CaseyJ955

Thanks guys for all the awesome responses. I knew a few had to be up to this! There are two main reasons I got this bike, other than simply because I think its cool and wanted it. 1. To get further into the woods than anything else with a motor, there is NOTHING in the world like the perfect unspoiled silence and tranquility found deep within the Black Hills. It is therapeutic for me, I love it! If I get out there far enough I'll just kill the bike and sit, maybe for quite a long time. 2. To extend my riding season, its pretty short here. We sometimes have pretty serious winters and a decent chunk of the summer the roads are clogged up with tourists and rally goers. By doing it this way I can still ride through the summer, the nearest trail head is a country mile up the road. It works. Well, it works if I dont shoot for the moon first time out haha. I'll see if I can work my way back into some mild/moderate single track by fall. I think I'll leave that other nasty stuff alone, I'm not so distraught that the advanced stuff is on the other side of the fence. I'm really in this for the enjoyment and workout but I dont need to say I slayed the worst the Black Hills could throw at me. I've been in the Hills long enough to know that it's generally a poor decision to challenge mother nature! Thanks for all the thoughtful responses, really enjoyed the read and perspective. Tony

Fantastic pics! Looks like a great ride and what a view. Maybe you can be the first to take a Gen3 to the darkside

Not to long ago I took the maiden voyage on my new-to-me KTM 250 XCW 2stroke, a dedicated dirt bike with no pretense of streetability beyond being plated and insured (I love South Dakota!). I had ridden it previously only on my driveway to dial it in and get it ready for a coming gathering of dual sport guys. I wanted to get some saddle time in before riding with others, but I barely got it together in time as I had to wait for a jet block Oring kit. So the day comes, crack of dawn Im making my way towards the pavement, onto 44W and eventually to Deadwood where I found my destination. It was ~20 mi of pavement, the bike is positively vile on the road, like a big angry chainsaw. I have to admit a nostalgic rush as I blasted through the crisp morning air on 2stroke with no legal worries. This is my first modern dirt only bike and im not terribly familiar with it yet. In 09 I rode with this club on my new KLR and had a great time, 10 yrs ago and on less gnarly turf. So I get there, mingle a bit and find a handful of others that were looking to do some single track, I tell them I just got the bike and im green. They welcomed me along. Several more paved miles, fuel top off/oil mix then off behind Nemo into the forest. The first bit of single track zig-zagged up a rocky hill tbrough the trees and a welcomed plateau, which would soon give way to some of the more challenging single track in the hills. I considered turning around after that first hill, I knew I was punching above my weight class. I know it gets worse but I suspect not by much, these were like goat trails! This ride was like a 2 hour Mtn Dew commercial! I got my ass kicked but good, I knew I had put on the big boy gloves after the first hill going in. These guys made it look fairly easy. I have viewed single track with KTM 2 strokes on Youtube to get an idea if mine was tuned about right and judge whether or not I was ready for it. Where we were was definitely more challenging than what I saw on the comp. I was doing okay but with my backside biting holes in the seat the whole time. It was not long before my flawed technique and death grip on the bike erased my stamina. Instead of controlling the bike, it was controlling me. My strength waned to nothing. At one point I had to roll off the bike and gasp for air while fighting exhaustion. It took several minutes before I could get back on my feet and don my lid again. All the while these guys are very patient and very cool, I knew I was slowing them down. Super guys really. Before the end of the ride we stopped and I opted to take some intersecting double track back out towards the road. I stopped along the two track and had to rest awhile before I had the strength to get this 230lb bike off the kickstand and kick it started. I was both humbled and, and embarrassed by my newfound limitations. I got through about 80% of the ride before tapping out. I stopped for water near the trailhead at a general store where I saw them emerge, I bought some beers to thank them for their great patience and guidance, then headed home as I was 10 minutes from my cabin at this trail head. I did take consolation that they opted not to go back through the trail but on the road instead. It was 4 days before I could even move the bike inside, it sat where I parked it for that time. I was torn up but good. Now had I known these trails were anything more than moderate I would have opted to go with a double track crew instead. But I learned plenty, Ive had the bike out on some pretty gnarly double track since to get more familiar and try to build my stamina back up. Im 6,1 210 so im not fighting much extra weight, I have not ridden offroad at all since an onset of fibromyalgia, so that definitely lowered the ceiling a bit. It wasnt that many years ago I could have endured this without full on exhaustion. Needless to say these.guys were half my age, I saw no gray hairs in the woods that day, and I think I know why. I know I look considerably younger than I am, and feel considerably older than I am, at least in recent times. Possibly they didnt know I was old haha. Im on the threshold of 50. Do any of you around my age or older still single track, if so, how advanced and what toll does it take on you. I know riding off road is physical but I was still surprised how completely it flattened me. I dropped the bike a few times, got good and bruised up, left a little skin, and a mirror... and my dignity in the woods that day. Most of all I had such a blast that I cant stop thinking about going back out again on milder stuff. There is a fall rally and I plan to attend and do double track so as not to be a weak link. The harder single track may just be something best left to the younger guys, or tougher guys than me. I bring this up here because I know we have a decent peppering of mature gentlemen on this fine forum. I know at least a few of you have left the pavement a time or two..

I couldnt see the vid but the pic is awesome. NOW I have seen it all haha.

Without knowing anything about your cardio risk factors I can say that many I have worked with since becoming an RN have lived with a pretty long history of heart issues. When I meet someone new the first thing I do (I work only in geriatrics and long term care) is read the chart, History & Physical tells quite a story usually. Some folks go many years with fairly serious diagnosis, much of it seems to come down to what else is going on. Also your compliance with treatments and recommended lifestyle modifications will probably have a significant impact. If nothing has been recommended then a consultation with a holistic cardiologist is probably a good idea. I have worked with some excellent Drs and others that cant be bothered with telling someone all the things they can do (or not do) to live the longest and fullest life possible with a given diagnosis. Very sorry your going through this, you are in my thoughts and I'm pulling for you.

I would leave them installed if you have OEM springs. Once I went to aftermarket springs I didnt need them anymore, they are still there but unplugged (MKI are hydraulically actuated, MKII are electric). I no longer need air PSI in the forks either.

Mark (Brake Crafters) is a prince of a guy, the way he does business is a benchmark other businesses should strive for. I got my Vmax MC kit and HH pads from him, someone on the Vmax forum passed his info to me with a glowing review. shipping was fast and he spent a while on the phone with me discussing brake pads and rotor wear characteristics before I chose HH pads. This guy knows his stuff! Best of all he has some OEM and cost effective aftermarket parts but he stocks or sells NOTHING FROM CHINA! That alone tells me he values quality over profit margin in a world where everyone is pushing the Chinese aft market crap and being elusive about country of origin. It sounds like hes going above and beyond, I think he knows the correct way to earn and keep loyal customers, I'm one for sure. I'm glad hes helping you out. Keep us posted on how it goes.

I just did three R6 calipers and one OEM caliper and each bore had the exact same thing in your pics, and I knew the seals were right because I was reusing the ones that came out (successfully I might add). Work it into the bore with your pickset, much lile the picksets I linked a few weeks ago. It does take some fidgeting but once in the groove it should look just like it did before you took them out, all nice and smooth, as much as it defies explanation his is my e perience. You will know when its in right, It feels counterintuitive but it will go in and seat just fine. I know its odd but it will go, make sure the grooveside is against the piston. I prelubed it with a little DOT and massaged them all in, I had the same feeling you do but tbey are in and working as tbey should with no leaks. As odd as it looks now it will go into the groove and find its home with some wiggle and profanity.

Ill take a shot at this since ive had mine appart more times than I care to recall. The explanation I got is that there is no beveled washer like the ones I fished out of my forks, IIRC that washer is supposed to be flat but distorts as the forks slam against the end of their travel, probably due to tired squishy OEM fork springs. Mine would easily bottom out before I installed Progressive springs. I flattened mine based on that and reassembled. There is a great vid on youtube of a guy replacing seals and bushings on a Venture and his looked flat to my old eyes, I cant link it but its there. I hope someone else chimes in on the "beveled" washer. Also the Yamaha dealer could not see a beveled washer on the fische for the Venture, so based on that I flattened mine, but I have had reoccurring issues with leaks on one side I believe due to issues unrelated to the washers. When my washers came out the were not equally beveled, one side was moreso. Another word on something that I have more certainty of, never ever use aftermarket seals, no matter how spendy and leak proof the marketing suggests they are or you will end up going back in at some point. This is a road I have been down on my Vmax and other machines, the Yamaha seals are as good as it gets to the best of my knowledge and experience. Check the youtube videos and hopefuly that will get you where you want to be. Hope this helps.

Im going to agree on all points, your experience mirrors mine. ABS would be a game changer. Once I delinked I could ride my driveway much better, the loose ridged gravel was a pucker factor 8.5 linked and 4.75 delinked. I think for a skilled rider that is used to it it's great but I noticed a much more controllable machine once I was back in charge of braking function. I ride some really lousy roads and in the zpring there is often sand and salt on the road and its killer for bikes. I fret if I cant control it completely and differently under varying conditions. On tight low speed and some slow surfaces I may not use fronts at all. I sort of like the option to lowside the bike to avoid a highside or direct collision if something unfortunate were to happen, I feel like that would be easier without the link. My rear caliper is off the front of an R6S with HH pad and it will lock up if I step hard, when I deli ked I used R6/HH on all three rotors so my results were not delinking alone.

When I was a child in elementary school it was customary for the class to rise and face the flag with hand over heart and recite the Pledge of Allegance each morning before class would begin. I got called out by a number of teachers for not reciting the "under God" part, even got sent up the hall a time or two. Once upon a time in middle America there was no tolerance for diversity. I didnt realize until today that it was actually an afterthought. Wow, memory lane, whichever version anyone embraces I hope you all have an awesome and safe 4th!!!!!

My driveway is almost 3 miles of rough dirt and gravel, I couldnt delink the brakes fast enough, it was so far from ideal that I 100% agree with the above statement suggesting it is a safety issue.

This sounds like very sound guidance, If I may toss in my .02, avoid ethanol tainted fuel, any carburetor equipped vehicle really. I store mine all winter with full bellies of pure gasoline and a splash of sea foam and in the spring they bark right to life. I let my Vmax sit for two weeks with ethanol fuel and it gummed up enough that a shotgun cleaning was not sufficient and I had to pull and clean carbs. Another thing I might suggest is visiting the Factory Pro website and hit the Vmax page for float adjustment as then tend to be a tad rich from the factory and these V4s prefer a tad lean. Vmax and Venture share the same carb config and float level adjustment. If you end up needing carb parts, K&L (iirc) is a fairly priced Japanese aftermarket mfr. NEVER try to save money by using Chinese kits or parts, its not worth the headache and you'll end up going back in with quality parts. Also of course the Yamaha OEM parts are excellent but not cheap. Check diaphragms for rips or pinholes, make sure all the slides are free without binding up. This assumes that your plugs are good and the carbs are synched up. The downpipe spit sizzle test is a quick way to make sure its hitting on all 4 cyl, its eerie how well these V4s run on only 3 pots. Welcome, she's a mighty purdy machine, I have no doubt you will love her once the kinks are sorted.

Wherever they do begin assembly of bikes I can just about guarantee a great many of the parts are going to come right out of China, more than now. Tariffs are a probably small factor but we have seen this empire beginning to crumble for a number of years now. I suppose tariffs are a convenient scapegoat. Rather than political, IMHO, this is simply free enterprise at work.

I gutted and reattached the valve, keeping it on the bike as a placeholder so I could use the OEM line. I did install an R6 (front) caliper on the rear and the different angle was awkward for the OEM line. It worked for awhile but it blew out on the last ride. I'll end up doing some measurements and getting a suitable non-Chinese aftermarket line. The R6 caliper and EBC HH pads did step up the rear braking power, it was a chore to bleed it until the pedal was firm and it sure wont put you over the handlebars, but it works well enough. Skydoc makes a neat tidy conversion kit for delinking and installing braided lines. I was too cheap to buy it but in retrospect I should have. If the rear works as it should but just not enough grab you might try going to an HH pad, it should make a difference. I just put EBC HH pads on my Vmax and the stopping power is notably better than with the OEM pads, with no other mods.

You got it!! Thats the way it's done! Dunno who the rider is but would love to meet them.

I love it! nobody can say that guy/gal has no backbone, or ingenuity for that matter.

Someone else just posted a pic of them here. No rubber, just a metal shield that holds onto the tube with a hose clamp. I like them because they seem to work great and have very little visual impact. As far as fork polishing, not a bad idea at all. I'll have to look into it. It's going to be another week before I get around to it so depends on what I find when I tear into it. It sounds like an extra piece of mind, that would be nice.

I have noticed that from time to time but it's been quite a while since I've been out during rally season. I plan for it so that I can just stay put right here, smoking meats, chillaxing with a good cigar, enjoying the wildlife and summer days. Motorists stay worked up for a bit after everyone goes home, it's a little extra hostility for awhile. I do understand though, it's a major inconvenience for anyone having to go about their daily life while it's all going on.

They do indeed give us a bad name. I live right near Sturgis and the only time almost as dangerous as the rally is the rest of the riding season afterwards. People obviously keep a seething hatred of us long after all the attendees get done showing off, running into each other and other stuff, clogging up ER and ambulance services and making a 20 minute drive take over an hour. Motorists cut us NO slack for quite a while afterwards. It's the equal opposite of squids. If your going to get sick here in Western SD you DO NOT want it to happen during the rally while folks with no business riding a full size bike figure it out the hard way! After a few rolling road blocks and half-speed scenic drives I get why people have such a deep bubbling contempt for us. It sucks but its not a mystery. All I can do is try and be courteous and not ride like an ******* in hopes that it's a small offset.

Congrats, my fav cal. I have a 7mm Ruger MKII stainless/composit leupold 3x9 varx2. You have a very fine thunderstick there mano!

Great looking trike, Congrats! Love that color.

I cant offer much model specific, I'm gen1, but I do have a great deal of gross, soupy, gray, dreary, depressing, cold, nasty, wet miles ridden. I lived in Seattle for 15 years and a Triumph Sprint (very poor weather protection from an R1 sized windscreen) was my daily rider year around. I use a Chevron rain suit, its compact and works fine, waterproof gloves at any Cabellas type store. I got some ice fishing gloves that work great. My boots are leather and got regular beeswax/oven treatment and worked okay. Bring extra socks, if it rains hard enough your socks will get wet regardless of boots. If it gets cold too then have tbermal underwear to slap on under your rain suit. I got my rain suit a little large for layering underneath. Visors can fog up, there are products to slow that down but with rain and cold I keep vents open and even open the visor one click if I'm fighting it. Also look at Pinlock visors or similar. Its really not bad at all if your prepared. I used to ride from Seattle to Soutth Dakota and back every year and a few times I got rain the whole way, every state. Not kidding on this. Keep a couple towels handy. I find rain downright depressing, but not riding away from Seattle even more so. You will be fine if your ready for it. Oh yea, make that rainsuit a hivis, heavy rain can cut doen visibility and its vital to be seen, also vital to know when its time to pitch the tent or grab a room. Rain riding can be pretty fatiguing so count on covering less miles per day. Above all have a gopd time and stay safe!

Those resemble the ones on my 89 that I recently raved about. Only difference is there is no external or visible shoulder, the clamp tang is inside, out of view. When they are on the bike they are virtually undetectable and sit close enough to the tube that it looks like they belong, that and easy on/off and very adjustable. Gaiters to me look out of place on a pavement bound machine but the protection is needed regardless. I have never had a pair of these but after digging into tbe forks a few times I learned to love this type of shield. I will seek out a other pair for my next street bike. Now that I look at it they may be the same as mine. I think your really going to like those!

I have a real love for air cooled VW, and today there is 0 technical justification for it. If I built another rail, it would be air cooled VW hands down, why? Cant explain, it is just the way it is. Emotional justification to ones self is all that is needed, if the machine stirrs the soul as you snap it to life and fasten your lid then anyone elses opinion of that bike means about as much as a royal wedding or the flavor of dirt on Mars. Just ease the clutch out and leave all the vamping and chatter behind. The gen3 is not likely suited to my needs but I'm glad it is to yours, "smitten" is all she wrote, no further explanation needed. Im glad you love the bike and im glad your here to share your experiences. Of course, if your ever in the Black Hills look me up, there is some damn fine riding up in these parts and would love to have any members here stop by, regardless of what your riding. One day if we dont get nuked we will argue single vs, 3 phase.