Shamue

Thanks have heard retirement can be a nice life. WOW, this is May in New Mexico so I wake up today to prep the bike and trailer and add a carrier rack to the trailer and go through my camping gear. So what do I see 2 inches of wet snow everywhere tempature is supposed to get in the low 50s. What a way to start a motorcycle retirement. Lived here all my live and only remember snow this last in the years a couple times, usually cool mornings and warm afternoons. Normally May is in the 70s perfect for riding.

For the last 10 years I've only had 2 vacations and weekends to ride. Well that all changed last Friday when I retired for good. Wife retired in December so we will begin our travels next weekend with a 6 week trip in the West.

At 64 I don't have any issues to make me get a trike, and will be looking at a new Bike next summer. Trike is at the top of my list. I plan to keep my RSV for single up riding and touring with my cargo trailer. The trike would be better with the wife, easier for her if she wants to drive and it would make towing our tent trailer easier on the dirt forest roads. Just think it is personal. Several of my riding buddies have gone to trikes and love the difference if offers.

We mount and balance custom GM wheels for GM dealers and before we add any weight we, do a ''FORCE BALANCE'' to eliminate weight. Never heard of them doing it to a motorcycle wheel and tire, but I'll bet drag racer do. It's where, after balancing the wheel and tire, before you put any weight you deflate the tire and where it showed you needed weight mark the wheel and tire with a wax and spin the tire 180 degs. And complete balance if it still shows excess weight you have to just keep repeating turning the tire one way or the other until the need for weight almost goes away.. We have found the tires are usually what is out of balance from manufacture, but this usually works to lessen the weight needed. They also call this process "INDEXING"

I think we are all pretty much in the same boat. Yamaha has to get back into the game pretty quick or a lot of riders will switch to other Brands of Touring bikes. I have been waiting for Yamaha to update the RSV, before I make a switch. My 08 has been the most comfortable for me and the wife. I'm 6'3 250# or so, extended legs so the Goldwing is only a problem for me in the foot position. I'm going to hold off for one year to see if Yamaha catches up before I go back to a Wing. I will stay with a water cooled engine, just need a little more power and fuel injection to make me happy. I'm not a big gadget guy. But everyone is different and you should ride what you like. I'm the only RSV rider I see at rallies or get-together's out here even though there is a couple of Venture Rider members in the area. It's this part of the country. The largest group are Harley riders, with Goldwings Second. The same thought stays in my mind a I continue to rack up the mileage, but that is what the First and Second Gens were designed to do.

This state has been good to me (New Mexico) but has failed the people when it comes to crime especially DUI. Every major vehicle wreck is by a repeat DUI offended. I say every because it is at least 90% drunk drivers. Here there is loss of life weekly by a DUI offender and usually it's multiple lives lost. Then the reports start coming in the offenders have been arrested and convicted of 4 to 6 DUIs. Heck just last week 2 individuals were arrested with a BAC od .40 and .38 on a scale of .08 being drunk. A few months ago a man was arrested for his 20th DUI. Don't know the answer to stop this craziness except slap them so had the first time the can't afford to do it again and if that doesn't work long jail sentences. DUI drivers are killing good people all the time its never good out come. DUI is not a petty crime the weapon they drive weighs tons so the crime should fit the weapon of choise by the DUI driver. Sorry this may sound harsh but it hits home for a lot of us.

Been hanging around here for the past few years and made it to the Cody get together, met great folks and have wanted to enjoy more runs and people. Running a business, having to work, really haven't been able to get away for more than a day or 2, and since I'm out west it's been impossible to attend events. Even though I have put 100g on the Venture it's just getting broken in. Earlier days (late 70's 80's 90's) I was able to ride the lower 49 and much of Canada and hankering to return, to show the wife, a few of the places she has missed. PROBLEM IS GETTING SOLVED SOON..she retires at the end of December and I'll follow up in May. Plans are set to hit the road in May, slowly making my way to Alaska, with her flying in for 3 or so weeks. Retuning to pick her up again at home to introduce her to the rest of America and retrace the 3 week honeymoon ride from 34 years ago. Spending a lot of time in the East. Will check the calendar here often and try to meet friends at different meet and greets. Returning home sometime in September so the wife can visit the kids in Oklahoma and Texas while I continue to ride and explore to return for winter in November. I'll be pulling a cargo trailer the first part and last part of the trip, then a pop up during the middle portion. We both love to tent or trailer camp, won't be in any hurry, and have been planning this retirement trip for over a year..Our lives together, has always been traveling on a MC and now we are going to have the time. Hoping to meet many of you on the road. Like reading about everyone's adventures they keep me close....way out West.

Kinda popular around Albuquerque. A group of young riders are building them, mostly out of Honda 750/4s. See them at many rally's, don't know if it's a club or just friends. Pretty interesting especially when a girl friend is on the back. Next time I see them I'll snap a photo or 2. A couple are rat bikes that look very interesting.

Biggest 2 to me are. Clerk or Salesman: HEY BRO; or DUDE. Now I just pissed myself off. I also agree with the above mentioned pet peeves. How do I make it through the day with all these peeves. better calm down, before I start hearing voices.

I run Metzler 880s front and rear. Had 1 rear loose a patch like cowpuc. It had 8000 on it was getting down to wear marks though. Talking to the dealer, I found out running 40lbs front and 42lbs rear would giver better performance. Stayed with Metzler's an have had 4 sets since, keep a closer eye on the pressure and have not had any more issues. I change front and rear at the same time, fronts always have plenty of tread to run more but have always done both tire changes at the same time, Pease of mind thing. Am averaging 9000-10000 per rear tire. Mostly 2 up and tow a cargo or camper trailer about 3500 miles per set. like the hardness of the rubber and handling. I do keep the pressure up and check them more than most since I lost the rubber chunk, because I think low pressure is what caused my issue.

THAT IS NICE. You can park it in New Mexico and be eating breakfast in Arizona and sleeping in Texas. Enjoy your new freedom.

well don't feel 62 is that old, cause I see my childhood reappearing in April, 2016 when I retire for good. Maybe earlier if things work out. Having riden all over this fine Nation, Canada and Mexico I will retrace those steps and this time smell the roses. First on the bucket list is Alaska and then try a year long ride only coming home to recharge. Being out here in the West not to many Vernture riders close by, so I want to redo the East Coast, Mid West to meet so of you great VR's. Not in a hurry, but looking ahead.

Congratulations, to both you and your daugther.

I have had issues off and on with the latches releasing when the lock button is pushed down. The lid will not release. Don't know if this will help your issue. But I have learned to apply a little pressure to the lid and bag hinge Inward toward the wheel. Just this little amount of pressure releases stress on the locks and the lid opens instantly.

yep, did it 2 days ago.