saddlebum

I think a big part of the issue is trying to copy what seems popular. The trouble is you can never copy Harley because its not just competing with the bike. The Harley brand is almost like a cult your not just competing with the bike but your competing with a persona and a Logo. To prove my point how many pick ups put out a Harley edition just to appeal to that following? How many people buy Harley paraphernalia that have never nor will ever park their butt on a bike of any description? How often has someone admired your bike just to follow up with " I have a friend who owns a big Harley " ? You need to build a bike that stands on its own merit with reliability performance functionality. but at the same time it should not look to spacey. The 1st Gen venture, The gold wings and the BMW touring bikes were such ground breaking bikes. But even then the name Harley carries simply because of its following among both bikers and non bikers.

Yeh slushy winters suck!!! I miss the good old days when winter was winter (nice dry cold and snow stayed snow instead of turning to slush) spring was spring summer was summer and fall was fall. When men where men women were women (tom boys allowed) and children where children. When adults determined right from wrong versus the me/me youth of today. When relationships developed into a Mom a Dad and several wholesome children raised by their natural or adoptive parents instead going from birth to day care, to school at age three. kids need to be kids for at least the younger part of their lives instead of being turned into instant little adults (even pups and colts get time play and kick their heels). They need to see more of their parents than their nursemaids. I miss the when sticks and stones may have broke your bones but words never hurt you. When arguments where settled with bare fists in 15 minutes behind a building or bar and the outcome signed off with a hand shake and a shared beer or 2 or 3 or 4 ....... Instead of spending half your life in a lawyers chair sometimes for years while they sucked back on your life savings put you in a state of anxiety resulting in alcohol and drug over indulgence. Weekly visits to a shrink (more of your life savings gone). But apparently we are now more civilized....... Just My Humble Opinion......... Someone once said Life was more fun being 20 in the 70's than being 70 in the 20's

Not to mention totally lost since I no longer remember how to ride in straight line thanks to @Marcarl

I have as well even have one with a handle cut from an old adjustable welded to the side so it wont spin in my hand when I use it to break loose bolts up to 1/2 " using a small mallet.

So have you ever tried eating it.....

My garage has second dimension and someone from that dimension keeps borrowing my 10 and 12mm sockets. Sometimes they will return them and I find them laying on my work bench as if they never left and other times they just don't return them.

I checked my PM mailbox from front to back and back again and no matter how hard I look I can't find my invite. I guess it got lost in the mail 😕

Get a torx bit slightly larger than the socket hole in bolt. Grind the end of it flat so you end up with sharp corners. Grind lightly so you don't heat the end of the bit or keep cool with water. Now drive it into the end of the bolt. The now sharp corners will cut matching grooves in head and as well the tapping action of driving the bit in will help break the threads loose. Put a socket or wrench, on the bit once you have driven ti all the way in and carefully and gentle wiggle back and forth until you feel start to move. Once it starts to move continue the back and forth movement from stopping point to stopping point until it fully loosens and you can easily back the bolt all the way out. If you have not rounded the hole out yet, try putting the proper fitting allen bit in the bolt and wack it a few times with a hammer like your trying to drive it deeper and than follow the back and forth motion described above. Avoid using too much force as you work it back and forth.

You can. You will however notice a slightly softer and longer stroke feel on the lever at the same time quicker front brake response. It may take you a few stops to get use to the different feel.

And drive up insurance cost for all of us.

Water cooled is a big part in controlling emission's since cylinder temp hence exhaust temps can be more readily controlled. If exhaust temps are too high you create NOX (nitrous oxide) emissions and if they are too low you create particulate matter (soot and carbon) emissions. This is were automatics (though many of us prefer standards) come in, by controlling shift points, you add another means of controlling exact fuel ratio and exhaust temps, as well as fuel economy.

I Just got rid of the proportioning valve and delinked the brakes. Had too many situations were the front brake locked up on slippery or gravel surfaces causing the front wheel to slide out side ways on me even at the lightest touch of using the rear brake pedal only.

Also study your schematics and see if there is any commonality with the wiring circuits of the speedometer and interlock switch. You may even have a situation were the interlock switch signal is back feeding through the speedometer signal canceling out the speed signal. This could be the result of a dirty or open circuit in the interlock circuit resulting in currant taking an alternate path through the speedometer circuit canceling out the speedometer.

It is definitely a shame! I love my 1st gen and to me some refinements to that would have been ok in my book. Heel toe or not I think should be something flexible in the design so each individual can choose what they want as well as the option to have forward pegs or floor boards or underbody foot pegs (my favorite, a real back saver in my book). The design should also incorporate the bikes ability to handle a small degree of off road, which I found the 1st gen not too bad at. Quick lock removable bags (but rattle free design) would be nice as well. A Harley clone to me is just effort after foolishness since if someone wants a Harley they will just buy a Harley. When I ride by Harleys being pushed at a busy border crossing or stop and go traffic on a hot day, I am so grateful for my 1st Gen. I want a bike for its reliability and its rideability on a variety of not so perfect surfaces, not its fashion factor.

Also its not uncommon for these bikes to run a bit sluggish if they sat this long. Before you get to far into it, put some fresh gas in it add some seafoam or other carb cleaning additive and ride it hard. keeping the rpms to the high side. Often a good highway run is all that is needed after a long sit. If things do not improve after this than start looking into possible causes. Start by trying one the hotshot methods of cleaning and flushing the carb. ON BIKE CARB DEEP CLEANING.pdf Cleaning First Gen Carbs On The Bike.pdf

I too fit this category and also get accused by my boss who is younger than my 1st three kids and used to be my apprentice, of being resistant to change. However I am a big advocate of keeping life simple and comfortable rather than complicated and having to constantly keep up with change. I like stuff that is self repairable and even though I am more than capable of working on the higher tech stuff it is the fact that A) it can not be patched on the side of the road if need be and B) most of the high tech stuff each require their own specialized additional tools and software (plus the means of working with it) beyond that found even in the most extensive average tool set. The technical world is removing our ability to be self sufficient and forcing us to be dependent on stuff we did perfectly well without in the past and really don't always need to exist. That is not to say I am against all advancements as some advancements, specially in medicine are a good thing but where do we draw the line. Obviously there are those who disagree and love nothing more than to indulge in every new gadget that hits the market but that's not me. I'm totally content to manually turn my lights off and on, lock and unlock my doors or use an old fashioned key to start my car.

And those of us who still have our health miss the ones who can no longer get out.

Is why I insulated the garage and added heat and air conditioning!

How about jello? Pump it in while still in its liquid form then let sit in the fridge overnight ti solidify. Best done when the missus is away for a couple days

There's a liquid crisco Wish somebody told me. Having to warm it up or spoon it in is a real PITA.

Because it's black instead of blue he would say it was too slow.

Would have loved to have seen that.

Personally I love the 1st gens and unless i have no other choice I am more than happy to remain a true venture rider in the old sense. But as we all know this group is so much more than just the bikes we ride and I love that about Venture riders. So lets bring it in

Nice machine @Freebird. Congratulations. As far accessories go the main things you need is to fit a rump or two in the saddle and a set off boots on the floor boards then ride to your hearts content.

Only the HD shops? What about all the doughnut shops and bars on route? Just to be clear Ice-cream stops are still allowed.