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StarQ

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Everything posted by StarQ

  1. StarQ
    Could it be that a bag lady upgraded her shopping cart for a scooter?
  2. StarQ
    Avon Venom X You can call Avon, they will give you specs based on your bike, including recommended tire pressures.
  3. StarQ
    2% of the toxic gasses in the atmosphere come from cow flatulence.
  4. StarQ
    Check for loose connections. It could be you have a dirty or loose connection that tightens up with heat. Pull the fuse, check it, clean the contacts or maybe replace it just because. The relay could be binding until it warms up. I'd replace it just because, also. Troubleshooting: * Do both left and right turn signals act the same? If so, it's something common to both. For example, it could be the feed TO the switch but unlikely it's the load side of the switch. Relay, supply wire, relay ground wire, etc. * If it's only one side, check the lamps for that side, check for corrosion in the socket, check the ground wire.
  5. StarQ
    Only 6 hours? I once rode my '84 1st Gen from Maine to Philadelphia, 14 hours straight stopping only to eat and fuel up. I never got tired of riding my VR. On another trip I rode from Georgia to PA straight in 17 hours. Loved my 1st Gen. I wish I was more into fixing up bikes. The VR needs too much for me to want to spend a lot of time on it to get it back on the road. I went with the '07 RSTD rather than fixing up the VR. I'm still undecided with what I'm going to do with my '84 VR.
  6. StarQ
    I put a "This bike climbed Mt Washington" sticker on the lower portion of the back fender (the black part) of my '84 VR. I was proud to display it. If you've never taken a bike to the top of Mt Washington, you should. If you have, you should do it again. I rode up twice on my VR and hiked up it once.
  7. StarQ
    For my '84 VR, I went to Radio Shack and bought a bag of alligator clips for a few dollars. I generally got the small copper ones. Clipped them right on the louver to keep them open. When I want to close them, I moved the clips to the vent-like spots on the fairings next to the handlebars.
  8. StarQ
    Are you replacing your headling often enough to justify $228 per person? Someone posted elsewhere that they found a 9003 Super White 50/60 watt lamp for $5. That's about 46 replacements. I think in 10 years I've replaced a headlight twice on my bike, once was to go to a higher wattage highbeam 50/100 (The socket didn't like the extra heat by the way).
  9. StarQ
    Although unlikely, I was concerned with someone walking off with my quick-release windshield. I drilled a small hole in the metal bracket for a small padlock. The hole is just big enough for the shackel to go through so the lock can't be moved to the side. I suppose if someone worked at it they could get the windshield off. However, the lock gives me a little piece of mind when the bike is parked unattended.
  10. StarQ
    Left and right wear with less in the center could mean the tire is underinflated, the number one cause of improper tire wear. Low tire pressure causes the contact patch to bear the weight of the bike more on the edges.
  11. StarQ
    I rode my '84 Venture Royale for many years. I love the bike. The only reason I got the RSTD is because I wanted to go newer rather than repair and restore the VR. If you get the Venture, you will love it. I don't know much about the Wing so I can only offer my opinion of the Venture. I believe the Venture has more lean-angle than the Wing. I like the design of the Venture better, too. It always rode like a sport bike even though it's a tourer. It got even better when I put Avon Venom-X tires on it. One time a couple of sport bikes decided to pass me and take the twisties at high speeds. I was in one of "those" moods so I twisted the throttle and caught up to them in a flash. I ran right behind them while they navigated the road turns going very fast. Oh, I was fully loaded with camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, pillows, water container, ground cloth) on the back seat and trunk, bags and trunk were loaded with camp stove, clothes, food, camera, etc. The Venture rode like there was nothing on the back. I was much quieter than the sport bikes, too.
  12. StarQ
    I recently added driving lights to my RSTD. I searched the internet for light bars, mounts, etc. After coming up with light sets costing $279 or more, I went to Pep Boys and bought a set of driving lights for about $30. I installed the lights where the front side reflectors were mounted (light2.jpg and light4.jpg). There are spade connectors under the heat-shrink tube so they can easily be disconnected,only having to replace the heat-shrink tube. The ground wire is mounted using a ring connector under the same bolt holding the light to the original bracket. I used nail polish to keep the nut and bolt from loosening. I couldn't find my lok-tite. Wires are ty-wrapped lightly to the brake lines. The switch is screwed to the plastic underside of the seat (light3.jpg). Spade connectors easily let me disconnect the seat for complete removal. I added the pilot light because it was too easy to walk away from the bike leaving the driving lights on. I didn't want to drill holes in the bike yet so I mounted a pilot light to the wire harness on the right handlbar (light1.jpg). I used heat-shrink tube to cover the pilot light, two different sizes to step down from the polit light size to the wire size. Mounted with ty-wraps. At some point I may drill a hole to permanently mount the pilot light. I chose blue so it would not distract me while driving at night. The lights are wired directly to the battery using ring connectors. The switch and wire harness came with the lights so no relay was required. Load wire to the lights is run under the tank. Under the fork head I used a butt connector to connect the driving light feed and pilot light feed to the supply wire. I like the quality of light coming from a driving light (rather than fog light) at a lower angle than the headlight. They do a nice job of filling in where the headlight misses. 55 watts each light.
  13. StarQ
    Do you have the air intake vented to the rear as shown on the instructions?
  14. StarQ
    Crowned roads can, in fact, account for left-hand side tire wear. This is because most roads are crowned so most of your driving is the equivalent of leaning slightly left all the time. Something else many riders don't realize is the Coriolis effect makes left and right turns feel different. Check out this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect
  15. StarQ
    I would consider plugging a back tire but not a front. 70% of your braking is in the front. A back tire going flat is usually easier to manage while driving than a front. It comes down to what are you comfortable riding? How about your passenger? [i think you are going to hear it both ways. some plug while others say its a cardinal sin. ]
  16. StarQ
    It sounds like you might have a loose ground wire. Pressure on the pedal could be temporarily tightening the connection. Look around and see what electrical parts might be moving slightly with the pedal pressure. Clean and tighten the connections. Concerning the engine cut-off switch, I'd replace it. The symptoms you describe aren't normal, the switch is probably going bad. Swap it out before you end up not being able ti disengage it.
  17. StarQ
    Thanks for the replies. I figured the fuel pump arrangement would minimize seepage into the engine.
  18. StarQ
    I have an 07 RSTD. Do you turn the fuel valve to "off" when you leave the bike? I always left my '84 VR valve in the "On" position unless the bike was going to sit for several weeks, I don't think I ever had a problem. I'm wondering how the RSTD is with this.
  19. StarQ
    I understand the desire to be seen, I teach the motorcycle safety course. However, me personally, I am somewhat like Homer Simpson when it comes to flashing lights. My eyes are light sensitive and easily attracted to shiny, moving objects. I have found myself almost running into another biker's backend because of target-fixation on their flashing LED brakelight. Headlight modulators are the same way. I'm not saying get rid of them or don't use them, just understand that you may be creating a new hazard while solving another. I, too, would not ride in front of another bike with a modulated headlight.
  20. StarQ
    Do the keys later in the evening and not on a weekend. Otherwise, you'll end up behind lots and lots of boats on trailers. It's a great ride, though. Take a picture of Rt 1, 0 mile marker while you're there. I rode back in the evening and saw several shooting stars. I recommend if you get to Pomano Beach, go the rest of the way to the keys while you're that close.
  21. StarQ
    Hello, I am about 45 minutes west of Philadelphia. When I head south, I usually take Rt 1 into Maryland rather than I-95. I took I-81 South to the Carolinas a few years back. It's probably out of your way but it's a much nicer ride than I-95. If you end up near West Chester, PA, stop in for lunch or dinner.
  22. StarQ
    I'd like one.
  23. StarQ
    Check your oil, make sure the fuel isn't leaking into the crank case. Do you see any kind of puddle on the ground around the bike?
  24. StarQ
    I use one saddle bag for me, one for the passenger. I tell the passenger that they can bring what ever they want as long as it fits in the saddlebag. I pack 3 changes of clothes in zip-loc bags, socks, underwear and shirt. I have another bag with a couple of pairs of pants. In the morning, all I need is one zip-loc and a toothbrush out of the saddlebag. If camping, extra camping gear, water, etc. went in the trunk. Sleeping bags go in a large trashbag and packed one on each saddlebag, extra padding for the passenger. $1 store drop cloths for ground covering under the tent, also used to cover the externally packed items. The more you can dual-purpose items, the less you need to bring.
  25. StarQ
    I had my '84 Venture Royale overheat a few times. Turned out that I did not have enough coolant in the radiator. When the engine overheats, the clutch fluid gets very thin causing the clutch not to work. Letting the engine cool down allows the clutch to start working again.
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