WHiP

I spent an hour trying to find that fuse. I knew it had to be the main fuse but couldn't find it even with a diagram (sort of) in the maintenance manual. Thanks for your post. BTW, the fuse appears to have blown after I left the ignition on all night and drained the battery. Does that make any sense? After realizing the battery was dead, I disconnected the positive terminal and put my little charger on the battery for a couple of hours. After the battery charged to 12+ volts I reconnected and got nothing when i turned on the ignition switch, totally dead. I then tried jumper cables and still dead. After that I knew it must be a blown main fuse and eventually found the main fuse after reading the quoted post. Replaced with spare and she cranked a little slow but started right up. Now everything looks good just confused about how main fuse blew. Any ideas? Thanks, Howard

On 1/31/2010 I had D404 mounted at 15522 miles. As of today I have 20303 miles and the tire is bare I should not even be driving it. Will replace tomorrow.

I had the same experience. I'm 54 and have been riding something with two wheels and a motor since I was 7 or 8 years old. My father ran a Harley aftermarket shop in our backyard. Earlier this year I was riding with a local meetup group that had a lot of inexperienced riders. Apparently Texas now requires a basic safety class before issuing a motorcycle endorsement. These riders were discussing techniques from the course to use on the hill country roads - pressing, leaning turning your head, braking before the curve not after, etc. When one of them asked me how I managed the curves, I couldn't really tell them, I just ride by instinct. I was impressed with their knowledge and the fact that they drove so deliberately, meaning there was a purpose and a method to how they rode their bike. I don't know how many times I've applied brakes in a curve even though I know I shouldn't and I had never even heard of this look press lean thing. I decided to take the skilled rider course the Harley dealer give, it cost $75. There were 12 bikes, 11 Harleys and one (my) 2000 Royal Star Venture. Most of the other riders were required to take this course periodically to be road captains in their HOG clubs. The course was all day long. Lots of slow speed manuevering drills, the oval thing as described. I did learn to decrease my turning radius simply by turning my head and keeping my eyes focused up rather than on the road in front of my bike. They didn't cover the clutch/brake thing but I learned that a long time ago from a motorcycle cop. On my Triumph I could just about stand still indefinetly. I haven't been able to master that on the RSV, mine doesn't seem to have a lot of clutch (already slips) and the rear brake is very strong. There really wasn't anything I hadn't heard (and mostly forgotten)but it was good to practice that stuff. Overall, It was a worth the time and money especially considering Progressive reduced my insurance a little as well. Also, I have been riding more deliberately, thinking ahead a little, paying more attention to what I'm doing. It actually makes it more interesting to ride these hill country roads if your really thinking and challenging the curves a little. I recommend the course to even the most experienced rider. That's my $.02 worth or rather $75.00 worth.

I have a 2000 Venture with pretty messed up headsets. I've been looking at my options and believe a bluetooth system would be a better choice. I was wondering if anyone has just completely scrapped the RSV audio system radio/cb/intercom/cassette (removed the components) and just started over with a GPS/IPOD/Bluetooth system. I would really like to get some other ideas before i do anything drastic. I definetely want a GPS and haven't used the CB at all. What are some of your ideas/solutions? Thanks Howard

I just ordered a Works Shock ($700.00USD thank you very much), is there any reason the leveling links won't work with that shock?

I did the upgrade and noticed the spring looked exactly like to old one but went ahead. The clutch was still slipping when I roll on power at speed. It's not bad enough to deadline the bike but I was going to tear it apart and start replacing apparently good friction plates. Thanks for letting us know, saved me from taking it apart again and wasting time and money. I sent my address in PM. Howard.

Keith and Bob thanks for the chart. I read on this forum about how I should find the rev limiter to really understand how hard I should run. The first time I tried I got to about a 100 MPH (speedometer 100) in third gear. I thought that was wrong and I must have been in fourth. I tried again on a flat open stretch of I-10 East of San Antonio. In fourth gear the speedometer was reading 120MPH, the engine was wound up but no rev limiter, and I lost my nerve. The bike was handling fine but I've heard the DPS will take you to jail if your doing over a 100. From now on, I think I'll just trust your chart.

Red, You are my hero! You have a 2000 RSV and replaced your wife with a fuel tank!

Is there any performance improvement or is just the annoying noise reduced. Believe I know how annoying the noises are.

Yeah the bike had been sitting mostly in the guy's garage. He had oil change receipts and had replaced the front tire before he sold it. No mods or anything extra added. I've always thought it was a real bad thing to a bike sit for too long. This one obviously did. The clutch, the shock, and the noises are the only problems I've experienced. What bothers me is these problems are so well documented as common on this site. Seems like there should have been fixes along the way.

This thread has come up at an interesting moment for me. I purchased a 2000 RSV in December 2009. It had 14,000 miles and was in great condition. I've put 3,000 miles on the bike since, paid out $1,000+ for new rear tire and 16,000 mile maintenance at a dealer. I bought a Yamaha because I have owned three others and they were always low maintenance, highly reliable, and great to ride. I bought an RSV because I wanted a dresser to ride long and far. I bought used because I did not want to invest 15-20K in any motorcycle until I knew I would keep it and ride it as I intended. I did not seriously consider a Harley because I have never thought Harleys to be a good value - too much hype and marketing. As for not being part of the pack and not getting waved at out on the road - that sounds like a feature rather a bug. When I started riding 40 years ago it was all about being a rebel and being different. Although, I admit to being a pretty conservative, law-abiding citizen, I still don't want to be part of a herd. Buying American? I paid $3.00 extra for my Purple Heart Plate - made in Huntsville, Texas, USA. Now the problem. After two months of fairly easy riding and fairly expensive maintenance - I have a slipping clutch and just discovered a small puddle of oil under my rear shock. I had already ordered the clutch upgrade and that didn't seem like too big a deal and from what has been said on this site, a one time fix. The shock replacement is a big deal (for me)and sounds like a regular, uncorrected, recurring problem. I really have enjoyed riding the bike. I have spent a lot of time on Hill Country back roads. I like the handling. It is very comfortable. I'm 5' 11" the bike with stock everything fits me as well as any bike I've ridden. It does make a lot of funny noises, whining, whistling engine, gear and road noise just as decribed by others on this site. I don't really mind the noises - but don't really like it either. As for slow speed handling, It's a big heavy dresser and handles that may. I took a skilled rdier course with 11 other riders on Harleys. The RSV handled the course as well as the other bikes. So bottom line is I like riding the bike but it does not seem to have that Yamaha quality and reliability I was expecting. I'm now wondering if there is better value in a goldwing or beemer. BTW is there is a permanent fix for the shock issue I'd really like to hear it.

I rode my 2000 RSV during a Rider's Edge Skilled Rider course at a Harley dealership. After a little practice I was able to negotiate the U-turn box as well or better than the Harleys (all eleven other bikes were Harleys). For me, the issue on all the slow speed manuevers was just keeping my head up. It seemed to be all about the rider not the bike. BTW, I took some good natured ( I think good natured) ribbing about not riding a Harley. I gave the usual responses - I don't mind Harleys just don't like Harley riders - I ride too much to maintain a Harley, ect, etc. During the day one of the Harleys, a Road Glide, broke- the ignition would not turn on and the rider had to finish the course on a little Buell. Later, two old guys (meaning older than me) got into an angry arguement about their dealer sponsored HOG groups. I smiled all the home on my rice burner.

Homeport Subic Bay Philippines. The only US Navy ship to shoot down a MiG with a Standard missile.