Snarley Bill
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Everything posted by Snarley Bill
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hey dooder, glad you are doing well. get healed up so you and doodette can make it to the basspro get together in october. i will set the date soon. take good care of yourself my friend. bill
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well, i have had my stratoliner a week and just turned over 700 miles. i changed oil in it saturday. a minor 3 hour job. it is a ***** to change oil on these big twins. i will make some special tools and cut the time in half. so far this bike has passed the ultimate bike test. the power is awesome. the handling is the best. i think it will out run and out handle my wing. it weighs 100 lbs. less. low speed handling on parking lots is far better than any bike i have ever owned or rode. it feels 1/3 as heavy as it is. it has a very low center of gravity. i had a vibration around 65 mph, but that is disappearing with the break in miles. the engine is so massive it will pull smoothly down to 1700 rpm. i just found out parick racing has a big bore kit for the strat along with a few other go fast goodies. think i will pass on that. ive got to stay in my limits and leave that stuff to the kids.
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Countdown to Vogel/Tail of the Dragon V
Snarley Bill replied to DragonRider's topic in Watering Hole
lewis, i will get the registration to you in the next week when i have time to settle down and think. been a busy couple of weeks, lots of traveling and a new bike. linda has to decide what size t-shirt to order. smAll or xxl. such a delema. -
heading out at 5am for a huge vintage scooter and motor bike flea market in portland indiana with a good friend of mine. we do it every year. i think i knew every scooter ever made and then another shows up there. if your in the area it's well worth a stop at the fairgrounds. it takes at least a day to see it all. we will be staying in selena ohio at holiday inn express.
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hey annie, linda and i enjoyed seeing you and allan too, with all the surprises i had, it was my best meet ever. glad you are enjoying yor stay in the usa. bill
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well, i have close to 300 miles on my liner and thought i would share the pros and cons. this bike is one of yamahas best kept secrets. why they don't push and advertise some of there really good models more is a mystery to me. this has to be one of the best v-twin platforms ever for the ultimate touring bike. as archaic that i thought the engine was in this age of high tech engineering. it is one well engineered drive train package. it has the broadest powerband of any bike i have ever rode. stump puller off idle and just keeps on pulling. the transmission is smooth as glass with short throw, and positive engagemant. low speed parking lot handling is the best of any bike i have ever rode. it has an ultra low center of gravity, and perfect steering geometry. the high speed handling is excellent. the frame is rock solid with no flex or wallowing when pushed hard in the twisties. i felt at times i could drag my elbows. well almost, a guy can dream can't he. lol. the fit and finish is impeccable with just the right amount of chrome. it has a near 50-50 weight distribution front to rear. the dealer in indy just called and asked if i was satified. i dug down deep for the cons and here is all i could muster up. the wind shield sucks. too tall, and some buffeting on the high way. i will cut about 2" off and make some lowers to cure that. there is a mild vibration around 65-70 mph that may annoy some , but it is overall very smooth for a v-twin of this size. there is some engine and drive train noise at lower speeds that is greatly amplified by the wind shield. i think most of it is drive belt howl. the belt sounds a bit tight, from my previous experience with belt drives. i will check it. the ergonomics are fairly good. the driver seat so far seems very good. i have long arms and the bars are on the edge of being a bit to far forward to reach. overall i was very impressed with this bike and i just love it. i think with a trunk and the rest of the normal touring luxuries yamaha would have one hot touring bike to meet the competition, till they come out with their detuned v-max powered flagship tourer. i still think that is their plan if the economy ever picks up. by the way this strat s is one georgeous machine. bill
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hey la, was so glad you made it down to eureka springs. drive that car down to vogel. linda and i are going to cage it there with no bike. stardbog is looking for someone to room with. i can still do short rides like a few hundred miles but the age factor is catching up with me to. hope to see you at vogel, and will definately be riding my new bike down to springfield for a visit when it cools off a little. see you soon good buddy. bill
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your to young to be grand muffins. congradulations. :clap2:
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dan, sorry i did'nt connect with you, but i was so excited i wanted to get on the road. the round trip took exactly 12 hours. i am wore out. linda just ordered chinese and i'm on my last beer. will see you down the road good buddy. bill
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got the bike home and i just love it. it is a cross between a wing , my v-star 1300, and a john deere tractor in one package. it handles and has the power of the wing, looks like a v-twin should look and has stump pulling power. the cons so far are the windshield needs work, buffetting and too tall. need passenger floor boards, and a few farkels. had to pick up two accessories while i was there, crash bars and a throttle lock. i'm going for a long break in ride in the morning to see what else it may need. the chroming has begun. darn it's awesome. well done yamaha.
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the 9" ford rear end is one of the strongest street rearends made. it is an art to rebuild one properly. since they use hypoid gears it is very important that the pinion gear has the proper end play for the clearance on the tapered roller bearings, and the depth of it is right in the ring gear via shims. than the ring gear has to be set for the proper gear contact pattern. while setting the bearing end play on the carrier. it has to be ultra precise. you will need a good dial indicator and alot of experience to get it perfect. there are folks out there that claim to be experts and have done many of them that don't have a clue. if not done right they will howl and succumb to early failer.
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tom, thats hard to believe it could best a wing in the 1/4.
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i'm going to pick it up and head back home. the name of the dealer is flat out motorcycles.
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i'm heading out at 5 am to pick up my new stratoliner s. really getting excited. the weather looks good, and the gps is on charge. all systems are go.
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happy birthday alan. glad linda and i got to spend some time with you and annie.
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i'm kind of used to the v-twin vibes. i had four sportsters a warrior and now have a vstar 1300 and a nomad 1600. as far as engine noise goes i'm as deaf as a door knob.
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well i won the stratoliner on ebay, on a buy it now. it is a new 09 black cherry s model with all the chrome. i like the cross country but there was no deals out there, and i saved almost $5000 by settling on the 09 model. no difference in the 2011 as far as features go. i read some comparitive tests and none of the cruisers compared on the torque level down low. its an under square motor with a long stroke and lots of lowend. i have to drive to indy saturday to pick it up. can,t wait.
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not to worry lewis i will keep my 1300. it is going to be my rain bike. just can't part wityh it. wanting the strat for the long haul with mama. not a done deal yet. will probably bring the 1300 to vogel. see you there. bill
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i found a new 2009 stratoliner s on ebay for a buy now of $11,400+. it is the all chrome model with bags and a windshield. i am thinking seriously about buying it. any pros and cons i should know about? i need to call tomorrow to close the deal. it's not far from me and it is a deale,r so i can run up there and pick it up in ind.. it's around $4000.00 below list.
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no windshield and bags, won't fit the bill. may fit the butt.
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me too larry.
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just added a stratoliner to the list. they are going dirt cheap new on ebay. i don't really want a full blown tourer any more like a wing or the venture. it has to have a windshield and bags and a big torquey motor.
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since retirement is getting closer and i want to get down to one bike. i have three choices so far. i love my v-star, and have been looking at a victory crossroads, and a triumph thunder bird. the v-star is the cheapest route, but i sure like them other two. such a delema.
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Vogel Schedule of events.....................
Snarley Bill replied to DragonRider's topic in Watering Hole
we are on for helen thursday, and the dragon friday, saturdays to far off to plan yet.lol. i just may bring my bike after all. -
i'm going to be loking forward to that coffee.