Leaderboard

It looks like there is enough interest to move forward with this, I will start checking with the state park about pavilion usage rules and camping accommodations. I will get in touch with Don about scheduling to make sure we have dates that will work for Maintenance Day and start making plans. There is a lady here in town that has had annual get togethers for several years that has volunteered her time to assist with planning. Since I'm a go big or go home type of guy lets try to get a crowd. For any that want to come early to check out the lake there are boat and jet ski rentals at the park along with bait and tackle. KY has a 1 day and 7 day fishing permits for out of staters.

Hey Tom, First off, Thanks very much to Saddlebum for the props! Now to clear up some of the items you mentioned in this topic. I offer the De-Link Kit to separate the left front from the rear caliper because I didn't like my left front engaging in a high bank turn, or in a loose roadway like gravel. Even though the First Gen. is supposed to be a "Touring Motorcycle" , I ride it like it was an FJR or even an R6 on occasion. I offered the De-Link Kit to other riders who share the same passion and ride in a similar style. I have the ability to make ANY line you would like to replace on ANY Motorcycle. I use the same Aircraft Quality Braided S.S. line on every line and I keep the Metric Fittings for the Yamaha in stock. Other types of motorcycles require different size fittings that I don't usually keep in stock, BUT I can order them. I don't offer a replacement STOCK S.S. Line Set because I don't consider that an upgrade, but I am more than happy to make up a line set to replace the stock lines for the brake and clutch. BUT I want to be VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS ONE POINT! If you put my S.S. Line Set on your bike with 30+ year old un-rebuilt Calipers and Master Cylinders and funky Chinese organic brake pads that are half worn out, and expect to be able to tell the difference or cure the problem of a dragging caliper or a caliper that flat out won't close, then you are going to be sorely disappointed! And not because of the Line Set, but because you didn't maintenance the rest of your braking system! People, Your brakes are what STOP YOU! It's that simple. I seen owners pay over $100.00 for a train horn, but won't by rebuild kits for their calipers! Or even better, they will pay top dollar for an LED Headlight but won't rebuild their Master Cylinders! Well, here's a tip, If you are overdriving your headlight at night, maybe you are going a bit too fast brother! OK, rant over! If I can help anyone with stock S.S. brake lines, I'd be happy to. If I gave you "food for thought" about your brakes, that was my intention. If you just bought a train horn for your bike, well "I hope your brakes work!" LOL!! Earl

It sure is tough to read of these happenings. There seem to be good stories coming out about how the Covid thing is being beaten and held back, and others about how Covid seems to be raging ahead, but none as bad as India so far. Slowly the our general population is starting to come to realize the need in India. They are humans, created in the image of their Creator, and we need to show them our love. It's not always easy to love someone or somebody, especially if they live a totally different life than we do, but we need to do it, if for no other reason than that we are very well blessed. In the process of helping them in this life, we might also be able to guide them to a new life beyond this one, where there is no more pain or suffering. What a blessing that would be!!

Hello Gravelguts, Welcome to Venture Rider. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. Please introduce yourself so that our members can get to know you. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Gravelguts joined on the 05/08/2021. View Member

I’ve been kicking around the idea of hosting a get together for a couple years, the hold up is there aren’t many members in the area. I’m posting the idea to try to gauge interest in the idea. NSA Joe n Debbie came in to Hannigans this week and we rode some and kicked the idea around. I’m looking at Kenlake State Park on KY Lake, the largest man made lake in the Eastern US. Plenty of camping, cabins, lodge onsite, and nearby accommodations. Just across the bridge is Land Between the Lakes national wildlife refuge and good riding. There is also lodging in nearby Aurora with motels and fishing cabins for lower priced rooms. 5-10 minutes away. Timing would probably be late May or early June to beat the heat and humidity of summer here. Please give me some feedback to see if we can get enough people to make it a go. Kenlake is a 20 minute ride from Murray with stores, supplies, etc.

Carl, life has made a few turns in the road but the Good Lord has kept me on the road and I am slowing down and enjoying life! I changed the plugs and while cleaning out the spark plug wells a Q-tip fell into the front left spark plug hole and disappeared, I about had a stroke. I stopped and prayed. Ok I turned on the ignition and just bumped the starter button and wow it was sticking out of the hole but would not come out, I clamped onto it and bumped the starter again and it freed up. WHEW!!!! thought I was in for some major work!!!

Just wanted to extend all the mother’s on the sub a happy Mother’s Day from me and all the mom’s in my life! Ride safe!

XXL from Nelson Rigg. The $29.00 covers from Walmart are actually very good dust covers and decent weather covers for a couple seasons.

Check out Nelson Rigg https://www.nelsonrigg.com/motorcycle-covers?cff_29[]=43727569736572 They make a whole line of quality covers from four season heavy duty to light weight dust covers. You can purchase them direct on line or through many motorcycle parts and accessory distributors. I have two of their covers and am very pleased with them.

Thank you Freebird. I have actually been here for years, just decided to make it official! 😎

Celia and I will be there if every thing goes to plan.

That was/is soooo well put @skydoc_17!! THANK YOU BROTHER!! IMHO, many many times, whether be upgrading brakes or even starters to 4 brush the maintenance of/to the original set up to see if it can be restored to full OEM new functionality is often overlooked and when it comes to stopping power this is critical,, also IMHO... @Idrys, I would, at a minimum, clean the caliper pistons as shown in the video below to make sure they are moving with unobstructed ease before going forward with upgrading. Also lubing all brake pivot point on the levers including foot brake. Another often overlooked issue is the little back orvice in the masters,, even a tiny amount of blockage there will cause major grief. The one in the rear brake master is xtra special cause when it fails it can cause braking issues both front and back being linked. I have gone both ways, linked and unlinked and have never experienced issues with linked that cause me pause. Set up right, and fully maintained I actually like OEM linked system on my MK1,s. Our current MK1 does have stainless lines on it that a previous owner installed and I do "feel" a difference in those lines under hard braking BUT I am not so sure I would swap out fully functional OEM's for stainless. On the other hand though,, if the lines were showing signs of dry rot or compression loss due to loss of integrity I would DEFINITELY get ahold of Earl and do the stainless routine... I do this when ever I swap on new tires,, sometimes 4 or 5 times a year, might be worth a try: and here is another Venture braking video of mine you may find of interest:

Just to be clear @Pasta Burner the only reason I purchase my second set of lines locally Instead of from @skydoc_17had to do with customs. A $265.00 windshield cost me over $400.00 thanks to customs. If I were were living in the USA I would get them through Skydoc. he has always stood behind his stuff and is very forthcoming with advice and knowledge. In the past when I made a purchase from him, I would order ahead of time and then meet him at one of the Rally's to collect my purchase or have it relayed through another member but since travel is an issue right now I have had to make other choices. I also de-linked because for the same reasons as Skydoc. I once entered came to an intersection were the pavement had a dusting of sand on it. I applied my rear brake and and the front end slid out on me. Thinking I applied to much foot brake I released then reapplied even gentler but the same thing happened. After the second failure to stop without almost going down it was too late for a third attempt so I laid on the throttle after a quick look both ways and shot through the intersection. At the time the bike was fairly new to me and I had no idea the front brake was linked to the rear. Later I got home and started investigating my bike and found the the left front functioned with the rear. Started thinking up ways of changing this when I came across Skydocs de-linking kit. Now my brakes work independently they way I want them to and no more front wheel lock up on loose gravel or silt

Sky doc is where I got my brake lines from. I purchased his de-linking kit. I purchase my clutch lines from a local shop by me as well as had other lines made up for another venture I was repairing for someone else. Initially I went to a hydraulic hose and fitting place who directed me to a place called Northern Performance here in Burlington Ontario.The reason they sent me there was that although they could make the lines they were not DOT certified for hydraulic Brake line were Northern Performance was. I simply took them the old lines and they duplicated them in stainless.

Hi ron count us in, you know we would love to ride and see more of the area. Thanks again for taking us for a ride. When we were there. Definately a beatiful and scenic area. Thanks joe and deb

Most definitely count me in !

I’d replace the thermostat as the first step as it’s cheap and is a good idea to swap out periodically anyway.

I went through Zion, it was gorgeous, I had rain gear it rained a bit, but I camped out there for a night, I was slightly miserable by morning but shuttle tour and the ride through was worth it

Count me in!

Tina and I would be interested. Ron

All I'd say is that if you are getting new stainless steel hoses, it's a good time to consider de-linking the brakes on the basis you could be paying for the hoses again if you decide to de-link later. It's no biggy if you make your own, but obviously a few dollars more if you don't. If you might be removing the proportioning valve, leave another couple of inches loose on the rear pipe so you can be sure it still reaches (I didn't and so the hose on my is pretty tight).

I just yesterday put the new Michelin Commander 3's on my '06. I got the cruiser rather than touring tires. It had Dunlops on it. I can't overstate how great the new Michelins are compared to the old tires. It's almost as if the highway seams, tar snakes and road cracks have disappeared. I was used to my bike feeling wobbly and squirley over the highway seams, and now it is rock steady. Feels like the whole bike got upgraded - I'm super happy about it.

I'd be interested in a ride down from Shelby Co.

Crazy how that works ain't it?

This is for 2022. School ends late May so the first weekend in June is what I’m thinking if it doesn’t mess you up for MD. I plan to make it to MD too. Late June, July, and August here are very hot and humid so they’re out.

Wow Gary, haven't seen you around for a while!! GOOD to hear from you again. Suggest OEM plugs. And a hotshot cleaning of the carbs.

I’ve had my 87 VR for pretty much exactly a year and I love it. I bought it thinking I’d just test the waters of a big touring bike and came to find it’s a winner of a machine! Mine also happened to be in great condition. I can for sure agree with @saddlebum if you’ve got short legs this thing can be a bear. I’ve got a 30” inseam, and quick stops or even off camber intersections are not for the faint of heart. Hell even the drainage dip at the apron of my driveway leaves me dangling for a second or so hoping I don’t run out of gravity speed before I can touch again. Like @cimmer said check out the tech forum. The guys on here are life savers and if you enjoy wrenching you will find all the help one can get. Welcome to the beginning of the end; this bike is the last one you’ll need.

The E-string from my fiddle was 0.22mm and much stiffer than the fuse wire and was perfect, except for the jet that wouldn't come out and was stuck in the housing. For that I took the plastic inner from a biro (rinsed the ink out and) cut a length 30-40mm long. Then I could thread the fiddle string through the middle and it was much easier to push it through the jet - or easier to know when I had it in place. I kept alternating between pushing the wire through, soaking teh jet in degreasant and an ultrasound cleaner. If done all four and rebuilt the carbs and done a bench synch. Now I need to wait for a chance to go back over to my garage to reinstall them. Fingers crossed I've done it right this time.