Chicago

Finally getting around to working on the bike (I know, it's been a year) and I have two questions. First, how do you get to the rear allen head cap screw on the water outlet? Do I have to drop the exhaust pipe? Second, what is this and where did it come from? It looks like dried coolant that has corroded the aluminum.

How long should I wait to ride after cataract surgery? I'm getting my right eye done 7/23 and if it heals OK, the left one on 8/6. Is my (Michigan) riding season over?

That Chicago Bears bike kicks every form of a$$!

I already did all those things. That's why my bike leaks. If I had done this in March like any sane person with a 27 year-old bike would do, I'd be ready to go now. I have no one to blame but myself. Big Lou, if my bike breaking down wouldn't inconvenience a half-dozen friends, I might take a chance. From everything I've read here, the only permanent solution is a new cover. I already ordered it up from Boats.net for around $20 to my door. I'll fix it right and it'll be good for another 27 years.

You got that right! I went out this evening to find a puddle of coolant under my bike. It's coming from the thermostat housing. From everything I've read here, I've got to replace the cover and O-rings and I might as well replace the t-stat while I'm at it. Looks like my trip's canceled. Of course, it's better to find the problem in my garage that 500 miles from home.

I want to thank you all for your great advice. Not only have you helped me relieve my doubts about the trip, but you have helped me to become more familiar with my bike. I've got fresh coolant in her and ran her up to operating temp with no leaks whatsoever, then I let her cool down and reinstalled the plastics. I think I'm good to go.

So in normal operation the lettering on the valve should be upside down? That's an odd way to engineer something.

I'm not trying to be a smart-a** or anything, but why would you need to alarm a bike that old. Isn't full coverage insurance enough?

OK, I cleaned the crud off my tires, checked the brake pads, clutch and brake fluid levels, all good. Then I checked the coolant. Brown freakin' mud! For all I know, it's never been changed. I tried to use the plastic drain but even thought I turned it every which way but loose, I couldn't get on drop out of it. So I pulled the water pump drain and got about 1-1/2 to 2 quarts of mud out of it. So I left the drain plug out and poured clean water into the radiator until it ran clean out of the drain. Then I installed the drain, filled the radiator, ran the bike until the thermostat opened, drained the mud, lather, rinse, repeat until I drained clean water. I made sure to have the bike running while I filled the radiator once the bike was warm. Tomorrow when the bike is cool I will fill the radiator and coolant recovery tank with full-strength antifreeze. It's a three-quart system with about 1-1/2 quarts of clean water in the block, so that should get me to a 50-50 mix.

Unless you add a backrest/luggage rack, I'd go solo.

When I attached my Sears X-Cargo car top carrier to me Harbor freight trailer kit, I put the pointy end to the front (like it would be on top of a car) and it pulls like a dream. Oh yeah, and I've only got a little over $200 in it.

I used ABS cement from the hardware store. Works, great! I used a small common screwdriver as an applicator.

That could be it. I'll clean them off real good and see if it comes back.

I should've mentioned the tires. Both front and rear have a greasy film on the sidewalls. Could my wheel bearings be going, or maybe fork seals/rear shock?

I'm leaving in a month for a thousand mile trip and I'd like some advice on pre-trip maintenance. The PO told me the guy he bought it from went through everything, but I have no way of knowing that. The bike starts and runs great, no weird noises or vibrations. I ride it 60 miles a day to work and back, some town, some slab. Since I bought it last year I've replaced the windshield, done an oil change, installed an eBay oil filter adapter, adjusted the idle speed and tire pressure and fixed the warm air vent. Before I leave, I was thinking of lubricating the throttle cables, checking the brake pads for wear, checking the rear diff fluid, brake fluid and clutch fluid. The tires are like new Dunlop D404's. I run 40 psi front and rear. Anything else I haven't thought of?

Would this work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/WINDSHIELD-FOR-HONDA-SUZUKI-YAMAHA-CRUISER-VTR-XV-V-STAR-REBEL-GV-GZ-VIRAGO-250-/400315407020?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AVenture+Royale&hash=item5d34a85aac&vxp=mtr#vi-ilComp

Here's a list of ethanol-free gas stations nationwide... http://pure-gas.org/

Cool! I'll keep running 87, then. Thanks!

I did a search for this and came up empty. Heck, I even checked my owners manual, no luck. What is the recommended grade of fuel for my 1986 VR? I've been running 87 (regular) and it runs great. No spark knock that I can hear, no backfire, no hesitation. But I know the engine has 10.5-1 compression (or did 27 years ago when it was new). What flavor does your 1st Gen's like best?

I picked up some ABS cement from the hardware store and used a very small common screwdriver as an applicator. I applied cement to both sides of each break and held them together until they bonded. The ABS cement I got is nice and tacky, so it set up quick. Then I put a little more cement on the screwdriver and smoothed it over the crack until the whole damaged area was covered in cement.

1st post! I did a search for this with no luck. Has anyone been able to repair the side cover vent on a 1st Gen. VR?