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Showing results for tags 'time'.
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Time to start the summer!
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Hey Y'All! Lately we have been having issues with the audio system on our '91 VR, mostly with the cassett deck. To get music we have been using an iPod and a cassette adapter. That worked really well until the cassette deck started having issues. The main problem was some times the drive system would not run and this caused the auto-reverse mechanism to cycle repeately. Each time the deck cycled we would hear a click in the audio. I tracked the problem down to the drive belts. Some times things were fine, but as time went on the problem grew worse. Then a problem with with my head set reared its ugly head: I had an intermittent connection and would loose the left speaker... To "fix" these issues we decided to get a set of Scala headsets... That turned out to be a bad move. Not only did the head sets not function as advertised, I couldn't stream audio from my iPod to both headsets at the same time, so I fixed my headset cable and we sent the head sets back... But that's another story... Anyway, I hit on the idea of getting an FM transmitter and forgetting about using the cassette deck. After some research, I decided to get a Griffin iTrip. That was a good move! This thing is sweet. Its small, it connects to the iPod/iPhone docking port, there is an app that will run on my iPod Touch 4th gen and our iPhones, and so far the audio is pretty good. When you compare the price of $30.00 for the iTrip to the $242.99 for the Scala head sets, its a no-brainer. If you're worried about battery life, the iTrip has a mini-USB port, and if you have a 12 volt cigarette lighter style outlet wired to plug in to your Battery Tender cord (Hint Hint!!), then all you need is a 12 volt to USB adapter, the appropriate USB cable and you're all set.... I haven't had the chance to do any road testing yet, but I might get some time to take a ride later on today and I'll post my results. Y'All ride safe...
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I am headed to Omaha tomorrow to pick up a new to me 05 Tour Deluxe! I have been keeping my eye open for one in my price range and this one came up! I know I'll take some heat from some of you old timers but don't you just love it when I come back from time to time!
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Neighborhood Hazard (or: Why the Cops Won’t Patrol Brice Street) I never dreamed slowly cruising through a residential neighborhood could be so incredibly dangerous! Studies have shown that motorcycling requires more decisions per second, and more sheer data processing than nearly any other common activity or sport. The reactions and accurate decision making abilities needed have been likened to the reactions of fighter pilots! The consequences of bad decisions or poor situational awareness are pretty much the same for both groups too. Occasionally, as a rider I have caught myself starting to make bad or late decisions while riding. In flight training, my instructors called this being “behind the power curve”. It is a mark of experience that when this begins to happen, the rider recognizes the situation, and more importantly, does something about it. A short break, a meal, or even a gas stop can set things right again as it gives the brain a chance to catch up. Good, accurate, and timely decisions are essential when riding a motorcycle…at least if you want to remain among the living. In short, the brain needs to keep up with the machine. I had been banging around the roads of east Texas and as I headed back into Dallas, found myself in very heavy, high-speed traffic on the freeways. Normally, this is not a problem, I commute in these conditions daily, but suddenly I was nearly run down by a cage that decided it needed my lane more than I did. This is not normally a big deal either, as it happens around here often, but usually I can accurately predict which drivers are not paying attention and avoid them before we are even close. This one I missed seeing until it was nearly too late, and as I took evasive action I nearly broadsided another car that I was not even aware was there! Two bad decisions and insufficient situational awareness…all within seconds. I was behind the power curve. Time to get off the freeway. I hit the next exit, and as I was in an area I knew pretty well, headed through a few big residential neighborhoods as a new route home. As I turned onto the nearly empty streets I opened the visor on my full-face helmet to help get some air. I figured some slow riding through the quiet surface streets would give me time to relax, think, and regain that “edge” so frequently required when riding. Little did I suspect… As I passed an oncoming car, a brown furry missile shot out from under it and tumbled to a stop immediately in front of me. It was a squirrel, and must have been trying to run across the road when it encountered the car. I really was not going very fast, but there was no time to brake or avoid it—it was that close. I hate to run over animals…and I really hate it on a motorcycle, but a squirrel should pose no danger to me. I barely had time to brace for the impact. Animal lovers, never fear. Squirrels can take care of themselves! Inches before impact, the squirrel flipped to his feet. He was standing on his hind legs and facing the oncoming Valkyrie with steadfast resolve in his little beady eyes. His mouth opened, and at the last possible second, he screamed and leapt! I am pretty sure the scream was squirrel for, “Banzai!” or maybe, “Die you gravy-sucking, heathen scum!” as the leap was spectacular and he flew over the windshield and impacted me squarely in the chest. Instantly he set upon me. If I did not know better I would have sworn he brought twenty of his little buddies along for the attack. Snarling, hissing, and tearing at my clothes, he was a frenzy of activity. As I was dressed only in a light t-shirt, summer riding gloves, and jeans this was a bit of a cause for concern. This furry little tornado was doing some damage! Picture a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and leather gloves puttering maybe 25mph down a quiet residential street…and in the fight of his life with a squirrel. And losing. I grabbed for him with my left hand and managed to snag his tail. With all my strength I flung the evil rodent off the left of the bike, almost running into the right curb as I recoiled from the throw. That should have done it. The matter should have ended right there. It really should have. The squirrel could have sailed into one of the pristinely kept yards and gone on about his business, and I could have headed home. No one would have been the wiser. But this was no ordinary squirrel. This was not even an ordinary pissed-off squirrel. This was an evil attack squirrel of death! Somehow he caught my gloved finger with one of his little hands, and with the force of the throw swung around and with a resounding thump and an amazing impact he landed square on my back and resumed his rather anti-social and extremely distracting activities. He also managed to take my left glove with him! The situation was not improved. Not improved at all. His attacks were continuing, and now I could not reach him. I was startled to say the least. The combination of the force of the throw, only having one hand (the throttle hand) on the handlebars, and my jerking back unfortunately put a healthy twist through my right hand and into the throttle. A healthy twist on the throttle of a Valkyrie can only have one result. Torque. This is what the Valkyrie is made for, and she is very, very good at it. The engine roared as the front wheel left the pavement. The squirrel screamed in anger. The Valkyrie screamed in ecstasy. I screamed in…well…I just plain screamed. Now picture a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a slightly squirrel torn t-shirt, and only one leather glove roaring at maybe 70mph and rapidly accelerating down a quiet residential street…on one wheel and with a demonic squirrel on his back. The man and the squirrel are both screaming bloody murder. With the sudden acceleration I was forced to put my other hand back on the handlebars and try to get control of the bike. This was leaving the mutant squirrel to his own devices, but I really did not want to crash into somebody’s tree, house, or parked car. Also, I had not yet figured out how to release the throttle…my brain was just simply overloaded. I did manage to mash the back brake, but it had little affect against the massive power of the big cruiser. About this time the squirrel decided that I was not paying sufficient attention to this very serious battle (maybe he is a Scottish attack squirrel of death), and he came around my neck and got IN my full-face helmet with me. As the faceplate closed partway and he began hissing in my face I am quite sure my screaming changed tone and intensity. It seemed to have little affect on the squirrel however. The rpm’s on The Dragon maxed out (I was not concerned about shifting at the moment) and her front end started to drop. Now picture the large man on the huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a very ragged torn t-shirt, and wearing one leather glove, roaring at probably 80mph, still on one wheel, with a large puffy squirrel’s tail sticking out his mostly closed full-face helmet. By now the screams are probably getting a little hoarse. Finally I got the upper hand…I managed to grab his tail again, pulled him out of my helmet, and slung him to the left as hard as I could. This time it worked…sort-of. Spectacularly sort-of, so to speak. Picture the scene. You are a cop. You and your partner have pulled off on a quiet residential street and parked with your windows down to do some paperwork. Suddenly a large man on a huge black and chrome cruiser, dressed in jeans, a torn t-shirt flapping in the breeze, and wearing one leather glove, moving at probably 80mph on one wheel, and screaming bloody murder roars by and with all his strength throws a live squirrel grenade directly into your police car. I heard screams. They weren't mine... I managed to get the big motorcycle under directional control and dropped the front wheel to the ground. I then used maximum braking and skidded to a stop in a cloud of tire smoke at the stop sign at a busy cross street. I would have returned to fess up (and to get my glove back). I really would have. Really. But for two things. First, the cops did not seem interested or the slightest bit concerned about me at the moment. One of them was on his back in the front yard of the house they had been parked in front of and was rapidly crabbing backwards away from the patrol car. The other was standing in the street and was training a riot shotgun on the police cruiser. So the cops were not interested in me. They often insist to “let the professionals handle it” anyway. That was one thing. The other? Well, I swear I could see the squirrel, standing in the back window of the patrol car among shredded and flying pieces of foam and upholstery, and shaking his little fist at me. I think he was shooting me the finger… That is one dangerous squirrel. And now he has a patrol car… I took a deep breath, turned on my turn-signal, made an easy right turn, and sedately left the neighborhood. As for my easy and slow drive home? Screw it. Faced with a choice of 80mph cars and inattentive drivers, or the evil, demonic, attack squirrel of death...I’ll take my chances with the freeway. Every time. And I’ll buy myself a new pair of gloves. Thanks to my buddy Ted Webb!!
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Going up to Eureka Springs Thursday -Sunday (24th -27th) on a bike I just rebuilt. (it is multi-colored) I will be crossing at Greenville Ms.. What i am wondering is if there is anyone along the way that would be willing to help should i run into problems....the bike is fine right now but it hasn't been run in 4-5 years.. Anyway, that is my question. The trip is is my Churches Youth Group retreat. I will be busy with them and wont have time for "Meet-n-Greets" Sorry. but I do come into Arkansas occasionally so maybe next time.
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3:15 pm, Dunkin Donuts in Geneva NY. Midnight with Aluminum Diamond tread trailer. Didn't have time to stop and check it out. Anyone here in Geneva today?
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when we've got a long, fun ride coming up. Two years ago, when our local riding group was heading to Boise for a rally, she took the opportunity to demand a little extra attention. She started spitting fuel from the overflow. After a few attempts to fix the issue on the bike, I came time to install the spare set. I enjoyed the ride the put the original (rebuilt) set back on. All good! Time for another rally, this time in St. George where we can ride Zions Natl Park, North Rim of the Grand Canyon, etc. She's starting to insist on some extra attention..... new tires, front and rear, brake pads all around. Got the new tires on yesterday....nice ride improvement. Today I put in the new rear pads and then moved to the front (right) brakes. All was going well until one of the four pistons wouldn't press back in. I tried everything I could, clamps, water pump pliers.... lucky to have a spare caliper, so, I switched them out. Installed the new pads and bled the line. All is good. Time to go spend a week riding in just a couple of weeks.
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Co-worker had his harley parked in the company lot and the way the sun was reflecting off the mirror it burned the passenger backrest. Looks like a cigarette was laid on it and burned down to the butt. I know, should have gotten a pic but I didn't have phone on me at the time. First time I ever heard of this.
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Scooped these from another forum ... thought they were worth posting here for ya'll. 1. Assume you're invisible Because to a lot of drivers, you are. Never make a move based on the assumption that another driver sees you, even if you've just made eye contact. Bikes don't always register in the four-wheel mind. 2. Be considerate The consequences of strafing the jerk du jour or cutting him off start out bad and get worse. Pretend it was your grandma and think again. 3. Dress for the crash, not the pool or the prom Sure, Joaquin's Fish Tacos is a 5-minute trip, but nobody plans to eat pavement. Modern mesh gear means 100-degree heat is no excuse for a T-shirt and board shorts. 4. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst Assume that car across the intersection will turn across your bow when the light goes green, with or without a turn signal. 5. Leave your ego at home The only people who really care if you were faster on the freeway will be the officer and the judge. 6. Pay attention Yes, there is a half-naked girl on the billboard. That shock does feels squishy. Meanwhile, you could be drifting toward Big Trouble. Focus. 7. Mirrors only show you part of the picture Never change direction without turning your head to make sure the coast really is clear. Mirrors only show you part of the picture. Mirrors only show you part of the picture. 8. Be patient Always take another second or three before you pull out to pass, ride away from a curb or into freeway traffic from an on-ramp. It's what you don't see that gets you. That extra look could save your butt. 9. Watch your closing speed Passing cars at twice their speed or changing lanes to shoot past a row of stopped cars is just asking for trouble. 10. Beware the verge and the merge A lot of nasty surprises end up on the sides of the road: empty McDonald's bags, nails, TV antennas, ladders, you name it. Watch for potentially troublesome debris on both sides of the road. 11. Left-turning cars remain a leading killer of motorcyclists Don't assume someone will wait for you to dart through the intersection. They're trying to beat the light, too. 12. Beware of cars running traffic lights The first few seconds after a signal light changes are the most perilous. Look both ways before barging into an intersection. 13. Check your mirrors Do it every time you change lanes, slow down or stop. Be ready to move if another vehicle is about to occupy the space you'd planned to use. Scan 12 seconds ahead for potential trouble. Scan 12 seconds ahead for potential trouble. 14. Mind the gap Remember Driver's Ed? One second's worth of distance per 10 mph is the old rule of thumb. Better still, scan the next 12 seconds ahead for potential trouble. 15. Beware of tuner cars They're quick and their drivers tend to be aggressive. Don't assume you've beaten one away from a light or outpaced it in traffic and change lanes without looking. You could end up as a Nissan hood ornament. 16. Excessive entrance speed hurts It's the leading cause of single-bike accidents on twisty roads and racetracks. In Slow, Out Fast is the old adage, and it still works. Dialing up corner speed is safer than scrubbing it off. 17. Don't trust that deer whistle Ungulates and other feral beasts prowl at dawn and dusk, so heed those big yellow signs. If you're riding in a target-rich environment, slow down and watch the shoulders. 18. Learn to use both brakes The front does most of your stopping, but a little rear brake on corner entry can calm a nervous chassis. 19. Keep the front brake covered--always Save a single second of reaction time at 60 mph and you can stop 88 feet shorter. Think about that. 20. Look where you want to go Use the miracle of target fixation to your advantage. The motorcycle goes where you look, so focus on the solution instead of the problem. Check your mirrors every time you change lanes. Check your mirrors every time you change lanes. 21. Keep your eyes moving Traffic is always shifting, so keep scanning for potential trouble. Don't lock your eyes on any one thing for too long unless you're actually dealing with trouble. 22. Think before you act Careful whipping around that Camry going 7 mph in a 25-mph zone or you could end up with your head in the driver's side door when he turns into the driveway right in front of you. 23. Raise your gaze It's too late to do anything about the 20 feet immediately in front of your fender, so scan the road far enough ahead to see trouble and change trajectory. 24. Get your mind right in the driveway Most accidents happen during the first 15 minutes of a ride, below 40 mph, near an intersection or driveway. Yes, that could be your driveway. 25. Come to a full stop at that next stop sign Put a foot down. Look again. Anything less forces a snap decision with no time to spot potential trouble. 26. Never dive into a gap in stalled traffic Cars may have stopped for a reason, and you may not be able to see why until it's too late to do anything about it. 27. Don't saddle up more than you can handle If you weigh 95 pounds, avoid that 795-pound cruiser. If you're 5-foot-5, forget those towering adventure-tourers. Stay in your comfort zone riding with a group. Stay in your comfort zone riding with a group. 28. Watch for car doors opening in traffic And smacking a car that's swerving around some goofball's open door is just as painful. 29. Don't get in an intersection rut Watch for a two-way stop after a string of four-way intersections. If you expect cross-traffic to stop, there could be a painful surprisewhen it doesn't. 30. Stay in your comfort zone when you're with a group Riding over your head is a good way to end up in the ditch. Any bunch worth riding with will have a rendezvous point where you'll be able to link up again. 31. Give your eyes some time to adjust A minute or two of low light heading from a well-lighted garage onto dark streets is a good thing. Otherwise, you're essentially flying blind for the first mile or so. 32. Master the slow U-turn Practice. Park your butt on the outside edge of the seat and lean the bike into the turn, using your body as a counterweight as you pivot around the rear wheel. 33. Who put a stop sign at the top of this hill? Don't panic. Use the rear brake to keep from rolling back down. Use Mr. Throttle and Mr. Clutch normally--and smoothly--to pull away. 34. If it looks slippery, assume it is A patch of suspicious pavement could be just about anything. Butter Flavor Crisco? Gravel? Mobil 1? Or maybe it's nothing. Better to slow down for nothing than go on your head. 35. Bang! A blowout! Now what? No sudden moves. The motorcycle isn't happy, so be prepared to apply a little calming muscle to maintain course. Ease back the throttle, brake gingerly with the good wheel and pull over very smoothly to the shoulder. Big sigh. Hedge your bets at intersections. Hedge your bets at intersections. 36. Drops on the faceshield? It's raining. Lightly misted pavement can be slipperier than when it's been rinsed by a downpour, and you never know how much grip there is. Apply maximum-level concentration, caution and smoothness. 37. Emotions in check? To paraphrase Mr. Ice Cube, chickity-check yoself before you wreck yoself. Emotions are as powerful as any drug, so take inventory every time you saddle up. If you're mad, sad, exhausted or anxious, stay put. 38. Wear good gear Wear stuff that fits you and the weather. If you're too hot or too cold or fighting with a jacket that binds across the shoulders, you're dangerous. It's that simple. 39. Leave the iPod at home You won't hear that cement truck in time with Spinal Tap cranked to 11, but they might like your headphones in intensive care. 40. Learn to swerve Be able to do two tight turns in quick succession. Flick left around the bag of briquettes, then right back to your original trajectory. The bike will follow your eyes, so look at the way around, not the briquettes. Now practice till it's a reflex. 41. Be smooth at low speeds Take some angst out, especially of slow-speed maneuvers, with a bit of rear brake. It adds a welcome bit of stability by minimizing unwelcome weight transfer and potentially bothersome driveline lash. 42. Flashing is good for you Turn signals get your attention by flashing, right? So a few easy taps on the pedal or lever before stopping makes your brake light more eye-catching to trailing traffic. 43. Intersections are scary, so hedge your bets Put another vehicle between your bike and the possibility of someone running the stop sign/red light on your right and you cut your chances of getting nailed in half. 44. Tune your peripheral vision Pick a point near the center of that wall over there. Now scan as far as you can by moving your attention, not your gaze. The more you can see without turning your head, the sooner you can react to trouble. Everything is harder to see after dark. Everything is harder to see after dark. 45. All alone at a light that won't turn green? Put as much motorcycle as possible directly above the sensor wire--usually buried in the pavement beneath you and located by a round or square pattern behind the limit line. If the light still won't change, try putting your kickstand down, right on the wire. You should be on your way in seconds. 46. Every-thing is harder to see after dark Adjust your headlights, Carry a clear faceshield and have your game all the way on after dark, especially during commuter hours. 47. Don't troll next to--or right behind--Mr. Peterbilt If one of those 18 retreads blows up--which they do with some regularity--it de-treads, and that can be ugly. Unless you like dodging huge chunks of flying rubber, keep your distance. 48. Take the panic out of panic stops Develop an intimate relationship with your front brake. Seek out some safe, open pavement. Starting slowly, find that fine line between maximum braking and a locked wheel, and then do it again, and again. 49. Make your tires right None of this stuff matters unless your skins are right. Don't take 'em for granted. Make sure pressure is spot-on every time you ride. Check for cuts, nails and other junk they might have picked up, as well as general wear. 50. Take a deep breath Count to 10. Visualize whirled peas. Forgetting some clown's 80-mph indiscretion beats running the risk of ruining your life, or ending it.
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Well folks it is time for the spring silly season with deer running all over at all times of the day. This is the time of year where the does will be giving birth to there new fawns. Just before they give birth, they will drive last years fawns out of her territory (this is how they spread the gene pool). So you will have deer wandering around looking for a new place to live. If that young deer grew up in an area that had very little or no vehicle traffic, then mom never taught them how to cross the street. And if mom is right behind them looking to kick some tail they may be running like crazy. So keep an extra eye out for deer, at ALL times of the day, for the next month till things calm down some. this time of year is not as bad as during the rut in fall, but it still has a significant increase of deer activity.
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I was out prowling the city on the '84 last evening and wandered into the area where the PO that had my bike before I bought it lived. On a whim I thought I'd swing by and see if he was around. I couldn't remember the house but I knew the street so off I went. As luck was with me I saw him turn around and look as I headed up the hill towards his place. As I pulled into his driveway he was just staring at the bike. All he said when I got off was "That can't be the same bike?" Well, yeah it is. How many other '84 Yammys have ya sold? But the day he sold it to me he dropped it off on a trailer, not running and many parts off the bike in boxes. I could tell he hated to let it go but I only knew a little bit about why. The only time after that was the early summer after I got it he stopped by and I had it back together, street legal and running. He was impressed it was even running at all. That was 2007. His Dad had bought the bike new in '84 from a local dealer. Had it all that time until he got older and wanted a lighter bike but he kept the Venture for the long rides but he passed away shortly after that. The son kept the '84 as it was part of remembering his Dad. It sat in his garage for 9 years unridden, but cared for. Over those 9 years he would find leaks and remove parts to try to fix then. Never got them done and parts went into boxes. I'll thank him for that, they were all there. But we spent an hour talking about the bike. He was shocked at the changes I had made and all the modifactions done. He was happpy the bike was being cared for and ridden. I've put over 30,000 miles on it since I bought it. His Dad would have been happy about that. But it made my night as I knew I had made someone happy, other than me, that be bike was still road worthy and being taken care of like it had been for all those years by his Dad. I just wish the two of them had some decent screwdrivers between them. I mentioned the stripped out Phillips heads I had found on the bike and the son laughed and asked me how many I'd had to replace. "About all of them." Mike
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Don't want to make this another tire thread,,, no need,,,, just want to report that I was riding with a friend yesterday, who rides a Wing,,, not that it matters,,,, but he had his tires changed to Avons,,,,,,,,, from????????????? Metzlers,,,,,,,, and why am I making this post??????? he was surprised that when they showed him the rear tire there was a piece missing. It was time to change the tire, but not super urgent. We do not know the date on the tire, how many miles or how long it's been on the scoot. just so you know
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Hi Guys, I'm looking for any advice anybody might have about a good shop in the Denver area. I live in Florida but I keep my RSV at the GF's house out there and I don't have any experience with any dealers in the area. I'd like a good shop, preferably a Yamaha dealer, to go over my rear end. I just don't spend enough time out there to do it myself. I don't see any active members listed in the area, but if anyone has any knowledge to share I'd appreciate it. Thanks!
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Where's the best place to buy E-3 Dunlop rear tire? The last time I bought one is in 09 for 120.00. Thanks ahead of time for info...
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Well yesterday the wife and I were headed out on a ride and a few miles into it the rain came down. With the wet roads the bike seemed to handle very funny so we stopped and I looked the bike over. Nothing obvious to be found. We take off and the bike felt like the back tire was going flat so we decided to go home and check the thing out. Well after putting it up on the lift and taking the bags off i found the problem. The wheel bearing was worn completely out. I could move the wheel up and down. This is now 1:30 pm on Saturday so by the time I figure out what all I am going to need to repair the thing it is gonna be to late to order parts and I don't want to be down a week. So I decide to text Mike (EUSA1) and see if he has an extra wheel. He calls me and and wants to know what's up. He then says I will come down when I get off work (he Lives 100 miles away) and bring, parts and a wheel just in case. Well he gets here and we get the wheel off and because the bearing has been going out for awhile it has destroyed the tire. Plenty of tread but flat spots on the side, middle and just real ugly..Mike says it would be easier if you had a new tire on his rim and then we could just put then different rim on since I needed a new tire anyway. So by now it is 6:00pm. I call a friend of mine who owns a Trike Shop where he converts 2 wheelers into 3 wheelers. He doesn't have a tire since he works on 3 wheelers but says if I can find a tire he will come down and open his shop so we can mount it. So I call another member Tim (mystor09) who lives about 8 miles away and he has a new tire and says come and get it and just order him another one and we are even. So from the time I find out the problem until it it is fixed takes about 6 hours with time off for some food, mike driving 100 miles and then us driving another 75 or so to get the tire and go to my buddies shop to mount it. I say I am lucky to have friends from this site who stepped up for me and got me rolling in such record time Thanks to everyone.
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We have all had times when we were afraid of our bike for one reason or another. Close call on a ride, a project we have never taken on before, or just being out there in a difficult situation far from home. But the tables have turned for me ...... I think the bike is a bit nervous if not down right frightened of what I might do to it next. I think taking it's nuts off the handlebars last week may have been more than it could deal with. Since last season I've been fighting a glitch in the CLASS controller. Not just one ... but three of them. Been through the solder fixes and cleaning up the connections all the way back to the compressor, chasing power and on every one of them I'd get an error code, or a couple different ones everytime. Sometimes it would run for a few second then error out or sometime get nothing at all. I'd change one out for another controller and start with different codes or failures. Never really bothered me as I had good pressure on the shock when it all started but every time I would try to run the controller I would lose a pound or two. Over time, it was getting lower and with my big ham bone parked on it I was feeling the effect when it got down to 35 lbs pressure. It was time...... I had bought the fittings to do the schrader valve mod to be done and stop fretting over it. Time to get my smooth ride back. Not something I wanted to do but ya know.... sometimes ya got to do it. So I had the bike on the lift, I got the work bench folded down from the wall and laid out the needed tools and parts. I laid out the teflon tape and fittings for the schrader fix. The cutters I needed and all the sharp tools handy. I plugged in the soldering pencil for the one last shot and final attempt at saving the CLASS. I felt I was being watched. I looked around and it was just me and the bike. Just us and the cutting tools and that smoking soldering pencil. I stuck the key in the switch to check one more time for a reading. It just shot me one more defiant look and flashed "35". Popped the release for the housing and lifted it out. As I pulled it up I brushed my finger against the button and the bike started to vibrate. I waited for it to code out but it kept going. The display showed 40, then 50 then 60 and stopped at 71. I stood there waiting for something, anything else to happen. I pressed the lower button and the pressure smoothly dropped to the bottom. I ground my teeth and closed Imy eyes and pressed the button to raise the pressure again. I could feel the bike vibrate and it stopped again. When I looked it was back at 71 lbs again. I could almost feel the submission. I had scared the bike to my will. I was the Alpha! So I celebrated with a ride. Been riding for two day now and made pressure adjustments at every stop I'd make. It's working flawlessly just like the old days. Enjoying the ride again on these danged Nebraska roads. So for now I'm going to keep the soldering pen in the saddlegbag and those nuts I took off.... On a chain around the handlebars. Just a reminder of who is in charge. How else can I explain it? The Gremlins did it? NAH.... nobody would belive that! Mike
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I suppose it was just a matter of time, but I have been laid off. My company, despite having almost 50,000 employees across the world, cannot keep me busy. I'm not surprised, because despite looking for two months, I can't find a company hiring for my core job (airport planner). My last day is next week some time. I get benefits through the end of the month. I would like prayers for a successful job search. Clearly, this is more than I can do alone. But mostly, I would like prayers for my wife, Jamie. She worries much, and I know this will tear her up. She is blameless in this, has faith in me, and is my support. She deserves the calming presence that prayers can provide. Keep her in your thoughts, please. As I write this, my mind goes back yet again to the accident we recently had. She doesn't remember it--she has amnesia--but I cannot forget listening to her screams of fear and pain. I feel so much guilt for that, and now, this. I guess I need some prayers for peace of mind and perspective. Thank you, Dave
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Since today is Nurse's Day, I thought I would say thanks to all the Nurses in our group. Also, after being a nurse in a school district for 21 years and a RN for much longer than that, I have decided to retire. I am very excited about it. I hope to get to take a lot of motorcycle trips and spend much more time doing those projects at home that never seemed to get done. And possibly not get so stressed over unimportant things in life. Ah it will be so nice. Yama Mama:223:
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As both a procrastinator and one who's latest promotion has consumed a ton of my free time, I admit that I have had almost all of these parts sitting on the shelf for a full year. What a colossal mistake on my part. The last bit I was holding out on was a 14mm master cylinder. I found what I wanted on eBay last week -- had to strip and refinish, but that took less time than I expected. Skydoc_17 had provided the SS lines (I asked him to special order black so it would look more like stock and it does) and VMax splitter; all of which were still in the sealed USPS box that he mailed them to me in. I cleaned and painted my eBay sourced R1 calipers solid black to get rid of the blue anodized stars. Installation was straightforward and uneventful. Since I already had the bike torn down for the valve adjustment (another big thank you to skydoc_17) it was a couple days before I could get it on the street. My initial impression was, lets say much below satisfactory. I was actually pissed within the first 2 stops at how much time I had put into the project. To be fair, I had gone cheap and reused whatever pads (still had good meat, no idea what brand) were loaded in the calipers. Fortunately, my local shop had a pair of the EBC HH pads on the shelf. Second impression was light years ahead. I couldn't have asked for a better result. The albino water buffalo now bleeds off speed equivalent or better than any other big touring bike I have ever owned or ridden. If you are on the fence, let me shove you over to the other side. Even if you stick with the stock 5/8" master cylinder, its a step in the right direction. Iz
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Well, I'm the proud owner of a brand new Harley Electra Glide Ultra Classic but it was tough to part with the RSTD. It was a nice bike and very mechanically sound. It had everything I wanted at the time of purchase but as the years went by I found I wanted more. Alas, I just can't bring myselft to upgrade to the Venture knowing Yamaha hasn't done anything to really update or improve it in years. I'm not bashing - please don't think I am. They are really great bikes. I just decided they aren't my cup of tea. So, I intend to hang around this forum so I can continue to learn from a very knowledgable group of riders. I know there are a few out there that ride HD's. So, I'll become one of the few. Below is a pic of my new ride. It's Ember Red Sunglo in color. In the sunlight it sparkles with gold flecks. It's really nice paint. This picture doesn't do it much justice but you get the idea. Keep it between the ditches everyone. Les
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Once upon a time, dailyray > 05/05 15:04:25 a Handsome Prince asked a Beautiful Princess, "Will you marry me?" The Princess said, "No!!!" And the Handsome Prince lived happily ever after, and rode motorcycles, and hunted and fished, and raced cars. He went to bars, and dated women half his age, and drank whiskey, beer and Captain Morgan, and never heard *****ing, and never paid child support or alimony He kept his castle and guns, and ate spam and potato chips and beans whenever he wanted, and blew enormous farts, and never got cheated on while he was at work. All his friends and family thought he was frickin' cool and he had tons of money in the bank, and left the toilet seat up all the time. And he lived, of course, very happily ever after. THE END. https://forums.craigslist.org/?ID=212027167
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Another Saturday working on the bike, we got the engine back in, since there was only 2 of us it took some extra time to get it in, we had a few memory lapses, loosing tools, nuts, bolts, you name it we misplace it at one time or another. Got the clutch working after a little difficulty, but finally got it bled out and working. A couple of nuts and hex screws got misplaced and it took some time searching, so we finally gave up and I saw K-Rider off, I went back out to the shop and low and behold I picked up a coffee cup and there they were with a bunch of other bolts I will probably be looking for later. So I continued working getting the motor all bolted back in and all the frame rails attached. Still had some daylight left so I figured I would start installing the newly painted side cases. Got all but one installed and trying to download the pics. [ATTACH]66771[/ATTACH][ATTACH]66772[/ATTACH][ATTACH]66773[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]66774[/ATTACH][ATTACH]66775[/ATTACH][ATTACH]66776[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]66777[/ATTACH][ATTACH]66778[/ATTACH][ATTACH]66779[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]66780[/ATTACH][ATTACH]66781[/ATTACH][ATTACH]66782[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]66783[/ATTACH]
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I just found out about the $5 penalty for dropping my VR. I did post a reply in that thread but figured I should 'fess up out in the open. Day 1 with my first VR. I figure some practice time in the yard and driveway is in order. Although I've been riding 30 years I have never had bikes this long or this heavy. Circles and 8's in the yard are actually feeling shaky so I start big and shorten the radius as I felt better. I then head up the driveway and turn around by the side of the road. I can't believe the bike is slowly falling to the right and I really can't believe that I can't stop it. It of course ends up laying on the crash bars. No damage More 8's and circles in the driveway. I am getting the hang of this. Cool. I am done so I make the swing toward the shed door to put her away. As I turn left I once again feel it pass the point of no return and I oh so slowly and gently lay it on the left side this time. Much to the amusement of a passing motorist. I judge this by the way the kid slowed down, honked the horn, and pointed while grinning like an idiot. It has now been 3 weeks and I have not dropped either VR since. Hoping this is a trend that continues. I did give m myself a break and paid a daily fee of $5 since both incidents happened within minutes of each other.
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I would like to see who can make it on that date, to get a idea of what all to do to get ready. I put it on the calendar so you can RSVP there, and it is posted in the Meet and Eats so if you would like to bring something like a dish to pass or maybe a tool that would be of use for the work on the cycles that maybe a good place for that. This is the first time at doing this so any ideas would be helpfull. Thanks Orlin
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Several weeks ago, a member posted an item for sale. I responded immediately. A few days later we talked on the phone to clarify some things and agree on a price. Once the total cost with shipping was determined I would then PayPal him. Said Item was never shipped. Several emails, PM's and voice mails later, and almost 3 weeks, still no items or responses, other then 1 post that it would be mailed out in the AM. Now the ad is marked sold. Another voice mail requesting an update...again, no response. So, the only assumption that I can come up with is the item was sold to another. Now, that little bit of background being said, there should be a list of do's and dont's when either buying or selling something in the classifieds. 1: Be honest. If there are any flaws, make them known. I was burned once before like that a long time ago on another cycle forum, even after a phone conversation with that seller who flat out lied to me. 2: Be a man, or woman: If you agree on something, stick to it. If something changes, let the buyer, or seller if your the buyer know. Don't like the price you agreed to? Let the other person know. 3: Be responsive: I know we all have our lives to live and sometimes we get delayed, but just what is a reasonable time to respond back to a seller or buyer? One person either wants to sell and another wants to buy. They want to get the deal over and done in a timely manner. One shouldn't have to leave multiple messages over weeks to get a response. Non-communication leads to assumptions. Most of the time I have found that those assumptions are usually right. But I have been known to be wrong too. It's simple.....just communicate with one another and there wont be any misunderstandings or assumptions. Have a nice day......
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