cowpuc

Ah ohhh, Tip just walked past and saw what wrote!!

Too late Oz and this dont sound good!!

Contrare oh monseur,, this is the perfect place to ask.. Having been around bikes pretty much my whole life Bren, got married and had kids, got into the mid 80's and realized that my children really really needed to spend some alone time with their dad - I thought I would combine the thrills of cross country touring on motorcycles with fulfilling the need of getting closer to my kids.. Never had a lot of xtra cash laying around, Venture's never did sell well in our area - Wings sold like hot cakes (bought and sold a number of them) and were always pricey - even broken ones.. Began my journey into Venturedom in the late 80's with a broken Blonde 84 Royale. Bought it out of an estate sale = 900 bucks, had 24k on it. Fixed the stator, cleaned it up a little, hauled 3 of my four kids (youngest was way to young) one at a time all over the country on it.. IT WORKED - kids had a ball, connected with them in a ways almost indescribable.. Lost 2nd gear around 50k on it, short shifted it out to 220k, crank went on way home from Cali (still made it home - but it was rattling BAD!! Funny thing about that,, it was 3 A.M. when we turned onto a road about 4 miles from home with crank rattling Blonde 84, an 83 Venture was sitting in neighbors front yard with a 4 sale sign on it.. Got up the next day and went right down there.. This one (#2) had been sitting a long long long time.. Talked to owner.. Was his brothers bike that had been parked under his eves for almost 15 years with a cover on it.. Pipes were rotted off it - cover has disenigrated about 2/3's the way down.. Bike had 18k on it.. Wanted 9, offered 5 and he took it. Drug the bike home, pulled carbs from the Blonde, mixed matched parts.. Up and running in less than 2 days.. Chased that one out to 240k, kids and I rode it to its death - something major internally, only one of 5 I have had that I didnt loose 2nd gear in.. Following winter, guy over in Detroit had an 83 fixer upper for sale - 700 bucks (#3), 38k, good looking bike but said it had an overheating problem. Brought it home, by spring had replaced plastic water pump impellar with upgraded alum one - solved over heating. We chased that one out to just under 200k before its tranny started acting up in upper gears, almost felt like it was getting caught between gears.. Only happened a couple times but I didnt trust it.. Neighbor kid needed bike, told him of tranny problem, sold it to him for 300 bucks - he rode it for summer and got reended by car - he was ok but bike was totalled.. #4 came from a couple over in over by Lowell Mich, starting a family and needed cash more than bike, needed tires and BRAKES really really bad, 1984 = 800 bucks and rode it home in the POURING - COLD April rain..Had to stop near Fifth Third Ball Park near Grand Rapids to see if rain would pass,, told Tippy that #4 was a good one cause it was SOAKED (road thru some areas that I swear was 2' deep) and it just wanted to keep riding!! Lost 2nd gear in this at 60k, short shifted to 230k, it developed an electrical attitude - tried replacing TCI with one from parts bike (prior rider), thought that I had it, youngest and I were on our way home from Touring - bike died North of a town called White Cloud here in Mi at 1 A.M... Fiddled with wiring and got it to start.. Stopped at Wesco fuel station (only place open except bar).. Tore into it,, couldnt find problem - bike ran so we rode home.. Noticed guy in Mancelona Mi had 83 for sale, asking 1100, good lookin bike with 20k on it, took for ride,, wayyyyy underpowered.. Asked guy how long it had been running on 3 cylinders, he looked dumfounded - said it has always ran like that.. Told him it acted like diaphrams.. Offered 9, rode #5 (Tweeks) home from Mancelona Mi, under powered but ran 70 just fine.. Got home, pulled covers off diaphrams, bad one came out in pieces.. 244k KNOWN miles, guessing closer to 255 now.. Would LOVE to see 300k out of one BUT, I am hard on em and doubt that is gonna happen.. One of the reasons I ride Ventures is cause I enjoy having something around that owes me nothing and I dont have to work on all the time = cheap, durable FUN.. I have worked on bikes many many years and I really enjoy just wearing something out and not having to work on it all the time. NEVER have had one with a good clutch.. (never really pursued one either though) I use cheap dino oils, Rotella 15/40, Super Tech 20-50 stuff from Walmart,, I do change it regular on the road though!! Might get higher miles out of em with a life of good oil but, who knows.. Have had my share of issues with fuse box,, been clipping wires and using spade fuses for years.. Squid gave me a really cool fuse panel I am gonna try!! Have carried an extra fuel pump for years - had to use it on #4.. I always replace front springs (junk) with progressives.. Just from not being stored on center stand, every one I have own have had sacked front springs. Like you, I LOVE the Ventures for being "basic"!! No idea where the 87 is gonna go.. I APPRECIATE the offer on helping with the electrics but gotta decide what I am gonna do with it.. Was thinking chopper,, have done a number of ground up chop builds and always wanted to do a V-4.. I LOVE Zagger's ride - wayy cool!! On the other hand,, It would also be fun to replace Tweeks tired ol heart with a good running 1300.....

McRazzle now look what cha started bongo!!

You just have at it and enjoy yourself Silvr - I guarentee you that I will LOVE whatever you do!! I am an enjoyer of human creativity - have fun doing it and if it becomes to much of a burden DONT be afraid to change your mind!!

Fazzle

FAMOUS LAST WORDS,, YA BEST DELETE THIS BEFORE THE FOOL WAKES UP AND SEE'S IT!!

Donuts especially skid now that he retired

Guard Man does that bring back memorys,, I was Safety Guard in 4th Grade - sooooo proud to wear that little banner across my chest and help kinney gardners cross the street!!

Here is that 2013 ride report stuff, again SilvrT, if this looks like to much bother or work - don't mess with it!! I appreciate the offer either way!! Tip says thanks too!! Puc http://www.venturerider.org/forum/watering-hole/80470-road.html http://www.venturerider.org/forum/watering-hole/83411-science-exp-2013-proves-people-exist-vogel.html

Gently easy movement on the master - cap off and gently move the lever in and out - just enough to move the fluid around - you can watch those tiny bubbles come to the top - speed bleeders work ok but there is nothing like spending time massaging and talking to your scoot while your making her feel better!! Patience is a virtue..

Stuck a Conti Tour on the front of Tweeks last time.. Got a lot miles on it now and worn out three different rear tires on rear while running Conti.. Thing is wearing like iron, handles great and smooth as silk and good in mountains at speed!! Got it cheap off Amazon (60 bucks) - very happy with it.. Have run a lot of different tires (Tweeks eats tires in the desert heat) - picked up a Full Bore last summer for the ride home from VentureWest (Oregon).. If price is a factor - I wouldnt be afraid to go Full Bore on front too - decent tire for the money.. I liked the E2's and miss em - liked the deals that were out there when they stopped making them,, 404's never lasted long enough to feel like I was getting moneys worth.. Had problems with Metzler 880's and know others that have too (chunking), would stay away from them unless nothing else to put on.. Currently running Michillen 2 on rear, Conti on front - works great..

Looks like your getting a handle on her Rbig!! Your welcome on the syringe - sorry it didnt solve the problems!!

BEAUTIFUL!! Thanks for the report!! Puc

I am there with ya Rbig.. I have always wanted to bag out a Max for a touring bike.. Done a little digging on the idea and found out that the Vmax actually has an ample amount of torque and pretty good torque curve.. I know that a stock Max on a dyno will do 110 horse and around 80 pds of torque with numbers not that much different from a stock Venture within the Ventures R range,, its when ya whip up the max above 6 grand that the boost kicks in and she comes alive.. I have a hunch that the MPG may suffer if using the Max for touring and I am almost sure they have a smaller tank (like a 100 mile range) but,, still,, be really really fun out in Montana RIPPING across the plains, all bagged out - tent floppin in the wind!! I honestly doubt that gummin her up would be a problem... Another question to would be compression ratio,, whether or not premium fuel would be a must,, cant always find the good stuff when traveling.. Hmmm

IN TEXAS?? THAT IS INSANE!!! Sorry to hear that Cha,, thought and PRAYERS UP for you folks!!

HEYYYY, BERNIE - LOVE THE THREAD - GOOD ONE!! Thunder = ROLLING

THAT is flat out BAD TO THE BONE CHA!! Sitting hear listening to the music as I type!! Thank you for the write up and AWESOME pics!! YOU DA MAN!!! Wonder if you might have a weak plug or even a bad plug cap (high resistance) causing your dead cylinder on start up!! MAN I love the looks of that hole shot!! Wish I could find a darksider for Tweeks, I would LOVE to try it - not just for better traction but to gain some mileage while touring in the desert.. Be nice to get over 5k out of a rear tire for once - this wearing out a tire on the way out west and then another on the way back get old.. I LOVE the look of your 2nd Gen in "Bagger" mode!! BEAUTIFUL!! Not sure I am quite ready to bite into the idea of of a bike handling as good as a 1st Gen (I am a spoiled 1st Gen carving brat) yet BUT - I am always open to new ideas,, once it gets warm out and you really get a chance to do some board scraping and have some write ups with clear opinions,, I will pay attention!! THANKS FOR THE READ AND THE 'S BRO - GOOD JOB!!!! Puc PS - I do LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!!

Ya know,, we got a number of pretty good around here totally willing to wreak havoc.. You could take a break, go take that precious wife of yours out for dinner and not spend your time .. THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO TO KEEP US SAFE AND COMFORTABLE CHIEF!!

That Fool,, he has one devious sense of humor!! Makes me chuckle though,, unless its MY yard he's contaminating!!

Oh man brother,, an 84 Blonde is what I started my "Venture" life on - got a soft spot for Blondes!! That is really neat that you and Nina did your honeymoon on one, SOUNDS AWESOME - hey,, you dont happen to have any records of "Goldies" vin do you? I only ask cause I have an 87 Goldie in the garage waiting for me to figure out its electrical system.. Be cool if it was your old bike!! Here is a vid of me riding it.. You nailed it Silvr,, THAT is the very reason we keep Tweeks covered with stickers - it inspires conversation with folks of all kinds!! It is SO much fun to pull into a gas station, have kids, old ladies, bikers, people in motorhomes, even families out site seeing come over and start talking about places they been and things they have seen - just derned awesome to meet folks of all kinds from all walks of life - hear their stories and share ours!!! Couple of REALLY crazy ones - once we got invited to join an actual Motorcycle Gang type club by a group of bikers headed to Sturgis - I stopped and helped fix a beat up ol Pan Head Chopper for some pretty rough lookin guys:big-grin-emoticon:.. Another time (will be in this years story) a couple of young Hobo's came up to us and asked if we wanted to share their food (they had a bunch of tato chips given to them) with em,, guess ol Barrycuda isnt the only one who thinks Tweeks, Tip and I look like homeless gypsies:Cool_cool36:!! I would be honored to have you compile this stuff!! If I can find last years report and you dont mind doing it, I would LOVE to have a compiled copy of all these stories (if thats to much, dont be afraid to say NO)!! This is an official go on my part of anything you want to do Silvr - IF YOU WANT TO!! No reason to do it as "payment" though Silvr - really, I enjoy writing and sharing and having folks respond with comments like found on this thread, THAT is by far,, plenty of reward enough for me!! Let you in on another secret, like most of the regular posters on VR, there have been a number of times in life where I have had people that I have never met come up to me and tell me how much they appreciate all of our posts on VR.. People who, for one reason or another, are not able to get out and enjoy life on the road from a little "different" perspective.. There are some AMAZING folks out there who have become like family to me because of this goofy, bad habit I have of letting my fingers roam and folks spending some of there precious time reading these these ramblings... THANK YOU for the offer - regardless of whether you decide to do it or not!! VERY thoughtful of you Silvr!! Puc

Soviet Steeds ? View topic - Gas prices next to the last post - bottom of the page..

Good question Don,, I miss his comments too,, he is probably out goofing off on his Ural knowing Tx.. I know he has been really enjoying that 2wd rig and that he always talked about the Soviet Steed site,, be right back,, I'll see if he has been on there lately, just to be sure he is ok... Yes sir,, he had a post on there a couple weeks ago so he is still around!!

WOW!! Brought TEARS to my eyes (happy tears)!! Tippy and I LOVE touring "ruins" like that Art - those pics are GORGEOUS!! Now ya got Tippy jumping up and down shouting "LETS GOOOOOOOO!!"!! Unreal that it can be so cold here, furnace keeping us warm and you can be cruising around in 80 degree weather!!! Our gas just dropped another 10 cents to 1.85 here,, ya got us beat there too!! Guess the only place we got cha beat is in the food category,, not sure Tip could eat that much (LOOKS DELICIOUS - I could eat hers and mine too - EASILY)!!! GREAT STORY - GREAT PICS - GREAT RIDE ALONG!! THANKS!! Puc n Tip!!