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RossKean

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Everything posted by RossKean

  1. RossKean
    My biggest concern would be with the trunk support. Its marginal, at best. The extra weight of stuff on the trunk lid might be a bad thing. I would recommend that it should be very lightly loaded. Ross
  2. RossKean
    Sounds like you guys are getting the winter weather we usually expect. Today is just around the freezing mark and we have had (relatively) little snow this winter. Although we have had a couple of cold snaps with temperatures a little below 0 °F, it has mostly been much better than average in New Brunswick, Canada. I shouldn't speak too soon because it could still turn nasty - not unusual to get a major snowstorm up until the end of March or even later. In the meantime, the scoot is still resting peacefully in winter storage because even if we get a day or two warm enough to ride (anything above freezing is OK for me) there is still too much ice, sand and salt on the roads. Hopefully I'll be able to get the bike back on the road in another four or five weeks. (Im)patiently waiting for spring! Ross
  3. RossKean
    I had a Roadstar and now have a 2002 Midnight Venture. As far as I am concerned, there is no comparison between the R* seat and the Midnight (non-pillowtop). I can't say that the Midnight seat could not be improved but I don't have serious problems with up to 600 miles in a day. On the Roady, my butt would have been screaming at much over 300 miles. Ross
  4. RossKean
    I assume that this "rebuild" is for their Works Performance shock only. Not a bad deal if you expect to replace two or more shocks in the remaining time you own the bike. ($689 + $150 = $839 vs. $430 for a new OEM) I would like to see someone offering a rebuild for the OEM for a similar rebuild price, i.e. up to $200 (or at least the parts to do it yourself). Should be possible but not worthwhile unless they can get a lot of buyers. Unfortunately (or fortunately as the case may be) the Yamaha 5-year warranty ends out taking care of the majority of the failures that happen during the time that most people keep their bikes. Yamaha is not much interested in helping an owner of an "old" bike. It is their best interest to get you to buy a new machine, so I wouldn't expect them to offer a cheap replacement to the customer or key parts to a rebuild shop. Yamaha may also have a liability risk for helping to refurbish a failed shock; they could be blamed if a future failure results in injury or death. Ross
  5. RossKean
    I have seen on-line listings as low as $430, or so. Keeping my eyes open on this - I have a 2002 Midnight that I have had for just over a year with about 50,000 miles on it. The shock sometimes groans a bit when I sit on the bike but this has been going on for the last 25,000 miles. When the time comes, I'll probably replace it with the OEM shock, unless somebody is offering a rebuild by then. I remember reading something about rebuilds awhile ago but never found out whether anyone had any luck with it. Ross
  6. RossKean
    On my 2002 Venture, I keep full liability, comprehensive and fire & theft. Due to cost, I have not included collision but a deer strike would be covered by the comprehensive. "Full" coverage for my bike around here is $1200 or so!! (I have never had an insurance claim on MC or cage and have never had a ticket for a moving violation) Glad he's OK and hope the 'Wing can be brought back to life for a reasonable cost. Unfortunately with the cost of the Tupperware, it might not be worth fixing. Ross
  7. RossKean
    Looks like its going to be a sunny day and the critter will see its shadow. Around here, six more weeks of winter is a GOOD thing!! Hope its over that soon. Ross
  8. RossKean
    Pictures or more detailed decription?? How big a job is it? Let me know how long it would take for you to do it so I can double (or triple) that time to figure how long it might take me. Ross
  9. RossKean

    Tire age

    RossKean replied to wngrr's topic in Watering Hole

    The date code appears after the DOT data string. The first 2 numbers give the week and the third (or 3rd and 4th) give the year. 425 is the fourty-second week of 1995. 1204 is the 12th week of 2004. 0210 was made last week. At least this is my interpretation. Seems that 3 digit date codes were used before 2000. Ross
  10. RossKean

    Tire age

    RossKean replied to wngrr's topic in Watering Hole

    The situation is even worse for motorcycles. The tires are stressed a lot more and with the low mileage put on bikes by many people, it is entirely possible that tires may not be changed for 8-10 years. With the 6 year rule, this would be a problem even if the tires were fresh from the factory when they were installed. (I know lots of people who ride less than 2000 miles per year.) In addition, a tire failure at speed on a motorcycle is much more likely to have a bad outcome than the same failure on a 4-wheel vehicle. For places that have mandatory motorcycle inspections, tire age should, perhaps, be one of the criteria that are examined. I would love to see a scientific study of safety vs tire age. While I believe what they are saying, most of the evidence is anecdotal. Interesting stuff, but I would suspect that there are a lot more tire failures from improper inflation, manufacturer defects, running tires that are excessively worn and road hazards than from age - impartial scientific study shouldn't be too difficult. Ross
  11. RossKean
    My Venture is going under the knife (wrench) before the beginning of the season for a replacement spring from PCW. Just a bit of slipping at 75000 km (46000 mi) but I want to do it before there is much wear on the friction disks or steels. From what I have read, there is probably no need to replace anything else unless it has been slipping for awhile. Ross
  12. RossKean
    When did they change them? I got mine on sale from CT a couple of years ago and its been great. I use it with an adapter made from scrap lumber and the bike is very solid.
  13. RossKean
    You may be a just a little optimistic for this area!! Having said that, I had the scoot out on March 15 last year - got a few strange looks. I actually had my last ride of the year (or maybe the first ride of the new year) last Friday with a short run (20 km) to put the bike in storage. Missed a brief weather window in December so had to do it in January. So far, the winter has been pretty good - little snow and reasonable temperatures. I expect we will pay for it with a late spring. Hope the summer won't be as crappy as last year! Ross
  14. RossKean
    I think the $10.00 is for the dino oil - the synthetic is a little more than that. Compared to Mobil or Amsoil, I'm happy to pay $30/jug at Canadian Tire for the Rotella T synthetic (it has been on sale there for as little as $22, I think). The cost of the oil pales to insignificance when you consider the cost of gasoline, tires and general maintenance over the time that oil is in the engine - with the synthetic, I'll let it go anywhere up to 10,000 km (6,000 mi). Depends on elapsed time and riding conditions. I really can't understand why motor oil is so much cheaper south of the border.
  15. RossKean
    The white jug on the right in your posted picture is the "conventional" oil while the blue jug is the synthetic. 15W40 is the appropriate weight in the dino oil.
  16. RossKean
    I have been using the blue bottle (synthetic) for a year and a half. Seems to be good stuff and now available at the local Canadian Tire. Lots cheaper than any synthetic alternative and the Venture seems to like it. Ross
  17. RossKean
    A little research tells me that M8 bolts are commonly available with 1.25mm or 1.00 mm thread pitch. My local Yammie dealer didn't have any in stock but I think I can get some from a local industrial fastener supplier - as long as I can confirm the thread pitch. (no Ace hardware around here and the Home Depot is almost useless.) The dealer just has a part number, without specifications. I guess I'll just have to pull one of the remaining bolts and measure. The bike's been put to bed for the season so it will have to wait until Spring. (Stored in a warehouse with limited access) Ross
  18. RossKean
    Grease anything that moves. Someone mentioned the swingarm but do the steering neck as well. Do a good job on the drive pins and splines.
  19. RossKean
    The recommended maximum pressure is there for a reason, but there is a pretty good safety margin. The manufacturer has to list a max pressure that will not result in a significant rate of failure when... 1) a tire pressure gauge (or pump) is slightly out of calibration 2) a tire may be in the low-acceptable range of production quality 3) a tire may be substantially worn, but still above the wear bars 4) a heavier-than-normal load is being carried 5) changing ambient temperature or significant changes in altitude 6) measuring cold tire pressure (as directed) and driving on HOT asphalt at high speeds (this makes a huge pressure difference) Having said all of this, I usually stay at or slightly below the maximum sidewall rating and check pressure frequently, especially on trips. I don't attempt to push the safety cushion that the manufacturer has built-in in order to minimize the liklihood of failures which result in expen$ive lawsuits. Ross
  20. RossKean
    Great!! Looks like I need M8 (20 mm length). I would assume 1mm pitch. Very useful information! Thanks Ross
  21. RossKean
    I have a number of places where I can get metric hardware; just trying to confirm the bolt size so I can stop on the way home from work today.
  22. RossKean
    I seem to have lost a couple of bolts that secure the trunk support to the (side of the) fender. Rather than remove the other existing bolts to check, I am wondering if anyone knows off-hand what the correct size might be. The Yamaha parts fiche just refers to them as "bolts" without dimensions. (SKU 92014-08020-00, button head bolt) Suspect it may be a M6 x 1.00, maybe 16mm, but I'm not sure. Thanks Ross
  23. RossKean
    I have the Kury Iso-Grips and like them a lot. I was a little concerned about vibration and was considering the installation as per Keith to use the stock ends. I haven't done it because the vibration in the bars has not been an issue for me. There are Kuryakyn-compatible weights available but they are less hefty than the stock Venture weights. Ross
  24. RossKean
    I can't help but think about Slim Pickens riding the H-bomb down in Dr. Strangelove.
  25. RossKean
    Is this the link? [ame=http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1656]Passing Light Spacer - VentureRider.Org[/ame] Ross
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