First ride of the Unplanned Venture.

[Ed S, SE Nebr]

With help from the good folks in the 1st Gen Tech Talk forum and a few hours in the shop I was able to go "around the block" on my VR this evening.

This is a bike from an estate auction a couple of weeks ago. I went without any intent to buy a motorcycle, but couldn't pass it up for what it was going for. It was "as is", non-running, so a complete gamble.

 

I'm out in farm country where our "blocks" are a mile on a side.

 

For lots of reasons I was kinda nervous:

1. It's been a long, long, time since I've ridden

2. This bike is BIG!

3. Gravel roads

4. Bike's been sitting since at least 2009; probably not more than 2000 miles in the last 14 yrs. Tires might be bad.

5. I just rebuilt the clutch master cyl and replaced slave.

6. Knew I had at least some front brake. Not sure about rear.

7. Custom pinstriping is really pretty

8. Not even sure if it would go 4 miles.

9. Between reading about the VR here, and working on it for the last few weeks, I think I could like this bike.

 

 

I made it.

If I'd not been dumb and in such a hurry to give it a try, I'd have cleaned the windshield, which might have let me see the gravel ridge as I was heading into the sunset, and I might not have gotten a little sideways.

In the end all that happened was a heart rate spike and probably some extra squeeze marks on the grips. Not sure whether my riding skill came back all of a sudden or the bike's pretty stable. (Actually, I know that answer.)

 

So. That was fun. Hope to do it some more.

 

eds

[Peder_y2k]

I found myself holding my breath there for a moment Ed.

 

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

[cowpuc]

:bighug::dancefool::thumbsup:

ANOTHER ONE SAVED FROM THOSE NASTY LITTLE TOTALLY DESTRUCTIVE TIME GREMLINS!! GOOD ON YA EDS!

Also, very very thankful your alright from your Close Encounter of the 1st Gen Kind!!

By the way,, there is this little forum rule that most of us try to abide by,, lets see if I can find it in the VR Bylines,, oh yea,, here it is

Wont be long and we'll hear about ya meet n greetin out west or down south or up north and every where in between on it!!

 

Congrats on the find my friend, ya done been blessed!!

Puc

[Phoneman1981]

Congrats. Now ride that thing to the western end of our state. I want to see it!!!!

[billmac]

No picture. no cost at sale? Sorry didn't see the link

[Snaggletooth]

Congrats on the 1st ride. That 1st one can be fun even on paved roads. I bought mine in a similar situation back in 2006 and thanks to the guys here im getting close to 80k now as a daily rider. The last year ive moved to a rural area, I prefer the word remote, where the only way to a paved road is3 miles of limerock road. Its a day to celebrate when the county grader shows up after a storm to fill the washouts and add that new 8" ridge of rock down the road to add to my riding enjoyment.

 

Take care. Ride with caution and enjoy the bike. Practice picking it up. Lol

Ive laid mine down twice out here. These types of roads can make rides unpredictable at times

 

You come up on a cloud of dust there just might be another 1st gen in there. Lol

 

Be safe.

 

Mike

[Ed S, SE Nebr]

Should've included this for some background:

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=87003

 

eds

[Sailor]

Looks nice.