leroy

Not today but the last two weeks finished Friday. 26,000 mile maintenance: Valves, coolant, oil, front tire & brakes, service rear. Brake and clutch fluid was changed last winter. I should be ready to go now but probably nothing big on two wheels until October. Too much work at home.

I replaced my PAR 36 driving/fog/passing lights whatever one calls them with Truck Lites. I believe they are the 81260. They are great at lighting up the road. These are more of a flood than a spot. So the sides of the road are lit up better. They draw about half the power of the PAR 36 but much brighter and whiter.

Thanks for the info. I have a lot of experience on tires for my VTX, 134,000 miles, but still learning on the RSV, 27,000 miles. Presently I have Elite 3 on front and a almost new Commander II on rear. The rear Elite 3 that I replaced in November had 14,000 on it. I had great luck with the Commander II on the VTX. This is my first experience with Elite 3. I have about 19K on the front Elite 3 with 3/32nds left but replacing Tuesday to get trip ready. I carry 40 psi in front and rear. I have heard several guys like the Avons. I have never tried them.

I remember way back when I was 40. One of my coworkers was 50. I was having some foot issues. He said just wait until you are 50 all hell breaks loose. He was right. Then in my 60s I started needing mechanical repairs like an old car. Of course the good part is, so far, I am alive enough to need repairs. Some of my old school buddies my age gave it up long ago. So I must thank the good Lord for my health even with a little tweaking by the guys at the repair shop, aka, docs.

Puc, Very interesting experiment. I can't wait to hear of your results. I am curious, what tire have you been running to get only 5,000 miles out of? Do you pull a trailer? Most of my riding is heavily loaded high speed highway Texas heat no trailer. The worst tire mileage I have had on either my heavily loaded VTX or loaded up RSV is 6000 on the OEM RSV Bridgestone tire. The VTX was 8,000 on OEM Dunlop 404. My RSV is a 2012 model bought new in 2015 so it was an old tire to start with. When I replaced it, it still had life in it but I was in Lincoln, Nebraska in the summer and knew it would not last back to Dallas. One blow out in my lifetime is enough. Keep us posted.

the 7 vs 8 I believe is the heat range. Check the plug web site for the meaning of the different number. I like to stick to the heat range stated by the manufacturer but I don't believe one heat range number either way will make a difference except in racing. The IX is Iridium and is OK just supposed to last longer. I am putting them in mine this week.

While moving I ran the speed limit and no more than 5 over once in a while. If no construction the limits went from 70 to 80 with most at 75. Yes, I just added a 5 gallon auxiliary tank. First real trial for it. All went well. I have ridden some SS1000s on my VTX without an auxiliary, 140 mile before reserve range in 18 hours. Then I added 1.8 gallon auxiliary tank that gives me a 200 mile range before reserve. The extra fuel made it so I could pick my stops. A must stop at 170 give or take miles on the RSV without the auxiliary tank and more like 300 or so with the aux tank. When I would not have to pee or when I would not get sleepy the 300 plus mile range was a great asset. My stops at my age are dictated more by my bladder and getting tired than fuel. Some days I only need to stop when I need fuel so I take care of food and restroom at the same time. More often I have to stop between fuel stops but usually very short rest stops. I get sleepy at odd times. I am getting old, 69 and a half.

Most was slab. Unless traffic or construction or rain I went the speed limit most of the time. I did exceed by 5 mph from time to time. That is real mph. Speed limits were for the most part 75 to 80 with some 70. The first leg of 1200 miles, Dallas to just east of Fargo average was 62. Second leg to Billings and down to Colorado Springs of 1100 miles was 59. Traffic and construction was terrible through Denver. The home stretch back to Dallas was 65. These were from first fuel receipt of the day to last so stops counted against my rolling speed. Certain parts of the day I would get tired so I'd go to the "Iron Butt Motel". That is take a power nap where ever I could stretch out or even sit on the motorcycle. I am getting old. If I felt like I needed to stop to eat a snack or use the restroom I did. I had a Camel Back hydration pack with me. That sure made a great difference. To make things more comfortable I'm working on carrying a one gallon therm filled with ice and a bite tube attached for any hot riding of any kind.

Awesome

Thanks

This was a few days ago but I finally have time to post. I took my Venture out on the road for a run. I left Dallas area at 0400 to spend the night east of Fargo, ND, for a 1200 mile 19 hour ride. Then off to Billings, MT, and down to Colorado Springs for the second night and 1100 miles in 18 hours. This was followed by a 900 mile return to home. So I completed my first Saddle Sore 3000 (3000 miles in under 72 hours). Had to see if this old fart still had it at 69 and a half. I got home before dark so I washed the bugs off of the front. I washed and waxed it the next day.

Nice gun. You'll like it.

Congrats I like the color

Name some friends call me + college graduation present bought by me to myself, 1973 Corvette that I still have. Had to work two jobs to pay for it. edit: Sorry, I usually go by leroys73 but for some reason I left it at leroy on here.

My dog wanted so bad to ride with me and I hated to leave him. I bought a T bag dog container. I strapped it on the passenger seat of my VTX. He liked it but no matter how I fastened him in the thing he would try to climb out so he could sit on my lap. Needless to say I never took him very far. I loved him too much to take a chance. I even considered a sidecar, just for him. I even took a sidecar riding class. When I would return from a trip I'd stop by McDonalds to pick him up a double cheeseburger. He passed three years ago so the sidecar idea never came about. I sure miss the guy. I wish I would have bought the side car.

I'll second that. Rick is a great guy, not many of us left.

Videoarizona, I looked up Moto Lights. I found out they now have amber LEDs. Mine are the high output LEDs. They did not have amber when I ordered mine so I put a yellow tint on mine. By the way all of my added electrics run through a fuse block and I have done the by pass on the ignition switch sold by one of our members.

Thanks, Those are Moto Lights on the forks, http://motolight.com. Not cheap but I like them. They come with the mounting hardware. These are caliper mounted. I went with the LED because of less current draw. I that is all you are adding and want more distance, go with the narrower beam. I added the yellow tint, give them sort of a greenish glow.

Someone requested pictures of my "what I did to my RSV today". It was not today but over several days, like a month ago as I was on my way to The Moonshine Lunch Run. Now I have pics so I'll post before I leave for Key West in the morning. What I did was add a tach, rear light bar, Moto Lights on the forks, Denali driving lights, GPS, auxiliary fuel tank, Two sets of Show Chrome switches on the bars for the Moto Lights, Yamaha passing lights with Truck Lite replacements, and Denali lights. I want to see and be seen. I had swapped out the stock shield for a Clearview last year. I had the front 1 inch using Race Tech and Barons on the rear. Top racks for the side cases were added a month earlier. [ATTACH=CONFIG]112538[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]112539[/ATTACH]

NY is in some ways like Illinois. Not many mile outside the big controlling city (NYC and Chi-town) most people are gun friendly. Too bad the heavily populated sanctuary liberal loving cities control the whole state. I bought in Texas and Oklahoma long guns and handguns over the last 50 years. Even in most recent times if you are a resident of either state you just go to the dealer fill out the forms and usually you are approved by the federal check quickly. Long guns across the two borders is the same process. If you have a license to carry in either state long guns are even quicker. Handguns you must be a resident of the state. Buy from an individual: Give him the money he gives you the gun. It works in both states. An Oklahoma buddy worked in Colorado as a non resident for a few years. He bought a handgun for self defense. He had to have it shipped to Oklahoma to his home address had to travel there to pick it up then return to Colorado. Since Oklahoma touches Colorado, barely, he could buy a long gun in CO. He said isn't that crazy, I can buy a 50 cal. rifle that will take down a helicopter but can't buy a handgun to defend myself. Guess it makes sense to people in DC who have no sense. I have heard many people say that in the US they never will take all the guns. True. However, it could be made a felony to own one or they can tax the ammo to the point no one can buy it.

I like that.

I talked to the owner of MotoQuest a few months ago. He said the 1000 was OK with some problems but the 650 was about bullet proof. Of course he was talking of rental bikes and some rough roads. Last summer a friend took an almost new 1000 to Alaska and Prudhoe Bay. He had both front seals leaking by the time they left Alaska. Not saying the Strom 1000 is bad as all motorcycles have their flaws. I personally like shaft drive. Today's chains are good and I like Suzuki. The 1000 is too tall for me. In any case get what you want, what fits you, and take off somewhere. Happy Trails.

That is good. Many of a good men have sat in the recliner just to die early or worse, get to where they can hardly walk. Keep moving and doing. With you interests you don't have time to sit around. That very good.

Davin, I sure like that color. Well today I think I am finished farkling for a while. After the auxiliary fuel tank was successful I went after some older add ons and added some new stuff. I previously replaced the H-4 headlight with an HID. Also replaced the PAR 36 with LEDs from Truck Lite last year. All running through a fuse block and relays. So after three days of work and plenty of interruptions I finished up today. Here is my latest. I repositioned (moved one bolt down) my Moto Lights. They were where I liked them but they were in the way for replacing brake pads. Wired a light in my tail trunk. Added a Show Chrome handle bar switch on the right bar to control my newly added Denali D4 driving lights. I already had the Moto Lights and passing lights on another two button SC switch on the left side and running them through a fuse block with relays. Rewired my 12 volt/usb outlet on the bars. Then looked up my GPS. Forgot, I added a Barons tach. It is mounted on the brake reservoir. I prefer not to ride at night but when I do I want to be able to see. I think I still have some IBA rides left in me. The BB 1500 Gold is calling as is the 50 CC. So the lighting will be nice if I get to try those rides. I'll try to add pictures later. Now I have to catch up on my chores on the home front.

Sounds like you have a keeper for a wife. Not many that encouraging.