Gray Ghost

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I always appreciated your posts. Hope you are back to your old self quickly.

The suggestion about battery connections is a good one. A loose or dirty ground connection can cause a lot of problems. A suggestion I would have is that anytime you get a new battery, put it on a charger even if it came from the store "fully charged". The biggest killer of batteries is not being properly prepared before being installed and used. For quick checks of battery and charging system I measure the battery with Key off, should be 12+vdc. Key On, should drop just a bit because you now have the bike is preparing for start up. Then measure while hitting the start button, that acts as a load test and your voltage will drop but if it goes below 10 you have an issue. Once the bike starts, if you are reading a greater value than your original battery voltage around idle, and 13+ at 3000 RPM, your charging system is probably OK. Heat can be a problem. Things expand and it is possible that you can have a problem that only crops up when things are warmer.

There are some good things to do and see along the area you are going through. Some of the things we saw/did out there: The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, TX. A neat place to look and visit, but one of the worst steaks I have eaten in a restaurant. The Cadillac Ranch west of Amarillo was interesting, the amount of trash left by visitors was disgusting. Midpoint Cafe in Aiden, TX had excellent pie and is a good stopping place with a bit of route 66 history Blue Hole park in Santa Rosa NM, a very deep swimming hole Santa Fe, NM lots of neat stuff there and good food. Standing on a Corner statue in Winslow, AZ if you are an Eagles fan this stop is pretty much obligatory. Snow Cap Drive In in Seligman, AZ, good shakes a very interesting place. Seligman has some other shops that are worth the visit for route 66 kitsch Hoover Dam near Las Vegas London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, Az Peggy Sue's 50s Diner east of Barstow, CA, good food and memorabilia Wigwam Motel in San Bernadino, CA you can actually spend the night here in a concrete wigwam. Enjoy your trip

1982 XS 400 Heritage Special 2002 XV1100 2005 RSV 1987 1st Gen 2007 RSV

Sometimes a google search gets better results than the forum search. Just use something like "lights led 2016 site:venturerider.org"

Not owned one, but when I worked at the dealership there were several in and out. From all accounts it is an awesome bike. As far as paddle shift goes, I have it on a Spyder and it was easy to get used to. I don't have any problems with switching between manual and semi-automatic shifting. I thought I had heard they stopped making the paddle shift, if so that might be a reason for caution on buying a used one. We did have one come in the shop with a rear shock issue. The OEM shock was discontinued and aftermarkets were evidently made of gold and pixie dust. Other than those items every rider seemed to be well pleased with their ride.

If you are still too warm with a mesh jacket, try an evaporative cooling vest. Soak it down and wear under the mesh jacket, as the water evaporates it will lower the temperature around your torso. I find that when it dries out it is usually about the time I need to stop anyway for a stretch break. We also use these: http://www.lowes.com/pd/Mission-Blue-Polyester-Cooling-Towel/50159263. Soaked down and worn with it pulled up over the head under our helmets it cools down the head and makes riding a lot easier.

The website for finding ethanol free gas is pure-gas.org, they also have an app for smart phones. I tend to run regular 87 in the RSV, but will go to E0 (whatever octane I can find) if it will be sitting awhile. For the Spyder, since it is a 2013 RT (the one that had the heat problems) I go with the 91 to 93 because it runs a bit cooler.

The Ruger 10/22 is a nice rifle

Are you sure the gremlins here speak the same language as Icelandic gremlins? What we don't need here is a lack of communication.

Trufuel makes non-ethanol premixed 2 cycle oil (50:1, etc). They also make a non-ethanol 4 cycle fuel. Costs about the same as the 2 cycle stuff. http://www.homedepot.com/p/TruFuel-4-Cycle-Ethanol-free-Fuel-6527238/203571144

I have used Ride on in several bikes. Usually when I replaced tires it was done at a dealer, so balanced there and I put the ride on in later. No problems with that system. Had a rear tire for a Spyder replaced at a regular tire dealer and they didn't have any adapters to balance the tire. Installed Ride on and haven't noticed any issues at all. I would recommend ride on used either with or without regular balancing.

Last year I was working at a Yamaha dealership when the new models were released. We found out what they were when everyone else found out. Rumors are worth exactly the amount you paid for them.

I no longer have access to the dealer network so I can't access their publications. I never ran across the 2010 publication you referenced in any of my searches there, not sure why but I would guess because it was published in Japan rather than the US. I do know that there are some manuals not available in digital format on their site. It could be that whoever was in charge of putting that publication together didn't have access to all the documentation on a bike that was built 25 years previously. As far as later years go it was a highly credible source of information, along with their pub on ATV/SxS vehicles. Having pictures and info helped me out personally when things came into the shop missing all or portions of identifying numbers. Thanks for pointing out the 2010 pub. I found it on Scribd and now have it in my collection.

I replaced one years ago, used Sierra electronics (http://www.sierra-mc.com/categories.asp?cat=144) the antenna they show is $45. There have been a few threads over the years on this, I will list some of the ones I found using this google search (replacement CB antenna site:venturerider.org) http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?49735-cb-antenna-replacement http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?72175-83-antenna-replacement http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?50710-CB-antenna http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?24775-CB-amp-radio-Antenna

The publication is Yamaha Motorcycle/Scooter Product Identification Manual 1980~2008, LIT-MCST-ID-08. It is too big to send by email but I will attach screenshots of the 1983 models.

Yes, it has been noticed by others. The post count used to be tracked but that went away a long time ago. Suits me fine, I am on another forum that does track post count. There is one guy with over 60K posts, he ends up practically replying to every comment on every thread. I have even seen him giving conflicting advice on some threads. I like this place.

From the Yamaha Product manual Beginning VINs, last 6 digits are the starting serial number 1983 VENTURE XVZ12TK - JYA26H00()DA000286~ 1983 VENTURE XVZ12KC2 - JYA47R00()DA000133~ 1983 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ12TDK - JYA31M00()DA000177~ 1983 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ12TDK - JYA47T00()DA000139~ 1984 VENTURE XVZ12L - JYA41R00()EA000003~ 1984 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ12DL - JYA41V00()EA000106~ 1985 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ12DN - JYA59J00()FA000119~ 1986 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DS - JYA1NL00()GA000010~ 1986 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DSC - JYA1UN00()GA000110~ 1987 VENTURE XVZ13T - JYA2LW00()HA000101~ 1987 VENTURE XVZ13TC - JYA2LX00()HA000101~ 1987 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DT - JYA1NL00()HA010114~ 1987 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DTC - JYA1UN00()HA001117~ 1988 VENTURE XVZ13U - JYA2WVE0()JA003101~ 1988 VENTURE XVZ13UC - JYA2WWC0()JA001101~ 1988 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DU - JYA1NLE0()JA022101~ 1988 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DUC - JYA1UNC0()JA003101~ 1989 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DW - JYA1NLE0()KA027141~ 1989 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DWC - JYA1UNE0()JA005101~ 1990 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DA - JYA1NLE0()LA033101~ 1990 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DAC - JYA1UNC0()LA007101~ 1991 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DB - JYA1NLE0()MA039101~ 1991 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DBC - JYA1UNC0()MA009101~ 1992 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DD - JYA1NLE0()NA045101~ 1992 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13DDC - JYA1UNC0()NA011101~ 1993 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13ED - JYA1NLE0()PA048101~ 1993 VENTURE ROYALE XVZ13EDC - JYA1UNC0()PA012101~ 1996 ROYAL STAR XVZ1300AH - JYA4NKE0()TA000101~ 1996 ROYAL STAR XVZ1300ACH - JYA4NKC0()TA010101~ 1996 ROYAL STAR TOUR CLASSIC XVZ1300ATH - JYA4NLE0()TA000101~ 1996 ROYAL STAR TOUR CLASSIC XVZ1300ATHC - JYA4NLC0()TA006101~ 1997 ROYAL STAR XVZ1300AJ - JYA4NKE0()VA022629~ 1997 ROYAL STAR XVZ1300ACJ - JYA4NKC0()VA022629~ 1997 ROYAL STAR TOUR CLASSIC XVZ1300AVJ - JYA4NLE0()VA013107~ 1997 ROYAL STAR TOUR CLASSIC XVZ1300AVJC - JYA4NLC0()VA013107~ 1997 ROYAL STAR TOUR DELUXE XVZ1300LTJ - JYA4YEE0()VA000163~ 1997 ROYAL STAR TOUR DELUXE XVZ1300LTJC - JYA4YEC0()VA000163~ 1998 ROYAL STAR XVZ1300AJ - JYA4NKE0()WA026469~ 1998 ROYAL STAR XVZ1300ACJ - JYA4NKC0()WA026803~ 1998 ROYAL STAR TOUR CLASSIC XVZ1300AVJ - JYAVP01E()WA000020~ 1998 ROYAL STAR TOUR CLASSIC XVZ1300AVJC - JYAVP01Y()WA000001~ 1998 ROYAL STAR TOUR DELUXE XVZ1300LTJ - JYA4YEE0()WA002965~ 1998 ROYAL STAR TOUR DELUXE XVZ1300LTJC - JYA4YEC0()WA002945~ The manual goes through 2008 but my eyes are crossing. I will get the others extracted when I can.

Yes, you want to fully reassemble the valves to do that check.

Yes, you want to have it set up like you are about to run it to do the check.

Your math is off somewhere. 1 1/16 is 26.99mm, close enough to fit the 27mm rear axle bolt. SAE to Metric chart 5/16 = 7.94 3/8 = 9.53 7/16 = 11.11 1/2 = 12.7 9/16 = 14.29 5/8 = 15.88 11/16 = 17.46 3/4 = 19.05 13/16 = 23.81 1 = 25.4 1 1/16 = 26.99 1 1/8 = 28.58

Just a couple of suggestions for your trip. Before we did our bucket list trip, Aussie Annie suggested going by the Crazy Horse memorial in South Dakota. I had never heard of it before but it was an awesome sight. The other one is convenient to Yellowstone/Beartooth Pass. In Cody, WY there is the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (https://centerofthewest.org/), basically 5 museums that are very well done. Looks like a fun trip.

I used to use AAA. Years ago I experienced a car problem in west Texas, called them up and they basically told me I was on my own but they would reimburse. Present day I have road side that is included in my insurance coverage (didn't help when I picked up a new to me bike on a Saturday and didn't have it on my insurance when I got a flat), road side that comes with my AMA membership, and some really good road side with my RV coverage (Coach-Net). The best thing I have for tire issues is Ride on, been using it for years and it has saved my bacon on more than one occasion.

I have done the conversion on a few bikes, getting a harness that you can just plug in is well worth the money.

Sorry for your loss. Wish we could have met him.