cowpuc

If you are the type who enjoys twisty, hair pin filled, switch back infested mountain road travel you will LOVE this 12 mile section of paradise found in the great state of Arizona!! The scenery is breath taking, the air is fresh and filled with endless desert aroma and there is also a chance of even seeing a BEAR or two up there but,, at least for the likes of Tip, Trooper and I ,, it was this amazing roadway that got our immediate attention!!

We were minding our own business cutting across the bottom of Arizona when Tippy noticed this sign on the side of the trail that said "Kitt Peak National Observatory" this here way. Being the explorers type that the three of us are and knowing from experience that anything with "National" in it's name usually indicates something that explorers like us don't want to miss, we couldn't help but turn our sights up that mountain side!! Wait till you see the ride up there and wait till you see whats on the top of that mountain!!!

Tippy, Trooper and I did not have to look to hard to locate Wiley, the famous Road Runner chaser, out there in the great western desert! Wiley's lack of instantly exiting from the scene told us that either he had still not caught up with his arch enemy the runner or he was a true ham just waiting to show off in front of some poor, unsuspecting travelers video camera. His action in front of our camera and love for our Dollar Store cookies told the three of us that a little of both reasons for not post haste leaving the scene probably applied!! Beep Beep

I once knew a Canuckian Poet, who made words rhyme and he didn't know it. His name it was popular both far and wide, all due to the rhyme that he couldn't hide. Then came the day when geezerdom set in, and most of his memory departed from him. He and his friends searched for his lost mind, but their search's all ended with his thinker behind. They carefully seached over here and over there, they even looked deeply into his stare. A sadness it fell upon every face, when each of those searching thought twas the end of his race. Then suddenly, with a huge bearded smile, the Canuckian spoke, and he spoke for a mile!! He discovered that though his thinker had gone, his rhymer thingy inside, could still sang it's Canuckian song!! EH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Most of the lop eared long distance riding friendly forum member varmints that I know on VentureRider.org (a place I have hung my Motorcycle Touring hat for many years now - I go by Cowpuc - close friends just call me Puc - there at our cyber space motorcycle clubhouse - come join me/us there for some friendly, family, touring fun!!) have shared numerous times in our "WHY" thread. I have no idea "why" but for some reason, that "why" thread caught on and there are literally thousands of "why"s posted in that thread and now, Tip - Trooper and I just discovered one of the biggest, baddest "WHY"s possible!! Brother and Sister Venture Rider's = ya gotta get out and ride if you want to find the real "WHY"!! Puc

Awe,,, thanks Leo!! Of course,, you do realize that nothings as much fun as producing these corny video's but it thrill me to know that someone, somewhere is actually enjoying the ride along! That Trooper says THANKS too!! He is AMAZING,, sent by the hand of God at just the right moment in time I tell ya = DEFINITELY fits the bill!! We are hoping to run the daylights out of him and enjoy every touring moment in time we have left!! His warranty is one of those factory 10 year/100,000 mile jobs stated simply as "which ever comes first"... Me, Tweeks, Maggie and Trooper were talking yesterday and the debate got started about which of those figures (10 years,,, 100000 miles) would exhaust first,,,,,, funny thing,,,, none of the 4 of us wanted to debate from the 10 year side ..... Sure hope you dont get bored with the Vids of us Leo and you keep your head down cause here comes Part 27 (cross that 27 out,, it is part 28) of who know's how many parts Thanks for joining us Leo!!! Puc

,, you got it done?? :doh: Lord help us:sign67:,, the desert regions will never be the same!! I should of just kept my idea sharing big mouth !!!! ,,, maybe I will have to introduce those southern and desert region folks to $%#@blowers, $%#@snow, $%#@mobiles and $%#@plows while I am down there!!! Start another dealership,, call it Fool n Puc's $%#@ equipment = FREE lemon flavored $%#@ cones with all purchases cause when life gives ya lemon's = ya make lemonade flavored $%#@ cones!! :witch_brew::witch_brew::witch_brew::witch_brew::witch_brew::witch_brew::moon::moon::moon::moon::moon::moon::moon::moon:

Just heard the news,,, Michael is suppose to be the 3rd hardest hitting storm in American history and that sounds ominous to say the least!! If you are dealing with this monster right now, have friends/family that are,, or are just trying to stay out of it's way - GODSPEED and Prayers Up for each of you!!! Puc

OUTSTANDING @Bubber and THANK YOU for the ride along brother = WITH NO LESS!!!!:clap2: IMHO,, this story deserves it's own thread!!!!

Besides being in search of the Road Runner and that sneaky Wiley Coyote that was always chasing him in those famous cartoons of long ago, along with a Scorpion and a genuine Diamond Back Rattlesnake, the item of endless search that Tip and I and now Trooper have had was to get to actually see one of these amazingly majestic and gorgeous cacti. The three of us put our heads together and had planned on scouting the desert region of Arizona in search of one of this mysterious plants. This planning also included a trip into the Sequaro National Park (keep watching these vids to see whether we make it there or not) for that sole purpose.. We were extremely pleased to see this magical cactus growing in huge population amongst the endless variety of Cacti in Organ Pipe National Park (of course,, the Organ Pipe Cactus were in full force here)..

Doug is the nub your talking about the end of the bolt that protudes into the inside of the swing arm where the furthest forward part of the bracket with the smaller hole slide over or are we talking about an actual protusion that is a permenant part of the swingarm?? If its permenant,, I am way lost here,,,, I dont recall ever seeing that on any of my 83's,,,, all of mine have had a bolt thru the swingarm whose dowel end slides into the smaller hole in the caliper bracket.... Strange....

IMHO they could if the caliper is attached to the bracket and the pads are out far enough that they are keeping the caliper from sliding over the rotor while your trying to slide the bracket down to like it up with the axle... iWith the pistons compressed fully so the pads are wide open one should fairly easily be able to slide the caliper over the rotor while it is still attached to the bracket and then line up the bracket, slide the axle in and then put the forward bolt with the dowel end on it into the bracket... I can't speak for Duey but I got a gut feeling that that is what he was talking about..

oppsss,,, forgot this:

It can be done easily either way,, with the caliper still on the bracket or with it off.. For this discussin let's say the caliper is not on the bracket.. Make sure you have the wheel installed so the gear in the final drive is lined up with the drive gear on the wheel and that the wheel is setting all the way into the final drive. Now check to make sure that the spacer is in place that sets between the brake side wheel bearing and the caliper bracket - it will set level with the grease seal on the outside of the wheel bearing on the right side of the rear wheel (rotor side). That spacer will have a small shoulder on it = that goes toward the wheel bearing. The "Big End" of the caliper bracket goes flat against that spacer and there will be LOTS of sloppy room and room to move it into place = NO HAMMER NEEDED!! If your using a hammer something is wrong (IMHO). The small end of that bracket recieves the dowel end of the bracket bolt (it is not threaded) and simply supports the forward end of the bracket - allowing it to move.. So you end up with the bracket facing upward with the bolt holes for the caliper facing upward to capture the caliper.. Holding the big end of the bracket against the spacer, now you slip the washer/spacer that goes between the shouldered end of the axle between the inside shoulder of the swingarm and the outside edge of the bracket and slide the axle thru the washer then bracket then wheel bearing spacer and on thru the bearings and out the left side of the final drive (I like to smear a light film of grease on the axle before pushing it thru = I helped a guy stuck on the highway one time with a flat tire who did not believe in doing so and we had to destroy his axle to get it out of the bearings = a little smear would have helped A LOT IMHO). Now you torque the axle nut and the axle shoulder on the caliper side will capture the spacers/bearings/final drive and set it in correct spec. You will now see a space between the swing arm and the spacer/washer with some of the axle shoulder clearly visable = this is correct IMHO.. Final move is tightening down the pinch bolt on the end of the swingarm = 12mm bolt. Take a peek at this video of the brakes on my R1.. I know it's back yard mechanicing 101 but I do this with my Ventures when ever I spoon on new tires or swap in brake pads.. It really seems to keep the calipers functioning in my case.. When you finally got the caliper pistons cleaned up nice so they slide in effortlessly,, simply put the pads back in them while the pistons are bottomed and the caliper will slide over the rotor very easily.. Just line it up and slide it on, put the bolts in it - tighten em up and pump the pistons out...

Tip and I are always in search of those special places where, after dropping the tent off the back of our 1983 Yamaha Venture motorcycle named "Tweeks" (see my other video's = named her that cause I was always tweekin on her to keep her motivating) in total darkness, we would wake up in the morning to that wonderful "we are not in Kansas anymore" feeling of the day.. We were very glad to learn that Trooper has inherited some of those same qualities and enjoy's the constant search for those types of opportunities. Touring and then camping here in Organ Pipe taught us all that not only is this place capable of providing that "we're not in Kansas anymore" feeling,, it is TRULY a land of enchantment!! The desert here is FULL of amazing plant and wildlife and endless beauty second to none!! When we finally did settle in to camp for the evening, we were treated with some amazing night sky's (complete with shooting stars) AND some very beautiful long distance viewing of the lights of Sonoyta Mexico!! GET OUT AND RIDE!!!

Tip, Trooper and I send a great big ol NAHHHH NAHHHH DEEEEE BOOOOO BOOOOO right back at cha lop eared veins filled with ice, frosty loving varmint!!! We got a plan and a means now to escape the frozen tundra whilest you play with your white washer and now know of lands very near the sun where cactus's grow to 20 feet tall and :snow2::snow2: is NOT welcome:witch_brew::witch_brew::rasberry::rasberry:

Dont know if this may help but attached is a video of @jakester and I checking out the car tire on his Wing.. I did a BUNCH of followup on this in hopes of doing some dark siding on my Mk1 1st Gen and that ended up showing simply not enough room. Not just the swing arm but the shape of the subframe just wont allow for darksiding.. I have never looked at the Mk2 close enough to see if darksiding is possible there but I have my doubts.. If I recall correctly, the 2nd Gen's have a 15 inch tire on the rear and am thinking the SVTC's have a 16 inch like the older 1st Gens so I am not sure how much comparing those two will help. If I am right in that,,, perhaps checking out a tire like Bill (jakester) has mounted for actual demintions?? Puc

Right back at cha KICster!! We get headed back out that way and the planets all line back up so we can be at the same place in time and space = INDEED - an Arizonian hot dog rally would be in order :beer:,, would love to meet up with you too brother!!! Concerning the Sasquatch thingy and covering both at one time,,, thinking you may have seen the video below.. If so and you would really like to actually cover both items at once you will have to come up to Michigan during our Wisconsin White Washer months to satisfy that goal BUT if you do,,, yeee beee warned :cold: ya lop eared "but it's a dry heat" varmint Just give me a heads up and I will get ahold of @Flyinfool and set things up!!

Sadly I guess they had drunken driver issues wayyy back then too as a "Youtuber" answered the question presented in the video with: Tex Rider this officer was stoped on the side of the road and was rearended by a drunk driver Officer Louis's car burst into flames and both drivers died in the collesion. To which I replied: Puc Puc Thanks Tex for supplying the answer to that! I just told my wife about your comment here and she said thanks too. I know that happened many years ago but we still extend our condolences to all of Officer Louis's family for their great loss!!

:dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::clap2::clap2:

I am basically an old school gear head that loves modern day technology. I have been having a BLAST goofing around with our new Hyundai Ioniq that we named "Trooper" (from the front he looks like a miniature Michigan State Trooper's cruiser). While playing with Troopers regenerative braking out in the mountains of California recently and managing to keep the dash meter for those brakes off the very bottom (so I knew his hydraulic brakes were not suppose to have been engaging) after over 4 miles of down hill switch backs, I thought I would check the brake rotors for heat and see if Troopers creators had actually been successful in making "regenerative" braking a truly efficient way of scrubbing off speed!!! WOWZY WOW WOW WOW was I impressed!! GREAT JOB HYUNDAI!!!!!! This stuff is soooo much fun!!

I know,,, I am goofy but gotta ask,,,, are we talking about those plastic covers that snap into the mounts on the swingarm bolts at the frame?????

Yep Grub's,,, best be listening to that precious wife of yours. It sure seems like until a bike reveals it's true touring charactoristics and,, sort of like a good pair of riding boots,, answers the question of whether it "fits" or not,,, its just another bike... Once it proves itself though,, it becomes part of the family... By the way,,, Tip agree's with and totally concur's with your wifes perspective.. Roll forward to 6:20 in the vid below to hear her thoughts.. When you do,,,pay very special attention to her comment of comparing the seat comfort on the 2nd Gen to that of Tippy's vast experience on our tired old 1st Gens. Personally I put a lot of value on the passengers perspective because if they (wife/passenger) aint having fun and enjoying the miles going by - the whole trip tends to sour,,,,,, IMHO of course.. All the best in your endeavor in scoopin another 2nd Gen!!

This little rest area near Yuma Arizona reveals many things.. For instance,, one of the things that has always been part of our travels is the tendency to get lost in time/space and rest area's like this always serve a Compass like purpose in making sure we are pointed in the direction and this Arizonian pause on the trail did that to perfection. There was really something wayyyy more special with this location though as the three of us discover and take a moment to reflect on a monument memorial erected in respect for one of Arizona's finest who had fallen in the line of duty!!

Yepper roonie kabloonie - that shovelhead is definitely one of Olivia's relatives!! THANK YOU Beachy,,,, ya done made my day!!! That pic makes me wanna sing: