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george0fthejungle

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Everything posted by george0fthejungle

  1. george0fthejungle
    Hi, My 83 has a strange quirk. The headlight warning LCD and red warning light will come on. I checked the manual which says that indicates a headlamp failure, except my headlight is just fine, low beam and high beam. I have gotten off the bike to check them, as well as being able to see their reflection on cars/road signs ahead of me. If I flip on the high beam, leave it on for a sec then back off, the LCD indicator and red light will go away. Sometimes I dont see the false error for days, other times it will do it a dozen times in my one hour ride home. Has anyone else seen this? Paul
  2. george0fthejungle
    That site christened me "Strangeman" of the Gas Guzzlers MC.....hmmmm now how did they know about my posts regarding my 83's thirsty habits?
  3. george0fthejungle
    Sorry guys, I posted all that gung ho, lets go riding message and then disappeared. My nieces kidneys failed and she ended up in ICU and then my work sent me to Denver. She is much better now, but this is the first chance Ive had to log in since and I saw all the posts from what look to be some really good guys and I felt like an Oscar Meyer Wiener! I apologize again and hope to meet and ride with you in the future! Paul
  4. george0fthejungle
    Does anyone know if theres a 5 pin adapter that will allow me to plug in stereo headphones AND a microphone? The reason I ask is that my wife gave me a BlueAnt Blue Tooth headset for christmas. It works with my cell phone which was the main reason I wanted it, BUT....(pardon my big but) it also comes with a Blue tooth transmitter that can be plugged into other Audio/Mic jacks, like for instance the stereo jack on a laptop and the mic jack and the headset can be paired with multiple devices....like for instance a phone AND the BlueAnt transmitter at the same time. I use this at my work because I can listen to music from my laptop or my cellphone and if I get a call on my cell I can take it and then go back to music.....I can also take calls over SKYPE or Yahoo etc. This got me thinking because if theres a converter.....I think conceivably I could plug in the BlueAnt Blue Tooth transmitter to my 83 VR's stock jack and be able to hear the stereo, use the CB/Intercom, and take phone calls!!! Im very excited about the idea, but I have no idea if theres a 5 pin adapter that will take the mic and stereo jacks and I dont know where to look. If someone can point me in the right direction I will see if I can make it work and post the how to on the site. Paul
  5. george0fthejungle
    Hey Utadventure, Digging through the Forums I noticed you organized an M&E back in May. If setting them up is your gig then I definitely want to offer my support and willingness to help out in anyway I can. Hope I didn't step on your toes, just trying to get together with some other people in the area that love to ride and love Venture's. Paul
  6. george0fthejungle
    Hey all you members in the Salt Lake City area, I haven't been a member long, but the members back East are putting us to shame! We look downright un-sociable by comparison. I am willing to organize a Meet - n - Eat if I get some feedback showing interest from members in the area. If you would be interested in having Meet - n - Eat's once every couple of months at different locations around the Wasatch Front and possibly the Wasatch "back" (places like Heber, Park City, Morgan) let me know and I will agree to try and set em up. Paul 83 VR Gold:lightbulb:
  7. george0fthejungle
    I wonder if anyone has a method for making these older ones a little stiff (NO VIAGRA JOKES PLEASE), Im talking about the vents!!!!!
  8. george0fthejungle
    Whats "flatout" GigaWhiskey?
  9. george0fthejungle
    Thanks Condor
  10. george0fthejungle
    And as I get braver, Im going to try some of these maintenance and repair items myself. I've really been impressed with some of the step by step instructions with photos that members have posted on this site. They may just give me the confidence to attempt this stuff myself!
  11. george0fthejungle
    Hi, I have a question about the first gens vents. I bought an 83 VR and while Im not trying to make it a museum piece, I do want to fix what I can and make the bike as functional as possible. I have a couple of broken vents on the fairing (the ones on the sides of the fairing that blow cool air on your legs) and one of my vents covering the back two cylinders is broken and doesnt want to stay open. My question is in 2 parts.....first, I have noticed several pics on the Venture Galleries of 83 - 86's that dont have vents over the back two cylinders, instead that spot is open and on some there is a curved piece of chrome. Is this something yamaha did? Like the difference between Ventures and Venture Royale models? Or is this a modification that riders have come up with to let the engine have a little more air flow. The other question is about locating new vents....any suggestions? Ebay? Websites? Junkyards? Thanks for any feedback Paul:thumbsup:
  12. george0fthejungle
    I gave that a try today Condor and noticed 2 things, first I do think it was using a little less gas by not being in such a rush to get it into 5th, and second, it tolerated the "in-town" traffic heating up much better. I will say though...all my daydreaming about having a Venture, thinking how great it would be....didnt even come close to how much Im loving it!
  13. george0fthejungle
    I have to say, I love this website so far. So many knowledgeable people and all willing to share info. I will try to do the same as I learn more about my 83 VR. Thanks everyone!
  14. george0fthejungle
    True, true. Im working on smooth starts and stops and good shifting again too. Its been a few years since I rode and my last bike was a 650 Maxim. Quite a bit smaller and lighter. Maybe as my technique improves I will squeeze a few more mile out of it too. Thanks for the feedback
  15. george0fthejungle
    So am I just naive then? Cuz I totally believed the spec on the VR History page for the 83's where it talks about them getting 42 mpg and having a cruising range of 226 miles. Or is that something Venture insiders chuckle about and roll their eyes knowingly?
  16. george0fthejungle
    When I bought the bike it had been in storage for awhile and was running rough....varnish I suspect, so I ran a bottle of Red Line through it (SeaFoam being hard to find here) and then took it in and had the bike get a "major service". I/E oil change, carbs synched, all hoses, etc checked, fluids replaced, radiator flush and fill, etc. I think its just me with new bike jitters. This being a 25 year old machine Im trying to take really good care of it and make it last as long as I can because I love riding it!
  17. george0fthejungle
    Thanks for those replies guys...that reassured me quite a bit. Im sure I will settle down and relax with this bike as I get to know it but for now Im like a nervous first time father...freaking out everytime it does something new. I appreciate you taking the time to post with your own experience with your bikes. Paul
  18. george0fthejungle
    Yet another question from this NOOB about his 83 VR: My bike seems to run warm....I wont say hot because the guage never gets in the red but it gets close sometimes. Now granted, this may just be my paranoia and inexperience with a bigger bike (Ive always had smaller bikes w/o temp guages). Anyway, heres what Im seeing....if you will divide the temp gauge into quarters in your minds eye, like a car gas gauge, the top quarter being redline, the bottom quarter being cold and the half in the middle the normal operating range: When I start out in the mornings, the outside temp is about 70 and the bike runs pegged right in the center of the normal operating range...at what would be 1/2 tank on the imaginary markings. But in the afternoon when temps get up around 95 - 100, the bike hangs just below the redline with only maybe a 16th of an inch of green showing. The fan comes on occasionally, not constantly, and if I ride the bike conservatively (65 - 70 mph, keeping rpms around 3500) it doesnt get any hotter. Even if I push the bike it doesnt redline, but the fan runs more frequently. So.....am I a paranoid wack job and this is normal summer heat woes for an 83? Or is that hotter than it should be and if so, what can I check or adjust to cool this bike off a little. Oh, PS, it was just serviced, had the cooling system flushed out, pump tested and coolant replaced with "Engine Ice" brand coolant. Paul
  19. george0fthejungle
    HI Guys! I was all set to start my own thread when I saw this one. I hope Condor or one of the other guru's of all motorcycle wisdom will read this and weigh in. My 83 VR is really troubling me from a gas consumption point of view. And I have a bad odometer (by the way, is that a separate cable from the speedo?). Anyway I topped my bike off yesterday and rode it to and from work today. My gauge shows 6 bars when topped off and when I pulled into the garage tonite it had dropped to 2. My trip to work is about 50 miles one way...so by any account I cant have gone more than 110 miles today.....Im going to keep a close eye on it tomorrow, and see if maybe I just have a gauge that drops fast at first, then hangs on the low markings for awhile. I have a spare instrument cluster, maybe I should swap them out and see if I can get a working odometer. Any ideas Oh ye Wise Ones? Paul
  20. george0fthejungle
    for two main reasons: #1. I have little kids and I have to set a good example. Cant expect them to wear theirs if Dad doesn't lead the way. #2. On my first bike when I was just a 16 yr. old pup, I laid it down while wearing a helmet. At that time I wore it haphazardly, maybe 50% of the time. Anyway, I hit some gravel left by a paving crew and was down before I knew it. I was not even aware my head had touched the ground, but when I took off the helmet the entire left side was scraped, all the way through the paint in places. It made quite an impression on me that thats how my face would have looked without the helmet. Ive worn one 100% of the time since Paul:Venture:
  21. george0fthejungle
    After a couple of you suggested the sensor hadnt been reconnected I dug out my service manual and looked it up. I described the connector to my mechanic and I could hear the circuit breaker click in his head over the phone. He forgot to reconnect it. I could pop off the panel and reconnect it myself.....but hey, when I pay for work, I pay for it to be done right so Im going to swing by and let him. Besides...I think he disconnected my airl leveling system too. The back was already disconnected because the previous owner towed a trailor, but now nothing shows on the leveling systems display but the psi symbol and it wont activate in manual or auto mode. I downloaded the pdf of the service manual that someone here was good enough to post on the site. Im going to give him a copy. Thanks everyone for your input and suggestions. Paul
  22. george0fthejungle
    Hi everyone, I just picked up my first gen Venture from my mechanic yesterday and we are both at a loss over the brake fluid warning light. The bike was in for a rear master cylinder rebuild. The rebuild went fine with Yamaha orig parts, fluid was topped off, system "burped" or bled to make sure no air in the lines....and the sensor and warning light remain on. Front brakes also checked, good fluid levels, no air in lines.....sensor and warning light remain on. Took the bike for a test ride, brakes are great, responsive, no squishiness in rear pedal or front brake handle. So now Im wondering....is there a reset that has to be done after the maintenance has been performed? Paul george0fthejungle Firstgen VR Gold
  23. george0fthejungle
    Sorry Pete, I just glanced through your initial post and thought you were passing through Orem, not returning home to Orem. I fell all over myself trying to be helpful and then re-reading the post saw where I had made my mistake. Paul
  24. george0fthejungle
    Hey Pete, I read your post. If it can wait until you hit Salt Lake City, there is an excellent mechanic not far off the beaten track in Salt Lake. Actually he is in West Valley City, but thats just part of the suburban sprawl around SLC. The name of the place is 4 Seasons Cycle 1812 W 3500 S West Valley City, UT Tel. 801-886-1982 The owners name is Bill. If it can wait till you get to SLC, tell him Paul referred you, he is rebuilding the master cylinder on my 83 Venture Royale right now. He is a very decent guy and also very honest. Best of luck to you Paul
  25. george0fthejungle
    The day I bought it

    From the album: my 83 Venture Royale

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