rickardracing

Cowpuc......what time are you thinking you will be in my area? Not sure what time Jay and John are thinking. I know we usually head out pretty early.

23 and territorial is right by my house.

Puc, last time the Michigan group went together, myself, Jay (ragtop) John and his wife Sandy (adventurer08) and Larry (carbonone) we met at a restaurant on I-75. But I will be dag gum if I can remember what exit. But if your coming down I-96 through Brighton and want to head south on US23 we can meet there and then head on over to meet up with Jay someplace. I am sure we will work out the finalities on the 11th hour !!!

Puc, you could meet me over in my area. Ann Arbor/Brighton, then we can meet up with Jay, John and Sandy, maybe someplace on I-75?

Ok, I am going down that Friday morning. Are the Michigan crew going to get together for the ride down? Jay? John and Sandy? Larry and Joyce?

I heard from a guy who's brother that knows a guy who has a brother inlaw from his cousins wifes fathers side who is the half brother of another guy who's wife has a friend that is a fry cook next to a Yammy dealer that says it will be December of 2020. The bike will have remote start, a direct injected water cooled v-3, backup camera, 7 speed trans with 2 speed reverse, full compliment of gauges, onboard cell phone, with 6 inch curved monitor for a years free subscription to Netflix. I can't wait. Marking it on my calendar and will be the first in line.

I changed the plugs, new coolant and valve cover gaskets. Ran me $120 in parts. Definitely a lot of time to do. But now I know more about my bike in the process.

What happened to the storage from the saddle bags? Looks like all you have is the trunk now. Still looks like poo.

Come on Jeff, ride that 1st Gen.

Mine has little stops that you screw down at the front wheels. I screw mine down until the front wheels are off of the floor........that sucker don't move at all.

Made them removable. Once the bike is on, I can take them off. Used 2" square tube bolted to the lift and 1.5" square tube and 2x12,s bolted to those. A little over the top, but that's how I roll.

I agree Jeff. It is a lot of work, but it needed to be checked. I am glad that I did not have to spend more than I am already. I am replacing spark plugs today, draining the coolant and I am going to seal off the plugs on the sides of the jugs. My fan rubs the radiator when it runs, so I am going to take care of that issue while it is torn down. Got to get this puppy ready for my trip to California. I will be putting a fresh rear tire on it in July before we leave.

I bought a Harbor Freight platform lift the day after Thanksgiving. I also bought a regular wheel choke and mounted it to it instead of the joke that was included with the lift. My main issue with this lift......way to narrow. You see, I just do not have the upper body strength I used to have and I cannot get the bike rolling fast enough by myself to get it up onto the lift. So why am I saying the lift is too narrow? Because there is no place to put my feet down if I ride the bike up onto the lift. Thought about what to do......many different scenarios came to mind to remedy this. My fix was to make side extensions that I can install, ride the bike up onto the lift and put my feet down. Well even though there are a multitude of ways to do this, I did the following. Now bare in mind, there are easier ways, there are more entailed ways, this way just my way. If anyone is interested in how I did this I can took step by step pictures and can post a complete write up in the tech section.

Yup, tore it down to do what I thought was a long over due valve adjustment. I have just under 48,000 miles on it. Well, got her all apart, checked the clearances and................they where all within spec. Most where at the mean (middle) of tolerance. Really????.......no way. Grabbed a new sheet that I printed off from this site.......checked them again and compared the first to the second checks. Yup, all good. Boy that was a lot of work to take this sucker apart only to find that it did not need it. Not sure if I should be pissed that after all that, it was ok and I did not have to do it....or be happy because the Yamaha quality is so good that it is ok even after all those miles..................I am so confused.......mentally distraught over this......I don't know what to think.........

You where not too far from me. I live in Hamburg.

What difference does it make what it is called. I won't be a buyer if it looks anything like the "spy" photo from last week that was posted.

Looking at cooling vests for the desert ride. Not interested in the kind you soak in water. Looking at the ones with the inserts that you put in your cooler.

Thanks puc. No place to change a tire at their place in Cali. They live in an apartment and my son inlaw.......well.....let's just say he is not too mechanically inclined. My daughter had to show him how to change oil in his car. No joke....Not sure how we are coming home yet. I have a hankerin' to scoot on down to Vegas and then ........MAYBE......to Phoenix, then home. We have to see how we feel once we hit Cali. I will have a few options planned out from there depending on how we feel by then. Thank you VERY much for your effort!! I will be following most of the route you have layed out.

Puc....WOW...pretty much the route I was thinking! You are taking all the work out of it for me!! Thanks!! Good advise from. I like what I a reading. Motels are the closest thing my wife will "camp" at. I will be pulling my trailer. A lot of planning still to do. You are making it easy though. Thank you very much my friend.

Wow guys! Getting some great info!! Thank you all. Looking forward t the ride and maybe meeting up with some of you along the way!

No camping. Motels. Mostly Highway with some 2 lane take off for some sight seeing. Not looking to go too far out of the way. We are going to head out on 80 and go so far and head north go through the Badlands, Mt Rushmore, Devils Tower, then really not too sure from there. We have 15 days. We want to spend 2-3 days with our daughter. Not looking to take more than 5 days to get there and 4-5 to get home. I want to see as much as possible, but we do have a destination to reach at some point. My biggest concern is gas in the open desert areas and the heat. We are going in the middle 2 weeks in July. Looking at cooling vests now. Gas.....I was planning on strapping a 5 gallon can to the top of the cooler on my trailer. Also...it won't be legal, but I also plan on carrying. Just in case of a breakdown out in no mans land and someone pulls up and tries something. Open to all suggestions. I like what I am hearing so far though. Any advise on the wide open desert areas is greatly appreciated.

Well, my daughter is moving to Sacramento in 2 weeks. Her husbands job is taking them there. So my wife and I are planning a two week bike trip out there in the middle two weeks of July. Going to head north west through the Badlands to see the heads in the mountain, maybe Devils Tower the west and down through Salt Lake City Utah into Reno. Then to Cali. Spend a few days and Hit San Francisco. Head south on the Pacific Coast highway by pass L.A., no interest at all of going through there. Head towards Las Vegas for a day or three. From there, either start heading northeast back to Michigan or head to Phoenix and see some cousins. Going to get a few routes layed out to see as much as possible. Probably an oil change sometime while I am out there. Maybe find a dealer in Cali or in Vegas and have them change it. I could always do it in a parking lot. Prefer not too. Looking at some cooling vests also. Might need those going through Nevada and Arizona. Anyone know of things to see on the way out?

Well if it looks anything like the pics, I am out for sure. I do not like the shape of the trunk, bags or fairing. If this is possibly a new Yammy...they are going in a direction of styling I do not care for.

Watching the video does make me think it could be a new Yamaha. I think the rear floor boards are from the current Venture. But, the thing is ugly no matter what color it is painted. A new Indian Roadmaster, Kawasaki Voyager or a Harley Electra or Ultra Classic are in my future. I love my 07 RSV, but I am getting a hankering to ride something different. So for me, one of the stated options are what will be my next purchase. I really think that my current Yammy will be my last.

That is sweet!!!