cowpuc

Having read about Larry and Joyce's plan to invade the Maintenance Day at Freebird's home in Oberlin and, now knowing where they would be staying, Bongo Bob begins his descent into the parking lot where the unsuspecting couple had parked their new SlingShot.. After tucking his angel wings under his flying jacket, Bongo strolls over and addresses Joyce who is still sitting in the seat of the gorgeous red Bat Mobile.. He strikes up an innocent conversation with Joyce and than points at the motel window and asked if that is Larry motioning for her to come inside for a second.. As Joyce departs the SlingShot, Bongo's heart responds to the adrenaline that strikes it as he notices the keys hanging in the ignition switch, the glare shining from the new keys as they swing freely in the warm breeze catches his eye like a shiny new nickle would catch the eye of a very wise, but very curious old Crow..

Really good point CaptN'!! Thanks too for the link back to Earl's VERY informative write up!! I added my name to the list of many folks who thanked/liked that post - GOOD JOB SKYDOC - YOU DA MAN!!

I am farrrr from any kind of guru with all this stuff but,, it might not be a bad idea to change your passwords here and on any other sites you frequent. If nothing else, that will give you something to do until one of these computer geek gear heads jump in a tell you alls ok.. Thanks for the heads up OutKast!

Fly over me over there Cha:yikes:,, I would gladly take a peek for ya:backinmyday: I will even meander down to the Fools and take another shot at disconnecting that Wisconsin White Washer. I jumped over to their website and took a peek at their posted pics.. I like the fact that the cassette player appears to still sport its plastic cover (been a while since I seen one of those). The grips appear to be non-stock, the seat looks like it has been sat in for many hours (my blonde 84 had a tan seat - after 100k it developed that same darkness with lighter colors along the seams - look closely), and the puddle of oil behind the kickstand speaks of higher mileage to me.. Was that advertised at 38k? I would be suspicious of 138k. Maybe get some better detailed pics if ya cant get some smart alec like your ol buddy puc to take a peek!! I am going back to look at the 83 they have listed,, just for the heck of it..

Here ya go MR,, check this link out, Mcgyver has some really pics and info here addressing exactly what I am talking about.. If you thumb thru the posts here you will be shown how to pull the tank but you will also get to see the sending unit and the window into the tank I was talking about.. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/first-generation-venture-tech-talk/84188-bringing-83-street-hopefully.html

Sure, but start with removing the sending unit so you can see if the tank is a problem.. Pull the seat (two bolts - one on each side of the seat - on an 83/84, not sure if this applies to the MK2), you will see the sending unit mount plate on top of the tank, disconnect it, pull the bolts and lift it out - carefully so you dont bend up the rod hanging into the tank. You should now have a pretty good window to look into the tank.. Also, I like to stick my finger in and rub across the top of the inside of the tank and see how bad it is - I have a mirror I could use to check this just as easily but I like to get my fingers dirty.. Hopefully its all nice and clean but if its not let us know and we will give you some pointers in pulling the tank for cleaning and resealing if needed..

NOT LAUGHIN AT YOU OZ,, YOUR PIC BRINGS BACK AN INTERESTING RIDE!! Fortunately you were wise enough to give her a good checking,, I had to finish a ride a number of years ago by pulling on my throttle cable with a pair of vise grips cause I didnt bother to check/lube em up. Now dont forget to check those brake pads cause stopping can be as important as going:hihi:

Man I miss my cigars,, as hard as it is to quit, I totally agree with Randy on that suggestion. Don, if quitting is on the agenda for you and you dont wanna do the cold turkey routine and would like to try some Nicotine gum - I have a few boxes of the stuff that my neighbor gave to me that I would gladly send you free of charge.. Just give the nod and its on its way!! Prayers UP as you folks go thru the tests!! Thank you for doing so!! Puc

I was gonna pay it forward all the way to VideoAZ's front door if he could use it Bren

So Fool,, when you de-linked, did you take the time to hook up the left caliper to the front brake,, adding to the stopping power to the front brake.. Just curious if this is a common practice? Seems like it should be as ending up with the left front brake system just hanging there doing nothing would be pointless..

RW,, if your reading this,, consider the above as just a hint of what I believe we will see unfold....... So,, Larry and Joyce step out of that awesome new twisty carving, road huggin SlingShot, Larry pulls off his shades - removes the NASCAR helmet from his head - sets his coffee down in the cup holder located under the shifter that connects to the tranny that delivers 175 raw horse power to the rear wheel of that gorgeous new ride.. He smiles at Joyce, his pretty young wife and says,, "hopefully the Motel Management didn't notice what we just rode in on, they probably won't accept this fake AARP card if they did".

GOOD THREAD RANDY!! And great responses/chatter we got going on here - I LOVE THIS STUFF!! This is probably gonna sound INSANE but,, IMHO, being familiar with locking up a rear brake, being able to slide a bike out in front of you and using it as a defensive tool (let the bike hit the sign first) is a good way to stay alive.. On the other hand, locking up a rear brake, sliding the rear of the bike out a little, and than releasing that rear brake and ending up in a high side crash (being thrown in front of the bike - maybe even ending up getting ran over by your own machine) can be deadly!! I still think that a small dirt bike (years ago - advanced road racing training services used XR100's for teaching this stuff - GOOD TRAINER BIKES) in an open field is a good place to learn - way before we venture out onto the highways with these great big heavy machines.. All that said, I KNOW that the majority of riders today aint gonna find themselves out in a hay field purposely tumbling around on the ground with a dirtbike out in front of them, to think that is gonna happen is only wishful thinking. If that is true, I wonder if these modern ABS systems that are found on lots of high end bikes aren't a real blessing.. I also think that, for the most part, the linked brakes on our 1st Gens were and are a real good thing for many people.. Personally, I use my front brake 95 percent of the time - most of the time its out of habit (and cause thats where all the real stopping power is at anyway) and cause I am lazy (I dont like taking my right foot down off Tweeks crash bar) BUT, I do still like being able to lock up the rear brake if I choose to. Randy, what you said in your original post about us 1st Genners not having to worry about locking up our brakes is RIGHT ON TARGET! This thread has inspired me to do some more digging into getting Tweeks set up with some good rear brakes - this spring I am gonna take another good look at them and see if I can get them to actually do a lock up on dry pavement -SHAME ON ME FOR NOT HAVING DONE THIS SOONER!! Probably not the outcome you were hoping to hear Randy (inspiring people to set their bikes up to be able to lock the brakes up) BUT, in my case - its a necessary evil!! THANKS FOR THE REMINDER CHAMP!! Puc

Indeed Beast, THANK YOU for posting this up, hopefully we folks who are about to drag our bikes out of storage and hit the open road again will take note and take time to get used to our brakes again.. Going out on a limb here in the spirit of the open discussion that your post inspires, it would interesting to know if you may have experienced what some of us old timers call a "high side".. I have seen it happen (and experienced it enough times to know high siding is never in a riders best interest) many times - usually on an MX track - and can attest that the event can cause broken bones. Locking the rear brake, having it slide and than going over the side that is in front of the bikes forward motion (usually gives the feeling that the bike is "throwing you" - I noticed you used that to describe your accident) would be what a few of us old geezers would call a "high side". High siding is a no-no, its not always avoidable and can happen rather quickly - especially if your in a rear brake lock up situation - have the bike into a little slide and than unknowingly release the rear brake,, whamo - instant violent high side.. I am sorry to hear about, no matter what caused it, your ordeal. I too hope and pray you heal quickly and fully! Prayers Up! Puc

Check the plug caps, run it in the dark and look for leaks on wires - sounds like it might me electrical to me too.. Hey Pete,, hows the exhaust system - pin holes will make all kind of not a problem poppin and crackin noises..

Oh, by the way,, I gotta agree with you,, from one Gear Head to another - that wobble nonsense takes a lot of the fun out of standing on the pegs, steering with the knees and going no handed!! Not that either of us should or would ever do such a thing!!

All great advice so far.. Might try - Check your tire air pressures!. Find a place where you can ride the bike a couple miles without having to use your brakes. Stop and take a rubber mallet and smack each front caliper a couple times on their sides enough so you can freely feel the calipers move around when you shake them with your hand (you are just moving the pistons in a little so the pads are away from the rotors). Now do the rear set so all the rotors are free floating.. Ride the bike up to the speed that it is doing the wobble. If its free of wobble, starting with the rear brake - apply pedal and come to a stop. DO NOT USE FRONT BRAKE.. Go back up to speed and see if wobble has returned - if it has you have either a left front brake hanging up a little or rear brake. If it still doesnt wobble, do same with front brake and check for wobble..

By the way,, I helped a guy with one doing exactly what yours is doing one time MR. I opened the tank up like I am talking about, looked inside with my flashlight and found a hunk of paper towel half dissolved inside his tank..

It might not be a bad idea to pull the seat, pop the sending unit out of the fuel tank and have a peek inside the fuel tank too, make sure you got a good clean tank to start with.. It doesnt take much rust to cause real problems for the float needles and seats. Extra fuel filters wont help much with the fine particles if its rust - rusty tanks gotta be dealt with.. If it is rusty, let us know cause there are ways to repair..

I like how this Neil guy thinks here,, sometimes ya just gotta tittle with these scoots,, fiddle with this - fiddle with that and sooner or later the little gremlin with his finger between a set of contacts somewhere will get his finger pinched and she will fire right up!! Has worked for me a number of times!!

BEEAUUTTEEEFUL SKIDDER!! THAT is one gorgeous pic and one GORGEOUS scoot Amigo'!! Sooo,, wonder iffen there's any fish in that water?

Point well taken,,, OPEN THE GATE AND GET OUT THE WAY,, PUC'S FINGERS ARE COMIN OUTA CHUTE 9!!!

Hey Marsh,, I have no idea how many folks we have in CO (sounds like we need a lot more) but I do know this,,, IF THAT FELLER YOU WERE TALKING TO READS THIS THREAD I HOPE HE CHIMES IN HERE AND SHOOTS US A PIC OF HIS BIKE - I LOVE THEM BLONDES!!!! And for free no less!

OUTSTANDING SB!!! Downright fantastic!! Looks and sounds like you got yourself one heck of a fine neighbor there Bob!! Seems like there is not much worse in this life than having a really bad one BUT, there is also NOTHING like have really good ones either! Hats off to both you fellers for being there for each other! Best wishes in getting them scoots done before spring!! LOVE THE PICS AND THE WHOLE STORY - THANK YOU FOR SHARING!! PS, dont forget to wash off the road salt!!

Hey ya gul dern caint fine yersef in a shiny new mirror,,,, its the SUNDANCE,, SUN I TELL YA, as inn ,,, cabin fever infested lop eared varmint,,,, where da hecks dat blonde haired side kick ahh yorn when we need em,,, SKIDDD:178:,, ya bestest corner em now cause he is shore nuff gonna firget:amen: Never been to one so I have no idea either RW,, BUT, I have bumped into a few of the folks who are on the list and if they are any example of what kind of folks you and I might get to rub shoulders with, it should be a really really good show!!! PS, Personally I think FlyingFool's got the right idea with his suggestion seen above!!

In all the years of owning and riding a fair amount of miles on 5 - 83/84 1st Gens I can honestly say I do not remember ever using their "luggage" ready bags/trunk as actual luggage (removed and carried around like luggage).. Like already mentioned, I do REALLY appreciate being able to remove them for maintenance purposes though, especially when swapping out a tire on a roadside out in the middle of nowhere. I have also ridden a fair amount of miles on my early 1st Gens by myself and always ran with the trunk off (I like that bagger look and its amazing how much better they handle without the trunk filled with junk when 1 up) and with a 6" shield. I do carry a couple of nylon kids backpacks in Tweeks trunk and have found them very beneficial when extra space is needed while crossing the country.. Fill em with desert rocks, Grand Canyon pine cones even desert dirt to bring home (bring home desert dirt, add water and see what grows - pretty cool).. I have came home many times with those back packs hanging over the saddlebags, filled with all kinds of cool stuff!!