tz89

This project is done. The mechanic said the housing in the photo above was warped. They replaced that and the o-rings, and while the pipes were off I had them upgrade the starter. There were a couple moments of angst. After the first ride there was a puddle. But I reasoned they had topped things off and it was overflow. The next ride there was some spotting. After that nothing - so I'm good. The second angst was when I realized that they hadn't replaced all the hoses and do all the rest while they were in there. I guess I should have made sure that request made it to the work order but I didn't and it didn't. It's been good riding weather in Oregon this week so I'm up a few hundred miles already this year.

Thanks. And yes, my mechanic knows about the forum and working on old bikes. This is not a Yamaha dealership. My instructions were to re-do it all as long as he's in there. So he's tracking down parts. But just to be safe, I'll go in for a visitation and talk about the upper hose. I noticed that hose too, but when I was in there taking photos it didn't seem like the leak was really coming from higher. I need a real shop not a carport.

Just a quick update on this thread. I decided to take the bike to my mechanic to have him tear into it and hopefully when I get it back that will be the end of this topic. It's still raining in Oregon so while I have missed a couple of nice riding days I'm glad to be getting the bike ready for riding season. I'm hoping to get a few longer rides this year as part of travel for work.

That joint is the highest place I could spot fresh coolant. After it sits, I'll inspect, then run it up hot and inspect. I'll report back here. I'll do both jobs, plus any other recommendations. Will the exhaust pipes have to come off? I'm thinking about the starter upgrade.

Good info - thanks. Bike is on its center stand but leaning left a little because the surface is not level.

I went out to ride and there was another puddle. I got photos this time. Looks like the drain is suspect, but also where the lower radiator hose connects toward the pump. I cleaned it up and let it sit without starting it. I'm wondering if I will see anything incriminating after a few hours.

I've had my bike (89 VR) in the shop twice for this. Both times they couldn't find a leak. The latest was after the bike sat for a month. When I put it on the side stand I got a little puddle. I could see about 1/4 cup collected in the bottom cowling. The mechanic couldn't find a source. He ran it up hot, rode it hard, let it sit, researched the web. Nothing. No trace. Fluid was low, though. Anyone have any clues, or experience with this mystery?

Yep. Post pics and stories when you get it going.

Be sure to tell your dentist how much dental advice you got on your motorcycle forum. Then ask if he has any recommended tires or oil advice for your bike!

Thanks. I'll be curious to see how far you push it along.

Can you post a close-up of the IC chip or see a number on there?

The second one looks like a voltage regulator supplying the other board.

If you do, let me know. I have the same symptoms.

Best $12 ever!

I've been using Ubuntu quite a while for desktop computing. I use xfce instead of the default animated graphical interface. It's clean and lightweight even though my monster box could shrug off something fatter. I have virtualbox installed and use that to run an old XP system and applications (Quicken) that I scrapped off my old box years ago. That's been working for me. I have dabbled with other distros but end up back with Ubuntu. Haven't tried Mint - why do do you like it better? I almost gave up with Ubuntu due to restricted format media, but now that they have made it a foolproof checkbox to install those proprietary dvd, flash, etc drivers, I'm good. I hated rebuilding media function with a new upgrade. Although I have to use MS at work I won't pay for any of their products. I do use a cheap netbook loaded with W7, but don't keep data on it, so if it gets lost or dies I can just replace it. The one I have is about to be replaced, so maybe I'll load Mint on it (if you say good things why) or as a virtual machine for test on my box. I keep all my important stuff redundant between cloud and NAS.

Interesting. I see it said lots of places - just did a google search... http://www.xs11.com/xs11-info/tech-tips/riding/216-how-to-make-a-slow-tight-u-turn.html

Which is why, in the Ride Like a Pro video, Motorman has you keep your RPM up and let the clutch slip, for slow speed tight turnings.

I suppose he was texting? Or is this a reminder to convert to LEDs and lots of them?

The tire store guy asked me if I wanted additional "micro-siping" done to the new tires I was having installed on my car. I never heard of it before. Wikipedia explained it a bit, and mentions that the tire store I was at claimed improved performance from tires they micro-sipe. Consumer Reports are said to discourage this according to Wikipedia. Does anyone do this to their tires? How about to their motorcycle tires? I declined today, but it made me curious.

It rained hard here a couple of days ago. So there were a few places where sand and gravel had washed onto the roadway. Today I was on a favorite twisty through the woods. At a steep downhill blind corner posted for 15 mph my lane was completely covered with sand and gravel. My bike started to go out from under me. I had to wrestle with it a bit and ended up in the other lane just to keep it upright. Did I mention the on-coming car? Oh yeah. Fortunately he wasn't coming very fast, no where near as fast as I see kids try it in their boy-racer cars. Sometimes you have to solve the problem at hand before you worry about the next one. I did, and it all turned out fine. But I'm sure glad I wasn't going as fast as I sometimes do through there.

Now THAT is a motorcycle!!!

What a bunch of rowdy "hells angles" this group is, or once was. btw, the misspelling is deliberate but back in the day some bad kids just like you painted it prominently on a wall on main street.

My brother came back from the service around 1972-73 when I was 16 and bought a new Honda CB750. He didn't ride it very much, so I did. Way too much bike for a newbie but boy did I have fun. I had it up to what I remember was 120 - no windshield just my geek glasses. I think I did just about everything dangerous on that thing - too fast, too drunk, passengers, gravel roads, even all at the same time. Pic not actual bike. Since it was the first I ever rode I didn't know the difference, but now I marvel at how stable and easy to ride it must have been, or I wouldn't be writing this today. To tell the truth, I think about going to buy one of the new CB1100 bikes.

Pretty good mileage!

+1 on self inflating thermarest. I lived on one for weeks back in my "hobo" touring days.