cwtart

Got my 2008 RSV stripped down to the bone - replacing front brakes with R1s, stainless steel hydraulic lines, rebuilding all master cylinders, etc. This bike is new to me and I don't know the service history so am going over bike with fine-toothed comb. My question is, can I power washer the naked bike without driving water into all the electrical connections or should I use a gentler method of cleaning before I put it back together?

They are still posting on Facebook and they posted yesterday that they are closed until the Wisconsin lockdown ends on May 26th. J&S Jacks is a very small family owned and run business and, in my opinion, they could easily close their store front to the public and continue to make-ship product. But not responding to phone calls or emails and having their web site closed down is pretty ominous. I have done a lot of research on the lift-jack I am going to buy and from what I have found, J&S jacks are top-of-the line product-wise but at the other end of the spectrum for customer service. Too bad, because I was willing to tolerate bad customer service for a superior product but now there is no customer service at all. I contaced Pitbull and they are also closed but are still taking orders if you call and leave a voice message and are still shipping product. Pitbull responded to my website contact request withing an hour.

Couple of questions for you: 1. how long have you had the Pitbull? 2. which model - air or hydraulic 3. pros - what do you like 4. cons - what don't you like

Have been waiting for my J&S jack since February - their web site, https://jsjacks.com/ is now suspended - they do not return emails, they do not return phone calls. Sorry to see them go - I was willing to wait for the product. Fortunately, I was able to file a dispute with my credit card company and got an immediate refund. I guess I will be looking at the Pitbull jack now.

I use Markel - far cheaper than Geico, Progressive, or any others I could find. I pay a total of $383.00 per year for two motorcycles: $251.00 per year for my new Triumph and $132.00 per year for my 2008 RSV That price includes a $500 deductable per bike and $3000 accessory coverage per bike. Of course, I get the Old Fart discount.

Ha, Ha - that chair would be great but I don't want to spend more on my shop chair than I did on my motorcycle. LOL.

Yes - exactly like that - looking to see if anyone has a similar one and what they like/dislike about it before I buy one.

I am looking for a 2-in-1 creeper that turns from a lay-on-my-back creeper to a stool-seat creeper - will make it easier to roll around my RSV when it is on the lift. Anyone have a particular brand-model they like?

Just rebuilt a pair of R1 goldspot calipers to be added to my 2008 RSV. Used EBC FA252HH Double-H Sintered Front Brake Pads. Question #1 : what do I do to prepare the rotors for the new pads? Cleaning, etc.? Question #2 : many opinions on the internet about bedding or breaking-in new brake pads - what are the general recommendations from you guys on break-in? Thanks.

I paid $40.00 for it, which includes the shipping. Will sell for the same price. It does not appear to have ever been used but time has made the tank-protection pads on the bottom of the bib disintegrate - looks like the pads may have been some type of stick-on felt or something similar. But I may be wrong - it may have been used previously and the owner added the tank-protection pads themselves.

Yes - still have the bib, probably not going to use it.

Wisconsin's "little tail" is state highway 33 between LaCrosse and Reedsburg.

I have purchase used R1 calipers on ebay and will be putting them on my 2008 RSV. Question is, has anyone painted their brake calipers and, if so, what did you use? Do they look good? What color?

I already found a used set of R1 Gold Dot calipers on ebay for $75.00 for the pair and ordered them. Also ordered an All Balls rebuild kit for the calipers from Amazon for $33.00 and last but not least, I spoke with SkyDoc (Earl) and have the ball rolling for the stainless steel lines. Earl is a great guy and I look forward to adding his SS lines to my RSV. You guys are great on this forum - this all would have been much, much harder without your help. Thanks to all. And a special thanks to SkyDoc!

Used parts, in this case the R1 calipers, are the only way to go - new OEM R1 calipers that will work on the RSV are $1300.00 a pair, minimum. And I got that right from a Yamaha dealer. Must be gold plated.

Thanks for all the feedback - your answers and suggestions are great! I sent SkyDoc a PM about the lines - waiting to hear back from him. All else looks very doable. Thanks again.

I bought my 2008 RSV sight-unseen from a dealer who got it from another dealer so I have no previous maintenance records. I believe the bike is a single owner (other than me) because it is in stellar condition with 21K miles. I only rode it for about 200 miles last fall before I headed south for the winter - the bike stayed in Wisconsin. I don't know how long the brakes are usually good for on the RSV before some maintenace is necessary - the bike seems to brake okay but I plan on having this bike for a while so I want to do the following: 1. replace the front and rear brake lines with stainless steel. 2. replace the clutch hydraulic line with stainless steel line. 3. replace the front calipers with R1/R6 calipers, either quality rebuilt or new. 4. replace the rear caliper with R1/R6 if that will give braking improvement. 5. do what is necessary to the master cyclinders. 6. install speed bleeders all the way around I don't mind spending the money to do this right. My questions are: 1. where can I get stainless steel lines that are custom cut for the 2008 RSV? 2. if I replace the calipers, will they come with the pads installed? 3. what are the best performing brake pads if I need to get pads? 4. how can I determine which R1/R6 calipers will fit my RSV? Thanks.

I use this one I got from Amazon - works great and easily fits in saddlebag. brand = VIAIR model = 85P - plugs into cigarette lighter and can be used with any type of 12v adapter.

I also found this: https://touratech-usa.com/Store/Touratech-2-Liter-Spare-Fuel-Canister 2 liter gas can

Thanks - now all I gotta due is get up the courage to spend the $50 they are asking for a wedge-shaped plastic one-gallon jug - I guess they have the market cornered.

the 1 gallon container is 6" wide x 7" deep x 10.25" tall Anyone have the dimensions of the Gen2 RSV saddlebag? My RSV is 1500 miles away from me right now.

The question is, will it fit in the saddlebag? The dimensions look like maybe too wide. Although I don't know the width and height of the RSV saddlebag. And I am not where my RSV is so I cannot measure it.

I'm looking for a spare gas can to carry in my 2008 RSV saddlebag - maybe 1-2 gallons. The Reda can appears to be no longer available. Anyone have any suggestions for a gas can that will fit in the saddlebag? Something I don't have to worry about spilling or leaking. Thanks.

Looks like you are right - cannot seem to find any R tires in 15 inch rim. On to the brand - the Dunlop E4s are getting my attention - BUT, the totally-centered groove on the E4 front tire gets a lot of bad press. I found one blog where someone had E4s and the guy drove over the Mackinaw bridge going from main Michigan to Upper Michigan. The Mackinaw bridge surface is metal grating. He said the groove in the E4 front tire so fixated on the metal grating that he could hardly steer the bike. Other reviews say the groove on the E4 follows ridges and tar snakes on the road way too easily. Anyone here have this problem with the E4? Also looking at the Metzler ME888 - very nice tire

Okay, assume I know next to nothing about tires (which I don't) - why would I not want to mix bias and radial? I have observed in my internet searchings that some do mix bias-ply and radials - is your good and welcomed advice specific to the RSV or large touring bikes in general?