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DONATALIE

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  1. DONATALIE
    I also have the Scorpion EXO-100. I have a sidecar setup and both kids ride with me frequently. They both wear the EXO-100 also. We all love them. Would definitely recommend it for anyone looking at a half-helmet. Don
  2. DONATALIE
    :cop:I'm very interested in this technology, but I'm not yet completely sold, and here's why. I emailed the company today and asked them what might seem like a trivial question, but please believe me, it is not. The question I had was whether the "airbags" (for lack of a better word) will deflate immediately after initial impact with the body/object struck, or do they remain fully inflated throughout the crash sequence? They emailed me back and advised me that they remain fully inflated until someone deflates them manually after the crash. Here's why that's important: In every crash sequence, there are at least three impact categories. First, (obviously) is the Initial Impact, which occurs between the vehicle, and whatever it strikes. Next comes the Secondary Impact between the rider/driver, and whatever their body strikes. Finally, is the Tertiary Impact, which is often the most deadly. This is the impact between the internal organs/tissues of the body against the skeletal components (skull, ribs, etc.). The last two categories are of most concern in this topic, particularly in blunt force impacts. It is not as much of a concern in deflective, or glancing type impacts, such as sliding on the asphalt. However, in head-on collisions, the key factor is called Delta V, or change of velocity. Think of the crash that killed race car driver Dale Earnhardt, Sr. He was so severely injured because of the extremely high change in energy that occurred when he hit the wall with a high angle of approach, at an extremely high velocity. Now, on these jackets, if the "Airbag" does not have any give, (either from a low psi, or automatic contact deflation), I'm concerned that the Delta V will still be too high, causing multiple traumatic internal injuries to the wearer. The only difference would be that there would now be an additional impact (between the airbag and the object struck). While this added impact MIGHT result in an unknown (at least by me) amount of the impact energy being absorbed, I don't know if it would be enough to make an effective reduction in the amount of force sustained by the body's internal organs during that Tertiary Impact. Imagine if car/truck airbags did not immediately and rapidly deflate after contacting the vehicle's occupant(s). People would still be hitting an awfully hard object, head-on, potentially causing massive blunt force trauma to the brain, heart, lungs, liver, etc. I'm hoping for more impartial studies from consumer groups and/or independent labs (NHTSA, are you listening?) before I shell out several hundred dollars for something that MIGHT work. Just my opinion, take it for what it's worth. Don
  3. DONATALIE
    Gene, I'm a little confused too, about why the local PD doesn't want to take a statement from you. I've been an accident reconstructionist for going on two decades. I am currently working on three fatality crashes. On EVERY one I've ever done, I try to get a statement from every person who had contact with any party involved in the crash for the previous 24 hours, at a minimum. This is the universal standard taught in reconstruction training, which is by the way, very intense. I realize that you did not witness the crash, but your statement would still have value to my investigation. If nothing else, I would want to document that you came upon it after the dust settled and didn't actually see it. I would also want you to walk me through everything that you did while you were there, and then document that. Got me scratching my head on that one. Finally I, like you, try not to judge others, especially when I wasn't there. However, I did want to point out that it is possible for someone to be under the influence of alcohol without emmitting an alcoholic beverage odor. Almost every alcoholic beverage has something called conginers in it. They are added by the distillers/brewers for aroma and flavor. These conginers are what create the smell on the breath of someone who has been drinking them. However, not all liquors have it. Vodka, grain alcohol, and of course, the "home made" stuff are good examples of non-conginer alcohols. If someone were drinking those types of drinks, you probably wouldn't detect the odor. Glad to hear you're doing better. Good luck with the water down there. Don
  4. DONATALIE
    This one is for sale at a local dealer. I don't know who did it, or how they did it, but I like it. Don http://www.eastcoastcycle.com/new_vehicle_detail.asp?sid=09227716X9K29K2010J8I20I48JPMQ3685R0&veh=45&pov=851118
  5. DONATALIE
    If you can swing it, I HIGHLY recommend the Works Shock. Just put one on my 2000 RSV in May, 2010. The difference is unmistakable. Yes, it's expensive (I bought it right from the manufacturer for the same price they sell for on EBAY), but like someone else said, they can be rebuilt when they go bad. Hopefully that won't be nearly as expensive if/when that day ever comes. At this point, I don't think I'd be interested in another rear OEM shock at all. I've gone through two of them in the three years I've owned the bike. Also, I think I remember that someone on this forum has recently stated that Progressive Suspension is considering coming out with a rear shock for these bikes. I don't know who that was, but I think I remember reading that it may be available as early as this fall. Good luck in your search. Don
  6. DONATALIE
    Gene, Unfortunately, I've seen these types of things regularly in my 20 year career, most of it as an accident reconstructionist. Mostly adults, but more than a few children also. I've seen guys leave the job due to PTSD. PLEASE take this seriously, and get help if you have the slightest inkling you may need it. Don't wait until it's too late. Also, don't second guess yourself when evaluating your actions last night. You did what you thought was right, and that is the only measure anyone should be held to. Don't let anyone else second guess you either (you'd be amazed how quick people who weren't even there are to judge). I can tell you that the images will never go away, the trick is to learn to deal with them, not suppress them. Not too many war stories, but my worst one is when a woman trapped in a car burned alive in front of me, looking into my eyes. We just could not get her out in time. Luckily the department psychiatrist forced me to sit and talk with him. He really was a great comfort. Again, don't be afraid to reach out for help, even if it's only to get someone to go for a ride with. Don
  7. DONATALIE
    Thanks for the input, Jaybird, that helps alot. I have several friends that are PSP Troopers who have done that job over the years, though none currently. They told me the same thing. However, when I mentioned this to the shop owners/service managers, they tell me that PSP isn't covering their legal liability if something unexpected happens. I guess I can't argue with that, given the state of our civil legal system. Anyone can be sued for anything these days. Anyway... thanks again for the input. Don.
  8. DONATALIE
    Skydoc, The Altoona area would definitely be within reach, thanks. If I do this, I am going to do it over the winter months. The inspection isn't due until June, so that gives me plenty of time. I currently have a 2000 RSV and a 2004 HD EGC with a Hannigan sidecar on it. The HD is for riding with the kids, and the RSV is for me. I'd love to put a CT on the back of the HD, but it looks like that is not an option as a I can't find a tire that will fit. I have only put 6,000 miles on the HD and the back tire is shot already. What I'm considering is switching the sidecar over to the RSV and putting the CT on it. I don't want to give up my two-wheel RSV, but the safety of the kids comes first. I know, using the word "safety" when talking about a CT on a motorcycle will set some people on a verbal mission, but I am also talking about a sidecar rig, so there would be no leaning. I hope to get all the other benefits though, better braking, larger contact patch, longer tire life, etc. Please, "haters" keep your opinions nice, I don't want to start a you-know-what contest. Thanks again, Skydoc. Don
  9. DONATALIE
    Does anyone here on the Darkside live in PA? If so, how do you get your bikes inspected with the CT on? None of the locals dealers/shops (9 in total) will inspect it with a CT on. I live in south central PA, and would be willing to travel quite a distance to get someone who will inspect it. I'm just not willing to commit to coming over to the Darkside until I can find a shop that will pass it come inpsection time. Thanks, Don from Harrisburg, PA
  10. DONATALIE
    There's a trucker's magazine out there (I forget the name) that annually publishes the top ten worst roads in the country. PA routinely lands near, or at the top, meaning some of the worst! I love driving south into Maryland and West Virginia. I don't even need the "Welcome to..." signs. I can tell I've left PA as soon as the road smoothes out!
  11. DONATALIE
    Pete, I hope you don't think I'm using you as a guinea pig (although, I guess I am). But, please update this thread when you get the work finished. Like you, I also want to run heated clothing/extra electricals/lighting, but I haven't been able to convince myself to spend the money. Please let us know how it works out for you. Thanks, Don
  12. DONATALIE
    Grindo, You couldn't be more right. It seems like it's always the elderly who get burned. When I first started in 1990, they were being scammed with fake driveway re-surfacing and "keep 'em busy at the front door, while a cohort goes in the back door to steal their jewelry." Now it all seems to be coming through the mail, over the phone, and even on line. What seems like obvious scams to most of us, alot of elderly people don't recognize as such. We need to educate our elderly population better, I think. Talk to our parents and grand parents about these things. I know they sometimes don't want to hear it, but I think we should do it anyway, just my opinion. Another one that's becoming more popular (just happened a few weeks ago here) is the "Grandma, I need $5,000 for bail, (usually in some far off place) or I'm going to jail." Sometimes the ne'er-do-well grandson is involved in the scam, and sometimes they're not. Just an FYI for you. Don
  13. DONATALIE
    :bobby:I know this is hard to hear, but give it more time. I am an accident reconstructionist here in Dauphin County. The last DUI Homicide charge I brought against someone took six months to file. That might seem like alot, but please believe me, we are not dragging our feet. Understand, we get one shot at it (bringing the criminal charge), you want to make sure you have all your ducks in a row before you proceed. If you know someone who does what I do for a living, ask them. The attention to the detail can be overwhelming, that's why alot of cops can't/don't want to do it. It might seem like it's taking too long, many of the families I deal with would agree with you, but as bad as that seems, imagine if they didn't do a thorough investigation, and the guy walked altogether? I think we can agree, that would be far worse. Let those "boys in blue" do their jobs, it'll work out in the end. I've been to many crash trainings across the state and the country. Most of the reconstructionists I've met are very thorough, and dedicated to getting it right. Please, give it more time. Don PS-The report I prepared for the case mentioned above was over 300 pages long, and it was a relatively simple two-vehicle, head-on crash. One involving multiple vehicles, especially motorcycles would be much more complicated.
  14. DONATALIE
    V-4 Vendetta, Sorry I didn't answer you sooner, I missed your post. I think the Works shock is much better than stock for several reasons. First, the stock shock always felt "sloppy" or "loose" to me, especially in the "sweepers." The Works shock feels much tighter when leaning. Next, the stock shock was very noisy. This was not much of a problem at highway speeds, but in parking lots, I could actually hear it groaning. It really stuck out when I would move the bike when the engine was not running. Finally, the Works shock bounces less, and recovers faster on bad roads. There are some badly rutted roads here in south central PA where the back wheel would actually come off the ground when I would go over them with the stock shock on. The Works shock absorbs the bounces without coming off the ground, and stops bouncing sooner. Hope this helps. Again, sorry about the delayed response.
  15. DONATALIE
    I bought my 2000 RSV in 2007, with 3,300 miles on it. Then I found this forum and starting learning about its "excentricities." I went through the same thing you are now, wondering if I had made a mistake. It's like reading a medical text book, thinking, "OMG, I have all these symptoms! I must be sick." Not to worry. Most of the problems on this bike (see the Known Problems thread) are fixable. Maybe the owner before you fixed some of them already. Read that forum, it was a HUGE help to me. Yes, I wish Yamaha had built it better to begin with, but they didn't. The good news is, most of the "fixes" are cheap. Do yourself a favor, and check ALL the items listed that you are able to. I'm no mechanic, but I was able to check most of them myself. I now have over 42,000 miles on it, and I absolutely LOVE it. Never was able to make the whine go away, though. I've learned to live with it. I just think of it as a jet turbine. Hopefully, 3 years from now, you'll be as happy with yours as I am with mine. BTW, I have some extra parts, Road King mufflers and Genmar handlebar risers. I tried them, but they weren't to my liking. If you want them, you can have 'em for the cost of shipping. Let me know if you're interested. Don P.S. I would keep the CB antenna on. You can turn the CB off on the radio head unit. I usually do because I get sick of the "F-ing this and F-ing that" chit chat. But when you need it, you can turn it back on. I haven't tried any of the radio antenna variations because I don't mind the long whip antennas. It's nice that they fold down so you can put a cover on.
  16. DONATALIE
    Thanks, that's what I thought. They're probably just another way to sell "upgrade" aftermarket products that you don't need.
  17. DONATALIE
    Anyone tried the lower temp fan switches? Pros or cons?
  18. DONATALIE
    I don't know where you are, but here in PA, the bike would not pass state inspection without the grab rails. At least, it's not supposed to. I'm sure some dealers would overlook it, but I'm not so sure they should. Just my opinion. It sounds to me like you can't go wrong with the '08. Don
  19. DONATALIE
    Seaking, just put a Works Performance shock on my 2000 RSV. It's like riding a new bike. If you can't get Yamaha to replace yours for free, and you have to spend the money, buy the Works, it is MUCH better, and cheaper. I paid $600 for it, but it was well worth it! I went through two of the OEM shocks in less than five years and only 42,000 miles.
  20. DONATALIE
    I own a 2000 RSV and a 2005 HD Ultra with a sidecar. I love them both, for very different reasons. LOVE the high rpm, high compression, high performance of my RSV, and the low-to-mid range torque of the HD. I've never understood why anyone would be pro or anti any particular bike. The kids and I were riding the HD hack the other day, with a group of Star riders ahead of us. When we passed by the local HD dealership, two of the Star riders gave it the one finger salute. Am I missing something? Why all the hate? BTW, Masterguns, thank you for your many years of service to provide safety and freedom to America and peace loving people around the world. Don't worry, some of us know that a Master Gunnery Sergeant is not a "Top." P.S. My signature line below was written before I owned the HD, it was only meant to be a joke. Also, they have both broken down, but only once each. The RSV was the ignitions switch. The shift lever fell off the HD while riding.
  21. DONATALIE
    Squidley, I know this is slightly off topic, but indulge me, if you will. Why wouldn't lower rpm's equal better gas mileage? I'm no mechanic, but it seems to me that lower rpm's means less fuel being used, giving better MPG. Am I wrong? Another improvement I would like to see on future Ventures is ABS. I didn't think it was necessary until I rode the 08 HD EG at work. MAN what a difference in panic stops (if you can stand the noise). I have an 05 HD Ultra with a sidecar that does not have it. It is a huge safety feature, and an almost must have for my next bike. Finally, (I hope Yamaha monitors these boards), my biggest concern for any future RSV's is actually styling. New features and gadgets are important to me, but if it's ugly, like a certain "Other American Motorcycle's" bike is, (don't mean to offend, just my opinion), I won't want it. I love the styling, comfort, performance, etc of the current edition, but would love to see some upgrade without them making it look like a machine from I-Robot.
  22. DONATALIE
    Jason, Sorry, but I do disagree with ya'. I think it depends on how you ride. I'm not exactly a speed demon, but I don't putt along, either. I would LOVE to be able to cruise along on the interstates around here in a higher gear, at lower rpm's, getting better gas mileage. Just my opinion.
  23. DONATALIE
    I just looked at the 2011 RSV on the web site again. Under the FEATURES tab, listed in the Key Features section (near the top), it says it comes with a "sound system/cb radio/ CD/intercom." On that same page, in the Additional Features section (near the bottom), it says "AM/FM/ Cassette." I guess we'll have to wait until they hit the show room floors. Hopefully it's the CD, not that lame cassette. I've been holding off on replacing my 2000 RSV, hoping for some improvements (FI, CD, 6th gear, guages, etc.). I guess I'll have to wait until 2012!
  24. DONATALIE
    Good News: 2011 RSV is finally on the Yamaha web site BAD News: Absolutely NO changes (except color of course, its 2-tone blue)
  25. DONATALIE
    FUTUREVENTURES: First of all, Semper Fi, Devil Dog (Ooh Rah!). Second, I have a set of RK mufflers lying on my shelves. They are in good shape, with no marks, rust, etc. I have removed both baffles (1 1/8" hole saw) from both mufflers. I had them on my 2000 RSV. I liked the sound at idle, but found that I wanted a little more sound during acceleration/cruising. I got a fantastic deal on a set of BUB HD mufflers, so I switched to them. I like them alot more. More sound without being obnoxious. By the way, I also have a set of "P-clamps" for mounting them to the bottom/back of the saddlebag brackets. I will tell you that I had a slight vibration on the right (brake side) when the "P-clamps" were on, so I switched to the $40 brackets. The brackets are of very good quality and the mufflers are rock solid on them. The pipes and clamps are yours if you're willing to pay the shipping. I don't know how much that would be, but I'm sure I could find out, depending on what type of shipping you prefer. Let me know, Don from PA. PS. I can post photos if you want.
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