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dynodon

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  1. dynodon
    To help any headset/earphone work better, consider riding with earplugs. NO, not the cheap foam things, but spend the huge bucks to get Muscians plugs for all of $12 per pair (cleanable, reuseable for a long time). http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx I have a gen 1 86 royale, and the whine was getting to me. These plugs not only stop virtually all the whine noise, but let through music and voice and cut out most wind noise. I think part of the reason is that instead of your entire ear funnelling ALL sounds into your ear along with your intercom/stereo headsets, the small openings in the plugs are close to the speakers and don't just funnel in all other sounds. These will let you carry on a normal conversation at stops, but everything is very hushed. Takes a little geting used to, but I like them. Search Google and youcan find them at a bit of a discount. Take some to the next rock concert and still enjoy the music and you won't have any ringing or ear damage.
  2. dynodon
    Just read this thread and have these thoughts. I don't have a modulator or any blinker on the rear lights. I do have extra lights in back, and am considering more lights in front, but won't use a modulator or blinker. There are some cars with their turn signals right on top or beside the headllghts. These are poor design IMO because the lights blend at night and especially during the day. So I can see, a little bit how someone not paying attention and in a hurry could think a modulator was a turn signal/headlight combo, but only if they were squinting and again....not paying attention. As always, your best defense when driving anything is to be alert, give extra room, always remember you may not be seen, and try to have a backup plan or escape route. When slowing or stopping I keep a watchful eye on vehicles behind me and can easily use my hand or foot to blink the rear lights in a random pattern that will get LOTS more attention than any blinker. Same with my headlight and the bright switch. I can flash it in ways that will gather lots more attention than a modulator, but again, someone mentioned that there is a habit of people blinking lights to let someone know they can turn. There is one store in my small town that has it's entrance right as you exit/enter the town square. It can take a long time to make a left turn into this as traffic slows to enter the square or comes to a halt. It is common for people to slow down a little early, leave a lot of room and flash lights to let vehicles turn left. but I NEVER do this on highways at speed, and NEVER if there isn't already a reason to slow down a lot in advance that is clear to people even behind me. I have seen people come to an almost stop on 55 mph highways with traffic behind to let someone turn left. this is dangerous. Anyway, no excuse for that gal even if she did mistake it for a turn signal, she still should have confirmed and waited.
  3. dynodon
    I went to their web site, and then bought the DVD. have not had time to set up a full set of their various tests, but have practiced the friction zone and done some low speed turns and circles. Got my Gen 1 to really lean one time and about scared myself silly! But I gave it a little power, kept the rear brake on and the bike straightened right up. We are sharing the DVD among our members, hope to set up a training session in the spring for everyone that wants to practice it.
  4. dynodon
    my 86 Royale has the George Jetson sound! LOL Also has the whine, and it is LOUD. Put in synthetic Amsoil gear lube and engine oil, and it helped just a little. Just got this a few months ago and will take apart the rear wheel/axle and driveshaft and lube all that after a couple more rides this month when the bike can be down for a while without me going nuts. But if I can't solve the main problem (the noise is 100db at 60 mph, that is enough to cause hearing damage after a couple hours, so I wear musicians ear plugs when on longer rides) I will have to look into a different bike, and since the newer Star bikes all seem to have it, I will, sad to say, have to look into some other options! For sure I will take whatever I look at for as long a ride as possible to see how they do. I love my Royale, and am considering a Royal Star Venture, but not if the whine and jetson sound are still built in. The Pres of our chapter has one and he says his Royal Star is louder than mine. That is bad.
  5. dynodon
    Glad to hear another Duane Eddy fan is out there! I have some of his old albums and he was superb, and way ahead of his time. Boot Randolph is not bad either. They backed each other up frequently. I used to autocross to some marches by the Boston Pops, may try that also on the bike. Some of the early Beatles are also good cruisin tunes.
  6. dynodon
    If you do have leather, you need to use a leather product made for finished surfaces. The industry leader and best product is Lexol. Use a two part product, cleaner and then conditioner. A one part product just can't do the same job. too compromised. If it is Naugahyde, that is just a fancy name for vinyl. Use Lexol VINYLEX it is better than Armorall.
  7. dynodon
    I understand your need for a project more than just buying a new bike! LOL to help you along, I once found a tech article, on the Venturers site I think, about moving the battery down to where the lower cover is in front of the oil filter. Pretty neat mod to lower top weight by a fair amount.
  8. dynodon
    I don't know who told you that synthetic will thin to the lower number on the rating at temperature, but they are wrong. A 20-50 oil is 20 weight at room temp and 50 at test temperature. A regular oil will behave the same as synthetic, but synthetic won't thin out as much at higher temps or with age as a regular oil. There are real benefits to synthetics, but quality regular oil changed at proper intervals is still very good for all engines. Don
  9. dynodon
    I was going to mention handlebar position also. Sounds like you are reaching too far forward, and maybe too far up. You may need to lower your bar ends which should be easy, and possibly move them back with some extenders on the fork. You should be able to sit comfortably on the bike (try it on the center stand with your feet where you have normally been riding) and see if you can reach the handles without leaning forward. If you are leaning forward, a more forward position with the pegs/feet won't help, and may hurt, but having an alternate foot position is always a good thing if comfortable. Do you have a cruise or throttle lock or that type of grip with a tab to let you rest your fingers? I find it also helps to relax my hands as much as possible when on long rides. But my bet is you are leaning forward and that is pulling your back muscles. Over time they just get worse. But also pay attention to what you are doing when this happens. Put up with a story that will illustrate: I had a route sales business for years and one summer I was under a lot of stress and my left leg was aching something awful. I was unable to figure out why till one day I noticed I was driving with my left leg rammed HARD up against the floorboard. When I relaxed, and stopped that habit, my pain went away. Amazing that it went on for weeks without me noticing. Is it possible you are maybe gripping the bars or pushing on them and not noticing? Just pay attention the next time you get that pain.
  10. dynodon
    Out riding and planning rides. Going on a two day to Galena IL this weekend! Whine, we dont' need no stinkin' whine, all of it is right here....in my 1st Gen!
  11. dynodon
    My 86 royale makes a lot of noise, probably driveshaft/final drive related. It is NOT RPM related. Seems to get worse with more heat/longer ride. I changed to all AMsoil synthetic and it helped a little. I know these can have final drive noise, and spline noise in the driveshaft and in the rear wheel, plus maybe some in the generator. I did a noise test with a sound level meter, and got 100 db spl in the "quiet" pocket near my chest/head. That is enough to hurt your hearing in just 4-5 hours. Of course if you wear a helmet that will cut it down some. I also have been checking out hearing protection and for now, have ruled out foam plugs, they just kill everything, make the helmet speaker/cb/radio just awful. Two ear plugs I can recommend are the ones from Hearos, and Etymotic Research. these are musicians style earplugs that have a nrr of 22 and 20 respectively. They let you hear the full range of sound, just a lot quieter. I could hear sirens, and trucks, but not cars near me. Noise from the bike was WAY less, and the sound system through the helmet speakers was clear and much cleaner than without the plugs. they will take some getting used to, hurt a little, but these are universal fit. Price about $15. Custom fit versions would be more comfortable, but can run well over $100. If you value your hearing, wear protection on longer rides. Don
  12. dynodon

    My turn

    dynodon replied to 6pak's topic in Embarrassing Moments

    So THAT's what mine looks like from the bottom! Sorry about the spill, glad you weren't hurt and the bike is OK. I have laid mine over twice since buying it a few months ago. First time was in the garage when I was showing it to my son. Went to put it on the side stand and didn't have it all the way forward or in gear (two good habits to get into) and it just rolled forward and over. No damage. Second time was earlier this week taking my wife with me to lunch. Went to take off and the bike hiccuped and lurched to a stop and I couldn't catch it with the passenger. It laid over easy, and I was able to step off, but the wife was trying not to get in my way and was still on the seat, but just slid off, I grabbed her and eased here way to the ground. I did the pick-up by grabbing it from the side like recommeded, and with a lot of grunting got it back up. No damage. We got back on and had a great ride to lunch, gotta get back on the horse (bike)! Don
  13. dynodon
    U-haul stores have a good selection of adapters and plugs etc. Don
  14. dynodon
    An automotive glass/windshield store can usually replace door mirrors, probably also on any motorcycle.
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