Bobby G
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Everything posted by Bobby G
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The low point in the pan pretty much explains this descrepancy for me. Thanks.
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Just changed the oil in the RSV after the long hot trip to FLA and back, and for the 3rd change in a row, I'm only getting just under 3 qts. of oil to drain out, including what's in the filter. And it's only taking the same amount of new oil to cover the view window to the 3/4 mark when the bike is upright after running the new stuff through for 10 or 15 minutes. Either I'm doing something really wrong or dumb, or the capacity is off by a good 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart of oil. I check the level before and after every ride I take, and I've never had to add any after the fact either. Very strange.
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We were on a Royal Caribbean ship called Grandeur of the Seas. Smaller ship than their other ones, and a little older, but we had a great time. The service, food and amenities were all in the "good to excellent" range, and this was my 8th cruise with RCCL. And the price for a 5 day cruise was unbelievable - $279 each. You can't stay in a Motel 6 for that price for 5 nights!
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Back home in GA after a glorious vacation. This is my first opportunity to get back on a PC, and I wanted to thank everyone who jumped in to assist with my little clutch problem last Monday when I arrived in Ft. Lauderdale. I did find a mechanic that was open on Labor day (The Bike Doctor - - his name is Bob), and he was able to take care of the problem, which apparently was old fluid that needed to be changed out. He bled the line, filled it with DOT 5.1, and that fixed it. Total cost: $20! (But I tipped him pretty well for the quick service.) No issues at all getting back home. Did almost 1,600 miles on the trip (not including the cruise to Grand Caymen and Cozumel!). Again, thanks for everyone's concern, advice and suggestions. (Here's a few pics from the trip.)
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Whoever you are in Jacksonville, thanks for the call! (I didn't catch your name - sorry!) I think I will try to have the line bled on Saturday before I head home. It's pretty dark in color and it probably boiled up pretty good. Anybody in the area want to have a whack at it while we're gone, you're more than welcome! Leaving the keys with Tom. His number is 201-927-1155. The bike is at his house about 10 minutes from downtown Ft. Lauderdale. (How's that for trusting your fellow Venture Riders!) Full reimbursement for time and materials will be made, of course. Gotta go catch a ship...... You guys rock!
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Made it 700 miles from Marietta GA to Ft. Lauderdale no problem. But when I pulled off the exit yesterday after the last 120 miles, my clutch was about gone. Very loose play in the clutch, and obviously very difficult to shift. Had to limp it in the last 8 miles in 2nd gear. I let it cool down and checked the reservoir and it was full, and checked it again this morning, and it seems to be back up to the normal pressure on the clutch handle. But still seems more difficult to shift. Any ideas as to what might be causing this to happen? We leave on a cruise today and return Saturday, and then leave for the 700 mile return trip to GA. I'm hoping someone may have some experience with this particular situation and can recommend a quick fix for me to get it home (other than the obvious rental car and trailer route!) Thanks.
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Many of my riding buds have switched over the last 2 or 3 years from Road Stars or Sportsters or 'Wings over to the Ultra Classic. Not me. I'm really sold on all of the benefits of the RSV, and can easily live with the current deficiencies. As long as parts remain available to keep it going, I'm sticking with it. It's just too comfortable and too reliable to switch to anything else. How can you beat 4-cyl, shaft drive, liquid cooled, cruise and comfy pillow tops? I get 45+ mpg, and have an ipod full of tunes, GPS w/bluetooth, Sirius Radio, CB/AM/FM, guages, and tons of storage, plus a nice new (used) cool little trailer for the longer trips. Who could ask for more?
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I should have also mentioned that the offers you got for assistance from these other guys are outstanding, and speak to the kind of first class folks we have here on this board. I just threw my guy out to you as another alternative for you. Either way, I'm sure you'll be up and riding soon - - on time and under budget!
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Don. Sending you a PM on this. My mechanic is a retired Yamaha engineer, and is 100% certified as a mechanic on the Venture. He is in business for himself now, and does outstanding work. Maybe the most meticulous mechanic I've ever met. He is a total professional, has a full blown repair set up at his home in Canton GA (about 130 miles from you), and is extremely reasonable on his pricing. I dare say about 1/2 to 1/3 of what a dealer would charge. I bought my '99 Venture from him, and he was the original owner. I would trust it to no one else for anything. Bobby
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Looks like you're going to get some of Earl's wind and rain bands, but not a direct hit. That's a good thing I guess, considering the alternative. I was worried for a few days, as we are leaving for south FLA from Atlanta on Friday on the bikes, and then on a 5 night cruise starting Monday. But the ship heads west to Grand Caymen and Cozumel, so we should be out of harms way by a 1000 miles or so. There are some scattered T-storms in the forecast later in the week, but otherwise we should be OK. Now, if you want some outstanding riding weather, the north GA, TN and NC mountain areas are forecasting sunny skies and mid 80's for the next 10 days! WOW! If you ride it out down there, hunker down and good luck!
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Good: http://wingstuff.com/pgroup_detail/26740_IMC_Gold_Wing_Helmetless_OR_Half_Helmet Better: http://wingstuff.com/pgroup_detail/3145_Slide_In_Shorty_Half_Helmet_J_M_Helmet_Headset Best: Haven't found one yet!
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For me, it's just a little peace of mind. I have always changed my vehicles' oil and filter at 3K to 4K mile intervals. Same with the bikes since I started riding again. That's about 3 changes a year. The $40 bucks it costs per change is what I usually spend eating out with the wife on a Friday or Saturday night, so it's not that big a deal. The final drive lube on the RSV gets changed out every 3rd oil change, or about once, maybe twice a year. No biggie. So if that is over-maintaining, I have no problem with that. My RSV is purring like a kitten on this schedule with 51K, and the H-D Softail is doing great as well with 42K. *Pauses to knock on wood*! As to how long it takes, it's usually a pleasurable 30 minutes in the man cave, including clean up. Actually, if I over-maintain anything, it might be cleaning the K&N air filters. But that's just a phobia of mine. Thanks for stirring the pot a little on this. I enjoy reading everyone's differing opinions and suggestions.
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Sorry for the small pics. I was using my cell phone camera, and the pixel size is very small. I'll post a few larger ones ASAP. I also discovered that the external sensor and associated wire can be eliminated, as the internal one measures the same temp. Looks better that way too. And I got rained on pretty good last night, and it's still working!
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I'm hearing way too many stories like this one lately. Almost got pasted by a minivan today on my way to the doctor. The lady came flying out of her subdivision, never looked to the left, was on her cell phone, and only at the last possible second did she see me having to swerve into the on-coming lane to avoid her. I let her have it at the next light, but she never looked at me or even got off her damn phone. My thoughts and prayers are with your friend's family for peace, strength, and comfort.
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I found this cheapie time and temp guage at Wally World for $9. It's battery powered (1 AAA), shows both ambient and direct sunlight temps, and has a nice LED clock readout with a green backlight with a push of a button. I mounted it with two small pieces of hook & loop tape just below the right front speaker, and ran the sensor to the inside of the front fairing on the far right. Seems to be waterproof as well. Not a bad pick up for $9 bucks.
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I have been a member since April of 2007, and am a former Ride Captain here in GA. As its primary mission, the PGR has successfully stood in honor of our Fallen Heroes and shielded their families from unwanted guests or protesters. Virtually none of that exists anymore, at least not down here, so the mission seems to have expanded some. I am no longer a RC, but I still attend missions when I can. Personally, I do not fly a PGR flag on any escort for a fallen soldier or veteran. Just the American Flag, the one they fought for, and in too many cases, died for, and sometimes the service flag of whatever branch of service they were in. Seeing those yellow and blue flags at a funeral mission just looks wrong to me, kind of like "advertising". I have no problem with windshield banners, patches, pins, stickers and the like. Just the flag at a memorial service. I also have been very involved in other organizations that focus more on our service members currently surving, like the Warriors Watch Riders. It's a good balance of things for me, and I like meeting and supporting our troops, doing welcome home and send off missions, saying thank you to home-bound veterans, etc. More of the "feel good" missions. One funeral service after another really tends to take it's toll emotionally. Thanks for stepping up to be involved in the PGR or any organization that supports our military!
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Ted: If your bike is financed with either Sheffield, GE or HSBC, let me know. I may have some contacts that I can turn you on to to try to get something done to hold them off.
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Some new thoughts on clutch basket whine
Bobby G replied to straycatt's topic in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)
I really like the new Cross Country. Thanks for the review info. One thing I noticed in what Victory has done relates to the "whine" issue they had. Here's what they said: "But more importantly, Victory has alleviated the annoying whine from the previous tranny’s spur-type gears by employing new helical-cut gears. These reduce noise dramatically, a significant 6 to 10 dBA, depending on which gear is chosen, now allowing Victory’s touring models to meet Euro noise regs. The quieter gears (including a primary-drive gear-tooth geometry tweak) have a nice side benefit of letting engineers hog out the size of the exhaust’s outlet tips to emit a more satisfying rumble from the tailpipe." So if Victory can address this issue, I wonder why Yamaha never has? Interesting...... -
The Dayton Flyers! (Hey, non-scholarship 1-AA schools play football too!) Also, I concur with the prior post about the SEC.... ANY TEAM PLAYING FLORIDA! (Gator Hater!)
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The options are endless down that way. My only suggestion for him would be to stay either north, east or southeast of Union City, and not southwest, which would put him in the congested commute flowing toward the airport and downtown areas in the morning, and conversely the other way in the afternoon. Lots of "country space" down that way, including Fairburn, Palmetto and the Chattahoochee Hill Country. Lots of options. If he prefers city living, it'll be more of a commute, but at least he'll be going against the general inbound flow of traffic from the southwest.
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If he works in or near downtown (including Midtown or Buckhead), the Midtown/Virginia Highlands area is a great place to start looking. Tons of options for a well healed single guy. My daughter lives down that way near Lindburgh Station and loves it. It's 10 to 15 minutes to anywhere down there. If he is working anywhere in the 'burbs - Gwennett, north Fulton, Cobb, etc - he needs to position himself so that he lives in a direction that goes against the general flow of the morning and afternoon commutes. It's easy to look at the ATL and see that it's a city with a big X through it (I-75 and I-85), a circle around it (I-285), and a horizontal line cutting right through the middle of it (I-20). Most morning traffic generally flows from all directions toward the perimeter (I-285). There are some exceptions to this (ie: GA-400, the main north/south artery north of Atlanta, which sucks in both directions all hours of the day!), but you get the general idea. When you can be more specific about where he works, I think we can give you some better suggestions.
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My sister in law is a policy writer for the EPA in Washington, and she says that the target for 4-cycle engine conversions away from carbs is 2016. They are more concerned with 2-cycle emissions right now. For some reason, the EPA is much more hung up on pollution particle counts from lawn mowers and weed wackers than they are with motorcycles. We're kind of an afterthought in the general "automotive/transportation" category with the EPA. And the rule making takes years to finalize and implement, so carburated bikes, ATV's and other powersports products are probably not going anywhere for another 4 or 5 years at least.
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I agree. It's on the list of "to do's" in the next two weeks, right after I flush and replace the coolant, replace the final drive fluid, clean the K&N's, replace the front brake pads, adjust the clutch cable, and rewire the LED's. (I need a Maintenance Day scheduled for north GA soon! LOL!) Then I need to rob a bank!
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READ MY LIPS----- NO NEW TAXES!!!!!! (oops, wrong speech) NO NEW VENTURE FOR 2011!!!!! Here's the scoop. Yamaha only has one or two 2011 new bike introductions that will be announced in September, with delivery to U.S. dealers beginning sometime in the Spring. They are not even in the cruiser or touring category. As far as "fixes" for the current Venture configuration, we may see some upgrades in a 2012 "XL" model, like a CD instead of the tape deck, passing lamps as standard equipment, a new color scheme, upgraded horn, and possibly a slightly revised dash with more and/or better gauges. The base platform will remain the same - same engine, final drive, carburation, clutch (), bags, etc. I'm told that there is no plan to discontinue the RSV in deference to a bulked up Stratoliner with trunk and bags added. It's a whole different demographic with that bike. The 2012 "Venture XL" (or some similar designation) is intended to give it some distinction from the current model. I'm also told that the dealers don't know s--t about anything going on with 2011 or beyond, so anything they tell you is pure conjecture. By the way, my source is a senior level manager with Yamaha in Cypress CA, who deals with all business divisions within the company in the U.S. And while he is not privy to everything, I believe what he tells me.
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I would be going, but I'm doing it one better - - spending the day Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway at the Buck Baker Driving School! Can't wait to get that puppy cranked up to about 160!