videoarizona

It didn't vibrate...it buzzed!! Around 75mph. Feel it in your feet. V-Twin.... But it was a high revving motor...so 75 mph was nothing for it....around 4300 rpm. Red line was 7500rpm if memory serves.

Ron, Wish I had known...I would have been happy to sell her to you! Great scoots for sure... I do miss that bike....but couldn't afford to keep 3 scoots on the road....trying now to get down to just one. Sigh. In retrospect, I probably should have sold the 89 VR and kept the 950!

That slight wander/ falling off a lip motion is the front tire. That's my educated guess! Some tires do it more than others, but all at times, will have an issue with tar snakes that grab the tire and wiggle it a bit. It is usually caused by tire pressure or wear issues. Some times by design of tread. The Pirelli's on my 05 RSV, I thought were great when new, but now, after about 8K miles, the front end really grabs the tar snake. It's only for a second but it's there now! I take it that's what you are thinking of? Plus it now wanders in the lane grooves. That wandering around in the lane can be the same thing, except caused by the wear on the road surface. Since most states and cities are letting roads go longer, there are now running grooves or depressions in the lanes where most car tires run. If you happen to be on that road surface, getting up on the edge of the depression will cause most tires to either ride up or down the edge. This will cause a wandering effect. Suggest a bit more riding (yay!) to narrow this down. She should track straight as an arrow with a 150 or a 130 front tire. The original front end geometry says so. Only external forces should force the bike off the straight and narrow. I'm going with the 130 to ease off on the low speed handling. I really didn't like having to push the bars around to turn. And then once the turn was initiated, having to pull back to hold the turn. Almost like if I let go in a turn, she would snap into the turn fast and knock me off. But that's the nature of the fat front tire and front geometry. Designed to go straight. OH...lowering the front end about an inch will help with low speed handling and may be the cause of those dimples on the shock cases. Check to see if the top of the shocks are even with the triple tree. If yes, then the shocks need help. If no, then the front end is lowered and a big pot hole caused the shocks to hit. Less fork travel when lowered. Yea, it could be the steering bearings are a tad loose, or the rear swing arm bushings might be worn or dry...but my bet is going to be the tires, front and rear. Last thought would be check oil level on front shocks. My 89 VR has Shinko 230 Tourmasters and they ride straight with no issues. The tires before hand, Metzeler 880's, ran great until they got some miles on them. Then they too got squirly as well as the rear chunking off chunks.

If you want a cruiser, the VStar 950 Tourer gets 50 mpg's, has a 4.5 gallon tank and weighs 650 pounds. I found it to be a great cruiser if you changed out the seat. Needs a lot more padding. I added a Mustang seat, but it pushed me to far forward....not comfortable. I added Vance and Hines pipes, but my better half thought it was to loud on the road, so they came off as well. Rick Butler did my original seat and did a great job. Though he didn't like what little the factory had in here. I sold her last month stock with the exception of added lights and an extra large Clearview with vent...and some lowers. Both helped cut the turbulence one gets from a cruiser. Brakes, acceleration and handling were fantastic! It's a good stock bike to buy and customize. The only issue is check thoroughly to make sure the belt tension is not to tight. When rear tires are replaced, most dealers put the belt on to tight causing main drive bearing failure. I did my own. Taking the wheel off was "easy peasy". I recommend that scoot. Any questions, feel free to PM me....

Couple thoughts that may help in this discussion.... Steven, do the rear brake first. If you can upgrade it to different caliper...do so. The fronts we know can be upgraded if you do the forks as well to get them into MK2's. A good rear brake will help you a lot getting used to a heavier bike. We know the fronts do most of the work so that would be second. Trannie and shifting. I'm glad to hear you are in 1st gear by the time you stop. That is much easier on the clutch and trannie to shift while moving, but it's also a huge safety thing. Come to a stop and see a car slamming on it's brakes and about to hit you...having the scoot in gear can save your life. Seriously. Being hit from behind is on or near the top of the list of why we get hurt/accidents. Last...getting her up on the center stand. You are correct about age and strength. We just don't have what we used to have. I'm nearing 70. I can vouch for that. That said, there are some things you can do. First, make sure your bike is at the proper ride height. Ie, shocks are good. If not, there is your problem. If you've lowered her, then there is the problem. Nothing you can do about that unless you have a Royale version. Then get off scoot, put her on side stand, turn key to "aux" and set the CLASS compressor to "auto" and hit "front" and then "High". Repeat for rear. This should raise the scoot enough to make it easier to put on center stand. If you have a standard, can you pump air into the rear shock and do the same thing? Just don't forget to set the shocks back to "normal" pressure so as not to stress out the seals... Last, if you can't or won't raise the air pressure, then riding the rear tire up on a 2X6 that you "ramped" the rear edge... should also give you almost 1.5 inches additional height...making it easier to get her up! Hope this helps! P.S. Love those Pucster Videos!

Friend sent this to me tonight. He found it by accident... Cool video about a barn full of bikes......

Finally got out for a ride this morning after some work on the RSV. I put on new air cleaners, took the diaphragms out and cleaned them (no pinholes) and the carbs with carb cleaner, cleaned and gapped the iridium plugs (looked good). Balanced the carbs. Amazing difference for so little work! She pulled strongly right from the start all the way up to the limiter. Never had that happen before. I was shocked, to put it mildly. Almost like she was running from a 1st Gen!! And my 1st Gen is fast... I'm pleased.....but...(there is always a "but").... My mpg's are still down. 1st bar on gas gauge dropped around 35 miles. second on 52 miles. That usually indicates about 35 mpg's from past experiences. She idles better, runs better, pulls stronger, but it seems like no increase in MPGs. It could be the nature of the beast. I normally get 38 mpgs at 75 true. But for the past few months, around 35 mpgs on the highway...that's why I did some maintenance on her. And no, I wasn't on the throttle more than twice. Rest of time was cruising. Only thing different is the gas formula is still on "summer". Crap stuff. I'll reserve judgement on that being the problem after we go back to winter formula (whatever that is). Thanks California. Don't think I missed anything. Just reporting in.

Now wouldn't that be fun!!! Sharing scoots!:biker:

Yeppers...50 cal military sniper rounds are quite special. Shoot right through a block wall with plenty of power left over to go through Mr. Taliban.

I see: Mono shock behind steering neck.(old concept...new design! That neck is beefy!) Flat 6 Narrower frame by riders seat. All new it looks like. Twin radiators up high with fans She will have the power and speed of old with new agility and rigidness for twistis. Sleek new looks...with an RSTD version available as well. They are seriously answering Yamaha's call to Journey on!! The challenge is on!

Interesting promotional. Looks like they liked the way Yamaha promoted the Venture!

I was on statins for about three months. One day got dizzy while setting the anchor on the bow of the sailboat. Had to drop to me knee and hold on to the bow pulpit. From that day forward, I haven't touched them. It's one thing to get up in the morning and bounce off the walls while walking down the hall, whole nother issue getting faint on the boat!

Crossing fingers and Prayers Up!!!

Interesting. I bought a box of Winchester just like that only in 380. My Walther PK has 3 magazines and only one will not jam with those cartridges. Everything else it loves!

Welcome to the site! You might want to go to the 2nd gen section and read. The RSV's are heavy at slow speeds but wonderfully comfortable otherwise. Weak points seems to be, low speed handling, fuel pumps and rear shock. All easily dealt with.

Yep...looks like a 1st gen mk2

We were texting about an old picture that was at the Tom Mix Memorial off of rt 79. @cowpuc thought it might be a Henderson... Well he was right!!! Scott... You got it!!!! Found more info. Henderson Model G scoot... https://www.google.com/search?q=tom+mix+motorcycle&oq=tom+mix+motorcycle&aqs=chrome..69i57.8412j0j4&client=tablet-android-lenovo&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=kBdyUhxBEyrsLM: And Tom Mix https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Mix Guess he was quite popular in his day.... I do love the"geared" speedo coming off the front wheel. Guess it was quite a popular scoot and fast for it's day. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_State_Route_79

You picked a beautiful area! If I was younger, I would be a neighbor. Love the people, lakes and woods. Sorry to hear about life.... It does take the motivation right out of a person. But sounds like you have it all coming together again! Well done! Build a barn and work on that Venture! Good to hear you are riding again as well.

Thanks, Scott. Now we know.... Little bugger is well hidden!!!!

Pretty! My love for the Ventures is growing.... But they are still young to me!! Thinking out loud... i got some sheepskin and cut it to make two pieces for both seats. Do you hold yours down or just let them slip? I'm trying to figure out how to clip then to the seat sides.... So they come off easy but hold in place. Ideas appreciated!!

My 650 vstar, the switch was located below where the slave is located if it would have had one. Sitting in there. Just don't remember seeing it in the v4. So it must be hidden under the stator assembly. Be ridiculous if it was under the clutch on the right side... But...I haven't found it either, and found only the same info in manual. Useless!! Under electrical.... Page 8-1. Electrical switch troubleshooting. Diagram shows it directly under the stator cover... At the very bottom of the motor.part #13 . Page 8-3 switch #15 . There is a connector that could be dirty.

The back tire will spin a bit if it's off the ground. Simple check... Stomp on rear brake while in gear and running. If motor dies.. Clutch is still engaged. If it's a partial engagement, two possibilities. The system still needs to be bled again, and or the slave needs help... To get the master cylinder apart, there is a c clip holding all the parts in. Squeeze that and the parts come out. Gently remove the lever, pin, rubber boot and the c clip is down inside the mc. You may have to clean to see it. Reminder, the rear master controls the left front and rear brake.

Sorry but I'm out of town and will try.. 1: Why does it need replacing? 2: check the neutral light bulb? 3: download the service manual and troubleshoot using it? 4: check the electrical connections to the harness from the switch? I ask because you didn't give us any information. Neutral switch issues arent normal..... But I do believe it is located on the left side of the motor, either under the stator or under the clutch slave cylinder area. I don't remember since it's rare.

Ugh.

Pat and I loaded up my video gear for a Phoenix shoot in a couple of weeks, the cat, and took off to Tucson to drop off kitty with the youngest kidlet then go to breakfast. Left Tucson around 1pm... Decided to take back way to Phoenix via rt 79... The Pinal Pioneer Memorial highway. As soon as we got on it...a dinky 2 lane road heading toward Florence, the bikes started appearing! Seriously! From Oro Valley to Chandler....lots of bikes. Then it dawned on me.... It's around 90 degrees! The heat has broken. ...almost two weeks early! And the guys and gals are coming out of Hibernation!! And both of my scoots are sleeping in the garage as we will be out of town! Arrggh. A little late for Talk Like a Pirate Day, but.....arrrgh! BTW, Tom Mix was killed on that road in his yellow Cord. He survived the accident but his suitcase hit him in the head afterwards and broke his neck! We stopped to read about him. I posted pictures last February at same memorial while riding my 950 back to Green Valley.