grubsie

I have been looking at the Vulcan Nomads for a little bit now. I ride my 08 RSV almost exclusively now but have been looking for something for around town/quick jaunts, hence the Nomads. Finally sold my 02 RSV last night, WooHoo! and hoping to sell my 97 Harley Road King that I bought this early spring for in town/ quick jaunts that I am not liking at all. Wish I never bought it. So hopefully I can sell the Road king soon. With the cash from the 02 RSV and from the Road King, I am hoping to pay cash for a Vulcan Nomad. I never own any motorcycle that I can't pay cash for so I have to sell that damn Road King. Glad to see such good reviews for a Vulcan on a Yamaha forum.

I don't know you cowpuc, but I feel like i do. Having read many of your posts here, I can't wait for more. The miles you have put on the road would have any true enthusiast envious. Me personally, I am jealous to say the least. Got six more years of that stupid work thing to go before I can set off on the adventures I want to take but will never catch up to you. That being said, with the miles you log, I doubt anyone would catch you anywhere but a gas station.

Awesome bike. One of the subcontractors on one of the job sites let me take his for a spin. Told me ride it as long as I wanted, just be back in time for him to go home. I rode it for about an hour. Didn't want to get off it. One of these days, I am going get to his house to see his 1942 Indian Chief that has Steve McQueen's signature on it. Documented and every stuff. Congrats to your son. He made a great choice.

Reading back through this thread I realized my mistake in the mileage. It had just under 5K miles when I bought it. After today, it's now got 7500 miles on it. It was such a great riding day. A little cool in the AM then the high was around 70. Best riding weather ever. Even got all my appointments accomplished! Like I tell people all the time "I don't make mistakes. I am the mistake. That covers everything."

Checked the air filters and they are like brand new, air boxes clean also. Checked the carb heater fuse checked out OK while checking the filters. I have put 2300 miles on it so far this year and have been running seafoam every other tank fill. I think I am going to have to give the carbs a good cleaning but will wait until this winter to do it as the bike runs great otherwise. I was just hoping it was something simple that I have overlooked.

With only 7K miles on it?

Before any judgement is taken. this is not a bashing session. Just an experience. I have the luxury of riding any one of my bikes most everyday, all day long depending on the weather getting my work done. Sometimes if local I switch up bikes. I am in construction sales and that means appointments all over New England. Mostly in New Hampshire and Mass, with the occasional trip to Maine, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Anyway, I had a fairly local appointment today on my 08 RSV. I had time to kill afterwards so I decided to go to the nearby Harley Dealer to get the badly needed rubber muffler mounts for my 97 Road King. Of course, when I pulled in the parking lot, I was the only Yamaha there. As I approached the entrance, there were a couple of salesman outside. One of them asked me what my bike was and the year. He said it was in really nice shape. (Should be, only 7K miles on it.) Anyway, I told him it was an 08 RSV with 7k on it. He then asked me if was coming in to get a better ride. I looked at him and asked " You got something here that rides better than that bike? I don't see anything here." The look on his face was like a deer in headlights. He asked me if I have ever ridden a Harley cause nothing rides like them. Told him I have a Road King it doesn't ride anywhere as nice as my RSV. Then I walked past him and went inside. Got to the parts counter and told the sales person what I was looking for. he said, "You have a Road King? You need to see something." Then proceeded to walk me over to a kind of Road King that had a (I don't know) street glide rear end with a Road King front end in a yucky olive green paint scheme that was blah blah this, on special at only 18K, blah blah that. I stopped him dead in his tracks and asked him why he was showing me this bike if I was only there to get some muffler mounts. I told him unless he was giving me the bike for free, I wasn't interested, especially seeing that the first thing I would have to do is repaint it. Told him the only bikes I buy are the ones I can pay cash for. I hate auto and bike salesman more than any other profession. No, I mean really do. Now it was time for some fun. Told him I had something to show him. Dragged him outside to my RSV. Told him when I bought it, it had under 4K miles on it. Paid $4300.00 for it. Told him that the only money I put into it was for new tires and a battery and changed the fluids. Even offered him a test ride which he refused. Then asked him, now why would I want to invest 18K in a bike that doesn't even compare to the ride in what I have that is fully paid for. Total blank on his face. Anyway, got back to the parts counter with this parts/bike sales person and they didn't have the $6.00 parts in total I needed which is a very common part that needs to be replaced on these bikes regularily. Figures. It was one thing listening to the sales person outside when I was walking into the building, but I was really shocked that the parts people were sales people also. I know HD is all about sales but really? I walk into my local Yamaha dealers building and nobody bothers me. Course, they see me so often, they know I am only going to the parts desk anyway.

I was thinking kill switch in the first part of your post when you mentioned putting it in gear, but now thinking fuel pump. Do you hear the pump running when you first turn the key? Symptoms sound like mine. Sometimes would start right up, put it in gear to go and die. Other times, engine would spin and spin and nothing. Then sometimes fire up again. They just up and quit at a moments notice. You could try disconnecting the hoses at the pump and coupling them together with a piece of tubing to see if the bike will start without the pump. You will need a fairly full tank of gas to allow gravitational pressure to feed the carbs. If it starts and stays running, the pump is bad. There's 2 current threads on fuel pumps going on right now. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?123606-Fuel-Pump-Issue http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?130145-Mystery-fuel-issue

Didn't notice the problem when I first bought my 08 RSV last fall, but here it is. When I first start the bike, I pull the choke, then hit the start button. The bike will fire but not start. I have to crack the throttle open a little for it to fire up and run. It then idles at a very low rpm for a little bit, like 10 seconds, then goes up to a higher idle although not as high as my 02 RSV or my previous 06 RSV. Everything works fine other than the initial startup without cracking the throttle open. The second it fires up with a twist of the throttle, I can twist the throttle all i want and it revs up like normal. On my 02 when cold, I pull the choke, hit the start button and it fires right up instantly to high "choke" idle. Also like my previous 06 did. What should I be looking at/for on my 08 to get it to start normally like the other bikes without touching the throttle?

I am just wondering something here. In my experience with Kuryakins is that they come with a spacer/washer that goes in between the clamp ends at the bolt holes. I have always eliminated that spacer/washer and the clamps work great with no slippage. I believe that spacer is there to avoid the compressing the cupped ends of the Kuryakin P-Clamps but it doesn't work with that spacer.

FYI, When the the dealer replaces the pump, ask him for the old one. Order a set of points and replace the bad ones in the old pump. Then you will have a good spare pump (for short money) to carry on the bike with you.

Don't give up on your search for the Ovals. I found a used pair on ebay last year that I got for $250.00 including shipping. The only thing wrong with them was the chrome on the tail caps was peeling. A quick sand blast and black heat paint solved the issue. If you find a pair, just note that in stock form, the Ovals create a harmonic tone at certain rpms that is very annoying to the point that they will create headaches on a day long ride. It's kind of like a tuning fork that hurts your ears. That being said, I discovered some baffles from SmartParts that take 10 minutes to install that take care of problem. My pipes sound better now than anything else I have tried. Here's a link to the baffles. http://www.smartpartz.com/SPZHK250ST.html If you are not going to go to the Ovals, LA Choppers is the next best option......... but they are not Ovals sound.

Oh dear God in Heaven! My heart is bleeding for you. Sending all the prayers I possibly can.

Funny that you mentioned knees. I work out at the gym 3 days a week mostly working on lower back and legs to help me with my work. I am self employed with my kitchen cabinet business and I deliver most of the cabinets I sell. This part of my job requires receiving, loading and unloading cabinets from my box truck to job sites. Delivery can be as simple as unloading them using the ramp into a garage to climbing stairs to a 3rd floor. So physically, I am in good shape so I don't think that's my issue with the bike. The mentioning of the knees is kind of ironic in a different way though. Must be because I read your response this morning. Anyway, I went out to my box truck this morning to put some extra parts needed for my delivery tomorrow morning. When I went to get out of the box, I slipped and smashed my left knee on the step bumper. So here I am, on the recliner with ice on my knee typing this. Already secured help to make the delivery in the morning seeing how I can't even think about stepping on my left leg at the moment. So much for our planned ride today.

After our 2 up ride last Sunday to our favorite breakfast about 2 hours away, I feel like I am in getting to this situation and although I haven't said anything to my wife yet, it has been seriously bothering me all week. I bought an 02 Midnight Venture which was my second. The first was an 06 Midnight Venture that I had to sell in 08 when the economy crashed. When I got the 02, I lowered the front 1 " by raising the forks tubes and lowered the rear with the Baron's kit. It handled very well for me because of my short inseam. Last fall, I had the opportunity to buy an 08 Standard Venture with under 5K on the clock for a ridiculously cheap price so I returned the 02 Midnight suspension back to stock with the intention of lowering the 08 like I did on the 02. For thos eof you that haven't ridden a Midnight vs Standard Venture, The seats are very different. The seat on the Midnight is much stiffer than the pillow seat on the Standard. With the Midnight with the stiffer seat, there was no way I could flat foot. With the pillow seat on the 08 and the switch to Avon Cobra tires, I could easily flat foot so I decided not to lower it. Well back to the Sunday ride. Right from the get go, I didn't feel all that comfortable 2up coming to stops ro starting out from stops. Then when we came out of the restaurant, I couln't get the bike upright no matter how hard I tried. I had to dismount, stand the bike up, then swing my leg over it while holding it steady upright. Not an easy task. This has never happened to me on any bike. The ride home was dismal for me. Slow maneuvers, stop and goes seemed like I was working overtime the whole way. The bike bike just felt heavier than usual. Although she didn't say anything, I knew my wife new something was up. Funny how after 37 years of marriage that we can pick things on each other. Of course when I got home, I checked the suspension and tires pressures and they checked out fine. Took the bike out solo a few days ago and it felt great. Unfortunately, the RSV is used mostly just for 2 up riding. I have plenty of other bikes for solo riding. I am not giving up yet. I love the RSV too much to give up that easily. I am going to lower the front this week when I get time to see if that helps. If that does not get me where I want to be, I will put my Baron's rear lowering kit on it to help lower the center of gravity. If that doesn't work, I am going to have to start looking for another tourer. I have no idea what it will be yet. I already eliminated the Gold Wing. Nice bike, but last one I owned made me feel like I was old. I sold my 2nd Road Star recently as I like my bikes to be a little smoother so maybe used Indian or Vulcan cruiser is next on the list? Always thought that at my age, the RSV would be my last tourer, but the last 2 up ride has me very concerned that it won't be.

It's not just the 1st Gens, same goes for 2nd Gens. I bought an '02 Midnight Venture last year, put 2 new tires, new EBC brake pads and flushed all the fluids. It has 47K on the clock and I have had it up for sale for several months now for $3,500.00 and not one call. The bike is mint. I have it up for sale because I bought an '08 RSV last fall for $4000.00 with under 5K on the clock. The guy I bought it from told me he had it up for sale for months and I was the 1st person to come and look at it. Before the '02 Midnight Venture, I had an '84 Venture with 28K on the clock that I wound up selling for $1200.00 after several months of advertising on CL. When I put my last Road Star up for sale, it was gone in 2 weeks, my V-Star1100 was gone in less than a week. Doesn't make any sense to me why these bikes do not sell. They are so dependable and the rides are amazing.. Seems like everyone is into V-Twins vs V4's. I will take the V4 ride any day over a V-Twin.

I call it frustration days. The weather up here in New Hamnpshire this year has be horrible to say the least. Mostly rainy cold with the few days that have been nice happening during the week when having to work. In fact, last Tuesday was the coldest recorded day in New England since 1926. We actually had to run the heat to be comfortable. Well, today was a super nice day, but being behind the household chores due to the horrible weather up until now, I had to spend the day doing yard work. The grass was about 1 1/2 feet tall that I had to I had to mow twice due to it's height, weed wack, hedge clip all the bushes, and tend to the garden. All while doing this, motorcycle after motorcycle went by the house. I am looking at these bikes go by with extreme jealously, thinking to myself, if I can get everything done quickly, I can go for a ride after supper. Well, what can I say. I am old. I took a shower and ate supper. Sat down in the recliner and here I stayed. I am having all I can do to stay awake, let alone go for a ride. So my thinking now is I can maybe get a quick ride in tomorrow morning. Wish I could ride the whole day but no! Gotta attend a stupid family cookout in the afternoon that no one in the family really wants to attend. 10 minutes into the event, there is nothing for anyone to talk about anymore. Gotta sit there bored out of my mind along with everyone else while listening to bikes motoring in the distance. Arrrrg! Who invented cookouts in the middle of the day anyway? It definitely wasn't riders. The first perfect riding weekend this year and the wife and I are not riding. Like I said, "Frustration Days"

This thing is a tank. It's 2017 and only 34mpg? And it weighs 963lbs? Holy crap! If I go to a V-twin, belt drive, I will go HD or Indian instead. Glad my "new to me" '08 RSV only has 6K miles on it so I have plenty of time to decide what to get next.

Rotella T6 is your best bet economically. Absolutely fine for our bikes. I, however, have more money than I know what to do with, so I use Mobil One V-Twin Synthetic and the Mobil One M108 Filter.

Recently switched to Avon Cobras. Far superior ride. Like them so much that I also put them on my Road Star and Road King. I go through the twisties like I am on rails on all 3 bikes.

Kind of hard to answer as I do not know what you mean by straining. The Barnett clutch is a great unit. You would only need the spring conversion kit. If you are having slippage problems, especially in the higher gears under load, this kit will correct that situation. If your clutch is not slipping, the Barnett kit is not going to solve your problem.

Holy Crap!!! Glad you survived that. Somebody was looking out for you. Yeah, good thing the Mrs. wasn't on the back when that happened. Wish you a speedy recovery. Not going to show my wife this post though. She would never get back on the bike or let me ride again.

The weather finally broke over the past couple of days. Being self employed, I was able to clear my schedule for the at noon time today. I decided to take my "new to me" 1997 HD Road King out for an adventure first. I posted about buying it and disappointed about the bike. Previous post on another here: http://roadstarclinic.com/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,187/func,view/id,1009852/catid,49/limit,10/limitstart,0/ I decided to finally give the HD a good go. With all the bad weather, I got the front bearings replaced, new handlebars and glad I have stock in Blue Locktight as I crawled all over the bike re-tightening bolts and finally got the most irritating vibration from the exhaust figured out. After all the crawling around the exhaust, I discovered that one of the exhaust clamps was the faulty party. You know the clamp. It's a p-type clamp that has a )( type spacer in between the bolt head and bolt. Removed the )( spacer, then retightened the clamp and the vibration/rattle disappeared. Anyway, took the Road King for a ride. With the new handlebars and the exhaust rattle gone, it was a rather enjoyable ride. I was amazed how well the bike tracked through the corners on the back roads. A little down on power and a little more cramped than the RS but a fun ride nonetheless. I spent 3 hours on here and enjoyed every minute. I bought her for a flip but I may just keep her. Got home and switched to the Road Star. Had another great ride. I discovered that the RS isn't as smooth as the HD, but a great ride nonetheless. It was nice to have more stretch room and a little more power and it handled the corners on the back roads equally as good as the HD. Rode it for 2 hours. Got home and switched to my powerhouse 1968 Honda SS125. I have to say that this bike was far more enjoyable than the my previous 2 rides. Cruising down the back roads was an absolute blast. Of course I had it revved to the max to attain 40 mph but fun, fun, fun! Can't describe the fun. I stopped at a local little league baseball game ( My favorite baseball of all) and the amount of people gathering around the bike was more fun than riding it. So as you can see and I have always said, no matter what it is, if it has 2 wheels and a motor, I can find a way to have a blast on it. Anyway, glad the weather broke and I was able to clean my schedule to have a really good day of riding. Gonna pay for it tomorrow though and I don't care. Today was worth it. If the weather holds as it looks like it's supposed to. The Mrs and I are planning on a 2 day trip through Vermont on our RSV. Can't wait! What can I say? I am an equal opportunity bike rider. 2 wheels and a motor, right?

The weather finally broke over the past couple of days. Being self employed, I was able to clear my schedule for the at noon time today. I decided to take my "new to me" 1997 HD Road King out for an adventure first. I posted about buying it and disappointed about the bike. Previous post here on another site: http://roadstarclinic.com/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,187/func,view/id,1009852/catid,49/limit,10/limitstart,0/ I decided to finally give the HD a good go. With all the bad weather, I got the front bearings replaced, new handlebars and glad I have stock in Blue Locktight as I crawled all over the bike re-tightening bolts and finally got the most irritating vibration from the exhaust figured out. After all the crawling around the exhaust, I discovered that one of the exhaust clamps was the faulty party. You know the clamp. It's a p-type clamp that has a )( type spacer in between the bolt head and bolt. Removed the )( spacer, then retightened the clamp and the vibration/rattle disappeared. Anyway, took the Road King for a ride. With the new handlebars and the exhaust rattle gone, it was a rather enjoyable ride. I was amazed how well the bike tracked through the corners on the back roads. A little down on power and a little more cramped than the RS but a fun ride nonetheless. I spent 3 hours on here and enjoyed every minute. I bought her for a flip but I may just keep her. Got home and switched to the Road Star. Had another great ride. I discovered that the RS isn't as smooth as the HD, but a great ride nonetheless. It was nice to have more stretch room and a little more power and it handled the corners on the back roads equally as good as the HD. Rode it for 2 hours. Got home and switched to my powerhouse 1968 Honda SS125. I have to say that this bike was far more enjoyable than the my previous 2 rides. Cruising down the back roads was an absolute blast. Of course I had it revved to the max to attain 40 mph mbut fun, fun, fun! Can't describe the fun. I stopped at a local little league baseball game ( My favorite baseball of all) and the amount of people gathering around the bike was more fun than riding it. So as you can see and I have always said, no matter what it is, if it has 2 wheels and a motor, I can find a way to have a blast on it. Anyway, glad the weather broke and I was able to clean my schedule to have a really good day of riding. Gonna pay for it tomorrow though and I don't care. Today was worth it. If the weather holds as it looks like it's supposed to. The Mrs and I are planning on a 2 day trip through Vermont on our RSV. Can't wait! What can I say? I am an equal opportunity bike rider. 2 wheels and a motor and I can enjoy the hell out of it., right?

I saw your original post on RSC and I have to say, you looked bad to me in that hospital bed. Kind of gave me chills. Have been wondering in the back of my mind how you were doing. Very glad you are up and running again. Will be watching the progress of your RS on RSC. Ride on!