Mike G in SC

I'm running E3 on front and Michelin Commander II on rear. Good combination. Not sure on the E3's mileage yet but got about 20-22k miles on the MCII rear. Still had some bite left but was pulling a trailer on a trip and "went ahead" and replaced it (with same).

We had a Road Star with stock seats. She hated the pillion, could only ride an hour. Got a RSTD that already had Ultimate Seats, she can take a half day. Got a Venture, good for all day. I'm good on either bike for full day, better on the RSV for cross country. But, she needs the cushie of the pillow top Venture seat. It's a fitment thing. But YES you need a back rest for HER. Mike G.

You could make 6 gas cap covers with those. Be nice if they were black!

No.

My brother had a Honda 50, he bought about 1964 when we lived in Decatur GA. Wasn't but a few days before the cops caught him on the road and Dad got the call from juvenile (I-20 @ Memorial Dr). Think they expected a license. You meet the nicest people on a Honda? We moved to SC, I rode it a few times. No one cared there. My first bike was a Kaw 175. http://www.motorstown.com/images/honda-50-07.jpg http://articles.superhunky.com/images/articles/133/F71_530.jpg

Yeah, for me,,,, It looked better in pictures than in person. Oh and she had a big butt! (And David, I see Miles VR membership has expired, not sure he is on anymore. He added a lot to the forums.)

Also good for the guy in the back seat who is out fishing the guy in the front.

I bought a 2001 in 2005, it had 4000 miles. I put 50,000 miles in 3 years. Sold it to my son-in-law at family price. I replaced it with a 06 RSTD. Seemed like such a bigger bike. I later rode the Road Star, seemed small. Guess I got used to bigger. Now I have a RSV and call my RSTD the "little bike". Enjoyed the Road Star (1600) a lot. It made me realize that after a 4 hour trip, I wanted to ride MORE. Wife was never comfortable on the pillion,, not for more than a half hour. I kept monkeying with it, Big Air kit and such. Wish I had just left it alone. Ended up getting sticky valve and when I sold it, told my son-in-law he should think of a valve job. Got hard to run in winter. Anyhow, he has only put 1500 miles on it in 5 years. He never did the work. Not sure it even starts. Think he is doing it at home,,, next year,,,,,. As you already have a Royal, it could make a good solo bike for you. Good spunk, good in the mountains.

Only sat on one at the dealer. As my inseam is under 30", it was hard to flatfoot. Bike sits low enough, but the seat is so wide at the thighs you got to do the splits. So, might be an issue for shorter riders. Seems like Miles got one, look for his posts on it. See: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=77226

Steve, Check the "VR Members Map" at the top of the page (left of "Classifieds"). Looks like you have a few "pins" within 30-50 miles. I ride with STAR Touring, there is a Lumberton and a Raleigh/Durham chapter. Let me know if you want contact info there. Might also contact local dealers to see if they have customers looking for same. Mike G in SC

If the trunk won't open all the way, see if you left a helmet in the passenger seat! Oh, and always be careful about stuffing jackets and junk in the side bags. If you have something covering the lock tabs when you close it,,,,, it may NEVER open again.

Someone who knows someone at Yamaha be sure to get this info to them. They might just change a fender color and call the remaining stock "2014's".

Well, you show her,,,, the next time she asks you to open a jar of pickles!

Joe, I see you got a lot of advise on this. Well, the best advise is what your mom said when you were first headed to school,,,, WEAR CLEAN UNDERWEAR!

When we checked in we saw several pickups in the parking lot. The lady clerk said "they're having a dog show!" Okay,,,,, was field trials. The "boys" thought that was kinda funny. Thanks, will put the top half of NT on my bucket list. I retire in 21 months.

There is a clean looking 2008 in the classifieds, located in Oklahoma. He did not give much info there but said it was also on Craigs List in OK. Think this is it: http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/mcy/3951053860.html

Rode 200 miles of it from Wes0778's place (Jackson, MS) into Alabama. Pretty, nice quiet ride, typical National Park ride, but mostly flat. Stayed overnight in an okay/cheap Best Western next to a good Mexican restaurant in Kosciusko, MS. No, not exciting. Once we got away from Jackson, very little traffic. So it has the "away from it" feel. Would like to do the "Northern" half sometime. Prefer some contour.

Andy, I have bottomed the front a few times, with bad bumps or potholes. But no fender dents,,, yet. If I had it to do again, I might have gone 1" instead of the 1 1/2". Because of that, I do have my front forks at 7 lbs to buffer it better (used to put 4 lbs). And the bars, we did have to turn them up max to miss the tank and my knees. But, because of the fairing, you are limited on how much you can turn them (stock bars). Funny thing was, when I left Wild Bill's house, I realized you will have to make full adjustments on the mirrors! But, the day we lowered it, my wife said she feels a lot more secure knowing my feet are flat at stop.

I put the rear lowering kit on both my bikes. Later, I thought they were too low (scraping pipes and handling). So, I had a fab shop make mid-length links to drop approximately 3/4", instead of 1 1/2". Just right. That works with my RSTD which was lowered about 3/4 in the front. Level, but a bit lower. Then, when I got my RSV front lowered, I went back to the stock links cause lowering the front 1 1/2" was sufficient to get my feet solid. And, this makes a great RSV ride for me with the steering. SO,,, my RSV has the caliper relocation and stock links,,,,, like yours. Curious,, is the front of your bike lowered? (You can tell by the tubes extending above the triple tree,,, not flush.) If so, someone may have gone through the same process I did. Mike G. Oh,,, and leave the lower caliper bracket on. It make it real easy to check and replace rear brake pads!

Brian, my bad, Darthandy is right, Clearview states Rainx is ok. From website: "Can be Polished, Buffed, and is Safe to use Rain-X Original Clear Formula" Sorry, Mike G

Brian, Not Clearview, it's F4 Customs. F4 is the Poly shield. I have both,,, but haven't used RainX. F4 states you can use RainX. Pretty sure Clearview brand says no to RainX. PS: for cars, the RainX premix 2-1 windshield fluid (orange) in WalMart and auto stores is a great product for beading rain on the road. Works almost as good at the rub-on stuff, but reapplies just by hitting the wash button.

That could be a game changer,,, kind of like the VW in the 60's.

http://i.imgur.com/YW6Fufm.jpg

30 years ago,,,, 66 was old. Now, I see it as one year past retirement! Happy Birthday, Mike G in SC

Washed one bike,,, as dealer who replaced my fuel pump yesterday said it was really dirty. (Going joke with him). It was 99 degrees, so will wash the other one in the morning. But, at least it has not hit 100 this summer. Last year, half the summer was there. So this summer we have had two straight months of RAIN. Checked over my granddaughters car for a road trip. Filled bird feeders. Too hot to do much else. Even pool is too hot to cool down. So, sitting on my butt with a Capt. Morgan. Spending too much time on-line. Wasted a Saturday. Should have rode,,,, anywhere. Rain expected for the next week. Better restock the Capt. Morgan.