First_N_Last

A little off topic, but not much... This is to any & all VentureRider Facebook members. If your on Facebook, Friend me - http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Bauer/1044481842 I'd be happy to keep up with any VentureRider Facebook friends. johnb

Like ATLM... My car broke down in the seventies & I had to ride my 1968 BSA 441 to work for a week through the snow. In the real slippery icy spots, I would sort of stand over the buke on the road, hang on to the bars & let it pull me along. That was in Rochester, NY many years ago when I was absolutely STUPID! johnb

here is one more for you... I bought my 2008 Venture from Adventure HD in Ohio. Had Radio connectoritus repaired under warranty at Yamaha Dealer with no problem after they entered the VIN into the Yamaha system for authorization. Warranty is five years from the date that the bike was put into service (in Yamaha database). johnb

Oh lord... I can't believe I have added to this thread. Does any one know why? johnb

at least three times a week for mental health purposes...

Damn! All that pain & no fun from riding your bike for a long tour! Generally tou get to ride your bike for days before the pain sets in. You could just tell strangers that you got your pains from airplane jumps.

Anyone near Richmond, VA want to ride???? I am riding again today, just like yesterday. Today I am looking for some company. Meetup is at the McDonalds on Patterson Ave. West of Parham Rd. in the shopping center. Day is today. Time is 12:30PM The ride is to go west on Patterson (Rte6) to 522... then North on Rte522 on 522 - maybe stop for ice cream - see the Iron Steer with flags on it's horns! stay on 522 till Rte33 east on 33 till we decide to stop for a coffee at McDonalds or similar... I have one rider going so far... Wow 2 people! Normally when I set up a ride, I'm the only one.http://img1.meetupstatic.com/img/smileys/biggrin.gif This may be the last chance to ride this year in the Richmond area???? If you can make it, but you think you will be a little late, call me 804-338-3451 johnb

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs080.snc3/14737_1278702721384_1044481842_1721355_4456749_n.jpg I'm not... my bike is sitting in the snow waiting.

John, I appreciate the support, but the ride is off at this time. Please forward this to all those who was willing to support the Col. Thanks, Les 　 Riders, We have been asked not to do the ride at this time to support Col. Barfoot. He is living with his daughter and Pete Pettry has been helping me set this up spoke with her this morning She said that it would not be a good idea for the American Legion or any Riders to do a visit this Friday. Mr. Barfoot is 90 years old, under a lot of stress, and very overwhelmed right now. ***Mr. Barfoot is very pleased with the outpouring of support via letters and phone calls. Above all, they hope to have a resolution by this Friday and do not want to further complicate the situation if it can be resolved between them and their neighborhood association. She did ask to keep them in prayer that this will be resolved soon. So....... at this time and in supporting the family's wishes, I say the ride is off. If after Friday they do not resolve the situation, we can set up another ride. I appreciate all you patriots for the show of support, planning and willingness to correct this injustice. Riding with Respect, Riding with Honor, Riding to Remember, Les Brewer Post 284 Southern Virginia American Legion Rider Director 　

I'm a simple veteran of 1969-71 & I am riding my bike to support a VET who has earned the right to fly a US Flag in his yard. Here is a facebook page with some info worth reading... http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=190716948379 (from the page) 90 year old Retired Army Colonel and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Van T. Barfoot has been ordered by his homeowner's association to stop displaying his U.S. flag on his own flagpole in front of his own home. The homeowner's association disapproves of the 21 foot flagpole (not the flag) and has now hired a law firm and legal proceedings against him appear to be pending. Mr. Barfoot is a true American hero and has earned the right to display the very flag he fought so hard to protect. He is a veteran of three wars: WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He also won the Purple Heart and several other decorations before retiring from the service in 1974. Call and or fax Coates & Davenport, the law firm representing the home owner association. The following is email info about a ride starting in Richmond, VA to support the Col & to protest his Homeowner's Association... -------------------------------------------------------------- I have received info about a ride to support a medaled Vet & to protest a neighborhood association group which will prevent him from flying the US Flag. The info is from my DSCR friends... [divider] Got this off my VROC website. I think I will go. Anybody else? I received this email today from My chapter of the American Legion Riders. If any one is close enough, I urge you to turn out and support this American hero! Email Contents: I received an email from Lester Brewer asking for Riders on 11 December to ride with them in protest of the treatment Col Van T. Barfoot, Medal of Honor recipient is receiving for flying the American Flag at his home. Col Van T. Barfoot, Medal of Honor recipient has been ordered to remove his flag pole. Coates & Davenport law firm, representing the home owners association has ordered Col Barfoot to remove the flag pole by 5:00 pm today or face legal action. Late yesterday afternoon they extended the order for one week, Friday 11 December to comply with the order. A resolution signed by President Bush in 2006, reads: Homeowner associations may not adopt or enforce anything that would restrict someone from flying the American flag. In response to the treatment of this Medal of Honor recipient, Lester Brewer is asking other Riders to ride with him on 11 December to protest this treatment of an American Hero. If you plan to ride, contact Lester at less_brewer@comcast.net. Note: This is not an American Legion sponsored protest. Date: Friday. December 11, 2009 Stage: American Legion Post 284, 505 Springdale Ave., Colonial Heights, VA Depart: 11:00 am for Col Barfoot's home Riding Order: Large flags small flags no flags cages For God and Country Randy E. Guild \---\ [divider] Les/ALCON Okay, I have about 6 willing guys from my group going to ride at this time. I would like to see more and am in hopes there will be more later. My group is meeting yours at the AL on Springdale in Colonial Heights about 1030 - 1045. The South Richmond Hog group is forming up some personnel also. SRHD Hog group is meeting at 1000 at SRHD on Courthouse. Don't know about Ft. Lee guys yet. No response. Les, where does this guy live? Any other info on the resolution as yet? They may get this settled before we go so we need to be prepared to abort if necessary. Correct?? DSCR Group: Date: Friday 12/11/09 Time: 1030-45 Place: American Legion 505 Springdale Avenue Colonial Heights, VA SRHD HOG: Date: Friday 12/11/09 Time: 1000 Place: South Richmond Harley Davidson Courthouse and Hull Street Road Chesterfield, VA Randy E. Guild Project Manager \---\ -----Original Message----- From: Lester Brewer [mailto:less_brewer@comcast.net] Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 5:49 PM To: Guild, Randy E (DSCR) Subject: RE: Flag Pole Thanks Randy, We need all the support we can get. Les -----Original Message----- From: Guild, Randy E (DSCR) [mailto:Randy.Guild@dla.mil] Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 2:02 PM To: less_brewer@comcast.net. Subject: Flag Pole I am trying to get together our group of DOD civilian workers and veterans to ride with us. I Will give you a head count on Weds. Also I let other half of group at Ft. Lee know what is going on. Maybe they will join us. Randy E. Guild Project Manager DSCR-VIA \---\ ----------------------------------------------- That is all I've got on this. Can you believe this? To Vets, the flag is very special. So many of our friends & realtives have been laid to rest under it. johnb

This past summer when I was deciding on a RSV, I test drove a 2009 Heritage Softail. The bike just didn't grab me & say "Buy me!". The range of the gears was too tight. I felt like I was doing too much shifting (6 speed). In fact the biggest difference I have noticed over the years of motorcycles, is the narrowing of the gear ranges & adding more gears. I found going to a wide range 5 speed very nice. The HD tranny was even clunky (shift noise). Besides that, I just could not afford to buy HD boots, HD hat, HD gloves, HD etc. to be just like the others that spend a lot to look like their HD neighbors. I have a coworker that I harass about once a week. In the 5 years I've know her, she has yet to ride her HD Heritage to work. However, she does have her HD posters up in her cube along with a HD mug. Her truck has a HD Teddy Bear on the dash & HD stickers on the bumper & rear window. If I owned the Heritage, the other riders would just hound me for not being dressed out in HD . No kidding, some of the people at work scheduled a bike day to ride to work, but didn't tell me because I ride non-HD bikes. LOL

I rode today in Richmond, VA. Fired up the 1998 V-Star & rode it to get milk. Whenever I have an excuse, its not raining & it is above 40F... I ride. Luckily there are always a few days in the winter months to ride in VA.

I have a 2008 Venture... My physical age is 58, but I am mentally 10. We have 8 kids & 12 grandchildren (with 13 on the way). So... yes I am an old fart too!

Well I found Dick & Linda Byrd. Very nice people! They took me to Adventure HD & Matt showed me the bike. We started it... I took a test ride... then bought it & followed Dick & Linda to their house. Dick took my tire off (now I know how)... got my tire changed & then we spent hours trying to set the bead on that cursed tire! Boy did we work hard on that. After hours of effort the last bead popped & Dick jumped. Hurray... Dick & Linda fed me pizza & gave me cookies to take. Dick would not let me pay for pizza, tire change, dynabeads, etc. (Santa will take care of him for sure!) Dick led me to Route 77 & I started home at 8:00PM. It was cold & dark. I passed three deer carcasses pulled to the side of the road & after 150 miles I stopped at a motel for the night. The next day I was up & out the door by 7:00AM. Bundled in 3 layers, I drove off. The bike seemed to pulse hard when I was going up large hills. I also had a strong wobble/squirm in the rear tire on hill-curves. Because of that I stopped at the next big town & searched for a Autozone. I picked up a can of Sea Foam & a tire pressure gauge. Checked the tire... it was 42... reduced the air to 38... put the Sea Foam in the tank... filled up & got back on the highway. The bike handled much better now on hard curves... only on the hardest, highest curves was there any sense of a little rear sway. When driving that hard on the curves you kind of expect some drift. I like the tire. The hard pulsing while accelerating, went away also. The sun came up & it got warmer... nice day... big grin on my face! After stopping every 150+- miles for a break, etc. When I got home, I immediately got my Goo Off & started on the bike. The bike had 8 stupid stickers on it. 35 minutes latter, the stickers were off & the bike is just beautiful. Thanks to all who helped on this thread. Special thanks to Dick & Linda Byrd for all their help & generosity. They are great people & a credit to the bulletin board. A Royal Star Venture is a dream to ride & own. P.S. (The Radio died, but the warranty will take care of that when I take it in.) johnb

well I am on my way. i'm at my connecting airpofrt in NC now. waiting for flight to Akron... next step is finding Adventure1943 at the airport...

Saturday is the day... My planned route is to drive South on 77 to 64... Then I'll drive east on 64 to Richmond, VA. Does anyone have any knowledge of driving hazards ? Route 77 from Dover, OH to 64? 64 to Richmond?

I has just 2 trick r treaters....

Well here is the status so far... 1 - downloaded manuals 2 - ordered Kumho tire & being sent to Richard 3 - ordered Dowco Guard+ EZ Zip cover & it shipped 4 - Rich ordered DynaBeads for balancing his & my tire Haven't got 1 call or email about my old bike which is for sale. Saturday is getting closer...

Thanks for the weather checks... I can only hope for good weather.

We will have to have a VA get together in the spring & I'll do a show & tell. I should have at least 2000 miles on it by then. That might be a whole 3 people!

don't forget to take some old bread to toss to the seagulls

That's weird... tell him that even J.C. Witney carries them & in stock. Subtotal: $62.98 Estimated Tax: $0.00 Estimated Shipping: $11.99 ORDER TOTAL: $74.97 Do you want me to buy it & get it shipped to you? Just let me know... gotta go work on Honey-Do's now.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wow! Richard is the best! It is official then.. I will be changing the tire before I start the trip home! Thanks to Adventure 1943, my journey will be smoth & filled with traction. My wife & I say THANKS! To all of the others, thanks for your concerns. Pictures will be made to journal everything. John the nerd, geek, motor head, rock climber & AdVenturer

Hi Freebird; Yes, I'll just look the tire over for casing stress cracks & regularity (no bulges or swerve). If I decide it's OK, off I go. If I think it is a gamble to ride it, I will find a shop to change it on the way home & stay overnight if I have to. My last travel-to-pickup bike was fun too. That bike's only problem was jetting. The low end torque was gone. The previous owner had put damn near straight-through cobras on it with no jetting. I had to start/shift it like a sport bike. As for the Bridgestone... yes it is crap... Can't decide between a Michelin or Kumho for a replacement. The only reason for not deciding on a Kumho, is "Can I find someone to mount it near Richmond?

Yamaman; I also have a wife who doesn't enjoy riding. Enjoy every minute of your trip... stop at your friends along the way... take a gps for sure. I often will ignore my guidance directions & just travel 25 or 20 mules away from the highway & then let the gps guide me along again. I've had some great rides that way & I'm sure you will too. It is great to have somewhere to go & just not be in an hury. This way you can enjoy the Journey & AdVENTURE!