atlm
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Everything posted by atlm
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Inseam is more relevant than height. I'm about the same height as you, but with a 30" inseam, I'm flatfooted. There are other people here who are quite a bit taller, but have short inseams and want the bike lower. Experience has a lot to do with it, also (of course). If you're not flatfooted and uncomfortable, you might want to consider getting the Butler seat mod. It's cheap and seems to have 100% positive feedback in these forums.
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You're missing a variable, but the number you came up with is correct because you happened to choose 60 mph. For mathematical conversions, You need to look at units of measure. You're starting with speed (miles/hour) and trying to calculate RPM (engine revs/minute). Here is the formula: miles/hour * 1 hour/60 minutes * tire revs/mile * engine revs/tire revs = engine rev/minute miles per hour / 60 = miles per minute miles per minute * tire revs per mile = tire revs per minute tire revs per minute * engine revs per tire revs = engine revs per minute You calculated tire revs per minute correctly (790.91). You calculated engine revs per tire rev correctly (2.184 (primary) * .857 (5th gear) * 2.294 (final) = 4.294) The primary is engine-to-transmission (constant), 5th gear is internal transmission (changes with gear), and final is transmission to rear wheel (constant). So for your 60 miles per hour example 60 miles per hour = 1 mile per minute 1 mile per minute times 790.9 tire revs per mile = 790.9 tire revs per minute 790.9 tire revs per minute times 4.294 engine revs per tire rev = 3396 engine revs per minute For other speeds, your formula would be mph*790.91*4.294/60
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I just bought a Garmin Quest 2, and the mount setup like Sling's. The best price I found for the hard-wired GPS cradle for the Quest was from Amazon ($45 with free shipping), and for the RAM assembly from GPS City (about $30 shipped with the 4-hole square plate). While I was buying everything, I ended up buying a second Garmin Quest 2, which I don't need (long story). I'm not sure what to do with it, so I'll probably post it in the classifieds or something.
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My wife and I both bought the 1-piece version. We haven't had a chance to use them yet, but the quality looks high and the reviews I read were all positive. If you're in ATL, I'd highly recommend she-rides in Alpharetta. They are great to deal with. I believe they had the 2-piece version in stock.
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Rider magazine did a comparison of V-engined touring bikes a couple of months ago. (The Venture tied with the Harley Ultra for first place) Their comment about the Venture was that the only major change since 1999 was going to a pillow-top seat in 2001 (except on the Midnight edition). I believe early on (around 2000) there were changes made to the antenna or topcase mounts due to cracks developing on 1999 models, but I don't know the details. I don't believe there have been any changes in the past 6 or 7 years except paint and color and blackening the engine. Low mileage pre-2008 models can be had for huge discounts if you look hard and don't mind possibly driving outside of your local area. Dealers, of course, get a large markup to stay in business, so the best deals can be found from private sellers. Also, non-Yamaha dealers will normally sell for less than Yamaha dealers. A local Harley dealer has a 2007 Midnight Venture, loaded with options, 11k miles, for $10,999. The Yamaha dealer 20 miles away has a 2006 Black Cherry Venture, no options whatsoever, 24k miles, for $11,999. There are Ventures on Craigslist and eBay for significantly less than both of those prices.
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A few of my previous carbureted bikes would emit a bad smell, mostly when hot after riding. It would fill the garage, and would make me nauseous after a while if I continued to breath it. It was a gas-like smell, not like a gas station, but definitely not oil or antifreeze. It was caused by tiny gas leaks. Nothing was dripping or visibly wet, but various things just weren't completely sealed, like the carburetor boots, or small cracks in gaskets or fuel lines. I was able to eliminate the smell on a couple of bikes by rebuilding the carburetors and replacing all fuel-related rubber, like boots and lines. My wife and I test rode a low-miles (11k) 2005 Venture, but after the ride, I noticed the bike had that smell. It was pretty strong, even sitting outside. The previous owner told me he had the curburetors rebuilt since they were clogged a bit due to lack of use. I'm guessing something wasn't re-assembled perfectly air-tight. Anyway, after a lot of deliberation, we decided not to buy the bike just for that reason. I didn't want to have to spend my first few weeks with a bike trying to troubleshoot a fuel seal problem, while having my garage smell like gas. I can say that it's not normal. Neither my current Venture nor the 2009 we test rode have any gas smell whatsoever before, during, or after riding. As has been previously mentioned, there might be a tiny odor on non-CA bikes if they're brought out in the sun and the gas in the tank vents due to expansion from heat, but it should be barely noticeable and stop relatively quickly. Here's another thread that I'm guessing might be the same as your issue, and lists areas of the bike to check: [ame=http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=23888]HELP>..RSTD Fuel smell - VentureRider.Org[/ame] Hope this helps.
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Yes, your 01 came with a pillow top. It was the first year of the change.
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There's a web page somewhere that shows all of the changes and the years. non-Midnight Ventures have had pillow top seats since 2001. Midnight Ventures through 2006 all have studded seats. They're the same seats as the 1999-2000 Ventures, but with studs in the sides. In 2007, the Midnight Venture went to pillow top. It was then discontinued for 2008 and 2009. Looks like it's back for the 2010 model (not called Midnight, though), with some sort of graphics and still the pillow top seat.
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We took the cage, also. It's always nice to see previous bikes I've owned in a show. It was also great to see a show of bikes that wasn't littered with dozens of choppers that custom builders can't unload anymore. The folks at Moto400 are great. They'll continue to get my business whenever I'm in the area.
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We usually come 285 West, then up GA 400. We were hoping to meet up for a group ride or lunch or something.
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Is anyone else planning to go to the vintage bike show at Moto400 in N. GA this Saturday (if it's not raining)? http://www.moto400.com/
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Monday the lake was 5.1 feet below full. Tuesday it was 3.5 feet. It rose over 19 inches in a day! http://lanier.uslakes.info/Level.asp We got to ride our RSV for the first time yesterday evening (since our test ride in the rain a week ago Sunday). The weather was beautiful.
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When I test rode a brand new '09, my wife complained of what she called a "buzz" coming through the seat and backrest. I could feel it in the handlebars and the floorboards, also, and it went away when I pulled in the clutch. It was bad enough that it made her nauseous during a 15 minute test ride. We had previously ridden a Tour Deluxe and it was smooth, so we told the sales guy. Another customer happened to pull into the dealer with his Venture, and was kind enough to allow a test ride, which was smooth. The dealer synch'ed the carbs on the '09 and we tested it again the next weekend, but the buzz was still there. A couple of weeks later we test drove an '05 and it was smooth. We just bought our '06 and it's smooth. Since it occurred on a brand new '09, and goes away when the clutch is pulled in, it's something to do with the engine or transmission, not worn out parts or road imperfections.
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I'm in Northeast Atlanta, and don't want to travel too far, as it would be a 2-way trip to drop off the bike and another to pick it up. That would be the minimum, if it's fixed the first go around. Blue Ridge and Augusta would be a bit far. Randy, have you used the service department of Moto400? I was hoping the Atlanta folks could give positive or negative feedback on the dealers in the area (the North side of Atlanta) based on their personal experiences, specifically the service departments. I drove to Cycle Nation in Canton today and was impressed. They bought Suzuki Yamaha Kawasaki of Canton a couple of years ago, who I previously did a lot of business with and were wonderful. Looks like Bartow Powersports is about the same distance from me as Cycle Nation.
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Can anyone recommend a good dealer in the North Atlanta area to do warranty service work? I know of Lawrenceville Honda Yamaha, Cycle Nation of Canton, and Motions (in Marietta). I've visited them all in the past, and they all seemed nice, but I've never done service business with any, and the Lawrenceville store has a number of negative reviews online. We just bought an '06 Venture that has a problem with the radio (no lights or display whatsoever) and I'd like to get it looked at and fixed as a warranty item. The previous owner said his dealer told him the radio isn't covered under warranty, even though the owner's manual explicitly states that it is. I'm looking for a dealer with a good service department that won't give me grief about the warranty.