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Freebird

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Everything posted by Freebird

  1. Freebird
    I've heard of it and experienced it. Not uncommon. Mine does it also but I've never tried to figure out why. I seldom use the horn so haven't worried about it.
  2. Freebird
    I will be doing it this weekend. I only had one day home after getting home from Fort Collins and then leaving for a business trip. I plan to install and try it out over the weekend though and will report my results. I can tell you though, if Rick said it works, I have no doubts.
  3. Freebird
    I love the Clearview shields...in my opinion...they are the best you can buy. I also like the vent but I really think that the round vents that V7Goose found and Squidley has installed several for people here are a better choice. I think that the next time I get a new shield, I will order it without the vent and just install the round ones. My present shield has BOTH.
  4. Freebird

    link's

    Freebird replied to dray's topic in Trailer Talk

    Stickie's come and go. It would be best to add it to the "Links" page.
  5. Freebird
    I do have a tach on my bike. 3200 RPM at 70 MPH in 5th gear is just about dead on. That is true 70 MPH with Speedohealer. In 4th gear, it is almost dead on at 4000 RPM.
  6. Freebird
    I posted this in another thread but decided it would be best served in a thread of its own. As some here have stated before, and I agree 100%, the rear brakes on these bikes are WAY to sensitive. Some have argued that if you truly get to know your bike that it's not a problem but many have reported locking the rear brake in a panic situation. I know that I have done so a couple of times. The rear brakes just lock up way to easily and that is NOT a good thing. I've known Rick for a long time and though I don't profess to be a Venture expert, much of what I've learned about both the first and second gen Venture, I learned from Rick. He has been riding these bikes since they came out in '83 and I do consider him to be an expert on them. Rick has built SS Ventures and come up with a lot of good ideas where the Ventures are concerned. Rick realized early on that the rear brakes left a lot to be desired. I'll let him tell how he came to that conclusion in his own mind but after doing so, he set out to improve the system. He started out trying to link the front and rear as the first gen Ventures were. That turned out to not be the best solution though. He then came up with a system that incorporates a proportioning valve inline to the rear caliper and said that the rear braking is drastically improved. He send me one to test and evaluate on my own bike and it came while I was in Fort Collins. It will be an easy install and I'll get it done next weekend and try it out. I will then report my feelings about it here. If I'm as impressed with it as Rick is, then he plans to put it together as a kit and sell it to anybody who wants it. It is Rick's opinion that the system is good enough that it could actually save somebodies life. I know Rick well enough that if he is that confident with it, then I certainly want it on my bike.
  7. Freebird
    John does all the work. You can send him your rear end and he will install the new gears, any new seals, gaskets, etc. that you need. Adjust the backlash and etc. and get it all set up properly and then send it back to you. That is $300.00. If you want to minimize your downtime, you can do what I did and send him a $300.00 core deposit also. That means that your total is $600.00. He will send you a new rear end ready to go and when he receives yours back, he will credit you the $300.00 core charge. If you want to keep your rear end along with the new one, it is $600.00. I will send him my rear end as I never plan to go back to stock. That's how confident I am with this change. To me, it's a good deal.
  8. Freebird
    Oh Eddie Eddie Eddie...we are NEVER done. Actually, I am also adding a rear brake modification that will be offered here by Rick Butler. I'll get it installed next weekend and check it out. The rear brakes on these bikes is just way too sensitive. Rick started out looking at a way to link the front and rear brakes as they were on the first gen but came up with another solution that he says works GREAT. I've known Rick for a long time and can tell you, if he says it works great, it works great. It consists of a new SS line and a modulator valve that will give good controlled stops without locking up the rear in a panic situation. Looks to be an easy install and I thought about doing it today but am just not in the mood.
  9. Freebird
    Check this thread. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12800
  10. Freebird
    The $300.00 is with exchange so I won't have any to sell. Good suggestion though if I were to have kept them.
  11. Freebird
    I've actually found 7.5% to be pretty much dead on. I started there because that is what the guy who wrote the instructions had ended up with and I found it to be correct. I've also ridden with a lot of other folks on the RSV and we seemed to always be about the same percentage off. I would start with 7.5% first.
  12. Freebird
    I'm not sure. I emailed and talked to him on the telephone so really not sure which one it would have been on the site. He is shipping mine on Monday so I should get it installed next weekend and take it for a trial run.
  13. Freebird
    I've seen a couple of posts lately where 2nd gen owners have reported ignition coil failures. I think that both of those bikes were under warranty so you bet I would let Yamaha replace them. For those who are out of warranty though, there is an alternative. Dyna, same people who make the Dyna 2000..now 3000...ignition module also sell coils. If and when I ever need to replace my coils or wires, I will try the Dyna units. I know that Dyna makes quality products and I like the fact that the wires are not molded into the coils so you can change the wires when you need to. I'll never understand why Yamaha molded the wires into the coils on these bikes. Makes no sense at all to me.
  14. Freebird
    That is exactly right and is why I am doing this. At present time, I'm running about 3100 RPM at 70 MPH in 5th gear. NOTE: This is actual speed as I have the Speedohealer installed and calibrated. Your indicated speeds will be about 7 1/2% higher. The VMAX rear should put me at about 3600 RPM at the same speed in 5th gear. That is a MUCH better RPM range for staying in the power band of these bikes. On the way to Fort Collins, there was a first gen riding with us and he was running 4000 RPM in 5th gear. I ran one entire tank of gas in 4th gear at 70 MPH and my RPMs were exactly 4000, same as the first gen running in 5th gear. I don't know if 4000 in 5th is normal for a first gen or not. He may be running a VMAX rear also, I doubt it though. At any rate, the 4000 RPM in 4th did very well but I think that 3600 will be perfect. Coming home, I've been running 80 MPH most of the time. Riding one up and pulling the trailer. Fighting a heavy headwind, I've found myself at full throttle a number if times while climbing small but long hills and have actually had to downshift quiet a few times to maintain speed. I am confident that the change to the VMAX rear will be a fantastic improvement for our bikes. I am also confident that in the same riding conditions, fuel mileage will actually improve. When you are lugging the engine in these situations and those carbs are wide open, you are really sucking the gas.
  15. Freebird
    Sorry...I'm sure I won't be doing a Dyno but I will check RPMs at various speeds to compare the before and after. I have no doubt at all that this is going to be a major improvement over the stock setup.
  16. Freebird
    Well folks, after riding in the mountains and even general highway speeds on the RSV, I am more than convinced that 5th gear is just too high on these bikes. I actually did an experiment on the way to Colorado. Bob Dakin was riding two up and pulling a trailer also. For a complete tank of gas, I kept my bike in 4th gear as opposed to him running in 5th. At the next fill up, I needed the exact same amount of gas that he did. I am convinced that the overdrive is just too high a gear and are getting us out of the optimum power band. So, this morning I ordered a VMAX rear for my '99 RSV. I ordered it from John Furbur at http://www.rmsportmax.com After I get it, I will do a pictorial on the install, just a direct swap, and will report how it works out. The units that John sells are ready to go, complete with the holes and etc. for your speedo sensors. I am excited about the change and have no doubt that it will be a great thing.
  17. Freebird
    I have to say that I think he is completely wrong about the Michelins. I have them on my '99 and have been very pleased with them. I am on my way home from Colorado now and by the time I get home, I think these Michelins will have about 12,000 miles on them. There is still a LOT of life left in them. I don't know how many miles I will get out of this set but I certainly have no complaints about the way they are wearing. My only complaint is that they are a bit noisy in the curves.
  18. Freebird
    I just happened to see this on Ebay. I wonder if it would work on the First Gen Ventures. If so, it looks like a good solution to those who have a problem with the temps running near the read before the fans come on. This one turns on the fans 20 degrees sooner. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-V-max-Cooling-Fan-Switch-Vmax_W0QQitemZ190130673497QQihZ009QQcategoryZ35580QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
  19. Freebird
    MUCH better but still not 100% gone. I think I am getting a bit of leakage from the caps that I made for the AIS after I removed it. I think I'll look at that tomorrow morning before we ride again.
  20. Freebird
    Pick up a small tube of white silicone grease. Most auto parts stores have it and it will last MUCH longer than WD40. If fact, I used it on mine about 4 years ago and have not had to do it again.
  21. Freebird
    I've been running it for about 5 or 6 years and usually change it once per year. It's dirty when I change it but I've seen no shavings or anything.
  22. Freebird
    Does your '89 still have the single antenna? If so, you already have the splitter and it should work fine with the one antenna.
  23. Freebird
    This is what I use. http://www.mobil1.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Other_Products/Mobil_1_Fully_Synthetic_Gear_Lube_75W-90LS.aspx
  24. Freebird
    Done.
  25. Freebird
    I think you must have seen one that has been modified or something. I've bought over 75 of them from '83-'93 and they have all been the same.
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