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Everything posted by cowpuc
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INDEED!! Them lop eared varmints need to move to West Michigan where "Full Fool Effect" (untrained weather men here still call it "Lake Effect") takes place.. My yard captured another 11" in the last couple days just from the jet wash/over spray from the Masters Machine!!!
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WOWZY Bay,,, sorry to hear ya talking this way BUT I TOTALLY get it brother!! Godspeed as you proceed in doing what cha gotta do.. Back when we were in the business I had a salesman who worked for me here in Michigan during our top sales months. He and his wife would pack up at the end of each season and head down to Miami to work for a huge Honda dealership down there and he and his wife would stay there during that area's high volume months (perfectly opposite of ours = worked great!!).. My sales back then would start about mid February and by the time Randy got here in mid March we were going great guns. I was never involved with the Honda shop down there in any way but I do know that Randy told me November to February down there were his best months.. You being in Florida - may be now is a good time to list it locally? As in all businesses, the internet (at the time, ebay mostly) changed everything and by mid 2000's - my market studies in predicting trends was pretty much solely based on Ebay and trade wholesale auction sites.. A lot could be learned by monitoring such sites and probably still could be? "Bling" in my experience actually worked against us. Our best sellers were always clean, low mileage, completely stock bikes. Interestingly enough, even my "customs" (I LOVED OLD SCHOOL CHOPS) sold better with no high dollar paint job because, as already mentioned, the farther down that road ya go the more "personal" it becomes = sort of like painting yourself into a corner so to speak.. Trade in wise, I ALWAYS appreciated owners who had personalized their machines but kept the OEM stuff and gave it up on trade in.. That said, if your gonna hit the open market it might be in your best interest to put it back to stock as much as possible? Advertising here on the clubhouse wall would be different IMHO as most of us know first hand the kind of hard work and costs associated with bling.. So,, what's it worth?? Couple years ago my neighbor comes to me and says he heard thru the grapevine that I used to deal in bikes? Asked me to help him sell his 25k mile, 1500 Wing, being a good neighbor and one who still loves scoots - I agreed.. Got around to the ? of value.. He said he needed 4 grand for the scoot and trailer.. I told him I thought that was way high but agreed to write up a CL ad for him and see what happened.. Trailer sold for a grand shortly there after.. The bike got very little attention.. I played with it on Ebay for him - used an old method of mine that had been successful = start em at a dollar with no reserve to get lots of bidders and then end it early if it was obviously not gonna meet the mark (was legal back then - not sure but I think it still is as long as you do so 12 hours before auction ends = READ THE RULES if your gonna try this!!). The bike never got over 1300 bucks.. A year later and that same scoot was sitting in my neighbors driveway and I relisted it on Craigs for him.. 2 months = not a call.. I had just finished telling my neighbor that we may have screwed up "playing the game" because 1st exposure is always the best one when a guy driving by see's the bike setting there, stops and writes a $3000 check on the spot.. Concerning the 2nd gens specifically,, back when I felt better I used to goof around all winter watching prices and it always amazed me at the major deals down in Florida/Texas and California.. I distinctly remember a number of "Millenial Additions" (which always caught my eye cause I always liked the looks of em) at the time for well under 4 grand.. This may or may not be significant at this time because that was a couple years (or more) ago but I have a gut feeling that it does because the 2nd Gen's have been around long enough now that many riders probably know they are pretty much the same bike all the up.. I know that HD is cutting back in production now cause times are slow and that Polaris is all but giving away their left over Indians (some dealers have them all the way back to the '14's in left overs) - a little shopping and WOWZY is it a buyers market,,, IMHO of course.. So what would I do if I were you?? I would probably hit up some car lots - find a Mustang of my liking and then do a trade in = book for book,, wheeeeelll and deallll:dancefool:!!! What ever ya do,, however this works out - hope ya know there is NO LEAVING THIS CLUB OF MISFITS!!! Just thought I would toss that out in case there was any question in your beeeener concerning the matter:hurts:
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Some interesting thoughts on the new Venture from others who CTFW...
cowpuc replied to cowpuc's topic in Watering Hole
1: 100% saddlebum and Flyinfool 's doings Vaz = 100%!!! 2: and a VERY VERY Merry Christmas and the Happiest of Happy New Years right back at cha down there brother!! It is ALWAYS a pleasure yakking with you too Vaz, even if we differ in our opinion about the engineering sophistication involved in producing air cooled, push rod, belt drive motors ... IMHO,, those differences actually add to the pleasure and fun!! P.S. = speaking air cooled scoots.. If you EVER get a chance to demo one of the new 2018 HD Fat Bob's with the M8/114inch motor - DO IT!! It's the one with the scrambler like pipes on it and the little rectangular headlight! -
and here is an interesting non-American perspective of the study: http://www.atomicalex.com/?p=2115 and a clip thereof: """ the countries of the EU espouse both the basic transportation concept of smaller machines and the luxury (toy) concept of larger machines. The EU perspective is nuanced in that motorcycles are purchased with distinct purposes in mind and the owner of a larger touring machine (toy concept) is likely to also own a smaller, more city-focused bike for local riding (basic transportation concept). The authors of the study come immediately to the question of desirability in the US (bigger is better), but remain mired in the idea that fun has to be a part of the equation. The very concept of “transportainment” needs to die a fiery death.""" Different strokes for different folks!!
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Right back at cha brother!!!!!!
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:clap2::clap2::dancefool::dancefool::thumbsup::thumbsup::usa::usa::usa::usa::usa::usa::usa: Outstanding and a HUGE congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Ready = double that for Mrs. Ready,, very very very well done young lady = THAT IS AWESOME!! :group cheers::group cheers: Thanks Ready for inviting us all over for the road grub but I gotta ask something here.. Is Mrs. Ready planning on ripping up her Tamale making cook book :95:and planning on converting over to Hot Dogs, Burgers and Brats anytime soon?? Please, oh please say no!!! I,,, I,, I,,,, I just GOTTA get over that way as soon as Spring breaks = I JUST HAVE TOO!! Merry Merry Christmas folks!! That is WONDERFUL news and a HUGE answer to prayer!! Puc n Tip
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:scared:THANKS RANDY!! WOWZY WOW WOW WOW - that Z1 and the Mini-trail Grom are to die for :178: = just gorgeous!!! WOWZY WOW WOW WOW - that new Wing is totally splendid!! There is just something about it that speaks to the soul of these Mk1 1st Gens I been wreckin for years!! :biker: I know, cant always get what I want but I really do wish those Honda engineers would not have left so much in the bag on that one by just taking it out to an xtra 5hp after all the engineering change with the 4 valve heads and huge weight loss.. Personally, I think the new Beemer American Tour (not shown in vid) with the smaller motor (1600cc) and wayyy more umph (160 hp) should have been held higher than the Wing.. I wouldnt feel that way had Honda allowed the engineers to let that panner breath and show what she's really made of.. Even just 10 more ponies than the Beemer and yea,, I would vote Wing but it is what it is.. IMHO,, I think that Kawasaki H2 Sport tour got my top spot.. FINALLY a serious look and engineering effort at super charging.. 197 HP from a tiny little 1000cc Sport Tourer:banana:!! There is so much happening there in a real world, advanced, motorcycling modernistic way and so much more that could be done from an engineering stand point IMHO!! I tip my hat to Kawasaki for testing the waters of "skys the limit" in motorcycling (IMHO). I also tip my hat to them for thinking $$'s and cents for the common man too.. I know that flat out H2 little 1000cc race bike (300 horse) is over 40 grand but, if I heard that right in the video, they cut that price in half for this "street" model bagger = atta boy Kawi, make it totally awesome and still somewhat affordable (I still think even 10 grand for 2 wheels and a motor is stretching it = wowzy am I old school) = Kawi H2 is first place for the '18s in my book... :scratchchin:Put a dollar with that and you can get a cup of coffee :680:,,, somebody passed the hot dogs please!!
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:sign yeah that:,,,, but wear safety glasses and be careful that that little bleed back return squirter dont spit in your eye after opening er up - those plugged little snickers can be the most ungrateful little critters when ya open em up and that spitters are more accurate than a hillbilly with a full jaw of backy chew I tell ya!! Stepping out on a little perverbial branch here cause I dont know if this is even applicable but, take a view at the video below = I use this method of bleeding the rear brakes on my 1st Gens a lot and it works because of one simple old rule = air bubbles rise to the highest point in the system.. As shown in the vid, the metering valve I bleed from in this case is the highest point in the system and, that being so in my theory, therefore any trapped air will end up at this high spot and, knowing this simple little theory - I have successfully rescued more than one 1st Gen rear brake system. I have another theory that I have used on my 1st Gen clutch and front brake bleeding.. If the system on your Strat bango's at the master up on the bar, this might work for you too.. I always bleed from the bango at the master until I know I have removed any trapped air from that point first. I do this from the same perspective as the video addresses = its the high spot of the system.. If you decide to attempt this though it would be wise to cover the area under the bango with rags = you dont want brake fluid on any painted surfaces!!! Any of this making sense?? Probably not but thought I would join the chit chat any way By the way Lefty = CONGRATS on the new scoot!! My nephew bought a new Strat back in 06 = WOWZY WOW WOW WOW - nice scoot!! I have always wanted to own a Raider,, being an old school chopper freak and parcial to Yamaha's = I think that great big ol push rod motor would be a ton of fun in a chop!!! Congrats and keep us posted on what ya end up with = pictures are like candy around this joint!!
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2018 Star Venture
cowpuc replied to Rafterd's topic in Star Venture and Eluder Tech Talk ( '18 - Present)
SPOT ON DUEY!!!! Thanks for pointing this out in that other thread @Du-Rron - no idea where I was when all this was going on but brother = I really missed it here!! Another point = it would REALLY pay to shop right now on Ebay and elsewhere (dealerships) - TONS of sales happening!! Amazing the left over NOS stuff out there at HUGE savings!! BlueSky ,,, sounds like my underhanded sneaky ways may be finally catching up with me Let ya in on a little secret,,,, I have actually paid less for a couple of my 1st Gen's than the quoted price for a rear tire on this new one ! Then chased the remaining 200k+ miles out of em by short shifting them into eternal bliss !!! Proofing, amoung other things, positive that doing the same thing over and over again is not only insane but also may be a good test for a persons mental stability:178:.. -
One of the lessons I learned very early in life = thou shalt not set booby traps (father fell into one of the pitfalls I dug = took a whoopin for that one:hihi:) - apparently is now being re-examined!! I have to admit,, I absolutely LOVE the concept in the vids below but I also have to say = I wonder how long it will be before the real thing finds it's way into the boom-boom box:doh:, resulting in a low life thief getting hurt and the person who set the trap for em ending up in prison and having to pay a huge settlement fee for setting booby traps (thinkin there is probably some Federal Law beyond that which my Dad taught me that rules setting booby traps as actually illegal).. For the time being though,, I do get a great chuckle every time I watch the reaction of one of these low lifes getting a little bit of what they deserve!! :rotf::rotf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uefk-S_HbE
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What's the Dumbest thing you done on your bike?
cowpuc replied to baylensman's topic in Watering Hole
I stuffed a Yamaha 650 twin into an Amen Hardtail frame with 42 degrees of rake in the neck and hung 16 inches of California Springer on the front of it back in 74. The process of doing that kind of stuff back when I was younger always got in the way of my common sense resulting in, among other things - being late for work.. Worked 3rd shift spinning parts on a turret lathe for an air tool company (Gardner Denver), looked at the clock in garage = 10:35pm = 25 minutes to get to job 30 minutes away!! Slapped on the remains of my Captain America helmet as shown in my high school graduation picture below (Michigan had helmet law back then), flipped ignition and lights toggle on "The Chop", rapped er good one with my right foot and took off like the gate just dropped on the first qualifier of a Saturdays MX:bikersmilie:!! Straight pipes just singing as I banged er gears while going past the middle school and proceeded into the darkness that the local street lights chased if still in town .. About a block into the darkness and a pair of car lights came up from the ravine where the creek crossed under the main road leading into our small village.. I was late for work so the potential of a Police Officer being behind the wheel of the lone car with its lights coming at me was gonna just have to add to the risk associated with riding a custom bike at high speed.. As the car past me and the emblem on the side of the car that read "Michigan State Police" became crystal clear, I was guessing the speed of my Chop (Chops with speedos were not considered choppers back then) at approaching 90ish as I was climbing in R's in the little XS's top gear.. Having not taken the time to ram a bicycle mirror into the end of the 6 bends on my scoot, like a flat tracker keeping tabs of his competition I rotated my head under my left arm just in time to see the Patrol Cars brake lights lite up and those bubble gum dispensers do the same... Fingers tired,, will finish later -
Obviously it's winter so we may as well sit around the club house and a bit... So,, take a read and speak to it.. Part way thru the article is a link to the actual discussion that the "panel of professionals" had.. Its kind of long and in PDF format but it is some what informative into the mind of other groups.. Also,, I was intriqued with the comments that readers of the article left behind.. Anyway, here's the read = something to do while Fool is playing with that infernal machine!! http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-motorcycle-summit-20171214-story.html
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One time I put that little arm that attaches to the shift shaft that sticks out behind the stator on upside down and it did exactly like you are talking about Ty.. If memory serves me correctly, I believe that little arm has to point upward when sitting on the shift shaft to be correct.. The other way and the shift pattern is backwards (good anti - theft) and, as I recall, also takes a longer throw to shift.. Also, condition of the joints (sloppy?) would add to distance of travel needed to shift..
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I do an ounce to a gallon and also start em up once a month too and have never had an issue. I do like to top off the tanks to keep them from rustin at all, then when I get home from the top off I will mix my ounce per gallon in with a little gas in a quart jar and dump this pre-mixture in to get the tank mix started (I am a throw back from 2 stroke dirt bike mixing days = you dont premix your premix while sitting at the pump all the 2 stroke oil will run to the bottom and now ya got a real slug). For my 1st Gens it's 5 ounces in a pint or so of gas dumped into the full tank - run around the block for last ride short ride to circulate the mix into the carbs and then onto the battery tender.. My monthly start ups I like to let em run a little longer at idle to make sure I am getting good flow thru the smaller low speed jets and circuits as those little hair sized orvices usually gum out way before the mains. Warm er up to at least half temp and bounce er off the mains a few times to clean em/circulate them too.. No idea if anyone else has noticed this but I have noticed that my plugs will get a "sheen" to them if using a lot of Sea Foam which I believe can bring about early plug swap needs.. On our Ventures and most other scoots this is no big deal but on my R1 - plug swaps dont look like to much fun... Just an added thought with maybe a slight encouragement not to over do the Sea Foam/short storage fuel stabilizer additive idea - xtra/xtra isnt always the best or necessary IMHO.. P.S. - cover the breather snorkle and steel wool stuffed into the pipes will keep the mice out.. *** Wonder what is going on in those mice brains when they are laying inside that quiet exhaust and all of a sudden - VAAAAROOOOM - the mighty V-4 comes a nockin on their door
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This may help.... Hey CULLIGAN MAN @Freebird
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NEATY OKEEDOKEEPEETO'!!! I love this thread = THANKS Corporal Newkirk!!! I am gonna do my down right best to keep these in order so as you look at them just say to yourself = NOT A GOOD SIGN,, and then = GOOD SIGN when you look at the following pics.... The first pic = not a good sign.... 2nd pic,, good sign and so on and so forth...
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No Throttle Response Past 1/4 Throttle
cowpuc replied to mills's topic in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)
Glad you found it!! First place I would have headed would have been to the diaphrams to double check condition and completeness of components under them caps = probably the reason why it takes me 200 times longer to figure stuff like this out then most folks:big-grin-emoticon: -
Hazzard a guess?
cowpuc replied to s.tyler58's topic in Venture and Venture Royale Tech Talk ('83 - '93)
I had it at $1850 before I read the above... I think I will hold my bid and not fold at this point even with this new revelation.. Sure sounds like your coming home with a dandy Ty!!! -
Spitting oil
cowpuc replied to Air Ready Auto's topic in Venture and Venture Royale Tech Talk ('83 - '93)
All good advice so far IMHO too Ready.. Another thought,,, if your not smelling and/or seeing actual burnt oil in the air there is a very good chance it is not coming from/thru the combustion chamber.. I would consider the possibility that your bike was very cold (I know its sort of wintery here and we dont live that far apart ) and when the hot air from combustion passed thru those ice cold, frozen by the hands of FlyinFool himself, exhaust pipes they had a little condensation rapidly happen and the condensation washed the inside of the pipes and splatted on the wall - its amazing how much like oil that gook can look = something to consider, maybe! So,, does Tweeks leak in the video look familiar? -
Cammy I dont know if a choke cable off an 83 will work on your scoot but I have an extra one I would be more than happy to send your way if it would help out? Anyone else reading this,,,, I found that by keeping the cables on my scoots lubed by using a cable luber and injecting synthetic bicycle chain lube into the cables, my broken cables became pretty much a thing of the past (nothings perfect).. I have used these for years: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mr-Luber-Cable-Lubing-Lube-Tool-For-Lubricating-Clutch-Brake-Throttle-Cables/171873433886?hash=item280474791e:g:9C8AAOSwqu9VJYPU&vxp=mtr and, though it can be a little messy = IMHO, a little dust gathered on the cable ends (that chain lube is some sticky stuff) is better than trying to get home by pulling on a broken throttle cable with a pair of pliers
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WOWZY WOW WOW WOW = SHE'S A BEAUTY YZ!!!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup: Please allow me to be the 1st to congratulate you = JUST GORGEOUS!!:thumbsup: HI THERE BRAND NEW 2018 YAMAHA VENTURE,, YOU PRETTY THING = OUR FIRST NEW BORN 2018 HERE IN THE CLUB AS FAR AS I KNOW?? WOW ARE YOU PURDY!!! THANK YOU for sharing the pictures of your new Venture YZ!!! I am looking forward to hearing all about the good times the two of you are about to embark on!!
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Freebird was first up, on that Christmas morn. The clubs house was quiet, but still tattered and torn. To all of the members, the reason was clear. The Mods Freebird had hired were out petting the Deer!
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:guitarist 2::rotfl:
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WOWZY brother,, I guess you know that I am absolutely in love with the MK1's and reading your "have accomplished" list almost brings tears to my eyes = well done oh Master of the MK1 = YOU DA MAN!!!!! Having followed your build, gear ratio calculations and thoughts on where it was all heading had me sitting on the edge of my chair with appreciation and amazement at what you were doing (I also STILL greatly appreciate the offer to bring Tweaks up to par in the same way Randy). For any one who wasn't around during those build days or times of very revealing discussions about what the potential in gear ratio's is/was - what Randy ultimately came up with = it is a lower 1st gear for much better off road crawling/easier parking lot slow riding and then a slightly higher top gear for a little lower cruising rpm. Randy, you also have to know that the list that you wrote up on what you have accomplished with your 83 represents pretty much the totality of what these awesome scoots shoulda, coulda, woulda been in the 1st place had Mom Yam took a little more time to RnD em = GOOD ON YA BROTHER:bowdown:!!! Ok,, on to y(our) delima.. As absolutely sorry I am to hear the way you are thinking, I do get it.. I think if you or your family members are at the point of not riding any more that you should come up a fair asking price for you and post it up on our site. Use your list in the ad here on the site to describe in detail what you have accomplished with it (simple copy/paste what you have already started and finish it out). I am not a Facebooker but I believe that our facebook thingy page probably also has some kind of classified section to it that may be beneficial too. I also think that Craigslist might not be a bad idea too, it's free and you never know!! Now getting closer to my own heart,, and this is probably gonna come off sounding very selfish like cause it basically is just that ,, I think you should post it up here first though because you might just be surprised at the interest within the family!! Bottom line,, it never hurts to try!!! Logic would dictate that you are wayyy more likely to bump into a person who would treasure the thought of owning a "polished" machine (speaking mechanically figuratively) such as yours and be willing to pay for it in a club like ours that is dedicated to our awesome scoots than out on the open market!! Plus,, if it did sell to one of us lop eared half crazed CTFW long distance sleeping behind dumpsters far riding VR varmint buddies of yours, you would get the honor of seeing your bike get used up doing what it loves to do = straightening the curves and whoopin on Harley's PLUS - any of our members who ended up not being the fortunate one to get to own and ride such a remarkable machine would probably still get the chance to test that gear arrangement IRL and/or, be privy to some awesome ride reports = WIN/WIN/WIN/WIN (may have to many Win's in there but when it comes to these 1st Gens - they call me Mr. Optimistic!! Note to self,,, Tweeks + Tweeksis + Randy's scoot = 3 Ventures into 1 or,, better put,,, = Randy and Puc's version of a 3rd Gen Yamaha Venture named - "OPPIE" (short for OPTIMISTIC)