DarkLeftArm

Here is my story. And I'm stickin' to it! So I was on a Tuesday ride with all my retired friends who belong to HOG(Harley Owners Group). I think there was about 11 bikes. All Harleys except for me. I was on my Yamaha Royal Star Venture. They must like me a lot to let me ride with them! Ron Boyd heads up the group. The ride went up North to Globe, AZ for excellent Mexican lunch at La Casita. After lunch, out in the parking lot, Ron had a safety talk about the rest of the ride. He said we were heading farther North through the Salt River canyon. He made a big disclaimer. He said he used to live up in Show Low, and worked in Phoenix. He said he used to commute through the canyon 8 times a week. For years. He said he really loves carving the twisties, so anybody not comfortable in the curves should go home now. A couple guys actually said they were going to head back. He said that if you were not pretty comfortable going pretty fast in the twisties should move back in the group. Let the faster ones go ahead. Well... I LOVE curves. I love salt river canyon. I love learning from a master. So I told Ron I was going to ride near the front with him. We ride staggered, so Ron was in front, My friend Mark was behind him on the right, and I was directly behind Ron. Ed was behind me on the right. Behind that, I cant remember. They all dropped back pretty soon. Ron really likes to roll. I felt totally in control. I was having a splendid ride. Every sweeper was just a blur. Ron and Mark would pull away just a touch in the curves, but I could always catch them on the straights. Until the last curve. I started to feel a little uneasy. I was going in to the curve just a tiny bit too fast. Just a tiny bit. Everything still felt totally under control until my left side floorboard drug. Just a little. Probably didn't scrape more than a couple feet. If that. On my Roadstar, That wouldn't have scared me. That thing drags the boards all the time. The RSV is a different machine, though. The boards are higher, and much harder to drag. 13,000 miles, and never drug one before now. Well let me tell you, that was the wrong place to discover lean angles. I over reacted to the sound and the feedback in my left foot. I straightened up a little, just a little. just enough to not drag... In essence, I made a fairly hard right into the guard rail. My right side slammed hard enough into the rail to bounce back away from it. Problem was that the pavement slopes down right next to the rail. So after I got away from it, the slope and remaining speed just sucked me back in for another taste of galvanized steel. I was trying to muscle it away by steering it, but I was slowing. That seemed to bring up the frequency of the slamming into the rail. No idea what gear I was in or if I downshifted, but I knew I had to power out. I may have downshifted, or may have been in a low enough gear, but either way, I twisted the throttle HARD. The bike woke up, and I was able to get away from the rail. By this time, I was damn near on the bridge. Mark & Ron were going up the other side. I took inventory as I rolled across the bridge. First, I didn't have a lot of pain. No blood running, or bones sticking out of my torn pantleg. In fact, My foot wiggled joyously when I worked it. The rear brake pedal was unscathed. There was a large piece of broken plastic from the shattered lower front Fairing laying between my foot and the bike. The radiator that is touching the fairing however, didn't seem to be leaking. If it was I would know in short order. I then decided not to stop. Ed behind me wasn't waving frantically or stopping, so I hauled ass. I caught Mark and Ron just a little way before the pullout a few miles up other side. I pulled up next to Mark and stopped, and he looked down and said "What the F@#K did you DO!!??" I laughed. I dismounted, and looked at my leg where the stinging had started. Seems the rail friction was too great for my summer mesh riding pants, and it melted. My shin just got a tiny bit of skin rubbed off, and maybe cooked a little from the rubbing. Only almost a week later did I notice some slight bruising in my ankle. Other than stiff muscles a couple days later, though, and a little rash, no injury. Ed had climbed off his bike, and was bee-lining towards me. I thought he was gonna teach me a few new words for stupid. Instead, he shook my hand and gave me kudos for pulling out. Said he couldn't believe I didn't hit the road. Other than the broken lower fairing and some slightly modified right side crash bars, and some very fast looking racing stripes on my right saddlebag, the bike was fine. Everybody patted me on the back and told me how lucky I am, and that they sure were glad I didn't get hurt. Most of the group went home after they all ooohhed and aaahhed and giggled about my misadventure. Mark, Jim, Larry and I all rode the rest of the way up to Show Low. Then on to Alpine, then down through Whiteriver, and back through the canyon down to Globe and then home. On the long downhill straightaway into Globe, my bike started sputtering a little. My fuel warning had been on for a long time, and was on reserve. I made it to the pump at the gas station, but not by much. Had only .4 gallon left. I don't know if that's all useable or not. Hope I never find out. Very lucky day, indeed.

To me it looks more "Batman" than "Star Wars". Very good looking bike. Hope you stay around after you sell the RSMTD. I look forward to your posts, Miles.

I don't think anybody mentioned it yet on this post, but my experience is that opening the vent, even just a little, reduces wind buffeting. It also helps provide a smoother flow of air for my passenger. By the way, mine is wide open all the time, unless it's under about 45 degrees.

Where did you get that socket?

No question. Best deal going on a touring bike, and Just the fact that venturerider.org exists is icing on that cake!

Yeah, but damn that tire shouldn't be cracking like that. I think Avon should replace it.

Hey, John. What is the date stamp on the tire? I recently bought tires, and was considering Rick Butler. I called them and they told me that they considered a 5 year old tire off the shelf "brand new". I also found lots of articles out there, and the going opinion is that a 6 year old tire is unsafe. Since Butler is willing to sell me old tires, I decided to deal locally and get new tires. My local dealer guaranteed and delivered tires that were 3 months old, AND matched prices with Rick Butler. FWIW, I wouldn't trust the tire in your pics any further than I could throw it. Never had a blowout on a bike, but I've had a lot of them in 18 wheelers. Not a pretty sight.

actually it was this one: http://www.f4customs.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GLNTD-HVN57KAPANP&Product_Code=F4-YRSV-19_5-W-VENT-C&Category_Code=YRSV Just like the one above, but 2" taller. No looking over this bad boy. Thats why I got the vent. I like some breeze.

This is what I got for the exact problem you have. http://www.f4customs.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GLNTD-HVN57KAPANP&Product_Code=F4-YRSV-17_5-W-VENT-C&Category_Code=YRSV Great reports from the stern of U.S.S. Stratolounger.

I went from an 03 Roadstar on up to the RSV. Roadie rides harder, and has less doodads, but it is easier to get around. Lots lower seat, in stock form. Like said above, you can pick them up cheap. $4000 buys a lot of bike these days. Thats why I still have my Roadie. Wasn't gonna give it away! If you can swing it, though, the Vstar 1300 that XV1100SE talked about is very nice. Can you say Fuel injection!! Happy hunting.

Man... That thing's lit up like a Mexican produce truck! Nice job!

I'm in. Hope I (or anybody else for that matter) Never has that kind of a run of bad luck. Chin up, Paul. It will get better.

Hey that's a good looking bike. I, also have a garage find. Well, more like a carport find. My '07 had 28 miles when I found it. I've had no problems due to the extended storage period. No carb work yet, and I've ridden it over 11,000 miles now. Just put new E3s on last weekend, and now I wish I had done that sooner. What kind of tires did you end up getting them to put on for you?

Here you go. This thread even has the part # if you opt for new plugs: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=75366&highlight=coolant+leak Good luck.

Look at the Road Stars from '12. I saw Harley Fairings, trunks, and bags. I'd say if you have a Venture worthy of show status, do it. I'd vote for you.

Well, the old skins still had quite a bit of tread left on them, but at 11000 miles the rear had sort of a flat spot down the center, and they both were starting to get age cracks. They were 6 year old Dunlop 404s, and the original tires. I haven't heard too much trash talk about 404s, but let me tell you... They felt heavy in turns, and the bike felt top heavy. Several times I felt them start to slip sideways in a heavy curve at speed. Especially in tar snakes. Maybe mine were worse than most because they were old. For me, I didn't know any better. Never had anything else on there. AND I've only been riding for 2 1/2 years! Needless to say, the new Dunlop E3s are spectacular. I noticed the difference before I left my driveway. The ride is more smooth. No more following the seams in pavement. No more skittering sideways in a turn. I'm no longer tempted to lower the front or raise the rear suspension. The difference was THAT big. A friend on today's ride was telling me he has heard that E3s wear out faster because of a softer rubber compound. That may be true, but because of sticky tires, I can have WAY more fun in the twisties. I think THAT's why mine will wear out sooner.

Wow. The Darien Gap has a horrible reputation for being a very dangerous place. And as you found out (the hard way), The Mexican Frontera is where the real danger is. Darien was what made our big Peru/Ecuador adventure NOT start in Panama! By the way... I've been considering trading in my Roadstar on a Super Tenere.

What an adventure! Like has already been said, glad you're back alive and VERY well written! I also live in Tucson. You could have called me! One question: How did you manage the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia?

Yes they are.

I got my renewal notice the other day, and had to come in from the garage to pay it. You see, I am changing my own tires and greasing the splines and drive fingers while the rear wheel is off. All thanks to the excellent tech articles on this site. Oh yeah. My bike is sitting high & safe, sans wheels on my lift adapter I learned how to build here, also! Thank you, Freebird, and all the other contributors who make this the best tech forum I have ever been part of. Bert

Man, I got riding weather here, and you guys left this one for ME?? "Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!" Gold Hat in The Treasure of Sierra Madre. 1948 Thanks, fellas.

Mine has a charcoal cannister for Californin emissions bolted to it. Along with a centerstand.

Are you moving out here, or just visiting? I ride through Benson pretty often.

Yes. Been riding with the AZ Longriders for 2 years now. Great bunch of people. Bert

Beltfed... Thanks for the laugh. Thinking about a springtime trip to Isle of Man now....