Freebird

Eileen did ride with me. Actually, she almost insisted that we take it out for a while. It was the first time we had driven it since purchasing it on March 4th. It is fun and handles great. It is certainly not a motorcycle but absolutely not a car either. It is a bit rough on bad roads and there is certainly some drivetrain whine but us RSV riders are used to that. Overall, it is a fun machine. Plenty peppy as is so I doubt I'll add any of the performance goodies that are available for it. Will very likely change the exhaust not because I'm not happy with the sound but from what I've read, there are some issues with heat as the exhaust is laid out from the factory. Will probably add a header, do away with the cat, reroute the exhaust. Not sure when I will get around to all of that though.

LOL....I couldn't even get her to drive it on Saturday. She will though. She drove Larry's when he was here a couple of years ago and really loved it.

Temps were in the mid 50's on Saturday so Eileen and I finally got to take the Slingshot out for the first time. Still haven't had the RSV out this year but will soon. Here is a picture from Saturday. I've added the top, taller windshield, trailer hitch, some bar pads to the side bars. Sorry that my ugly mug is in the picture but Eileen insisted on taking it.

We shoot for 400 average but it can be more or less depending on where we are and where we hope to be. We have done as few as 300 and as many as almost 800.

Not from the factory. I've seen people make a lot of mods so that it can be but it requires some work.

WOW....just amazing. Loved it.

You just sunk DEEPER....snowing here again.

No, I allowed him an honest 1,000 and that is what I paid the dealer. I did that a few times when I worked there. Took a trade in for a one owner '83 Venture with 17,000 miles from an elderly man that had to stop riding shortly after buying it.

Here is the one I had. Years ago, I worked at a local small Chevrolet dealership for a while. I had a customer that wanted to trade this bike in on a truck but the owner said that he didn't want to take motorcycles on trade. So, I asked him if I could work my deal if I agree to buy the bike for whatever I allowed him for trade in. He had no problem with that. So, I allowed the guy $1,000.00 trade in, paid the dealership for the bike, and rode it home. Only had it for less than a month but it was a great running bike. It did have the high/low selector but I don't think I ever tried it. Don't remember for sure but I sold it for somewhere near $2,000.00.

I'm getting renewals and have not heard of any issues.

WOW...looks GREAT. That's some very nice work.

Work up early this morning, once again saw my pile of paper by my recliner reminding me that I was going to have to stop procrastinating and get my taxes done. So, got me a big cup of coffee and got busy. Wasn't all that bad and every year I get irritated at myself for stressing over them and not just getting them done. So, they are done and filed. Always a big load off my mind. Next year I'll do them early...yea...right.

Well I'll add my two cents here. I've been using a Carbtune for many years. I have had decent success with it and think that it does just fine. I agree with Cowpuc that the sticking is a nuisance but some little taps on the tubes seems to work ok. I admit though that it bothers me that there is really no way to calibrate them. You can test them by hooking each tube to the same carb one at a time to see if they are the same but if not, there is really no good way to correct them. V7Goose never liked the Carbtune and I defended it many times in discussions with him but sometimes I just have to admit that I am wrong. I don't understand Condor's comment that you can't adjust them side to side and front to back with the gauges. Maybe I'm not reading correctly what he is saying but you can do anything with a good 4 gauge setup as you can with a Carbtune. In addition to that, you can calibrate them easily when needed. I still have my Carbtune and will probably continue using it but if I were in the market for a new system, I would certainly go with the 4 gauge setup. Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

LOL...no I don't.

I watched very few westerns when I was a kid. The only ones I watched on a regular basis were: Rifleman Gunsmoke Wagon Train Johnny Ringo Branded Wanted Dead or Alive Palladin, Have Gun Will Travel Big Valley Bonanza Wild Wild West and the others that I am forgetting.

Yea, there have been a few recalls. That one came out after I bought it and I have to get it checked. The previous owner was up to date on the others.

In my opinion, the Slingshot is in no way a motorcycle. Side by side seating and a steering wheel make it closer to a car than a motorcycle in my book. The Spyder has motorcycle style seating and handlebars so I think it is much more of a motorcycle trike than the Slingshot. That being said, it doesn't matter to me. There are many ways to get your face in the wind and the Slingshot is just another way to do that. I wasn't wild about the way the Spyder handled. It didn't handle like a motorcycle in any way but didn't handle like a car either. I admit that I didn't ride it enough to get used to it but it just wasn't for me. I'm not knocking the Spyder, some people absolutely love them and have ridden them enough to get used to the handling but for my tall frame, it just wasn't comfortable enough for me to put the miles on it to reach that point. The Slingshot does handle very much like a sports car and is fun to drive but obviously in a much different way than a motorcycle. I think that Polaris worked a miracle by getting this thing approved as a motorcycle for licensing purposes. Due to it's lack of safety features like airbags, shatter proof windshields, and so many other things required for automobiles, it would never pass government requirements as a car so getting it accepted as a motorcycle was essential to its success. Like Larry said, more and more states are coming up with the new autocycle classification and I wonder where that will eventually end up and what safety requirements could someday be added. At this point though, it is just another way to enjoy that wind in your face experience.

Years ago, I loaded all my own ammo for pistol and rifle. Never got into reloading for shotguns. I really enjoyed doing it. I used a Rock Chucker press. Not real fast but I found it very rewarding being able to experiment and optimizing my loads. I shot a lot back then. Life changed, new job, moved a couple of times and just didn't shoot nearly as much as I did back then so sold the reloading equipment and never got back into it. Probably never will but it was fun at the time.

I can tell you, accessories for the Slingshot are probably more expensive than for the Venture.

I listed hotels/motels in the second post in the rally section. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?135026-Freebird-s-Maintenance-Day

Well, haven't actually done ANYTHING to the Venture this year. Also, haven't moved the Slingshot since the day I nearly froze to death riding it home. BUT...i have added a few things. Bullet Speed V-Back top. Madstad adjustable windshield. Carbon_One trailer hitch. Trailing wiring isolator and connector.

Come on folks. Only 27 people signed up so far. Remember the "good old days"...we had around 250 people one year. Come on now, don't miss the great time. Please sign up on the calendar if you are coming. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=505&day=2018-6-2&c=1

Nice guns. I really like the Bisley style. May have to add one if I come across a good deal.

We have a member who sells a bypass for the ignition. Here is a link to one of his ads in the Classifieds but that is not the actual bypass, you will need to contact him to get the one for what you need. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/photopost/showproduct.php?product=697&title=rsv-ignition-by-pass-relay&cat=8 The fuel pump is a real possibility but it is also possible that the gas tank vent is plugged up. When it dies, has he tried opening the gas cap and seeing if there is a vacuum on the tank?

Very nice S&W. I've got my eyes on a Colt Anaconda in .44 mag. The guy has had it a long time and it looks brand new and still in the original box. He is back and forth on whether or not he wants to let it go though.