cowpuc

I have ALWAYS loved the adjustability of the 1st Gen bars!! I got spoiled with "Pull Backs" and the relaxed feel of a long springer front end riding chops years ago... That leaned back, stretched out feeling,, steering with my knees when I wanted to while resting a foot on top of the tappet cover of a SOHC 750 Honda motor.. My head resting against a wadded up sleeping bag/tent while practically falling asleep about ruined me!! As a result, I have always ran the bars on my 1st Gens folded in and down below my elbows (when sitting in an upright "normal" ride position so when I am leaned back against Tippy, head on her torso, I am able to contact the bar tip with my knees with feet on crash bars.. In that position my hands are even with my elbows.. Some things will never change!!

Been more of Mutha for me Silvr,, might be a cultural thing here in the north:confused24: INDEED,, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL YOU WONDERFUL MOTHERS OUT THERE!!!!:bighug:

Ride safe out there my brother,, and remember to allow for that little xtra time on passing cars,, dont forget you left your Sugar at home:rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf: Ol Pucs going straight to the dogs for that one boys and girls:stirthepot:

Hi Malders and welcome to VR!! Sounds like you have a VERY nice trip in the makings!! While no expert at what you are planning to do I have a little experience with it,, both the camping side and with the older Ventures (other than a parts bike I have which is an 87, I am in the process of riding the last bit of life out of my 5th 83/84 model).. As far as the bike goes - unless you have a spare fuel pump that you can carry I would suggest that you get a few feet of cheap gas line - if you happen to have a fuel pump failure (only happened twice to me in thousands of miles on these bikes) you can unhook your vent line that is right next to the fuel cap (under the center cover), attach the spare line nipple where the vent line was attached, put pressure into the tank with your mouth while you are riding and get out of a bad situation (trust me - it works).. When you get somewhere quiet where you can work on your bike, pull the pump and the back cover off it - clean the contacts - usually thats the problem.. If you havent done so I would also make sure that the rear axle is not set up in the bearings, not suggesting total removal, just put her up on the center stand, pull the cotter key out of the king nut on the left side, take the nut off, loosen the sinch bolt on the right side, put a wrench on the axle head, spin it,, maybe tap on the axle head and see if you can move the axle out a little,, put it back together KNOWING the axle WILL come out if you have a flat (helped a guy at road side with one once that was locked solid in the bearings - ended up calling a wrecker and taking the bike to a shop so they could remove the axle), do the same on the front if you want but I would at least do the rear.. I would also check and clean the fuse panel and I would pull the covers off the diaphrams on the carbs and make sure they were healthy.. Other than that - beyond normal fluid changes, carb sync and new plugs, having good rubber and plenty of brake pad material that should do it.. Besides the normal tool kit items you might think about carrying a 16 inch pair of Channel Locks, a GOOD 12 inch Cresent, full set of 1/4 drive metric sockets, full set of metric wrenches w ratcheting/pivot box ends, set of "T" handle screw drivers, few feet of #14 THHN wire, little bit of electrical and duct tape, a cheap Ohm meter (Harbor - 3 bucks), small assortment of metric nuts and bolts, assortment of zip ties in your maintenance department and a set of spare keys (I hide mine on a wire wrapped around the coolant bottle neck).. DOUBLE CHECK tire air pressures and watch em as you move from high to low altitudes.. You can also get REAL cheap 12 volt tire pumps at Harbor (5 bucks with coupon) that are handy if you have the space and wanna carry one.. Speaking of sunscreen,,, dont forget suncreen for your lips.. The stuff that comes in a chapstick like tube works GREAT on ears (Walgreens), eye brows, foreheads and I even like it better than regular sunscreen for my bald head cause it dont wash into my eyes from sweat and blind me.. I have found that even one of those 1/2 inch thick excerise matts under the sleeping bag in the tent is better than nothing,, especially if you are caught having to camp in a Walmart parking lot.. Speaking of parking lot camping,,, never had a problem after riding 16/17 hours just pulling into a Walmart lot and dropping my tent next to the RVers camping there,, just dont actually set the tent up, found out that is a no no.. I have found Menards to have the best "cheap" tents, large doors (make good ventilation) with screening that goes down almost to floor level (nothing worse than a screen that ends a foot above the bag so the air movement is above you instead of on you.. I did a simular ride to the one you are about to embark on a number years ago.. I ended up at a museum out near the fingerlakes on my way to Lake Placid (also a cool place), if I recall the museum was near Hammonds or something like that,, it was all about some guy last name of "Curtis"... Place was literally like the Science museum in Chicago (HANDS ON!!!) with REAL old bikes you can tinker with - AWESOME!! I also left the group later (everyone was anxious to head for home after only 5 days out:confused24:) and ventured down toward Florida, on the way I did a BUNCH of old "coal mine" finding in Virginia - what a BLAST!!! Came home with a really really old pick axe strapped to the side of my bike and a really old coal miners hat I also found - I love keep sakes.. Lots and lots of gorgeous country down there!! Remember to stop and talk to people about their area(s) if you have time.. People are usually very friendly if you are and usually more than happy about sharing their area's little hidden secrets if you ask.. Dont forget,, the outcome of the ride depends solely on you brother,, keep the glass half full!! Puc

I am a "wheel watcher" and it has saved my life a number of times.. Crazy as this may sound, I watch for wheel movement at intersections, if there are multiple cars I take lots of "snap shots" of multiple front wheels watching those hubcaps.. Because of this,, people who "creep" at stop signs or into intersections are my worst nightmare.. I cannot tell you how many times I have actually stopped when I had the right of way and motioned to let a "creeper' go ahead of me,,, get lots of funny looks but, if they are in so much of a hurry they have to creep,, I let the creep go ahead of me.. Also,, I was an avid (and pretty successful) Bow and Gun Deer hunter here in Michigan.. Applying the skill of watching for movement in the woods while hunting Deer to "hunting" people who are trying to mame either myself or someone else while I am riding also has paid pretty good dividends to this point......

Your welcome BlueSky, anytime!! I never did buy a set of actual adapters,, I just used wooden blocks secured on a hunk of 1x6 and located em on the footpegs and crashbar mounts to lift with.. If you do that ya gotta really be careful that the blocks stay where ya put em while your lifting the bike off the ground, having them attached to a board REALLY helped with this, if you make em tight enough against the pipes it helps hold them in check too.. Been a while since I used/made em but it seems I had to cut some notches here and there to get the blocks to fit just right.. Also, kinda tricky cause the jack is putting side pressure on the bike till ya get it off the ground.. Not sure where my contraption is at or I would take a pic for ya.. Gotta also be really careful messing around with this stuff cause you dont want that 800 pound mouse trap to snap with you under it!! This highlift jack comes with tie down straps for attaching the bike to the jack,, again,, probably really smart to use them,, especially till you learn your jack and (this thought always goes thru my mind) whether you can trust the Chinese guy who welded the jack together:whistling: Either this jack or a small floor jack model that I purchased years ago (and it is worn out now - all that is left of it from years of use is the frame work,, it was handy BUT lifted no where near as high as this one does) came with an optional equipment list that had a variety of actual "Y" adapters one could order... I always tend to go with making my own when I can cause I am cheap and I got a lot of junk laying around to use for creating my own disasters... Telling ya,, hindsight being 20/20,, I wish I would have made a full skid plate, frame mounted for my first Venture.. Something strong enough to fully protect the undercarriage of the bike AND be strong enough to lift on - THAT would have solved a lot of headaches for yours truly!! Puc

6 more days...

Can I relate to that Dan,, we got POUNDED night before last and been bailing out the basement shop,,,, LOTS of Prayers Up and Blessings Down while doing so too!!

WOW!!!:178::178::178::178::178::178::178::clap2::thumbsup::thumbsup::scared::scared::bowdown: AND :wel_ani3Tay::wel_ani3Tay::wel_ani3Tay::wel_ani2Wa::wel_ani2Wa::welcome1: TO VR BLUESKY!!!! PUC

Indeed!!! happy birthday walt!!!!!!! Hope ya had a great one!!! puc

Actually BlueSky,, may sound crazy but ol Tweeks does talk,, to me anyway... I dont always like what she has to say but we have gotten along for many many miles now... Your right,, she IS a character.. VERY GOOD OBSERVATION ON THE JACK!!!!!! What you have to use with this jack are jack adapters or you WILL be lifting on your pipes (no different than any other under frame motorcycle lift) - and THAT is NOT advisable!! The exhaust on this old beater bike of mine has been used as a skid plate, welded, dented, rusted, broken, reconnected with hose clamps (if ya ever get a chance to look under it you should ) and got so many leaks in it now that I dont bother protecting it anymore.. Part of the fun for ME of riding beat up ol 700 dollar Yamaha's Personally,, I have always thought about building a full military grade (like on my WLA) skid plate for my Venture's,, never got a round tuit, shoulda done that about 5 bikes ago..

Brother I totally get that.. I know a lot of folks who have quit riding bikes for exactly that same reason BJ.. Matter of fact, I lost my best friend, guy who I raced bikes with for years and had known since childhood in a car/bike crash, someone turned in front of him.. That was so freakin hard to keep riding after that.. One of the things that kept me on two wheels are some of the chats he and I had about facing fear when going off the edge of a big jump on a motocross track and the reward of "flying a bike" we both got for doing so... I still have dreams about my friend, visit his grave every now and then,, he went out with his boots on but I still miss em....

Unless,,, lets say your cruising at 5000 feet,,, your rear blade comes off and clips your chute lines,,,, then,, technically,, it would be faster than any 1st Gen in a 5000 foot race,,, and stop a whole lot faster too Sorry Randy,,, just couldnt help it.... Please love me inspite of myself:backinmyday:

Aint nothin sounds as purdy as a DS6 - just something about those high pipes and the lovely "ta-ta-ta-ta-ta" 2 strokin harmonizing sound they made,,,,, like music to my ears (wife says I have 2 stroke oil in my blood)... Man those were neat ol bikes!!! I REALLY liked the AS1C too,, great sound and ran really good for their era.. NICE DAVID! Puc

SIGN ME UP BEN,, I AM THERE WITH YA BRO!!!!!!:thumbsup::clap2::happy65::happy65::178::178::178::178::178::178::178::guitarist 2::guitarist 2::guitarist 2: COULD WE HAVE FUN IN THOSE!!!:dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool::dancefool: Seriously,, I have wanted a Powered Parachute for soooooo freaking long I could SCREAM,, just seeing that puppy makes me druel like an ol hound dog Ben!!! Wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy,, cool.... What a cool outfit!!

Dahhhh,, never mind about the auto question,, just looked at the pics again and noticed the shifter,,, blind in one eye and cant see out the other... My bad..

WOW that is purdy Carl!! Is yours the Automatic? I was out on my old Harley earlier, stopped at a lite, a lady on a Spyder RT pulled up beside me, kid on the back with a dog in his arms.. I asked if hers was an auto, shook her head yes.. Looked VERY comfy!! Was talking to Tippy later as we pulled out on our 83,, told her about reading Gray Ghost's ride plans and him making the comment that they are taking their Spyder instead of the Venture cross country cause then his wife could drive too.. Tell ya what bro,, that certainly sounds interesting..

Welded tube for Boilermakers Local 169 out of Detroit (powerhouse construction) than got married, moved out of the field and into the shop, worked for Johnston Boiler for a year year before I went back to College... Small world Leland!! Tippy and I just got back from a bike ride and went right by the old shop. Almost stopped for pizza at Pizza Hut right down the road from Johnston..

LOOKS LIKE A BLAST GRAY GHOST!!! Congrats on your Graduation from MMI, and on your superior plans for the immediate future!! We will be keeping a weathered eye out for your Spyder while touring this year!! If you happen to see an old beat up 83 Venture covered with stickers and tent hangin on the back PLEASE flag us down - would LOVE to say hi!!! I will do the same, if you look in your rear view and see that pathetic thing chasing on ya please dont think your being robbed by homeless people (been told thats what we look like).. Hope you folks have a WONDERFUL safe trip out there this year!!! Puc PS - also best wishes where ever your employment future leads!!

Actually Ace,, I think the name of your current home town is funny,, but on the same token,, I aint never been chased by a bunch of folks wantin to hang me either ,,,,,,,, pretty hard to laugh when your hangin there,,,,,

My home state ride thru's in Michigan I am from "Fruitport" which is right next door to "Ferrysburg".. Ridden thru: Hell Mi, Climax Mi, Paradise Mi,

Man oh man,,,, Barry,, hurry up and answer DJ so we know your ok!! Thoughts and Prayers up for whoever was involved with that one!! Taking a closer look at the under side of that bike,,, almost looks like a Kaw Voyager oil canister on its belly.... TERRIBLE!!

I TOTALLY get that Stache,,, drives me crazy sometimes,,,, you would think a high dollar outfit like VR would have a better handle on who that let in... GLAD YOU CHOSE TO STAY!!! Puc

As the riders pass on by you, please look up and give a smile,, at least hang up your cell phones so it wont be their last mile, yea they want to ride forever on their ponies made of steel,, this bunch of good ol cowboys,, yep these folks are for real.... Yeeepeeee aye eayyy,, yeeepeee ayee ohhhh,, Venture Riders on their wayyyyy

Got a few in while riding the WLA into town this mornin,,, Prayers Up, Blessings Down!!