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Showing results for tags 'bike'.
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Last night when I left work the audio system on the bike decided to act up. When I started the bike nothing would come up in the display window of the control unit. The backlight came on and I could still hear the radio playing on the station I had listened to that morning, but none of the buttons, including the volume know would work. After riding several miles the display began to flicker in and out. When the display was on the buttons would work, but you had to press them at just the right time before the display went dead again. By the time I got home the display was back on steady and all seem fully functional. although I did not have anyone to tt on the CB. Has anyone elese experienced this? Should I go looking for loose connections, and if so where to start? Or, shoudl I just take it in to the dealer since it is still under warranty a little longer? Thanks for the advice!
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So I have what is likely a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyways. My neutral light functions intermittently and it has been this way since I have had my bike. I presume that the switch itself it faulty or gummed up. If a new switch wasn't $30+ (partshark) or ~45+tax from my local stealer, I would just replace it and be done with it. What I would like to know is the following: 1) Can the neutral switch assembly be removed from the bike without loosing a significant amount of oil? 2) Is this switch something that CAN be cleaned and put back in (I have no idea how it works or what it looks like which is why I am uncertain about this. 3) Is it correct to assume that if I remove this puppy I will need to find a new gasket for it in order to reassemble? To be a little more clear about what I mean by it functions intermittently is that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't (when I am in neutral). There does seem to be a correlation with how warm the bike is but not an absolute since it comes and goes. That is it almost always functions just fine when the bike is cool. After a couple hours of riding it may function or it may not. It doesn't usually flicker on and off or anything it is either ON reliably or it is reliably OFF (again, YES I am in neutral :raspberry:). Anyone else have (and resolve) this issue? Further input? Thanks! Overall this really is not that big of a deal as it doesn't really affect anything other than I cannot leave the engine run and put down the sidestand when it stops functioning. But I am one of those people that likes things to work like they are supposed to and if it is going to be a quick fix, I just assume do it. Also, if the gasket wasn't ~$15 or so I wouldn't question replacing it; but thanks to my local stealership they do not have them in stock and assess a 'special order' fee for any parts they do not have on hand (not to mention their RIDICULOUS markup from the MSRP). Needless to say they get as little of my business as possible. -
There has been a lot of talk about trikes and trike conversions. I am seriously considering going the trike route...only thing is that I don't know if it will be better to convert my 07 RSV (and, if so, using what system?) or to sell my bike and just purchase a trike (again, which manufacturer?) Sure would appreciate any help you all have. -
I have noticed, when browsing the Members list, that there are quite a few Amateur Radio ops on here. I am looking at possibly installing a Dual Band Yaesu FT-10 on the bike. Yaesu came out with this new weatherproof VHF/UHF Dual-Bander, and it looks like a good radio to mount on a bike. Comes with AM/FM receive too! (wont need that). You can get a handlebar mount, and a bluetooth headset/mic, and even an amplified speaker if needed. Has anyone mounted one of these yet? If you have this radio or some other ham radio installation on the bike, how about some pics? Years ago, I mounted a handheld on the tank of a Sportster, but it was not a good match. The vibrations the bike put out shook the radio too violently to operate well when moving. I did wire up a noise cancelling boom mic, and eventually solved some of the vibration problem, but I'm thinking the Venture and this new radio might be the way to go. I might look at one of the CB/AM-FM spitters to combine my broadcast receiver and the CB on the one CB antenna, then this would enable me to convert (or replace) the existing AM/FM antenna to a dual band (maybe comet/diamond) whip. Any ideas/experience?
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Noticed bike losing power a little. Yesterday it gave up 1.5 miles from the house. Thought it might be clogged filter. Nope. But I will change it anyhow since I got it out. Bypassed the pump and bike fires right up. WILL NOT run if fuel lines are connected to pump. Is it safe to run it by gravity feed? -
Hi folks.. Yesterday I had the bike parked outside in the cold for a few hours while cleaning out the garage (30'F or less with the winds?). Today I noticed a noticeable green coolant fluid puddle under the bike, about the size of your flat hand on the floor.. I pulled the cooling fins off the front right cylinder and saw where coolant leaked out of the hole (as seen in photo). I think this is the frost plug? The bike was not run that day nor were any leaks apparent before. I pulled the other three covers off and saw the same thing but not as much fluid leaked out as on the front right cylinder.. Best that I can tell the majority of the fluid on the floor came from this cylinder. What's the remedy for this, a quick fix or an expensive repair etc? Any info would be highly appreciated.. Thanks in advance.
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We are going to Mobile, AL on Wed to meet up with our son and his family for a couple days. Hoping the weather stays nice enough for Pat and I to ride the bike down. Going to be good to see the kids again. Pat hasn't seen the Alabama coast so that will be a first for her. Praying for good weather... Don
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Well I completed the adjustments on both bikes (thanks Earl aka Skydoc_17 for shim kit, tool and great price on gaskets). Both bikes had never been done and both had 40K on them one bike took four shims and the other eight. It sure made a big difference in the engine noise and a noticeable increase in performance. I followed the procedure in the tech library and picked Earl's brain some. The whole procedure took a whole day on the first bike and most of a day on the second the procedure it self was a snap however it requires a lot of patience and time. If anyone around me wants to do this I am more than willing to help now that I have done it, just get the stuff you need and give me a shout. By the way $12 saved me at least $400
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Just wanted to share.. As some of you know I like to go through radiators for some reson... any ways. I just installed a new radiator and one of Stave Wagner's Grills. (in hopes of more protection) Steve does awesome work!, I even had it match my Millennium Color! I ordered the paint from Color Rite.. Millennium Color (hard to match), I have been really impressed on how they can match our bike colors.. I myself really like how it takes that black Void out of a light color bike...take a looksy! (before/after) (one happy camper) :thumbsup2:thanks Steve.. Jeff [ATTACH]17243[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]17244[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]17245[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]17246[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]17247[/ATTACH] -
I hope having sidecars added to the forum title is welcome - the styling choices and motivations of trikers and sidecarists may be different, but lots of the technical challenges will be similar. There aren't a lot of kits available to fit sidecars to ventures, so unless you make your own subchassis, you have to hunt around a bit for places to mount to, not least because the seat and panniers attach to a bolt-on sub frame which is quite narrow tubing. I didn't think it suitable for attaching fittings to. (Unlike bikes which have twin shocks, where the tubing around the top has to be more substantial.) Either way, I took some pictures for someone who asked how I sorted my sidecar fittings and would be interested in knowing how other people achieved the same aims. Bear in mind that I'm in the UK, so the sidecar is fitted on the left. Also I fitted it several years ago, so excuse the grotty paintwork. This is a view of the fittings between my 1983 VR and Squire QM1 sidecar: http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/greg_in_london/venture/frontview.jpg I was a little worried about the stiffness of having all the mounts so far forward, so used three fittings at the back, but it was also because I could double triangulate across from the sidecars two chassis rails. Here you can see the bottom two fittings: http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/greg_in_london/venture/triangulatedrearlowermount.jpg And here they are again from above http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/greg_in_london/venture/rearmountsfromabove.jpg I used a box clamp on the sidecar frame to have some forwards/backwards rigidity. I felt that I needed a good strong fitting on the left of the bike that would prevent there being any movement / flex when cornering, so I replaced the footrest hanger with a steel plate I could weld two eyebolts to. http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/greg_in_london/venture/footrestplate.jpg There was a couple of inches of tube that I could squeeze a clamp onto, so that sorted the rear top mount on the bike. At the front I had the conventional two fittings. I couldn't manage a clamp on the lower front bike fitting, so I used a female eyebolt onto an engine mounting bolt. I used an extra plate to spread the load, but in retrospect I'm not sure it makes much difference. http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/greg_in_london/venture/frontbottombike.jpg At the top there is even less space so I had to make up a frame clamp - an eyebolt welded to a piece of plate, with holes drilled to accept U-shaped exhaust clamps. They never fail to amaze me just how durable these clamps are - much stronger than we have any right to expect. http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/greg_in_london/venture/fronttopbike.jpg The mounts to the sidecar are not unusual on the front, but the bottom is the box clamp and gives some rigidity, the other is only there to stop the bike flexing towards the sidecar. http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/greg_in_london/venture/frontmountssidecar.jpg There's another fitting at the back, which to be honest I mainly put on because I liked the way it swept around the pannier, so I've not shown it. Not necessarily the best way of doing it, but it has worked for me for several years and twenty thousand miles, mostly pulling either a camping trailer or a trailer tent, usually with luggage. Hope it's of some interest.
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What oil do you run for winter driving? I was thinking maybe semi-synthetic 5W-30 oil. I am planning on commuting to work on the bike this winter here in -
Bought this bike about a week and a half ago. It was a pathetic, ugly, dirty mess. The windshield was so swirly, I had to look over it on the way home. My wife and I spent about 30 hours disassembling, cleaning, waxing and reassembling. Took it for inspection and the mechanic was impressed at how complete the bike was; all the parts are there. I still have detailing to do on the engine, clutch cover, etc, but it's not too bad. It runs like a top- I call it The Cruise Missile. The more I ride it, the more I like it. Amazing how light all that weight can seem when in motion. http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj290/cyprinut/1985%20Venture%20Royale/finished2.jpg
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Ever since I purchased my 2006 Midnight this summer, I had burned Premium fuel as recommended by the previous owner and my fellow RSV riders here. The bike is a Yank bike, it's ODO is in miles but the pumps here are in Litres so on the road fuel mileage conversions suck.. lol.. However, 'on average', when I pull up to the pumps, I put 1 litre of fuel per 10 miles on the ODO.. in other words, if the ODO shows 170 miles, I'm putting in close to 17 litres of fuel into the bike. When you do the math and all, I'm getting roughly 44 mpg (Imp or US?).. And this fluctuates a bit depending if I'm doing a lot of slow speed 5th gear riding or high revs curve blasting.. Yesterday I thought to myself.. "Self, why spend more money on Premium when Reg is cheaper.. there can't be THAT much of a difference in mpg or performance, can there?" So I filled it up with Reg gas and went on a loooong run last night.. Yesterday, Reg was $1.33 / Litre and Premium $1.39 / Litre.. (and I never want to hear another yank whining about high fuel prices, come up here to do that.. over $5 a gallon here, and worse in Europe) Omg.. what a difference.. I'd never get anywhere on regular gas!! On average there was a 40 MILE difference to the range of that tank. When I went to fuel up, the bike took 17 litres but I only managed to get about 131 miles distance.. Now THAT is scary.. this was the average on two fills and two runs. On Premium fuel, I would average 40 mpg / 48 mpg (US/CDN) On Regular Fuel I would average 30 mpg / 37 mpg (US/CDN) Needless to say I can go further and spend less money to get there by running premium If my milage appears lower than norm, I'm running K&N and HD slash cut exhaust. Your milage may well differ ; )
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Ok so i have been dealing with this for a while and it takes a lot to get this off my chest but i feel very wimpy when going into a turn since I lost my buddy riding 14 months ago. i thought i was over it but I constantly get scared before a turn and slowdown and then reallize how fun the turn would have been a bit faster. I thought it was the new bike but now I have 5000 miles on this bike and I still feel uneasy. I have to say that there are times when I scrape and I have narrowed that down to open visible turns. New jersey with all its foliage has lots of blind curves which I cant see around. I have also notice that if the turn is a large radius I go into it slower but can eventually gain the speed to scrape the floorboards. SO i am thinking my problem is not adjusting my speed to enter the turn correctly. is this just an experience thing. Should i just go out there and ride a twisty road over and over again to practice? I should also mention that my breaks were not up to par and Now that I have good breaks I dont have to panic to stop. My last panic I came up on a turn quick and I wasnt slowing down fast enough hence a grab and stomp on the brakes and a rear lockup through the turn onto the opposite lane. luckily no traffic was there to greet me. -
so i am just kinda curious as to how old the average venture rider is, most say i am too young to ride an "old man bike" since i am only 19 but im sure im not the only one out there.
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Im asking my VR family for an intervention here. I have had the bike apart for several weeks now. What started as a simple running of LED pod lights has turned into a fully blown tear stuff down to put it back together thing. Greasing the forks to changing the front tire to pulling the Wagner grill off for some paint work to removing the radiator for a thermostat change to removing the AIS system to schlepping around town to find plugs for the ports to replacing the rear brake canister because of some allegation cracks to, to, to......sheesh, and I havent added one pod light yet!!! And let me add...things in the factory service manual look easy. Too bad they dont tell you that some things are tucked away in some cubbyhole in the frame and you need the patience of a saint (which I sure aint) to access or hands like a smurf to fit in. So, if I ever, and I mean ever post that im going to tear the bike down for some foolish reason, would someone just put me out of my misery real soon..........please..
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Not realizing a smooth running acceration and decent Gas mileage since installing the new programmable TCI I decide to plug the old TCI back in and compare the performance between the old and the new. 1st I just plugged the old TCI in with the new map sensor still hooked up with vacumn tube to the #1 Intake boot port but electrically not hooked up. Leaving the tank cover off, I go for test ride to auto parts store. It seemed to run about the same as the new programmable TCI. So I'm thinking the problem is not related to the TCI Old or New. But as I was leaving the auto parts store the bike began backfiring, bogging down then shut off and would not recrank.WTF:confused24: So, I'm sitting on the side of the road for about thirty minutes scratching my head, trying to get the bike to crank and worrying about a two mile up hill push home. Then I noticed the orange wire on the 6 pin plug to TCI is hanging 1/2 way out of the plastic plug. I push in all the way in and the bike cranks. So then I get on the highway to run the bike at highway speeds for a few exits and back. On the xway it runs about the same as the new TCI maybe a little better. But, before I could get back home on three occassions while at a traffic light the bike starts bogging down again and backfiring. After wiggling wires it straightens out. When I get home I wire in the leads to the old TPS into the new 8 pin plug so I can switch back and forth from the old TCI/TPS configuration to the new TCI/MAP Sensor configuration and unplug tube from Map sensor to intake boot and hook up tube from TPS to port. While doing this I notice that the pins inside both the 8 pin plug and the six pin plug are not all bottomed out indicating that the pins are not securely locked inside the new plastic plugs. I'm thinking INTERMITTEN WIRE CONNECTION FAILURE WITHIN THE QUICK CONNECT PLUGS On several occassions since I've owned the bike over the past 10 years poor performance and gas mileage has been traced back to bad electrical connections of the quick connect plugs to the TCI. Numerous other problems resulted from bad connections in multiple other quick connect plugs. I just dont trust quick connect plugs anymore. So, I took some small needle nose pliers and make sure all of the wires are pushed in all the way on the TCI plugs and take a ride around the neighborhood. The acceration was quicker and more responsive than I ever remember it being and the bike litterly flies. Next I'm going to take a longer test ride on xway to see if my theory holds up and the gas mileage improves.
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I just wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed this forum and how much it has helped me to make the right choices for my 2008 RSVS. Based upon what I’ve read on this site and the technical library I have in the past month accomplished the following updates. Lift adaptor with legs (purchased from Carbon_One) Engine Guard support brackets (purchased from Carbon_One) Stebel Air Horn (purchased from Carbon_One bracket and harness) Upgraded the stock passenger floorboards Leather Lever grips Tachometer Driver back rest (purchased from Diamond R) Highway pegs with Long Horn adjustable mounts Luggage insert set (monogramed from TLC Products) Light Bar Passing lights and visors MP3 Venture from Spain (vs. a CD player) Trunk Rack Radiator Grill Chrome Choke Knob Front Fender Rails Saddle Bag Rails (lower) LED License Plate Frame Scorpio i900 Alarm system 3 Pocket Leather Harley dash mounted storage Chrome Rear Break Reservoir cover Chrome side covers (purchased from Diamond R) Tire Guard monitoring system Tuxedo Bib Chrome Tail Light cover Signal Dynamics BackOff XP Kuryakyn Battery Monitor Flash2Pass Joe Florida Accent LEDs TouraTech GPS locking mount with RAM Garmin 665 Cycle Pump and Tire Repair kit Sync Pro Motion Pro carb sync meter Progressive air shock pump Trunk Lid Accessory insert Clymer Service Manual Schubreth C3 World Black helmet with SRC All of this self-installed from instructions found on this forum. I bought this bike with 400 miles on it last October 2011. It had been ridden 3 times once each year since new and stored inside a heated guest house by the owner. The owner was a family friend. When he passed away unexpectedly the family hoped I would want to buy it. They were correct. It is a wonderful bike and deserved these upgrades. I am preparing for a coast to coast ride next year with my father-in-law who dreams of this ride for his 70th birthday. I’ll be making sure he has a good trip. He has a new Yamaha Stratoliner 1900. We should have little trouble if we plan it out right. Thanks to everyone who contributes on this forum for all the great advice from your experience I have been able to use to great advantage. I appreciate it more than I can express.
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Hello from Mechanicsburg, Ohio!! I just bought an 87' Royale, and recently found this board, and reading all I can about the bike. I'm really enjoying riding the Venture, I had an 86' Honda Shadow that I rebuilt, and had a blast with, but it was a bit small for me so I sold it and got the Venture. Here are a couple of pics... http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab243/BriRit/3975d084.jpg http://i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab243/BriRit/f6bafb2b.jpg I got a good deal on the bike, but it does need some TLC and cleaning, some plastic is cracked or broken and I already repaired the CLASS. I've racked up $700 in new parts and have been slowly putting them on and checking the bike mechanicly as well. I haven't started to clean it up yet as all of my time has been spent wrenching, but it should clean up nicely. It runs really strong, and the previous owner had a bunch of maintenance items done before he sold it. I'm sure I will have tons of questions, and hopefully contribute a bit as well. Later, Briley.
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I wanted a different look for around town as well as some natural air conditioning so i decided to cut and tint a spare windshield that i had. Now people are asking me what kind of bike i am riding and they cant believe how old it is. It sure gives the bike a different look. -
I know we talked about this a couple of years ago and I checked mine then and put in a new shoulder bolt......and checked it again a year ago. But did I check it this year? Well......er ......no. So today I'm leaving work and I'm out in front of the store. I had to run back in for a second so I pull the bike up by the front walk and threw down the kick stand, leaned the bike over on it and was lifting my leg up over the back rest and I felt her start to drop. Like a rock. I've got the right leg still in the air and the left foot is sliding away. I'm a big fella at 6' 3" and 285 but the bike had me at the disadvantage at that point. I got my right leg back down on the far side and got my left foot to stop skidding and got the bike stopped from going over any farther. So there I am.....holding up the great beast at a rather difficult angle......can't tell if I'm at a stopping point or if I let her back to the left if she will keep going. Hummmm....why am I sweating like this? So there was a fella that saw me wrestling the bike and he came running over. Nice guy, and thank you sir for the offer, but he's all of 5'5" and a 150 lbs if that. He asked what he could do to help. Me: "Look for the pink thing" Him: "What's it look like?" Me: "Pink....maybe a little purple by now" Him: "What's it shaped like?" Me: "Kinda round.......a little fussy looking" Him: "Where would it be?" Me: "Probably by my left boot" Him: "Did it fall off the bike?" Me: "No sir.....it may have fallen off me!" Then it hit him......and at that point he was worthless. Couldn't quit laughing. But he was able to give me a boost back up and got her balanced again and able to get off and get her on the center stand. Yep....broken shoulder bolt and the flange was spread open. I was prepared. I had an extra kick stand at home. A spare part I never thought I would need. Yeah...right. Now I don't know how many of you guys have tried to get off one of these things without using the kick stand and have a back rest to boot.....but it's a bit probmatic. So take a minute to take a look at that bolt and save yourself the conversation I had to have with a complete stranger. I'm betting he will remember the big guy in the leather jacket and dark shapes that sounded like a choir boy. Check all your nuts while you're at it. I've got mine on ice now. If I make it back to tenor by tonigiht I'll be happy. -
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bike is stumbling at idle, dropping down in rpms, them back up. over and over. bike is warm. i replaced the plugs, relatively new wires, new to me tci. any ideas? -
went to prep the bike to trailer to maint day in Tomball, Tx and what did i find? green fluid on the clutch cover and an open hole on the valve jug. tell me if i have guessed correctly and a freeze plug has blown out. the green stuff is anti freez (that didn't work). then i guess i will need a freeze plug. how do you install a new one? I don't know what is going on with my bike, but if all "junk" comes in three's, then i should be clear by now. 1 rear tire flat - new one bought and installed 2 clutch shifter problem - in process 3 freeze plug - in learning curve. thanks -
I wreck my 83. I will be down for about a year. Got to have rods and screws put in my right leg. Got stiches in my chest and upper arm. My face looks like Mike Tyson hit me a few times. Road rash every where. I have not look at the bike yet but was told its banged up good. I wanting to know if anyone here has ever seen are made a bobber out of a venture bike?
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Went to the Seattle version of the International Bike Show today, got there before they opened at 9:30 am. Looked all around, saw some bikes, and...saw the new Honda F6B. They only had the all Black one, which is the one I want. Turns out...according the "most" of the Honda reps there (and I found out that they did not know all the facts of life) that the Black bike only comes as the standard model F6B. And the Red/Black bike only comes as the Deluxe model F6B. That is stupid on Honda's part. There are items on the Deluxe model that I want...but I don't want the Red/Black bike. So, I guess I will have to buy a standard model, all Black, and then add the items I want...that Honda is too stupid to offer as a Black Deluxe model. As per the Honda motorcycles website, the standard model will be available in BOTH colors, and the deluxe will be available in both colors...hmmm. But, having said that...the bike is thee BOMB, Man ! I love the all blacked out effects, and the cruiser art-deco styling of this bike. Having owned 3 Goldwing 1800's before, this is a nice departure from the stale Goldwing. And...Honda has opened up ordering starting now. They are taking orders, and first deliveries should be by end of February, or first week in March at the latest. I can foresee a new bike in my future.
