Red1
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We were on the return trip from MS and about 50 miles from home, doing 76 in the left lane - all of a sudden - the bike no-go no-mo. I thought at first the bike was out of gas, but switching to reserve made no difference. And the last I checked I had 3/4 of a tank. So as I eased over to the shoulder with a dead engine, I shut it off and turned it on again - nothing. Once stopped, I checked the battery - all connections were good and the battery was at 13.5v. All the fuses, including the 30 amp main checked out as well - nothing blown. I had no dash lights, headlights or turn signals with the key ON, but on ACC - the radio worked. I suspect it is the ignition switch, in part because when I had gassed up earlier and was pulling out from the station, I noticed the speedo, clock and fuel gauger were not working. I shut it of and turned it on and POOF - they all worked. Odd, I thought - but everything seemed OK. Then as I was going down the road, a couple times I felt a lack of of power - like she was missing or something. Then maybe 50 miles from home - she died. So the question is - is there a "brain box" on these bikes that could be out? Or is the ignition switch the most likely culprit? Or is there a bad connector or wire that commonly comes loose? I remember reading something on the site here about these switches going funky for other members. And if it is a bad switch - for those that have had it replaced - what is the cost range I can expect? (just so I can decide which arm & leg I can live without) And, as luck would have it - I broke down on Hwy 151 N - directly across the street from the Honda/Kaw dealer, and the owner happened to be in the shop on Sunday and came over to see if he could help. Not wanting to disassemble the bike completely on the side of the road, with a storm moving in, he went back and got his trailer and loaded my bike & trailer and put it in his shop. I'm awaiting the diagnosis from them today. Nice guy - he went out of his way for us. Beaver Dam Honda/Kaw for anyone nearby the area - if their mechanics are as good as the customer service the owner showed my wife & I - I'll drive out of my way to give him some business again. On purpose next time. So - useful insights, please - from those that have experience this issue.
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LOL Oh, you really don't want to go there, do you, Little Buddy? Should I tell them why all the girls call you "Mosquito"? OK, that was fun. You'll have to carry on w/o me. Time to take the pooch to the kennel, pack some clothes and finish my checklist. My vacation starts early tomorrow. Yee Haw! And you never know - I may get a wild hair up my a...... and show up in Kitchenererererer without warning, reservations or registrations!!! And BTW - Dragerman - I've met a lot of these people - trust me, you'll want some nice scenery and places to escape to.
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Now keep it up while I'm gone, ladies & gents and Canadians. I'll be AWOL for at least a week - headed to Gulfport, MS tomorrow. Feel free to talk about me while I'm gone.
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Hope that helps, BRAD!
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I think my work here is done. Adios, amigos. Vaya con el dios.
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Guff? You call this guff? I appreciate you sticking up for me, but you really oughta try teasing the Canadian members - it's a lot of fun. And soooooo easy, eh?! The only thing more fun than getting a Canuck riled up is making fun of the ones from Tex-ass.
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I'm sure everyone that shows up will have fun. Not as much fun as they would have if I was there, but some fun, nonetheless. This is a fun group - how can they not have fun? And Squidley will be there - he's a fungi.:rotf:
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Beaver Valley? Is that where the free women are? :rotf:C'mon - you didn't think I could pass that up? Now if the Kissing Bridge was actually IN Beaver Valley - now that would be something! LMAO And if a picture of a water tower doesn't make you want to ride up to Canuckland - I don't know what it would take! LOL What about the igloos? Will there be lots of igloos? And Mooses - there are mooses EVERYWHERE! They're like squirrels in the states, I'm telling ya! And the LEGAL speed limit is like 80.................I wish I knew what kph meant, tho. So C'mon folks - fuel up the bike, tie out the dog and lock up your women (or the other way around), grab your parka and long johns and head for the Great White North. I wish I could be there - these guys have gone to a lot of trouble to set this up. And there are few things I enjoy more than raising hell in a foreign country. Maybe that's why I can't go back ............................?????
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You think they would have gotten a better looking model with a newer bike to pose by the sign, eh? There's a ferry that runs from Tobermory to South Baymouth - we we're gonna take that route in '05, but stayed on the north shore instead. Yes, I rode across Ontario from Prescott to Slt. St. Marie on TC-17 (mostly) and lived to tell the tale. Very nice country, excellent roads.
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ATTA BOY, Swifty! Tell 'em about the nice roads! Beautiful pavement in Canada. And the free beer and fine women. Or was that fine beer and free women? Either way! And the race around Lake Huron. And the ride into Quebec where you can make fun of the French. Tell 'em Swifty, tell 'em!!!
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:rotf: How many more do you need? Obviously, you don't know me very well, eh? Never let it be said that a gauntlet was thrown down that I did NOT pick up. So with all this jibber-jabber - I still haven't seen anyone start a thread on what is in or around Kitchenenererer besides a VR rally with low pre-registration numbers! Free beer? Fine women? Twisty roads? A 4lb. steak for $2.99? The world's 2nd biggest ball of twine? The best brook trout fishing in the almost-free world ? A bonfire the size of the Empire State building? WHAT??? Ya'll went to a lot of work to put this thing together, now grab the bull by the horns and talk it up! Lie if you have to.
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Hey Gary, I forgot how sensitive you Canadians are - don't get your undies in a knot. I'm not complaining - I just stated my opinion as to the reasons for the "concerns" on registration for this event. Take it or leave it. Unlike facts, opinions are neither true or false, they are just one person's perspective. I'm just telling you what I see, the way I see it, amigo. And here's some more of my helpful insights - All jokes aside, I do hope you have a good turnout and great time. I would have liked to attended, but family supersedes the VR.
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I'm like a red-headed ninja - I pop out of the shadows & strike when you least expect it! But comparing me to Dallas - OUCH! That's harsh, bro, harsh!
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Well, Brad, if you and Lonna are there - how could it NOT be a huge success? :whistling:Thanks for your interjection. No one interjects with more style and dignity than you. :-) I'm glad to hear the rally is still on - and I'm not trying kill it. If anything, I'm trying to chide folks into going. I just didn't think it's fair to blame all the members if it got canceled or scaled back. If the Canucks aren't gonna chat it up, maybe resurecting this thread will create some BUZZZZ. Ya gotta admit, Brad - it's been pretty quiet to the north. I thought this rally was a secret......or maybe by invitation only. I've seen funerals promoted better.
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Will do Jerry - head down and eyes open is what I've already told her. We're gonna head over to Madison and run 39 down to 57 - not much fun bet we can cover the miles faster. I considered taking 47 and stopping by your place, but there's too much traffic and too little time this trip. I trust you and Jane are doing OK? Say Hi for us,
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Craig, Sorry about the loss of your dad, but he must have been a great guy! At least, that's the way I choose to interpret this. My dad always said - be careful what you wish for!
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Don, I didn't have a problem with the "planning area", hell, I didn't even know it required a password. It makes sense - too many cooks and all that. But I don't think that was/is the problem here. I just found a distinct lack of info & talk available on the rally. A big part of having a sucessful get-together is to promote it and create interest. There was the big chili cook off at Potato Creek. People were excited to ride down to the Tail of the Dragon rally and to go to Eureka Springs. These were fun and interesting places to ride. I missed the one in Ft. Collins & I have not been able to attend the Venture West rides, but enough of the members out west seem to have attended & had a good time - they've done it 4 times. That is what seems to be missing here - no chatter, no talking it up & no local interest. I wasn't even sure it was still on when I posted my "Where's the info?" thread early this year - I could not find anyone talking about it. You need a reason to ride someplace - something new to see, something you can't do at home. There were no threads that I saw on the site about things to do, roads to ride, unique attractions, people that were getting together to ride there, etc. As recall back a few years, some of our north of the border members were complaining that all of the rallies were being held way far south of them (and the eastern members that everything was too far west). And it was explained that this was a loose organization of self determined folks, that all of the rallies were put together by members and if you want a rally north of the border - put one together. Which they did and I salute them for it. Now ............here's your rally - where are all the members that wanted one up there? I hope they wake up & show up and have a great time. It's put up or shut up time. And in the word of Forrest Gump - That's all I have to say about that.
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........for the well wishes for my youngest. Margaret - Right now she's a SeaBee in the Navy and is stationed in Gulfport, MS. Once her training starts she'll be all over the country for a couple months. She hasn't been assigned her duty station in Afghanistan yet or her job while she's there, but she says her "pre-combat training involves a lot of munitions and weapons, so she thinks they'll be blowing stuff up". She's definitely a chip off the old blockhead. I don't gamble, so I won't see you at the craps table, but to you and TX is not on the agenda. If you knew me, you wouldn't invite me so easily. Rick - I may see you in MN later this year. And good to hear from you, Steve - stop in anytime. Did you want to head up to MN with me on Labor Day for the Piggie in the Conifers rally? Thanks for the offer, Eck & the Natchez Trace idea - we're looking forward to that on the ride home. I hope I won't have to take you up on the roadside assist, tho. Ya'll ride safe as well.
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We're southbound this Sat. and should be in Gulfport, MS by Sunday night - I just wanted to give an advance warning to all the members between WI and the Gulf. So if you see this rig parked at a food joint, http://www.simpsontaxidermy.com/RSVtrailer.jpg feel free to stop and buy us lunch. If you see us on the road - get out of the way! This trip south is the main reason I won't be attending the rally in Ontario this year. My daughter starts training with her battalion in late June and then leaves for Afghanistan sometime in Oct., so this will be the last chance I get to see her before she ships out for almost a year. Keep a good thought for her safe return, eh?
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Like my buddy (White-haired ) Owl, I will not be able to attend either as I have have not yet become independantly wealthy like him. Limited vacation time, even more limited vacation funds & I have a family priority. It's been over a month since the last post to this thread, so maybe this is irrelevant anyway. But then, so are most of my opinions. I made a post wondering about this rally sometime ago when the snow was still flying - which is generally the time I start to plan my summer rides. No one was chatting it up & information was hard to find on the site. And when I did find finally it, the info was thin. So was the response to my post. I know how hard it is to put these things together and how much fun it is to get together with most of you at these things. However, for a rally to be successful, you have to generate interest and make it easy for people to find the info. But, like the wise Old Owl, I do have to wonder - why there are not more of the Canadian members planning on attending? I kinda thought this rally was FOR the Canadian mambers. As I recall, we didn't have a big a Canadian contingent at the Eureka Springs rally in 2006. And there have gotten to be more and more of these get-togethers - which forces those of us not as wealthy as The Great Owl to pick and choose which ones we can attend. I think sometimes we go overboard with the T-shirts and pins and food and stuff. The fun part for me is riding to one of these things, riding around a new area & seeing new sites, swapping lies and putting faces with screen names and then riding home. Do we really need dinner reservations and pre-registration packets? That wa a big turn off for me. I don't even make motel reservations when I travel on the bike, 'cuz I never know exactly what route I'll take, or what the weather will be or where I'll feel like stopping. And what is I get to the rally and I piss everyone off? I may have to leave early or in the middle of the night. Personally - I'd be happy with a big fire, a cold beer and some roasted hot dogs at night. I don't need a planned breakfast & lunch - just point me in the direction of a town with a restaurant and I'll figure out the rest on my own. There were no T's or pins or planned events at Potato Creek, but we all had a blast anyway. Point being - don't loose site of the purpose of getting together in the first place. Maybe we are trying too hard to cater to everyone? Squidley is right about most of points. But I don't think low attendance should be taken as a slap in the face by the American members to our Canadian brothers - as much as it is a knee to the groin by thier own fellow Canadians. That being said, I'll go back into hiding now.
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Lewis, My discount at Progressive alone paid for the membership, but I agree with what every one else said previously, too. They provide a voice for ALL motorcyclists in both state and Federal legislatures and even go to bat for individuals in motorcycle related incidents. You would be amazed at some of the restrictive laws that are coming up or have already been defeated by the AMA. They have prevented some laws from getting on the books that would be bad for every rider and have helped to reverse other laws that attack motorcyclists. The magazine is pretty good, too. Bottom line - I feel they put my $39 to good use. If you enjoy riding and would like to continue - can you afford NOT to be a member? BTW - The museum is awesome - worth a little ride to OH just for that.
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Don, When I joined up here in the fall of '04, there were about 100 members and at that first VentureRider get-together, May '05 at Potato Creek - we all had a blast putting faces to screen names and chopping off Owl's hair. I left impressed with what a great group of truly genuine & friendly people had assembled here with your help. I have always found the members here to be helpful and some are even reasonably funny. Many enduring friendships were forged that weekend and at Vogel that first year. For a variety of reasons, I haven't been around here in while, so I don't know the specifics about what caused you to write this post. But if I know you, you wouldn't have written this if there wasn't just cause. You have done a great job with this site and a great service for all of us that enjoy riding motorcycle and especially our Ventures. The hypersensitivity & defensive posture of which you speak seem to be endemic in our society these days. Added to that is impersonal nature of e-mail and texts and posts. There is no voice inflection or facial expressions in written commentary. And because we don't really know the person making the post, the e-mail post is often taken out of contex or misconstrued. We need to keep that in mind BEFORE we jump on our keyboards. Too often, we allow ourselves to be polarized by our differences and fail to see the bigger picture. We gather here because of what we have in common - a joy of riding a great bike, a need for a little information and a desire to associate with people that share our passion. Perhaps if we kept the focus on that and had a little more tolerance for those that don't think exactly like we do, or express themselves precisely right - posts like this would no longer be necessary. It's great to check in and see many of the names that were there in the beginning are still here now. When I had to change my shock last summer, one of the members I don't know responded to my post and offered to call me and explain to me exactly how he had changed his. With his help, I got it changed with no problem. It's still a great group, Don. There are people here from all walks of life and backgrounds, different religious beliefs, political persuasions, education and status. But the thread that stitches us together is the Venture and this site that you built. That's an awesone thing that you've done, my friend. You're definitely worth whatever we're paying you. BTW - It's comforting to know that in my absence, some one else stepped up and was stirring up trouble. My dad told me when I was just a little red-headed troublemaker- "Don't dish it out if you can't take it, boy". Seems like good advice even today. Wow, that got longer than I expected. Oh yeah, my dad also said - "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, no matter how STUPID it is". He said some other stuff, too - but that's probably enough for now.
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You're not gonna upgrade to a 2nd Gen? Glad you're OK, Chuck.
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I appreciate the info. I'm going to call Works in the morning (or send an e-mial to the address in your post) and see how much "a little more upfront" amounts to in $$ and cents. I plan on keeping this bike for quite some time, so I don't mind spending a little more for a better product. I hate to spend $500 if Yamaha can't/won't warranty the replacement shock for reasonable distance. My concern with changing the shock myself is keeping the bike from tipping over. I have a bike lift, but with the rear tire and luggage off, it seems the shift in weight could cause it to drop forward and then off the lift. I suppose I could block up the front tire and then wratchet strap the front end to a couple rafters.
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How many of you have changed the rear shock yourself? Any tips, suggestions or advice from your experience that would make it easier? Works Performance claims 30-40K before needing to rebuild the shock. If you have the Works shock installed - how many miles do you have on it and how is it holding up? Have you needed to have it repaired yet? Do you repair it yourself or send it in? It looks like quite a few members have needed to replace the Yamaha shock several times in that period, so I question whether it's worth it to replace a prematurely bad shock with another Yamaha shock. It seems to me that the original factory shock should have lasted at least 30K. I hestitate to spend $500 for a non-rebuildable shock + $125 for labor just to have to replace it again in another 20K. I also don't want to have to take the rear end off my bike every 20,000 miles and have to send the shock to CA to be repaired. Thanks for the input
