vzuden

"I was in Flint on Tuesday and it snowed like crazy." Heavy snow, eh? Like maybe it contained a lot of lead?

Federal Transport is based in East Peoria, Illinois where I live. I have not used them myself nor I am I affiliated with them however I have heard only positive reports from those who have used them.

Quote:"Lots of owners are putting Harley Road King Mufflers on the 1st gens." Avoid those with the catalytic converter in the one pipe. I don't recall which years they did it - maybe 2005 -2010???. One pipe is pretty much straight through with converter restricting the other side. I'm pretty sure the converter is in the right side pipe.

Another museum suggestion: National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa. I'm not connected to them in any way but have visited several times. It was a stop on one of the rides for our International Rally three years ago.

I drove from Illinois to Wisconsin last night and saw two semi tractor/trailer rigs on their sides in the median. The side wind apparently blew them off the road. They hadn't been there long as they still had their headlights on

Larry, that set up, or very much like it, is what came on the new Ventures for 2013/2012 models and maybe a year or two prior to that. Mine has it but I have never used it as I bluetooth into my helmet. These bikes were set up to have the I-Simple w/Ipod in the left saddlebag.

i made mine according these instructions and they have 50,000 miles on them with no unusual wear. I'm not sure the source of the metal as it come from my bin of scraps. It was easy to work with so it most likely was nothing special

Jeff, would that be Kopps?

RE: Puc's thread "2015 - how it happen to Tippy, Tweeks & me" The thread does not open at my home but it will in my office. Like flyinfool said, it is most likely due to a weaker internet connection or slower PC that can't handle the large number of videos puc included.

Yep, then you will have spare since the pumps do fail and often at inopportune times!

Well said, Freebird, thanks

I use the cheap ones from Harbor Freight. They work great. $50 or less as I recall

15,000 which is my typical annual average. Slow start in the spring this year but was able to ride through the first week of December

Before my current Venture I had a 2007 RSTD with stock windsheild and she never complained about buffeting. I'm 5'11 and she's 5'7. Her only concern was having to look at the back of my helmet since the seating position is a little low. No problem with that on the Venture.

Yes, @CarbonOne for the wire harness with relay and he has the perfect bracket also.

UClear communicator in each helmet. Currently only listen to CB and that is through the bike speakers. May someday use a headset with the plastic band and just put that around my neck with the boom close to my chin so I can talk through CB. The CB is so rarely used that I have not pursued this or been concerned with listening through my helmet speakers. Communicator gives me clear intercom with wife and blue tooth to my phone (ram mounted on my handlebar) gives me music via Pandora, cell phone, GPS with voice navigation, and I could probably text if I wanted to. Have not used it for bike to bike yet but it should work well.

We use the UClear brand of Bluetooth communicators. We use modular helmets so no boom mic is great. Still have use of the CB when needed. Use both could be an option to your poll

If a change is needed, and only if it is needed - gear it towards more Yamaha models.

I drive the GM trucks to 200,000 miles + (current 2005 model has 210,000) and never had to replace a ball joint. Not saying they are a better/worse truck, just find it unusual to hear of all this bad balljoint reporting

I've used a similar recipe - used MEK (methyl ethyl ketone - I think) instead of acetone. Not sure what the difference is. But wouldn't the glue they sell for ABS plumbing work just as well?

i have used the same oil in both bikes - Yamalube from the local dealer. I had about 40,000 miles on the RTSD when I traded it in on the 2012 last year. This one has around 15,000 miles now

It's the sound of a high quality machine!!! Just keep telling yourself that and the noise won't seem as bad????????? My 2007 had it pretty bad and just before it went out of warranty I had the dealer install the I basket. I don't think it helped much. My current bike, 2012 model, has no whine or very little. So I am wondering if maybe Yamaha changed something for the last two model years.

I have a Shoei Neotec (modular) and it's the quietest helmet I've ever had

Larry, the Royal Star Tour Deluxe is basically a Venture without a trunk (or a fairing). A picture of a RSTD would show how it will look without the trunk, mounting bracket, and CB radio.