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Hi @bongobobny, Thanks for your eyes! Just checked again to make sure....no dings or pits...just dust and dirt. The right side shock picture does show that I have dirt in under the dust seal, when I pump the shock, dust and dirt comes up. So new parts ordered for both. Dealer wants $165 for labor to re-do both shocks. Parts are under $100 for both...so the shocks are going in next week for a do-over. I feel this is a worthwhile investment as they guarantee their work. And after 50K miles, it's a good thing to do for the scoot! So now I'm writing things down, putting bolts and nuts back in their holes or marking them...since it will be over a week before I get back to work on bike. And taking pictures! Lift is braced in case of failure. Done about all I can to give myself a decent chance to put her all together again ! Now for lunch and a beer! To be continued:

OK got that figured out. It was those two bolts. Sure don't remember taking them off...and they were on there. I'm surprised I had that much strength last year ! Now I can't get the dust seal out....or whatever is first on the tube with the spring...shop manual is getting grease prints all over....that's good right? Picture of seal, then right fork tube, offending frame member with finger pointing at it...two bolts one on each side to release the upper triple tree....last, overall view of the front end at this point in time. I think I'll call the dealer and see if anyone wants to put new seals in my forks. Not sure I can finish this without damaging something.

BTW....here is what a 2nd Gen looks like at this point....The steering stem washer and nut are off...so disregard that in 1st pic. Really easy peasy to get this far...just a few screws/bolts/nuts to account for is the only concern...

Latest: Got tire and fender off ok...brakes off ok. So far...I've been down this road when I lowered the front forks... Now I've been trying to get the upper triple tree off....or as Yamaha calls it, the upper fork bridge. I took off the steering stem nut and washer, and loosened the two upper fork bridge clamp bolts on both sides. At this point, when I lowered the front end last year, all I needed to do is lift off the upper fork bridge...exposing the steering stem bearings and the top shock tube covering...which lifted right up as there is nothing holding them down but the upper triple tree(upper fork bridge). From there, I could loosen the lower fork bridge bolts on both sides and move the shocks up/down or out! Guess what, that upper fork bridge is not moving.... There are two hex head bolts near the front of the upper fork bridge that hold the inner fairing/headlight frame to the front end, but I sure as heck don't remember taking those off as they are buried! Besides, it appears they are bolted to a frame member underneath and inside of the triple tree....and the front edge of the triple tree goes over the mounting. I don't think they are a factor for the above reasons... I tried lifting the assembly (inner fairing and the upper triple tree together...but that didn't accomplish anything useful. Maybe tomorrow I can have my buddy over and we can try together....but when I lowered the front end...I did it by myself in only a few hours...did not have this issue....So... Ideas needed again! Thanks!

1: I think I just may leave well enough alone on the 89. It handles nicely... 2: Yeppers, ya gots to take the RSV apart to work on the forks. No way around it...I'm thinking about new seals and bushings...but that may be a problem. If I have to wait for the dealer or anyone else to get the seals for me....I'll probably forget what goes where!! Thankfully, I do have some 35mm film floating around somewhere if I do decide to just clean, change oil and put back together. BTW, it really isn't hard to take the bike down this far. The hardest part was unbolting the bars with the risers on and trying to keep them up and in line with one hand so I could take out the 4 bolts with the other. Other than that...it's a piece of cake to take the fairing apart... 3: Stock bars on the RSV. They do reach out and back a bit...but not enough for me to lean back and rest. Just a touch to short. And I have the Baron 1 1/2 inch risers that help a lot.

Hi Bill, Nope, but didn't know if your 89 had the brace on it and if it fit easily... Wait a minute...didn't we try to put one on my scoot at your house??? Or was that your other VR?

My very long lunch break done, (watched Olympics). Decided to get productive again....So to continue: Confirmed the garage door opener was bolted to the rafters (never know with some home builders!) so I went ahead and tied on to that and was able to raise the handlebars up and forward enough that it pulled the inner fairing away from the forks. I think I now have enough room to get to the forks and get them out. So my plan (remember I've never done this to a scoot) is to remove the front wheel, take off the fender, take off the upper brace and upper covers, loosen the pinch bolts on the lower brace and drop the forks out from under the front end. Take the forks to the bench, remove the upper cap, pour out the oil (measure) in both forks.....pry up the dust seal...and then run some 35mm film around the oil seals and hope to get them clean. Put new oil in and re-assemble. I hope I don't have to take the forks apart to get to the oil seal...it "SHOULD" be just under the dust seal...right? The bike was handling nicely so I don't think I have any spring issues... Am I missing anything here?

Thanks, Kevin, So if I do loosen the axle and pinch bolts, install the brace, I shouldn't be pinching anything in the forks out of alignment then when I squeeze the brace inside the forks? Hopefully the 3 gentlemen you listed with an 89 can chime in if they have installed a brace.

@cowpuc, see thread in 2nd Gen tech area....I mentioned about the fork brace.

Stated taking scoot apart today in preparation for checking out why my right front fork is leaking. These things are not supposed to leak on an 05 RSV! As @VanRiver says....it's warm in the garage. However, thankfully I'm way south of Phoenix area so I'm cooler. Not much, but cooler non-the-less. So... Got the seat, tank and outer fairing off....removed 2 nuts and 2 bolts holding inner fairing to frame...halfway through removing handlebar risers....I noted I goofed. I didn't move bike under the eye hook in the ceiling I put there to hold the bars up and the front fairing forward and away from the bike. Sigh. Note to self...stop being "stoopid"! So deciding I needed another pair of hands...I stopped. Went over to the 89 VR and thought now would be a good time to try out the brace VR sent me. Nope. Didn't fit. What the...? Put the old and new together and voila! My factory brace is smaller than the Superbrace types. That explains why neither brace would fit... By about 1/16 on each end.... OK...what's going on here? Anyone have an 89 VR like mine? @Prairiehammer, any way you can check your VIN database and see if another member has a scoot built around same period? Maybe they have the same issue. Maybe @cowpuc has a valid thought that I might have slightly newer forks that were designed (touch thicker at bottom) for the 1990 versions that had the fork covers put on?

Morning Puc, I don't believe my 89 had gators when new....I think that was from 90 on. Maybe I have a late model fork designed for gators that got on my scoot during manufacture...don't know. RIV sent me his other brace...but haven't had the time to try it out. If it doesn't fit...then I do have something going on with forks. I "know" I put the front end back together properly as I laid everything out as I went along?!?! She sure rides well though... But we shall see.....

((only makes the noise when not under load )) Hmmm...not to sidetrack the thread, but if this was a 1st gen...I would suspect a broken driveshaft. Mine only whined when not under load....ran great otherwise. Took it all apart and Kevin Campbell @Prairiehammer looked at my pics and found the shaft had broken... There were 2 areas where the shaft could break on a 1st Gen..at the front end at the ujoint and at the rear (mine) where the shaft goes into the final drive. Not saying you may have this problem, but if you can't find any other issues with the clutch, you might start looking elsewhere....just thinking outside the box.

Shinko is a good tire. I'm running the Tourmasters on my 89...the original tire size! Don't get a narrower tire for a 1st Gen...only need that for the 2nd Gen. I'm very pleased with the ride,etc.. E3's are about the best for a high end tire. Good ride, traction and durability. I think Shinko is best for a cheaper brand...although that really is a misnomer. They bought Yokohama....and are making their tires better than they did! The only negative seems to be wear on the rear...mine have been on for over a year and no appreciable wear so far...about 4K miles. But that doesn't bother me. Like Cowpuc...I don't mind changing out the rear....it's a good maintenance time. 1st pic is of my Metzler failure. The tire split open and had a nice bulge going as I zinged down the highway at 75. Felt a thumpity thumpity start and get worse. Saw the bulge as the tire was splitting. Went home very slowly on back roads... 2nd picture was taken this morning....you can see the rear and front still look great...

Went for a ride! After spending so much time going back and forth around Arizona...finally going to spend some more time in Green Valley and say "HI" to my home. Got up this AM and it was 71 degrees...yippee...that's riding time! Noticed desert flowers are starting to bloom from the rain. So had to stop and take the obligatory pic...Nice day!

Then recommend keep the tire pressures within 2 lbs of max for solo and at max for 2 up (in rear). Maximize the mileage....working with my 89 as they still look new and have been on for over a year...

I'm running Shinko Tourmasters front and rear on my 89 VR. Like the ride, control and security of knowing the tires stick like glue. Not concerned about mileage as I don't mind changing tires...makes me grease the rear! When RSV needs tires, going for Shinkos there as well....

HB...,. You can try to compress the spring... Or take it off and look around some parts stores for a replacement...that is slightly smaller. That said though, I wonder why your linkage is so loose it vibrates out? Usually, we have to clean and oil our linkage for easier movement. Suggest you check linkage over for worn connections, etc.. Maybe a way to snug up the connections?? As far as cleaning up residue, any good cleaner should be fine. Clean up and then watch to see if residue appears. And from where..... Meanwhile, make sure your oil level is 1/2 way up sight glass at BB posted above.

Question: You bought an automotive pair of LED bulbs. Which one did you install in scoot? Left side or right side. They usually are different pattern...hence my question. BTW, thank you for the pictures and test results....helps a lot! David

Sturgis...went for the 50th. Filmed a lot of the action for an independent company. Lived there for a week. Good time, great people. Memories.....

Very nice!!! Thank you for sharing..

Hah....Glad you made it! Happy Birthday, Bob! Remember, after 65... you can disregard doc's advice on your birthday and do/eat anything you want! So enjoy....

5k.

For more info.....Take the riders advanced safety course. They talk about lane position ....Heck.. Even the basic course teaches that. I took it four years ago as a refresher. It was interesting. Going to go again maybe this Fall. I tend to forget some of the tips and tricks they teach...guess out of sight, out of mind!

I routinely cruise 75 to 80 on highway. Not much choice out here...I would get run over otherwise. Do break the century mark,now and then, as the "Grin Factor" is hard to resist. Fork air front and rear is on auto low setting when one up. Rear changed to auto medium two up. Tire pressures 2 lbs under max tire load pressures. 40 lbs. Rear to 42 two up. Max load on 230 for our size fronts and rears was more than enough for two up load... when I bought them last year. Maybe they downgraded the tire though I would doubt that. I have never felt any squishy ness ... even on severe high speed corners two up. Got caught on a decreasing radius turn at 60 mph in the mountains... Had to lean way over (one of those..oh crap..trust the bike... moments.) something scraped during turn but got through fine. Lady woke up with scrape noise... She was sleeping! As far as weave and snakes... Far less then the Metzler's on bike earlier. I'm very pleased with 230's. I don't expect much mileage out of them.. But when they are due, the rear end will want some grease anyway....

Gary, FYI... I'm running Shinkos Tourmasters on my 89 VR with no issues. Stable and smooth.