RedRider

Check with Corbin if they will rebuild it. If so, buy it for a song, have them redo it, and you will have a Corbin for very little money. Win-Win. And yeah, this is kind of an old thread. But I am still around. RR

Last post before the bonus packs are distributed. Beginning miles - 115407 Next post will be Saturday, 7/12 RR out

Just passed tech inspection. :dancefool: They confirm the registration, insurance, and the bike have the exact VIN listed and are all current. Insurance with sufficient coverage, MedJet subscription, DOT helmet, and under 11.5 total fuel capacity (I measured out at about 11.3, but they were overcalculating the aux tank using external dimensions. If it would have calculated out over the limit, then they would spend a little more time being exact in the measurements.) They also confirm a solid mounting structure for the aux tank, proper venting, and proper electrical grounding. Lots of spaceship dashes here. Multiple GPS's, SPOT, radios, and phone mounts. Clocks, timers, writing tablets, various clips and fasteners. Lots of 'been there' stickers on panniers. Mostly sport touring bikes (FJR, RT, GL/GT, ST). Also several GS's and a handful of HDs. We have a couple from Zambia (they are Aussies living in Zambia), a couple from Germany, several folks from CA, TX, OK, Philly. Many I haven't meet yet. Will try to get some pictures, but most bikes are covered until tomorrow morning's launch. Time to lounge about, nap, and get ready for 'multi-day rally rookie' orientation at 4:00. Then dinner, cocktails (will witness the LEAST amount of alcohol consumed at an open bar by a bunch of motorcycle riders), and passing out of the rally pack. Then run to the room, plan 3 days of routes, and get some sleep before taking off at 8:00 Sunday morning. I am getting a bit nervous. Lots of Big Dogs here (at least Big Dogs in the LD community - admittedly, a fairly small dog park) including several Iron Butt Rally finishers and a handful of IBR winners. RR

The Garmin software is Basecamp. BC replaced Mapsource a couple of years ago. The newer versions ('11+ IIRC) of Microsoft Streets and Trips will interact with the Zumo directly, although it is easier to interface with BC. There are several tutorials on BC on www.zumoforums.com. Link here: http://garmin-mapsource.wikispaces.com/BaseCamp S&T is much more intuitive. You can export a .gpx file and then import into BC. Further manipulation with BC is available, but you might want to just have it calculate a route and download it to your Zumo. RR

I have a 5 gal auxiliary gas tank. Total range approx 350 miles. Fuel is not the limiting factor as to when I need to stop. Darn this being over 50 stuff. RR

Tomorrow I take off for Minneapolis to begin the Butt Lite 7 Long Distance Motorcycle rally. Butt Lite rallies are run in opposite years from the biennial Iron Butt Rally. BL is similar to a mini-marathon relative to the Boston Marathon. It is a 6 day scavenger hunt type rally that will take the participants to the far reaches of the US and back to Minneapolis. While there are 68 bikes (2 are going 2-up with a passenger, total of 70 participants), most, if not all, of us will be riding alone on our own routes. There will be a checkpoint halfway through at a currently undisclosed location. The field contains many Iron Butt Rally finishers and several international participants (at least two have come in from Australia that I know of). I am the only one running a Venture. It begins Sunday, 7/6, at 8 am and continues until Saturday, 7/12, at 8 am. My expectation is to cover 7000-ish miles in that time span. The top 10 riders get a no-draw entry into the 2015 Iron Butt Rally. The winner get a PAID entry in the 2015 IBR. My goal is to finish above the middle of the pack. There is a blog being written about the event by one of the organizers. Generally, there will be at least one update per day. Some contributions have been added by a couple of participants discussing trials and travails of preparing for BL7. http://buttlite7.blogspot.com/. New tires, fresh fluid, new brake pads, ready to go. Wish me luck. RR

Jeff, That is a beautiful solution. Really like the brake trigger idea. One time I had my HID go out at night. Fortunately, I was in the middle of Iowa at the time and there wasn't a curve in sight. Had forgotten to turn on my running lights also. Pitch black. Major pucker. However, I grabbed the brakes. That would have triggered it back on. As it was, I cycled the ignition and it came back on. Perhaps next winter. I am done working on the bike for this year. Time to ride. RR

Problem is two fold. It doesn't take much to blow out the fork seals and the typical regulator is not very accurate at low pressures. Secondly, there is so little air that goes into the forks, confirming the pressure with a gauge will change the pressure dramatically. The zero let-off is important. However, if this procedure works for you, all is good. RR

It is really close to the same price to purchase the HD branded Progressive pump and the Progressive branded one. Most HD dealers carry it in stock. Just stop by and pick one up from them. It will work on both the front forks and the rear shock. Good, solid, zero let-off pump that has survives thousands of miles in my tool bag stuffed in the right saddle bag. RR

Yes, I have the heavy duty suspension as I am a wee bit (OK, a big bit) over the limit. Worth the extra. RR

Me too. And a link to purchase (my Google-fu is weak this morning). Never mind. Found 'em. RR

+1. To purchase a used RDL, you need to be close to the height and weight of the original owner. RR

Keith, Miles hasn't been in here for a while. Leather is a bit more comfy, but you need to feed it yearly. Vinyl is what you expect. Velour is a bit cooler but holds water. If you ride 'spirited', Velour does not let you slide around as much as will leather/vinyl. I have the leather and like it. My brother has vinyl and he likes it. Personal preference. RR

If you are going to a specific destination (as compared to riding somewhere else every day), pack them in a box and ship them. I've done that when I had a 4 day meeting in NC. Was riding the Smokey Mtns for a couple of days on the way down. Worked great. Pack all the dirty clothes back in the box and ship back. This is really handy when you need to ship dress shoes. With my big feet, they take up way too much room in the saddle bags. RR

Stock seat was good for about 100 miles. Began to use pads (sheepskin, Airhawk) and got it where I could do 1000 miles, but was sore afterwards. Specifically, the tailbone. Had Rick Butler do his mod and it improved. The RDL took care of the problem completely. Some folks need it adjusted, mine was built correctly first time. I can now ride multiple 1000+ mile days without my butt hurting. Other things come into play (back, shoulders, knees, elbows, etc.) but not the butt. The real question is - How far do you want to be able to ride? FYI - I have no experience with the Ultimate seat. I have heard only good things about it. RR

Keith, If you have the coin for a Russell Day Long, go for it. I have never heard of anyone being disappointed about buying a RDL. If you look at the seats run by the Iron Butt guys, there is a very high percentage of RDLs because they are comfortable. Next Friday I will be embarking on a 6 day Butt Lite (think Iron Butt Rally butt only 6 days rather than 11 - run by related folks) with a Russell on my Venture. I went through mods, pads, and a Corbin before I broke down and bought a Russell. That will be the first purchase on any new LD bike I purchase. If you intend to put on major miles, a RDL is the only way to go. However, 'major miles' is relative. If you are looking for a 500 miles per day seat, there are other options. If you want 1000+ miles per day, RDL stands alone. RR

Mike, If you bypass and find it is your fuel pump, take the back off the pump and look at the contacts. You may be able to clean them up and save the pump. Or....Somewhere on here is a link to replacement contacts for the OEM fuel pump. That is what goes out on them. After July 12th, I have an extra pump you can use until yours is fixed/replaced. Unfortunately, I need it until then (multiday LD rally coming up and it is my spare). RR

Sure would make checking rear tire air pressure easier. Unfortunately, have depleted the farkle fund for this year (and likely next). RR

One pair. They also can be trimmed. RR

Carry on Wayward Son Green Eyed Lady Low Spark of High Heeled Boys Royal Scam Jailbreak Smoke on the Water RR

Being a bit over 50, I need to wear cheaters to read. I had a problem reading the text on the GPS and/or notes in the tank bag window. Did some searching and found stick-on bifocals. Tested them while riding the MN1000 last weekend. I was shocked and amazed at how well these did. Found the Hydrotac brand from Amazon and order a couple of pairs. Stuck one at the bottom of my face shield an inch or so right of center (I am right eye dominant). While looking forward, I don't notice it. When I want to view the GPS, just look down and the GPS is crystal clear. Want to look at tank bag notes/map, tilt your head a bit and it is like wearing cheaters. 100% satisfied. It stayed on while riding with the face shield up. It stayed on while wiping the inside of the face shield to remove streaks. Had to move it once and it was easy to remove and reapply, but won't fall off. It is about the size of a 50 cent piece cut in half. Highly recommend. Available in all strengths. http://tinyurl.com/olxjtab RR

Suck-up

Ummmm, right. Was thinking something else. Good catch.

There is a small ring bracket in the air filter box to hold the end of the hose. No reason to make an attachment nipple for the hose as that would be a small diameter fitting. More liable to plug up than an open hose. Works fine as is. And, you are right. It is the crankcase breather hose. RR

Congrats and well done. RR