highway 40 is kinda boring. If you cross at Port Huron/Sarnia - follow the St. Clair river south on the St. Clair Parkway, much prettier drive. Then hook up with Hwy 40 thru Wallaceburg and down thru Chatham. Out of Chatham take Riverview Line towards Tilbury - one of the curviest roads around.

Lol, those are likely acceptable. I wouldn't bother mentioning those at the border and especially don't call them weapons or the border patrol might get overly excited. I thought I would mention the gun thing since some of the Americans I know carry so often they actually forget they have it in their car. Then get into trouble as they attempt to enter Canada.

Pretty much guaranteed to crash with the stand down on a Harley since they kind of lock in the down position. I can't believe they don't put a switch on it.

Leave your guns at home, don't need them here. The border guys won't let you in the country with them and you must declare the guns you have with you when entering Canada. If you try to sneak them in, they might ban you from coming back, destroy your firearms, fine you, jail you, or all the above. Quick google search found this helpful site... http://www.ezbordercrossing.com/the-inspection-experience/transporting-firearms/bringing-a-firearm-into-canada/#.VYVlTvlVhBc Otherwise, enjoy the beauty of the Lake Erie coast and all the towns and villages along it.

WV is my favourite place to ride a motorcycle. I am supposed to go there on a bike trip in July, but it is looking like I will not be able to afford the time off from work due to some financial setbacks. I am very sad that I might not be able to go.

:95: I was really hoping to go... and now there are cool prizes too... Sadly , it is not in the cards for me right now. My VR failed it's safety check, fork seals are worn out. It will be done Friday afternoon but I likely will not be able to get the paperwork done at the MTO in time. Even if I can get everything to align, the MD trip would be its maiden voyage. A 3 to 4 hour trip out of the country is not the time for a shakedown run. I know it is MD and there will be plenty of help there, but I will feel more comfortable getting in some local miles first. Hope everyone has a great time and I really hope this MD will happen again next year. Jimmy

If the deal with Prariehammer doesn't work for whatever reason please let me know. I found man-made holes in mine when I had the carbs apart. I have fixed them up for now but I know they need to be replaced someday. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?101635-Carb-cleaning-and-discoveries Jimmy

IT RUNS!! The bike started right up and runs pretty well. I made some attempts at balancing the carbs but my tools just aren't good enough. I have a small two carb electric unit but it doesn't seem to work correctly anymore, the zero adjustment switch quit. I also have a homemade thing I created years ago and used on my V45 and bandit. It is simply some tubing and transmission fluid but each time I tried it, transmission fluid got sucked into a carb or two. It runs well enough for now and I will have the guy I take it to for the safety do a final sync for me. I used the plasti-dip on the diaphragms but only covered the holes so they remain flexible. Also included a picture of the carb bracket I made, I know the engine is dirty but that is a project for another time, lol. Also I discovered when putting the carbs back on the bike, the choke cable bracket was bent and likely holding the chokes just open, or had them just barely closed. I think I will need to change those #150 jets to a set of stock size #170 jets. It still seems to be running a little rich but will be easier to tell for sure once I get to ride it. I just need to put the rest of the parts back on and bring it to the shop for the safety check. It shouldn't have much trouble there as the tires n brakes are good and I don't see anything else that it needs.

I know you want to buy the Avalanche, but U-haul rents pick-ups here for 19.95 per day. Likely the same south of the border. For $40 a year you could solve the problem and make a trip to the dump or metal recycler if that stuff piles up in your garage like mine, just saying.

It is available with and without acetone. That is a great idea for a source of it, going to raid my wife's supply

If I am able to go, I would likely go the other way around. Joining up with others going would be fun, but would add 4 hours to the trip for me. The scenery would be much better your way and I could avoid Detroit... Hmm, have to think about that. Not sure what exit is the Casablanca one, but I could anywhere on the QEW in less than 3 hours. I will give it more thought as it gets closer and if I think I can actually make it.

Like others, I found this site while researching the Venture. I was trying to decide what touring bike would be my next "new to me" bike and read many of the tech threads. The information on this site is an excellent resource that helped me feel comfortable buying the 88 that I have almost ready for the road now. I also know what upgrades and mods I will be doing over the next year. The $12 spent is a real bargain for access to such an incredible library of information and helpful people. Oh, and the people here are alright too. Bunch of characters they are, lol. I enjoy the site and usually check it daily. I am really hoping that I can make it to Freebird's maintenance day as it sounds like fun and would be cool to meet some of the good people here. Thanks to Don. Thanks to all the other helpful folks. Jeff

People are idiots... Hey there mom, this is not playground equipment! Go amuse your brats somewhere else! Too bad you couldn't wire the bike to give them a shock like an electric fence. That would solve the problem and be entertaining. A bike cover might help too with the other courthouse idiots, outa sight, outa mind.

Yup, I have never been a fan of the "cult" thing, or "poser" thing, but have always liked the harley's for what they are - a great touring bike. Farm tractor technology (lol), lump lump lump down some secondary highway, taking in the scenery, on my way to Idontcarewhere destination - SWEET. I agree, that red/cayenne paint scheme is gorgeous. I have no fear of impulse buying when visiting the dealers since I currently can't afford to buy their T-shirts, haha.

I would love to go, especially since (freeway) it is less than 4 hours from my house, but it will be very tough for me. Hopefully I am able to align things in my life that will allow me to attend. I will know more as it gets closer.

You guys are not helping me, lol. I too have a lifetime desire for an HD cruiser and would likely be into an Electra Glide now if not for job turmoil over the last three to four years. Financially this has likely put me 10 to 15 years behind and I may never fully recover and get to where I would have been. Oh well, new career is much less stressful and I am much happier doing it, so I am better off mentally at least. Anyway, the 88 VR that I have recently acquired is supposed to keep my HD cruiser desires at bay for a while. Guess I will have to keep reminding myself of the difference in price. Jimmy

Yup, maybe just have the wrong terminology I have, #80 in the throat of the carb #150 in the diaphragm chamber #125 in the back of the block (the jet that fell out) #37 .5 inside the block - smaller hole 9A emulsion tube - in the block, tube with small holes along the sides 5DZ2 needle 438 Y-O needle tube It all seemed to compare well to the parts diagrams. Fortunately they were all fairly clean inside.

Hahaha, I didn't think of that.

Carb settings From the parts dia. it seems my jets are stock - EXCEPT the pilot air jets. Stock is 170, mine are 150 I'm going to start with the pilot screws at 2 turns out, and the main needles with the E-clip in the middle position. I will tune from there depending on how it runs and plug colour. Jimmy