Miles

I will "politely" beg to differ on this. Given that the speedo has a digital arm that sweeps across the face of the speedo, it does not show us an extremely accurate signal in that sweeping arm, so it is difficult to detect the very slight variations that occur, compared to the odometer that is a digital numerical readout, and we can precisely see the changing of the numbers. I will agree that it "appears" that the speedo is not affected by the gearing change. I can easily see that the odometer is off compared to its' previous settings, before the gearing change, but it is difficult to "see" that the speedo is off. To make a point, prior to this gearing change, I had my speedo and odo dialed in to be very accurate compared to my GPS. They matched the numbers of my GPS in very close numbers. I may have been off by .001 %. After doing the gearing change, and doing several test rides to see where things were, I found the speedo and odo were off by 2.9 % compared to the same GPS, a Garmin Zumo 550. I tweaked my Speed Healer device to make the corrections, and at this moment, I believe my speedo and odo are within .001 % of what my GPS says. In doing this tweaking, for the "fun" of it, I went WAY out of spec and gave the Speed Healer a ridiculous number, just to see what would happen. That odd change did in fact change both my speedo and my odo to be off by as much as 50 % of what my GPS was reading. That means, I was riding down the road at 60 mph, and my bike was reading 30 mph. It was funny, but it showed that given extreme adjustments to the Speed Healer, it can make the speedo/odo make dramatic changes. After that test run, I changed it all back, and right now my bikes' odo will read between 999 to 1000 miles for every 1000 miles my GPS records. Yes, the old GPS argument. Many people say that a GPS, even the best of them, does not record mileage in the real, exact world, as it is not tactile on the road surface, but rather a monitoring of the positioning of the vehicle to the satellites. I will agree with that argument. However, in the world of IBA riders, the IBA leans much more heavily on the accuracy of a good GPS, than they do on the inaccuracy of most modern motorcycles that are proven to be off by 5 to 10 %.

Little Bob, here is the link to the company that does this: http://rmsportmax.com/gateway.html On their site, click for the info on Royal Star products, and then find the one for the rear diff gearing. Miles

Mike G, yes, the RSMax gears I had installed were from the same guy, the same company, in Pennsylvania. I sent him MY rear diff, and he installed the V-Max ring and pinion gears into my diff. So, I did not do a swap for another diff, just re-geared my diff housing. http://rmsportmax.com/gateway.html Still, the cost for doing that was the $ 300.00 plus shipping. VERY pleased.

All I should say is...WOW ! Of course, most of you know by now that I cannot leave it with only that being said. I made the decision to refuse to wait for 6 more weeks before they remove the cast on my right leg, before I can take the RSMTD out for a test ride, after having done so much work to it. If I could ride home from Bolivia, with the last 1900 miles having a broken leg, then I can ride my RSMTD with a cast on the leg. So this afternoon, with a balmy 47 degrees out (which is perfect riding weather for me), I went for several test rides on the '06 RSMTD, after having installed the RSMax rear diff gears, and having done the meticulous valve adjustment, and having lowered the rear of the bike. I have to say that everyone that has changed the rear diff gears on their bikes, and have said that it is the best money they ever spent for a performance upgrade, they were 100 % right. I want to THANK everyone that praised this improvement, that lead me to do the same to my bike. WOW, what a difference. It probably helped a little bit that I also did that meticulous valve adjustment, re-synced my carbs after that, etc. The bike acts, rides, and performs like a completely different bike now. Honestly ! I am very impressed with how the bike performs now. If I had done this same upgrade to my first '06 RSMTD, I may never have traded it in 2 years later. Wanting to give the bike a second chance, I decided to buy another one of the same year and model, and I am NOW finally happy with this bike. Before this upgrade, this bike was relinquished to be a second or third string bike in my stable of bikes. Now, with the upgrades I have done, I will "want" to ride this bike more, and it will move up in status in my stable. BTW, the RSMax rear diff gears do in fact change the readings of both the speedo and odometer. Since I already had a HealTech Speed Healer installed on my bike before this gearing upgrade, it was an easy matter to adjust the electronic box of the Speed Healer to match my Garmin Zumo 550. After several test runs, I tweaked it a few times, and now it reads exactly the same as my GPS. I am also very happy with having lowered the rear of the bike. Because I use a Russell day-Long Saddle, which itself raises a rider 1.5" to 2", it was always a little tall for me. Now with the rear end set down 1.5", the bike feels much better, I can put both feet flat footed on the ground, or...er...one boot and one cast for right now. Happ, Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy:cool10:

Frank, my shop was not cold compared to midwest standards. It was maybe 40 degrees in my shop. And I am not going to let a silly broken fibula in my leg stop me from completing the task at hand. Ha ! Ha, I say !

Darn it, Brian. If you would have posted that video the night before I was run into by a car, and then mugged at gunpoint, I may have been able to fend these banditos off with, maybe a spatula. I should have had a large Texas Star on the back of my saddlebags, then they would have known not to mess with me.

I just finished the valve adjustment on my bike yesterday, in my cold shop, with a cast on my leg. I had to...the loaner kit and tools from Skydoc_17 were sitting here waiting for me to use it, and I was not about to wait for my leg to feel better before I used that kit and tools, and returned them to Earl. So the job needed to be done. The Bike, a 2006 RSMTD, with 40k on it. I am the second owner, bought the bike in Sept. 2011, and I do not believe at all that the valves have ever been checked in the first 7 years of this bikes' life. Given my propensity to riding a few miles each year (ha ha), I thought that this Winter was the perfect time to do things like Valve Adjustment, RSMax rear diff gears, etc. Here is what I found on the valves: Of the 16 valves on this bike, 9 of them were out of spec. That seemed like a lot to me, compared to all the multi-cylinder bikes I have put more than a million miles on in the last many years. I would have expected, and accepted that maybe 3 or 4 valves were out of spec, but to find 9 out...whew ! Of the 9 valves that were out of spec, 5 of them were intake valves that were out by .026mm each. To put that into perspective, that is generally one metric valve shim size difference than what was available in the shim box. I had 1 intake valve that was out of spec by .052mm. All of the intake valves that were out of spec...were too tight. On the exhaust valves...there were 2 that were too loose by .026mm, and 1 that was too loose by .052mm. Now, I want to believe that in most cases if other people were checking these valves, they would have accepted 6 of these 9 valves as being okay, as they were only out by .026mm. However, when it comes to engine specs for internal running parts, I am very picky (re: anal) about getting it right. I made sure that I checked every valve several times before writing down my findings, and if I did replace a shim, I made certain to rotate the engine a full 2 times, back it up 2 full times, and them get back to where I could take the measurement again, and confirm that my new measurement was in fact correct. To that end, when all was said and done, just to confirm to myself that I had all the valves now working smoothly, and quietly, I performed one last test. Before installing the chrome covers back onto the valve covers, I started the bike, ran it up to temp, let the cooling fan cycle a couple times, then I used my electronic stethoscope to listen to the valves. I placed the electronic stethoscope right onto the valve covers, and checked for the rotational sound of the cams and valves in about 20 places around the valve covers, and everything sounded perfect. I am quite satisfied. BTW, just to mess with a few of you's heads...I did install the valve cover gasket on the rear valve cover...installing the gasket a day in advance, using a small amount of yamabond to secure the gasket into the valve cover, and then a day later installed that rear valve cover onto the bike. I know, many of you say it connot be done with the gasket in place, but it worked like a charm for me. I made the decision to do it this way, after seeing that the gasket snakes its' way around the valve cover, and must fit into the grooves of the cover. I believed it would be harder to get that gasket into the grooves of the cover, if the gasket was laying on the head, and I squeezed the cover into place, and then tried to mate the cover to the gasket. To me, that would be a nightmare. My way worked, the gasket never moved, I slid it all into place, and have 100% confirmation that the gasket is in fact in perfect position all the way around that valve cover, mating it to the head. Now, as a final step, I will be re-checking the carb sync on my bikes, now that the valves have been adjusted. Having a Carbtune Pro helps, and I like using it. So, Mr. Pickyhead (me) has found 9 valves out of spec on a bike with 40k on it. Hmmm...

Kregerdoodle, a question. When you do the work finishing the inside of the shop, are you going to be finishing the interior walls? Using sheetrock, or using pegboard? Are you going to be using an air compressor inside the shop? My reason for questions are: I have found that by finishing the interior walls with white pegboard, rather than sheetrock, the pegboard is half the cost of sheetrock, it is half the weight of sheetrock, it is far easier to install, you can see through the pegboard holes to find your wall studs to install the screw through the pegboard to the wall stud. You do not have to paint it after install, as it is already white, you can hang pegboard hooks anywhere you want to, and the pegboard holes absorb the noise of the air compressor, so you shop doesn't become a a reverberating noise chamber when the compressor is running. Look into it. I have set up my own personal shops at many homes, and I always use the white pegboard (Home Depot, Lowes) to finish the interior walls. No taping, no painting, it is a one person job...don't need to buy 12 cases of beer to pay off your friendsd to help you install the drywall.

Wade, if your mechanic did indeed tell you that the valves on a 2nd gen Venture/RS do not need to be checked and/or adjusted until the valve cover gaskets need to be replaced...I would be looking for a new mechanic, becasuse your mechanic has things backwards. Example, what if your valve cover gaskets do not need to be replaced for 250,000 miles? Are you going to avoid checking the valves for adjustment until such time? I just checked my vaslves on my '06 RSMTD, and of the 16 valves...9 were out of specs, and needed t be adjusted. I just made the adjustment yesterday, replacing the shims on those 9 valves. And the valve cover gaskets were not leaking, and the bike has 40,000 miles on it. I am the second owner, bought it in Sept. 2011, and I do not beleive the valves have ever been adjusted before this. So this was a first time adjustment, and the valve cover gaskets were fine, but...I did install new gaskets as part of the job. Do not wait until the gasket are leaking to adjust or check on your valves. I know it is a big job, whew...I know, but if it is done correctly, perfectly, then you will have many miles of a smooth running engine before needing to do it again.

Okay, midnightventure...I get the pun now. Being that you are from Missouri, the "Show Me" state...you want pictures. I get it, now. It took me a few hours to get that pun.

Back in my younger days, in the days of yore, I used to take a lot of pictures, on film. More recently, in the past 10 to 15 years, I hardly take any pictures. Some trips I take no pictures. Only very recently, since being on this forum, have I had the thought and desire to actually take pictures on a ride. The book I am writing will have almost no pictures in it. It is not a phot album, but a written composition of riding where I have been, and the miles I have been on. Yeah, real dumb luck to have no tangible pictures from either long ride recently. When Ross (my riding partner from this trip) gets all unloaded, and uploaded from his pictures he took, he will send me some, then I can post the ones he sends me. Miles

Brian, using the Ural sidecar rig to pick up on girls...what is the world coming to ??? Gotta love it man, Miles

Been there several times, many years ago. The IBA, and the Utah 1088 rally have used the Kennecott Copper Mine a few times as bonus locations. I am surprised to hear that motorcycles are no longer allowed. The roads to get to the visitors center are good riding, and worth seeing the mine views. Let me know what you find out, for certain, about bikes not be allowed anymore. Miles

Very good question, and quite frankly, I was hoping that someone would ask that, as it takes someone familiar with the gap to know that there are no real roads (by northernors standards) to drive through from Panama to Columbia. That is why most of these trips are taken on adventure bikes, rather than Goldwings. Once you get down to the Pinogana District of Panama, there is a small village to the east of the main dirt road. The track that leads to that small village also continues over the mountains, still heading east, and down the eastern slop of the mountains. It is nothing more than a cart track, or horse trail. That leads down to Marriaga, Columbia, and that is where we pick back up on the main (still dirt) road. The locals know this road, and most times there is some local resident there to take a small toll for using their road. It is kinda funny, but it is also respectful to pay the small toll. Once in Columbia, then we had to deal with the patroled road stops, get grilled as to how we got there, and pay a little token bribe to go on. Miles

MikeWa, thanks. The laptop is password protected, twice over, so they cannot get any personal info. That is not what they want anyway. It was probably sold to someone else within 24 hours, and all they will do is use it for parts. But all of my SD cards with 130 photos from this trip were also in the electronics bag. That is what bums me the most. And, ragtop69gs, I will be back to riding this weekend, as I also have a Burgman 650, renamed my ST-650 (half the engine, but twice the heart of an ST), so I can ride it even with a cast on my leg. Miles

Okay Folks, I am home. Made it home yesterday afternoon at 4:00 pm. For those of you that didn't know I was gone, or where I went, the very brief synopsis of the ride is that my "first" ride of this new year was a total of 15,182 miles, during the past 4 weeks, riding from Olympia, WA. down to Bolivia and Chile', and then riding back home. That was...riding...not trailering, trucking, or ferrying the bike. So, I can now say I just completed my first ride of the year...15,182 miles from start to finish. The Good: 1. I am HOME, and you will get the true meaning of that when you read below items. 2. I (we) had fun for the first 25 days of the ride, the last 3 days were hard. 3. My bike, the 2012 Yam Super Tenere' performed flawlessly. His bike, the 2005 BMW R12GS did okay, and he did make it home to Seattle. His bike is getting long on miles, as it was originally my bike, and I put the first 65,000 miles on it. I sold it to him, and that is when we started riding together. Thanks to: Kevin-vic-b.c. for hoping that the BMW makes it there and back. Your good wishes (albeit satirical) are what helped that beemer along. 4. We saw many great sights, got to watch the Dakar Rally for one day, ate great foods along the way. 5. I lost 12 pounds on this trip. Riding long trips like this I always lose weight, but I lost more than expected, due to what occured on the 26th day. 6. Plans were already in place to sell my 2012 Super Tenere' after this ride, and the buyer still wants it...despite the new bullet hole in the right saddlebag. The buyer, my riding buddy, Ross, is selling the BMW that now has 120,000 miles on it, and is buying my Super Tenere' that is just short of one year old, and now has 42,000 miles on it. I have offered to have the right saddlebag replaced due to the new bullet hole, but he insists on keeping it, as a reminder to our ride, and as a conversation piece. The Bad: 1. On Monday, January 28th, which was our 26th day on this trip, we left our hotel in Guaymas, Sonora, MX. and headed north. By the time we got to Santa Ana, Sonora, MX., which was 190 miles into our day, Ross decided he needed to stop to use the bathroom, and grap something to drink. We pulled into a Pemex gas station in Santa Ana, and while Ross went into the store to use the bathroom, I was standing next to our two bikes, using my laptop that was inside my top box on the rear seat of the bike. I keep ALL of my electronics gear such as my laptop, all the charging cords for cell phone, camera, laptop, etc. in this electronics bag. I had opened the top box...opened the electronics bag, and was proceeding to make some notes on my laptop...when a car intentionally ran into my right leg, pushing me up against my bike, hitting my ribs against the opened edge of my top box. The bike did not fall over, and it supported me until I could get back upright. The car that hit me...at a rolling stop...was done for effect, as the 3 occupants of the car exited the car, ran up to me, and one of the guys stuck a hand gun into my ribcage, the opposite side ribs that had just crashed into my top box. This was a robbery, and Ross, my riding partner, that speaks very fluent spanish, was not in sight. I could tell by what these guys were saying that they wanted money. I had no problem handing over any money I had in my pockets, as that is replaceable, and both Ross and I keep most of our money hidden in secret places on the bikes. I motioned to the guy that had the handgun sticking in my ribs that I would use my left hand to reach into my pants pocket, and give then all the money I had. I keep all my money I am using for that day in my left pants pocket, and there is nothing in my right pants pocket. My credit cards/debit card is in my jacket pocket, along with any receipts. My cell phone is in another pocket of my jacket. So I reach into my pocket, remove about $ 400.00 US, and about $ 300.00 in Pesos, and give it all to this guy. He forces me to use my other hand, my right hand, to reach into my right front pocket. My right hand is bad, due to damage, and it doesn't work as well as the left. I do it, but when my hand comes out empty, he gets mad. He then sees that my top box is open, and that in plain sight is my laptop. Using his handgun that is still stuck into my ribs, he pushes me out of the way, and grabs the entire electronics bag in the top box. At that moment I catch the sight of my riding partner, Ross, out of the corner of my eye. We have a prearranged signal in case we are in trouble, and I can see that he wants to come to my aid, but I know that all that will happen is that he will get robbed too, and/or one of us will get shot. I give Ross our signal to stay away...do not approach...and he obeys. The robber can tell by my reaction to his grabbing my electronics bag that it means a lot to me, and for a monent I ponder the idea of offering him more money, money that I have hidden on the bike, to take the additional money in exchange for leaving the electronics bag. But I know that will only lead to his taking everything. There is no bargaining with a robber that has a handgun stuck into your ribs. Give him what he wants, as little as you can get away with giving him, and then hope that he leaves. And that he did. The three bad amigos got back into their car, backed up, and just before they drove away, the bandit sitting in the back seat, the one that had the handgun stuck in my ribs during this robbery, he points his gun out the opened window and fires off one round, hitting my right saddlebag. We would later find that bullet lodged into my Stop N Go tire plug gun kit, then they drove away. Ross came running out to me, and after a minute of short conversation, we got out of there fast. I would have gladly paid those bad guys $ 5,000.00 to leave the laptop and electronics bag with me, as the contents of that laptop mean more to me than the money. Most of the pictures on that laptop cannot be easily replaced, and it will take me a long time to rewrite all the travel logs I had stored on that laptop, as well as the past couple months of work that went toward the book I am writing...work that had not been backed-up or saved on my home hard-drive. 2. Yes, ragtop69gs, you were right about the need for the armed escorts down south, but we had no problems in all the Central American countries, or the South American countries. We had to return to northern Mexico to run into banditos. We were 67 miles from the US border, and we probably lost sight of what we already knew were the dangers of northern Mexico, because we were anxious to get to the border. The Ugly: 1. When that car crashed into me, I felt my leg injury. I knew it was more than a bump, but my mind was on the immediate problem of a handgun stuck into my ribs, and my other ribs hurting from being slammed into my top case. After we got back on the road, for maybe 30 miles, I signaled to Ross that we needed to pull over. He got off his bike, walked up to me, and knew I was in distress. I explained that I "think" my right leg was either broken or fractured. Ross, having been a medic in Army, checked my ribs on both sides, and then checked my right leg. He agreed that the problem was with the leg., but we agreed to continue on, get across the border at Nogales, and ride up to Tucson, AZ. to check it out further. Waiting in line at the border was painful, and I had a hardtime holding the bike upright. The Yam Super Tenere' is a tall bike, and with an inseam of only 31", my legs are stretched out to reach the ground. If using only one leg, my left, I have to slide off the seat to hold the bike upright. 2. We got through the border, rode the additional 90 miles up to Tucson, and found a Walmart just off the highway. I knew that "KIC" lives in Tucson, but without a way to get ahold of him, we were on our own. In the Walmart parking lot, Ross helped me get off my bike, and I sat down on the curb. Ross went inside to buy medical supplies and a couple drinks. He came back with 6 wooden paint stir sticks, a box of lightweight Kotex pads, and a roll of duct tape. He made very effort to remove my right boot as nicely as he could, but...he and I both knew that this had to be done, and we both knew that my removing the boot correctly, it would most likely reset my bones, if indeed it was broken. If it was merely fractured, then no harm, no foul. We knew it was not a compound fracture, as there was no bone protuding from the skin, and no protrusion of the skin, to indicate a bone that might break through. Days later we would find out that he did in fact reset the bone when he removed my boot. We knew that this was most likely a Fibula bone problem, as in a boot-top fracture, similar to what snow skiers get when they fracture a leg right at the top of where their ski boots stop. I have had this injury before back in 1984, skiing down Heavenly Valley, in Cal. With boot removed, and my tall riding sock cut down to only ankle height, he then placed six Kotex pads around my lower leg, placing each one vertically, and then placed the six paint stir sticks on top of the Kotex pads, then wrapped the entire leg up with the duct tape, as tight as he could. For those that don't know, a very good item to have in your First Aid kit is a couple Kotex pads, as they are very absorbent. The IBA recommends putting these in your First Aid kits for long rides. Our use of then here was to absorb any sweat on my leg, inside my boot, and to not have the paint stir sticks rubbing up against my skin. It acts as a buffer that absorbs. Then, getting my boot back on was a major pain, but it had to be done. After drinking our cold drinks, be left Tucson, and headed northwest. We stopped for the night in Blythe, CA. It was only a 608 mile day, but we had problems that kept us from making more miles. We left Blythe on Tuesday morning, and rode 850 miles up to Redding, CA. We had to stop here, because this is where our winter tires had been taken off our bikes, and our heated clothing had been left. Our friend that owns the shop took care of our bikes that night, reinstalled our good winter tires, and threw our raggedy very used road tires away. We had gone about 14,000 miles on those summer tires, and they were well worn out. Given that I had a boot on my right leg that I was not about to remove until we got home, I had to go for three days and more than 1900 miles without showering, or removing my boot. We left Redding on Wednesday morning, rode the last 535 miles up to my house, and dropped our bikes off at the ranch. We called my wife at the State Dept. of Health, and told her to meet us at the hospital after she gets off work. By the time we could leave my place, in my car, with Ross driving, and drive the 20 miles up to the hospital, and then get checked in, X-rayed, and then processed, my wife would just be getting off from work, so why ask her to come any earlier ? The x-ray of the right leg did show a break of the fibula. It was not just a fracture, and the doctor commented that it had been set right back to where it should be, so I was lucky. We let the doc know that the boot removing trick probably set it right. They put a cast on my right leg/foot, and gave me lots of meds, and sent me home. BTW, both Ross and I carry certain pain meds along with us on our trips, but I knew that I would rather deal with the pain, and ride...than to be doped up, and not ride. We also knew to let me take the lead all the way home, so that my mind was on the ride, and the road, not on the pain in my leg, while I followed him. So, I am now home. VERY happy to be home. I wish I didn't have a cast on my right leg, as I have things to do. Ross is coming back this weekend to buy the Super Tenere' from me, bullet hole and all. I was supposed to be buying my next bike next week, a 2012 Suzuki DL650 V Strom, but I think I will wait until the cast is off, so I can ride it home. Regarding my Royal Star Midnight Tour Deluxe...I took that bike all apart to do the valve adjust, prior to my leaving for this trip to Bolivia/Chile'. I measured all my valves, knew which ones needed adjustment, and was waiting to return from this trip to find the kit from Earl, Skydoc_17, waiting for me, so I can replace the shims. I will write that story up in a couple days. Okay, enough already. Miles

Hello everyone, my name is Buffi, and I am Miles' wife. He called me this morning and asked me to post onto here. He is leaving Bolivia this morning, and heading North. He said he is on schedule, having fun, no problems, and should be back home in about 8 days. Thanks, Buffi

It is time for me to ride SOUTH. I was supposed to be leaving tomorrow morning, but...as we all know too well...weather at this time of year dictates when we can ride. Finding that we have a perfect window of clear, dry weather for the next several hours, we have decided to leave Washington state now, and make it down to Eugene, OR., and stop for the night. We could easily go farther, but we have a large hill to go over at the Oregon/California border, and there is usually lots of snow and ice on the road this time of year. We want to do that hill in the daylight, after some sun has hit it. Have an appointment in Redding to have our tires changed out, for the ride down to much warmer/hot weather down in South America. We will leave our winter tires at this shop, as well as most (not all) of our heated clothing. Then on the way back north, we will have the same shop take off our summer tires, and re-install our winter tires, and give us back our heated clothing that we left with them. Total ride down to Bolivia/Chile' should be about 15,000 round trip. We plan to do some sight seeing in Bolivia, retrace the steps of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and then take in day # 10 of the Dakar Rally in Chile'. I will be riding my 2012 Super Tenere', and my riding partner is riding a 2005 R12GS. We are well prepped and planned for this ride, but..."IF" anything goes wrong, well...my friends, it has been lovely getting to know many of you. Hope to be back on here in 4 weeks. Stay safe, and be nice to one another while I am gone. Adios,

Joe, unfortunetly...been there, done that. It is a real pain to have ones' vision messed up. Hopefully yours will get back to what it was, and your eyes will be fine. Considering you are typing well, and did a good job of spelling, you must be doing...okay. Please let us know when things are back to normal.

BigLenny, I have been using heated clothing on motorcycles for more than 25 years, almost to the beginning of Gerbing Heated Clothing. I still have some of the old original heated clothing from them, but I also have most of their latest equipment, and in some cases, two fold of their equipment. I am a very serious advocate of heated clothing on bikes, because...I would rather ride in 40 degree weather than in 80 degree weather. I have to admit (maybe my head was in the sand) that I had never heared of Sedici Heated Clothing until your post. I actually had to go look them up, so that I could see what they offered. I have not owned Sedici products, but...in my opinion their is no better heated clothing for use on a motorcycle than Gerbing's products. Now, to answer your question...your stock bike does have a stator that puts out a max of 30 amps, or 360 watts of electrical power available. Some of that is consumed by the bike as it is running. Most riders that want to add aux. lighting, such as driving lamps, or want to run heated handgrips, or use heated clothing...or...to use all of the above stated items at the same time...end up upgrading their stator and Regulator/Rectifier. There are companies that many of us recommend that sell these upgraded stators and R/R's. One of them is Rick's Electrics, and another is Buckeye Performance. At least one person on this forum will tell you that the so-called upgrade of the stator will NOT increase the max output of the electrical service. I will tell you otherwise. I measured the OEM stator output of my bike prior to making the upgrde changes, and my OEM bike output was 29.4 amps, or 352.8 watts. After making the changes to my bike...both the larger output stator, and the high output R/R, my bike now puts out 52.6 amps, or 631.2 watts. Other riders on this forum have successfully upgraded their stators and R/R's with positive results. I believe in running as much stator/alternator output as a motorcycle is safely capable of producing, so that you can run all the items you feel are necessary to the safe completion of your ride.

Brian, it looks great...really great. Glad you got it today, as a New Years present. That is cool !

Bob, oh Bob, you say that you don't think the 'Hawks will make it to the big game, but then when asked to state who your favorite pick for a team is...you choose the Broncos. Okay, how about the Broncos versus the Seahawks in a Superbowl? Given that Seattle is an NFC team, and that Denver is an AFC team, they could meet in the Superbowl. People counted Seattle out back several years ago, and yet they made it into Superbowl XL. They would have won that game, if the refs had not cheated the Seahawks...and...the refs came out and admitted that two years later. Seattle does have a big hurdle in front of them come next Sunday against the Redskins. I am a Redskins fan, but I think that Seattle has the best chance of beating the Redskins of any NFC team. "IF" Seattle can in fact beat the Redskins, then it comes down to either Seattle or Greenbay going to the Superbowl. Analysts have been saying for two weeks now that the NFC is a toss up between Seattle and Greenbay to go all the way. Of course, your yardage may vary.

Happy Birthday Lily. Here is a picture of my little dog...Bingo. [ATTACH]73357[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]73358[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]73359[/ATTACH]

Are you interested in the world largest Ice Cream Sundae...or the bad bathrooms ? We all thought you "were" the Ice Cream man ?!?!?!

Just ignore the man behind the curtain, it is just another whining, sniveling Packers fan that feels like they got screwed over by the refs. (secretly I agree with you) Let me bring up Superbowl XL, where the Seahawks got screwed over by the refs when they played the Steelers. We all knew it, and...FINALLY the head ref came out to the public two years later and admitted that they made errors in the game, that DID in fact affect the outcome of the game. Talk about being screwed over by the refs. That was a Superbowl game. It meant a lot to Seattle.