First_N_Last

Oops - at least I got the year right, which is surprising at this point.

I thought I'd share my latest frustration... Before I get into the latest details, I must state that: if I get into a checkout lane at a store -the cash register will break... -a call for a price check... -cashiers will change out... -etc. if I buy something needing assembly, when I get it home -something will be missing -instructions will be terrible Get the picture? So here is the story. In October of 2012 I had my 2008 RSV with my AM42 Avon tire on the front inspected at Honda House in Richmond, VA. Like most Avon tires, it had sidewall cracking. The tire & motorcycle passed inspection. During my checkout & mod of my 2002 RSV Hannigan, I moved my AM42 tire from the front of my 2008 RSV to the front of the Trike. On Tuesday (2/5/2013), I took my Trike to Honda House to have it inspected. The inspector informed me that the front tire would not pass VA State Inspection. I then began to argue (with a FOOL - damn it!) explained that the same tire was on my 2008 & that he passed it in 10/2012) -he didn't care explained that the cracks are only surface cracks -he said tire was ready to blow out explained that sidewall of motorcycle tire is at least 1 & 1/4" thick & surface cracks were of no concern -he said VA stated it would not pass -I said VA statutes don't identify my tire as defective At this point, my mind screamed ARGH! & I realized that I was also a fool to argue anymore. I then said thank you (for the abuse & silliness) and left Honda House. The next day, I swapped my tires again - had the Trike inspected again at Commonwealth PowerSports (took no chances with Honda House vengeance). It passed - I rode home & changed the tires back to have the AM42 tire back on the Trike. All of this is normal for my life. BTW - I double checked the VA State statutes on Motorcycle Inspection - I was right, the tire is not identified as defective by VA. I really am a well practiced Front Tire changer at this point. JohnnyB

Why not? Custom is custom.

Hey? I went to the Yamaha Star Virtual Motorcycle Show on Star's website. http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/starvbs/StarVBSShow.aspx There were all kinds of Yamaha Star Motorcycles entered, but only one Venture. I'm embarrassed (only 1). Come on guys - we need to put pictures of our customized bikes there. Are bikes are cool - let's show them HOW COOL. Then we need to go there & vote for our entered Ventures. Mine was entered yesterday - it will take a few days to be processed & show up. Why not show Yamaha that we care about & are proud of our Royal Stars? JohnnyB Some info from the website: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Star Motorcycle owner...Here’s your chance to show your personalized Star Motorcycle to the world. http://www.starmotorcycles.com/assets/common/blank.gif It’s easy to enter. Use the submission form to upload a photo and provide info about the personalization of your custom Star Motorcycle. All Star Motorcycles are eligible for entry. http://www.starmotorcycles.com/assets/common/blank.gif Of the bikes entered: http://www.starmotorcycles.com/assets/common/blank.gif • All approved entries will be displayed in our Star Motorcycles Virtual Bike Show. http://www.starmotorcycles.com/assets/common/blank.gif • Of the Star Motorcycles submitted between June 1, 2012 and May 31, 2013, six (6) will be chosen to be photographed for the 2014 Star Motorcycles Calendar. http://www.starmotorcycles.com/assets/common/blank.gif • Owners of the Star Motorcycles chosen for the Calendar Contest will receive a FREE trip for two (2) to the 2013 Star Days event in Hershey, Pennsylvania, July 16-19, 2013, where they and their custom Star Motorcycle will be professionally photographed. • All approved entries can be voted for “Bike Of The Month” by enthusiasts visiting the Star Motorcycles Virtual Bike Show. “Bike Of The Month” winners will receive Star Apparel ($100 value). http://www.starmotorcycles.com/assets/common/blank.gif See Official Rules for complete details.

Ditto

I found a fix to the stock rear brake pad wear issue... convert it to a Trike with a Hannigan kit. JohnnyB

37 degrees today, but sunny with no wind so I went back to finishing off the final things. Today's effort was to correct the "Previous Owner's" wiring for the fuel pumps. When he wired up the Auxiliary Fuel Tank & pump, he decided to hook it up to accessory power. Yes - when you turned the key to accessory to listen to the radio, etc. the fuel pumps had power. I wasn't comfortable with that, so it now connected to ignition controlled power. That was all I could do in the cold for today. Even the soldering iron wasn't happy. JohnnyB

Thanks for the info... so far a reversed AM-42 on the front seems like the only choice for me. JohnnyB

I like lobster too. When ever I see them, all I do is think of the Austin Powers quote "GIT IN MY BELLY"

I have now changed to a Trike. A Trike uses & wears a front tire like a car does. So... I'm starting to research a replacement for when my Avon AM42 Venom wears out. A CT would be the best if I can find the right size & quality, otherwise a rear AM42 will go back on. Has anyone tried or researched this & if so, what did you find? My checks on some Goldwing sites have yielded these tires/sizes: Federal Formosa - 165/70-16 Austone Taxi tire - 175/80-16 General G Max AS - 195/55-16 Dunlop Wintersport 3 Runflat Vredestein - 165/70-16 The Austone tire is talked about a lot. Any thoughts or comments? Please share... JohnnyB

500 in each - - poured 250ml in 1st & pumped fork repeatedly to get air out - then added last 250ml (using smaller cup was easier to pour also) John

Same with me - can't determine any difference

My 2002 RSV/Hannigan is called...

Today was the 1st warm day since I put it back together, so I rode it to work for a shake down... The only problem was kind of weird - new grip for the throttle broke free from the throttle sleeve body. I just glued it back on & then finished the name on the bike. JohnB

I'm still riding, to this day, on my Avon Venom front tire with sidewall surface cracking. Rides great - wears great - looks crappy, but that's OK for me. BTW - it's a rear tire reversed & now on the front of my Trike. It is a good long mileage beefy tire for my Trike. JohnnyB

I had one more day of warm weather & worked into the dark with headlights from my car... replaced the spark plugs with Iridium plugs (two of originals were loose) flushed the radiator fluid & replaced wired up Baron's Tachometer Actually road it around the neighborhood... Woo Hoo! This morning it is 31 degrees with continued days in the 30s for days. ARGH! Oh well... I still have a few things left to do - later JohnB

lights are equal - parallax issue due to photo angle the balance kit was half & half using a Monroe Air Shock Balance kit to start. JohnB

The sun came out & the air warmed up, so I got to work on the Trike again... Flushed & bled the front brakes Flushed & bled the clutch Installed new grips Installed Kuryakyn foot pegs installed front fork air balance kit (air shock crossover) finished wiring in fairing - mounted air horn - closed up fairing & put the rest of the front end stuff back on replaced front fog lights & installed modulated headlight mounted the tachometer on the front brake reservoir That was it for today - I hope it will be nice for just one more day! JohnnyB

Slow start getting back to continuing checks & repairs... Put the lower half of the top fairing on & connected all of the main cables without incident rewired horn relay circuit wiring rewired passing lamps circuit wiring At this point, I did a start check. Turned on the ignition & not a single light lit. Metered the battery - 0 volts! At this point, I looked at the battery - it was a pseudo sealed lead acid type. I pried the cap strip off to find that every cell had the plates showing. My sold as "Good Battery" seemed to have been trickle charged to an early death. Not by me - the previous owner. Took a break - bought & installed a Deka AGM battery... Then it started & everything is working to this point. That is it for this weekend. JB

I'm very confused about ECK

Where there any UFOs in the area?

Just in case anyone misses me for the next week... I'm taking a week off from working on this. In the morning, I'm on my way to the International Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas & some hiking in Red Rock Park while I'm there. I'll be looking for Electronics to hook up to those high tech pink & blue things on my wiring in the front fairing. JohnB

insertion order into the fork tube... while fork tube is compressed, the 6 3/4" (which I cut from the tube in the kit) spacer goes in first I put the washer in right after the spacer at the same time - so the washer wouldn't give me problems turning on it's side then the spring went in & I pulled the fork out to full extension Then I just grabbed the top of the fork tube with my left hand & pushed the fork cap over the spring as I twisted/threaded it on. After the tube was in the tree I did a pre-tighten - finished tightening the cap - then loosened the fork & placed it in final position for final torgue-ing. JohnnyB

Oh damn... something else to buy

It's ALIVE!