Mike G in SC

Lowering links are 1/4 to 1/2 LONGER than stock. (opposite of what one might think) Hold one of the "removed" links up to what is mounted, see what you got. Also, it would have been better (and cheaper) if the shop had simply left the caliper relocation adapter on the bike. This would guarantee it would never bottom,,,,, AND it is SO EASY to change or inspect the rear brake pads that way. After I got my RSV lowered in front, I went back to stock links on the rear,,, but left the caliper in the down position. Mike G.

I got the new light bar that Steve K sells in our Vendor Classifieds. It is RUN/TURN/BRAKE! REALLY NICE cause it is pre-wired to be plug & play. And his upgraded set has extra wires that took care of my trailer hitch. Well packaged, well thought out,,, no trips to the hardware store. Great instructions and if you want to go anal,,,, wiring diagram. Maybe take a half hour if you don't include beer. You will pull both seats to run the harness. But the plug/play can be tested in seconds. http://www.venturerider.org/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=4943&title=run-2fbrake-2fturn-light-bar-for-2nd-gen-venture&cat=35 And, again, thanks Steve. Mike G http://www.venturerider.org/classifieds/data/35/large/RUN_BRAKE_TURN_-2.jpg

Been there had same results. I also went to stock E3 on the front and a Michelin Commander II on my RSV and RSTD when the MCII came out. Besides a GREAT ride,,,, I get a lot of miles on them. I was at a STAR Touring Dinner in PA last year,, with several RSV/RSTD owners. A younger guy from TN, an admitted hard rider, said he had put a set of Michelin Commander II's on his and didn't like them because the would "bust loose when pushing corners". That bothered me. Well I later thought more about his comment,,,, and it hit me. MC II's DON'T COME IN STOCK SIZE FRONT. So his experience was related to using the small tire, if his front was a Michelin Commander. Not saying the small tire is unsafe (just not for me) but I think a small tire would not hold aggressive mountain cornering as well as the larger stock.

That boat didn't look so big till I saw the rig that pulls it,,,, and all the tires under it. How big of a fish they trying to catch?

Steve, have a friend with a V-Star 1100. His did same thing. We were on the road near Anderson, SC. I rode him to Battery's Plus. They swapped it. There happened to be two guys from a Harley Vintage restore shop who gave us their shop address. We went over and, yep high voltage. He found a shop who could change out the RR next day. Been fine since, 4 years ago. Mike G

OhPossom,,,, tastes like CHICKEN! http://www.allfunpix.com/humor/pics/possum.jpg

We may have to meet in Colorado to think this out. Sounds like a few already have........ lol

A recent study has found over 200 dead crows near Kingsland, Texas and there was concern that they may have died from the Avian Flu virus. A Bird Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and he confirmed the problem was definitely NOT Avian Flu, to everyone's relief. However, he was also able to determine that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with large trucks, and only 2% were killed by car impact. The State hired an Ornithological Behaviorist from Boston, Massachusetts to determine the disproportionate percentages for the large truck versus car kills. The Ornithological Behaviorist determined the cause in short order. When crows eat road kill, they always set-up a look-out crow in a nearby tree to warn of impending danger. His conclusion was that the lookout crow could say "Caw", but he could not say "Truck". And my dream was that there would be an appropriate thread to use this joke.

No one questions them because they never make it!

Went to McLeods near McBee SC yesterday. Saw one outside. Turns out, it was Joe Patrick, Bobbie and Art, up from Charleston. Hey Joe.

When a friend was in the area, the valve stem on his front got a leak, would hold air for an hour or so. We found out same thing about Cycle Gear. They were only $15 plus about $3 for the stem. The one here in Columbia, SC even lent us their MC Jack to pull it in the parking lot. In fact, their jack bottle went bad and they took a jack out if the box and assembled it for us to use. I normally think of them for sport bikes but they treated a couple old guys like they were Royal Stars. haha. Mike G.

Thanks TX, PW changed.

Don't have time to read the thread right now (so sorry if this is duplication) but this is interesting,,,,, and COOL. http://www.tiltingmotorworks.com/

Donny, Something to listen for,,,,, When a rear tire tread gets down,, when you ride a old parking lot with some loose stones, if you hear one PING out from under your rear,, you should take a look. For me, that usually means I am not too far from nylon. Rubber is tight and thin. Mike G

Bike looks bad. Pray he is not as bad. A STAR Touring friend in VA Beach is a motor cop in Newport News. Rick is 6'7" and a mighty force to recon with. He was on duty. A van (at fault) pulled in front of him. I think residential area. Badly busted right arm, lots of internal bruising. Several surgeries and a bout a month later he is on light duty. But he is back on his personal Victory Vision. I've ridden in Newport News and Hampton area. Drivers will cut a bike of without a thought. Watch out, out there.

Was at Myrtle Beach rally last weekend. A friend went to the Avon tent to get a new Venom for his V-Star 1100. They were out of Venoms his size. And the Avon rep said they had stopped production on the Venoms and would go with the Cobra line. I might guess he meant End-Of-Line(?) But that's the first I've heard of that, I don't see anything on Google about it. I got between 20-22k miles on my first rear Commander II. But have Dunlop E3 on front cause they don't make stock size Commander II. (But mostly enjoyed Avon products too.) Mike G.

You would expect a big tire seller to have something 6 months or less. But, I work for a rubber company and a year and a half is not an issue. Mike

Manufactured 48th week of 2012.

Maybe not related.... but Most people don't know that there is an on/off switch for the passing lamps inside the fairing of the RSV. It is right by the 12v outlet on the left side. Rubber tipped push switch. Curious, push that switch while lights are on. It should turn on/off your passing lamps. But I wonder if by choice of wires,,, it might now operate your bright(??). If so,,, swap wires.

I went down last Saturday,,,, wrong weekend. Nothing south. Only stuff at Barefoot Landing. Stopped at the Yamaha tent. When I pointed to my RSV,,,, they didn't say, hey, park that over here. I asked the British Blond same old question about when the Venture would be back. For the first time I did not get the old, "don't know" answer. It was more of "can't talk." I may go tomorrow, 2nd Saturday, take my BLACK RSTD. They'll probably say, "what kind of Harley is that?" A friend needs a tire so we may go to Avon. Joe, those pics look like South Beach (now Holiday Inn Resort) by the Airport? My wife and her girls stay there a couple times a year. Mike G.

At work, so don't have time right now to read the thread,,, Last month my old insurance went to $500/YR for good-full coverage on my 2009 RSV and 2006 RSTD, no claims. I checked Dairyland on-line and saw about $380. Then I went to my local independent guy (who sells me most of my insurance) and he got me good coverage w/$500 deductible with Dairyland for $330/YR. Yeah, both bikes.

If you don't find them,, Barons and Kuryakyn also make sets that look good,,,, but not as heavy. I used a set of Baron's on my RSV. Oh,, looks like closeout on Barons: http://www.bikebandit.com/baron-bullet-grip-ends

Used to be a FROGMORE, SC, half way between Beaufort and the beach. It's still there but outsiders moving in over the last 20 years managed to have it renamed to St.Helena, the name of the island it is on. The post office had the Frogmore Frog that teenagers would steal and bring back. If you hear of Frogmore Stew,,, that is local for a shrimp boil (w/ new potatoes, Polish sausage and corn) that is also called Beaufort Stew and Low Country Boil. But you know you found a local when they call it Frogmore Stew. Like once Sugar Tit,,, some people just can't leave a good thing alone. Oh, and got a buddy from Muleshoe, TX.