Miles
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Everything posted by Miles
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Yes, the center stand that Buckeye Performance sells is in fact made by/for Rivco. BUT... I have personally talked to Rick at Buckeye Performance on this subject, and he has no plans to offer any other centerstand at this time, as the one from Rivco is out of production...at this time. I have personally talked to Rivco about them making more centerstands, and their stance is...if you want a centerstand for your RSV or RSTD, then submit your name onto their list...and "IF" they get enough interest in ordering more stands, then they will contact each potential buyer on the list, take deposits from the buyers, and then make some. But the price is going to be at least $ 395.00 + per stand. So, for right this minute, Rivco is not making any centerstands, and none are available. And, oh BTW, the only stands they will make, "IF" they make stands again, will be the Chrome ones. Black is not available. If anyone on this forum has a centerstand they want to sell, once I can paint Black or have powder-coated Black, then I am willing to pay for it. WHY in the world would anyone want a chrome centerstand ???? This is not a parking lot show bike to look pretty. These are riding bikes.
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That is a very good point ! I know I searched high and low for a "local" commuter bike, as I do not like to start up any of my big engine bikes to run into town for the mail...2 miles...or to ride up 12 miles to have lunch with my wife. My big bikes are designed for longer rides. So I went through several smaller cc bikes to try to find the right bike. After trying a 1982 Yamaha Maxim 650, then a 1989 Honda Transalp, then a 1982 Honda GL500 Interstate, I finally found...and am very happy with this 2004 Suzuki Burgman 650. This bike is a blast to ride, a rocket ship when you want it to be. Even at speed, it gets 55 mpg. There is a Burgman website that shows trailers being towed behind these, and trailer hitches to fit it. I have even set mine up to accept the Givi case I have that holds an aux. fuel cell, so I can use it for really long rides. I am "thinking" about using it for the Three Flgas Classic some year, just to blow past other bigger bikes, with the license plate on my Burgman saying...ST 650. So, Evan, find a used Suzuki Burgman 650, ride it like you stole it, and then decide if you want to keep it, or sell it and your Venture, to buy a (gulp) BMW scooter. If it were me, I would keep the Suzuki scooter.
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Evan that BMW scooter is a nice bike. However, if you did not already know it, Suzuki has had a VERY similar scooter out for almost 10 years, called the Burgman 650. It does everything that the new BMW scooter does, for less money. There are many Suzuki Burgman 650's available for resale, at good prices. I know, I bought one for local running around. And boy do I love it. It is my mini ST-650.
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I am not certain what to really say here...Seattle Seahawks beat the *&&$^&^ out of ther Arizona Cardinals...58 to 0. That is a new record for Seattle, for total points in one game, and a new record for Seattle for largest margin win over the opposing team. Yes, I do know that Arizona already was on an 8 game losing streak, and now it is a 9 game losing streak. Yes, I do know that Arizona turned the ball over 8 times in this game. It was almost boring to watch...and I am a Seattle fan (the 12th man), because it was so lop-sided. I like games that are close...nail-biters. Too bad for all you Arizona Cardinals fans.
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A sore butt !
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I guess...since you did not ask for opinions, we shall not offer any.
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Congrats, pkTexas. I hope you ride many miles, with many smiles.
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Howard, it was called the Equalean. It was only made for a few years, and then discontinued. I still see a couple a year, here and there. Very hard to come by. http://www.google.com/search?q=equalean+sidecar&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=JFm-UNe-F86ajALBuoG4Cg&sqi=2&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1393&bih=644 Also the Flexit sidecars. http://www.improvelife.info/links/bikes/flexit.htm
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Brian, SeaFoam is NOT to be used for everything in life. I know that some people on here use it as syrup on their pancakes, and BigTom uses it as a topping for his ice cream. But...SeaFoam was really designed for use in the fuel system of a gasoline or diesel engine. Other than that...avoid it. BTW, how are the bones healing? How is your hand?
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Brian, I think you are right on the mark that a person could rig up their own lap apron for severe riding conditions. It might be good to avoid any kind of plastic item. I think a canvas tarp would be best. Using the grommet holes that are already in the canvas tarp to secure the new lap apron to the bike would be good. If there were two people riding, as with my latest trip, we should have stopped at a Home Depot, bought ONE canvas tarp...cut it in half, and shared the tarp. Since you only need the grommets on one side, the side you tie down to the bike, then the side facing the rider does not need to have the grommets. We stayed warm enough on this trip, but the lap apron would have made it even better. The bikes we "borrowed" from a friend in Prince George, B.C., were already set-up for severe winter riding, as that is how they get around for fun up north. When I was a lot younger, there was a motor officer in Renton, WA. that was known as Black Bart, because he rode a HD police bike, with a big black lap apron on it, all year round.
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Big Lenny, if you force my hand, then I will ride the bike back to here in 2 days, stopping for only 1 night at a motel. That will save you $ 60.00 for the motel, and $ 25.00 for the food of the extra day. See...you saved $ 85.00 right there. I have checked on airfare prices, just to give you info, and an average priced flight from Seattle to Littlerock will run about $ 250.00 with all fees included. That is a rough figure, dependent on days of week and which month...etc. But it gives you an idea. So, with flight, and you forcing me to ride it in 2 days, you may be into this as little as $ 550.00, or as high as $ 600.00. And, I will change the oil and filter back in my shop, set the tires to your requested psi, and make certain the bike is ready for you and your wife to ride off to points south of here. Now, that is an offer...ya can't refuse.
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Brian, thank you for the pictures. They are great. The ones of the Beemer in Alaska and the Yukon and NWT show just what we went through last week. It was...chilling. I wish that our sidecar rigs had the lap aprons shown in these pics. I am familiar with the lap aprons, but, alas, we did not have them. Got to say, the Gerbings Heated Clothing works great at -30 to -50 degree temps, with riding wind chill factors. Can't wait to see pics of your new Ural sidecar rig.
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96 RS clutch question
Miles replied to PuttPutt's topic in Royal Star and Royal Star Tour Deluxe Tech Talk
Simple change your oil back to the oil you werre using, ride it 100 miles, drain that oil again...and filter...and then refill with new oil of the old type...that you used to use...and then go riding. In other words, that immediate oil change was simply a flush to get rid of the racing oil you put in there. If it stops slipping, then the problem is fixed. If it continues to slip, then...as you already know...it is probably the clutch. It sounds like you already know this stuff, but just need to hear it from someone else, to confirm your suspicions. -
Earl, I will not pretend to assume that I know anything more about these bikes than you do. My gig is riding these bikes, but I do have more than 40+ years of wrenching on them, and maintaining all of my own rides, for me to ride all these miles. That said...I know for certain that I did a full test on the OEM charging system on my '06 RSTD, and the max it would put out was 29.4 amps, at peak. Given that I do utilize additional running lights, heated clothing, GPS, Radar, CB, etc, etc, etc...and I am used to having the 1300 watt alternators of the latest 1800 Wings, I like having as much charging output as possible. Finding out that my OEM system was only 29.4 amps, I elected to replace the OEM stator and R/R, and install the HO stator and R/R. After the work was completed a retest of the system showed that I now have a fully functioning charging system that puts out 52.6 amps, at peak. I do know of several other RSTD owners that have made the change to HO stators and R/R's, and all of them acknowledge the difference in output. Maybe...just maybe...Yamaha did make a change in some model year to a higher output stator and R/R, but it was certainly not in the 2006 model year bike that I own. And, the stator I removed from my bike, the OEM stator, was not wound as tight as it could have been. There was a noticeable difference in the windings of the OEM stator and the HO stator. Is it possible that your bike already had an HO stator and R/R ? Did someone possibly change it out before you bought the bike, or did you buy it brand new?
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Darn !!!!! I was hoping that if you folks were going to have a contest...being that this is a motorcycle forum...the contest woud be about miles ridden on the bikes. Boo hoo hoo
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Big Lenny, it is 2315 miles from Little Rock to Seattle. If you pay for my flight out to Little Rock, then it will take me just under 3 days to ride the bike back to Seattle...and that is taking my time. That means I would need to spend two nights on the road at motels, and food money for almost 3 days, and gas money for the 2315 mile trip. Motels...$ 60.00 per night x 2 nights = $ 120.00 Food.....$ 25.00 per day x 3 days = $ 75.00 Gas......58 gallons x $ 3.50/gal = $ 200.00 All total for expenses on the road = $ 395.00 Plus the cost of a cheap flight to Little Rock, is going to be less than the cost of you shiiping the bike to Seattle. The cost of embarrassment for shipping a bike should be worth something, eh? So, you can either pay $ 1,000.00 or more to ship the bike, and have it take up to 10 days, or...pay less than $ 1,000.00 to have me fly out and ride your bike back to Seattle, and store it in my shop, and the entire flight and ride back will be less than 4 days total. BTW, I own and ride an '06 RSMTD, so I am familiar with your bike. Otherwise, where do you plan to store the bike in the Seattle area, while on your cruise? At the shipping facility? Think twice about that. Let me know.
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Okay, I'm home. The first thing I did was to strip off all my clothes , and then jump into the hot tub for about 45 minutes. That is a lot longer than normal use, but I needed to melt some of the Alaska ice I brought home with me. Ride was interesting, and an experience. The BMW sidecar rigs were fun, and it makes me think about conversion of one of my bikes. Fairbanks was colder than ^$#@*, and Prudhoe Bay was about 30 degrees warmer than Fairbanks, due to drier weather. It will be some time before I ride to Alaska again in the late Fall, just before Winter sets in. Have done it three previous times, but those were all in the Summer. Now I can say I have scratched that itch. If you want pictures, which I know is one of the first things some of you ask for... ... ...are you still waiting? Well, my brilliant riding partner on the R12GS had his camera in his tank bag, rather than his jacket. And, since he made certain that it was fully charged up before he left, he did not bother to bring his charger. By the time we got to Prudhoe Bay, his camera was almost frozen...to digital death...and would not function at all. We waited until the next morning to leave, and hoped the camera would be thawed out, but when he did try it the next morning, the battery was below functioning level. No way possible to charge his battery, so he...literally...threw his camera into the Arctic Ocean...he was so mad. Say goodbye to one Sony Cyber-shot. I did not take a camera with me, because he said he would bring his. The Super Tenere' again worked excellent, as did his (my old bike) R12GS. BTW, the total trip was 5120 miles, and was done in just under 8 days of riding. Close to half of the riding was done in the dark, meaning...at night, because it gets dark really early up there. Now time to get ready for Christmas. So, what have you folks been up to? Eh ?
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Okay, I am back from Alaska, as of 90 minutes ago, and before I tell you about the ride, let me respond to this idea of shipping your bike to Seattle. I say...NO. Pay for me to fly out from Seattle to the airport closest to you, and I will ride your '07 RSTD from your place to the hotel you are staying at in Seattle. Or...whatever location you want it at in Seattle. You "may" want me to ride it to MY house, about 65 miles south of the SeaTac airport here, and have me store it in my shop, while you are on your cruise in Alaska. When you get back to Seattle, after the cruise, then I can...and will...pick you up, and hand your bike over to you. This is a real offer, so think about it.
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I am leaving here in about 5 minutes, to ride North to Alaska. I meet my riding partner in Seattle, then we are ending the first day in Prince George, B.C. That is 650 miles from here, and the last 150 miles will be on snow covered roads. In Prince George we are changing bikes. I will be leaving my Super Tenere' and he will be leaving his R12GS, and the bikes we will be riding out of PG will be a matching pair of BMW R1150 GSA sidecar rigs. Given the snow and ice conditions at this time of year up north, we decided to change out bikes for the sidecar rigs, and do the 1750 miles from PG to Prudhoe Bay on a more stable platform. And...these R1150GSA sidecar rigs have "studded" tires at all three points, to help with traction and braking on the ice. Entire trip should be a little more than 5,000 miles, but with temps below 0 degrees, with windchill making the temps feel like -40 degrees, and with snow and ice on the roads, this trip will take us about 10 days (twice as long as it would in the summer months). Very happy that the Beemers have such a large alternator, to fire up all the Gerbings Heated Clothing and such. It is going to be a cold, dark, and long 10 days, but...what the heck... You kids be good now, and no fighting in the family. See ya'all in 10.
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This was on our local news last week, and quite inspiring. The neighbors love this guy, and the respect he shows to all service men and women. He was not able to serve in the military himself, due to polio as a child. This is cool.
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John, that is a very cool video. It is unbelievable how much of a roller coaster that road is. If the viewers will stop the video at the 2:34 mark, you can see how wild the curvature of that road is. Here is another vieo of that same road...when all the seas are very calm: http://www.youtube.com/embed/4T4vc1QqiPM I may just have to seek this road out, and ride it when the weather is both good...and bad.
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Eck, excellent explanation, and that makes a whole lot of...sense. I know that I am very fortunate that my wife loves to ride, and she insists on riding her own bikes. Can I get a hot chocolate in the morning?
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Vince, as was stated above, the replacement of the stator is a sizeable task, but the replacement of the R/R is very easy. I have done both to my '06 RSMTD. I did the work myself, and would advise that you may want to have someone else do the stator, but you can probably do the R/R yourself. Doing the work will almost...almost...double your wattage output. It will take you from a 30 amp stator (360 watts) to somewhere between a 50 to 55 amp stator (600 to 660 watts). I would tell you to NOT waste your money, or the wattage draw on having a heated seat installed on the bike. It is not worth the draw on the electrical system, and since you are already going to be using heated clothing...there is NO need for the heated seat. I am a very strong opponent to using heated seats, on any bike. The last place you want to apply heat is the contact pressure points on your butt. See Rick at Buckeye Performance... www.buckeyeperformance.com He has the high output stator and the new R/R for your bike.
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Maybe...hopefully...Eck uses a Goldwing 1800 as the tow vehicle. Since we cannot see what the front of this trailer looks like, we have to assume that he is using a big bike to tow this trailer. An 1800 Wing would do good in this case. Otherwise, what is the point of a trailer that has a bike inside it? I once came up on a sailboat being towed down the road. I could not, for the life of me, see what the tow vehicle was, as the sailboat was large enough that it was blocking the view of seeing the tow vehicle. Once I decided to pass this sailboat, I saw that it was a Goldwing 1500 towing the sailboat. Yes...it was stupid, but...it was what it was.
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I wish we had Natural Gas up on the hill where I live. We are far enough out in the country that we either use propane, or electric to heat our homes. Natural Gas is so much less in cost than propane. But I love heating and cooking with gas, rather than electric. I own my own propane tank...a 5000 gallon tank (not 500 gal, but 5000 gal) and filling it every couple years is a serious cost. But luckily propane in this area is a decent price of $ 1.49 to $ 1.69 a gallon, on sale. I use the propane to heat the hosue, for two gas fireplaces, for cooktop, for 13K watt standby generator, for hot water heater, for clothes dryer, etc. Much cheaper than electric to do all of that. And, I run all my own gas lines to fireplaces and generator, so I save on installs and maintenance.