videoarizona

Holy Cow! You are good, Sir @bongobobny ! The top left side of the handle on the radio unit had a small nut on it instead of the proper nut. I never noticed that the nut wasn't the same as the other 3 corners. Guess the PO lost it down inside the left fairing, couldn't find it and simply replaced it with a regular nut. Must have fallen out when I took the fairing off...no wonder I had no clue...I didn't take it off. I owe you are beer. Thanks! P.S. nothing fell off on this mornings test ride...so maybe those 3 leftover screws were also lost in the fairing as well....and fell out. Nah...I can't be that lucky... Gotta tell ya, it really is a rush to nail the throttle on a 1st gen...the century mark comes so fast....

Finally got scoot back together. As usual with me, had 3 screws left over and one strange little part. The top end has a tiny threaded hole. Have no idea where this came from. Ideas??? Took a few cranks to start her up...been sitting a month. Tomorrow I'll go for a test run...see what falls off, I guess!

Well...just finished reading the blog to the end. What a great ride! Been across country on a scoot when I was younger.....but not sure I could take 30 days on the road or the expense of it all now! Regardless, great read! And thank you Dave, for taking the time to share your adventures and pictures. I traveled with you...using Google Earth...and enjoyed every mile!

Hang in there, Randy! Getting your smeller back in shape so you can breathe again is a great feeling! Yes... and get back on the Cpap. They even make units that are small enough to be battery powered all night for camping (if one really wants to pack a unit on a scoot). ResMed S9. I got off the nasty nose stuff too, a few years ago and now on a milder prescription and back on Cpap as well. Now the Admiral got me a FitBit for Daddy's Day at it will read my sleep patterns for me. Interesting technology these days... Congrats on Day Three!

Finally got a break in the weather here in Southern Arizona...only 73 this morning. So you know what I did.....zoom! About 90 miles and breakfast as well... Nickels Diner in Rio Rico. Good diner food! $7.50 3 egg omelet. Any toppings...doesn't matter, same price. Elephant Head Road...on way to Visitor Center...You can see for over 40 miles, looking West or Northwest toward Tucson, from this spot. Whipple Observatory Visitor Center in background. You can take a bus up to top and tour. There is a picnic area here and a nature walk explaining the area through the ages. In the middle of nowhere.... Cows and horses, too..... The paved road ends just past the parking area...dirt/4 wheel drive recommended past this point. All in all...a good morning ride.

That may work very well...or...use the flat/matt coat like a clear coat. Gloss over primer, flat over gloss. A couple of thin coats of flat.[/color]

Don, The auto custom paint guy I got my paint from warned me not to make the surface to smooth as the auto type paint doesn't stick very well to a really smooth surface. Suggested I sand to no more than 800 grit. (I had used 1500 for final). Though if your primer looked smooth, your finish coat should have been as well. Humidity get in the way??

Not quite so warm today. Actually had an afternoon of rain. Wanted to join @KIC in Tucson... Bikers were out in force around Tucson... To raise awareness of motorcycle riders. Tucson has had to many deaths here lately, so the guys and gals are out with signs trying to let the cagers know they have a right to be on the roads too! I decided at last minute not to go as there was still showers around me... And I was concerned about the heat in Tucson. I'm having problems riding in the heat this year.... Didn't want to take any chances. The rallye of Bikers was the lead story on the 6 o'clock news. Didn't see @KIC.... But hopefully he took pictures and will share when he gets a chance. And @Max...I think the tires I'm thinking of are Dunlop's...

@cowpuc probably the only tire that will handle the heat is the Dunlop dual tread. Really hard rubber in center will mitigate the rubber loss from heat...I would think. I don't know the model name but it's sold by HD for their high end cruisers. I'm sure it's available for the rest of us by now. I run Shinkos on my 89 and keep the pressure up near max. I'm very happy with their wear and traction/ride so far. D

http://www.colorrite.com/product/yamaha-0957-very-dark-red-metallic-2-vdrm2-1770.cfm

Isn't this it? >> Motorcycle :: 2006 :: Yamaha :: Royal Star Venture (All Models) Click on a part number below to select a product to see available options. IMPORTANT NOTE: Some colors require a base color to create a special color effect. This is called a "TriCoat" which is Base + Top + Clearcoat. If your color is a TriCoat, the base color will be listed below under "ColorRite Base" and you will need to order both the Top and Base listed. We always recommend clearcoat for the proper match and maximum protection. [TABLE=class: color, width: 590] [TR] [TD=align: center]Code[/TD] [TD=width: 200, align: center] Paint Name [/TD] [TD=width: 200, align: center]Comment[/TD] [TD=width: 50, align: center]Color Chip[/TD] [TD=width: 70, align: center]ColorRite Top[/TD] [TD=width: 70, align: center]ColorRite Base[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=align: center]0957 [/TD] [TD]Very Dark Red Metallic #2 (VDRM2) [/TD] [TD]Regular Venture Color [/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #660000] [/TD] [TD=align: center] 5200 [/TD] [TD=align: center] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=align: center]0903 [/TD] [TD]Black Metallic X (SMX) [/TD] [TD]Midnight Venture Color [/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #000000] [/TD] [TD=align: center] 5245 [/TD] [TD=align: center] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=align: center]0033 [/TD] [TD]Yamaha Black (YB) [/TD] [TD]Frame/Wheel Color [/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #000000] [/TD] [TD=align: center] 5135 [/TD] [TD=align: center] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=align: center]0582 [/TD] [TD]Mat Black Metallic #2 (MBL2) [/TD] [TD]Engine Color [/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #000000] [/TD] [TD=align: center] 5988-1 [/TD] [TD=align: center] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Color swatch is just an approximation for reference. It is not an exact color representation.

Randy, I'm on fluticasone. Spray it twice daily. No long term issues. Only problem with it is if you do get off for a while, it takes a while for it to be effective again. The normal OTC stuff is more powerful but not for long term use. This stuff is...supposedly! Good luck with the nose. david

Taz, Take either I-25 north or State rte 185 north out of Las Cruces to Hatch, about 35 miles. The Hatch Chili express store is on 657 Franklin street. Supposedly there is a Hatch Chili Store in Las Cruces near I-10 and South Hotel BLVD...don't know for sure. If you go to Hatch, Continue on Rt 26 (Franklin Street) south and west out of town. Nice shortcut back to I-10 at Deming, NM. Or you can get back on I-25 and head north to Socorro and catch rt 60 west into Arizona. Stop at Pie Town. Famous for pies. Outside of Springerville, make a left and head down rt 191 (Devils Highway). Be advised it is a very dangerous road. That will take you through the largest copper mine (You drive in middle of it) and into Safford...then down 191 to I-10 and into Tucson. Or...from Hatch...come down Rt26 as mentioned earlier and hit I-10 and ride it into Tucson Area. Let me know when you get near. If I'm in town, you are welcome to stay with me in Green Valley...about 30 miles south of Tucson...and there is a short cut you can take from I-10 that saves a tiny bit of time but you may want to stay on interstate if hot out.... From Tucson, I can show you various ways to get up into the mountains through Globe, Lake Roosevelt, Payson, Pine...etc., and into Sedona then up to Flagstaff. From there, the Grand canyon is easy as is Bryce Canyon and more. Just let me know. Cell phone/text is in my profile.. david

Fantastic info! Thanks to you all. Guess I'm in the ball park with my two mesh and two leather jackets! Will keep eye out for a Tourmaster to try out. See if it's any better for breathing. I think most of my problem is age related. Don't think my built-in cooling system is working like it used to. Five years ago I rode around Phoenix n summer heat. Now anything over 90 is hard for me....

Yep...I'm guessing same. Either a corroded connector or you have a bad diode in TCI. Easy to check on TCI... Hard part is getting it out from under battery and putting it up where you can get it. Then open up unit and look for serious corrosion on the diodes. Search this site for pictures and fixes. Staying tuned to see what happens next...

That it is unless you play it smart. I still like the heat better than cold. The winters here are fantastic for riding or doing anything you want to do. Summers though are our maintenance days. We can still do lots of things in the morning, or spend weekends up in the mountains and be cool. And our homes, cars and businesses are all air conditioned so it's quite doable to be out and about. What bothered me the most about my winter of 2013 in New England, was the feeling of being always cooped up! Yea, I could get dressed and go out...but to do what? Can't work on boat, can't work on scoot, can't play golf or go swimming. Got tired of going to mall or out to eat. And how long can you sit on the bench at the beach and enjoy the ocean?Oh, wait a minute, can't find the bench...to much snow. Nope....what is a bit telling about this...is youse winter guys and gals complain all winter about when can you ride again. You really don't hear us complaining to much cause we can still ride. Just have to pick our times judiciously!

Actually, 120 is only ten degrees warmer than 110. Not to bad really. But not to be out riding in the city on the scoot. The stop and go will get to you real quick! I was out the past couple of days in Phoenix doing some varnishing on the yacht and such in the mornings. Then we hit the pool and took naps during the hot part of the day. If you do what the Mexicans do, the day isn't bad at all. They start work around 6am and work until 2pm. Then go home. When you start the day early and keep on truckin throughout the morning, you don't even notice the heat. BUT, if you go out at 11 am or noon and try to work the yard...it's sunstroke time! So @VanRiver, when I come by to visit you on the my scoot...please understand it will be early! That way we can chat and visit and I can be home before it gets to darn hot! AND riding at night is great. Everyone is home thinking it's to hot to be outside (true in the city)...but once you get out in desert or country it cools off fast. it's still in the 70's at night here in Green Valley while it is still 112 in Phoenix!

LOL!

@VanRiver. Sure you want to go riding? Grins!!

Comes and goes for me. Every time I hear about a biker fatality in the area, I wonder why I still ride. Then there are days where I can't wait to get back the scoot and find some lonely road. But yes......

When eating locally, I tend to order same-o, same-o. When traveling across country or overseas, I really enjoy eating with the locals. It's been interesting, for sure.

Totally agree with Condor. You are way too light on tongue. I always go 15% or more. Slightly higher tongue weight gives better wind handling when dealing with 18 wheelers @ 65mph. Get the axle rating, bearing rating and tire loaded rating. This should give you an idea on the trailer capacities. If all is good, then I would look into moving the front trailer bracing forward in a "V" configuration so you can easily move the wheel chock or build one in to the bracing. One foot forward should put the driver saddle directly over the axle which would be perfect. Throw your spare tire on its tongue mount and you should be good to go. Adding the cooler in front is an added bonus!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1984-Yamaha-Venture-Royale-XVZ1200-Y503-rear-mono-air-shock-damper-/231762595189

Concur. EBay. Pinwall cycle. Bet you can get the whole wheel, axle and rest.... and it would be cheaper and easier than trying to figure out what's what. If the thing came apart that badly, there is no telling what else may be wrong. Not worth the effort to figure it out unless you are curious. I bought an entire rear end assembly for my 89 for $80. The wheel would have been a separate buy...but the way to go in my opinion. Pricing now, that I don't know. I've seen some parts now that are going for higher pricing than last year. But still worth looking around. Suggest you call Pinwall and ask them what they have for an entire wheel assembly with bearings, etc., ya never know what they may come up with... Good luck and keep us posted. OH, thanks for the pics.

Glad you are OK!!!