M61A1MECH

We had 50s hear in Daytona today, I had to put the bike for the winter a few weeks ago when the temps dipped below 72F. well not really.

If you have a flex drive extension or the right combination of universal joints, you can actually get to the fasteners that hold the air boxes in place and the clamps and pull the boxes with out pulling the lower cowlings. Especially if it has been done once already, I have found that the factory liked to over torque certain nuts and bolts making them nearly impossible to remove, but once removed and reinstalled with proper care and correct torque they come lose easier the next time.

One thing I learned about taking rubber type tubing off of barbed fittings is if you twist the hose before you try to pull it off, that will break the bond that formed between the hose and the barb making easier to pull off and less likely to pull the hose fitting out of the socket. I had the same thing happen on my 98 Tour Classic, used the same repair as noted above, used the twist before pull technique and never had another issue with it. The twist before pull also works on spark plug boots, those can be a real pain if the behind also.

Well on my 07 venture I used Grip Puppies from California Sport Touring, (no longer in business) in stead of replacing the grips. Grip Puppies are foam slip overs that really make a big difference in comfort and generally cost less than $10.00 with shipping. You can check here for Shinhopples version, http://www.shop.shinhopples.com/product.sc?productId=1067&categoryId=-1

I know they are not direct replacements for each other, because they attach differently, having said that I have seen where some guys put Venture seats on the RSTD. So it may be possible with some sort of adapters. There is guy not far from you in the Winter Garden area that does seat mods, check out http://www.geezerglide.com/ ask for Woody, he may be able to help you out.

I had similar concerns when I test rode an FJR a number of times, not so much back and shoulders being the problem, but to much weight on my wrists and the FJR has small diameter grips, I had cramps in both hands before the demo ride was over, I tried the FJR on at least three more demo rides just to be sure

Should be pretty easy to de-badge that puppy and then let folks guess what it is.

OK if you will send an email to me at stevemarilyn@hotmail.com I will send you a series of PDFs that show the various models of Royal Stars available from 96 to 99. After 99 the only models offered for the original Royals were the Tour Deluxe and the Tour Classic. The Venture came out in 99 with the 98 hp motor and the later model Tour Deluxe came out in 2005 with the Venture motor. Later model Tour Deluxes ended in 2010 and the Ventures in 2013. The first Royal Star with 4 x 2 pipes was the 97 Tour Deluxe. The Tour Classic had 4 x 2 pipes starting in 98. None of the PDFs I have show any 4 pipers with slash cut pipes.

So here are two more places you can rummage around for info and parts on the older Royals. http://forums.delphiforums.com/vrider http://forums.delphiforums.com/royalstar I am pretty sure you will find that the 4 into 2 headers from a Venture will fit the older Royals, one thing you have to have for that set up is a place to hang the mufflers, they are to heavy to just let them stick out the back with just the header pipes holding them up. On the Ventures, new Tour Deluxes, and older Tour Classic (4 x 2) and older Tour Deluxe (4 x 2) the mufflers were attached to the bottom of the saddle bag supports, so look for a complete set of those while you are looking for mufflers and headers. One other small caveate is that the original Royals with 4 x 2 exhaust used a different hanger bracket and attach point than the Venture and later model (2005 and up) Tour DeLuxe. I am sure one can adapted to the other, but if you get an older set of bag supports and a newer set of mufflers, or vice versa, you will need and adapter of some type to make they work together. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Bad gas will show more in the cold weather also, any moisture in the tank will condense and drop to the bottom where the fuel pick up is. You can treat the tank with Seafoam or other products made specifically for absorbing moisture, but do so in small doses if you have not been treating the gas regularly with something like Seafoam. I had picked up a tank full of really bad gas back when I had my 98 Royal, I over dosed it with HEAT , that cleared up the moisture issue in less than 2 miles, but it eventually knocked every bit of varnish loose in the entire system. We were on a road trip to St Joe, MO when that happened , before we got home I had to stop twice to get the carbs overhauled at $300.00 a pop.

Well my heated grips and seat worked just fine to counteract the cold, but I got nothing to counteract that wind we had today. Good choice Tom, good food good folks, not so good ride, but it was better than no ride.

I had the same as Dion , plus some awesome crab bisque, good place, nice choice TuffTom.

You should be getting a diagnostic signal from the bike to help diagnose this issue. When you turn the key on, the segments on the fuel gauge will blink in certain patterns that are listed in the service manual , those patterns will tell you what part of the sensing system is bad. I am not sure if I still have my Venture service manual or not, but I am pretty sure there is a link to a PDF copy here on the forum.

Dion, Now that you sweetened the pot with airplanes how can I resist? Actually I am in a bit of a holding pattern, the wife is going in for cataract surgery in he morning. It should be routine, but if anything goes sideways, I will have to stick around the house.

A few years back there was a fellow on here that posted a method for heat forming straight radiator hoses so they would fit a first Gen because he could not buy them. You maybe able to find his posts if you search for them.

Go here http://www.geezerglide.com, woody is a member here and a good guy.

Yeah I agree with the last three posters, same feelings on the comfort and style, but the wing really is superior in so many other ways, unless Yamaha comes up with something really spectacular (and my wife says OK) I am staying with what I have.

Dion, Looks good, I knew you were going to that after talked at Jaxsons. Looking forward to seeing it in person in a few weeks. Yeah I guess you can stay, but you may have to hang with Barry and me on our GLs.

Another neat way to repair or join plastic is with ultrasonic welding, used a lot in production plastic fabrication, I suspect the cost of equipment would be out of range of the home hobbiest.

Senior officers were OK, LC and above, it was those junior officers you had to watch out for, I always heard the that the most frightening thing to the Army guys was a Second Lieutenant with a map in his hands.

OK executive decision. The date is the 23rd. The place is Cowpoke's watering hole, Sebring. Thanks Tuftom Time is 11:30 meet and chat go in for lunch at 12 noon.

The lake placid area was selected because it is the most centrally located area for most of the folks that normally attend. There is nothing wrong with Jaxsons, but Dion you and your wife said something about downtown Lake Placid being quite scenic, any place down town to recommend.

you think it has a cassette player?

I went right by that place yesterday, looks like a deal, we can plan better as it gets closer.

Tom, I just rode over to Umatilla , pretty good riding over there. It is a little far out to make a firm commitment, but I will put it on my calendar as a reminder. Where will you be staying? Unless something drastic happens at work, I will only be available on Saturday the 27th, but that gives a good day of riding and lunch in Mt Dora or Eustis.