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GaryZ

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Everything posted by GaryZ

  1. I had the same problem with my ZX11D Ninja. One of the guys at the local dealer decided to share his secret . . . Take a broom handle and cut the end so that it can be wedged into the spinning part inside the fork. Jam the broom handle and quick-spin the bottom bolt with a 3/8" air impact wrench. Worked for me on two different sets of forks.
  2. Why would the anti-dive work any different? I am absolutely agreeing with the gravel thing. It is beyond me how anyone would want to ride downhill on a gravel road or driveway using ANY front brake! GaryZ
  3. Thanks Earl, I have been wondering if someone would step up and admit to making this change. Another forum simply sealed the rear brake feed to the front and split the front brake master. I have acquired a front splitter and hoses from a Kawasaki GPZ1100. I have not yet examined the fittings to see if they will actually fit the VR. I need a warm day . . .
  4. I do not know what stuff was added to the California Venture. However, I owned a California model ZX11D1 Ninja (1993) and can tell you a little about it; The primary emissions add-on was a fuel vapor recovery system (a filter can and a bunch of hoses). There should be a stick-on label somewhere showing the routing of the hoses for your system. This system did not hinder the performance except add a little weight. I removed the can and rerouted the vacuum hoses to 49 state spec. This cleaned up the bird's nest of stuff and open up a little storage under the seat on my Ninja. Now I have a place for my security lock & cable.
  5. I think there is one very good reason to unlink the brakes of my 85VR. It is one of three motorcycles that I own and ride. It is the only one with linked brakes. Although there will be defenders-of-the-linked-brakes that will disagree, the fact is I want all of my bikes to have similar brake systems to avoid potential brain-fade in an emergency braking situation. I am well trained in the correct application of unlinked brakes and I prefer them. My 85VR will be unlinked as soon as I locate a suitable front brake splitter.
  6. I plan on painting my bike gunmetal grey and your seat might work. It looks almost brown in the picture. Are you selling the passenger and rider back rests with it? Gary
  7. I removed this 1st Gen Rear Bumper and Trailer Hitch from my 1985 VR. It should fit 1983 thru 1985, not sure about 1986 up. The hitch attaches to the bumper and I do not think it can be used alone. The picture is before I removed it and it is very dirty. I will be cleaning it up and add more pictures when the outside air temp goes above 45 degrees F. http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o318/GaryZ_photos/YamahaVenture01b.jpg Asking $250 or will consider trade for: * Black seat in good condition * Vmax cams in good condition * other?
  8. I am over 6'2" tall and the floorboards force my ankles into a very uncomfortable angle. The standard footpegs allow me to "hook" my heels and drop my toes for more comfort during long rides. I also did not like the heel-toe shifter . . . My wife loves the passenger floorboards and they are staying on the bike. Gary
  9. I removed the floorboards from my 1985 VR and installed the standard footpegs. I will offer them here before ebay/craigslist; asking $250 . . . will consider trade for black seat in good condition will consider trade for good Vmax cams Also have rear bumper and trailer hitch for sale or trade. Please see this thread for more info; http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?p=295117#post295117 http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o318/GaryZ_photos/pix037b.jpg
  10. I found lots of good carb tuning stuff here . . . http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/speedway/2476/index.html
  11. Thanks guys for all the info. I have decided to buy a 1987 Venture engine that was offered. I still want to hop it up a little and I will check out the Vmax forums for ideas . . .
  12. The knob on the lower left is for setting shock damping. Shocks work by forcing oil through a small hole. This function slows the suspension from bouncing. There is a knob on your rear shock that will change the size of the hole. "1" is mushy and "4" is stiff. My standard practice is to set the damping at "1", then set your air for the softest ride without bottoming. Test ride the set up. Repeat a test ride at 2, 3, and 4. Select the one that rides best for you.
  13. Another moto magazine tried the swap in 1985 when the Vmax was first introduced. They had a Venture for long-term evaluation and swapped the engines for fun. The picture for the article was the Venture pulling a mile-high wheelie!
  14. What about swapping in an engine from a 2nd gen? I have been researching the newer engine and it looks like the engine case casting is very similar, maybe the same. The heads are different with the exhaust flange turned at an angle. Comments?
  15. Car guys replace rubber front suspension bushings with a teflon-like material to improve handling. Why not use this stuff for motor mounts on the VR?
  16. I have a 1985 VR with the dreaded bad second gear. I want more power and a full functioning transmission. My idea is to replace my engine with one out of a Vmax. Has anyone made this swap?
  17. Bottoming of the forks only occurs when the air is under 10psi. I just checked the specs: ZX11D forks = 43mm x 4.7" travel Venture forks = 40mm x 5.5" travel You were right, the ZX11D forks are shorter, fatter, and carrying less weight. Maybe I need to replace the forks on my '85 Venture Royale! Any recommendations from the group?
  18. Jeremy How do you detect fork flex? I'm not sure what that feels like - can you describe it? I think the only things you can do about it are the Superbrace and make sure everything in the front end is tight. I think an 800 lb bike tends to have a bit of it unless the fork tubes are huge. As for pogo-ing: if you have stock front springs they are probably weak. Progressives or other replacements lifts the front a little and pretty much makes air pressure in the forks unnecessary. Also change your fork oil, making sure you put in the right quantity. The flex is noticed when I am cornering at any speed above 25mph. In the corner I can turn the bars and feel the front wheel wanting to wander. My ZX11D7 weighs over 600lbs (Venture Royale is 716lbs) and stays solid through corners. You are the second person to suggest that my front springs could be weak and causing some of the these symptoms. At over 61,000 miles maybe I need to replace the springs . . .
  19. My '85 Royale is doing the low speed "dance" where the handlebars will start into a tank slapper if I let go of them below 50mph. I expect the problem to be the front tire (Elite with lots of tread, been sitting for awhile and could be dry). My more urgent problem is the fork flex I am experiencing. I am used to the tight and solid handling of my ZX11D7 and the Royale front-end seems to have way too much fork flex (although I did drag the toe of my boot last week while turning into my street). It also wants to pogo in a high speed turn (off ramp). It has a Super Brace installed and I am running 20psi front/55psi out back. Any ideas what will reduce the flex?
  20. We used to have a name for tank racks on the Triumph 650's . . . and it wasn't pretty!
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