LilBeaver

I'm in Texas, my bike came from southern california. Previous owner put on Avon Venoms 6 months before I bought it and literally drove it from the dealer that installed them to his house -- so there are less than 1000 miels on this tire (I picked it up a few weeks ago) (although the date code on the tire is 4205 -- so this bad boy was sitting on a shelf for quite some time). Oddly enough, only the right side is ridiculously cracked on the sidewall. I have not been riding this bike because of that, and am trying to figure out what to do with the tire. From what I am reading, Avon has some sort of manufacutre defect warranty?

That is awfully low... Assuming that you had fresh gas, and you didn't have a horrible headwind, also smooth acceleration, and no hesitation given different throttle in, etc (ie the carbs are clean enough) I would check: 1) Air filters 2) Plug gap/condition -- look at business end of the plugs (ie the electrode) to check to see if there is any abnormal color or if they smell like fuel or oil 3) fuel filter 4) etc. These are the pretty syandard items but hope that helps!

Well... They aren't 100% correct. (I calculated 99.84%) Last time I worked out the details with reasonable assumptions based on a GARMIN unit, taking specifications from the manufacture, as well as the other necesairy relativistic corrections and assuming the standard GPS signal frequency of 1.575 GHz... I wound up with determining an accuracy of 0.16% Part of the assumption is that it is a perfectly clear day i.e. no additional E&M interference with the signal, and that the unit is moving at a constant speed (in all 3-dimensions). If you really want to know all of the gory details, I'd be happy to go through them, but it would take me a while to type all that junk out... So... yea, I just confirmed my nerdhood - but as a PhD Student in Physics I don't have much of a choice... - Rick

If you have a Tach on your bike you could simply go off of the engine speed at a given velocity and then do the simple calculation using the known gear and final drive ratios... But that requires that you have a tachometer.

Alternative to the alarm: Brake disc lock -- Prevents someone from rolling your bike away... http://www.masterlockcycle.com/product_disc3.shtml -- they have a selection of them here.

I guess not all dealers have the same thoughts... Here in Lubbock, I stop by the honda dealership often (just to take a gander and what they've got... new and used) and every time I pull up on my bike, I'm greeted and tell them that I'm not looking to buy any time soon, just checking them out. They always say "Okay, let me know if you have any questions". I'll walk around for a few minutes and as soon as I park my keister on a bike the salesman comes back out with the keys (if they arent in the bike) and offers for me to take it for a test drive. I don't even have to ask, and I am very open with the fact that I am just looking! The yamaha dealer in town, I don't go to as often, but before I bought my Venture, I walked in, was greeted - told them that I was looking at ventures and talked for a few minutes about them. I got on the one in the showroom and he asked if I wanted to test drive one. Again, I didn't ask - it was offered. I told him that it was very unlikely that I would buy a new one, but he said "okay, no big deal - do you want to try it out anyway?" So I took him up on it. He went around back and pulled one around that had 12 miles on it... Literally! And, mind you, I'm only 24 and EVERY TIME I always tell them that I am just browsing, and they ALWAYS insist.

Looks good to me... I have a few other work related trips tentatively scheduled... If that doesn't overlap I'd be in -Rick

Awesome!

Personally, I don't have a problem with it as long as I can tell that the potential buyer has a reasonable amount of experience and seems responsible. You can learn a lot about someone with a few minutes of conversation and watching how they check out the bike as they come up. Everything from what they look at, how they sit on it, how they raise it up off the side stand, what kinds of questions they ask, etc. You can tell a lot about a person by just paying attention to some of those details. I always check for M/C Endorsement, ask previous experience, etc. This may seem a little stingy, but, I usually have a short waiver form typed up giving an agreed mileage limit, time limit, and essentially a 'you break it you bought it' clause in it that both the potential buyer and I sign. In some cases, I'll record either their full name and date of birth, or name and D/L number. Obviously by this point there will have been some clear indication if they are at least partially capable of covering any losses encountered by them test driving. I always have the bike insured if it is going to be on the road, and I know for sure that my insurance only covers a rider that is licensed to operate a m/c. If something happens while someone is riding YOUR bike without an endorsement, YOU - the owner - are 100% liable. Essentially, you are allowing someone to operate a vehicle without a license. This would be the same thing if you let someone borrow your car and knew they did not posses a valid driver's license. I have found that if someone is serious enough, and/or interested enough, they totally understand and it isn't a big deal - I simply explain that the document is to protect both parties involved, just in case something happens. I go through all of this because my thoughts are pretty simple on this; I would not want to purchase a vehicle without completely checking it out and if someone had said that I couldn't check it out before I bought it, it would seem that there may be something that they are hiding about the bike. I never thought about the idea of just giving the prospective purchaser a ride on it to let them see that it runs, drives, and shifts fine etc. That is a fine alternative. Or have the prospective buyer pay a mechanic to check out the bike before hand (and be prepared for the standard "the carbs need cleaned & synced" etc...) Anyways, those are my thoughts - and again, what happens is greatly influenced by my impression of the prospective purchacer. Maybe I'm just a paranoid cop, hard nose, or whatever; but, my bike is my investemnt and I sure as heck am not going to be out a bike because some dinugs wanted to come bye and joyride or lie to me about 'knowing how to ride' and then try to run off with something that isn't rightfully their's yet. -Rick

Now - I suppose I could clarify this... Usually this occurs in 3+ lanes of traffic or whatever or on the express way and the bike that gets missed is traveling in the opposite direction :-P

Yee-haw! I've had many of those "Just running out for a quick spin to make sure everything is running okay..." hehe... My other half knows by now if I walk out the door with my keys and helmet and nowhere to be for the rest of the day... I won't be home for the rest of the day

Very nice. I've been up there once (last october) and will be going back at least 3 times this summer, plus many more in the future... In my current research I use one of the beam lines at TRIUMF. Wish I could bring my bike up on these trips! Enjoy it friend!!

Old venture 8 -- that is a good point, that maybe some of the newer riders just don't know to wave, don't think about it, don't see it, or see it too late... Every once and a while I will catch that I'll be cruising along, watching the road and all the nuts around me and see a bike's tailight in my mirror and realize I didn't wave... I just didn't see them coming. But regardless - Reading through some of these I finally got to a few that captured my thoughts... I consider myself a biker... Simply because of my love motorcycles and love to ride (Personally I put on 15-20k a year (total on all of my bikes)), riding near all year round because I can't get enough of it. I don't care what others ride, as long as they ride. One of my local riding buddies rides (and prefers to ride)a sport bike -- and we get a lot of funny looks from some when we pull in to the pumps next to each other, but a simple smile and nod, wave or a Howdy, and it is no big deal to me. I'm always excited to meet fellow bikers. As far as I'm concerned you ride what you like, I'll ride what I like and honestly, does it really matter what someone else thinks about riding your bike? after all, no one is forcing them to ride anything but what they are on... Keep it shiny side up! -Rick

I'll Def. 2nd this... And it never hurts to have a good breaker bar laying around. This will also keep the fingers/hands further away from the warm/hot exhaust pipes (if I remember the exhaust routing on those correctly). Also, a low profile jack to steady the end of the ratchet (or breaker bar, w.e. you are using) can be a handy way to keep that sucker on the bolt head (to break it loose at least). The other caution about getting the bike to warm is that the aluminum parts, when heated, expand which will make everything fit tighter. So when you put it back together, and torque it to the proper specs, be sure to let the bike cool for a while and re-torque to ensure that the filter and plug are torqued properly - other wise you could develop a little drippage when the bike cools.

If you look through enough oil containers, brands, etc. You will find that you can find "energy conserving" on just about any weight - even 10W-40 and up. The additives that go into the oil, that is the 'friction modifiers', can really put put into just about anything. In some places it may be difficult to find a particular weight with or without that additive but they are available. Another thing to look out for on the label (not just the 'energy conserving') is to make sure that the oil carries the appropriate "API Performance Level" Which ought to be SM, SL, or SJ (depending on model year of bike 2005 or newer, 2004 or older, 2001 or older respectively). But, double check the owner's manual for your particular bike as this may vary for the older bikes, etc. I personally use Mobile 1 Fully Synthetic in all of my vehicles (cars, trucks and motorcycles) and I have found it difficult to find 10W-40 (or 20W-50) without the energy conserving junk on the label... But when I do I pick it up by the case (A few times a year the Sam's club by me carries it). - Rick

I'll 2nd that. A thin coat of auto polish (to buff out any scratches) then a healthy coat of RainX has worked well for me in the past. I must note that I just picked up the RSV that I am riding, however, I have many rain/storm miles on an 82 goldwing that I couldn't see over the shield and it worked great.

Eazyduzzit: Thanks and that 'ugly dude' is my camera double... Whenever someone goes to take my picutre him and I switch places... :-P Frogmaster: I've got some family up by you - and I'm up there at least once a year... I lived in Marquette (up der in da UP) for about 4 years or so and spent a lot of time in southern Michigan as much of my family still lives in Mi... There is some fantastic riding in the UP and in the northern part of lower michigan - As you no doubt know. ToRide: Thanks for the info - I'll check those out too tx2sturgis: I am impressed you knew where that pic was taken... You are exactly correct (too bad we don't have that kind of scenery around here). I picked up the bike in El Paso and those storms followed me home... Literally. I pulled into my garage just as it started to thunder and pour here in Lubbock. I'll keep an eye out (I'm on a Yellow/Black 1100 Shadow sometimes). MAINEAC: Sounds like you are in for a good ride!! I had no idea that lilbeaver was a wrestler, that is pretty funny... I picked up the nickname many years ago from one of my good friends and it has kindof stuck with me since... I might need to reconsider using that as screenames though... Ha. maxantin: I have some family in northern Illinois (about 10 minutes from the six flags in Gurnee). I've put many many miles on through Illinois and WI -- I especially enjoy northern wisconsin... I get up there a couple times a year next time I bring my bike I'll let you know... gharbourjr: Yup - She is pretty happy about the new ride... She got spoiled with my Goldwing and hasn't really wanted to ride with me since I have been on my others lately... Rick M.

Howdy All: (Happy Easter, etc.) First of all, thank you to all of you that have contributed to this site and especially those that take care of the administrative end; this has been fantastic in aiding my research for my recent purchase and I am sure will continue to be a terrific source of information, friendship and great way to be connected with fellow enthusiasts! I noticed that someone else just made a purchase too! Yesterday I picked up a 2001 Venture with 28k miles from the original owner (with complete maintenance records) and I swear there is not a scratch or stone chip on it! Platinum and green color combination. I picked it up yesterday morning, made the 370 mile drive home and I would have continued riding if the 40+ mph wind gusts and the thunderstorm hadn't followed me home... In one (northern Michigan) riding season (about 3 years ago) I put about 10k touring miles on an 82 Goldwing and had to give that up two years ago (long story and no need to get in to it) and have missed the distance touring ever since. I have been looking at these for about a year now, everything from the style to the amenities had me hooked as I don't need to tell all of you about that The records show that this bike has only had 1500 miles put on since June of 2006, so the owner had it serviced and the carbs cleaned and synced, etc for me and it runs like a dream. The tires show a little cracking/dry rot on the sidewalls (which is unfortunate because they have less than 2000 miles on them. But I'm not going to argue with throwing on a pair of 491 Elete II's... Any input on tires is welcomed (I haven't specifically looked for tire information on the forums... I'll be doing that shortly). Also will be looking for a good headset (my Goldwing didn't have a CB or Intercom... That will be real nice)... Well, I'll stop yammering on for now - just thought I'd drop in and say hi and share some excitement... Looking forward to many many terrific miles!! If anyone ever comes through northern Texas (well... Texans call it west texas) That is Lubbock or anywhere within 150 miles, let me know if you want some company!! Here are a few pictures of my 'new' ride Gdspeed all, Ride safe and keep it shiny side up!!