Evan

Want to add my thoughts and best wishes for better days ahead Randy.

Went to a NAPA here in Ontario today (in Caledonia) and purchased some Seafoam that regularly sells here for about 11.50 on sale for about 8.50. Only in Canada!

Will be thinking of you Scott and will try to visit again when you are ready for company.

Great post. I would love to have a collection of bikes and add this to my collection.

Thanks for this info Jay.

I recently redid my sled trailer using pressure treated plywood. Can't say whether it was a good idea or not, but I also sealed it with something like Thompson sealer because that had worked so well on an my older trailer. That trailer has a 30 year old deck that is still functional (I resealed it every year or so). I recently sealed a wood deck using a newer product on the market which seals clear similar to Thompson water seal but is a thicker white liquid when applied and the claim is that it only needs to be applied every 3 years, unlike the Thompson sealer.

So sorry for you. It upsets me just to see the picture.

Yes, this was my problem and I understand it is fairly common. I was surprised at the green crud that had accumulated when the switch was opened, and the thread gives an excellent step by step procedure for doing that.

Yes, it really was great roads, great scenery and great company today. Hopefully, Jim (Jayceesfolly) and Abdul (Chabicheka) will have more pics. Here are a few for now:

Wow, looks real good. Enjoy!

--- If anyone has an interest in a 1st gen with a side car: http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-motorcycles-touring-Yamaha-Venture-Royale-with-Ural-sidecar-W0QQAdIdZ528423068

Hey Abdul. my plan is to leave by 7:30 to meet up at Wayne's. Just let me know if you want to join up at my place.

Was mesmerised by every word of your story. All the emotions, both bear related and "Bear" related, come through so well. Good luck as you continue to ride and enjoy your life's pleasures.

Rode the Parkway several times long before owning a Venture (1st gen). Great pictures. Makes me anxious to do the ride with my wife on our Venture. That will be our next significant ride, but not before next year.

Amazing find. Sure looks good.

Horns ???

for sure!

Sounds like a great first ride: good roads, good miles, good passenger and the real bonus, a new grandson. WOW!

Your good note triggers two thoughts Wayne. One is that good feeling when you are able to successfully fix something like your carb problem yourself. The other is how good it is to have people like Earle on the site who are so will to share their valuable experience and info with guys like us.

Think Courtney is a very lucky cat now. Also, Bob, we have the same with our adopted Calico. She also panics whenever we take her outside.

Bad riding weather here in my area today - over 4 in of rain. However, every Sat night an older rock and roll guy from my generation named Randy Backman (from the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive) has a radio program where he focuses on a particular theme and he picks good ongs from that theme. Well, tonight, the theme is "motorcycle songs". He started with the song Born to be Wild. The song he is playing right now is Motorcycle Cowboy.

I'm really surprised that you found your Royale to be like a sail over 65mph. One of the things I like about my 88 is that it feels so stable in the wind. The only issue I have is that my wife feels some buffeting when she is a passenger in high wind conditions. I am riding with a stock windshield. I'm interested in whether other 1st gen owners have wind problems?

Been away Bob so I just now saw your post. Like many others, I understand how a pet like Sonny can become family. Any new member of your family will be lucky to have owners like you and Becky.

While I am not a tire expert, I agree with Don based on my own experience, which, in my case, was with my 88VR.

Evan... you starting a collection ? You should have stopped by when you were in Kitchener Would have liked to stop by Don but we were committed to get to my daughter's place in Guelph for lunch and a visit with the grandkids. My problem now is to decide which bike to run and what to do with the other one. I sure like my 88 which is why I bought another (Swifty's) 1st gen, but insurance here in Ontario is too expensive to put on both bikes.