Mike G in SC

Steve, How many parts did you have left over when you were done? Mike G in SC

My RSTD will sometimes do similar. Was worse last year, till I pulled the panel where the starter solenoid connector is and reset it. To get in there, you pull the passenger left floor board, then the plastic panel behind/above it. There is a connector visible there. Try to disconnect/connect it. That seemed to remedy mine, but has happened a couple of times since. Dion, on this forum is your resident pro. I also had a local Yamaha tech suggest I replace the big red wire from the battery to the starter,,, with a bigger one. Who knows. Good luck. Mike G in SC

Just don't bother with Advance Auto MC batteries. They are lucky to last 10 months, with 3 month warranty. Had 3. The last one I had, two months old, when I put my two bikes on identical Battery Tender Plus, the Yuasa was full green in minutes, the Advance took overnight to go green. I even swapped the chargers around. So, rather than waiting for the reaper, I got another Yuasa and moved the Advance to the shop for backup. A Honda dealer shop told me Advance uses as little lead as they can get away with. Shame.

The HD waffle pad is only about 1/2". It may raise you just a bit because you won't sink in to the pillow top as much. But, it's not like a 1" gel pad.

Bob, regarding "how to" on gravity feed, I have had to do it and posted a couple of times. I posted same on the VR Facebook page the other day. Here is copy/paste. (Yeah, I know he already proved the pump is okay, so just for info...) Gravity feed, more or less: Shut off petcock. Pull the seat off. pull the tank bolt. You do not have to remove the tank but will want to lift it and wedge a board or something to elevate it an inch or so. You should also pull the left side cover. Find the gas line from the tank to the fuel filter. Use a needle nose to squeeze the clamp and pull the line off. Need a rag cause you will be dripping some gas. Feed that line over to the right side of the bike. Use needle nose to squeeze the clamp on the gas line that goes to the carb input below the right rear of the tank. Now put the line from the tank on the carb input. At the left side by the gas pump, unplug the electrical connector to the pump to prevent it from puking out any remaining gas. Turn the petcock back on. If it was the gas pump, it should now start. Now, you should be able to put back the tank bolt and seat and side cover. Unless I missed something, you should be good to go. Keep the tank level over 1/4 tank, maybe 1/2. I ran over 1000 miles like this while I waited for my dealer to get a new warranty pump. Mike G in SC

I had a 2009 RSV. Was going to ride direct from Branson, MO to east of Columbia, SC (950 miles). On recommendation from a HD friend, I got the HD large waffle pad ($90?). Made the ride straight thru, about 18 hours with stops. It did the trick. It adds more structure and also the waffle weave lets air pass under your butt. (good for summer) I still use it on other bikes. I did also buy a Russell Daylong king/queen saddle USED. If you find one used, make sure the first owner is about your size. They are custom made. After I bought, I found out the PO was 6'3" (like you), and I am 5'8". The seat has wings under the hips that a shorter guy cannot work with. Cannot get feet down safely. I called Russell and they do not modify used seats. I sold it to a 6'5" friend for what I had just got it for. He's real happy with it. Mike G in SC

I looked on one of the links above. Yamaha shows two new bikes a Z1, which my belly or azz won't fit, under 1000 CC and another 950 (see below). Looking at the picture and rider, this would be perfect for those living in mom's basement and waiting for that money from Face Book he shared. Gone are the days.

Red1, I have not seen or followed this post. .... And, I have not read the above posts. (so you may have already bought one) If you are still looking for a sidecar, Reggie Brewer in Orangeburg, SC bought one from member WES78 (or something like that) in Jackson MS about 3 years ago. He had it painted to match his 2011 blue RSV. It is available for sale but he has not been advertising. Please PM me or him if you are interested. He was on this forum some time ago, I don't know if he still is. Thanks, Mike Griswold in SC

Wife said she still has her bag phone.

Still holding on to this one.

I went to Walmart yesterday. I normally enjoy this because A) I don't go there for groceries. I stay on the side of the store that has the manly stuff, electronics, car and hardware and, okay drugs. B) I normally check out at the outdoor shop, simple, normally small lines for my one or two items. Yesterday I went to the grocery side for 6 or 7 items. Wow, every isle is a traffic jam of folks who park two wide to read soup labels. I see dead people! Then you find yourself as one of them. I had to dig deep on a bottom isle for a second can of bean with bacon and come up to see 4 shoppers waiting for me to move. Then, seeing long lines at that side of the store, decided to use the self checkout. Well after waiting on one, it was the R word, yes the machine is a retard (no offence ADA). Of the 7 items, four times I had to get the attendant over to look at my scanner then go back to her desk and override it. I spent 40+ years in green screen IT, these machines should not treat me like this. I got home and told the wife, using all the bad words. She laughed and said, your daughter comes back the same way. So, Walmart for manly stuff (and drugs), and Food Lion for groceries. Sorry, got off subject but my final straw was the SELF (ABUSING) CHECKOUT.

Going to work one morning, saw a sport bike on the side of I-20. Pulled over to him. Newby rider on his new used bike. Yep out of gas. Something really nice about the Venture (carbs) is that you can pull the gas line at the petcock and fill up a 16 oz water/sports drink bottle in no time. Gave him a bottle or two of gas and followed him to the next station. We are STEVE!

Dion, I might ask a dealer that question because I actually have a almost new 2008 GW seat in my barn. (PO put a Ultimate seat on my GW trike and gave me the OEM seat.) But, it most likely will not as it has a queen passenger seat (detached back rest). I note that they (GW and FB6) are two different seats on the Ultimate GW pages. Thanks, Mike G.

Barry, I do have an Ultimate on my GW trike. PO installed it. And Got a 4 piece set on my RSTD, so I know the comfort, and have talked to Des, Ultimate owner over the years. Yeah, it is the way to go. I'm used to their pricing. The bigger issue would be spending $18K to hope the seat works, LOL. So, still on the drawing board on the FB6. I need to dispose of a couple other bikes before I buy. (Oh, not wife's idea, mine.) But, at least now I have 80 miles on one. Thanks, Mike G.

I do see that Ultimate Seats has done a good looking one for the FB6. No, not cheap, $895. http://ultimateseats.ca/honda-motorcycle-accessories/f6b-seats/2R-12140

I live in middle SC. There is a Rockingham, NC dealer (75 miles) who sells Wings wholesale. So, a new 2016 FB6 Deluxe is $16,700 with no hidden fees. (F6B Standard for $14,999 but if you're going to buy, buy deluxe.) List is more in the low $20k. But, as they wholesale, they have no interest in taking the Venture as trade. The normal dealers start at list and work down, with your trade. But right now they are not full of inventory. Sunday, a STAR friend of mine brought his 2014 FB6 Deluxe over. We went on a nice 80 mile ride with twists. Me on his F6B Deluxe, him on my GW trike. Mind you I have not rode a 2 wheel wing yet, the bike is a great handler, with immediate power. We didn't get on the interstate to sustain, say 80 but no doubt it would do so fine. The bad(?), the bench seat. The RSV and RSTD, you sit "in" it, the F6B, you feel you are setting ON it. I was already having a bad back day and it got amplified. Another bad for me is the bags opening out instead of top. For me that spells avalanche. I have an Ultimate on my Goldwing trike (PO spent $1295) and on my RSTD, so will think about that, see what Des has for the F6B. So what I have found out in the last few days is that the F6B is a tremendous machine. If I got past the seat, might be on the top of that wish list. But with the likely dealer not taking my trade, I will alternate my route. I'm taking it to a dealer for consignment. I'm retired with 3 paid for bikes in the stable so, no hurry. With where I am now, as Steve K told me last year, maybe look at a two wheel GL1800 as my solo ride (and my GW trike for two up). Thanks Steve K for your PM of the lightly used F6B. Wonder why he is selling after 750 miles, guessing it's a comfort thing, which this bike is hit or miss. I like the size of my old RSTD but want new, if I could find a midnight RSTD in a box at a dealer, it would go on the top of the list. Thanks all for the discussion. Mike G in SC

Camos, Thanks, but I got a height problem, 29" inseam. I have sat on the FJR at dealers a couple times. With my left foot flat, no way the right will be grounded. But thanks for the reply. So, same for a BMW. Mike G

Anyone of our Goldwing riders have a F6B? I've been trying to sell my 2009 RSV here and there (but don't think I want to do Craigslist). So, was thinking about trading to a Honda dealer for a Goldwing F6B. I'm looking for your input. Right now the 2016 F6B Deluxe has internet prices as low as $16,700. (probably rebates to dealer) My two up bike, that has replaced the RSV is a Goldwing trike. Had it most of a year and trust the Goldwing, power and dependability. I am considering the F6B as my solo ride. (My current solo bike is a 2006 RSTD, may trade it too.) I want to stay with 4+ cylinders and water cooled, which now says Goldwing. (big thanks Yamaha) So, was wondering thoughts from GW owners of getting a F6B vs a basic Goldwing. Again, looking for just me, not two up. Thanks, Mike G in SC

I wanted to go to a trike for my two up. As I'm growing up (ha) seems my 2009 RSV is getting to be a handful two up between slow and stop, even lowered for my short legs. And, I wanted abundant power. So after seeing the difference of a GW 1800 trike and a RSV trike in the Rockies last year, I got a GW trike. So, got my two up travel taken care of. (RSV is for sale on this site.) But, I still ride two wheels and will eventually want to replace my solo ride, 2006 RSTD (108K miles now). I like V-4, water cooled. So, if they come out with an equal to the RSTD, I might be in.

Same issue, hot. I test rode a Road Master first weekend in May 2015 at Ride Now in Concord, NC. The Indian truck was at their event and all models available. I only had the Road Master in mind. I liked sitting on the bike, but I like the long gears of the RSV better. But as happens with a 10 bike demo ride, you get bogged down in traffic. Yep, that's when it hit me, HOT. The afternoon temp was in the mid to low 80's, so yep it was the bike. Wife was not there but from what you all have said, she would have got the worse of it. So, since then I got a Gold Wing Trike. Not Hot,,, but lot's of power. I do like the looks of the Springfield for a solo ride to someday replace my RSTD solo ride. But as they all use the same platform, likely just as hot.

Thanks for the offer Darrin. Actually I was referring to the (sometimes) L-shaped hanging bracket to adapt Road King mufflers to the RSV/RSTD. With the cowling the PO put on the mufflers, would not need the muffler clamps. (Got some of those for my RSTD many years ago. I kind a claim fame to showing those chromed clamps to this crowd first long time ago, for what ever that pays. lol) But I have the 2009RSV for sale (on this forum) And will leave the stock mufflers on it. Again, thanks. Mike G in SC

So, quoting myself,,, I took the dusty box of stock RSTD mufflers out of the barn. They look okay but needed clean up, Col Brassy. As I looked at them, dang, they're RK cans that the PO must have welded the stock cowling to. Well, that works for me. Now just have to get P-clamps or a set of brackets. Anyone selling those brackets (RK pipe adapters) anymore? I like those over P-clamps.

That's interesting that you did not like the RK. (I still have a 2006 RSTD and a 2009 RSV) I recently took off some loud 8 year old Barons 4-2-4s off my RSTD and went to RK. Got tired of loud, Love them. I had RK on my 2009 RSV and loved them but a few months ago, when cleaning the bike up (for sale?), I went back to stock RSV. I do sense a certain loss of power. So, I will look in my barn to see if I have my original 2006 RSTD mufflers. Yep, not wild about the stock set performance after having the RK's on for several years. Mike G in SC

I called the dealer where it has sat on consignment since May and told him, I'm bringing it back home. Haven't decided it I want to sell it on my own or just ride it (it's paid for, insurance paid for, taxes paid for, gas is cheap). I enjoy my GW trike (I got for my two up) and my RSTD (local solo), but sure miss the RSV for long road trips on moon light nights. lol Just got back from STAR Days on my GW. But wife took her car and only rode one short ride (too damn hot for her). So,,, the RSV would have been nice for the 1600 miles I rode.

So,,, here's nothing. This is the June 8 Yamaha announcement email link. Nothing for grown ups. http://view.email.yamahamotorsports.com/?j=fe5816777062057f721d&m=fe5d15707d6c047b771d&ls=fdf81c707263027e77167277&l=fe92157577670d7a77&s=fdf215737164037b7512797c&jb=ff69157575&ju=fe22177775650c7a731c75&r=0 But, I just put 2400 miles on my GW trike this week. So, I'm good.