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bobbyduck

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  1. bobbyduck
    Many of you have read my previous rants but I'll go again anyhow. My 2006 RSTD had the whine so bad that with the windshield off and BUB slipons installed, at 70 MPH I could only hear the whine! I returned it to my dealer (Blackfoot Motorsports in Calgary, Alberta) after 4 days of ownership and with 1000 km on it, and asked for a warranty claim and a new "i" basket, after reading many threads on the pre-crash version of this site. The dealer asked the regional rep, Star Yee about it. The reply was, "We are VERY aware of this problem. There is a brand new fix coming out in the summer, wait until then and we'll fix it for sure." So, we waited because that seemed reasonable enough, if not what I wanted to hear. Then in April I was chatting with Salty in Cold Lake Alberta. He had gotten the same story from Star Yee in the fall of 2005. The "new fix" was sent to his dealer with instructions from Star Yee that it was not to be installed until Star was present. But after 3 weeks of Salty's bike being held hostage, Star just never had time to get there so the dealer went ahead and opened the package to install it. Guess what, it was an "i" basket! And it fixed about 80% of the whine, from what I understand. When I heard this, I went back to my dealer, who went back to Star Yee, and after a lot of discussion it was admitted that the "new fix" is the same "i" basket that I asked for originally! It took another month of wrangling to get a warranty claim opened at Yamaha Canada and to get the "i" basket ordered. The message from Yamaha Canada was that they will do this once only, and if it gets worse instead of better, I would have to pay out of pocket to re-install the old basket! I complained (at first tactfully then very bitterly) to the main Yamaha Canada office. The rep, Karine Beland, said they investigated my complaint about Star Yee and found it to be without merit. Further she went on to say things like, "well you know, sounds are subjective. Many motorcyclists modify their bikes to make more sound instead of less"... (Like anyone anywhere would ever install whiny gears on purpose!) Gimme a break!!!! Other than my dealer, who was excellent throughout this whole thing, no-one at Yamaha was even the slightest bit apologetic, nor would they acknowledge that there was anything wrong whatsoever except that I wouldn't tolerate the noise, basically what is wrong with me and why am I bothering them! The new "i" basket fixed about 80%, and switching to Amsoil knocked it out completely. So I really love this wonderful bike now, it's the best ever. But after 32 years and 11 Yamaha's that I loved every one of, I'll never ever buy another Yamaha product because of their attitude. Those Yamaha's included a first gen Venture and a VMax, both of which I loved and DID NOT whine! The egotistical belligerence that Yamaha intentionally and with highest management approval uses to browbeat recipients of their poor quality control is just too much for me to tolerate. Never again, I am very sad to have to say. Bob LeDuc Calgary, Alberta
  2. bobbyduck
    I have BUB slipons, K&N filters, otherwise stock. Here in Calgary we are at 3000+ feet. On the Dyno, my tuner liked curve 2 the best - curve 3 was dropping off above 6600 RPMs, also curve 2 was a bit more robust at low end. I have the limiter set at 7250 and it's still building when it hits it. I haven't lived with it for long yet but the difference is noticeable. My tuner didn't see any need to touch the jets / needles etc. It may be that at this altitude the pilot circuit isn't too lean..... Cheers, Bob LeDuc
  3. bobbyduck
    Here's the stock one and the new passing lamp bracket (attached word doc). Can anyone show me the piece that I am missing? There is no mention of anything else in the stuff I got from Yamaha....
  4. bobbyduck
    Help! I am installing the RSTD passing lamps and bracket from Yamaha onto my 2006 RSTD. On the old turn-signal bracket, there is a threaded boss that is used to attach the bottom headlight mount screw. But, on the replacement piece that holds both turn signals and passing lamps, there is nothing for the bottom of the headlight to screw to! So it's just hanging and kinda flopping around on the two top screws and their fairly spongy rubber mounts. Has anyone already made up a bracket to fill this gap? Have a picture? I am not a fabricating sort of a guy...... Any help would be appreciated! Thanks, Bob LeDuc
  5. bobbyduck
    Sorry but you are wrong! I switched to BUBs that have about 2/3 of the baffles left, and I took off the windshield to further stop the noise from reverberating off the shield. With the original clutch basket, at 70 mph, I could hear the SCREAM far far louder than the pipes and the wind combined! I know that all XVZ v-four riders hear a bit of it, and many folks here think that the few that get a really bad one are just whining about that little sound, but when you get a real screamer the bike is almost unusable. I had people standing 200 yards away when I entered and left work and they made it a point to tell me I had something wrong with my bike! The "I" basket, which I understand is polished 1 micron further than the "H" basket, fixed about 80 to 90 percent of it. Amsoil blotted the rest.... Bob LeDuc Calgary, Alberta
  6. bobbyduck
    For what it's worth, and this is certainly a subject that evokes strong opinions - I think you need a minimum of 5000 miles break-in with regular oil before you switch to synthetic. This is to get everything seated correctly. Both my dealer and a local engine builder with a good reputation actually recommend 10,000 kM, or about 6250 miles.... Good luck with the chirp. Btw, I don't think it will improve much if it's really loud now. I'm betting you need a different clutch basket..... Cheers, Bob LeDuc
  7. bobbyduck
    Yes - you use it instead of oil. Great stuff....
  8. bobbyduck
    Hi Bob, You can usually find Amsoil locally by looking under Amsoil in the white pages, many dealers sell it from their homes. Or you can Google Amsoil, get to their home page, and order it there, they will ship it to you. I have run it in air- and liquid-cooled bikes for many years with excellent results. When I have converted air-cooled XS650 and KZ1000 motors, every time I have had to lower the idle speed because there is so much less friction - even compared to Belray or Golden Spectro....! Their website carries the test data etc. from various industry-standard tests. Personally I think it's the best lubricant going, but when it comes to oil, plugs, tires, and gasoline most people have very their own way of seeing things.....so I certainly don't enter the debate! One thing with Amsoil, you shouldn't run it until everything is really well broken in. It's so slick, your rings and stuff won't seat properly. That's why I ran about 13,500 kM befor putting it in... Cheers, Bob LeDuc
  9. bobbyduck
    Hey Salty, Too late! Already have obtained Jardine billet wheels for the RSTD. HD Tour-Pak and Radio Caddy batwing fairing are in transit. Gonna bring it up to full dresser trim..... I probably should have bought the Venture but I didn't and if I try to sell my 1 year old 2006 RSTD I'll get scr*w*d (with no kiss) so am going to grow my own using the parts Robin and I choose... I sure would try the Amsoil in your much quieter Venture that was also a screamer until you finally got the "I" basket. It absolutely 100 percent erased the much-diminished-but-still-there-scream, it's hard for me to believe and I rode it 340 kM on January 25th so the memory is pretty fresh! Cheers, Bob
  10. bobbyduck
    My 2006 RSTD was a murderous screaming ***** when I got her. With the windshield OFF and new BUB slip-ons installed, at 110 km/hr I could hear ONLY the scream and it was LOUD. After 6 months of lies, foot-dragging, and various other forms of harassmant, Star Yee at Yamaha of western Canada finally let my dealer have an "i" basket to install. That knocked out probably 90 percent of the noise, to a point where it was very liveable. Then I switched to Amsoil at about 13,000 km and the entire noise is completely gone. I hear nothing but pipes and valvetrain noise now, as it should be and was on my 84 Venture Royale and 85 VMax... You are right that somebody at Yamaha should take an AXXKICKING. This whole thing never should have happened to even one bike, much less the huge numbers that Yamaha has shipped then lied, cheated and in general tried not to fix. They have obviously developed a corporate strategy and have all of the factory service reps primed to try to talk you and your dealer out of addressing it. One factory rep (Karine Beland) at Yamaha Canada even had the gall to say that "Noise is subjective. Some people even modify their motorcycles so that they will make more noise instead of less". This after I had carefully explained that I had at least 60,000 miles on earlier two seperate XVZ12 drivetrains, not to mention about 20 other bikes that included 11 Yamahas! Personally I never heard of anyone changing their bike to make the gear train louder..?? The worst is that Yamaha flat refused to admit that there was any real issue, and would not even show a hint of an apology that my gear train was so atrociously loud. They treated me as if I were a spoiled child that was trying to take advantage, and how could I be so unreasonable about NOTHING! Anyhow, the scream is gone now and this is clearly the most enjoyable bike that I have ever owned. But, speaking only for myself, I will NEVER EVER buy a new Yamaha product again. The factory-sponsored campaign of denial, deception, and outright BS that I encountered over this has done it for me. I may own another Yamaha product but I won't buy it new.....and I'll danged sure give it a good running before it comes home with me. Cheers, Bob LeDuc Calgary, AB
  11. bobbyduck
    There were many posts about Avon Venom X tires before the crash. Also the advantages of using the MT90 16 (130/90) Profile tire on the front. It is the same circumference as stock but a narrower profile. The posts were right. I installed them last year and put on 8500 km, they are great. Low speed cornering is much improved, as well as high-speed stability and braking. Also they are excellent in the rain. And they still look new, even with a heavy load and a heavy throttle hand.... I can't speak to the leveling link as I'm too short to install one, but I sure do like the Avons! Good Luck! Bob LeDuc
  12. bobbyduck
    HeeHee - I think I'm the wrong Bob but I'll answer anyhow. I bought the Ultimate seat with both passenger and rider matching backrests, right before we took a 3000 km, 7 day trip through B.C and MOntana last year. It was immediately a lot better than the stock seat. I especially like the infinite adjustability of the rider backrest. My wife also liked it better right away. When it actually got the most comfortable was late in the trip, coincidentally after a thorough drenching that soaked into the seat through the stitching. It is definitely superior to the stock seat. That being said, we still had to get off after about an hour or maybe 75 minutes, even by the end of the trip which is usually when you can sit the longest. My wife feels it more than I but we both do. Then two weeks ago we rented a Harley Ultra with stock seat and did 800 miles in Arizona. One stretch, we were caught in a backup and were on the bike over two hours. Neither one of us was hurting even a little, and we had not even been on a bike since early October! So I am debating between the Diamond and Russell Day-Long, and when I am done will sell the Ultimate, I think. My concern with the Day-Long is a reported issue with in-seam challenge, which is also a minor issue with the Ultimate for me. (5'6", 29 inch inseam, beer belly...). Also, as comfortable as I am sure the Russell seats are while cruising, they are a bit ungainly looking in my opinion. So I am leaning towards the Diamond while I vacillate and think about it.... Bob LeDuc Calgary
  13. bobbyduck
    Looks good - is that the factory Yamaha Venture Rack? Thanks!
  14. bobbyduck
    I can't see how you could add risers due the location / mounting arrangement for the speedometer pod. How would you deal with that? Bob LeDuc
  15. bobbyduck
    I tried to view your gallery and it says there aren't any pictures. Could you send at least one showing the mounted tour-pack? Also ho did you connect the Harley hardware to the Yamaha frame? Thanks!
  16. bobbyduck
    I am thinking of installing a Harley Ultra or similar type tour pack on my RSTD. Does anyone have any experiences to share with similar mods? Any ideas about using the existing quick-detach sissy bar hardware would especially be appreciated. Thanks in advance! Bob LeDuc Calgary, Alberta
  17. bobbyduck
    Yeah Jeff - sorry for the delay in getting back, had to go to Arizona and ride around for the holidays..Roadie rack is PN STR-4WM51-10-01. It bolts right on with the slightest persuasion to make it fit at the licence bracket end. Good Luck!
  18. bobbyduck
    Speaking for myself, I came back up to a big bike from an XS650 and was of course pleased with the RSTD. I owned a 1st gen Venture Royale and Kawasaki Voyager XII in the 80s and didn't really want that sort of bike again. So now after 1 season - 13,500 very enjoyable kilometers - I rented a Harley Ultra over Christmas in Arizona and both the wife and I realy enjoyed the stereo and tour pack etc. for 800 miles. So I could go sell my 2006 bike and take a beating and buy an Ultra for like $30-$35k in Alberta. Or take the same beating and then go buy a Venture. And give up the perfect no-whine, (finally) I-basket equipped, proven working bike I broke in and already love. Or I could add the pieces that I now want to mine and make it my own in the process. And not take the first year depreciation beating. So that works for me. Y'all can do whatever you want with your bikes...!
  19. bobbyduck
    Reply to: Havent seen that brand. Do you have a link so we can see? Here's a link to a dealer in Airdrie AB. He puts them on the Boss Hoss bikes that he sells. www.destinationcycles.com/BatwingFairings.htm Venture fairings are hard to find all of the mounting parts for and are really expensive when you do. I'll probably switch to Venture or Harley Ultra bars if I do it. Iim still looking at options. I did ride an Ultra for 800 miles last week and really like the position and wind protection...both were a lot better for me than the RSTD with stock removable windshield and beach bars.. Serge at Premeux says he shipped one to a 2006 RSTD owner recently, and that the customer was happy with it....but no pictures so I am wondering about whether the stereo pocket will clear the dask with speedo....
  20. bobbyduck
    I am considering installing a Premeaux batwing fairing with radio kit and 6.5 inch speaker holes onto my 2006 RSTD. Has anyone tried one of these on an '05 or later RSTD? Feedback? Thanks!
  21. bobbyduck
    I have the same luggage rack, the mounts consist of some cast blocks that some other brackets bolt to. They clip the sissy bar in between to make a clamp-sorta connection. I much prefer the Road Star luggage rack that bolts to the seat bolt and licence bracket. I ran for 3000 km with it this last summer, loaded way too high and too heavy, it worked great! I had at least 80 pounds on it in cold weather, and probably over 100 pounds when it was hot and the leathers came off....I'd say it was an adequate stress test with no problems at all. The best thing about the Roadie rack is that it sits abouit 3 inches lower on the bike, roughly perpindicular to the bottom of the passenger seat. So your entire load is lower and therefore so is the centre of gravity, Also gives you more room because you don't lose the 3 inches of empty space. One note, the Roadie rack doesn't pop off with the sissy bar. But it still looks good with the sissy bar off, I think. Cheers, Bob LeDuc
  22. bobbyduck
    From Highway 1 (Trans Canada Highway) take Highway 40 south through Kananaskis Country and keep going higher through the Pass and finally down to Highway 22 near Turner Valley. Note that this route is only open between June 15th and December 1st. It is very high elevation, you are often looking down at the vegetation line. Awesome scenery! There is a small gas station / convenience store about half way through the ride. Bob LeDuc
  23. bobbyduck
    I guess I'm wierd - I like the RSTD horn, it's different!
  24. bobbyduck
    06 Midnight RSTD, 83 XS650, 78XS650 (750 Kit) and 82 KZ1000J2 (1170 kit) Good to be back!
  25. bobbyduck
    Baron's offers a front end lowering kit - also includes an upgraded handling valve and springs etc. Haven't tried it or talked to anyone who has but for what it's worth, check them out.
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