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Dave77459

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  1. Dave77459
    I forgot to update this. Two weeks ago, I had my bike in for service before going on a weekend two-up trip to the Texas Hill Country. While there, they replaced the temporary bolt I had been using for my shift lever (the spare from my left hand fuse cover) and installed another. This doesn't look very "special shaped" to me. I don't think that this is the one they ordered the previous week. And yet, they haven't called to say that special shaped one is in yet. Can someone confirm that this isn't the special shaped bolt I requested they order? http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/3052400127_6376263696_m.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/3052400171_6ab9f6836c_m.jpg
  2. Dave77459
    I have a couple projects for my '06 RSTD where I have been told that I ought to wire the device straight to the battery, or words to that effect. The idea is to not tap into an existing wire, but to get closer to the original source of power. Air horns, where they need lots of juice to get really loud. My passing lamps, where I want to have them on regardless whether the headlight is on high or low beam. I'll wire a relay so that if the running lights are on, the passing lamps are on. My question is: how? How do I energize these? What is the physical connection, and where? Do you go into the fuse box, or splice a wire, or what? For the passing lamps and other front-end projects, how do you get the wire back to the battery? Do you remove the tank and find some sort of cable chase to run the wires? I suppose duct tape ain't the thing. I've delayed re-doing my passing lamps because of my lack of understanding, and I am buying myself a pair of Bad Boy air horns from Harbor Freight for Christmas. So I am hoping to spend between now and then understanding what to do and maybe doing the passing lamps. I'm not a dunce, but photos would be invaluable. But really, any help would be very appreciated. Dave
  3. Dave77459
    It sounds like you are seeing the route data that Garmin uses. Their routes are point to intermediate point to intermediate point. When I open the GPX Mapsource creates, I see just that. Line to line. The Garmin software and routing GPSr units do the plotting as needed. That's why sometimes what I see in Mapsource is a different route than that the GPSr takes me over--they use different routing algorithms. That said, using the newest version of Mapsource, I can "recalculate" the route so that it creates the over-road route. Then I use the "View in Google Earth" command and the route drawn over the roadway is imported into GE. That is, I can see the zillion minor turns in the less-than-straight roads. Are you using the latest version of MapSource?
  4. Dave77459
    I appreciate that Tom. I think he was a bit embarrassed to have broken down, and wanted quit of us ASAP. He thought he'd only be out there an hour with AAA on the way. But that is really great advice for my next trip!
  5. Dave77459
    My manual (for the RSTD) said that for the warranty to transfer, you needed the dealer to perform a warranty inspection. When I took it to the dealer and asked for that, they scratched their head because no one had ever asked. Nor had anyone ever requested the warranty information be formally transferred, which I did. There is supposed to be a process, and I wanted to make sure there was no mistake later. The mechanic asked if it was running OK -- that was the inspection! -- and the secretary made some calls and figured out how to do the appropriate database chore. Other than that, it was no problem. My remaining task is to go to the original dealer with the bill of sale and get the keycode so I can have a duplicate key. Don't forget that.
  6. Dave77459
    Hey Tom, on our way back we ran from Luckenbach to Blanco. That is a great little stretch too! Thanks Ponch! Thanks for the route suggestion! I definitely plan to go back. I just need more vacation time. :-)
  7. Dave77459

    Chaps

    Dave77459 replied to BradT's topic in Watering Hole

    I bought these in the last week, and used them for the first time this weekend. They worked very well. I am extremely happy with these.
  8. Dave77459
    Well, we road the Three Twisted Sisters, and I got the t-shirt to prove it! :-) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/3036620914_585792f961_m.jpg Actually, we rode two of the three, but the replacement leg was so good that I will count it! This was a group of seven bikes, mainly Harley riders, but there was also a Honda Shadow 750. I was tickled that my wife road two-up with me. That was a bit doubtful before we mounted up, because it was 42F when we left! We started in Kerrville, stopping near Hunt to pick up another rider. Then we went and visited "Stonehenge II" outside Hunt. We backtracked to Hwy 39 and headed south and west to Hwy 187. That Hwy 39 section is gorgeous! We intended to stop at Lost Maples State Park, which is off Hwy 187. But there was a half-mile long wait to get in and it was 45 degrees or so. We pushed on. We turned right on Hwy 337 at Vanderpool to begin our Twisted Sisters experience. That is a terrific road! There is even a guy who stands at a scenic top and grabs your photo as you whiz by. You can pick it up later at TxMotoFoto.com. We stopped on Hwy 337 just west of Leakey at a place called the Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop. That's a nice place, a better than typical stop in my experience. Pushing on Hwy 337 towards Camp Wood, we suffered a bike breakdown in our group. After a while, the group minus this bike made it to Camp Wood. Finally, we decided he needed a tow and we called AAA. They sent a wrecker from Uvalde, over an hour away. The rider insisted we leave him along the road and continue. In his place, I would have insisted too. We had lunch in Camp Wood to salvage some use of our time. We ate at the Holy Smoke on Hwy 55 just south of Hwy 337. They had great pulled pork, quickly served. Turning north, we took Hwy 55 north to Rock Springs. This is the non-Sister section we took in lieu of Hwy 336. Hwy 336 apparently features lots of cattle crossings, forcing a slow down. So instead we took Hwy 55 and rocketed through sweepers at an alarming pace. So much fun! Going uphill most of the way, I could regulate my speed by just using the throttle. It was a blast! At Rock Springs, we went on Hwy 377 to Hwy 41. Then we turned right on Hwy 335, another of the official Sisters. My friends call this the Roller Coaster, and the name fits. Lots of vertical curves through great ranch country. This was my favorite section, a superb ride. I scraped my pegs for the first time, riding two-up! I think we even saw some giraffes and camels along this stretch! 8-) We got back to Camp Wood and retraced our path. We were going to continue on Hwy 337 to Medina, because the stretch between Vanderpool and Medina is apparently great as well. However, we found that our buddy was still stuck on the road some four hours later! As chance would have it, the tow truck arrived minutes later and we helped push his bike up onto the flatbed. After a pitstop back at the Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop, we headed up Hwy 83 and onto Hwy 39. We were able to help our buddy unload his bike back at his house in Hunt. By the time we got back to hour hotel in Kerrville, we'd gone 250 miles in 10 hours. It was a great day. If you want to see my trip photos, you can click here for a guest pass to my Flickr photos from the trip. Warning: boring!
  9. Dave77459
    Is it your opinion that I should not get the spinner, or only after the blinkers kit? Is the spinner only fluff compared to the usefulness of the blinker kit? I am getting the blinker kit--it will be nice to have a nifty function to my stock-ish bike. Thanks for alerting me.
  10. Dave77459
    Those look excellent, and would let me maintain the general look of my midnight. I note the comment regarding the spinner bulb. I would imagine that the flashing break light would make it hard to be confused whether you have your breaks on, but have you received comments from followers?
  11. Dave77459
    I have an '06 RSTD, midnight version. I've been trying to honor the darkly menacing intent of the midnight scheme, and so have been limiting the chrome I add. At the same time, the single tail light seems insufficient, and I am considering adding more tail lights. I am considering adding the saddlebag guards I have seen in photos. The guards that protect the lower sides and back, attached to the stock front guard. I think I am not calling them the right thing, because I can't seem to find them, or if I have found them I don't recognize what they are called. My thought is that I would attach lights to the guards. I've seen LED bullet lights used, which would be fine for the purpose. I wonder if I can use the guards as cable chases? Could I replace the side reflectors with marker lights? What other additional tail light options are there? I'd appreciate your knowledge and ideas. Dave
  12. Dave77459
    I guess we need to pack lunches! LOL! I found a place on Google Earth called Dora's Diner, but who knows? This is one version of our planned route. We are staying in Kerrville: http://www.motowhere.com/maps/route/Stonehenge-2-Lost-Maples-Dora-s-Diner I'm excited to see Stonehenge 2!
  13. Dave77459
    I am part of a group riding the Three Sisters this weekend. Any restaurant suggestions, especially in Rocksprings?
  14. Dave77459
    First off, awesome page. There are some slangy sections (e.g., "ready to go"), but the information is excellent. Question: I know I must be missing it, but in the time line, where is the RSTD? I realize that it is a sibling of the Venture, but it is a different bike. We don't get the nifty cassette player.
  15. Dave77459
    I gather it isn't too late to order one? Is it too late for the meet & eat? I live in Houston and the wife claims Rockport is a nice place to visit, so maybe next weekend (11/22 or 23) we could ride down and pick it up? Do I recall $18 is the pickup price?
  16. Dave77459
    I stopped at the dealership on Saturday, and told them I'd lost the bolt. The "screw, special shape" was $2.95 and the washer was $2.99! Three bucks for a penny washer?! I told them I wanted it replaced under warranty, and was told that they considered parts falling off to be a maintenance issue. I can see their point. But, I told them, they were doing all my maintenance. The last time I was in the shop, I requested that they check everything because I fully intended to have such things covered under warranty. If they were not going to cover things under warranty, I certainly did not need to pay their prices. The repair clerk looked up my last service, which was in September. Surely it should not have rattled off since then had they done their job? Then he went to talk to the manager, and after a long conversation they decided to cover the $6 in parts. Seriously? It takes two minutes of weighing pros and cons to decide that? So now the parts are on order and they'll call me when it comes in. I must say, this is about how I expected my visit with them would go. I spent 30 minutes of a gloriously beautiful Autumn Saturday to save myself $3. (No way would I spend $3 on a frickin' washer.)
  17. Dave77459
    Yes, it is part 19 and 18. It does look like the fuse cover bolt (called a screw?), plus a washer. Thanks all for your comments. I haven't taken it in for warranty service on this. I'll go to the service desk first and ask that they order me the bolt. They are not un-responsive, but a big dealer franchise bought the old dealership. They have had a heck of a time changing from the old inventory system to the new one, and are not focused on Yamaha/Star at all. They never know what they do and do not have. They could well be good once they get past this clueless stage.
  18. Dave77459
    The bolt that holds the heel-toe shifter on my '06 RSTD rattled off and has been lost. Thanks to V7Goose, I got it field fixed using the spare bolt on the left hand fuse box cover. However, I want to replace it with an official bolt. I called the dealership today, who could not tell me what sort of bolt I should buy. Is it chromed? How long is it? The PDF I have of the service manual shows that it has a hex head and integrated washer, but doesn't really give me any other information. Does someone have information on this bolt? A description and a torque value would be handy.
  19. Dave77459
    I'm not a lady, nor do I play one on TV, but I am curious: why not the Mustang route? And what do you mean by that? Dave
  20. Dave77459
    I would like to thank Goose for being so damn nice. As a follow up, I spent six hours with him yesterday, learning about my RSTD. I shipped the tires to his house as he offered, and we changed them out. The pic below is an action shot. :-) I am ashamed of how worn my rear tire was. I am changing how I inspect my tires, because I never saw any cords, let alone the huge patch visible in the pic. Relying on a casual inspection of the 6" visible between fender and ground is insufficient. I also got the Avons (150/90HB-15 on the rear, MT90HB-16 on the front) and they are superb. The increase in ride quality is amazing, as is the increased ease of handling. Turns on my bike are a pleasure like never before. Anyways, thanks to Goose for being such a fantastic guy. Dave click for larger photo on Flickr. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2938255528_4ca82c68b7_m.jpg
  21. Dave77459
    Thanks for the tire input. I plan to change them out ASAP. As it happens, I need to be at Alliance Airport for the airshow next weekend. I see that you are not too far, and I have been working the wife to get her to ride up instead of being trapped in the cage. If you are serious and the weather looks amenable, and we can get a pair of Avons in time, maybe I'll try it.
  22. Dave77459
    I don't blame the guy for wanting out after losing his brother. The death of a close sibling always has some emotional baggage, and if selling me his bike cheap helped him cope, I was glad to buy. He also said that he wanted the bike to go to someone who would enjoy it, which is a great sentiment. And I have enjoyed it. As far as photos are concerned, I took a bunch of Roxie (my bike). Sometimes, flowers and such jumped between me and her. :-) I have a collection of photos that I am posting on Flickr of my trip. I'm about 1/3 done, but they are here. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/2893191927_95a2165c13_m.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2906551797_50bf66bf2b_m.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/2902738634_b016098325_m.jpg
  23. Dave77459
    I bought the bike used about two months ago. The original owner's brother drove his bike into a bridge doing 100mph. After that, the owner wanted to forget motorcycling, which he did by forgetting he owned it except for weekly rides around the neighborhood to keep the bike runnable. Finally he sold it to me, along with ALL his gear. Helmets, jackets, ramps, everything. When I bought it, the bike had 2002 miles on it and had one little scuff on it. It's run fine, but has run even better the more I ride it. My mileage crept up over the coarse of the trip. When I first got the bike, I ran out of gas at 125 miles! I *might* have been hitting the throttle hard at that point though. ;-) BTW, the sunrises ARE amazing. Thanks RandyA!
  24. Dave77459
    I had my first road trip on my 2006 RSTD and it was awesome. I road with four other bikes (3 Harleys and a BMW K1200GT). We started Friday morning from Houston, reaching Broken Bow, OK by late afternoon. Saturday we left early and road up through Arkansas to Missouri near Branson before returning to AR to spend the night at Mountain Home. Sunday we drove via Mount Magazine to Queen Wilhelmina State Park near Mena. Monday we drove home. In all, I logged 1487 miles over the four days. The RSTD handled like a dream, even on the twisties. Certainly, the Harleys (Fat Bob, Road Glide, and Road King Classic) didn't out-corner me, although the BMW might have. ;-) Observations: * Arkansas is a great state to ride. We hit a few scenic byways that were fabulous. There was a rally in-state that choked the Pig Trail, but otherwise that was great. The roads were in great shape for our motorcycles. * The weather was tremendous. Cool mornings, warm afternoons, clear blue skies. This was a great time of year for the ride. * Gas was plentiful and reasonably priced. I've heard other parts of the country have issues, but it wasn't a problem on this trip. * Lakeview Lodge in the Beavers Bend Resort of Broken Bow, OK was excellent. The sunrise over the reservoir was amazing. * The Queen Wilhelmina Hotel on the Talemina Scenic Byway was comfortable and the views were excellent, but have dinner elsewhere. * The RSTD averaged 37.4 mph, ranging between 31 in Houston rush hour traffic coming home to 43 going up and over Mt. Magazine. * I found the transmission whine ignorable, thanks to the pipes on the other bikes. ;-) If I wanted to hear my bike at all, I had to be running before theirs started. LOL The only time I heard the whine was when I was leading and their noise was astern. * The more annoying noise was my front tire. I think the front and the back need replacement soon, to save my sanity if for no other reason. They are the OEM Bridgestones with just 6000 miles on them. * My biggest problem in the twisties was that the heavy bike coasted down onto the bike in front of me. I didn't bleed speed as much as they did. I had to brake more often as a result. :-( * Logging 310-425 miles per day wasn't a problem until the last day. Standing still in rush hour traffic after riding 400 miles, heat from the engine cooking my legs, my rump suddenly became very sore. I have the stock seat, and will keep it while trying to avoid traffic in the future. * The tall windscreen was very welcome. I am 5'-9" and it kept plenty of bugs from committing suicide on my helmet. * My range was the shortest of the group. Usually I get 140 miles or so before hitting reserve, and no one seemed to mind stopping to let me tank up every 100 miles. I'm sure I'll have more observations after I press Submit. But mainly, I just want to say that I am exceedingly happy with how the bike performed on the trip.
  25. Dave77459
    Thanks for the diagrams! I'll have to study them to understand what they say. LOL Maybe I can print them and take them to the tech.
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