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Semi-retired

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  1. Semi-retired
    Does anyone happen to know where there might be a couple of up-close-and-personal shots of the Stebel installation location? (top, side, back view would be great. (the link below, if it went to these shots, is dead; FATAL ERROR message.) Either I'm not understanding exactly how/where the little devil gets mounted, or Stebel has changed the casting so that it mounts differently than it used to. The one I just bought (a new chrome Stebel Compact) has a protrusion out the top-back with a VERTICAL hole drilled in it. The bolt on the engine (near the horn) (referred to in other posts) which secures the grounding strap, is also of the VERTICAL persuasion. This kinda suggests that just a straight, flat bracket with a hole in each end would secure the horn. I'm able to shoot and post pictures of what I'M looking at, but thought I'd save "re-inventing the wheel" if there are already some pix on the site that will straighten my little brain out! Thanks for any info, guys!
  2. Semi-retired
    ....but it sure makes a difference. I switched to Avons from Dunlops....and also went down a size to the 130 on the front.....so I don't know how much of the improved handling is attributable to the Avon factor, and how much to the size factor.......BUT.....there's definately a huge difference in handling. What used to feel like try to steer a cow, now feels like a 250 or a 500cc motorcycle. Feels like less than half the previous weight on the front end. The comments about being pushed around a bit on the highway are correct, though. On windy days......you'll be kept awake (not necessarily a bad thing!) keeping the front end on track. It's a bit of a trade off, but, overall, I'd rather have a bike that is nimble even if it requires that I pay a little more attention to what's going on.
  3. Semi-retired
    Yeah.....I did the same thing you did. Just went in....peaked around.....found that clip......figured, "what the he** are they talking about in the manual when they say "rotate counterclockwise". I just pushed down on the end of the clip.....boing.....out popped the bulb. Congratulations!! m
  4. Semi-retired
    Gotchya!
  5. Semi-retired
    Hi, Dave. After riding for about two weeks on my new Avons, I can tell you that JUST switching tires will make all the difference in the world. I've owned and ridden about 15 different models/brands of bikes during the 47 years I've been a biker, and as in all of life.....everything is relative. And, relatively speaking, the Venture IS top heavy. Not to mention........it's just plain HEAVY. You add two riders totalling 300 pounds, and you're wheeling well over a thousand pounds down the road. And, especially with the 'stepped seat' configuration for the passenger, this load does NOT have a low centre of gravity, by ANY stretch of the imagination. This design characteristic (combined with 'relatively large profile tires) results in "awkward" handling at low speeds. It's a fact that can't be denied. You can take all the riding and handling courses you want but there's no escaping the fact that the bike will simply handle more 'responsively' if you put different (from stock) tires on it. My new Avon Venoms made all the difference in the world (from my stock Dunlops). (A world of thanks to Squidley, a.k.a. Brad, for not only convincing me, but actually mounting them for me.) I can now do figure eights in parking lots where before, I was terrified to pass between two parked cars. The bike has gone from handling like a log, to handling like a leopard. At Brad's suggestion, I also went with the downsized 130 width version which makes the front end particularly 'nimble'. (although there is a bit of a trade-off in highway stability). In a perfect world, (you know, where money's no object), since the front wheel is pretty quick to remove, I'd have a 150 size front for highway cruising mounted up on one wheel, and a 130 for blasting around town. The bottom line is, there are two or three or four ways to make the Venture a little more nimble than it is when it's box stock: change the tires.....reposition the fork tubes.....alter the fork angle (rake) using load levellers (altering the height of the back end).....or change the actual tire size. All of these factors can be, and are, complicated by whether or not you ride with or without a passenger......with or without a trailer......at slow speeds around town.....or very high speeds on the highway. Fortunately or unfortunately, what it mostly boils down to is trial and error.....and personal experience. Once you own your new bike, you'll play around with all these variables and find what's right for YOU! Have fun......and ENJOY!! Mike
  6. Semi-retired
    I'd love to get into the gun thingy.........but I won't. However, I have it on pretty good authority that the plural of y'all.....is ALL Y'ALL. Is this not correct? :-)
  7. Semi-retired
    Sorry to hear about your "loss". If it isn't one thing it's another, as Rosanne Rosannadanna used to say. I'm always paranoid that the 869 lb. (full tank!) is going to fall over TOWARD the stand, with or without wind.....just from the shear weight that must be bearing down on that 2 square inches of stand "foot". Now I know they can "go both ways". Cool......politically correct falling! LOL. Make 'er good again! Cheers from Niagara, Michael.
  8. Semi-retired

    Hey, welcome aboard, George.

     

    I, too, have a 2003 Midnight.

     

    I was born and raised in Kitchener but have lived in St. Catharines since 1996. Still get to Kitchener lots to visit family and friends.

     

    You're going to love this organization......it's all good guys.....like YOU and ME!!

     

    Again, welcome.

     

    Michael Scott

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  9. Semi-retired
    Steve.......don't even go there, man.......sometimes I leave my screen open....and I've been killed for less than a discussion like this!!
  10. Semi-retired
    Thanks for that note, Jeff......but if/when I install the levelling links, I'll probably be dropping the front end on the fork tubes, too.......so I think something will probably have to be done about the height of the sidestand. (not that I'm vertically challenged, but when you get a 200 pound passenger up-back, it would be nice to be a little closer to the ground!) And, headlight-wise, everyone who contributed to this thread, Gary, Rob, Steve, Alex.......some of you will be pleased, (and apparently some will be amazed) that I was actually able to replace my headlamp with that amazingly bright Sylvania H4 bulb, WITHOUT splitting the fairing. The secret is (or I should say the secrets ARE): 1. Get the bike up on a lift if you can (or a nice blanket to sit on the floor beside the bike 2. Get as much light on the left-hand "crotch" of the stearing head as you can...with the bars turned full lock to the right. 3. Slide the light adjustment knob off for extra fidgeting room (as rek58 mentioned, it comes off just like a radio knob) Also, I discovered through trial and error (mostly trial...since there's not much you can screw up) that it really helps to know what you're looking for; unfortunately, you don't know what you don't know until you know it. (duh) The key 'ingredients' of this job are simple: 1. you simply yank off the headlamp socket 2. yank off the rubber boot that keeps crud from going into the headlamp 3. forget about "turning (anything) counterclockwise" like the manual says...just poke the end of the spring retainer holding the bulb into the headlight socket, (you can see clearly how it's mounted if you have your 500 watt trouble lamp pointed in there!), and the lamp will almost fall into your hand. I will grant one "deferral" to the guys that say it "can't be done without splitting the fairing": although I have large hands (XXL gloves) they are somewhat skinny. So if you're built like Paul Bunyan, you WILL have to split the fairing, or find a buddy with smaller/slimmer hands to work withing the confines of the stearing head. Thanks again for everyone's help.......we took the bike out for a late night trial run with the new light......and Gary N., it was everything you promised it would be! Like day and night (so to speak!) Cheers, Mike
  11. Semi-retired
    Hi, Bill. Sorry, I can't help you....but for the benefit of those who can....are they to assume that the unit you bought is actually from a Yamaha exactly like yours? (Just that from reading your post...you didn't really say. No offense.) Mike
  12. Semi-retired
    Has anyone "dug deep enough" into the radio on 2nd gens to determine if you can auto program all eighteen FM radio presets without encountering "duplication"? I've tried a couple of different sequences of selecting Band 1, Band 2 and Band 3, and going through the a/b/c/ automatic channel writing steps......but I keep getting some of the same stations appearing on more than one band. Suggestions? (Please don't say "buy a satellite rig" :-)
  13. Semi-retired
    Thanks for the encouragement, guys. I guess nothing can be perfect.....otherwise, why would we need our garages and all those nice shiny tools? Actually Sqidley just DID replace my tires for me: New Avon Venoms with the 130 up front; incredible improvement in low/no speed handling....although with a small tradeoff in highway trackability in the wind (ideal, of course, would be to have a two front wheels tired up...one standard size for infreqent long range cruising.....one narrower one for "darting" around town most weeks.) Stebel: picking one up this Friday in Ottawa; heard Gary N.'s and had to have one. Good call for anyone wanting to stay alive on a bike! Will probably try the bike for a few thousand more miles with just the tire change before doing the leveling link thing. (Don't want to have to bend/cut my nice shiny side-stand just yet!!)
  14. Semi-retired
    Hey, Erich.......nice shot with the golf clubs. Was your installation something you picked up on this site? (was it covered in a post/thread that is retrievable?) Or did you do a custom job yourself? Any info greatly appreciated. Mike
  15. Semi-retired
    It's nice to know we have a "mature" audience here who knows what the heck you mean by that!!
  16. Semi-retired
    Took an initial try to get at the headlamp last night, with no luck. Have to take another run at it today...in daylight. Reeeeally hoping not to have to split that fairing and possibly snap all the tabs on my windscreen chrome trim (as everyone warns can happen!) Let's see now: difficult headlamp replacement....wimpy horns.... high center of gravity....I'm accumulating quite a list of design shortcomings that must have been "the last thing they worked on"! :-)
  17. Semi-retired
    Here's that link, buddy: http://www.venturers.org/Tech_Library/?action=category&cat_id=002011 When you get there......click on To enter our free Technical Support Library, Click Here Then scroll down and click on "2nd Generation (1999 to current) " (don't click here......it won't get you there) You'll see "Miscellaneous" as the fourth link down in the middle column. Click that and check the third article up from the bottom of the page. Good luck, Michael
  18. Semi-retired
    Thanks for the input, Rob. My wife's hands are half the size of mine...AND she's somewhat mechanically inclined....so it sounds like she should be able to get in there and do the deed. By the way, (checked your profile)......I'm right there with you on the golf and Scotch. Perhaps it's a biker thing? Thanks again, Mike
  19. Semi-retired
    Right, Gary, thanks. I just realized that after reading the headlight replacement thread from Steve. Yet another Tupperware project!! m
  20. Semi-retired
    Thanks, Steve. Looks like the gang is divided on whether or not to crack 'er open. I'm planning on putting in a headlight modulator and also replace the second horn (which I think is located in there as well), so perhaps I'll pop open the fairing and do a clean sweep while I'm in there. Thanks again for the thread...interesting comments. Mike
  21. Semi-retired
    Dear Owner's Manual: I know you say simply, "If the headlight bulb burns out, replace it as follows. 1. Disconnect the headlight coupler and then remove the headlight bulb cover." 2. Remove the headlight bulb holder by turning it counterclockwise and then remove the defective bulb." Excuse me sir.........I'm stuck back at HOW THE HECK DO I GET AT THE HEADLIGHT COUPLER!?! Anyone? Do I need to remove the fairing? Or just that one allen screw on the headlight chrome trim ring? (I tried that........and nothing else seems to want to pop off.) Or do I hire a tiny little person with tiny little hands, to reach in behind the fairing, in front of the steering head? Tips?
  22. Semi-retired
    Hey, they gotta pay for those brain injury bills somehow!! But, I agree....if you've got medical coverage, it should be up to your insurance company to ask you if you ride a MC or not......and whether you wear a helmet. It's really between YOU and the company paying your hospital bills to determine the risk/reward ratio. Mike
  23. Semi-retired
    Agreed, Goose, I'd want to do a compression check bigtime. I'd be a lot more worried about rings and valves than I would the steering and swingarm bearings. Those can be replaced fairly inexepensively.......but a full motor tear-down is getting into real big lunch money. Squidley claims he's seen RSV4's with 400 K on them and still running fine, though, so I think at that crazy low price......you gotta take a chance...........and, if push comes to shove, YEAH BABY....part it out!! Mike
  24. Semi-retired
    Good point, Jeremy, thanks; I'll check those bowls. Just hope they're not a beeotch to get to!! If Goose sees this, maybe he can tell me how tough it was. ?
  25. Semi-retired
    No offense meant to mamma......but, I'd park the bike in the driveway, look for a small stone lodged in the tread of the front tire...roll the bike forward two or three feet, then check again......and so on, until the entire circumference of the front tire has been checked for "implants". In my experience, that's the cheapest, likeliest, easiest to remedy problem you might be having.......especially on a brand new ride. Good luck......and be SURE to not tell mamma I said to check it yourself!! Mike
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