Graywulf

Mine's the same, 2 bars, light on and about 7km on the reserve distance meter, and I get the splutters!

diesel engine oil?? I am all ears bongobobny....

Dammit man, I wish it was 30yrs ago,why? Because the lad's I rode with in the UK {bum biters club} don;t ask lol.. We did a run of T shirts that you would have been a perfect candidate for. {one of the lads was an artist/printer] It was a P*** take of a certain mindset of rider {chrome and sparkle}. Front on and slightly to the side, an obvious chopper bike with an erect willy sitting on the bike {one sack on the floor like a leg holding the bike up}, German helmet on the top {if anyone has seen the wicked willy cartoon book from the 1980's we 'borrowed' it} Caption was//// the Matt Black and well 'ard club. {apologies to any who are slightly offended by this post}

Great you got a new bike {replacement} quickly and in really nice condition.. Business as usual once healed fully

Yep did the same, ordered the LED tail and smoked cover as Barney already has smoked indicator covers. Going to fit a pass light bar, then grab either an LED H4 bulb, or LED conversion kit head/pass lamps. Liking the look of those Hertz speakers, considering the clarion speakers look like 'doped paper' through the fine mesh, I can't see any issues with a modern 'synthetic cone and rubber surround' speaker. I think the biggest improvement in recent years is the D class amps, low heat and power consumption compared to standard transistor amps.

Got Barney back today... and thanks to those who mentioned replacing the neutral switch O ring seal as well. Saw the original unit {clutch slave cylinder} did not look pretty inside the metal casing. Daniel {mech} said he had marked it up {very obvious} getting it apart, but there was obvious wear and 'scoring' inside the bore.. I can only assume it had indeed 'dried out' and the metal was wearing against metal for the 3000km's I've done since purchase. There was also a little weepage from the gearshaft seal, all replaced. 3 hours work, and the unit was $200nz alone. Having ridden with the new slave, it is obvious that the original wasn't working correctly, the feel is better and the bite position is much nearer to the top of the lever movement, rather than close to the bar as before. If this is the only 'failure' due to low use/long standing periods, I won't complain.

Amazing trip guys, I'm kinda envious {just a little} coz I luvs road trips. Leccy vehicles are still very much 'infancy' here. Major cities are about it for any real level of support though. Most of NZ would be like travelling the 'deep south' for the type of towns/services. Moose we dun have, or bears, or snakes, or cougars {apart from the woman type} or mountain lions. But we has lotsa dangerous Possum's {get as big as a cat} Next new vehicle Puc, come on over to Godzone, South Island is THE greatest riding/driving you can have.

shoulder/knee position are fine, but yes they could be a factor if not. Set up? Possibly, I am still running the bike 'standard' for now, 0lbs in front/rear. I am going to experiment with 4 in the forks, and 30-25 in the rear soon.

Shhhhhh I have a Honda as well as!!

It's at the shop... and they have ordered the extra seals, luckily the mech' who is doing it completely rebuilt a Gen 1 for a customer less than a year ago.

update. yup the slave cylinder seals have 'gone'. So new one on order {ex aussie} as well as the shaft seals etc. So with any 'luck' Barney will be mobile again within a week. Bluesky, you are so right, it is NOT an experience I ever wish to repeat, it's one big ole girl to get going with no clutch on the level

Welcome from another fairly new member/owner {Gen2}. I agree with your synopsis of this forum. I belong to a few, and the only other that was as welcoming, active {technical know how} was the MT owners group. Shame I live 'down under' as I love distance riding and would end up visiting a lot of people. BTW the 'Gen1' may be faster and handle better, BUT! the Gen 2 fits my big ole posterior fine

2nd Gen's aren't a too bad an option surely?

all fluids were done after purchase as the bike is 12yrs old and done less than 2.5k km's per year. The clutch was fine till the day before, and 'went' yesterday. So it has emptied a full reservoir in 3000km's. I'm still picking the slave cylinder seals had hardened and leaked.

Bugger! I'm pretty (90%} certain, the clutch master res' is empty

Clutch felt a bit 'funny' for 'bite' last night coming home from work. Went to go to work this arvo' got down my road? No clutch, nothing at the lever. Opened up the reservoir, only a tiny bit of fluid, looked 'gritty/dirty' {had been replaced a couple of months ago} . Got it to the biker shop.... 'crash boxing' a Venture was an interesting experience {first 3} I'm guessing the slave cylinder seals have gone west. Brittle through infrequent use with many months between each use; then suddenly a lot of use in a short time? Guess it's the joy of buying an extremely low mileage bike that is over a decade old. {At least I didn't have to push it}

As an ex GS100PD owner, the GS's are exremely good distance bikes. I never had an issue with needing to stretch legs, but the pegs on the older bikes were 'further forward' then the RS/RT's.

Well done on the promotion. I'm not in and never have been 'Managerial'. However all my work has revolved around self recognizance and self responsibility. I am going to pick your boss {VP} was probably pleased he had a staff member who 'gave it straight'. I've seen many times over the years when at a big staff meeting. **** has gotten real, because someone {yes I've done it} has stood up and told it how it is. Many middle managers will fudge/hide/misdirect blame/avoid situations or responsibility. Upper management often have no real clue as to 'how it is downstairs' My current career we have a 'middle manager' whose 'chooks have just come home to roost', we are waiting to see what unfolds. I would really suggest, carry on how you started, be straight, be honest, if you F*** up, tell them, if something needs sorting from a higher level, let the VP know. The VP may well be enjoying having such a manager working for them.

NZ is a rather 'unique' place for tire wear. We have twisty roads like the UK, Mountains, and the road surfaces are stone chip /tar spray. Our roads have some of the most aggressive wear rates {the chip is volcanic rock}. I have only recently like yourself, acquired 'Barney', but went straight to Bridgestone Excedra's. I've not owned a bike this heavy before, but none of my NZ bikes have been lightweights either {FJ1200abs/ZZR1100/CB1300/VN1500/MT-01} all weighed in excess of 250kg. I consistently used Bridgestone's on them, tried various other makes, but in general for price, grip, longevity have found the 'stone's' to be the best bet. I will likely try the Michelin/Bridgestone combination in the future. I replaced a set of half worn Metzler's after purchase {over 5yrs old} after travelling about 300 miles home, and my only 'thought' with the B/stone is they seen to want to track straight {need some push} but then tend to 'fall into' the corners with low speed riding.

Looking at the exaust stingers, I think it's using the new 3 stroke engine With two pistons on single bearing journal

You are a nice guy Don, the extra's you sent with my guardian bells, are going to be 'homed' on two jackets and a bike very soon.

Enjoy, Combo's are great fun, and nice to see a good condition Ural, I rode one for my rally bike for a few yrs. {Travelling 5 star hotel}. When I was young we had a woman {mid 20's?} who had a Dnepier/Cossak/Ural? Combo, and took her big male Rottie everywhere in it. Bloody dog loved it, including sitting in it dressed up like Snoopy with a white scarf and a leather hat n goggles with ear cut slots cut in it.

whooooeeeeee that's some 'bird strike'

Glad you are OK, Shame the bike is a write off, is an SVTC on the horizon??

That's handy to know Don, thanks. I have the Clarion CD already installed, so may look at pulling the tape deck when it warms up to be out in the garage.