DarkLeftArm

I'm really not concerned about his clutch troubles. I've done that job on my bike several times with zero drama. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've never had to wait overnight or over 2 minutes, for that matter. It's the other problem that I'm worried about: Bad gas in a FI bike. I have no knowledge about this at all.

So I just talked with a guy I know and he wants help with his bike. It's a 2007 Stratoliner, and he stopped riding when he tried to bleed the clutch hydraulic system and got air in it, and couldn't figure out how to straighten it out. It's been sitting in his driveway since then, and that was over a YEAR ago. Now he says the battery is dead, and I'm sure the fuel has gone to good gas heaven long ago. Besides pulling the tank and dumping it, I'm not sure what to do. Is there any hope for the fuel injection system? Last I saw it, it was beautiful. Like new. I cringe to think what the Arizona sun has done to it by now, I'll have to keep my judgement to myself. He's a busy guy with obviously different priorities than me. Who knows.... maybe he put a cover over it or something. Who knows.... Maybe I'll score a Stratoliner project for REAL cheap! Any suggestions of what I might be up against would be welcome. Cheers Bert

Hahaha. That's what I wanted to Hear. And as for fun, I have other bikes for my fun. Remember, I said I had my WIFE on the back? She loves riding, but not so much the shenanigans.... Thanks, man.

Hey, Fellas. Little worried over here. When I first got this bike 5 years ago and 40,000 miles ago, I filled the oil to the proscribed level and was rewarded with an oily mess in my air boxes, so ever since then I've run a little less oil, and everything stays clean. I usually fill it to just below the center line on the sight glass. I don't pay much attention to numbers of quarts, I just pour the Shell Rotella T6 til it's just so. This time may have been just a touch lower than usual, but not by much. Still very visible in the sight glass. Then last weekend I took my wife for a long weekend loop of the state, and at one point we were way out in the middle of nowhere, stopped, taking pictures. When we left, I fired it up and tore outta there like our lives depended on it. Just for fun. Like nearly wide open throttle between shifts. Much to my dismay, the red low oil dummy light came on! I don't think I've ever seen that light before. As soon as I let up, the light went back off. My first thought was that I'd sprung a leak, and run real low. But no leaks had sprung, and the oil was still looking brand new in the sight glass when I stopped and checked it. And with normal, sane person riding techniques, it has't come on since. If this was a cold motor on a cold day(not that I'd try a stunt like that under those conditions), I'd think I sucked all the oil out of the pan and it was up in the motor causing the light, but it was a hot engine on a hot day with brand new oil. So I just went and filled it to above the center of the sight glass, and plan to ride it like I stole it tomorrow and see what happens. Are these V4 motors known to have any oiling issues I'm not aware of? Like slow drainback problems? I'll be happy for any feedback you have. Cheers Bert

We should meet in Green Valley, then ride to Arivaca for some of that good Gadsden coffee!

I can't believe it. We were at Saguaro lake, too!! Up and back through Florence to avoid Phoenix traffic. Did you eat at the cafe? I think we got there about noon. Cheers Bert

I get the desire to save $$ with used parts, but when I wrecked my lower right fairing, I ended up getting one brand new from boats.net . Not sure if they'll ship to Oz, but if not, maybe someone here could help out. The one I bought was even color matched, so no paint hassle. Look here: http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Yamaha/Motorcycle/2001/VENTURE%20-%20XVZ1300TFN/COWLING%202/parts.html

Thanks, Larry. That does clear up some of my confusion.

Hey there fellas. Long time. Hope everybody's doing okay. I'm getting ready to go to Las Vegas, and it's looking like the tires are getting close. I have Dunlop E3s in the stock sizes, and I'm kicking around going with Michelin Commander II, and going the 130 on front. The front I'm looking at on Jake Wilson is 130/90B-16 (73H) The rear listed on Jake wilson is 150 90B-15 (74H). The rear E3 currently on the bike has a size of MV 85 B15..... HUH? What kind of size is that? And why isn't that size listed with the Newer E4s?? I thought I had a dim memory of the original rear tire being of the 180 size. But the owners manual says 150. I'm pretty sure I want the Michelin brand, but I just wanna make sure I get the right size. Anybody want to try to talk me back to the E3s? This is my second set, and I really love 'em. Will I hate the Michelins? Thanks for your time. Bert

Boy, I'll tell you what- I haven't been here on this forum in quite a while. My big black beauty has been behaving herself, and I've been riding a lot. But last night I got a friendly reminder that my membership was about to run out, and it was time to renew. I did that this morning, and was IMMEDIATELY rewarded greatly by happening onto this ride report! Thank you, jfman for making my day. I'm also on ADVrider, so maybe I'll see you around sometime.

man that looks FUN.

I like these. Also, rub the oil between your fingers ad then blow on it. If it's contaminated with fuel, the fuel will evaporate and make your fingertips feel cooler. Clean oil won't evaporate.

The front tire fits just fine in the harbor fright wheel chock. That worried me, too. I was very relieved when it plopped right in.

How far are you hauling it? I pulled mine from Monterey, CA here to Tucson. I had a harbor fright wheel chock and mostly used the crash bars as tie down points. May have thrown a loop around the handlebars BETWEEN the risers. And like Rbig1 said, dont be surprised at how long the bike is.

Did you get my PM, Semi-retired? I tried a couple times, and it doesn't look like it sent.

Rear: MV85 B15 Front: 150/80-16 Got mine from Dennis Kirk, and as soon as I got them, Revzilla emailed me saying they had remedied their out of stock situation. Ride safe.

Threw away my 5 yr old 404s with age cracks in them when I got the bike. Put on E3s and rode them like I stole them for 17000 miles. Changed them with 3/32 of tread left in the middle, front and rear. I'll buy E3s as long as I can find em. My 2 cents.

Maybe Zappa? I agree. We grew up with the most amazing musicians in history. I feel sad for the current 16 year olds. They have got pretty slim pickings.

But wait! Maybe Tull! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCMS-NJ7VxU

Hmmmm. Definitely Skynyrd.

Cool. Glad you're doing well. Bike wrecks suck from any perspective. Good choice of replacement, too.

Dang, dude. Sounds like it was a serious accident. Hope you're okay? As far as tires go, I just changed out my first set of E3 Dunlops. 17k miles and they still had 3/32" of tread left. And I'm a big guy. I go about 280# and Susan isn't a twig. I know we are WAY over the recommended weight when we go 2 up. And that's most of the time. I'm VERY picky about tire pressure though. I check them with a gauge every time I ride. So... You gonna find another Royal Star?

well there you go. You just named her. And since my name is Bert, and since I've been getting ribbed about "Hey Bert, where's Ernie" all my life, You make me wish Ike's name was Ernie! These days, just about everybody in our riding club calls my fiancee Susan "Ernie". She loves it.

Ike is a great little friend, and a bonafide rabble rousin' PITA! He has seen me through many tough phases of life, mainly mid life crisis, lol. Takes it all in stride. He is a Lilac Crowned Amazon. Not much for talking, but very gentle and polite as parrots go. Never had a parrot before, and of course he will outlive me as long as I keep up my end of the deal. So what kind of bird is Ernicio? Love that name.

Haha. Nope, sorry. Never been to crater lake. And cant make MD, either. Maybe next year! Cheers Bert