Cowboy

Jay, One thing I should mention that after 109,000 miles seems that the seal is frozen. I ended up taking a slender long screw driver and hammer. Making sure not to damage the outside walls. It was a pain and after deforming the original seal I was wondering if it would ever come out. Got no damage and new seal in and no oil leaks. Thanks Brian

Jay, Thanks for the knowledge. I ordered the oil seal and will replace in the morning. I was not sure how to remove the oil seal but it just came right out with a pick. New one should just slide back on and tap in place. Thanks again. Brian

Need info on how to fix an oil leak at the shifter shaft as it comes out of the transmission. I have been having oil dripping for awhile now. I finally found the culprit today. Know just need to know how to go about fixing. Anyone know what it takes? Thanks ahead of time. Brian

Where to begin, Lets start in Colorado Pagosa Springs, CO US160 North to South Fork, CO pick up CO HWY 149 West taking all the way to Gunnison, CO. Pick-up US 50 West stopping at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison then to Montrose. Pick-up US550 Million Dollar Hwy South to Durango, CO. Lets go over to Utah. Monument Valley US 163 toward Mexican Hat Pick-up UT 261 North to UT 95 West stopping at the Natural Bridges National Monument continue on over to Hanksville, UT Pick-up UT 24 West to Torrey, UT picking up UT 12 South to Bryce Canyon. Pick-up US 89 North to Panguitch, UT Pick-up UT 143 South thru the Cedar Breaks and then Pick-up UT 14 to US 89 South to UT 9 thru Zion National Park back out to US 89 South to Kanab, UT Pick-up US 89 Alt. South to Jacob Lake, AZ then AZ 67 down into the north rim of the Grand Canyon making all the loop road vistas. Lets go over to California Just to much to list. Benton, CA CA 129 East all the way to Yosemite Village Pick-up Hwy 41 South to Oakhurst, CA. making sure to stop over at the Mariposa Grove Road. Jackson, CA Hwy 88 North East to Hwy 89 North around Lake Tahoe Follow CA 89 all the way up to Mount Shasta Pick-up I-5 North to Edgewood, CA to pick-up CA 3 South to US 299 West to Coast. US 101 North or South pick your poison. Lets Go up to Washington State Carson, Washington pick-up Wind River Road or NF90 follow to NF25 to US 12 East Pick-up WA 123 North around Mount Rainier to WA 410 back to US 12 Lets Go over to Idaho Sand Point, Idaho US 2 & ID 200 Take ID 200 South to ID 56 North picking-up US 2 again. Take US 2 to Libby, MT MT 37 to Eureka to US93 South to MT 40 East / US 2 to West Glacier going across the "Road to the Sun" Bozeman Montana Pick-up US191 South to Yellowstone make the Grand Loop and Exit at Northeast Entrance / Cooke City Pick-up US 212 to Red Lodge, MT then make down to US 14A out of Lovell, WY to US 14 to Ranchester, WY That should just scratch the surface for me!

Vito, I live 45 min. from either, never had to stay but have eaten and ridden all the roads around. I will give you my take on the two. What are you dates? Are you wanting to ride every day? Not sure what you budget is or your time frame! I would look for a house or condo on the lake at Hiawassee. Area seems to cater to the more higher end spenders. It might be possible to find a deal though. Restaurants are spread out not much on fast food, more the custom eaterys. or A house on the lake at murphy. More options for eating just not within walking distance. The old part of downtown has a couple of nice restaurants that are not fast food or chains. Some shops for roaming thru. Main drag of Murphy is the US 64. Plenty of fast food and a few Mexican, Barbecue, Italian. Area is not as expensive as Hiawassee, except for the gasoline prices. NC has a higher gas tax or something, Seems to be 30 to 40 cents higher. We all like Blairsville due to everyone that has been to Vogel!! Good option for hotel and eating. While Blue Ridge is another option possible cabins on the river, lake or mountain views. Just make sure you let them know that you are on a motorcycle for some places have dirt road & gravel driveways. Riding options are abundant from any of these locations. If I can be any help feel free to call me or p.m. Brian Shoemaker AKA Cowboy

Rick, Did you watch the little video that is associated with the link at amazon? Over on the left hand side of the add in one of the boxes that blow up the pictures. I will be looking forward to see what you finally decided on. I have been trying to decide on one my self. I think I want to mount behind the cassette player door. Not something that I have to look at all the time but every now and again I could. Keep us informed.

Tim, I have posted a few times concerning the D404WWW. Many things come in to play with the tire wear. It is in my opinion that Dunlop continues to change the compound that is used in the D404. Example is the first three sets I was able to get between 9500 & 11200 on a set of tires. Then a steady drop in mileage, 7500, 6100, Then i changed to the all famous E3 which got only 8900 miles. I know some people have gotten double that. I personally found that the E3 after the first 2500 miles began to sound like a John Deer Tractor in the curves. Curves are all I ride living in North Georgia! Next tried the Avon Venom for four sets. wide range of tire wear on that set also. I have changed the rear shock and had new front fork springs added and replaced all the bearing on the bike. Last set of Avons got 10120 miles. I since have went back to the D404WWW front tire wore out before the rear which I have never had happen. Then I have found that the date codes on the D404 was a year apart. The current D404 WWW rear tire has 10200 on it and should get another 1000 miles out of it. I already have the new D404 WWW ready to install. Bottom line is: 1. What type of roads do you ride? 2. What temperatures the roads are? 3. How much throttle you use on the starts and the amount as you leave the apex of curves. 4. How much you use your brakes? 5. Tire pressure Tire pressure seems to vary for every tire and every rider here on the site! 6. Bike weight with luggage/rider/ passenger / trailer Ride safe and never let anyone influence what you feel under your own bike. AKA Cowboy

Left Booths Bay, Maine on Sunday AM US1 & US1-A when we could. Just north of Portland we moved inland then back over to Hampton Beach the we hit the I-495 to I-290 to I-395 into Conn Took US44 to Conn 198 South Conn 203 staying at a local owned camp ground @ Williams Lake Campground won't stay there again. Monday we traveled Conn 207 to Conn 16 to Cobalt Conn 66 to I-691 to I-84 to Southbury US6 North to Conn 67 too New Milford US7 North to Conn 55 West into New York NY55 to Gardiner staying at the Jelly Stone Campground Tuesday NY55 to US209 South to Jim Thorpe, PA Picked up PA 93 to I-81 South to Frackville, PA Picked up PA 61 to Sunbury Picked up US15 South then US522 Rain was moving in so we got a hotel room in Burnham, PA Wed. Not sure but it looks like we will stay on US522 for a while then find away over to US220 Heading the Iron Horse home the weather just changing for the worst it seems. Why ruin a great trip by trying to stay out longer and fight mother nature. As we all know that mother nature rules the world and cannot be predicted or changed. Riding with the wind

Puc, Got to stop at a shop that had a voltage meter and tested the voltage. Regulator is going bad or is. Rev up and the voltage goes to 15 Local shop in Augusta, Maine Snowmobile repair shop! Their distributor up in Bangor Maine had a regulator, made the 1 hour ride up and changed it in the parking lot. Rechecked the voltage and it is back down in tolerance 13.4 with rev When I get home I am going to find a voltage meter that I can mount on the bike and not stick out like a sore thumb. Wish I could find one to mount behind the cassette deck door. Any way just thought I would give a update and another thanks to all! Got a hotel tonite rain in the forecast for tomorrow. Think I will try and get the headlight replaced.

Colors across Highway 112 Kancamagus Highway West to East amazing this is the end of peak colors for that ride! Hit just in time. Thanks again for the suggestions on roads to ride. Coast riding in the am I hope to have Lobster and Oysters on the half shell for LUNCH!!!!!!! Having the best time just the wife and I. No worries accept for the headlight and the camera batteries & memory cards. Think that the wife has over 4000 shots now. You could make a video with all the pictures. Hope to post pictures soon.

Thanks to all! Being on the road and trying to get things packed up every morning & set up every night has made it hard to ask for opinions and suggestions. Sounds like I need to try the heavy duty filament and make sure to wipe with alcohol. Should see a NAPA sometime tomorrow, we are at Durham, ME at a KOA. Will be riding the coast south it looks like. Thanks again.

All other bulbs ok Going down for the night talk in the am

Made the mistake of buying from AutoZone saw them before finding the shaded parking lot at Walmart. Still might ask! I did not have anything to wipe the bulb down with, I very carefully removed from plastic container without touching filament. Fuse holder is very clean. I will double check for any lose or damaged wires / holders. What about a possible power surge from the Switch as when you first start up? Not sure just trying to think out loud!

I am on the road now for the seventh day and had to change the headlight bulb on day four and now it is blown again. Not sure when it blew again but noticed it this morning as we rode through the fog. Fuse is not blown! What could make the bulb blow? Did not touch the filament when I replaced in the Walmart parking lot in some town of PA. Long way from home now! Sherrie and I are in Warren, NH head over to Bar Harbor Maine. Sure would appreciate any thoughts on what might cause the bulb to blow?

Okay I know before anyone pipes in this thread is worthless without pictures I will post when I get home. Wed Ellijay, Ga to Tazwell, VA Wonderful day for a starting a vacation. US74 to Waynesville, NC then NC209 up to Hot Springs then over to Erwin, TN on I-26 up to I-81 to Bristol then to Marion, VA over the back of the dragon. Just as we pulled into Tazewell, VA the rain came in we grabbed a room at the only hotel in Tazwell. Thur. Tazwell, VA to Canaan Valley, WV Another great day over US460 West to WV 20 North WV 3 , WV 12 to Lewisburg, WV Trees are just starting to change. US219 North to Snowshoe, WV Stopped for gas and noticed that the tread is wearing funny on the bushtec trailer. Decided I need new tires. Finding cell phone service in this area is crazy. No pay phones guess I should pick up a calling card so I could use a business phone. Any way we made it into Seneca Rock about 3:30 got service on the phone and called Bushtec. Great guys they got the tires shipped out overnight to a Yamaha Shop in Elkins, WV. Spent the night in Canaan Valley, WV Fri. Canaan Valley, WV to Laurel Hill State Park, PA Rode over to Elkins had the tires installed and back on the road by 12:30 US219 North to Laurel Hill State Park, PA Set up camp and had a drink. Colors are amazing! Sat. Laurel Hill State Park, PA to Warren, PA Chapman State Park Blown head light stoped at a Walmart and got the bulb and put it in in record time. 35 min. Windshield off split the faring and light housing lose. I know some access it other ways but thats just how I knew would work and I could do it fast enough. US219 North to PA 36 to PA 66 to PA948 to PA666 to US6 Another great day. Camp Set up and Steak on the grill with a cold beverage Sun. Chapman State Park to Taughannock Falls State Park in Ithaca, NY Another great day found a Aldi's in Ithaca, NY filled up with breakfast needs and Dinner needs. Liked the area so well we decided to stay another day. Mon. Rest & Explore Day we made the hike to the falls and then went and had a lunch on the lake at a very nice winery up on NY89 North. Tue. Ithaca, NY to Tupper Lake, NY COLOR COLOR COLOR LAKE VIEW LAKE VIEW COLOR Amazing Finger Lakes were great. Adarondack's are even better. Must be peak Color State Parks are scarce and the ones that are still open did not have power. As we are trying to camp most of the time we do need power for a number of reasons. We cook with an electric skillet & Sleep on an Air Mattress and then have an electric blanket we put under the sheets so the cold air in the air mattress does not make the old bones ache. Motel in Tupper lake the good thing is they had an gas grill we could cook on and then used the electric skillet to finish things up. Wed. We are looking to ride over to the White Mountains in NH Post more as it comes available.

Everyone, I need a idea for central location for riding in NH, VT & NY. Wanting to see the fall colors and great riding roads. I thought some of you might have an idea for camping in one location once I get up that way. Ideas are welcome! Thanks

RT6 seems a lot better than what I had! Thanks Tufftom

Plan on riding up the east coast the last week of September thru possible October the 10th! Plan on camping some and possible cabin rental. Kind of thought someone might know a centrally located state park that I could plan day rides out of. Need recommendations on scenic roads to ride in the upstate. I hope some of you have time to look you can follow the links below and see if I could take better roads. Hopefully someone will pipe-in with their two cents worth. All would be appreciated. Ellijay, Ga to Pipestream, WV http://binged.it/1xvBlXf Pipestream, WV to Somerset, PA http://binged.it/1urG87z Somerset, PA to Ithaca, NY http://binged.it/1xvBc6i Ithaca, NY to Saranac Lake, NY http://binged.it/1xvApCd Saranac Lake, NY to Conway, NH http://binged.it/1xvzvpn Thank You all for any suggestions!

Air Shocks for leaks and rebound. Eck, might chime in hear I recall him just replacing a shock on his. Hiem Joint working properly should rotate 360 and swivel inside hiem just make sure not warn out. Lift one side up at a time and spin the wheels to make sure you don't hear grinding wheel bearings. I just replaced mine last year, not a big deal just rented a blind bearing puller from my local parts store. Make sure to buy a quality bearing not worth having to replace on because you saved a few bucks. Check the wiring harness and see how it looks most wires are hidden but possible at least check that the lights work. Do you have a progressive air shock pump? This works great for the air shocks. Hope you find that it is what you need. Bushtec makes a great trailer. Another note look for stress fractures in the lid sometimes the fiberglass lids have problems. I think I have only seen two that did and I have seen a bunch of bushtec's. Good Luck

Rick, If this is the route you are thinking let me know. I think I could ride with you as far as Tazewell. VA Yes I know that I made this route backward from the way you are traveling, but see if you can follow and let me know your thoughts. As always the Shoemaker Inn is always open in Ellijay, Ga. Map Link Below http://binged.it/1wEqEMk Brian Shoemaker AKA Cowboy

WV28 & US33 are the same road at Seneca Rock,WV Reference WV28 South all the way south until you get to Huntersville, WV finding WV39 West & East WV39 from Marlinton, WV to Goshen, VA & on over to I-64 & I-81 or while running WV39 East catch Douthat State Park Road South down to I-64 go under I-64 on to US220 South to Hwy43 South East to Buchanan, VA then picking up BRP or others. This is a link to options for staying in and around Marby Mills, VA Mile Post 174 Favorite Lodging Rocky Knob Cabins http://www.virginia.org/Directory/PlacesToStay/?city=Meadows+of+Dan

Wrench, Not sure what your plans are for nights but in the past the group I ride with usually stay at Babcock State Park, WV. It is just 20 min from the New River Gorge. Look it up really a beautiful park. Cabins on the river are great for a nights rest. Leaving Babcock or even the new river gorge we love this ride US60 East to I-64 East to WV311 South to Cave Springs, VA. Pick up the Blue Ridge and take it down to Marby Mill. Just off the parkway are a few options for lodging. Note: Fuel & Food & Lodging on the parkway are few and far between! You always have to swing off and get either. http://binged.it/1qD0Oqn Breakfast at the Marby Mill Restraunt and then a nice days ride down to Ashville, NC. or if you still feel like riding make it down to Maggie Valley via Blue Ridge Parkway. Quick Stop on Hwy256 South for a view of Looking Glass Falls. If you choose to take 256 North in to Maggie Valley you will miss some of the highest points and most scenic if you can believe it. My suggestion is to make it at least to US19 on the BR. Bridal Veil is not worth seeing however Dry Falls is a must. Quick note US64 is a main road that has a bit of traffic on it. especially between Brevard and Franklin, NC. Roads I suggest in GA. SC. Leaving Maggie Valley, US74 West to Franklin, NC US64 East to Dry Falls & Highland,NC NC 28 South into SC 28 to Walhalla, SC Pick up SC 183 South to US 76 West. Note I know of 4 waterfalls on this section of hwy. Never been down to see them so I cannot say if the road is paved or not, I would think they are due to being clearly marked by the SC highway department. Once you make it to Clayton, GA Take US 441 South about 6 miles to Wiley, GA. Turning West on to the old US 441 South to Lake Rabun Road follows the lakes of North Georgia. Hey just follow link of a great ride below. http://binged.it/1tMnPg0 If you have any questions feel free to call me. Seven Zero Six - Six Three Five - One Five Eight Zero Cowboy Brian Shoemaker

Eck, This is one of my wifes favorite rides. Slow stroll thru the country side. I think it is nicknamed the Goat Trail. Another note on roads to ride. Just South of Seneca Rock is Spruce Knob the highest point in WV. Very nice ride also. Hope you have a safe ride my friend. Cowboy

Mike, R&R Trikes in Jasper, GA. Complete Cycles in Rome, Ga. As mentioned from other riders here the quick ride is not the way to test ride. Do your research on the mechanics and the rack you need. Storage needs. Then see if someone will rent you one for the weekend. I have been looking for one for my father who is a million mile Goldwing rider. We did a twenty mile test ride and we both came back and said this is not for us. But the more I hear and talk to guys who have converted over to riding a trike the more I realize that it needs to be a two day or even three day trial. Going in with the realization that it does not drive like the two wheels but is still more stable and has a small learning curve. Best of Luck. Cowboy

Would like to show off the new bling that Mike the Diamond Cut Man. What a great job and on top of the new bling, Mike's generosity he donated $100.00 for St. Jude at the B2MOM Meet and Eat over the weekend. Work is impeccable and really makes the area pop. Thought I would share a few pictures to thank Mike for his great work and service that he is providing for all of us. Thanks again Mike. Cowboy