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Dave77459

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Everything posted by Dave77459

  1. Dave77459
    Towing a trailer will be a nice help your peace of mind. It helps you keep pointed straight. The lights also seem to be more visible to followers, which is good thing. Just check the seals... persistent rain with lame seals beget wet stuff. I carry the important dry stuff (pillow, bedding) in space bags that vaccum dry. I wear glasses under a visor. My biggest issue is fog inside the visor. On the RSTD, in except the hardest rain, I keep the visor up. The windscreen of the RSTD keeps me dry. To "wipe" off my visor, I stick my head around the windscreen into the breeze and it blows dry like at a auto car wash. Um, when it isn't raining, that is. I've learned that even old gloves carry plenty of ink that transfers to my hands when it rains. Oh well, anticipate it. My hands are also the cold spot because they are exposed and wet. I carry a trash bag to cover my seat while fueling. Otherwise, it soaks my britches when I get back on. I ride with my fancy LED lights flashing in the rain. Those are the ones that glow when parked. They are really bright in dim light. If your vision is impaired or there is lightning, pull over. Trading time for life expectancy is an easy choice. If you ride in the rain, enjoy it. Rainy riding isn't a big deal, and you will sound like a tough guy to your fair weather riding friends. Dave
  2. Dave77459
    My appreciation for your effort is in no way diminished. Thank you. Dave
  3. Dave77459
    *sigh* I've been wrong all day long. You are prolly right. Thank you so much. That is very helpful! Dave
  4. Dave77459
    I need to replace my engine guards and saddlebag guards. I can't find the right part numbers. All I can find is beat-up take-offs. I'd prefer to not replace crash-damaged parts with scraped up guards. What other options do I have? Baron Customs? Someone triked a bike and has new saddlebag guards? Ideas? Dave
  5. Dave77459
    Prayers sent! Dave
  6. Dave77459
    $150 is about what I'd pay for some "gently used" take-offs, and I am looking. Insurance quoted me $536 for shrink-wrapped pipes. Put them on, and I'd discount 50%. Drive any distance, and down goes the price again. I have a pair of HD take-offs that I paid $0 for, as a comparison. Dave
  7. Dave77459
    1100 miles the first time took 19 hours. 1100 miles a couple months back took 18, including running out of gas "more than once." Lol Did 1000 leisurely miles in 23.5 hours. Good thing pace wasn't the aim, because I got caught in Houston and Memphis rush hours, rain, and IL freeway construction. Ugh I've done a couple 800 mile rides for hamburgers. Don't think those count. Dave
  8. Dave77459
    I suppose it was just a matter of time, but I have been laid off. My company, despite having almost 50,000 employees across the world, cannot keep me busy. I'm not surprised, because despite looking for two months, I can't find a company hiring for my core job (airport planner). My last day is next week some time. I get benefits through the end of the month. I would like prayers for a successful job search. Clearly, this is more than I can do alone. But mostly, I would like prayers for my wife, Jamie. She worries much, and I know this will tear her up. She is blameless in this, has faith in me, and is my support. She deserves the calming presence that prayers can provide. Keep her in your thoughts, please. As I write this, my mind goes back yet again to the accident we recently had. She doesn't remember it--she has amnesia--but I cannot forget listening to her screams of fear and pain. I feel so much guilt for that, and now, this. I guess I need some prayers for peace of mind and perspective. Thank you, Dave
  9. Dave77459
    It's an interesting situation, to be sure. You can photograph people on public property without needing a model release. You cannot display the photos for profit without a model release. I'm not sure how the transit system is considered... is it a public agency? Is displaying the photos part of a marketing scheme, and thus "for profit"? Or is it a news/editorial use? This seems kind of novel to me. Do you have an employment contract? Is permission to use your likeness incorporated in the contract? No? Are you in a union? What would they say? I think that if I were opposed, I would have grimaced or frowned, so as to make the image unsuitable for a marketing purpose. I definitely think that reaching out to HR is warranted. Or, if unionized, your representative. Or both.
  10. Dave77459
    I have a stock windscreen. I know my mpg drops very quickly over 65mph. *shrugs* Dave
  11. Dave77459
    Do you mean, a photo of your likeness, or a photograph that you took? I think the answer to the second question is no, unless you took it in your capacity as an employee. If it is a photo of you, I suspect it depends. Can you provide more information? Dave
  12. Dave77459
    Thanks. Got my bad days with my good, like most everyone else. I usually do my ironbutt runs for a purpose. Most often, I am flying my wife somewhere and I ride to meet her, where the vacation starts. I can make 1500 miles in a day or two, and she used to be limited to 300 miles, so saving 3 days of vacation is a big deal. Then there is the "ride to Lubbock for lunch with the kids" thing. Lubbock did have the 10th best burger in Texas, or so it was claimed. I should have known better, since the hack magazine was written out of Austin. Wasn't even a decent cafe when I went through. But it was fun to see everyone gathering at the post office to get their mail. It was a community time, nice to see. Good point. You'd think that something that severely cripples the bike would be obvious. Dave
  13. Dave77459
    I wanted to qualify for the Mile Eater program from the IBA. I'd ridden several ironbutts but had only bothered to document one. You need 2+ for Mile Eater, and I had a day free, so... why not? As far as lack of reported vibration...? I thought he came from a V-Twin, which have as much vibration when running good as mine does when running out of sync. I usually tell it was out of sync only after syncing it. It just runs so purely beautifully when it is in sync. Dave
  14. Dave77459
    The tank was completely full (I have punched holes in the filler neck) and I was riding unencumbered by trailer or pillion. I was going 75-ish mph, because the speed limit was 80mph and I didn't want to get run down. I think the big difference was the 40+ mph headwind. I did say it was a strong headwind, right? This was a there-n-back ironbutt to Balmorhea; 550 miles there, 550 miles back. On the way back, the wind had slacked (of course) but was still blowing. I passed 150 miles on the return first tank with just barely seeing the count-up timer. I stopped because I had to pee and the next station was a further 50 miles. Hope this clarifies somewhat, Dave
  15. Dave77459
    I'm sorry I missed this until now. I had a similar problem that I let two experts diagnose on Kreg's MD. It took them most of a day, and they knew what they were doing. One of them had problems because he was working with someone else's voltmeter, and it wasn't like his. In the end, I think the problem is that my brand new battery was bad. Four months old, and four months of problems. I called a Yamaha dealer, who said a big percentage of their high-dollar batteries are DOA. They have to deep test them before they go out the door as a result, because otherwise the battery supplier would not take them back on warranty. He had three new batteries test bad the day I called. Seems like an epidemic. He could not recommend an autoparts shop's battery as a result, because they are not tested before they are sold. I bet the same is with Wally World. When they said it was good, did they deep test it? Taking it to the stealership for warranty service was the right call, IMO. Either that, or calling an FJR rider that we know (and is oveworked). Dave
  16. Dave77459
    I believe this post might have the information you are looking for. IMX, the other necessary tool is a pipe expander. The Harley touring mufflers (can't be sure they were Roadking... I suspect Ultra Classic) had too small an inner diameter to slip easily over the Y-shaped collection piece. If I had to do it over again, I would have not attempted to persuade the pipes to slide on; I think it led to joint failure at the weld in the Y, introducing air into the exhaust with the subsequent popping on deceleration. A $10 tool from Harbor Freight expanded the muffler neck and allowed it to slide right on. IMO, the impact of hammering the pipes on is too great on future performance. If they don't slide on, get the pipe expander. Dave
  17. Dave77459
    The Rick Butler mod worked for me. Several 1000+ mile days. But now, 60,000 miles on, the foam is getting tired. I am making do with a Wally World "gel" seat cushion, alternating each tankful with the bare seat. Sometimes I'll sit on the pillion occasionally at the end of a long day to let the foam "reinflate". Dave
  18. Dave77459
    Right? If it were $150, it'd be in my closet now. I am having a change of heart about some things. I now realize that it is too hot in Texas in the summer to ride without a jacket. So, I am looking for a year round jacket, and the one I am searching in vain for provides ventilation and rain proof-ness. I don't want to put a rain jacket over a protective jacket. I'm done with wearing a zillion layers. I'll ditch the thermal layer of whatever I end up with, and use my electric jacket liner. It seems like the one that meets all my needs, my all-in-one jacket, is $499. But I get $20 in Revzilla bucks back! Wheee! Dave
  19. Dave77459
    I have had two pair of Frogg Toggs. The first was the ultra-thin "leather" look ones that I got from CycleGear. $35 or so. They kept me delightfully dry in a steady --sometimes heavy-- rain from The Grand Canyon to Houston. 1000 miles in rain, and I was dry. That was pretty nice. The zipper crapped out, but I wore a reflective vest and I was still dry. But I wanted something more visible. When it is raining, why wear something that is practically camouflage? So I got the Frogg Toggs Horny Toadz in the high-vis green. It is double the price, but it is clearly a better product. MUCH heavier and durable. http://www.froggtoggs.com/images/product/NHT65115-48.jpg I dislike the pants though. They don't stretch at all. Putting them on is a chore, and if I gain another 2 oz, they will never fit. I'm in the market for raingear again, since I was wearing my Toadz when I went down with a blown rear tire. (I felt so safe in that yellow/green that I wore it until I got too hot) The jacket did not shred, but it did end up with a few holes. I am even more impressed with the Toadz now. I think I'll bite the bullet and get the Rev'It Horizon HV. So so so expensive, but I seem to be in the habit of crashing these days. Dave
  20. Dave77459
    I'll just add some anecdotal comments to give you some data points from a guy that actually rides an RSTD.... Dealers very frequently don't know how to do a carb sync, and sync'd carbs make a huge difference. Heading to West Texas with a strong headwind, I was out of gas at 80 miles. Not on reserve, but pouring gas from a can into my tank because I was dry. These windscreens are huge and efficient, but they kill mpg. On the other hand, they keep you dry in downpours and allow you to relax enough for 1000+ mile days. On my recent ride to Leakey, 500 miles or so, I was in 5th gear maybe 10 miles. I was only doing 70-75mph, and 5th lugs with any headwind and going up hill. Even if it doesn't lug, I don't get the crisp response that I like with 4th gear. I get better economy in 4th at those speeds anyways. I know some people claim SeaFoam is a miracle agent, and I am glad for them. If you try it, I hope it works for you. Good luck, Dave
  21. Dave77459
    Congrats Perry! That's quite an achievement. Wish I could have ridden with you. :-( I know you didn't achieve the sort of pace you expected. What slowed you down? Looks like you spent a bunch of time in Fredericksburg, for example. Traffic? Dave
  22. Dave77459
    I think 6 in a day is my record. The Ride Like A Pro class is "fun" that way. Dave
  23. Dave77459
    Thanks all for your kind thoughts and prayers. We're home and comfortable-ish. The insurance company is taking Roxie to Kreggerdoodle's. Maybe then I'll know more about what happened. Here's what I wrote my office. Dave Coming home Sunday from a motorcycle trip, the bike suddenly veered left and went down. I have no idea why. I was coming to a stop and then Jamie and I were thrown. A witness behind us saw nothing happen; no fishtailing or anything. To me, it felt like the wheel fell off, but people who have seen the bike thus far can't see anything wrong. Jamie suffered a concussion with amnesia. She was confused, so the doctor and I decided to keep her for observation. She also has some belly road rash and a whopper of a black eye. I'm not worried about her concussion anymore. I landed on my left side. My collar bone is broken near the shoulder end, and pain management is an issue when I move. Car rides are awful. I also have deep muscle bruises on my hip, so getting in or out of chairs is not something that I look forward to. The doctor suggested that I stay home this week and Jamie will as well. He told me that I can't ride for two months. Honestly, I love Roxie but our relationship seems jinxed. I don't know that Jamie will ever get back on... she was really scared. So maybe it is time to rehome her. I have a couple of months to think about it. And to wish I were riding. :'-( Oh, one more thing. This would have a very different ending had we not been wearing helmets. Ours both have bad scrapes, and Jamie's looks to have rubber marks. I think the trailer I was pulling ran over her head. Just imagine that when thinking about helmets.
  24. Dave77459
    Glad you are OK! That damage sounds like what happened when my rear tire went. I was able to bend the passing lamp mount back using a come-along and an adjustable wrench. The engine guard was kicked back while sitting in the saddle. Dave
  25. Dave77459
    I run an RSTD, and I suppose the superior speed makes a difference. Being able to fly over surfaces helps greatly. With the last set of Dunlop E3s, I got average life out of the rear ~13,000. The front E3 got 25,000+!! These saw a lot of freeway miles, between three long trips pulling a trailer 2-up and daily commuting in Houston. I ran max recommended pressure, whatever that was. I also ran Dyna beads in that long-living front. Not sure if that made a difference or not. Love the E3s for durability and going straight. Disliked the front when turning, so I went back to my favorite Avon in front (E3 in back). I ought to get some more Dyna beads, because they made balancing a snap. Dave
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