Dragonslayer

GeorgeS is the man I was where you were when I first met him. He came to my aid and saved my bacon more than once. I owe everything to him. But I warn you have your thinking cap on and be ready to focus when dealing with George because he will take you to the inner most reaches of these motors, duty, operation and design. A very informative journey for those truely wanting to gain a detailed knowledge of these beast. I have a left side fairing for sale and I can probably help you with some plastic repairs if the ones you have are salvageable.

I found it was cheaper to get an entire good running used engine than get in to the cost and expense rebuilding one with issues. Check with Hessdeals (a member) he usually has motors laying around for to $200 to $300. Changing the motor out was not difficult following the shop manual and a few rigging tricks I developed changing mine.

Oh yea John Prine, you can change the words for any addiction.

Better get that camara with a super telephoto lens, maybe a Hubbard telescope...... OOOOpppppss did I say that out loud

Yea What He said

Swifty, I could not have expressed it better myself............... Well Said

Tell me about it, Not only do I have an ADVANCE addiction I also have an EBAY addiction. Just don't start buying parts from Yamaha or you'll realize just how economical your old V-8 Lead sled actually was.

Custer State Park, The Badlands, Wind Cave State Park, Spear Fish Canyon There will be plenty of ride info when you get out there.If your camping out try Horse Thief Campground. And don't miss the nightly show at Mt. Rushmore, It's a lot more than big heads if you care anything about our American Heritage and very dramatic.

I got one, it will need to be painted, now flat black.

That's right the blue 1st gens

Day and night 1st gen 1983 to 1993, 2nd Gen 1994 to present Drastic model change. You'll just have to go back and follow the threads on the pros and cons of 1st gen vs 2nd gen. Basically at least as far I can tell from this site The best Gen is the gen of the one you own. Welcome aboard.

You see I had this friend that was in a little financial trouble, years ago, and his house was up for foreclosure. He needed $2000 immediatly so he hit me up for a loan. I am always willing to help a friend out when I can but, in this case I had serious doubts that I'd ever see the money again knowing his current circumstances. So, I asked him to cover the loan with the only collateral he had that would cover the note and was not encumbered which was his bass boat. The term of the note was 1 year. So 2 years later without seeing the first penny in loan repayments, I took title of the boat. I had already been through my Boat Ownership phase of life so I had no Interest in keeping the boat. After the preping the boat for sale, I started advertizing it. Two boating seasons later I had few interested lookers and no takers. Out of the blue I got a call from a man in North Carolina who inquired if I might been interested in trading the boat for a 1987 Yamaha Venture Royale. Anxious to move the boat I told him I would consider it and get back in touch with him in a few days. I did a little resale value research on the bike and it looked like it was worth more than what I was asking for the boat. I called him back and we agreed to meet the next Saturday at Lake Lanier to go for a boat ride and check out the bike. I managed to arrange for my Goldwing buddie to be there so he could check out and ride the bike to give me a quallified opionion of it's condition and worth. Bright and early on Saturday morning we met at a boat ramp on Lake Lanier. The owner of the bike rode the bike in with his wife following driving a pick up truck. My buddy Scott arrived on his Goldwing and my son and I were in my truck pulling the boat. The couple that owned the bike were in thier late seventies and had decided that in this stage of thier lives it was time to change there pass time from motorcycling to a slower paced fishing. So getting down to business they were ready to go for a boat ride while Scott went for a ride on the bike. We backed the boat down the ramp into water and to my embarishment nothing happened when I turned the key to start the motor. The problem was minor and it only took me about fifteen minutes to find and correct a bad electrical connection and start the motor. Not a good start for a sales presentation. So after a short demonstration of all the features and apperatus on the boat they wanted to see how she ran and how fast she would go. Making sure everyone was geared up with life jackets and Grandma had her lace scarf in place holding down her Blue/gray hair. I yelled out sit down and hold on, then gave her the gas. My recollection was that it was a sunny fall day with tempertures in the mid fifties and very windy. Windy days on the south side of Lake Lanier usually result in 3 to 5 foot choppy waves. So as the boat launched out of the water and plainned out at full throttle within seconds were scooting across the wave tops at about 80 miles and hour. It was a pretty bumby ride and as the boat crashed down through each wave the resulting splash over the bow was sufficient enough to have us all soaking wet in no time. It didn't take long for them to have had enough of the white knuckle performance ride. So I deacerated and headed back to the boat ramp at a trolling speed. On the way back, there was not a word spoken. He was soaking wet and shrivering and she was staring sraight ahead with a glazed deer-in-the-headlights look in her eyes. Her lace scarf and blue/gray hair were all asque and soaking wet. Her right hand had a death grip on the hand hold next to her seat and her left hand had a death grip on his leg. In my mind I felt this sales presentation was a disater and I had deffintly blown the sale. As we loaded the boat up and pulled it out of the water , Scott was returning from the bike ride. After a brief consultation with Scott which amounted to him repeating several times in a discrete emphasised whisper, "DO IT, DO IT, DO IT". I casually walked over to thier truck where they were trying to get warm and dry. I queitly said, "I'm willing if you are". He instantly responded, "SOLD", to my amazement. We quickly did the paperwork on the hood of his truck, hooked the boat and trailer to his truck, Shook hands and waived each other goodbye. Scott headed out on his Goldwing with a loud "SEE YA" with my son driving my truck close behind. There I was proud owner of a motoprcycle I knew next to nothing about. At this point I'm thinking Motorcycle sale to recoup my cash. I had had a serious head on collision on a motorcycle as a teenager resulting in a five year recouperation period so I had not riden in about 36 years. Therefore I had no thoughts of keeping the bike and start riding again. But, there I was with no way to get it back home, 75 miles away, except to ride it. Now it was time for my white knuckle ride. I started off causously, slowly getting the feel of the bike and gaining confidence riding it. By the time I got it home I was really getting into it. That was seven years ago, and looking back I believe that trading for the bike was one of those cosmic life changing events. I never did sale the bike, but, I have recouped my original investment several, several, times over as a result of owning the bike. In retrospect, I also believe that being led to this perticular style, make and model bike was nothing short of devine intervention. The love that has developed between me and this motorcyle as I got to know her has changed my life in many ways. And my life now is totally and completely dedicated to motorcyling for fun, profit, lifestyle and adventure.

For my new job with Thunder Roads Magazine I'm writing an article about Venturerider.org to submit for publication. I'd like to include some photo's representative of the clubs nature such as group shots at events and M&E's. If any of you have some good shots please forward to me by e-mail to charlesgraham4867@comcast.net I can't give you any guarantees your photo will get published but I'll submit the article and pics to the editor and we'll see what happens.

Sweet Ride:thumbsup2:

Inquiring minds want to know, just how many of you "I ride my own, ladies" are out there anyway? Welcome aboard Highwaypeg, You'll find a bunch of neat people to ride with on this site, both male and female in the next riding season. Our riding season is just beginning down here in Georgia. Ride on down.

Thanks Ricky, I appreciate the help and support. Mark off April 13 thru 16th off you calendar for the 10th Aniversary of the magazine Biker party event weekend at Angel City Biker venue in Unadilla, Ga just south of Perry off I-75.

Don, I'm a step ahead of you, I've already planted the seed yesterday and an article on Venturerider.org is the first article Idea i'm gonna pitch. The great thing about Thunder Roads magazine is that they have a policy that magazine content has to be 50/50 ads and articles. Unlike some of the others that fill up with ads only. And since I plan on selling a lot of ads there should be plenty of page space for feature articles. I'll keep you posted on the progress. I made a few cold calls today and received receptive responses. It felt natural for me making the calls and I had a good time and a nice ride in 50 degree plus sunny weather. I really think I'm gonna like this.

Great I'll call you and e-mail some info. Thanks

Unless you wanted to move down here to Georgia, I'm sure there are similar opportunities up there.

I hope not too.But, I can understand how that can happen. I quess it will be up to me to keep it fun by the way I approach and live the assignment. I really haven't been looking at this in that way. I have been visualizing this as a dream come true. But, Time will tell. Perspective is everything.

Good rides, Been there done that too

Go west Young Man, The roads in many of the western states will blow you away.

My whole adult life I've been struggling with the question of what I wanted to do when I grew up. Now at the young age of 53 I think I finally know. Yesterday I sealed the deal on a new job which I am hoping will finally put me there. Ever since I got back from my Sturgis trip things have been kinda slow. The projects I've been working on either got completed or petered out right before Thanksgiving and things have been at dead stop since November. Being idle and considering the lousy weather we've been having I have been wrestling with my mental and financial health warding off cabin fever and slow cash flow issues. In the mean time doing my "What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up" exercises. These exercises pretty much involves making a list of the components of the perfect job and then develop a strategy to find that job and get hired for it. My list pretty much read like this: I want a job that requires me to do the following: Ride my motorcycle Travel to meet other people involved with Motorcycling. Conduct business with people who had motorcycling on their minds, for fun and profit. Attending, covering and participating in motorcycling rides, gatherings and events. Writing about those places, people and events I experienced while doing my job. Getting paid for doing all of the foregoing. Work with other people with similar interest and values. I did not want to have a job where : I had to be stuck inside all the time. I had a set schedule or routine that forced me to combat rush hour traffic daily. I was required to wear a coat and tie everyday. My pay did not represent the effectiveness of my efforts. IMPORTANT LIFE LESSON HERE; Once you decide and can visualize what you want in life, point your nose in that direction and follow it. Eventually you will find what your looking for. So Yesterday, I spent several hours with Jerry McDaniel Owner/Editor of Thunder Roads Magazine of Georgia and as of today will be working for him as a Field Representative for his magazine. Being a field rep includes all of the foregoing but, mostly seeking out Motorcycle friendly businesses in Georgia and enticing them into advertising in the magazine. So, if any of you out there, especially North Georgia members know of any Georgia motorcycle friendly businesses who would like to increase their exposure in the Georgia Motorcycling community through direct market advertising in Thunder Roads Magazine, send me an e-mail and a lead. I'll take all the help I can get to get a fast jump off the line. And do appreciate it. Or, If you have any event anouncements you would like included in the magazine, give me a shout.

I ventured out at 3:00 pm when it was high temperture for the day 49 and got back home at about midnight when it was a frosty 28 degrees. It shure am cold that late at night.

I've got a full set of locks for a early MK1 1st gen for sale all operable and in good shape with a matching key for sale . Lock set includes: Ignition switch......1 console lock..........1 saddle bag attachment locks......2 saddle bag access locks............2 trunk lid lock.................1 Trunk mounting lock........1 helmet locks..............2 I want $150.00 for the set plus shipping