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Bluesman

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Everything posted by Bluesman

  1. Bluesman
    I've removed mine twice due to the chrome flaking off. (Cheap, cheap, cheap!) Got the rivets out and then just cut the darn tips off using side cutters, a hammer and a chisel. Since they were useless anyways and I was replacing them with new ends I figured hey, what the heck? They're toast anyways. Hope this helps! Bluez
  2. Bluesman
    No nut with mine either but to play it safe (cause I did notice a little unscrewing with mine), I put some plumber's tape around the screw and then threaded it in. Only had it 2 months but haven't noticed it budge since. Bluez
  3. Bluesman
    What awful choice to make.....to have to 'pull the plug'. And at such a tender young age! :sign **** happens:
  4. Bluesman
    My idea was to dispense with those plastic tabs located on the trim and in order to keep the trim from 'flapping' in the wind and making strange noises, to secure it somehow. Velcro is a nice idea. And as for magnets, they come in various sizes and strengths. With a little experimentation, the right strength could be found so it won't be so tough to seperate and at the same time, hold the trim properly in place. As for changing the windshield, heck, I'd do it all the time. During the day? A nice tinted shorty. For the evening and night? Switch back to the tall boy in order to keep from eating bugs. Mild day? Half size. Long distance? Full size. If it's something that I could do quite easily, I'll do it. Hell, I'll have me a windshield rack in the garage just like some people have a gun rack in their trucks! *L* Gotta love options! Bluez
  5. Bluesman
    First, apologies upfront if this has already been discussed. I've typed in a few variables in the search part and couldn't find anything close so here goes....... Most of my buddies ride Harleys. What I've always admired about their bikes is that they have low cut (4" or taller) tinted windshields which are easily removable in order to change back to a larger shield for long distance riding. (Ahhhh, to have that wind-in-the-face feeling again!) So this got me to thinking about my own Venture and how I'd love to be able to switch back and forth from my huge shield to a tiny one for local rides and real hot summer days. The big problem with our bikes is removing the chrome trim on the fairing because of the design of the damn thing (those little plastic tabs! Aaaargh!). I get nervous as hell trying to remove it just to get inside to do some wiring on occasion, never mind having to remove it on a more regular basis to switch a windshield. So I began thinking up ways to come up with a 'quick' release system for the fairing. My first thought was to find some real shiny chrome screws and drill into the trim and fasten it to the fairing so that way I'd only have maybe 5 screws to remove (2 in the back, 3 upfront) in a fairly reasonable time with an electric screwdriver, then remove the screws for the windshield and make the switch. Voila! Done! But having a discussion one evening with Draegerman, we came up with a better idea. The chrome trim already utilizes 2 screws to make certain it stays put so instead of drilling holes in the trim, why not use magnets? Apparently there are some pretty heavy duty magnets available on the market nowadays that would do the job very well. Mounting them in the right place would surely hold the chrome trim in a perfect position. This way, all you have to do is remove the 2 screws and then pull out the chrome trim and not worry about those plastic tabs anymore! Now you have fast access to the windshield mounting screws and they can be removed just as quickly and switched with another shield. Sure it may take 5, maybe 10 minutes, but to have a shorter screen up front would sure be nice at times. Anybody want to add to this? Anybody come up with any other way to remove a windshield quick? I'd love to hear other ideas if anyone has one before I go and give this particular idea a try. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Bluez
  6. Bluesman
    Hey Freebird, almost an offer I can't refuse! *L* So tell me, where abouts you live? Could be a great excuse for a ride! (Like I NEED one, huh?) LOL Bluez
  7. Bluesman
    Hey Jopie, thanks a million! Great site. And it's close (well, kinda) to home. I"m in Mississauga and pass through Hagersville every Friday the 13th! Just wrote them for more info as their catalogue seems to cater only to Harleys. If they'll take care of a metric owner, the may just get my business. Wow, no taxes either. I wonder if the Feds are waiting on the outskirts to nail buyers! Bluez
  8. Bluesman
    Hey folks, need some help here. I'm looking to purchase a set of aftermarket pipes and after Googling the Internet umpteen thousands of times, it seems the only sellers of any of these exhaust systems are located in the US. Does any one know of some decent Canadian dealers? I'm tired of getting screwed with the exchange rate and I'm damn pissed at the rip-off brokerage fees UPS charges (they ding you for almost the cost of the product!). There must be SOME Canadian motorcycle stores that I can pick up a set of Vance and Hines or Bubs from. Any one have any connections? Bluez Oh.....PS: Slip-ons or the entire system.....which is better?
  9. Bluesman
    I'm in the middle of installing my factory passing lamp mount and ran into a snag. I've just attached the passing lamps themselves to the mount and now I'm in the process of attaching the turn signals, problem is, I can't make the connection because of the rubber sleeve. Is this supposed to be removed before installation? Or is there a way to wrestle it on properly? (took a lot of twisting and pulling to remove the signals from the original bar in the first place) Bluez
  10. Bluesman
    Hey, I never thought of that. Anyone know off hand what size speakers to buy to replace the stock ones? And what about an amplifier? Any suggestions? Bluez
  11. Bluesman
    Hey good people, I just picked up my '09 Venture last Sunday and due to a hand injury a month ago, I'm unable to ride my new scoot for at least another 2 weeks or more. So in the meantime, since I bought myself a truck load of chrome, I have plenty of time to accessorize and customize my bike to pass time till I actually do get to ride. I've been reading past posts in regards to what to do under the fairing after you've split it but I can't recall where to find them again so through this thread, I'd appreciate your input on things to do once you've pulled the fairing apart by helping me put together a 1-2-3 list of the things required. I'd really like to do this as a one time thing unless something drastic happens later. I have a few accessories that require pulling the fairing so while I'm under there, I'd like to be able to get all the jobs done in one shot. (I recall things like adding dialectric grease to electric connectors, rerouting a jack input for the MP3, adding a second accessory plug etc.) So with your help, we can compile a nice list that others can utilize too. I'd really appreciate your help. Thanks in advance....... Bluez
  12. Bluesman

    My New Bike!

    Images added to a gallery album owned by Bluesman in Member Albums

    Just picked up my '09 on Sunday. Hadn't had a chance to post anything cause I've been way too busy drooling over it and adding the accessories! Besides, I can't really ride her yet anyways due to a hand accident I had 4 weeks back. Another 3-4 to go before I'm actually gonna be able to operate the clutch. *sigh* In the meantime, lots of goodies to attach!
  13. Bluesman
    Starting her up for the first time!

    From the album: My New Bike!

  14. Bluesman
    2009 Royal Star Venture S.

    From the album: My New Bike!

  15. Bluesman
    Had to pick her up at a dealership 2 hours away so here we are just getting home.

    From the album: My New Bike!

  16. Bluesman
    Thinking of dressing up my ride a bit more and came across the Wizard 7-in-1 programmable light set. Anyone familiar with these? Anyone have any experience with these? Would love to hear something about them before I lay out the cash. Thanks.... http://www.customdynamics.com/wizard_lights_color_changing_led_accent_lights.htm.htm Bluez
  17. Bluesman
    Oh, or this one. A better view. Bluez
  18. Bluesman
    Not sure if this is what you mean by triangulation but over the years, I've had many positive comments on my last bike standing out more visibly then bikes with 'in a row' lights. See the pic....... Bluez
  19. Bluesman
    Hey buddy, if you can, post some before and after pics. I'd love to see what I'm getting myself into! *L* Bluez
  20. Bluesman
    I look at my transition to the RSV as a sort of natural progression in life. That the rides I have owned in the past were just a stepping stone to riding the ultimate touring bike. Let me explain: When I was just a wee lad, I bought my first 'bike', a Keytone mini-bike. As I grew older, I stepped up to the Honda 50 and then on to a mini-enduro followed by an assortment of dirt bikes. Hey, I was young. My body could take the beatings offered by whoop-di-doos and jumps. When I turned 16 and got my street license for the first time, I picked up an on/off road bike which allowed me to drive the highways yet hit the dirt trails as well. From there, the need for speed took hold and I went through an assortment of crotch rockets, so much so that I ended up on the racing circuit for 8 years. Hey, I was young (in my 20s)and my body could take the beatings from spills into hay bales from being too cocky on a chicane. Finally, one particular nasty spill got me to thinking that hey, there's got to be more to life then taking these risks on an oval circuit. So I bought my first true street bike, a Suzuki 1100. Once again I went through various street bikes. Hey, I was young (in my 30s now) and I could take the punishment dished out by riding long distance in an uncomforable saddle. I owned everything from Yami's to HDs to Kawi's and back again before finally, (now in my 40s), I bought an '03 Roadstar Silverado cruiser. Now I could sit back and relax a little and get to see what I never saw before when I was racing from point A to B! I went from trail riding to racing between points A and B in record times to cruising the streets to traveling across the country in my years. My body isn't like it used to be. The years of firefighting and working construction have taken it's toll on this old guy. Not wanting to give up riding but needing a ride more suitable to comfort to allow this battered body a few more years to ride, it was time to swap the Prius for a Cadillac, so to speak. My Roadstar served me well and together we put a lot of miles on her but she just couldn't provide me with the comfort my tired bones needed on long distance trips anymore. The reason I chose an RSV? My Roadstar was by far the most reliable bike I have ever owned so it just came naturally that I'd check out Yamaha's touring line first and when I finally did get to see it up close and personal, I knew she belonged to me! One thing though, I have a strange suspicion that when I hit 60? I might just have a look at the Gold Wing! That 'reverse' thing they have on it sure would be a bonus! Bluez
  21. Bluesman
    :rotfl: Very good! I could live with that but........I'm from Canada. The only ones who have guns for security besides the cops are the gang-bangers. Us ordinary folk trying to protect our families and our properties don't get that kind of privilige! Bluez
  22. Bluesman
    Okay, first off, I did a search on this topic and haven't found a single thread about alarms. Nothing under 'alarms', 'anti theft' or 'security devices' so if I've erred, sue me! Now that we got that out of the way.......... Living in a so-so neighbourhood, with a one car garage/one truck driveway, I pretty well need to leave my bike outside at the front of the house cause the missus just doesn't have the strength to move it around when she leaves for work. Since I don't have any neighbours with Harley's to park next to (think about it! *L*), I have to leave my ride out there sitting all alone when I'm off to work. Soooooo.....I've been researching a few alarms for the bike and wonder if anyone out there could offer me some advice. The one I'm leaning towards is the Scorpio Alarm SR-i600 FM 2-Way Paging Security System with Anti-Hijack, Perimeter Sensor, Battery Back-up (and more) from cruisercustomizing.com. Anyone familiar with this alarm? It gets some pretty good reviews. Got some better suggestions? Thanks again in advance...... Bluez
  23. Bluesman
    Couldn't agree with Sooner Rider more. We've been to a few accidental drownings over my career and nothing rips your heart out more then when it's a child who could've been taught properly and have had this prevented. Something like this has the potential of preventing hundreds of accidental drownings. I've sent the link to everyone on my contact list to get the word out. Truly amazing! Bluez
  24. Bluesman
    Believe me, noone will talk me out of getting a back rest. I found out all too well the comfort it provides. Rode to Sturgis from Toronto and back in '03 on my '02 Roadstar, 1700 miles one way. 2 days to get there, 3 in Sturgis (riding the whole time through the Black Hills), and 2 days back (I only had one week of holidays at the time). Just west of Chicago, I started to feel the first pains in my lower back so I readjusted my gear so it would press up against my back and more precisely, add support for my lower lumbar. What a world of a difference it made! It gave me the much needed relief I needed to continue the ride and if I hadn't of thought of doing exactly that, I would have ended up limping home without seeing Sturgis first hand. Though I have yet to have one installed on any ride I've owned, at my age, I ain't gonna do without it any longer! Bluez PS: Thank you everyone for your input!!!
  25. Bluesman
    Rudolph? Is that you? Betchya the kids love it though!
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