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Showing results for tags 'lot'.
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Was up in Racine WS for a family reunion over the 4th. My Cousin works for Bombardier and brought home a Spyder for us to ride. It was Billiard Red, with black accents. Ok, so the color alone makes me stand out. I was a little thrown off by the lack of a clutch and front brake levers. The shifting was done by a lever on your left thumb, forward for Up, backward for Down. Also, the creature would downshift automatically as you slowed down to a stoplight. It started easily enough, although there were some extra things to do, like set the brake, touch a button on the dash, reset the kill switch, and then turn the key. Riding it was easy. I don't like the position where you put your weight on your wrists, ala sport bikes. Wifey rode with me, and was unhappy with the forward sliding of the seat, causing her to lean on me a lot. Ha! I was not used to the passenger crashing into me, either. So here we are in Racine, Wisconsin, and where do my relatives, all riding ElectraGlides or RoadGlides, want to go? Why the Harley Dealership Gathering, of course! Now there were a lot of people there. I estimated we saw over 300+ Harleys outside and around the dealership. And I am on a Red Spyder. Oh boy. Needless to say, as I was being directed where to park, a LOT of people were watching us inch through the parkinglot. You know how you swing the bike into line with others when you park? Not quite as easy with two tires out in front of you. I had to use the Reverse to make it happen. Which was quite convenient. Had an issue getting off the Spyder. Apparently you have to set the emergency brake before you can pull the key out. Otherwise it beeps incessently. Would have been nice had my cousin told me about this "feature", heheh. But after several minutes of fumbling, we figured it out. Later after the Relatives bought their Genuine Harley Replacement Parts for the ride home, (Kidding!) I was left behind trying to back out of the parking lineup. My Wifey even took off on one of the ElectraGlides ("I am not riding that thing back" she said) As I puttered it through the mass of people, someone called out "Yeah, a Spyder! We make the Fuel Injectors for those things." Aha! That is why they are not dragging me off this strange 3-wheeler... they have family that actually works for the Can-Am plant! I was not in mortal danger! (Things would have been a LOT different at say, Strokers, in Dallas....just saying) Back to the ride. Don't throw rocks, but I was riding without a helmet. The tranny noise sounded like it was red-lining, but the tach said different. I didn't like the way you went into corners. Not leaning is just...wrong. It was very stable, and shifting was really effortless. The auto downshifting...well it was a little hard to get used to. I did find one thing that I absolutely did not like. I hit some gravel on the highway, and the front wheel slung it up around and it hit me on the arm/chest. Only happened once, but that was more than enough. THoughts: I would pass on getting a chance to ride them again. Its too easy. There is no effort, and its not a motorcycle. But if you are not comfortable riding on 2-wheels, then it would be a great way to go. I found it way more stable than the Harley Trike my MIL owned. If YOU get a chance to ride one, do so. My expressions are not doing it justice.
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Like I feel many of you do, I routinely use brake parts cleaner. It works well, does not leave residue, and it is reasonably cheap. And, like many, I don't pay a lot of attention to the warnings on the can. I received the following in an e-mail from a friend and I think it warrants bringing to the attention of others on here. RandyA http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm
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http://tapatalk.com/mu/47a3f31c-afb5-923e.jpg http://tapatalk.com/mu/47a3f31c-afc6-1a98.jpg Lining up to leave for DC. http://tapatalk.com/mu/47a3f31c-b003-320c.jpg http://tapatalk.com/mu/47a3f31c-b00f-769c.jpg http://tapatalk.com/mu/47a3f31c-b03d-3ea9.jpghttp://tapatalk.com/mu/47a3f31c-b052-7539.jpg At the Pentagon parking lot waiting to roll out to the memorials and parade.
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Does anyone know of any product that can be put on the windshield to help it shed rain? I checked Rain-X and on the bottle it says to not use it on plastics. During our upcoming trip, if we run into a lot of wet weather, would be nice if I could see out of the windshiels...and my helmet visor. Thanks.
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No, I'm not kidding. They played fair on the price negotiation. When the time came for first service they got it in at the appointment time, and out when they promised, for a fair price. Over the last few days I'd been hearing a ticking in the rear that sounded a lot like what has been described here as the 'spline problem'. Drove by the dealer, spoke to the service guy, who called a technician out to listen. The kid (Highly Qualified Yamaha Trained Technician) (I'm 51 - everyone looks like a kid) listened for a minute and said "Yup. I know what that is." Went in and got a copy of the bulletin describing it and the fix. Explained the problem in detail, and what he would do to remedy it. Assured me that driving it wouldn't damage the machine in the short term, but I should make an appointment to get it seen to. Went back around to the service desk. While I was bringing my bike back to the parking lot the kid (Technician) had gone out and briefed the service writer. when I got back to the service desk my apointment was all written up. We agreed on a day to get it in and I was promised 'first in first out' if I'd like to wait on the day. Did I mention I like my dealer?
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My future son-in-law has been wanting to learn to ride, always asking me to teach him. I continually told him to take the MSF beginner class, that I wouldn't teach him on my bikes. Well.... after he got off work last night one of his co-workers said he could ride his 1100 Honda in the parking lot, Let's just say it didn't go as planned. 2 laps around the lot... over the parking block... side swiped the building before hitting the cement filled steel pole with his knee which caused him and the bike on top of him to go skidding 15 feet across the pavement He now has multiple patches of road rash, a knee the size of a grapefruit and a complete understanding of why I told him to take the MSF and wear protective gear. Here's a few pictures for your viewing enjoyment.
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My closest call ever to being in a motorcycle accident. Canadian (Asian) pulled around me doing 60 - 65 in a 35 mph zone (2 lane road) Pulled back in front of me with less than 2 feet of clearance so he wouldn't head on a car in the other lane. The passenger in the back seat was watching and put her hand over her mouth. I locked up the back brakes, collected myself and followed him into the casino parking lot. I had to follow him around the lot for a bit because he probably thought I was going to clean his clock. When he finally backed into a parking spot I put the front wheel of my motorcycle right up to his bumper and motioned for him to step out. He shook his head "No" so I repeated the motion two more times. He got out and I chewed his a$$ and reminded him about the speed limit how close he came to hitting me. I'm still shaking...that was close.
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I finally got enough stuff done on the bike to take it out for the first of many required doses of the treatment for PMS. There is no cure. Not a monster ride but a good shakedown of about 80 miles with a lot of it around town. About a third of it was on local streets and the rest on local highways. The wind was brutal, I have never ridden in that much wind and at one point going over a high bridge, with a 40mph cross wind, over the harbor, I had to slow down to about 40mph just to stay on the bike. There were a couple of times that a gust hit me hard enough that I had to make an effort to not get blown off the side of the bike. The bike itself seemed to handle the cross wind just fine, it was me that didn't. Of course the bike ran crappy since the tank is/was full of gas bought in October of last year, and of course it was crap reformulated gas to boot. It was well dosed with SeaFoam before it went to sleep for the winter. In a couple of more days of commuting to work, I should have the tank empty and be able to give her a nice drink of fresh gas. It is going to take a lot more work to get my left arm back into riding shape after the injuries from last month. I still can not hold in the clutch for a whole red light but a month ago I could not pull in the clutch at all. And yes being the stubborn one that I am, I have been avoiding seeing a Dr about it. I am hoping that in another week I can start pulling the trailer around some to get used to it being back there before I make the epic (for me) trek to Ohio in June. I have started to pay attention to my location in the lane and pretending that I am pulling the trailer. But the bottom line is that my PMS is doing a lot better now.
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Hi, After caliper and brake rebuild, I am trying in vain to bleed the brakes on my 84. After 3 hours of using a vacuum pump yielding little success with quite a bit of air is out, the rear is still very spongy and cannot seem to get anymore air out..I have read a lot about the lack of a bleeder on the early models and am wondering if it is possible to get to the connection without taking plastic off???? I've bled the brakes before, but never a complete re-do from zero...Even having a terrible time with the front right brake... ughhhh.this is very frustrating..I want to ride. What is the correct order in bleeding considering the anti dives...??? Is it left anti-dive ,then left front caliper. then rear ....over and over again???? I;ve read a lot on this here, but still am struggling this time Thanks Clay -
I would like to pass along a thanks to Ken Austin at Auburn Motorcycle. I just had my 08 RSV serviced there and he saved me a lot of money over the normal dealer price. Mike
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What a fantastic idea. This is something I've never seen or heard of; could have saved me a lot of time years ago, not having to find someone to help or direct me. http://flip-n-hitch.com/
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hey,need some feed back on these headsets. j&m-hs-8154b-ff or the imc-hs-g-140. i know that j&m make the 279 and the 629 which are both a lot better but things are tight right now and the cheaper ones come with the lower cord. thanks
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All I can say is "WOW"!!! The front end doesn't float over bumps any more and it's much more stable at parking lot speeds. (not to mention my feet now touch the ground) -
You guys seen the new 2012 Goldwing. I may be late with this but I had not seen one before. Nice looking bike but looks a lot like a BMW. Lot of creature features. Not for me but nice. BOO
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Not sure if it is a coincidence but this site seems to run a lot faster without those pesky sloooooow loads sometimes... HP p6736f...
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I've read through midrsv's thread comparing the GL1800 to the VR and thought maybe it would help some that may be on the fence over a trade for a HD. I traded my 1988 VR and 2007 Sportster Custom for a 2011 HD FLHTCU (Ultra Classic Electra Glide) two weeks ago, and there are some pretty big differences in the two. I've only ridden about 200 miles (odometer read 11 miles when I signed the papers) on the Harley, but here is what I have noticed so far: At a Glance While the Venture is a good looking bike, it is distinctively 1980's. The lines and sharp angles, combined with "futuristic" (for the times) design of the dash panel, these bikes scream "Knight Rider." Of course, these bikes are 22+ years old, and the majority of them show their age. Mine did as well, but unless you were very close to it, or looking for blemishes, you wouldn't have noticed them. Overall, it was a older bike that I was proud to own. The Ultra is brand spanking new, and you can tell. There are no blemishes, and it has that new bike smell. Make that "were no blemishes." On the second ride, I didn't realize the muzzle of my 1911 was sticking out and it made a small scuff on the top of the seat. The paint is a sharper color than the VR, but I don't think the quality and craftsmanship are any better. Their is a lot to be said about the classic look of the bat wing fairing and passing lamps, though. I guess that is why the majority of other manufacturers have been copying them for a decade or more. Ergonomically Speaking My first few rides on the Yamaha were a bit tedious, but I had gotten very comfortable on the VR in the short time I owned it. I had been riding all my life, but had never even sat on a touring bike until I bought this one. The handlebars were very comfortable, and the gauges were easy to identify and read. If the sun was in the right place, though, you could get a slight glare on the instruments. The only thing I ever found a bit awkward was operating the cruise control. The remote for the radio system, and the PTT button for the intercom were both perfectly positioned, though. Both saw a lot of usage on my bike. The Ultra has a more classic design, and that makes the instruments much easier to read for me. There are no dummy lights on this bike, and this makes the dash look less cluttered. Honestly, though, a gear indicator would be nice for the six speed tranny. It does have a little "6" on the speedometer, at least. The handlebars are a more classic design, and a tad wider than the VR. This may make a difference for some, but not to me. The stock grips are more comfortable to me, but then again they are new. While the activation switch for the cruise control is no better or worse than the VR, the remaining controls are more awkward to me. They seem to be positioned too close to the grip to operate comfortably with the thumb, and I don't think there is a cancel button. Power is Everything This is a "apples and oranges" comparison, since they are totally different engines. The numbers that I have found are 97HP for the V4 and 95HP for the V twin. So, even though the Ultra has a extra 294cc's, the VR makes more power. Of course these are both theoretical numbers, measured at the crank. Dyno results for the Twin Cam 96B show 63HP at the rear wheel. I have no idea what the numbers are for the V4. I do know what the "butt dyno" has to say though, and that is the V4 is quicker, but the V twin has more torque. The roll on response of the 96B TC is much quicker than the V4, especially in a higher gear at highway speeds. I'm going to guess that this is due to the fact that the new bike is fuel injected rather than quad carbed. While this makes for quicker and sharper throttle response, and removes the need to choke the crap out of a cold bike, it does present it's own set of problems. This mostly comes in to play for the tinkerer, who likes to tune their bike periodically. It can still be done on the Harley, but requires a computer to do so. The cost for repairs is much higher as well. The exhaust setup on the VR is, of course, dual two-into-ones, and the HD has true duals. The latter means a less stifled engine. The V4 engine has that common, metric bike sound. Nothing special about it, unless that constant puff from a slightly out of tune carb qualifies. The 96B has that distinctive Harley sound. Not so much out of the box. The EPA has our bikes so over-regulated these days that even a big twin HD sounds like a Singer sewing machine from the factory. A set of 3.5" Rinehart slip-ons woke her right up, though. I know many criticize the MOCO for this and that, but if you don't like the sound of Harley Davidson at idle, then you seriously need to have your testosterone levels checked. Where the Rubber Meets the Road When talking about a touring bike, the following is where it's at; comfort and handling. Both of these bikes are top notch in their element. Even at 22 years old, my VR was super comfortable. With a seat height of 30.9", the VR is nearly 2" taller than the HD. As a rider that is on the shorter side of average at 5'9", with short legs (30" inseam), both are a bit hairy when at a stop. The VR, though, had front and rear air shocks that were super easily adjustable. The rider can set up the height of the bike before startup, and have no worries about stopping on the ride. The Harley is adjustable in the rear, but it is a much more involves process that requires tools to do so. Of course, lowering the suspension means diminishing the ride quality to some degree, so I ended up just dealing with the tip-toe stopping on both. In the area of balance, the HD wins hands down. The very first thing I noticed about the Yamaha was that it liked to walk at slow speeds, and even a little bit at cruising speed. A fork brace lessened this problem at cruise, but you just had to learn to handle the beast in a parking lot. Neither of these is a issue on the Harley. Once it starts moving you can almost let go of the handlebars. Both have comfortable stock seat configurations, but the seat seems much wider on the Ultra. This can get uncomfortable for a rider with short legs, but can be corrected by whipping out the checkbook.My son claims the passenger seating is better on the HD, even though he gave up armrests on the new bike. The floorboards for the rider are much more comfortable than the oversized pegs on the VR, and the riding position seems to be slightly more stretched out on the Harley. Creature Comforts Hey, it's a touring bike, it's supposed to have all the bells and whistles. If I wanted a hard core bike I would have kept the Sporty. Both bikes have about the same amount of storage capacity. The key difference here is in the operation of the saddlebags and trunk. The saddlebag lids on the VR have to come all the way off for access, where the HD lids are hinged and open to the outside, so you can handle your stuff without looking for a place to store your lids. The hard bags on the HD are very easily removed for access to the rear wheel and exhaust as well. The trunk on the HD opens to the side, meaning the passenger doesn't have to get off the bike in order to access your gear. It's hard to compare the electronics on the two bikes, because of the new technology that exists now. I can say that the speakers were shot on my VR. I ended up listening to the radio through the headset, which may as well have been someone singing into a tin can. The Harmon Kardon sound system on the HD is worlds above the Yamaha system. It still has the intercom, the CB, and the AM/FM tuner, but also adds in a weather band, a single disc CD player, and a auxiliary input for a IPod/MP3 player. The front speakers are larger than the VR, and there is a set of rear speakers of the same size. The audio controls are actually easier to access than the remote on the VR was. Also, the intercom is VOX, which is nice, but can cause some problems with the exhaust note of the V Twin. The passenger controls are split up on the HD, with some on each side of the tour pak. Overall Impression I'm still finding it difficult to compare these two bike to each other. The age difference, and the difference in the new technology just make them too different, even though they are similar in a lot ways. The older Yamaha was a little quicker, and maybe even a little more comfortable, but I was interested in a touring bike to take longer rides on in comfort. That, to me, really means having all the bells and whistles operating the way they are supposed to, in addition to a bike that is mechanically reliable without having to throw a lot of money at. While I considered throwing some money at the Yamaha, it dawned on me that no matter how well maintained it might be, it is still a 22+ year old bike with 50,000 miles on the frame and engine. It was also becoming difficult to find parts for since there weren't a lot of them made to begin with. Being a skin flint at heart, I had a very hard time justifying the $23,500 price tag on the new bike. I still have a hard time with that, even though I know I can afford it. It all boils down to each rider has to have what they want, as much as what they need. Hope this helps a bit, and I will try to add to it as I ride the new bike more. I know there is a lot that I have missed here, so if there is a question I will do my best to answer it.
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Was wondering if anyone might be planning a maintenance day for Washington State in the near future. I'd hold one but I'm just a newbie to m/c in 27 years and with less than a year with the VR, so I don't know much nor do I have a lot of VR speciality tools. I do have a new and unused Carbtune, one of those steering tools from "Dingy", do have a m/c jack. Then I have some tools that I've collected over the years for my auto with some metric sockets, wrenches and allen. Do have a torque wrench. I have a lot of odds and end tools. Nothing really expensive. I do have a fairly good size place where I could back out the 3 cars to fit several bikes on a solid cement floor if it rains or a large cement pad in front of the garage if the weather is good. Just need someone with a lot of VR maintenance experience. I do have a huge deck that can accomodate a large barbeque. I think my profile has a picture of it behind my 89 VR. The down side is that I work 26 days on and 2 days off and many of my 2 days off are spent with my wife. But if planned far enough in the future I could make one work and it would need to be on a Sunday. Oh the other thing is that my wife and I have a no alcohol rule, sorrrrry. Let me know if this interests anyone.
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On the GL 1800 what trailer hitch is the best for allowing access to rear wheel removal while giving good towing performance? There are a lot of different hitches out there as well as a wide price renge.
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http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/reddog170/DSCF6436.jpg http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/reddog170/DSCF6439.jpg http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/reddog170/DSCF6441.jpg As you can see she needs a good bath and a lot of TLC. Just thought I would share. Shaun
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I've been telling myself for years that I need to do it. Now I am registered. I'm taking the "Basic Riding Course 2" (Formerly the Experienced Rider Course) from MSF. It says that a passenger is welcome and since I do a lot of 2-up riding, my navigator will attend also. First opportunity is in May but I'm looking forward to it and hope I don't drop it!!
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After a LOT of thought. Talked to a lot of people, on and off the department. I decided to accept the nomination as Chief. The vote was last night. I was awarded the majority of the votes and accepted the position. This is a volunteer department now so it is not like I accepted something I will retire from. I have been in my town for 36 years. I have a deep seated interest in the protection of its members. The department is long overdue for some restructuring and I have the support to begin that process. Looking forward to changes and working with all our members to structure and build further on what is already in place. Ill never get used to this dang white hat though. It will be hard to not grab a hoseline, but I am ready to fight from a different standpoint. Should be a very challenging, but fun position. Im ready to dig in.
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I am looking to purchase a new Venture. I like everything about the bike. I just have a question as to engine (or transmission ) noise. I was told that because of the way that the gears are cut in a Venture, there is a lot of whine noise (loud high whine) when riding the Venture. Can anyone comment on that? Is there a lot of engine noise? Whine? Thanks:detective:
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Well, I sold the Mustang convertible and bought me a Jeep Wrangler. I have always wanted one and decided it would fullfill a lot of roles. Convertible, and 4x4 for the snow. So....Come on SNOW!
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Black Owl has a thread titled Special Activites Fund (SAF) that was started in December. Now for those of you who don't know Russ, he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. Russ doesn't ask very much from this family, and yet he gives 10 times back. He's asking for a small donation, anything, to help. When we have a Venture family member pass away, he's the one that sends flowers, etc. He's had to bump that thread several times, and he's asking for our help. He's not asking for much from you, just a little. So far, there hasn't been the response that I would have thought. I know Russ does a lot for this family, and a lot of times, it comes out of his own pocket and no one ever knows about. I hope he isn't upset with me, but I'm down on one knee begging you to help him out. So,....even if it's only a buck or two, maybe $5.00 even $10.00.....it would sure be nice to show him a little appreciation for all he does. Thanks in advance for any help! Deb
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The Importance of Walking Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $7000 per month. ___________________________________ My grandpa started walking five miles a day when he was 60. Now he's 97 years old and we don't know where he is. __________________________________ I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. ______________________________ The only reason I would take up walking is so that I could hear heavy breathing again. ____________________________________ I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing.. ________________________________________ I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to actually go there. ______________________________________ Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise', I wash my mouth out with chocolate. ____________________________________ The advantage of exercising every day is so when you die, they'll say, 'Well, he looks good doesn't he.' ____________________________________ If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country. __________________________________ I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years,...... just getting over the hill. __________________________________ We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ___________________________________ AND Every time I start thinking too much about how I look, I just find a Happy Hour and by the time I leave, I look just fine. You could run this over to your friends But just e-mail it to them.
