Hobscotch

Aah! Someone who knows the ropes. There is nothing scarier than a minivan with a bunch of kids in the back, and Mom on a cell phone trying to make a left turn. Always a good idea to check for the telephone poll she might force you into on the right side when you glance off her front bumper.

Recently, I was notified by Paypal that I had to verify my account because I had neared the $5,000 send limit. According to their writings, the verification process is to prove you are who you say you are. In reality, it appears to be a somewhat different ploy. My account was set up using two credit cards I have had for years, not the least of which was American Express. Both of these cards offer high levels of security. They are all I care to use on the internet, ever. The fun part of Paypal's "verification" process is that there are only two ways to get "verifyied" so you can continue to use their system. The first is to provide them with your personal banking information. The other is to apply for their credit card. Being in the accounting profession for 35 years, and owning my own practice for 25 of those years, I sometimes actually take note of things "financial". So, after researching, and trying to contact Paypal, I found no other way to get "verified", even though my own credit cards have already done that, and my Paypal account has had $4,500 pass through it without one glitch, ever. Paypal is quite straight forward about their demands. If you do not give them your banking information or apply for their credit card, your account with them is locked. In other words, no more using Paypal until you succumb to their demands. Now, all of that being said, I see absolutely no reason for why I would or should ever give Paypal or anyone else my banking information for no legitimate reason. That comes up smelling a lot like marginally legal phishing for financial information without cause. Neither do I care to apply for a credit card I do not want, or need. That is just plain old fashioned over the top aggressive marketing in any other language. So, here I am in the initial stages of letting people know that Paypal is conducting business in such a way that they try to force people into giving up personal information or creating a credit card account they may neither want, nor need with the same intent of gathering personal information on their customers without cause. Paypal is nothing special. It is a service type vendor subject to success by treating its customers fairly. This "verification" process clearly verifies that there are many serious reasons to avoid them or to close any existing accounts people may have with them. Paypal claims it is for security reasons. If Hackers can get into the FBI, CIA and most major banks and governments around the world, Paypal is not even worth mentioning. It should be a piece of cake for the hackers to steal whatever they wish from Paypal. Read the fine print and decide for yourself. But, for me, I am going back to direct involvement with selected vendors, thus ceasing doing business with Paypal and EBay. I do not need these two companies at all.

I could be full of it, but I vaguely remember reading something about the 1st gen RSV clutch basket from a specific year or two that could be used in lieu of the clutch baskets in the Second Gen RSV...but don't quote me....I have gray hair and I'm old. That said, if I recall, the difference was in the gear tooth design???? And, supposedly, it did reduce the whine substantially? I think the gear teeth on the 2nd gen are straight cut, and the 1st gen had crowned teeth???? And, yes, Yamaha knows all about it. Bet they even know tape players are old technology! At least the 2012 Venture will ensure that we have spare parts for a very long time for our older ones.

The best teacher about helmets is having worn one in an accident...twice in my life. My head is still intact. The helmets were not. Be safe and enjoy the choice.

The fun part of this is that sooner or later, he will grow up and realize that dear ole Dad was right all along! Enjoy that "I told ya so" when it comes.

Not sure this has made this forum yet or not, but sure seems like a nice replacement addition for the CD Changer and conventional MP3 Player thru the Aux Jack routine. http://www.venturemp3.com/

Had both of my knees replaced at the same time last November. The first four weeks were the roughest. But, the more you can work through, the better. It is all about the rehab. Rehab people can teach you many different ways to keep your leg and the rest of you mobile, and how to do it yourself. They can also teach you different ways to sit, stand, lay down and all that neat stuff. Listen and do. It does work. The other important issue is pain management. Take the medication that you need about an hour before rehab. That works, too. If you can get from 0 degrees to about 125 to 130 degrees, then you have enough range of motion to do pretty much anything you need to do. I just wouldn't recommend trying to kneel down...ever. I forgot and made that mistake just once!!! Good luck to ya!!!! It will all work out.

Get yourself a nice big bunch of grapes. Works every time. Get well soon!

Tried something similar many years ago with a Honda 500 Four. Didn't work out well at all loading, unloading, or pulling the bike. You would be much better off having towing coverage on your insurance for a heavy bike like a Venture, or just rent a trailer if and when you need it. Just my opinion.

We had occasion to attend a "proper tea" in Northern Ireland at a Yacht Club... and took our kids!!!!!!

This pretty much spells out about a month or two of excellent riding in PA. Since you are coming in from the sw, stay a good ways away from Pittsburgh and you will find lots of good riding roads south and east. If you want to head east in PA, then Route 30 will provide a real nice ride. From Morgantown, WV, you can slide into PA heading for Uniontown. On 40 east out of Uniontown, 381 north will provide a real interesting ride through Ohiopyle State Park and the town of Ohiopyle, then on up to Rte 30 east. Rte 31 can be fun, too. From there to about Chambersburg, you can pretty much pick your poison heading north in any direction. Flt 93 and Shanksville are a couple miles south of Rte 30, as well. Enjoy.

Of the 1500 MMs made, 1000 were sold in America. So, when the MM was created, it was by far the sleekest, fastest, and most beautiful of the RSV line. So, Yamaha set out over the next decade simply trying to make sure that RSVs of other colors would appear in a tasteful manner in the rear view mirrors of the RSV MM. It is but an RSV MM that is capable of passing another RSV MM. #452

After reading everything I could find about the clutch basket whine, it seems that I read a viable fix to substantially reduce the basket noise may be in changing the 2nd gen clutch basket to a 1st gen clutch basket? I forget where I saw it, but somewhere I thought I read that one of the 1st gen baskets needs 1st gen clutch parts, while the other uses the 2nd gen clutch parts. I cannot remember if the 1200 or the 1300 1st gen basket could be used with 2nd gen parts. Does anyone know which is which? Just modified my clutch last winter. No change in the whine, but my clutch parts, i.e. plates and pressure plate are in very good shape and I would rather not replace them if I do not have to do that. Thanks.

Glad to hear you are okay. Sorry to hear about your bike. No doubt you'll be sore for a few days. But, heal quick and good luck with rebuilding your machine. I trust you will be talking to a lawyer soon??? Walmart parking lots are worse than a war zone. My family got nailed while getting out of the car by some bozo, too. In their case, the driver that hit them went up and over two concrete curbs and smashed into the car. Damned near took off my wife's leg when he hit the open door. Walmart should put concrete highway dividers between their parking spaces!!!!

Best of luck to you. Glad you are healing. Steve

Many prayers to ya!!!! Get well soon...and do what you are told by the docs. Steve

The Beast & The Buggy!

One thing about a bad economy is that it does weed out the wheat from the chaff insofar as business and products are concerned. As sad as it has been in the last few years, it has been interesting to watch how things change. I retired from a long profession in financial services when I turned 60. Sold my practice and got out completely in 2007. But, one thing that was always a good rule of thumb to follow was, "So goes the baby boomers, so goes the economy." With 76 million of us so called baby boomers, we commanded the economy over the years. Harleys, like all things that were expensive toys in the past 20 odd years, are suffering the same declines in value as everything else the baby boomers have touched since the 60s when we first started becoming adults. Harley realizes that, too, and there has been an adjustment in their corporate thinking. The Harley plant in York, PA is an example of the principal about baby boomers. It has gone through a tough reorganization in recent years with significant job losses and production. In the meantime, what you are seeing is market saturation for used Harleys that will continue as the ones who could afford them start trying to sell them off as they get older and can no longer ride. Significant price declines will follow the market saturation. RSVs are beginning to trend that same way, too. Just on a smaller scale. Unlike Americans who don't learn from history, Yamaha built a very good touring bike in the RSV with little real corporate reason to redesign over the years and limited its production to long term market projections. Yes, you can buy a brand new 10 year old RSV. But, people worldwide still buy them, ride them for 100,000 miles or more, and can get parts for them, if necessary, for a very long time. They were built for longevity. At their price, used or new, RSVs are still an excellent investment for a touring motorcycle public. My 2000 RSV MM is my last bike. It runs great and replacement parts are very easy to find. Why get another, or buy a Harley at twice the price? Just food for thought, IMHO.

FINALLY a motorcycle that people will SEE!!!!! I'd appreciate a rush shipment, please.