videoarizona

Sounds like great ride, Ed! Glad you got home safe...

Silver...like mine!

Doug, before you buy anything, suggest you change the oil. I'm running Yamahalube 20-50. Standard dino oil...not synthetic. I have very little whine. Other members have switched to synthetic and it mostly went away. I don't hear mine when running. Nothing broken, just straight cut gears. The rear end is robust. The entire shaft system is usually quite strong. Very few problems with rear ends. Yes, these motors love to run the rpm's. I've found that when normal riding, the higher up I shift, the easier it is to shift. Plus, I never use 5th gear until over 60. Found out that on a2 lane with buddies, if I stayed in 4th gear, I had plenty of rpm range to cruise at 55 to 65 and the motor wasn't stressed at all. My wife thought everything was normal. Last, make sure the tire pressure are NOT what the book says...go with the max (or close to it on front) of what the tire says. I run 38F and 42 rear. I get the best handling and wear doing that...so does everyone else. If the steering feels way to heavy for you, either change to a narrower front tire of lower the front end. Lowering front is free and takes a few hours to do. You are simply moving the shocks up an inch. Lost of info around here and highly qualified people too! There is help at any time....just ask. Plus lots of info already in the old files. Best $12 you've ever spent will be right here! david

I'm still laughing. Almost lost the old coffee on this one!

Update 8/15/15: LED's instead of reflectors - check Added HD brake/turn lights - check Done most of the maintenance so I have a baseline - check New tires - check Ignition switch relay - check Replaced left front rotor - check New Clearview - check Tilted tour pack a tad - check - but wifey wants more...hmmm. Guess I'll be tilting tour pack more! Reminder, need brace underneath. This week: Lowered front end 3/4 inch. Took long ride this morning...141 miles. Freeway and back roads. The front end feels better. Stable (got up to 90mph) but easier to handle at low speeds. Can still release bars at speed and bike tracks straight. With Pirelli tire pressures at 38F/42R cold, the bike is mucho better than when I first got it. Huge difference - tires, air pressure and lowering the front end does to the low speed handling. Almost like adding power steering to the scoot! So happy with the effort it took to do that free mod. And yes, it was an effort...mostly with the inner fairing. Holding it away with towels then hanging the bars from the ceiling was important too. Once all that was out of the way, the rest was easy. Next time I won't use a magic market...a piece of masking tape would give a cleaner edge to measure from. Only one issue with fairing upon completion: Seems with the Baron's 1 1/2 inch riser extensions...the risers come very close to hitting the inner fairing. I ended up using a 1/8th inch strip of hard rubber stuck between the inner fairing and the riser. Worked...no vibration in bars and the fairing and risers are solid together. For some reason, I don't have the space that @djh3 has...and he has basically same setup. Next? Don't know...but only another month before we hit our long riding season here in Arizona...so not much time left for maintenance!! david

Update: After lowering the front end, the middle section of the inner fairing is a cat's whisker from hitting the risers. So I found a piece of thin hard rubber strip...cut it into two inch long pieces and lifted the inner fairing enough to slide the rubber in between the risers and fairing. Fits well...can hardly see them and they don't move.

Dick, I just got finished replacing plugs on my 05 RSV. It looked like a daunting task but was quite easy. 1: Driver seat 2: gas tank 3: two top engine braces on front cylinders 4: plugs The important thing is to have the tools and patience. Take your time and think about what needs to be done next. Oh, the front plugs come out with small socket extension to loosen, then use factory tool kit tool to remove. It has the rubber holder to hold plug and remove it or put it back. Easier than trying anything else....at least for me. Lift plug straight up into hole in frame area, tilt then pull out. Lots of info here on forum...

BJ, next time you get to bar Harbor or Portland (do you ?) put it in mail then. Save lots-O-bux...I would think. But I don't know what goes on when you carry a package from A to B. Or if any members are traveling to Maine/NS this summer...maybe youse guys can meet and exchange exhaust collectors. (so to speak). Heck, If I still lived in NH, I would be up there in a flash just to take the ferry and ride your area!

Jason, that's a hoot! Now if only you took orders... Let's see: One unit to hold tiny mp3 player with gopro mount One unit to hold tiny (SD size) bluetooth receiver One unit to hold Droid ...wait...how about one unit that does all the above! Grins! david p.s. Seriously, well done...

Not on scoot, Mike....but I get a kick out of your Drum Corp one. I was in the Golden Eagles from Portsmouth, NH back in the early 60's. We were best in our class...just under the high end corps. Played baritone. Great memories! david

Yep.....understand that, BJ. Today's ride was good...better than expected. If I lean forward a bit once in a while, the arms relax. That tells me I should have bars that pull back more. Unfortunately, that is getting the bars to close to my waist so I'm going to stick with what I have and keep experimenting. I'll mark where I am and drop them down considerably for next ride. See what that does. Today was 2 hours...141 miles.

DDog...problem was a warped rotor. Probably got damaged when I took front wheel in to shop for new front tire. My bad for not taking the rotors off! I checked the calipers, brake fluid was changed, etc.. I did everything else first as I've never had a rotor warp on a scoot before. Used rotor from Pinwall came in...problem solved. Now curious if I can unwarp my old rotor!!

Puc & BJ, I spent some time today in garage moving the bars around. I think I may be to high now...my forearm is level at this point of adjustment...but will find out during a 30 minute each way breakfast ride in the morning. Scott....yea...the 1st Gen's bars I pulled back toward me then angled down so my upper arm is more relaxed. I'm going to try and duplicate that on 2nd gen. I don't want to get new bars but will do what I need to I guess to be more comfortable! Thanks for thoughts guys..... BTW, Scott...I couldn't lay back like that...scare the pudding out of me! Grins! david

For my height/inseam (5'10"/30") - forward lean - 0 - knee angle - 129 - hip angle - 90 I have the Baron's 1 1/2 inch riser extensions. 2" pull back...which allows me to sit up straight...that solved the back problem. If left at the stock grip height, the risers lower the grips by 3" since the handlebars are already pull back type bars that were stock. Guess I'll just keep trying out various grip heights to see which is more comfortable for me. Does anyone care to venture (pun intended) a thought as to where your arms should be to be most comfortable? IE, level...angled down toward wrist...??

((I've been shopping around for vents that would be narrow and light enough to mount on but that is another challenge)) Look on EBay for used Goldwing windshield vents. If that's what you are talking about.

https://www.interstateplastics.com/ABS-sheets-rods.php?utm_source=email&utm_campaign-ABS-2015-6-23

On all 3 of my Yamaha's I run Yamalube 20-50. They like it...

Funny thing...go up to Big Spring and check out the gas prices as you drive by the refinery. Some of the highest prices I've seen in Texas were in the gasoline alley from Big Spring to the Monahans. Guess they must ship that stuff to LA and then back!

Was looking on internet for suggestions about arm/shoulder/wrist height and reach for ultimate comfort on the 05 RSV. The 89 VR fits me like a glove after moving the bars around a bit. Not so on the RSV. Elbow and shoulders still hurt after a while. Feel like they are hanging... and it's tiring. Found this web site: http://cycle-ergo.com/ Not sure what to make of it...maybe someone smarter than I can figure out what this means!? Interesting info but how does that equate to my comfort? Basically, find your scoot, plug in your body numbers and look at the picture. david

BB, I came from a line of smaller bikes and was concerned about moving from a 600 pound to 800 pound scoot. A friend who rides a HD Ultra (800 pounds) said just ride carefully for a while...you will get used to it. He finally convinced me to ride his Ultra. I did that and was surprised at how easy it was to ride. Well...I'm inseam challenged as well since I'm shrinking with age...and now find riding both the 89 and the 05 to be easy. Yes I will always have to pay attention to how I stop on hills and hilly lots, but I can do this. So can you. Do you want to go fast or cruise...your choice. If you like the scoot...go for it!

I've been hacked a few times over the years. Never been responsible for $$ and always got credited back for losses. The last two were mysteries as my card wasn't used for anything except gas at Costco...and they check for readers each day. So now I have a wallet that blocks RFID type readers as suggested by my bank. For those who are not familiar with this technology...anyone with a special card reader can read the info wirelessly off the cards from a short distance. My new wallet blocks that, thanks Travelsmith dot com. Probably happened while standing in line somewhere. USAA is getting very good at spotting fraud use. Last 2 times I got a text asking if these charges were mine. I texted back "no". Card cancelled immediately followed by phone call from them. BTW, in both of the last two incidents, the bad guys made up a fake card and it ran through fine. But they got nailed as they were used in locations where cameras were present and recording. One in Tampa and one in Phoenix. That's all I could find out. That's the primary reason the bank thinks it was a wireless card reader...they got all the info. Bottom line: We do what we can, but thieves don't live/operate by the same rules as we need to...so they will always win at least once. david

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/photopost/showproduct.php?product=54&title=second-gen-ss-brake-line-set-w-2f-vmax-splitter&cat=17

Yes, here. No. No. Go to classifieds, Member vendors, Skydoc 17 's area. There you will find a complete kit for your Venture. He has them for both 1st gens and 2nd gens like yours. Vacuum bleeders can be found at most parts houses including Harbor Freight. Cheap enough. You can also change out your bleeders for Speedbleeders. Makes it easier to do this by yourself. They can be found on-line. Lots of info on this site about them, sizes, etc.. You will need 5 of them if memory serves... (includes clutch). Now..I for one find the 2nd gen brakes to be quite good stock. I know that stainless lines would help for the rest of the life of the bike...but not sure I would go to the rest of the trouble. The 1st gens need all of the work you mentioned...as their brakes were 80's technology and are getting pretty worn out by now. BTW, if you are having to pull the lever pretty far in to get braking action on a 2nd gen, either your pads are worn or your levers/rods are misadjusted. Download the manual if you don't have it here in tech area and go through setting your brakes up. But don't bother with this until you've changed the lines and put new fluids in. Then go ahead and check out the brake adjustments. Just doing the above repairs and adjustments will make you think you have brand new bike! Hope this helps, david

One thing I don't see mentioned here about the charging circuit...(probably because this thread is about cooling??) is that when I come to a long light or a train crossing during the heat of summer. I let off the brake and rev/blip the engine just once. For some reason, on my scoot, the gauge goes up higher and sits there after I release the brake and goose it a bit. Seems to set the system into a higher charging mode without the brake light load. At least I feel better about the battery not discharging with the fan on! As far as cooling...yep...I ride in the desert and during the infrequent times I'm out running when it's 100 degrees, I watch the gauge zip on up to just below red and then stay there. So far, (knock on wood), never gone over. Not to shabby for 25 year old technology. Mom Yamaha built these bikes right! david P.S. And yep...best $12 bux I've spent...ever.

Bill, Maybe this Fall we can have another Maintenance Day at either your place or mine. I have a small leak around that area...never bothered to check it out since it's small enough not to bother me...yet!