RedRider

After an absence of a couple of years, the motorcycle tire adapter is back at Harbor Freight. About $85 combined. Changer: http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-tire-changer-69686.html MC Tire Adapter: http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle.html?CatPath=All%2BProducts%252F%252F%252F%252FAutomotive%2B%2526%2BMotorcycle%2F%2F%2F%2FTire+%26+Wheel&RequestData=CA_CategoryExpand&p=2 RR

If he rides year round, I suspect he has heated gear. The available amperage gets eaten up pretty quickly with heated gear and the savings from the carb heaters is significant. I suggest installing a volt meter so you can monitor the battery/charging system. RR

Would you be interested in selling your CB antenna? Mine is not cooperating. RR

To get the light bar off, you need a 6mm ball end allen wrench. +1 on placing a towel over the front fender when you do this. RR

Just shoot him a PM. I think he is vacationing this week so it may be a couple of days before he gets back to you. RR

There are two connections that need be made. Speaker out (of the Zumo) and Mic in (to the Zumo). There is no connection on the dash for the microphone (from the bike). It only comes from under the faring. The Buddy Rich cable connects the Zumo speaker and mic connections to the appropriate plugs inside the faring. If you can take the outer faring off, you can install the BR cable. It's pretty easy. IIRC, it comes with instructions. Makes for a nice clean install. Holds up in the rain also. RR

OK, the problem you are having is that your microphone does not have a connection to the 660. The cord from the 660 to the cassette jack is input (to the headset - output from the 660) only. The J&M headset is a solid wired set. The only BlueTooth (BT) being done here is between the 660 and the phone. Everything else is hardwired. You have two solutions. 1) Use a BuddyRich cable. (highly recommended) 2) Change your headset to a BT headset like the Scala Rider. There are a few out there. The downside of doing option #2 is that the standard functions of the Venture radio will not be available to you. Therefore, no CB, no intercom (unless passenger also has a BT headset), no radio. Option 1 works. RR

Your pipes aren't loud enough and you have jeans on under your chaps. You don't qualify to participate. RR

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4650935385196439&w=313&h=120&c=7&rs=1&pid=1.7 RR

John Ryan was killed in an accident yesterday. Who is John Ryan? He is the greatest Long Distance rider ever. He was an extremist in a subgroup of extremists. John lived his life on a motorcycle. An engineer by education, he lived to ride. And ride he did. John held the record for Prudhoe Bay to Key West at 86 hours, 31 minutes. That is 5645 miles in 3 and a half days. He shaved 9.5 hours off the previous record. This record was broken earlier this year. John helped the new record holder with planning his run. He was that kind of a guy. The book 'The Man Who Would Stop at Nothing' by Melissa Holbrook Pierson was written about him. If you haven't read it, do yourself a favor and do so. Godspeed Mr. Ryan.

Just read that Russell Day Long is offering 15% discount on saddles THIS WEEK ONLY!! Per Kim at RDL, this discount is good if you get your order in by close of business Friday. If you are thinking about it, quit thinking and call. http://www.day-long.com RR

As much as I hate to admit it, but when I took my forks to the dealer to have them rebuilt (with Progressives), I also took the wheels to have the bearings changed. I know I could have done it, just didn't have the tools or the time. Got to keep the dealers in business somehow. I'm sure not doing it by buying new bikes. RR

Don, Congratulations. Welcome to the IBA. Now you might want to keep an eye open for a regional LD rally. They're a lot of fun. And no one will make fun of your Harley (might be the only one there). Well done and well earned. RR

My registration has been accepted for the running of ButtLite 7 next summer. WooHoo!!! 6 day, 6000+ miles around the US while doing a giant scavenger hunt. It has been proclaimed a Canada-free ride though. Top 10 finishers get a no draw entry into the 2015 Iron Butt Rally. Need to start getting in shape. http://www.teamstrange.com/2014/butt_lite/index.htm RR

Goose, as usual, brings the required tech notes. Well done. One slight addition - While putting the high torque on the steering head bearings to seat them, rotate the head back and forth. The rotation of the tapered rollers allows them to straighten up on the races and seat against the rear rib. After the final setting, rotate a few times and re-test. RR

I took mine to a shop to have the springs changed out. I believe stock is 5W fork oil. However, as I am a little heavier than the bike design target, I used 15W in the front forks. If I recall correctly, the spacers come with the springs. Replace all seals and slide bearings in the forks also. RR

I would LOVE one of the 2wd Urals. It looks like they have advanced from BMW circa 1955 to BMW circa 1975. Technology is driving on even in Russia. One of these years a Ural will complete the perfect motorcycle fleet: Venture for two-up touring FJR1300 for LD/Rally riding KLR650 for camping and dual sport riding BMW R1000RR for accumulating performance awards Ural for sidecar riding with the dog and winter riding. C'mon lottery ticket!!

Yup, just 1000 miles in 24 hours. I recommend you do at least 1025 to take any uncertainty out of the documentation verification. Have fun. As long as you keep rolling, it isn't too hard. RR

You know why divorce is so expensive? Because it's worth it. RR

Bert, If'n you aren't going to using the scratched ones, I would take them off your hands. My ride hasn't had a bath in a couple of years and a few scratches aren't going to stand out. However, on cooler days, a set of wind deflectors would be really nice. I have brackets and can get the mounting hardware from the local hardware store. Let me know if you would be interested in parting with the old ones (assuming the new ones are nice). Thanks. RR

What kind of riding do you do? 100 mile per day putting around to the local DQs? 200-300 mile runs for lunch? All day 500+ mile days to get somewhere? The answer to these questions are needed to give a good answer. RR

There are individual mixture screws on each carburetor. These should be set about 2.5 turns from bottomed out. You then need to make sure the carbs have been sync'd. This is especially important if you separated the carbs. Good luck and keep us up to date on progress. RR

This is the same bolt as is used on the battery side cover. There are two bolts on each. One functional, the other decorative. There is also a nylon washer that goes under there. Once you get the bolt and the washer, use BLUE locktite to hold it on. This is a very common issue. Mine fell off while on the OK turnpike about 800 miles from home. Figured out the decorative bolt thing on an exit ramp. RR

I don't recall them being difficult at all. My guess is the previous owner messed up one of the bolts. The mods I took out were to put it back to stock configuration. RR

Alan, It was a pleasure meeting you and your bride. Have safe travels back under. RR