cmiles3
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Everything posted by cmiles3
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At the hardware store, in the specialty fasteners aisle, you can buy "hole caps" in different diameters. Plastic or chrome. May not be available in the right size.
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Soon. The IA net cops don't want me to discuss travel plans over the net. I'll be home before 4 July. See you at the next meet'n'eat.
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I have several sets in the garage, if Amy didn't "move" them while I'm gone. I'll get back in a couple of weeks and let you know.
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Glad you're OK. All that stuff can be fixed or replaced; hope the insurance company comes through for you. Amy said she had rain & wind, but she's on the far side of Tulsa from the damage. Didn't need the rain; there's 3 of my favorite riding roads closed (2 landslides and 1 wash out.)
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We push the limit on the load rating, but it's mostly me. Putting a heavy load on the rear violates the stability control triangle; weight should be in the triangle formed by the front wheel, rear wheel, and rider center of gravity. You can learn to compensate, but you still can drop it. Starting from a standing stop, the torque lifts the wheel, which decreases your steering. If you let off the throttle to increase steering, the bike will wallow, possibly dropping. If you add throttle, the wallow will go away, but the steering decreases, so you have to lean more. Practice this and you'll be amazed how much throttle and lean you can combine. One technique is a light application of rear brake with increased throttle, but this isn't practical with linked brakes. I've managed to drop mine at low speeds, usually stopping, not starting. A little sand or gravel at a stop sign can cause some strange events; front wheel slipping out from under you if you're leaning or turning a little, foot slipping out from under you as you lean at a stop, putting your foot down into a pothole while stopped & can't reach the ground, turning on a gravel road (don't touch that brake!)
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I'll take a set. Thanks.
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Cool. Exciting times. Take him out to celebrate when he gets his first pay check.
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http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080529_14_A16_spancl654936 Sometimes there's justice. Not satisfaction, especially for his family.
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The 8" diameter is the steel hub diameter, not the wheel diameter. The difference in rotational speed is proportional to the difference in tire outside diameters. It's not 12"/8" or 150% of the larger tire velocity, but something like 20"/16" or 125%. Different tires have different heights, so you'd need to measure them. Then, the tire diameter changes when you load it (the height of the axle above the pavement is 1/2 of the effective diameter). The tires heat up as they spin. The carcass flexes where it touches the pavement, then relaxes as it rotates through the air. The faster it spins, the more flexes per mile. This is what leads to tread separation, etc. Also, the smaller tire tread wear is faster per mile, but I've never worn a trailer tire tread out. Higher pressures mean less flexing, but you need a stronger carcass to hold the pressure. Load ratings and pressure ratings vary, so you need to look at the tires to see what it will take. Slow speed tires are not very good. Your bearings wear faster if the wheel spins faster. Good bearings last forever with good maintenance, but the original bearing may be cheap stuff. The biggest difference you'll notice with large diameter wheels is the trailer won't bounce as much. This saves wear & tear on your tie downs, and keeps a few parts from shaking loose from your bike on the highway. Yeah, Yamaha bolts do loosen or break. Oh yeah, double strap everything; you're gonna break one sometime.
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Wobble at 110
cmiles3 replied to FROG MAN's topic in Venture and Venture Royale Tech Talk ('83 - '93)
It can; I can't. -
Longest day I've ridden was 640 miles, round trip, not counting the miles spent riding around at my destination. It was a very long day, and my butt & back felt it. Used a bead seat, so there was no problems with monkey butt. I usually ride with an mp3 player and behind the ear headphones. I've ridden 500 miles nonstop in a day. It's OK, but still a long day. Not much time to spend looking at things, eating, stopping, etc. Lots of 400 miles days, usually broken up by work- several hours off the bike, with a 200 mile commute at each end of the day. This is pretty good, but at the end of the day, I fall asleep very quickly. Several days in a row of this will wear you out. Drink a lot of liquid. The sun will not be your friend. Windy days will add to your fatigue. Plan for rain; it's easier to pack rain gear than stop & buy them. Interstates will get you there faster, but interstates with a lot of traffic (trucks) is stressful. Large cities suck if you hit them at rush hour, and it's always rush hour in some cities. Review your route ahead on the map at every stop; not all the highways are well marked when it comes to exits, ramps, and other directional signs. Know the next route number, the city it takes you to, and any alternate route numbers it may have- when you only have 10 seconds or so to see the sign, read it, and discover it doesn't have any of the information you need, knowing the alternate info can save you a 10 mile turnaround. Sometimes, a new bypass may give you directions to your next highway without going through a city.
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Just ran into this website...and no I haven't gone green on ya...
cmiles3 replied to Condor's topic in Watering Hole
The original rubber O rings and gaskets need to be changed; ethanol causes it to swell, and will give you trouble. They sell synthetic rubber parts, but not as a kit for Ventures. E85 will affect your performance and mileage, not in a good way. Corrosion may be a problem, since ethanol absorbs water from the atmosphere much faster than gasoline. Aluminum & water don't mix well. Haven't tried it; don't plan to. -
I'm only good for one step, then I'm done.
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Tastes like chicken... You're too late for the rattlesnake rodeo; it's in March.
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I have an air wing, model unknown, that came with a parts bike. Post a photo and I'll compare my solo wing with yours.
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Don, mowing yards is why God created teenagers & landscapers. And porch railings- hire a carpenter. After you get the server moved again, just ride. The other stuff will be there when you get back. Just think how much stuff Amy's been saving for me, after four months. Maybe I'll extend until past mowing season?
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I like polarized; they reduce fatigue from eye strain for me. Sometimes they're not available or cost more than I want to pay when I need sunglasses. One problem on my 1st Gen, and for some of my electronic devices, is the display screen is polarized. So the orientation of the glasses and the display has to be good, or it turns black. This is distracting when you're checking the fuel gage or the system display, or need to check the GPS. It also reveals some interesting light patterns on my windshield; looks like stress lines are highlighted in different colors.
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I'm using behind the neck stereo headphones in my modular helmet to listen to tunes. I don't know anyone who offers this option in intercom headsets. They're more comfortable than the other types of headsets I've tried. The ear piece goes over the top of the ear, which alleves the pressure and reduces discomfort from longer rides that the other styles of headsets cause. The small, padded speakers seem to fit well and don't interfere with donning the helmet. My wife has a Skorpion half helmet with ear pads that accept speakers. Don't know if the pads are available for your helmet or not.
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Three choices: Hire a lawyer- you pay, you call the shots and take your chances. It will cost more than $4,000. Contingency fees typically are 1/3 of the settlement after expenses, if they don't go to court, or 1/2 the settlement if they go to court. Sounds like none of the PI lawyers want to take your case? Lawyers cost money, but can add a lot of value if the insurance company is not reasonable. If you go to court, you'll lose without a lawyer. If your insurance company didn't offer to represent you, you will have to pay out of pocket. Accept the settlement. They won't pay unless you sign the release, which is just that- no further liability. Did they offer cash for pain & suffering, as well as for your medical expenses and property losses? A lawyer could tell you what you should expect from this part and the other parts of the settlement. Don't accept the settlement and don't hire a lawyer, rely on the good faith of the insurance company. That's the course of action you've taken so far, and what have you got? You'll get more of the same if you don't go with plan A or plan B. They're counting on you letting the court option slip past the deadline, after which they'll drop their settlement offer, and continue to stall until you give up. This is one method how insurance companies control their costs.
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What, no Paypal option?
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22 years last Saturday, but who's counting? Sent flowers...
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Don't call; I won't be home. Next trip?
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A couple of years ago, I surprised Amy with a scooter on her birthday. 125cc, 60mph top end. She got to pick it out, I took her to the shop and she sat on them all and picked out the one she wanted; not the one I would have chosen. Now she won't ride on the back of the Venture. So, if you see an orange scooter rolling down the road, followed by a blue Venture, honk or wave.
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Me, too. Safety glasses, lots of styles & colors, mirrored or dark tint. Plus, it gives you decent protection from rocks coming at you at 120 mph. If you want real protection, get ballistic glasses, made for soldiers & shooters. More costly, but not much. I like the wraparound styles, since I wear contact lenses, it keeps the wind from drying my eyes too much. I can ride with the face shield open if it's warm, without squinting & blurry vision. Also reduces fatigue when I'm on long rides. Try on different pairs; the ear pieces need to fit your face. If you wear one, the helmet pads tend to push into my head or my ears, depending on how they fit. I like a style that has straight earpieces, don't stick out too far from the side of your face, with a soft rubber end over your ear. Adjustable length earpieces are nice, too. But I find other types work, you just have to see how they fit you. For night riding, you might want to consider a pair with clear lenses, too. Safety glasses come in both types, and I've seen some ballistic glasses in yellow, clear, smoke, mirrored, and other tints. You can find ballistic glasses in sporting goods stores (WalMart comes to mind). Safety glasses should be available in the lawn & garden section of WM right now, too. I like paying $10 or less; I tend to destroy or lose sunglasses at the rate of 1 per month. My personal best was 4 pairs in 1 day; at the beach, body surfing with the kids. I wore $1 Store sunglasses the rest of that trip. Oh, yeah. You can get prescription inserts for safety glasses; they clip on the inside of your frames. I'll post a photo for those who're interested.
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Way to go, Don & Linda! 41 years is a long time. Missed being there for my 22nd anniversary this year, but I sent flowers.