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Semi-retired

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  1. Semi-retired
    I know that.......and you know that........it's the car driver turning into me I'm worried about. :-)
  2. Semi-retired
    Funny......your two-up comment......that's exactly the way I felt when I put the Hagon on; as though it were just a bit "springier" than it should be.....like it wanted to be loaded up a bit more. I, like you, decided I would just let 'er ride for a couple of weeks before even THINKING about playing with any adjustments. Been out on Bertha (my affectionate name for the behemoth!) 6 or 7 times now with the new shock mounted......and I gotta say, it must be 'working its way in'.....cause I don't even think about it now. I realize that at least part of that is probably just the "familiarity factor".....you know, where your butt just "adapts" to what you set it on over a period of time....so I think I'm gonna trade bikes for half an hour with my Intruder-riding buddy today and see what HE thinks. He rode Bertha a couple of times with the sacked out shock several months ago....so he might have a more objective opinion of how it's performing. Plus, I'll at least be able to do an A/B comparison of his shocks to mine. It's times like this I always regret not having pursued my "other" dream job of being a motorcycle magazine journalist......so I could just jump on five or six different sets of wheels on any particular morning.......go for a spin down the Pacific Coast Highway.....and come back with a handful of critical comments on anything from shock performance to acceleration specs. Instead.....here I am trying to remember how my ass bounced up and down a month ago, compared to how it's bouncing up and down today! Arghh.
  3. Semi-retired
    OK, guys.....tell me if there's one already for sale out there (I want two of them if there is)......or count me in on the royalties if YOU'RE the first person who invents it using MY idea: What is "IT".........a gizmo to attach to my Venture AND my wife's V-Star that CANCELS our signal lights the SECOND we turn the corner and bring our bikes to the upright position. Not 10 seconds after......not 5 seconds after.........not 2 seconds after.....IMMEDIATELY AFTER. Is there any reason you can think of why our signal lights STAY ON for up to half a block (or more!) after we've made the turn we just made?? After all, it's the signalling of our INTENTION to turn that's the important thing.......not putting on a big show AFTERWARD..... "HEY, did you see me turn back there!?! Look, my signal's still on, to prove I did it!" If you're like me (God help you, first of all....), you've probably noticed when group riding, or even just riding behind your buddy or your honey, that the person ahead often appears as though they may actually be about to make a second turn in the same direction as the one they just made. Even scarier, is the fact that the car coming out of the street or driveway on the opposite side from the signal light thinks the bike is turning too......and that it's SAFE TO PULL OUT!! Wrong.........SCREEEEEEECH........BANG!!! What ever possessed Japanese engineers (haven't checked on BMW's or Ducati's to see if German and Italian engineers are likewise afflicted) to put a so-called SELF CANCELLING device into our signal lights that sends MISLEADINGLY EXTENDED "signals" and could potentially CAUSE more accidents than it PREVENTS? Cars don't do it! They cancel the second the wheel straightens out. So, what's with bikes? Get with it, Japan!!! (Remember, all you up and coming MacGyvers out there.......this post is date-stamped....you saw it here first.......and I want my royalties in small, unmarked bills sent to my villa in Majorca, please!)
  4. Semi-retired
    Great install, Ponch. Glad to see you got your bell hangin there, too; keeps the evil spirits out of wifey's coffee!! m
  5. Semi-retired
    Hey, Derrek, I'm not sure exactly what GVW the Hagon "standard-sprung" shock is rated for (in comparison to the factory ratings of the bike).....but, if you go back and look at my original post that you're referring to above: I didn't say "the Hagon shock comes with a spring for the average rider". I was quoting word-for-word from the reference sheet that came packed with the shock. What it says is........ "Hagon monoshocks have a wide load carrying range and are preset for average rider weights." Notice, it doesn't say the spring is BUILT for average rider weights....it says it COMES ADJUSTED for average rider weights. I believe this is only meant to say "there's no need to mess with the shock (pre-load and/or damping) if you are of 'average weight' (presumably somewhere in the 200 lb range). Whereas, if you lean to being "husky".....or a skinny minney........you may want to change the pre-load in one direction or the other. There was no reference in the included printed matter to the "MAXIMUM" load capacity of the spring...only the settings as delivered in the box. (In fact, I've just spent 15 or 20 minutes scouring the Hagon websites.......both UK and US, and I can't find a reference to 'maximum loading' for their Venture shock anywhere.) Since they don't seem to get into this spec on any of their shocks........maybe a phone call to speak with them IS in order, Derrek. Good luck, and let us know what they say.
  6. Semi-retired
    Now THAT's an interesting question, Derrek. My guess is that a) a dead OEM shock, since the shock is allegedly non serviceable, would be "reluctant" to give up its spring.......and that b) since the OEM only comes in one "flavor".....there wouldn't be any "Heavy Duty" versions to be had anyway. Right? I, for one, tossed my dead stock shock.......mainly cause I got more "dead" stuff lying around here (for some day when I might just need one little widget off the end of it) than you can shake a spoke at! Guessin the garbage man was intrigued by that baby. (Glad I didn't have to dispose of it anywhere near a Homeland Security facility....what with the big black cannister...and its airhose hangin out and all!) Have a good riding day!
  7. Semi-retired
    Ahhhh, so! Gotcha! Thanks Andrew and Don, both. I got all concerned about sources and forgot about 'ratings'. Since I AM a flyweight.....I forgot all about the heavy duty factor. Cheers, Mike.
  8. Semi-retired
    Wow, Andrew, I'm surprised to hear your comments, cause I installed my new Hagon shock two weeks ago....and I'm looking at my invoice here and it says Hagon Shocks LLC, San Marcos California at the top.....and the Part # is M62097...... Description: Yamaha Royal Star Venture XVZ13etc. There's apparently some kind of disconnect between your Hagon dealer contact, Dave, and what Hagon themselves seem to be selling out of their offices in California. One of us (for the sake of the group) should make a confirming call to both Hagon offices and their dealer (I have call conferencing and could have them BOTH on the phone at once) and see what the story is! Regards, Mike
  9. Semi-retired
    It'll be a piece of cake, Jeff. I had my best buddy, a Niagara Regional Police officer who lives across the street (and rides a Suzuki 1400 Intruder) lend me moral and physical support.....so, apparently if there's a "cop in the shop" everything goes smoothly!! Please call me before, during and/or after you do the deed; I'm MORE than happy to give or trade tricks or tips for this procedure. BTW, set aside a morning to git 'er done; you should be finished by lunch. Good luck.....not that you'll need it. Oh, and, two things: make sure when you're undoing the bottom bolt on the shock, that you're not accidentally undoing the bottom bolt of the linkage mechanism ABOVE the shock....like I almost did! (only reason I stopped....and had another look....was because the bolt/nut I WAS reefing on was so damned tight I just about popped a kidney trying!!) When I looked underneath, I realized I was a bit 'higher and forward' of where I should have been. Also, my advice, unless you really want to get into a FULL DAY job, forget about what some people recommend regarding taking the whole linkage thing apart and greasing ALL the bearings. That might be a NUT BUSTER and turn it into a whole day job. (You DO wanna stop at lunch, doncha?!) Don't forget to call: Mike (905) 938-3553 (cheap call....I'm near Niagara Falls...just 8 hours from you. How do I know? My copper buddy's fiance works for the FBI, near you!) Cheers!
  10. Semi-retired
    Noticeable improvement: It feels strange to actually HAVE a working "shock absorber" on the Venture after riding the entire beginning of this season WITHOUT a real suspension system. The other nice thing, of course, is not having to park over a sheet of cardboard: NO MORE DRIPPING! Different ride: I'm a pretty light guy who normally weighs in at around 180...and the new Hagon shock, installed with the spring pre-load and damping settings unchanged from the way they arrived, FEELS like it might be set for a little heavier rider...maybe a 200 pounder. (or in my case, maybe two-up riding...or riding with at least 50 or 60 pounds of luggage in the bags might feel better.) For ME, riding solo, it feels a little "springier" than it should be; but as I say, I'm probably at the 'underweight' end of the average Venture rider. (The 'guide sheet' that is packed with the shock says, "Hagon monoshocks have a wide load carrying range and are pre-set for average rider weights.") So when I say I left the settings "unchanged" from the way they arrived, this was with the spring pre-load adjustment collar appearing to be pretty much backed right off. (i.e. with lots of threads left below the collar.) Damping-wise, although Hagon again says, "Your shock is supplied with medium damping adjustment", (for those ubiquitous "average" riders, I guess), because adjustment is performed with an Allen-head set screw on the side of the shock.....and with no calibration marks on the shock body, changing the damping rate would be a "fly by the seat of the pants" (literally) exercise. Hagon says, "After fitting your shock, adjust the damping to suit individual preference by turning the hexagon socket screw in 1/4-turn increments until the required setting is achieved. For me, I'm going to just ride this sucker for awhile, enjoying the fact that I actually have a shock absorber (that won't bleed to death on my garage floor!) and let it 'work its way in'. I'm not sure if this makes sense or not, but Hagon themselves say "When adjusting to a softer setting the unit must be worked (my italics, not theirs) before the adjustment willl take effect." So, based on this disclaimer, I'm assuming that the new shock, once installed, will require a little 'working in' regardless of what the settings are. (And to be honest, I haven't actually LOOKED back into the abyss that is the home of the rear shock...virtually HIDDEN behind, below and inside the least accessible portion of the bike...to see just how easy/difficult it might be to make a change to the damper screw!) BUT.......I'll try to be a loyal, faithful and informative member and report back in a month or so about the performance of the shock once it is (and I am) "seated". The one recommendation I WILL make now, that I CAN pass along with confidence, is DO REPLACE YOUR SHOCK NOW if it has bled out and/or your bike is wallowing like a beached whale. It's not NEARLY as difficult a job to perform as I thought it would be...and probably ANY brand is going to be better than putting up with a sacked out, bled-out stock unit. Later, Michael.
  11. Semi-retired
    Thanks, pal! I ended up taking a run at it with my neighbour guarding against tip-overs......and all went well. It turns out it IS quite a simple operation once you get your balancing act sorted out on the jack. We just used a couple of pieces of 2X2 lumber.....short ones that fit cross-ways on the jack pads.....lengthwise along the frame rails....which protected the engine just fine. When we got it up just high enough that the front wheel was off the ground by about an inch or two....the back end was still 'just touching'....which allowed us to rock the bike slightly, front to back when it came time to slide the bolts out. The new one went in very slick.....and, yes......I'm still convinced that Works and Hagon come out of the same factory! Cheers, Mike P.S. We took both left AND right side covers and passenger boards off for easy access, but not the wheel or the bags. No probs!
  12. Semi-retired
    Am I the only one........or does anyone else find it strange that Comagination lists no phone number and no address on their website. http://www.headlightmodulator.com/ and/or http://comagination.com/ Don't know about you......but I'm a little reluctant to send hundreds of bucks to someone without a business phone........or ANY phone. Likewise with the address thing! Anybody out there own any of their products? Thanks, Michael
  13. Semi-retired
    Thanks for 'jumping in' on both issues, buddy. I have the lift, and understand there's a little "jury-rigging" that has to be done to get a level/non-engine-bearing positioning underneath, so as not to crunch any pipes, hoses or whatever.......but, I got my dirty pants on today and will give it a shot! Cheers, Michael. P.S. For anyone else reading this......I'd LOVE to see a link to the detailed removal instructions. Kinda surprised it's not in the Gen 2 Tech library....based on how frequently the rear shock seems to fail! ? !
  14. Semi-retired
    Anybody know if it's.......... a) advisable.........or b) absolutely necessary to remove the right hand saddle bag when removing and replacing the monoshock? Thanks for this........and any other tips involving doing a 'swap-out' of the rear shock. Michael
  15. Semi-retired
    I just bought a Hagon shock for my 2003 Midnight (haven't mounted it yet).....and I suspect I might have gotten the one you say Christina was talking about: no preload adjuster, etc....but in stock now (that was about ten days ago.....) and shippable NOW! I picked it up at UPS in Niagara Falls last week while on a 'gas run'. I'll attach a picture or two of this unit in order to lend support to MY humble opinion, which is that Works and Hagon are buying the same shock from the same manufacturer.......and simply branding it differently. You know, like Pontiac and Chev? Or Sears and Kelvinator? Here's my shot of my brand new Hagon......compare the heavy, red coil spring and castelated nut and chrome attachment fittings..........and someone please feel free to dispute my theory.....and upload a picture of a brand new Works! Regards, Michael
  16. Semi-retired
    Thanks, buddy!
  17. Semi-retired
    One last try.......at 400KB I promise to stop messing around now! Mike
  18. Semi-retired
  19. Semi-retired
    Anybody know how SMALL the pics have to be before they'll "upload from computer"? Trying a tiny one here to see a)if it works........b) how it looks. mike (THAT's kinda tiny..........let's try that again!)
  20. Semi-retired
    I'm just trying to insert a photo into the bottom of my message.......so it appears as the picture it is......i.e. not a link or an attachment. (oh, and not part of my signature, as I already have!) What is the simplest/fastest way, without having to subscribe to any new third party service. Thanks, guys. Mike
  21. Semi-retired
    Hi, Rick. I recently borrowed my Dentist's copy of Ride Like A Pro. I was surprised (although in hindsight, I don't know why) to see that the RLAP program is almost identical in content to the (American) National Safety Council's motorcycle rider instruction program. (Either the cops used the NSC program to teach their "motormen"....or the NSC "borrowed" the instructional techniques developed by the coppers.....I don't know which.) I teach the Canadian version of this three day course at Niagara College near Niagara Falls, Ontario. It is very comprehensive, worth it's weight/cost in gold (read: saved lives and accident bills) and provides the live, hands-on instruction that Ride Like a Pro or any other video could never offer. So, my personal advice to anyone who's been waiting for months to receive this video is, don't get all excited that it's not coming fast enough. If you took the NSC course.....you've already not only SEEN the video......you've LIVED it! Ride safely, guys! Michael P.S. So Rick......I think you can safely remove me from the list, thanks.
  22. Semi-retired
    I was just starting to get into the "project" of downloading (for storage) all my Private Messages.....for later reference...and realized there must be a simple way. IS THERE? I see your note, above.....but have no idea how/where you did this! Thanks for any guidance. Michael
  23. Semi-retired
    Pardon my ignorance, buddy.......but, what, pray-tell, is an RSW discount.......and where can I get one?
  24. Semi-retired
    Anybody seen a copy of one of these videos lately? Trying to figure out where these two (or three?) disks currently reside is confusing, to say the least.....so I thought, out of purely selfish interests, I'd figure out where the one that used to be in Canada went. I went through all the posts (all 340 of them) and determined that the copy that was in Canada back in 2008 was mailed to Australia to a guy named "spear"(Steve Pearson)....(by a guy named Lepapehermann.) Spear mailed it all the way back to "spankym" (Craig MacFarlane, in Buffalo....wow, what a trip), who posted that he received it on April 28th, 2009. Craig/spankym is then instructed by KiteSquid in a post dated May 7, 2009 to send his copy to r12guy...which seems a little strange since there is nobody listed with that name anywhere on "The List" (nor does he exist on the membership list now.) Then, on May 18th, 2009, Craig posts that he "Sent my copy on to r12guy.....hope he enjoys it." (So, apparently there WAS an r12guy back then.) Then, next day, May 19th, Kitesquid instructs r12guy to send his copy "to Annie in Rockingham, Perth Australia". (Wow....this video would really be racking up frequent flyer miles if it HAD been shipped back to Oz"!) However, that's the last we ever hear of this copy of the DVD......or r12guy......or Annie. There is no one listed in the club membership named r12guy. There is no one listed in the club membership named Annie, in Rockingham, Perth Australia. So, I guess whoever r12guy is/was, he has our copy of Ride Like a Pro. Anybody know who he is/was? Thanks for any helpful detective teamwork! Mike
  25. Semi-retired
    Anybody seen a copy of one of these videos lately? Trying to figure out where these two (or three?) disks currently reside is confusing, to say the least.....so I thought, out of purely selfish interests, I'd figure out where the one that used to be in Canada went. I went through all the posts (all 340 of them) and determined that the copy that was in Canada back in 2008 was mailed to Australia to a guy named "spear"(Steve Pearson)....(by a guy named Lepapehermann.) Spear mailed it all the way back to "spankym" (Craig MacFarlane, in Buffalo....wow, what a trip), who posted that he received it on April 28th, 2009. Craig/spankym is then instructed by KiteSquid in a post dated May 7, 2009 to send his copy to r12guy...which seems a little strange since there is nobody listed with that name anywhere on "The List" (nor does he exist on the membership list now.) Then, on May 18th, 2009, Craig posts that he "Sent my copy on to r12guy.....hope he enjoys it." (So, apparently there WAS an r12guy back then.) Then, next day, May 19th, Kitesquid instructs r12guy to send his copy "to Annie in Rockingham, Perth Australia". (Wow....this video would really be racking up frequent flyer miles if it HAD been shipped back to Oz"!) However, that's the last we ever hear of this copy of the DVD......or r12guy......or Annie. There is no one listed in the club membership named r12guy. There is no one listed in the club membership named Annie, in Rockingham, Perth Australia. So, I guess whoever r12guy is/was, he has our copy of Ride Like a Pro. Anybody know who he is/was? Thanks for any helpful detective teamwork! Mike
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