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meach

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About meach

  • Birthday April 9

Personal Information

  • Name
    Steve Meacham

location

  • Location
    Marietta, GA, United States

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  • City
    Marietta, GA

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  • Home Country
    United States

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  • Bike Year and Model
    05 vtx 1300 & 07 RSV
  1. Yea I had thought of that as well, had been going up and down a lot of hills just none above 7,000. Although I could could shift at higher elevations later the clutch felt softer the higher I went. Possible I guess that the elevation affected what air I had in the line when I was up at 10,000+ Yea the fluid needs to be changed. It was an over site on my part not to change it out prior to my trip. Because the sight glass is somewhat hidden behind audio control (being tall I have to stoop over to see the sight glass) I overlooked it, also all my older bikes were cabled clutches. This will give me an excuse to go back out to the Rockies to make sure my clutch is working fine. This last trip I rode thru Glacier (Sun Road), Yellowston, RMNP, Beartooth, Chief Joseph, and more.
  2. So recently returned from a trip out west. Did around 7,800 mi in about 24 days. Visited some family along the way. Bike ran great the entire trip, even at the highest elevations with the exception of following clutch problem. No issues with clutch until I came down from Stanley, ID passing thru Sun Valley. Not long after you climb to around 8,000 ft. I had pulled over to an over look and when I went to change gears I had virtually no clutch. Yikes. I got going again by rolling down hill from the pulloff and putting it into gear and was able to change gears without the clutch. As I went down the other side the clutch pressure returned either as a result of lower elevation or fluid cooling off. Turns out fluid was low so eventually found some DOT4 and added fluid which seemed to help. Still didn't shift as well at higher elevations (or maybe due to being hot due to climbing or old fluid). After leaving the mountains back across KS the clutch seemed fine even after riding all day in 90 degree heat. comments/suggestions?
  3. Just the title alone sounds like a story you might see on the cover of a tabloids while going thru check out line at grocery store. Never heard of "Motosecrets" but if this is typical of the type articles they have it must rate right up there with National Enquirer, etc.
  4. In case you're not very familiar with the geology of TN you can google it but, Nashville and surrounding area is in whats called the Nashville basin (part of Central Basin) surrounded by Highland Rim which tends to rise in elevation as you leave the basin. You can look at a topo/terrain map and see how the terrain is around the area you have an interest in. As you go east (and actually south as well) from McMinnville you go up on the Cumberland Plateau which tends to be cooler in summer and more snow, etc. in winter. Where Plateau meets lower terrain you have a lot of steep grades, rugged terrain. Due south of McMinnville is Beersheba Springs which is a nice summer cabin type of area, also nearby is Savage Gulf State Natural Area which is great for hiking, etc. The three sections of TN (west,middle,and east) tend to be distinctly different. Nashville Basin as I recall is much like central KY with limestone rock near the surface which allows for mineral rich grasses thus a lot of horse country in central TN.
  5. It's a nice area of TN, I went to graduate school at Tenn. Tech. (in Cookeville) back in around 1980. It's mostly farming country, slower pace of life but fairly easy access to larger cities (Nashville being the closest but Knoxville, Chattanooga also not bad). Cookeville a typical college town with art/culture/sports related due to Univ. being there (around 10K students give or take). Also not far to Murfreesboro, another college town (around 20K). Upper middle TN has grown over the years due to Big South Fork federal area along KY/TN border. Tons and tons of nice roads to ride. I cut up thru there from time to time going to different places in TN. (My family was from just south of Nashville, I grew up in Knoxville) FYI - B2MOM lived (I think I read they sold their house) lived other side of Nashville closer to Memphis between Martin & Paris in Dresden, TN. I went to a gathering at their place few years ago. Tons of outdoor stuff, several state parks not far, large reservoir south (Center Hill Lake) nearby or go north to Dale Hollow Lake. I used to take off with my college advisor at lunch and run down to Center Hill and get some fishing in before evening classes. He kept his boat at a marina there. Typical to most small towns, people tend to be clannish, if you don't have family, local connection, etc. locally can be a challenge at times but TN people pretty friendly.
  6. Its a shame but I hear more negative things about them than I do positive. For years have seen several articles how most of the money they raise goes to paying themselves and their fund raisers big salaries, etc. very little actually going to vets. One of the local Atlanta TV stations did a story just recently saying the same thing. Seems to be a lot of charities in the name of vets making money for themselves. (btw I was USAF 70-74, year in Thailand during Vietnam) Wife and I would be interested in riding down to Macon area, several Atlanta area folks on forum, I've met some over the years but only one I have been in touch with recently is "Motorcycle Mike" up in Lawrenceville, they (Mike & Shirley) might wanna also ride down. They are currently out of town on a cruise.
  7. Somebody has to pay for all the folks who pay nothing in taxes or even get $ back after paying nothing. I did get a nice surprise when doing my taxes last year. I've always done my own, last several years been using an online software, while entering data it shows what you owe or refund $, while doing my state taxes (yes here is GA we have state income) it kept showing a huge refund compared to what I was used to getting or paying. Thought I was making a mistake but after a little research found out when you turn 62 the state exempts 35K of income, jumps to 65K when you turn 65. I didn't know that, ended up getting all my state money I had been paying back but now have to use that to pay the feds off.
  8. Yep, turned out a little warmer than we thought it was going to be, we thought about riding our RSV (also an 07 ) with a cargo trailer for the camping gear to Little O. SP in McRae and camp which we do sometimes when we visit Chester, GA but thought the night might be a little cool and the wife is not a big cold/cool weather rider. Ended up just driving the car down and back for the day. I'm ready for summer for some longer camping trips. We'll probably head up to the UP of MI again this summer which ends up being our longest trip of the year, would like to take a trip out west on the bike but not sure how wife would do that long on the road.
  9. Congrats. Just noticed your post. Guess that means you'll have more time to brew and do all sorts of other fun stuff. Its nice to be able to do or not do what ever you want. I sent you a PM about riding over some time.
  10. Going to replace my rear wheel, (found a dent in current wheel while inspecting everything) Going to lubricate everything when I switch out wheels, replacement wheel is from an 09 with similar miles as my bike. I lubricated this on current wheel about a year and a half ago. All noises are currently gone, everything seems to be running smoothly now. Also going to change out my rear shock while I have it all apart.
  11. One last post in this thread just in case someone runs across it down the road. Have run several errands around town on the bike with NO noise what so ever. Went ahead and pulled drive shaft, etc. and everything seemed to be in good order. Shaft spline needs some grease but looks fine. Everything in final drive is fine, still had good grease from last time I greased it. (I use molly paste). So as to clanking noised appearing to be coming from the middle gear area, It must have been the collar in front hub coming loose when bearing failed and bouncing around in hub and sound was transmitted back somehow. Wife on back thought sound was under seat as well. It wasn't until collar got stuck in one position out of alignment that it started rubbing front hub that I could feel grinding thru handle bar grips each rotation of wheel. Doing some routine stuff while everything apart but should be good to go when I get it all back together.
  12. Yea that's what I was planning to do, just thought I'd see what was out there first. Awesome. I'll PM you to make arrangements, thanks.
  13. Just by chance if anyone is triking out their RSV this winter I'm looking for rear shock & rear wheel. It appears my shock has been leaking for a while, bottom is wet & gummy, recall a while back a drop of oil beneath bike. Also looking to replace my rear wheel while I have bike all apart this winter. Must have caught the edge of a pot hole at some point and put dent in edge of rim, not real bad but want to go ahead and replace it. Thanks.
  14. It seems most folks have a favorite brand of tire, I've used several brands over the years, currently on the RSV I changed from the stock 150/80/16 to the 130/90/16. I had put a Com. II on the rear a few months earlier and back in spring looked at the Com. II for the front which doesn't come in the stock size but does come in the 130, other reason for 130 front was for handling. I had read others who went with the 130 so I went ahead and I'm glad I did. For me its much better handling at parking lot speeds, seems much more nimble and I can balance bike much better. Couldn't tell any diff. at road speed. I believe both front and rear are bias. (fyi I got Front Commander II 130/90HB-16 Blackwall Tire from Denniskirk for $110 including shipping)
  15. So I got new front wheel bearings (replaced both sides & seals) installed and took bike out for a spin, noise in inner bearing area not there. Everything feels fine, runs smooth. Coasted down the road with motor off and in gear to listenenfor any noise, sounded like normal gear noise, not like a gear missing a tooth or anything. Ujoint seems tight when moving forward and backward (how we used to check em on cars in the old days) Don't see how there could be any connection between bad front wheel bearing and knocking noise around middle gear area. At some point still going to pull axle out to inspect & lube. Will ride locally over the winter and see if it ever returns in the mean time.
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