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Freebird

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Everything posted by Freebird

  1. Freebird
    I'm a little confused by this question. The valve stem is just beside the seat, is that the one you are talking about? I've never had a problem getting to it.
  2. Freebird
    The most common cause I've heard is over tightening of that screw in the same area. For a quick fix, if Plastex is not quickly available to you, JB Weld on the inside where it won't show will do the job.
  3. Freebird
    The Diamond R links are somewhere around 1/4" shorter. I know it sounds wrong but if you look at the way the suspension is configured, it will make sense to you. Shorter lengths raise the height of the bike.
  4. Freebird
    That's a great offer but I would NEVER do it. Thanks though. Not going to happen at this time. I was about ready to pull the trigger early this year but regardless of you saying your's isn't bad, I've read WAY too many reports about the excess heat. I'll wait to see what the offer for '09 and what Yamaha offers for '09 or '10. Have you priced these things? Doesn't look like they sell just the lid and the entire bag is about $800.00. That $90.00 sounds pretty cheap.
  5. Freebird
    Yesterday Eileen and I rode 550. We left Parkersburg and went over to Athens and then caught 550 from Athens to Marietta. Very nice curvy road though a bit rough in spots. Then took 7 back down to Parkersburg, WV. Nice ride but wasn't very long. Going to do the covered bridge scenic ride on 26 though Wayne National Forrest today.
  6. Freebird
    Hey...thanks for the kind thought but I would rather get it repaired I think. Even knowing that it is scratched under the covers would still bother me. I'm sure I can find something. Thanks though.
  7. Freebird
    No, it was not covered and I seldom ever cover my bike. Looks like that is something that I need to start doing though.
  8. Freebird
    We are staying at a hotel in Parkersburg, WV. Yesterday morning I went out to the bike to find that somebody had keyed the top of my right saddlebag. Bad scratch about 4 or 5 inches long right across the top. Definitely too deep to polish out. Nine years of owning this bike and have managed to keep it pretty much scratch free the entire time. Really ticks me off. So, I guess I'll be looking for a new top of the bag and if I can't find one at a reasonable price, may just put the leather covers over them. I hope I can find one though. I know I could have it repaired but don't know that they would ever match the paint to my satisfaction.
  9. Freebird
    I'm sorry if it seems that I am singling you out, I'm not, it's just that this is the latest in a number of such posts. I created this area for folks at the request of some of our members so that they can discuss their experiences with the car tires. I am not personally a fan of the idea but respect any adults right to make their own decisions. The fact is though, this seems to be a hot topic with a few people and there have been some posts that became very personal and insulting. Your particular post is not really personal or insulting but I don't see a need for the borderline sarcastic statements about "fiery crashes" and etc. Yes, some folks think that running a car tire can be dangerous. That is their opinion which they have as much right to as those of you who think it's just great. Like I said, I am not trying to single out this one post because there have been many others but just felt that it was time to ask that the sarcasm come to a halt. The anti-car tire folks have pretty much left this thread alone and I see no reason to antagonize anybody by the constant comments such as "fiery crash", "waiting for that fire ball to erupt from the rear tire", etc. Those who choose to run a car tire and those who have an interest or questions about it now have a place to talk about it. Please use it for the intended purpose and NOT to take jabs at those who think it is a bad idea.
  10. Freebird
    I thought they were using sugar beets? Maybe I'm wrong though. Either way, from what the video said, the difference is that you could get thousands more gallons per acre with this algae than with corn OR sugar cane/beets.
  11. Freebird
    OK....I think this is working correctly now.
  12. Freebird
    I have made some updates to our pic gallery to add a slide show type presentation. Unfortunately, there are some bugs and I see that I'm getting errors when I try it with IE and not all albums display the slideshows. I will work on it more later but probably when I get home from vacation next week. Just wanted you to know that I am aware of it.
  13. Freebird
    This was sent to me by Bob Dakin. Very interesting but of course we probably won't ever seen anything else about it. http://www.valcent.net/i/misc/Vertigro/index.html
  14. Freebird
    There under the VentureRider Merchandise topic area.
  15. Freebird
    You know what folks? I believe it. I can't explain it and am always at a loss to explain how one rider in the same area can get 20,000 miles out of a tire while another rider who seems to ride almost the same way is lucky to get 10,000 but....I've seen it reported by folks that I trust and respect 100%. I've never gotten 20,000 out of a rear. About 12,000-14,000 seems to be about my limit and I'm happy with that. I honestly lost track on my Michelin but I think I got about 13,000 miles out of it. Probably would have gone another couple thousand miles but I was leaving on a trip and didn't want to push it. I will say that the Michelin was a very good tire. I would not have hesitated to replace them with another set of Michelins but I had read so many great reports here on the Avons that I wanted to do my own comparisons. I only have about 2,000 miles on the Avons at this time. The only remaining test is how long they last. I am totally impressed with them in regards to handling and how quiet they are. My only complaint EVER with the Michelin was a bit of whine in long sweeping curves. Nothing that really bothered me. They handled GREAT on roads of all types, wet, dry, rough, smooth, didn't matter. The Avons have handled just as well and I have now had a chance to ride them in some heavy rain as well as light rains where the roads are usually pretty slick. I've had no problems at all with them and they are quiet even in the long sweeping curves. So, at this point I rate the Avons as equal to the Michelins for my use. The final test will be whether or not they get close to the same mileage as the Michelins did. Only time will tell. I've never used the Dunlop E3 so can't comment on them. For me though, at this time, the best choice for the RSV is the Avon or the Michelin.
  16. Freebird
    I was going to say the same thing. I'm thinking that you made a typo. I have a VMAX rear in my second gen. I run about 3700 RPM at 70 MPH in 5th gear. That is about 500 RPM higher than it ran with the stock rear and about 500 less than a first gen runs with a stock rear. I am very happy with it.
  17. Freebird
    Eileen and I just got to West Virginia. Mixed riding today between 50-75 MPH. Riding two up and pulling a Bushtec trailer that was probably a bit overloaded. Ended up getting 33.6 MPG. Hilly roads. Would like to see a bit better but it could be worse I guess.
  18. Freebird
    OK folks, I know that I'm WAY late in finally getting this contest started but it's just been very busy lately. So I am going to keep it simple. I REALLY need your input as to where you would like to see the 2009 International Rally held. So, all you have to do is reply to this thread as to WHERE the rally should be held and WHY you would like to see it held there. Now I know that some of you will agree on certain places and that is fine, your recommendation does not need to be unique but you DO need to at least briefly explain your reason. Now this does not mean that the rally will be held at any particular place. Even if many of you agree on a location, we still need folks from any given area to step up and take charge of it and if nobody does, then we have to look elsewhere. So, this contest will run for 1 week. The winner will be randomly selected from all of you who post your recommendations to this thread. The winner will receive a $100.00 gift certificate from New Enough. http://www.newenough.com/
  19. Freebird
    Nope, remove the LEFT bag. Very simple. Just 4 allen head screws and it comes right off. All four are on the inside of the bag, two on the bottom and two on the upper back. Then just remove the plug at the bottom of the drive and drain the oil. Replace the plug and remove the fill plug. Just fill it until it just starts running out. I do this with the bike on a stand so it sits level.
  20. Freebird
    Well, Eileen and I were on and off about going anywhere this week. We finally decided yesterday that we would go. I spend Saturday cleaning the bike, cleaning and re-oiling the air filters, etc. Made reservations last night near Seneca Rocks, WV and thought that would be a nice place to spend a week. Woke up this morning and wasn't feeling well at all. I tried to push through it. Got the trailer hooked up, got everything all packed, took care of some last minute things around here and then try as I might, I just couldn't deny the fact that I was not feeling well enough to go. I did something to my left foot yesterday while working in the yard. Can barely walk today. Also have some type of virus or something and spending a LOT of time visiting the toilet. Finally admitted to Eileen that I was sick and then canceled the hotel reservations in WV. So, I slept for about 7 hours today and I THINK I'm feeling a bit better. Foot still hurts but I think I can balance the bike OK with it when I stop. We are going to try again tomorrow to at least get aways somewhere....probably somewhere closer but just get away.
  21. Freebird
    I wonder if this is actually a problem though. Since we already have some people in that area doing a rally, they could just expand it and make it the International for next year. I have no problem with Kentucky. We did a MTA rally in Somerset a few years ago and it was great. So, are you volunteering to take the lead?
  22. Freebird
    I agree. The only other thing I could suggest would be to take it to somebody who does custom upholstery and see if they could add a couple inches of padding to it and then recover.
  23. Freebird
    I've often seen people here who are looking for driver's backrests for the first generation Ventures. Markland used to make one but of course it is no longer in production. They do come up on Ebay from time to time but usually bring top dollar. I was wondering how many people know that Utopia still makes a backrest for the first gen. At least for the '86-'93 I think. It requires a bit of work to install but really doesn't look that difficult. http://www.utpr.com/venture.html
  24. Freebird
    After seeing the demonstration that Plastex put on at the International Rally, I'm pretty much sold on it. I think that is what I would use.
  25. Freebird
    It is still undecided at this time. It will depend somewhat on WHO steps up to the plate and wants to take the lead. These things don't just happen and we need folks who are local to the rally area who can contact campgrounds, hotels, arrange a dinner, etc. AllenH and I were talking about it while in Kitchener and he suggested "The Hub" in Northern Arkansas. http://www.hubinfo.com/ Anybody close to this area that wants to take on a huge headache? There is also another possibility but I can't mention it yet because it may fizzle before it even gets off the ground. We'll see though.
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