rod

I have some 1/4" (about 50') black smooth wire cover. An on line search was unsuccessful. I know the stuff I got was bought through the electrical supplier (Rexal/ESD). If the small size is what you need I will give you some if you email me. Rod

I am 5'7" and #165 an have laid the Venture down a few times while stopping. A few tips that I have figured out, handlebars straight when stopping, no front brake at slow speeds, plan your stops carefully and last practice often including u turns. Also learn how to pick up the bike by backing into it. Rose has learned to help counter balance when the bike starts to lean and that is a big help for me. It has been a while sinse I have dropped it and never had damage till it fell on the down hill side and then it was some scratches. Rod

I am an instructor and find it very rewarding. It can be tiring doing a full day on the range but not too bad. The money is not bad for a part time gig. Rod

Rod, Mind telling us how you wet your pants? We carry water and ziplock bags of ice when we travel. Great for keeping the cool vests and scarves wet. Rod

I always stop and see if I can help no matter what they ride or look like. Just the way I was raised I guess. I have never had a problem with the 1%ers most have been very polite and appreciative. Rod

I was on the other Venture site when you left and started this one. I agreed with what you said have been here ever sense you started and not gone back. Rod

I am a so cal guy. I wear my chaps all the time. for winter I wear thermals, in summer in the desert I soak my jeans under my chaps. People ask me why I don't take my chaps off I tell them it is cooler with them on. Try it if you are in a hot dry climate hwy pegs and wet pants under your chaps will keep you cool. Rod

For those who follow first aid changes; there has been some problems with the new recommendations on the Red Cross pages for the "lay person" as opposed to the professional rules for first responders. For the lay person the new thing is for only chest compressions for adults and 30-2 for children. Go to your local Red Cross for the latest info. The older you get the more you need first aid training. Rod

I got a 6 space blade type fuse box at the auto parts store and mounted under the seat behind the battery box. A little velcro to hold it in place. Rod

50 Ways to Save Your Life Motorcycle Cruiser's mothership, Motorcyclist magazine, recently published the following advice to an overwhelmingly appreciative response. We have decided to republish the list of living-saving techniques-in its entirety-for our own readership. Assume you're invisible Because to a lot of drivers, you are. Never make a move based on the assumption that another driver sees you, even if you've just made eye contact. Be considerate The consequences of strafing the jerk du jour or cutting him off start out bad and get worse. Pretend it was your grandma and think again Dress for the crash, not the pool or the prom Sure, Joaquin's Fish Tacos is a five-minute trip, but nobody plans to eat pavement. Modern mesh gear means 100-degree heat is no excuse for a T-shirt and board shorts Hope for the best, prepare for the worst Assume that car across the intersection will turn across your bow when the lightgoes green, with or without a turn signal. Leave your ego at home The only people who really care if you were faster on the freeway will be the officer and the judge. Pay attention Yes, there is a half-naked girl on the billboard. And the chrome needs a polish. Meanwhile, you could be drifting toward Big Trouble. Focus. Mirrors only show you part of the picture Never change direction without turning your head to make sure the coast really is clear. Be patient Always take another second or three before you pull out to pass, ride away from a curb or merge into freeway traffic from an on-ramp. It's what you don't see that gets you. That extra look could save your butt. Watch your closing speed Passing cars at twice their speed or changing lanes to shoot past a row of stopped cars is just asking for trouble. Beware the verge and the merge A lot of nasty surprises end up on the sides of the road: empty McDonald's bags, nails, TV antennas, ladders, you name it. Watch for potentially troublesome debris on both sides of the road. Left-turning cars remain a leading killer of motorcyclists Don't assume someone will wait for you to dart through the intersection. They're trying to beat the light, too. Think before you act Careful whipping around that Camry going 7 mph in a 25-mph zone or you could end up with your head in the driver's side door when he turns in front of you. Beware of cars running traffic lights The first few seconds after a signal light changes are the most perilous. Look both ways before barging into an intersection. Check your mirrors Do it every time you change lanes, slow down or stop. Be ready to move if another vehicle is about to occupy the space you'd planned to use Mind the gap Remember Driver's Ed.? One second's worth of distance per 10 mph is the old rule of thumb. Better still, scan the next 12 seconds ahead for potential trouble. Beware of tuner cars They're quick, and their drivers tend to be young and aggressive, therefore potentially hazardous Excessive entrance speed hurts It's the leading cause of single-bike accidents on twisty roads-some cruisers can make unheard of amounts of power. Use it on the way out of a corner, not in. Don't trust that deer whistle Ungulates and other feral beasts prowl at dawn and dusk, so heed those big yellow signs. If you're riding in a target-rich environment, slow down and watch the shoulders. Learn to use both brakes The front does most of your stopping, but for a lot of heavy cruisers a little extra rear brake can really help haul you up fast. Keep the front brake covered-always Save a single second of reaction time at 60 mph and you can stop 88 feet shorter. Think about that. Look where you want to go Use the miracle of target fixation to your advantage. The motorcycle goes where you look, so focus on the solution instead of the problem. Keep your eyes moving Traffic is always shifting, so keep scanning for potential trouble. Don't lock your eyes on any one thing for too long unless you're actually dealing with trouble Come to a full stop at that next stop sign Put a foot down. Look again. Anything less forces a snap decision with no time to spot potential trouble. Raise your gaze It's too late to do anything about the 20 feet immediately in front of your fender, so scan the road far enough ahead to see trouble and change trajectory. Get your mind right in the driveway Most accidents happen during the first 15 minutes of a ride, below 40 mph, near an intersection or driveway. Yes, that could be your driveway Never dive into a gap in stalled traffic Cars may have stopped for a reason, and you may not be able to see why until it's too late to do anything about it. Don't saddle up more than you can handle If you weigh 95 pounds, avoid that 795-pound cruiser. Get something lighter and more manageable. Watch for car doors opening into traffic And smacking a car that's swerving around some goofball's open door is just as painful. Don't get in an intersection rut Watch for a two-way stop after a string of four-way intersections. If you expect cross-traffic to stop, there could be a painful surprise when it doesn't. Stay in your comfort zone when you're with a group Riding over your head is a good way to end up in a ditch. Any bunch worth riding with will have a rendezvous point where you'll be able to link up again. Give your eyes some time to adjust A minute or two of low light heading from a well-lighted garage onto dark streets is a good thing. Otherwise, you're essentially flying blind for the first mile or so. Master the slow U-turn Practice. Park your butt on the outside edge of the seat and lean the bike into the turn, using your body as a counterweight as you pivot around the rear wheel. Who put a stop sign at the top of this hill? Don't panic. Use the rear brake to keep from rolling back down. Use Mr. Throttle and Mr. Clutch normally-and smoothly-to pull away. If it looks slippery, assume it is A patch of suspicious pavement could be just about anything. Butter Flavor Crisco? Gravel? Mobil 1? Or maybe it's nothing. Better to slow down for nothing than go on your head. Bang! A blowout! Now what? No sudden moves. The motorcycle isn't happy, so be prepared to apply a little calming muscle to maintain course. Ease back the throttle, brake gingerly with the good wheel and pull over very smoothly to the shoulder. Big sigh. Drops on the faceshield? It's raining. Lightly misted pavement can be slipperier than when it's been rinsed by a downpour, and you never know how much grip there is. Apply maximum-level concentration, caution and smoothness. Everything is harder to see after dark Adjust your headlights, carry a clear faceshield and have your game all the way on after dark, especially during commuter hours Emotions in check? To paraphrase Mr. Ice Cube, chickity-check yo self before you wreck yo self. Emotions are as powerful as any drug, so take inventory every time you saddle up. If you're mad, sad, exhausted or anxious, stay put. Wear good gear Wear stuff that fits you and the weather. If you're too hot or too cold or fighting with a jacket that binds across the shoulders, you're dangerous. It's that simple. Leave the iPod at home You won't hear that cement truck in time with Spinal Tap cranked to 11, but they might like your headphones in intensive care. Learn to swerve Be able to do two tight turns in quick succession. Flick left around the bag of briquettes, then right back to your original trajectory. The bike will follow your eyes, so look at the way around, not the briquettes. Now practice until it's a reflex. Be smooth at low speeds Take some angst out, especially of slow-speed maneuvers, with a bit of rear brake. It adds a welcome bit of stability by minimizing unwelcome weight transfer and potentially bothersome driveline lash. Flashing is good for you Turn signals get your attention by flashing, right? So a few easy taps on the pedal or lever before stopping makes your brake light more eye-catching to trailing traffic. Intersections are scary, so hedge your bets Put another vehicle between your bike and the possibility of someone running the stop sign/red light on your right and you cut your chances of getting nailed in half. Tune your peripheral vision Pick a point near the center of that wall over there. Now scan as far as you can by moving your attention, not your gaze. The more you can see without turning your head, the sooner you can react to trouble. All alone at a light that won't turn green? Put as much motorcycle as possible directly above the sensor wire-usually buried in the pavement beneath you and located by a round or square pattern behind the limit line. If the light still won't change, try putting your kickstand down, right on the wire. You should be on your way in seconds. Don't troll next to-or right behind-Mr. Peterbilt If one of those 18 retreads blows up-which they do with some regularity-it de-treads, and that can be ugly. Unless you like dodging huge chunks of flying rubber, keep your distance. Take the panic out of panic stops Develop an intimate relationship with your front brake. Seek out some safe, open pavement. Starting slowly, find that fine line between maximum braking and a locked wheel, and then do it again and again. Make your tires right None of this stuff matters unless your skins are right. Don't take 'em for granted. Make sure pressure is spot-on every time you ride. Check for cuts, nails and other junk they might have picked up, as well as for general wear. Take a deep breath Count to 10. Visualize whirled peas. Forgetting about some clown's 80-mph indiscretion beats running the risk of ruining your life, or ending it. Ride Safe Rod

Cycle Visions is right down the street from where I worked and their prototype bike was great. One day a writer from a bike mag came to do a story on it and they let him test ride it. In 2 blocks he crashed it! They build really nice stuff but $$$$$$. Rod

I will be willing to try it out and give my opinion. Rod

When I got my 2000 MM there was a bag of stuff in the trunk, I wondered what the parts were. After looking here I know that the chrome piece is the drip guard or what ever it is called. I have it in a box, never installed. I also lost the stock seat nuts and now just leave it with out any nuts. Never had a problem. Rod

Just a quick note on tent trailers. Last weekend we went camping in a county park we have used many times. Our friend had a tent trailer in the tent area, same as we used many times before. We came back from a walk and had a note from the ranger "you are illegally parked". New supervisor and he said if it has a license plate that it is an RV and must use the RV Area. More $$$ and in a crowded area for RV parking. He is now selling his tent trailer if any one is interested. Rod

We have done a lot of bike camping, most recently me on my Virago last month. County campgrounds tend to be cheaper and have showers. If you are going to be National Parks a year pass is the way to go. As for gear keep it simple. A good air mattress and sleeping bags are a must. I can type up a list when I get on my desk top PC if you want. Have fun Rod

We have a surplus electronis store here that I use, mostly old USN stuff. Wire is less than 1/2 price of retail prices. Check around your area and see if you have something near you. good luck Rod

:rotf::rotf: I don't care who you are. Now that was funny!!! Rod

I have a gym type bag that we use on the trunk rack. It holds the rain gear,cover and extra clothes and other light weight stuff. I also have a couple of top bags off T-Bags but they dont work as well as the heavy fabric gym bag. Rod

Funny story I found, enjoy. Some of us wear BMW style two piece "open chin" helmets - you know the type - where the lower chin piece can be opened by pressing two thumb locks. Some people have also fitted their bikes with electronic cruise control or a version which operates on friction on the throttle - either way they hold the speed of the bike reasonably constant without any input from one's throttle hand. We also all wear gloves which invariably fasten around the wrist with either a velcro flap or a press stud; some of the more expensive types have a zip fastener as well, among other features. Picture if you will, one lone BMW rider with an opening chin helmet and a pair of good quality velcro fastened gloves sailing along the Hume Highway at 115 kph (that's all I'll admit to!!) dialled in on the electronic cruise control. Weather is good, no cars in the immediate vicinity, scenery is boring, no cops, life is good!! Junction of highway with Albury/Wodonga Road about 5 km away, no need to slow down yet; bike is running beautifully!! Looking forward to lunch. Bugger! Is that a bee that just got into my helmet through the small gap I've left for some fresh air? Could be. Well, I'll just open my helmet visor to let him out. Visor up ... no, the little bugger is going to be stubborn, cantankerous even! He's not going to leave and is now behind my sunnies, must be tired from all that pollen hunting. Don't want to be stung on the eyelid-I'll just open the chin piece on my BMW helmet (very handy) and get him out .... let go of handlebars .... squeeze the release buttons bike is nicely balanced and holding line well ... speed steady ... no cars >... this should be easy ... got the helmet open ... glasses off ... piss off bee! ... glasses on ... slam shut helmet ... hands back to bars ---- oh, sheeite! Thumbs of both gloves jammed in helmet!!! Gloves won't move even though I'm pulling like hell!! Wow, this will be interesting... can't quite press the release buttons with little fingers ... junction now 3.5 km away ... I know, I'll just pull one or both hands out of my gloves.... no, that doesn't work: "velcro is good stuff, won't come undone if you fall off!" I remember the salesman saying that. He was absolutely right, they're stuck fast, I'd have to tear my head off first . Well, next brilliant idea, what if I just touched the foot brake --- nooo, dumb idea! That won't work, this airhead beemer has great engine braking and when I get to about 40 kph and can't balance the bike any longer and the dreaded BMW boxer wheel-wobble starts, which it will, I am going to have major tank slappers --- sheeeiite!! I'll be off on my bum so quick and still hanging onto my helmet so tightly they'll have to bury me in it!! Won't do the bike much good either!!! Hell, I can see the junction up ahead about one and half k's away and I am really starting to get the wind up ... tense even ... certain parts are beginning to pucker ... if the lights change to red and that huge B-double waiting at the lights is in the middle of the intersection when I get there, jeeesus, I'm going to be a hood ornament next to that bloody chrome bull dog!! Must try and pull hands really hard ... can I make them any smaller >... 800 metres ... the left one is giving a little ... maybe the gloves are slipping on the sweat now pouring from every pore ... 600 metres yes, yes, that's it, they're wet with sweat ....... I am going to have to hit the footbrake in the next few seconds ... can't hit that @#$*&@ big truck at this speed, it might scratch his duco ... yes! yes! ripper! Got the left hand out ... now hit foot brake to cancel cruise, de-clutch and slow bike with foot brake ... steer for the shoulder ... slowing down ... slide foot... stop ... ease out clutch to stall bike ... side stand down ...switch off bike with left hand, right hand still glued to helmet ...tintops going past must think I've got toothache ... fall off into grass... lay there for 5 minutes till the shaking stops and the adrenaline rush dissipates... now release helmet with left hand and remove sweat soaked head. Breathe out ---- shizer! Was that ever close! I'll buy a Tatts ticket in Albury! When I had recovered, I realised there were two observation here: -No. 1: It's not a good idea to open or shut your helmet when on the move. and No. 2: Did you know, "adrenalin" is brown!! Rod

Here is a link to a great step by step tire changing website. Good luck Rod http://www.clarity.net/~adam/tire-changing.html

That was good! It took many hours of practice to be able to do those maneuvers. Rod

http://www.mcmaster.com/ has a good selection of screws. Locally I would look at the hot rod shops or auto parts. Good luck Rod

I run 5 psi in the front and 40 psi in the rear. More on the rear if on a trip 2 up and loaded. Rod

On the cool vests. A friend gave us the first ones they bought, they do not last as long because they have some sort of fabric not the crystals. They last about 1 1/2hrs. The replacements they got with the crystals are good for most of the day. We made neck scarves with the crystals that "Gadget" bought in bulk for cheap. We have large ziplock baggies that we keep the cool vests in and put the vests in at every stop to keep them wet. We like them a lot and we ride in the heat all summer long. The mesh jackets and cool vest are a great combo. Rod

When we went to the North rim we stayed at the cabins at Jacobs Lake. Much cheaper and a nice ride to the Grand Canyon. Be sure to get gas before you get to the entrance the gas is $$$ in the park. I like the north rim much better than the South Rim. We will be going in May. Rod