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darthandy

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Everything posted by darthandy

  1. darthandy
    Well, if it's not a corroded connection, as mentioned, it may be the ignition wire connector or the ignition switch. Here are some links to the ignition wire connector fix and ignition switch repair: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=32359 http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?threadid=34969 It's not too bad a job. The two biggest problems are 1) Getting the $%%^^&& tamper proof bolts off to remove the ignition switch, and 2) Getting a powerful enough soldering iron to add wiring to the ignition wires (10 Ga. required). I would start by wiggling the ignition switch a bit to see if power goes on and off. That would be a pretty good sign that the problem is in the switch. Then I would check the connector. You would also want to add relays to the lights and ignition to avoid a recurrence of the problems. Actually, that would be good preventative maintenance at this point. Good luck. Andy
  2. darthandy
    Yeah, but the carbs get really flooded about 10 feet out into the ocean on that attempted ride to Hawaii. Since I can't afford to fly there, I'm now looking for a used rowboat. Andy
  3. darthandy
    As temps drop, moisture will condense out of the air since warm air can hold more moisture than cooler air. This is what causes dew in the evening and it may be your problem. When the temps drop, moisture might be forming on the connectors. Also, since metal usually contracts as it cools down, a marginal connection could be pulling slightly apart when temps drop. Checking the connections and using some dielectric grease could help with that. There is also, of course, the possibility that Boomer's pygmies have managed to infiltrate your fairing and audio system. No idea how to help you with that one, though! Andy
  4. darthandy
    If you have to buy another one, check Royal Distributing. http://www.royaldistributing.com/main/ Bought some Frogg Toggs for my wife there last year and paid $68.00. Also, they sell a patch kit to glue to the ankles (Or where ever they're needed on the suit) that helps to heat proof that area against exhaust pipes. Andy
  5. darthandy
    Ever notice how gravel and dropped bikes seem to go together? Several years ago, I dropped my Triumph at the bottom of a short parking lot ramp with gravel at the bottom of it. There was a traffic light a couple of hundred feet to the left and some yahoo decided to try to make the amber light ... it was red by the time he reached the intersection and was really moving as he came towards the entrance I was trying to use. I hit the brakes just as my front wheel reached the gravel...the wheel locked and down I went (As the moron flew by at what I estimate was 80 to 90 kph (50 to 55 mph). I used the butt and leg method to get it up and it worked quite well. A year and a half ago, I was on my 1st gen in a more or less paved parking lot when some genius decided to park 2 or 3 feet from the bike. I had just bought the bike to restore (It was in decent shape already) so I wasn't too used to it. As I cranked the bars to the left and tried to "walk" it out I backed off the gas as I reached some gravel and had to touch the brake. Bad idea...down I went. I tried the butt method but no way! I haven't got that kind of strength! Fortunately, a fellow biker (In a cage that time) stopped and gave me a hand. No damage to the bike but my pride took a pretty good shot. Fortunately, the guy mentioned he'd done the same thing with a touring rig that he had. "Sure are top heavy, aren't they?" he said. "Hell yes!" said I and thanked him. Andy
  6. darthandy
    A motor scooter? Apparently you've never had to pick up a Venture. :rotf: But, yeah, you're right. They are very different bikes and the Venture is great for the longer distances. So Bob, if you need more than the Venture has to offer has to offer, you probably need a car. Andy
  7. darthandy
    I believe "screaming eagle" is the name for Harley performance parts. The Japanese called it the "Whistling Death" because of the sound it made. They were very tough aircraft with at least one recorded instance, near the end of the second world war, of a pilot whose guns jammed, so he went after a twin engine Japanese fighter using his propeller to slice off the back part of the enemy fighter, causing it to crash. He lost 5 inches off his propeller tips and still made it back to his base for a safe landing. Seems the pilots were at least as tough as the planes. Modern planes may have superior performance, but they'll never sound as good as these old war birds. Sends a shiver down my spine every time I hear one! Andy
  8. darthandy
    Here is an interesting link to a WebBikeWorld article that had a summary of the statistics from a 2001 report. To make a longer story shorter - quote: "Per mile traveled in 1998, a motorcyclist is approximately 16 times more likely to die in a crash than an automobile occupant. And 3x (times) as likely to be injured." Not the best odds but they can be mitigated as stated in the rest of the report. http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/crash.htm Simply stated - pay attention at all times, stay sober and wear a helmet! Andy
  9. darthandy
    More likely look like the parts department at the local bike wreckers! :rotf::rotf: Andy
  10. darthandy
    A friend sent me this link showing the riding skills of the team of instructors at the Delta Technical Centre in Kyoto Japan. Incredible. The recording is several years old. There is another video of them performing this routine in the rain!!! Even more incredible!! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs2RnbvHSuU]デルタテクニカルセンター　パレード - YouTube[/ame] Andy
  11. darthandy
    Which means she noticed it! And I wonder how many cagers would notice a bike with the modulator while not "seeing" a bike without it? That may very well be an advantage. Andy
  12. darthandy
    Well, I'm sure the gurus will be here shortly, but at first glance, it seems more an electrical issue since there is no stumbling or usual sign of fuel starvation. Even if the pump quits, I would think that there would be some stumbling as the float bowls empty out. Sounds almost like a bad ground somewhere or perhaps an ignition switch problem. Have you tried wiggling the key a bit when it's idling? When my switch went, wiggling the key around would kill the engine as the contacts on the switch hit a dead spot. There's also the main connector from the ignition switch which can overheat, melt and short out occasionally prior to completely failing. Other than that, the coils come to mind, but these bikes can run on three cylinders with only a loss in performance and gas mileage to let you know, so that seems less likely. Sorry I can't be more help, but it is a starting point. Andy
  13. darthandy
    Here's a cure for the gas tank capacity: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=302 Good comments, but I don't know if you noticed - this is a 4 year old thread. So, I think the subject has been pretty well discussed. Andy
  14. darthandy
    I remember back in the late '60's a friend of mine had gotten a Honda 90 and we all envied him and his "bike". However, after a few close calls with some nitwit cagers (If you think it's bad now, ask someone who was riding then what it was like for us!) he sold the bike and bought a Mustang. Barely a month later, a driver in a cement truck lost control of the truck and slammed into my friend's Mustang head on killing him instantly. The crazy thing was, it was a narrow road with little passing room, but had he been on the bike, he might have been able to squeeze by. Of course, we'll never know and anything else is just speculation. But it taught me a few things that I've held onto since: A) Enjoy life and the people you love now - don't put it off till later because later may not make its way to you; B) When it's your time, it doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing - you are gone! C) I'd rather die knowing I've lived than to never really have known life. Andy
  15. darthandy
    I watched and re-played that clip several times, earlier today. It looks like the SUV driver and the biker had words which led to the biker kicking the vehicle's bumper or fender (Hard to tell where his foot landed). Whatever was said, there was no acceptable reason for what the biker did...but...the SUV driver's reaction bordered on what could be termed "psychotic behaviour". While the biker may have deserved to get his tail kicked, the SUV driver deserves to be locked up for a good long time. You don't try to kill someone because they kicked your car! That's just plain nuts! Andy
  16. darthandy
    Hack = also used to describe a sidecar - most often seen on Harleys - so that they can store all the spare parts they need on a ride Andy
  17. darthandy
    Were they Canadian? They may have been looking for a Tim Horton's doughnut shop! It's a hockey thing! Andy
  18. darthandy
    I used to ride a crotch rocket (RZ350L - don't let the size fool you) but I had already learned by then that extreme stupidity on the street can put you in a grave really fast. So I went road racing for my thrills and went fast but carefully on the street. This guy was a just a plain moron and the south end of a north facing horse. You handled the situation quite well...I probably would have explained to him how foolish his actions were after knocking him flat! They're expected to be stupid when they are young but they shouldn't abuse the privilege. Andy
  19. darthandy
    Well, it certainly would be a gas saver. But if drivers have a hard time noticing an 869 lb Venture, this thing would be all but invisible! I see myself being pancaked between a full size SUV and a minivan as both drivers talk on their cell phones while only paying attention to the nearest set of (normal - to them!) brake lights! Methinks I'll pass on this one. Andy
  20. darthandy
    Well, if your laws work like ours (and they usually do!) in theory they could ticket you for using non-approved lights. But...they would have to check the light to see where it says "Off Road Use Only" (If it's visible after being installed or the officer happens to be an expert on vehicle lights). If it's not adjusted to blind oncoming vehicles, there's no reason why they should stop you, for that at least ... but, as I said before, they can ticket you but only if they can prove the light is illegal. Hope this helps. Oh...and the only stupid questions are those that are not asked! Andy
  21. darthandy
    Hilarious! I miss that guy. One of the funniest comics ever out there. Andy
  22. darthandy
    I'm sure someone with better info will be along soon, but it seems to me that raising the seat would be a cheaper and better alternative. These bikes don't have an enormous amount of ground clearance when leaned over so I would hesitate to reduce it further. Also, keep in mind that the floorboards stick out to the sides and will reach the ground sooner than other parts of the bike and this would get worse if they were lowered. You could start by checking with Rick Butler (See classifieds) who does a great job of modifying the Venture seats (Just got mine back - much more comfortable!) to see what he could do with yours. With your height, I wouldn't think that getting lifted a bit further from the handle bar would be much of a problem. Unless you know a friendly machinist with a lot of knowledge and experience, I suspect that lowering the floor boards could get expensive and you may not like the results. Andy
  23. darthandy
    The 1st two seasons they used the KZ900 and then the KZ1000C which was Kawasaki's first purpose built police bike. The 900 had been upgraded at a shop. Eric Estrada (Ponch) didn't even have a motorcycle licence when the series started and it took him three tries to get it. He had a couple of accidents over the course of the show, breaking three ribs and both wrists in one of them. He could really have used a Spyder! Andy
  24. darthandy
    Sounds a little more stiff than they should be. Just a guess, but are you sure you have the fork oil at the right level? If memory serves, it would be 5 inches from the top with the springs removed and the forks fully collapsed. I have progressives on my '87 Royale, and there is suspension movement even at walking speeds. Andy
  25. darthandy
    Actually, the Canadian dollar is trading slightly above par right now and has been for a while. And there's no duty on motorcycle parts. The problem is, our dealers still over-charge us because they can get away with it. Mail order can be useful, but the shipping costs can get ugly when they have to mail across the border. For instance, Superstore tire shipping - free within the U.S. - $75 to Canada - at least that's what it was last year when I checked. And, if it's sent by UPS, there is a $35 to $45 "brokerage fee" - another way of saying, "Bend over and brace yourself - welcome to the Great White North!" Andy
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