Jump to content

craigatcsi

Supporting Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    652

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by craigatcsi

  1. craigatcsi
    Doc says as of yet, there is no cure for my ailment. It has a probably will continue to worsen with age. And yes, my legs are getting weaker, which is why I came so close to dropping her several times last weekend. After thinking about it on and off all day, and again looking at the pick of my model and color of bike as a Trike, I'm thinking that I will probably be triking it. I may end up giving Hannigan a call to check further into it. - I planned to replace my tires this coming winter, I guess if I am going to do it, now is probably a better time then after I buy that rear tire! I will show my wife these posts tonight then we can talk about it. I'm pretty sure that she WAS game either way - just that one way or another she gets to ride more! Thanks again folks, craigr
  2. craigatcsi
    Somewheres, I have seen MY 07 Blue / Black with a trike kit on it & it looked very good!! I would like to find a Trike of the same style close by that would let the wife and I take it for a spin to see what we would have. But, I don't know of any. It would make it MUCH easier to make the decision. craigr
  3. craigatcsi
    Just a note - As for the Hip replacement, it's not an option in my case. They say the Hip itself looks fine & that it is the connective tissue that is failing. I already have to grab a pants leg to lift my Left Leg over the seat. I haven't been able to mount without doing it this way in several years. You folks have me bouncing back and forth between the trike and the sidecar. It's just the LARGE cost of the Trike! I REALLY Like my Venture, but the 1300 has me worried about power when going to a Trike. I've considered dropping down to an 1800 Wing so that I still have the umph factor. - I just don't feel old enough for a Wing yet! AND, the Wing isn't a 'cruiser' style. I really wish they made an 1800 'Cruiser' style in my V-4. (?). I LOVE that the Venture looks like a slow pig, but that I can roll it on and impress even crotch rockets! I know that I am going to give up things by going either way, but am pretty sure I will enjoy riding more because I won't hurt so much afterwards. As I said above, I find excuses to my wife why we can't ride because I know how bad I am going to hurt later. By switching, I really believe we will ride like we used to. I haven't ridden my bike to work at all this year because how bad I am in the mornings. I would prolly ride every day if I had 3 wheels. Yes, I am leaning back towards the Trike. Thanks for all of the responses, I never dreamed there would be this many!! craigr
  4. craigatcsi
    Okay, so overnight another question came to mind. Between the Trike and a sidecar, which would be a larger drain on power / fuel mileage? Probably the most important to me would be 'seat of the pants' feeling when I'm cruising and 'roll it on'. I LOVE the fact that I can be cruising down the interstate on my 1300 and walk away from my V-Twin friends with their 1700s. I'm sure that both a Trike AND a sidecar will eliminate this. I'm just wondering which would be worse. Also, the comment somewhere above this post about the sidecar being hard on the shoulders has me kinda scared, (because of the aforementioned disk problem). Another thing that comes to mind is REVERSE. I know that with a Goldwing Trike & a HD I can have a reverse gear. If I convert my Venture, which only has 35k on it, I wouldn't have Reverse. But, 95% of my riding is 2 up, so I almost always have reverse now. It would probably be the same with the trike or sidecar. And, another 'small' thing that enters into it, is the WOW factor. I like 'flashy' or 'look at me' rigs. I know that it is shallow, but hey I admit it. Trikes are getting so common place any more. The Sidecar is still kind of a head turner. - Believe me, THIS is probably only 5% the equation on which I get, but is still enough not to ignore it. Since Hanigan seems to be the manf. of choice, I'm thinking about making a trip to their HQ next season and discuss which way to go. Maybe even stay long enough to have them make the transformation. - This is just an idea at this time. I hope to actually spend some time on each before hand. craigr
  5. craigatcsi
    WOW what a response!! Now I don't know what to do! I'm back to 50 / 50 on which to get. The Trike thing and it giving the shoulders a workout has me worried. I have a bad disk between the shoulderblades, (inoperative), and I'm afraid of the 'workout' causing me problems with that disk. - Yes, I'll admit it - at 50 years old, I am falling apart!! Probably the biggest thing keeping me away from the Trike is the high cost, over and over! The Sidecar is a high cost ONCE! - Right? Plus, with a sidecar, we can take a 3rd person along. But, after my original post, I did some looking at sidecars on the web and some of them look pretty enclosed - too enclosed for us. We would have to have one that is pretty open. No Top & no side glass. You all have given me a wealth of info to consider. I will make sure to show these posts to my wife. We aren't ready to do anything this year, but since I am afraid to take mine out again, we are probably going to have to do something for next summer's riding season. Thanks, craigr
  6. craigatcsi
    Something worth adding - LOOKS mean a great deal to me. I don't want a 55 gallon drum as a side car. Not that price is no concern, but I CAN afford a nice one, since I plan to keep it thru several bikes. I would like it to closely match my 07's 'Cruiser' style, yet be of High Quality. On a scale of one to ten, I typically buy a 7 or 8. But, in some cases a 10. Like the Venture and my Bushtec. Craigr
  7. craigatcsi
    We took our 07 out last Sunday and I had a very tough time with the wife on back, at stoplights, parking lots, etc... Over the years, I have heard more than a few guys tell me that they used to ride, but had to give it up because of their hips &/or legs. I don't want to be one of those guys! A couple of years ago, my wife and I took a trike for a test drive. We only rode 3 or 4 miles or so and didn't like it. I couldn't get used to the steering. When I got back to the dealer, he said that I should've taken it fo 1/2 hour or so to get used to it. But we didn't want to take it back out. - Now I wish we had. So, now here I am AFRAID to take my 07 out. I CAN'T give up riding! My wife is obsessed with it! AND, I refuse to ride Bit$h! So, I am back to considering a Trike or maybe even a sidecar. Our thoughts on a sidecar are that when THIS bike wears out, we can simply transfer it to a new bike. Also, we can carry a Grandchild with us or luggage or ??? But a Trike, we lose the Saddle Bags, (but we own a Bushtec trailer). But the biggest hurdle for me about a Trike is the price AND the price every time you get a new one!! I am only 50years old, hopefully I have a long life ahead of me. So, my questions for you folks are, 1. Any pros & cons that I haven't thought of? 2. I heard that sidecars are tougher on a bike. Is there any truth to that? 3. I heard that sidecars are tougher to steer than a trike. True? Which QUALITY sidecar would Look best with an 07? Craigr
  8. craigatcsi

    How Fast?

    craigatcsi replied to Brake Pad's topic in VR Polls

    As I mentioned above, those little bitty tires spinning at highway speed and above scare me. I just keep thinking how FAST they are spinning! craigr
  9. craigatcsi

    How Fast?

    craigatcsi replied to Brake Pad's topic in VR Polls

    Wow! You guys with those tiny wheels pulling at highway speeds and faster! I have to believe that me pulling my Bushtec 100mph is a little more safe. And, I've only done it that ONE time. Years ago, I had a boat trailer with those little tires and they worried me because how fast they were spinning at highway speeds, so I swapped them out for the 18 or 20" wheels. I'm not brave enough to pull a cheap trailer fast. Good luck to you, I hope you have no problems. craigr
  10. craigatcsi
    If Ebay & Yamaha think the Antennas are like gold, how long before some low life figures out how easy they come off? We do a lot of out of town trips and almost always stay at Hotels. I always worry about someone messing with my bike, even though I cover it. Now here is another thing to worry about. craigr
  11. craigatcsi

    How Fast?

    craigatcsi replied to Brake Pad's topic in VR Polls

    I'll probably get 'dogged' for this but..... A few years ago, we took a trip from Omaha, NE up accross I-90 to the West Coast, down to San Diego, then accross to Oklahoma then back home. We pulled our Bushtec Roadstar the entire way at varing speeds. Without my mirrors, I couldn't tell it was back there!! As far as how fast? When we left Vegas, it was 114°F in the desert and I got stuck in bumper to bumper, stop and go while crossing the Dam. By the time we were able to get moving, we were pretty miserable. I cranked my 07 Venture up and we crossed that Desert at right around 100mph!! Again, I couldn't tell the trailer was back there!! - Now, I'm not saying it was Safe, but I'd do it again with no worries. We have made a couple trips back and forth to eastern Ohio within the last year at varying speeds, with the same opinion. I've got to believe that anyone with a Bushtec knows what I mean when I talk about quality and how well they handle. They are EXPENSIVE, but well worth the money to me. I'll never pull a different brand if at all possible. craigr
  12. craigatcsi
    I ended up buying my old Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic back from my son-in-law last night. They only put 1800 miles on it in 4 years! They both said that it didn't make sense to keep it and they could use the money elsewhere. (AND, I'm sure that know that I will let them borrow it if they want to go for a ride). WOW what a difference from my 07 Venture! This thing rides rough, handles completely different and boy does it seem lighter!! - I may end up teaching my wife to ride! So, I guess that I am finally part of the group that has more than one ride in the stable!! Craigr
  13. craigatcsi
    I finally buttoned the project up on Saturday morning. Though, I DID have to go buy another Torque Wrench!! Two of the ones I had were new from Harbor Frieight and wouldn't go low enough torque. And the OLD one that I had also wouldn't go low enough. So, it was off to Harbor Freight to buy a smaller one. - Wrong!! They didn't have a smaller one,, so I stopped at TWO Auto Parts stores and they didn't have the smaller ranges ones either! I finally gave up and went to Sears, who did have one. I drove around most of Saturday morning trying to find one! By the time I finally got everything done, I was so angry & frustrated, that I was shaking. So, I took the bike out for a very short ride just to make sure everything was fine. The wife and I spent yesterday afternoon riding around in Traffic to put the clutch thru it's paces and all is fine. I don't notice any difference other than it isn't slipping at all. I rolled on hard in every gear in town and on the highway and all is fine. One last note..... I remember many years ago that I actually used to ENJOY working on my bikes. - Not so much anymore. I'm must be getting older or ??? On my old bikes, I wasn't affraid to tear into ANYTHING!!! I learned to work on my bikes by just tearing into them, most of the time just to see how they worked! AND, I didn't have the money back them to waste on my 'screw ups'. Now, I have the money but not the patience. I started to take the Air Filters out to blow them out and couldn't figure out how to get them out, so I gave up for another day!! I would NEVER have done this when I was younger. I wouldv'e stayed with it unti I either figured it out or broke something. Any ways, thanks for the help with the Clutch and listening to my ranting. craigr
  14. craigatcsi
    Are you saying to put silicon on just one side of the gasket - the casing side?
  15. craigatcsi
    One last question... (I hope). In the old days when I used to work on vehicles, I used Silicon all my gaskets. - Is this still the stuff to use? craigr
  16. craigatcsi
    Got it. - Thanks. At this point, (unless I change my mind), I THINK what I am going to do is go to the dealer tonight, ask if they can overnight the wire. If they can't, then I will prolly just go without it. craigr
  17. craigatcsi
    But, what do you mean by this?
  18. craigatcsi
    While at lunch, I spoke with Barnett and he confirmed that I do have the correct kits. But, I am still stuck because I broke that blasted wire!! He said that he has heard of someone running without it 'because it's such a pain to put on'. But he said he isn't sure whether it's okay without it or not. Do I HAVE to have it? - I have no clue how to get a new one! craigr
  19. craigatcsi
    I just finished calling my local Barnett Supplier for to buy the correct clutch kits and he has the same numbers. As Mike mentioned above if the kit will work fine without the Notches, what about the wire? The instructions that I was reading said the break the wire, so I broke it. - This new kit has no wire! - Do I need it for the Barnett Clutch? craigr
  20. craigatcsi
    For you CAD guys, I HIGHLY recommend the online discussion board called 'The Swamp' it is located at www.theswamp.org' They are a great group of folks that are very similar to this board, in that they bend over backwards to help someone out that has questions. I am on that board a couple of times a day. As for the cluct # - I bought the SR2 Spring Conversion, #511-90-10002, and the Yam CF2000 Clutch Kit, #306-90-20082. These Cluctch discs don't have the notches and it didn't come with the wire. If I don't need the Notches, do I need the wire? craigr
  21. craigatcsi
    We just installed AutoCad LT 2013. Prior to that we were at 2008. We only upgrade every 4 or 5 years. I take it that you use CAD? If so, which flavor? Craigr
  22. craigatcsi
    I ordered the Barnett Clutch Kit, plates & pressure plate, back in August of 2010. Because of health reasons, (more like apprehension/Lazyness), I didn't install it until this morning. I found a page on this site for clutch replacement and finally dug in. I got it all appart and saw something about noticing the marks on the clutch plates, which I saw on the originals but not on the Barnett. So, I figured that it doesn't matter & put it together anyway. But, before tightening it all down, I decided to cover it up and check for replacing with BARNETT Clutches. Boy am I glad I stopped!! I obviously have the wrong clutch package. So, come Monday, I will be on the phone ordering the correct clutch plate set. I will have to overnight it because we are heading to Ohio mid May. So, this clutch replacement is going to cost me MUCH more. I guess that is the price I pay for putting things off! Craigr
  23. craigatcsi
    Wow! That is a generous offer, especially to a stranger. The first leg of our trip will be to Belevere, IL to visit family and be on his Radio show again, then to Ohio, then to Indy for a friends Wedding & the Indy 500. When we leave Indy for home, I'm sure we will do it all at one shot. We usually do it that way. I think we have the lodging taken care of but greatly appreciate the offer. You folks are the best.
  24. craigatcsi
    Wow Hummingbird, I will definately contact you, thanks for the offer. Also, now the wife has discovered that the Internet has told her that Niagra Falls is only 5 hours away. So..... I told her it would have to be an overnighter, so we will have to see what the week has in store. craigr
  25. craigatcsi
    Wow! - Keep them coming. I knew I could count on you folks for ideas. As far as the 'Family Style' eating, I don't really care for it. We ate that way at a place like that in the Amana Colonies in Iowa. The food was good, but the 'Family Style' didn't appeal to me. I will eat that way if I must, but prefer not to. We are also interested in any side attractions, shops, etc. We are taking our Trailer, so we will have 'some' extra room. Thanks again for the ideas so far. I will have to get out the map and start marking them down. craigr
×
×
  • Create New...