Prairiehammer

MOVE! Before it is too late. MOVE to Oregon or BC.

Randy, Yes, of course, if you slide your hand all the way up the grip, your thumb can contact the switch plate. But, as you can see in my previously posted photo, the switch plate doesn't interfere with your hand if you don't crowd it. The Venture grips are pretty long, so there is plenty of room for your hand in normal operation without any rubbing. If you are one that "chokes up" on the grip, perhaps it would be an issue, but then you would have to move your hand down the grip away from the switch housing in order for your extended thumb to operate the switches. Remember, this switch plate is installed on the left (clutch) side; it is not as if your grip and hand are moving rotationally as on the throttle side. I ride with my hand down the grip some just so I can more easily operate the clutch lever. Crowding the switch housing means that you are grasping the clutch lever very close to its fulcrum with a loss of leverage that the long clutch lever can provide. Bottom line, Brian's switch plate does not interfere with normal operation nor does it cause any discomfort. For me.

How can an unscrupulous person use a known VIN to cause trouble for the owner?

Jeff, here is another pdf of the Excel spreadsheet in a LARGE format. Can you see it NOW?

Here, JEFF. I scanned my paper worksheet for you Luddites out there.

I have been collecting VIN of First Gens that I have encountered through web searches, eBay auctions, member input, etc. I've compiled the VINs on an Excel spreadsheet. It is attached. Obviously, this information is not enough to extrapolate the total units made per model year, but it certainly will give some insight into the relative yearly construction numbers.

Is Angel's surprise, art supplies, paint, brushes, etc?

The font is Vivaldi. Perhaps a Vivaldi "V" encompassing a Vivaldi "4"? "The Glory Years: 1983-1993"

I've got two, Joe. One is green and one is blue. Both rattle can paint jobs. Both missing the OEM extension at back. One was from a white '88 but the mascot/helmet/badge/ornament is missing.

Brian, I posted my installation on your original thread, but here it is again.

Thanks, Jeff The assembly I have apparently is not for a Venture, despite the sellers assertion that they came off a 1988. Mine look like they are intended for an early Goldwing. I am curious though, how the ones you picture bolt to a MKII since the MKI has different passenger handgrips. My '90 does not have the same bolts for attaching the handgrips and thus the outboard tabs like the one you show. Thank you. I will keep an eye out for the proper armrests. Pictured below are various examples of purported Marklands for early Goldwings. The last one looks closer to yours, but still not exactly the same.

My Dart trailer has a chrome bumper/light bar with six Baron Mini Twin light units for a total of 12 #161 bulbs at about 3 watts each for a total of 36 watts. I felt it would behoove me to reduce the electrical load created by all the lights on the trailer. I have replaced the brake, turn, taillights with LED units and wanted to replace the #161 incandescents in the bumper too, but equivalent LED "bulbs" were $10 each and I needed 12! Then I found these LED "bulbs" on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Pcs-Lot-T10- ... es&vxp=mtr I won the auction as the only bidder for $0.99 ! Shipping was $8.00 but I had some eBay bucks accumulated that knocked a couple dollars off. I ended up paying $6.13 for ten LEDs. Granted they are from China, but so are the ones JP Cycle and Dennis Kirk are selling for $9.99 EACH! The seller noted that these 161/194 equivalent bulbs are larger than the incandescent bulbs, but WTH, for 61 cents each, I'd try them. After ten days the packaged was delivered. Ten LEDs in a padded envelope. I removed one of the lens from the Baron Mini Twin and removed the incandescent with a pair of needle-nose pliers, but I couldn't fit the LED into the socket. The LED was too large to fit past the lens bezel. I removed the other lens and the four mounting screws that held the light assembly to the bumper. Now, I had enough room to insert the larger LED into the wedge socket. The Baron Twin light utilizes a chassis ground; i.e. one must touch the light chassis to the metal bumper in order for the circuit to be complete. The LED did not work. I cursed under my breath about cheap Chinese junk, until I remembered that LED lights are polarity sensitive. I removed the LED, rotated it 180° and re-inserted it into the socket. It worked! Curious, I left one incandescent bulb in the Twin and reinstalled the lenses. The LED was noticeably brighter then the incandescent in this side-by-side comparison. I replaced ten of the twelve bulbs with the LED and all ten worked. I reduced the total electrical load from 36 watts to about 9 watts. Of course, only time will tell if the these cheap LEDs will endure. But for all you First Gen guys out there running Baron Mini Twins and Minis (and perhaps the larger Baron lights) this looks like a good way to reduce the load on our marginal alternators.

"The Eighty-three" and "The Ninety"

Hard to tell from your pic, but could be Jardine, Mac or ? Jardines will be marked "Jardine" on muffler. I've got Jardines on my '83. They look different from yours because I cut the downturn off many years ago because I thought the originals were too long for my tastes.

Jeff, I would appreciate seeing the pics. I don't have texting capability, so post 'em here if possible or send them via email. Chuck, the strap that the pad mount to is 7 inches long with slotted holes on 5½ inch centers.

Perhaps...but is he "wheat-bellied partner" ? ATGATT ? Sandals?

Mike, as you know it is bogus. http://sanangelo.bbb.org/article/Urgent-Scam-Alert-Beware-of-Fake-Complaint-E-mail-Claiming-to-be-from-Better-Business-Bureau-37660

I found some "waterproof" switches for mounting onto Brian's switch plate. They are fairly low profile in back so there is no interference with the grip or handlebar switch assembly, though they do project from the face of Brian's switch plate ½" or so. The horn actuation requires a bit more deliberation. The switches are "push on-push off" with a tactile feedback "click". Though advertised as waterproof, the back of the switch is not watertight in my estimation. But the rubber nipple over the actuating plunger appears to make the switch waterproof from that perspective. BTW, I paid $7.50 with free shipping for the two switches. The seller is advertising $11.95 for the pair, but I submitted an offer for $7.52 and it was accepted. Try submitting a "best offer". http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-Volt-Waterproof-SPST-Pushbutton-On-Off-Switch-2-SET-/130694519333?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e6e001a25

I found some of the major components for what I believe is a vintage Markland passenger armrest assembly. The seller claims the "supports" (the seller's description) were removed from a 1988 Venture. He was actually selling the parts in two separate auctions, presumably because he didn't know their relationship. I recognized the parts for what they really were and obtained them very inexpensively. The crossbar and the two rest struts are not in great condition, but I think they will fix up nicely in black paint. The pads were not available from the seller. Another quest. My question for anyone familiar with this set-up: How does the crossbar attach to the motorcycle? As far as I can tell the mounting tab in the middle of the "V" shaped crossbar is supposed to bolt or clamp to something substantial on the bike, but that tab is oriented between the rear of the seat and the front of the trunk and there is nothing to bolt the crossbar in that location. Perhaps another bracket is needed? Perhaps a bracket that bolts to the ends of the passenger hand rails? Any insight would be appreciated.

Gary, Is the upper triple tree a First Gen part? I've been wondering if RSV style risers would bolt onto a First Gen. If it is possible, the RSV risers would allow for a much larger choice of handlebars for the First Gen.

Is blue OK? http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-YAMAHA-RACING-TEDDY-BEAR-GCR-08TBR-BL-NS-/120535335389?pt=Apparel_Merchandise&hash=item1c107741dd&vxp=mtr

My SnaggleStuds are 1" diameter.

Yeah, But can he do it on a Venture!?