PeteVS

serendipity n 1: good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries Found a source for replacement ball studs in an odd place. After removing clouded headlight assemblies from our 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee I noticed that the ball studs that hold it in place had a Torx T20 socket . There are three studs to an assembly screwed into the plastic shell. Each stud has a plastic washer at it's base and the deep spiral thread is 5/8" long. So clean up the area where plastic stud broke off on side cover, spot and drill hole and screw in new stud. In some locations screw length will be to long so gring off to suit. Final step fill the area below the stud with epoxy mix or putty to reinforce thin plastic box. Check with Jeep dealers, independent repair shops and salvage yards as these headlight assemblies are a common replacement when the clear plastic lens clouds up. A dab of "O" ring lube on the stud will ease installation and the repair looks and works as good as new.

[h=1]“Life is trouble. Only death is not. To be alive is to undo your belt and *look* for trouble.”[/h] ― Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek My wife Joanne and I have ridden horses for over 30 years, we have suffered falls resulting in concusions, broken bones and hospital stays. Why do we continue to ride? During this summer I found and purchased a 1999 Honda Helix, only 250cc and no clutch ideal around town,easy for an older rider to handle. So now while I am recovering from major Lumbar spine surgery what do I get for my Christmas present? 1988 Venture Royale - At 71 am I loosing my mind? Not at all, the older I get the more I realize we humans make decisions for emotional reasons, My mind is made up stop trying to confuse me with the facts. I had to have a member of my local AA group get the bike off the horse trailer. If I attempted it it would have fallen damaging the bike and probably me as well. I took MSF training several years ago and have read the book and watched the video "Ride Like a Pro", plan to practice the skills discussed starting with the Helix, then the Suzuki 650 and graduating to the VR. The Ride Like a Pro course is offered in Waldorf Md. and if I am ready will take it this summer (2016) There are only two types of riders! Those who have fallen off their horse and those who haven't fallen off there horse yet. So to answer the question "are motorcycles dangerous/" We can reduce the risk of injury or death by proper traing, quality personal protective which we actually use. Reduce but not elimanate the risk, reduce but not elimante the injuries. "We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last." Robert Falcon Scott (6 June 1868 – c. 29 March 1912) was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions.

Pinwall cycle parts, Ebay store has a number of VRS starters all at $59.95 plis shipping. Some look fairly clean and come from lower mileage rides others look as if they sat in mud for the past decade. Ebay for $45 was a great price, maybe another will come along if you can wait.

Thanks for the update:cool10: Dutch site proved to be a wealth of information, not only the !st gen 1986-1993 service manual but to links to Venture clubs all over Europe and the UK.

The freely available service manuals offered by Juggler are great but the main service manual is for 1983-1985, the 1200series. Just purchased from Ebay store Green-Manuals the 1986-1993 1300 series manual for the fair price of $7.45. You will receive a CD by mail, free shipping, but will also receive a Email with a link to be able to download the PDF file for immediate use. Also comes with the later supplements.

Regarding pictures of the bike which is still in transit, please go to Ebay and search item 150711597381.I'll post some of my own once the machine is actually at my home. Yes the picture of some other bikes odometer is rather interesting. Part it out to make money. Now that you mention it I do seem to recall a second chance policy with Ebay. I was not the second high bidder,rather I took the initiative to call Road Track and Trail and ask why if the bike was sold that it still showed up on their inventory on Jan 3. They offered it to me at the final bid price. R T & T's description of the bike said it was a one owner. If that owner would happen to be a member or if a member knows who owned the machine I'd be most pleased to get in contact with them, might save me some time from trying to reinvent the wheel. Thanks to all who have replied to this my first post.

While grazing on Ebay in early Dec. 2011 I saw a 1986 VR ( item 150711597381, photos were still up recently), advertised as a project bike. Finally bid ended at $680, which I thought was cheap for such a fine older machine. Winning bidder never paid and I was offered the VR for bid price, shipping to my home added $400 but still cheap for a diamond in the rough. Found your very friendly and informative site while the bidding on the VR was still active and joined on ,12/8. As you have said best $12 I've spent. I've already found a very nice replacement seat,windshield and normal maintenance items, and of course downloaded manuals etc. Not surprising that a complicated machine with many electrical/electronic devices which are 26 years old (isn't that about 78 in motorcycle years) is in need of TLC. Along with working on the defects noted in Ebay listing a thorough fork and steering head rebuild/upgrade is planned.Pleased to see that several members have a machining background.