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Sandbagger

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  1. Sandbagger
    Big Bear, I know that you posted this a month ago and may have reached a decision but I'll give you my 2 cents because I'm pretty happy with my solution. I have heated grips. Like many have said here they work best with thin bottomed gloves. Thin gloves on top don't help. I bougt the hippo hands a couple weeks ago. Using the hippo hands in combination with the heated grips was awesome. If I had to choose one I would choose the hippo hands. If you were going to go with the heated grips alone I would look for great insulated gloves that kept the wind off but had thin palms. I used it on an hour 20 degree ride yesterday and hands were never an issue. Bob
  2. Sandbagger
    I have a 2000 RSV. It is fairly standard. No LED's, riding lights. I am planning on going to Daytona Bike week the first part of March from KC and would like to run a heated vest. I have heated grips with Hippo hands which work great. Can ride as cold and stay warm. Need more core heat though. If I am running the basic bike without intercom or radio but using GPS, heated grips and an electric vest should I be ok? If I get to riding with riding lights (mine are basically useless for seeing I believe) would that overload me? I appreciate your help. Electric stuff always confuses me
  3. Sandbagger
    Thanks for your reply. Can you give me an understanding of why you think it may be a wiring issue under the fairing or a battery? Thanks, Bob
  4. Sandbagger
    Struggling with a little electrical issue and could use some help. I'll give you the background. 1) Noticed that the trip meter would be at zero after I left the bike for a few days between riding. 2) Riding down the road and the dashboard (speedometer, odometer, trip meter) was not on. 3) Shut off the bike and tried to start the bike and the electrical dashboard was erratic and wouldn't start. Turned key back and forth. Turned kill switch back and forth. Light would come on. When I pressed the start button the dash would turn off. Then suddenly the bike started. 4) Drove bike home several hours and shut off and no issues. 5) Took off later that day and no issues. Turned bike off for breif period and tried to turn back on and same issues as #3. Finally started and drove home. NOTE: I did have some electrical work done a couple months on. Rewired riding lights and some rear lights. The gentleman that did the work was quite competent I believe. Appreciate any thoughts you might have. Thanks, Bob
  5. Sandbagger
    I have heated grips. In 30 degree weather over an hour I am cold. Doesn't do much for my thumb or finger tips. I am going to buy those hand covers that fit over your handlebars. I think those in combination with the heated grips will take me to the lowest temperatures
  6. Sandbagger
    Hit a hawk going about 75 mph in 30 degree weather. Saw it coming across the meeting and it seemed like it dive bombed me. Haven't hit but 1 bird in 1million miles of car driving, but take out a bird in less than 20,000. Heard that happens with bikes for some reason. Question- My lower fairing is trashed. The other side got dinged. The one that just got trashed was replaced after being damaged. It seems that these things may get damaged quite east. Any suggestions on protecting these lower fairings? They are quite expensive to replace.
  7. Sandbagger
    I'm terrible at electrical work, but luckily I found someone that is very good and reasonable in KC. I don't have to do the work, but I need to select the equipment. 1) Rear lights. I have a 2000 MM with the standard back lights. I want more light. I just have the single red light in the back. Can anyone tell me what equipment I might buy for the back that would give me more riding lights and fit solidly on our Gen 2? Pictures would be great. 2) I read a lot of discussion about LED's on the front light and radio static. I would like to have better light on the head light and the riding lights. What is the bottom line on upgrading lights? I want dependabilty and good lights. I have just removed all my LED's from the blinkers because the cancelers didn't work and that seemed a lot more dangerous than the benifit of more light on a blinker. Thanks for the help. Again, I don't need wiring directon just equipment and bottom line reccomendations.
  8. Sandbagger
    Thanks for the education. It helped. What performance difference would a person expect between a 15 vs a 16 front tire?
  9. Sandbagger
    I have MT 90 B 16 wide white walls Avon Venoms on my 2000 MM Venture. Need to get new tires. I know that some guys use the more narrow tires than the spec. My previous bike was a Gen 1 with Metzler 880s. I thought that thing handled great. I love the look of this bike but it has never felt like it handled as well. What is the performance difference between the more narrow tire vs the stock tire? I have heard many people saying great things about these Venoms. My tire shop said they dont make the rear any more. Is that accurate? Thanks, Bob
  10. Sandbagger
    Hello all, I have a 2000 MM Venture with various electrical issues and looking for some advice. I have a repair manual but can't find the answers in the book. 1) rear left turn signal- Do you know where the signal bulb socket ties in with the first connector? Is it behind the license plate? Assume it doesnt connect all the way to the fuse box. 2) Right front turn signal- Do you know where the signal bulb socket ties in with the first connector? Same issue as above. 3) Riding lights- Where should those tie into the electrical system? When should they be on? Appreciate your help? Bob
  11. Sandbagger
    For those that are interested I am selling my 83 on Ebay. It has the fuse box upgrade and comes with the headlight upgrade (not installed). I had it painted last year and based on comments I think it looks pretty slick. Has good Metzler 880s on it. Not perfect by any stretch, but should be a good value for someone. Lots of chrome and lights added. If you know someone it should make a great tour bike for a great value for someone. Tried to put it on this site in the classifieds and submitted it twice but it has not shown up. Thanks, Bob
  12. Sandbagger
    Sorry you got hurt and wish you a speedy recovery. Thanks for taking the time to make the post. Great post.
  13. Sandbagger
    No I wouldn't do it. I also ride a bicycle a lot. Doing stuff like that exposes you to dangers from unhappy people and gives the activity a bad name. We need more people on our side not against us. It can help us for the moment but hurt us and our brothers in the future.
  14. Sandbagger
    I asked this at maint day of muffin man (think thats right) but I didn't have a pen. Was curious what was in your tool bag when you traveled. I am not a competent mechanic, but I still like the idea of having the tools if I get stuck so that if a competent person came by that wanted to help would have the tools. Thanks folks. Bob
  15. Sandbagger
    Eric, I looked behind the fairing and there is no in line fuse. I know the signals turn off manually, but I am going to get myself killed forgeting to turn them off. It is one of the major reasons for accidents and I keep catching myself. They don't come on with high beams. I don't know if it is caused by LED's. It appears to me the riding lights are tied in with the heated grips. Don't know if that is causing a problem.
  16. Sandbagger
    I have a 2000 venture and it whines terrible. It has synthetic oil. Can't tell you what kind. Is the oil what causes the whine?
  17. Sandbagger
    Great ideas. I'll tear into it after work. Great group of guys. Thanks Bob
  18. Sandbagger
    Ken, I have gone a different route and I am using industrial velcro with adhesive on both sides. It seems to be working out quite well. Bob
  19. Sandbagger
    Don, Thanks for the reply. There is a switch where you said. It appears that it works for the hand grip heaters. I have tried the switch in all three positions and the riding lights don't come on. As far as the turn signals, they will not turn off at all, whether I am on the road going straight for 15 minutes or at a stop sign. The PO said it happened when he put in the LED's. THought was that the lights don't draw enough power to signal the lights to cancel. Somebody mentioned adding a resistor at the MD last weekend, but I am not sure how I would go about doing it. Thanks for trying to help. Was great last weekend. You have put together a wonderful thing here. After going to the MD last weekend I understand the bond of the group much better. I hope that some day I can give at least as much as I take but I am certainly a taker at this point. Bob
  20. Sandbagger
    I have a 2000 Venture and had it for a week or so. Thought the riding lights next to the headlight would come on automatically but they don't. Read my book and searched for a switch and can't find a way to turn it on. The PO put LEDs' on signals and the canceling doesn't work. I was wondering if maybe these issues were connected some way. The turn signals not canceling is an issue. I am worried about it from a safety stand point so need to try to figure out how to fix it. Appreciate your input. Bob
  21. Sandbagger
    Glad to know I'm not crazy adn there is nothing wrong with the bike.
  22. Sandbagger
    Had my GPS on my "new to me" 2000 Venture. I noticed that my speedometer was over estimating my speed by about 10% vs. my GPS. I am assuming that the GPS is accurate. Any thoughts on what could be up with the bike that would make the speedometer overestimate? Thanks, Bob
  23. Sandbagger
    As I stated in an earlier article I just bought my first Gen 2. I have been riding a gen 1 so I didn't really pay much attention to how I cleaned it. The previous owner did a great job. Doesn't even have a water spot. I would like to know how I clean the painted parts, metal and windsheild properly. Additionally, when I travel on long trips and get bugs all over the windshield how do I get them off so I don't scratch my windsheild. My old windsheild was so bad I couldn't figure it out. The only small amount of surface rust on this vehicle is on the bolts. I have thought I had seen that they sell dryers for after you wash your bike. Didn't know if this reduced or would eliminate this problem. Thanks for the help. I think the paint is clear coated. I am thinking this means that wax is not necessary.
  24. Sandbagger
    Just bought a beautiful Gen 2 2000 white/tan. Great shape and chromed out. Wanted more reliability than my Gen 1. Wanted to make sure I could get parts. Was quite shocked with the Gen 2. (The following is only my opinion after riding the Gen 2 400 miles yesterday. Not trying to upset anyone but I imagine there are some Gen 1 riders out there that wonder what they are missing) There are certain things I really like about the Gen 2. Foot positions-awesome Accessability to work on things Suspension- Maybe my Gen 1 just doesn't work right. Don't feel a bump on the Gen 2. Looks Cruise control No plastic ABS panels! Tank capacity. Love the 6 gallons. There are quite a few things that I think the Gen 1 is still better. Heat- The Gen 1 is more comfortable on hot days. Those side fairings really do something. Fairings- Protects better through the wind, moves better through the wind and less noise. Handles better at slow speeds. Tach, temp, time (Whats up with no clock on Gen 2. Doesn't make sense) Speed is hard to read. Granny guages on Gen 2. Hand position- Handlebar is adjustable on Gen 1 but not 2. Seems like at highway speeds I'm standing still on the Gen 1 it goes so easy. Lights- Back end and front end are much more visible. Seat- I think the seat is better on a Gen 1. Because of handlebar position I am way forward on the seat which makes me catch the heat coming up from the gap of the front of the seat and gas tank. Managing at slower speeds. Handling- I just have 400 miles on the Gen 2, but it seems like the Gen 1 handles better slow and fast. Hope I don't feel this way for long. Fit- I'm 6' 1". I think this bike is made for a guy who is 6'4". The handlebars don't come back far enough for the seat in my opinion. Center stand- Why no center stand on the Gen 2? I'm wobbling at parking lot speed on the Gen 2. Guess I will get used to it, but a weird feeling. Front end seems like I am moving through cement. Gen 1 just seems more fun to ride. In fairness I just got the Gen 2 yesterday and rode it 400 miles. I got it because of reliability. Thought I could get things fixed faster and better since parts were more available. I didn't realize how attached I was to the Gen 1. There is a certain pride in wrenching a 27 year bike and taking it a long way from home. Showing up at a gas station with a group of bikers and having them look over like they have never seen what your riding before. Unfortunately I can only have 1 bike. Don't have room. I bought the Gen 2 just because I wanted newer and more reliable I didn't care about better. I did expect to get the same though and not less and I do feel like the Gen 2 is "less" than the Gen 1 in too many ways. Seems like the Gen 2 sacrifices a lot of function to capture the Harley look. The only thing I know for sure is that I like and respect the Gen 1 a lot more today than I did a week ago. I've always cussed the plastic on the Gen 1. It frustrates me that things are too hard to get to. I'm going to be a Gen 2 rider for the coming years, but the grass is not much greener over here and there are some bare spots. The Gen 1 is a great machine. The feeling I have riding a bike that I have somewhat restored along with the function of the bike seems to have given me a thrill that was greater than what I bought. I know I'm going to have to sell my Gen 1 coming up soon, but I will definitely have some remorse with it.
  25. Sandbagger
    Hi there, I was up north of Kansas City but didn't make it to Maryville. I have a yellow (Goldwing color) 83. Bob
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