Great White

I think my season is over so can't take advantage of further dates. Second day back is out and can't even get to bathroom without a walker..... Edit: just saw next date is next year. I better be able to ride by then! Lol!

Gary's (dingy) Venture/VMax is a 1983 iirc and it has a VMax drive. Don't know if he has the oem swingarm or not though. I made sure I got the driveshaft with the diff when I bought it.

Here's hoping they've corrected those issues in the last 5 years. Sunsheild works fine for me, even riding straight into the morning sun.

Back is out. No riding today. Spent day in bed...

Run two lines from the master to the front calipers, or a line to a splitter and then to each caliper. Unfortunately, you're probably going to have to buy brake lines to separate front and rear brakes. The rear you can gut the proportioning valve and hook the brake line up. Lots of threads about this very thing. Do a search for " delinking brakes"...

Here it is: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?102642-New-guy-with-an-83-well-sort-of-anew-guy&p=915175&highlight=Final#post915175 99 (1999 service manual) [TABLE=class: cms_table_MsoTableGrid, width: 504] [TR] [TD=width: 319]Transmission:[/TD] [TD=width: 354, colspan: 3]Constant mesh 5 speed[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 319]Primary reduction system[/TD] [TD=width: 354, colspan: 3]Spur gear[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 319]Primary reduction ratio[/TD] [TD=width: 354, colspan: 3]87/49 (1,776)[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 319]Secondary reduction system[/TD] [TD=width: 354, colspan: 3]Shaft drive[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 319]Secondary reduction radio[/TD] [TD=width: 354, colspan: 3]21/27 _ 33/10 (2.567)[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 319]Transmission type[/TD] [TD=width: 354, colspan: 3]Constant mesh 5-speed[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 319]Operation[/TD] [TD=width: 354, colspan: 3]Left foot operation[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 445, colspan: 2]Gear ratio[/TD] [TD=width: 96]OEM Final[/TD] [TD=width: 132]VMax final[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 319]1st[/TD] [TD=width: 126]43/17 (2.529)[/TD] [TD=width: 96]11.530[/TD] [TD=width: 132]12.805[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 319]2nd[/TD] [TD=width: 126]31/19 (1.632)[/TD] [TD=width: 96]7.440[/TD] [TD=width: 132]8.263[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 319]3rd[/TD] [TD=width: 126]30/25 (1.200)[/TD] [TD=width: 96]5.471[/TD] [TD=width: 132]6.076[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 319]4th[/TD] [TD=width: 126]24/25 (0.960)[/TD] [TD=width: 96]4.377[/TD] [TD=width: 132]4.861[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=width: 319]5th[/TD] [TD=width: 126]22/28 (0.786)[/TD] [TD=width: 96]3.583[/TD] [TD=width: 132]3.980[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] 83-91 is : [TABLE=class: TFtable, width: 739] [TR] [TD]Gear ratios (overall)[/TD] [TD](1) 11.88 (2) 8.09 (3) 6.17 (4) 4.89 (5) 4.16[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Primary advantage in the gearing is the deeper overdrive 5th for highway running. "Venturious" has already done it and says it runs around 3300 rpm at 60mph.

Coup!e things. Mine is an 83, so it does away with the second gear issue The shift drum is the later design where the pins can't fall out The dogs have a bit more undercut With a VMax rear diff (I have one on the shelf waiting), 1-3 is a bit lower (for more "umph" moving out), 4th is about the same and 5th becomes a deep overdrive for highway use. I have a chart in my build thread where I worked out the final ratios.

So I ordered a set of the above gaskets. Came out to 199 Cdn after exchange, shipping included. I priced it on the web site and it came to 188 CDN with shipping. However, by ordering it off ebay there was no tax on the item. Had I ordered it off the Canadian Web site, I would have gotten slammed with another 15% in HST. And we wonder why Canadians usually mail order from outside of Canada....

Anyone know if an 86 swingarm will bolt up to an 83 frame? I'm looking at adding a brace to the swingarm and would rather try it on my spare 86 arm than the original 83 arm....

Nope.

I'm a little mixed on it right now. It's comfortable. It looks cool. I like the built in sun shield. It has a nice flat rim that my Sena clamps right on to. I guess the only thing that bugs me is that it fogs extremely easily on cold mornings and if you crack the clear shield to clear it out, the nature of the way the wind enters around the cracked shield forces ice cold air right in to my eyes. They water up immediately. Closing the shield lets my eyes clear, but it fogs right up again. Fogging is twice as bad if I have the sun shield down (cold morning, sun low on the horizon) and won't clear unless I crack the clear shield which blows ice cold air in my eyes, which....well, you get the idea. I haven't tried the removable fog shield that came in the box. I guess I'll have to give it a try...

Your sweaty? Anyways .........the Achilles heel of the Vega's latch design was that the button pushed up on a cable which pulled the locks in to release. The cable snapped, no release. I wouldn't worry about it unless yours is similarly built or very old and worn....in which case it probably should be replaced anyways.

It's different for everyone. Whatever the reason, someone just seems to get in a place of hopelessness and all they know is they want the pain to stop and to escape. You just gotta keep putting one foot in front of the other and wake up the next morning. That's what I tell myself when I get in those places: just gotta make it to the next sunrise....

Thank you. That is a very high compliment where I come from.

Was a "Vega". Pretty old and haven't seen the brand around in stores for a pretty long time..

It started last night when I was told a former subordinate/co-worker/friend had passed. Sad enough on it's own and I was hoping he had a massive stroke or something. I was hoping it was a stroke because I had been part of an intervention for the lad a few years ago. He had made an unsuccessful attempt and I was with him in the hospital that night. I also was part of his return to work and support for him during work. Just before we moved away he came to my shop thanked me for my efforts with him and stated of all the people he had worked with/for at my rank, I was the only one he had ever had any respect for or found of any worth. I was speechless and it was a significant life moment for me. In my line of work, it's not very often another man will feel moved enough to actually verbalize it to another man. Part of the "Machismo" culture we operate in I guess. That was earlier this year. Today, I found out that it was another attempt and though I hesitate to use this word, it was "successful" this time. He used the same method as before. He was a kind soul, literally a mountain of a man (7 feet) and a teddy bear that wouldn't hurt a fly. Big enough to literally snap a man in half if he wanted to, but he was nothing more than a "gentle giant". I feel for his wife and stepchild (who I also know and had "helped" through the last event), one of which most likely found him. Another reason I was hoping it was a massive stroke scenario. It's one thing to find a loved one dead from something like a stroke, it's quite another to find them by their own hand. It just piles a load of extra unwanted emotions on top of the normal ones you have with a death in the family. My feelings are very tumultuous. Sadness, loss, failure, and a few I don't think I can even identify. Death is something I deal with and live with every day. But it's a shock to the soul when it is something like this though. I guess because I feel I had such an "investment" with him and that he had felt enough respect for me to actually verbalize how much my concern for him had moved him. So sad, so terribly, terribly sad. Still waiting to hear where the services will be. I will be attending if I can. Nothing more I can do now but help them grieve.....I hope my friend has found peace.

I do what the manual says. Never any issues. manual seems pretty clear to me.....

I havent dumped a bike since i was 18 (50 now). but ive learned my lesson over the years. switched on 100% when riding and scanning the road surface all the time. If i even think theres a tiny hint of a chance that next corner or stretch of road might do the nasty on us, im riding in super conservative mod. Its served me well for the last 32 years...hers hoping it does for another 20 or so....

Yep. Retail is 250 here. Guy said the same one if they order them in now will retail for 295. Probably the exchange rate or something, CAD value is in the crapper these days. Mine is a color they call "anthracite": http://images0.revzilla.com/product_images/0097/9450/hjcis_max2_helmet_solid_zoom.jpg I'm looking forward to using the integrated sun visor. I usually just wear a dark shield and just deal with it at night rather than swapping shields. Will be nice to have a clear shield for night and pop the dark one down for day.

You should be resting roughly two out of 7 on a mass/maintenance program. The rest is just as important as the workouts, maybe more. A little cardio or stretching is OK though, Just don't overdo it on rest days. Geez, all this talk is going to get me back in the weight room if I'm not careful....I was the hoodie sweatshirt pulled over, looking straight ahead, earbuds in, leave me alone and cranking sets guy....didn't make many friends but had some good size on. Ah, youth, wasted on the young....

Yes, I said wardrobe failure! No, nothing lewd was exposed! Was headed to work after lunch and have to go through a couple security checkpoint to get to where our hangar is. They need to see your face to confirm it to your pass, so I wear a modular helmet. It's always been a easy process: stop, flip the chin bar up, thank you have a nice day, chin bar down and I'm off. Well I pulled up to the check point today, Pushed the release button and heard a "snap" and the release button went slack. Oh Oh, that's not good. Tug the chin bar and sure enough, locked solid. Normally, not a problem right? Just undo the strap and pull the helmet off. Not so fast buckwheat. This helmet curves right in at the base and you need to open the chin bar to get it off without loosing your nose and/or some blood. I'm stuck! So I turn around and head home. I call the boys at work and let them know what's happened and where I'm going. They get a good laugh and offer to call the firehall to cut me out or do the jaws of life thing. Yeah, very funny guys! When I get home the missus is still there. We try a couple things and nothing works. I try to pull it off by squishing my nose flat and rotating it while pulling it off. No dice, it wants it's pound of flesh. So I look at the missus and say wait right here. Out to the garage and I come back with a hacksaw. The next hour is spent with me lying on my side on the floor and the missus slowly sawing through the chin bar. Let me tell you: you better trust your missus if she's going at your head with a hacksaw! You really start thinking about everything you've said to her over the last few weeks! Did I do the dishes enough? Take out the trash? clean the house? How many times did I tell her I love her this week? How many times have I told her I love her since she started cutting? She gets the chin bar off by cutting it at the end on each side. With the chin bar cut, the shell relaxes and opens a bit and my nose has clear path out. Lift the helmet off and I'm free! Well that really sucked and now I have no helmet (well, not one I would wear). But it's not all bad: I'd been eye-balling those new modular helmets with the built in retractable sun shield for a while. A quick trip to the local shop nets me a new HJC IS-Max II. Like so: It's end of season so there's a no tax sale on and they have my size in stock in a gunmetal like silver. They chuck on my military discount and I make out the door just a shade under 200 bucks. Well, I needed a new helmet anyways. My "malfunction" one was over 5 years old. Geez, what a day......

Find out how much height she needs/wants and have a custom seat built. I'd start by adding padding to the existing seat until she finds the balance between visibility, buffeting, feet to peg length and overall "do I feel safe" feeling. Then have the seat made. Or, she can knuckle under and use a booster seat.

All I see is a fat butt! Turn signal stalks dont bother me. On the contrary, they are very visible to other drivers so i really like them! The lights on the bags do look more integrated, but they seem awful low and not very visible. Thats why im adding the "big bike" turn signal lights to the top box. The lower reflector and center reflector on the trunk will also be brake and running lights. I want to be visible and leave no doubt to anyone behind me where I'm going!

Map sensor hooked up and working?

Start from the spark plugs and work your way back to the tci. plugs good? spark plug caps meter good? spark wires meter good? (Watch for arcing to ground when running, especially happens as rpm increase easily seen in a dark area with cobers off bike) Spark wires to cap meter good? coils meter good? electrical connector plugs to the tci free of corrosion and good contact? after that, youre pretty much down to the tci....