Wrench

[The car might cut into some of my riding time but then that's no different than say someone who also has a boat. For sure I can go out in the car on those days the weather isn't co-operating for bike riding. Wrench I hear you on getting in and out of that car. The first couple times I wondered if I made the right decision and I thought the previous Mustang we had was low. Hahahaha Actually getting in wasn't much of a problem ( just plopping in did the trick) it was the getting out that was tough. Technic gets it done. Larry Yes, that was what I liked about the droptop we had, you didn't really have to be concerned with the weather reports. Just PLEASE do not do what I see a lot of convertible owners do and ride around with the top DOWN and the windows UP, , defeats the whole purpose. The getting out was what we had the big problem with too, yes, it is all in the technique(plus some good strong forearms!). Enjoy it!!!

Now that is just freaky scary.

That's a nice car Larry, and the trike looks good too. The wife and I had a '00 Sebring convertible up til our backs gave out 4 yrs ago and made it too hard to get in/out of anything that low, I REALLY liked that car. I found an '02 Sebring the other day and am planning on going to look at it tomorrow. After the surgeries we both think we'll be good to go again. A dumb question, you still liking the trike??

We went thru there a few years back on a convertible trip, the wife and I thought we would take Parsons Branch over to 129 but it was washed out and closed. My son and I went to a Volusia Owners rally in '09 and our "ride leader" planned on us making the Cades Cove loop. It started raining buckets so he decided a short-cut across one of the gravel roads was in order. I'll remember this as long as I live, 11 bikes, mostly dressers, sitting there looking down that gravel road, I told my son that some of these folks had never even seen a road like that. We got about 1/2 way thru and came to a water crossing, NOT a bridge mind you, just concrete with water running over it. It was probably 3" over the floorboards on my Venture, then we had a pretty steep washboardy gravel hill to go up. We all survived it none the worse for wear, and even wound up with a "Swamp Tour '09" patch out of the deal. I've had a lot of fun riding down there, and look forward to doing a lot more.

I have a pic of them on my '99 in my album. They were installed by the original owner and they still look good as long as you keep the bug guts off of them.

I've been around the Cades Cove loop a couple of times, and have taken the blacktop road near the Sugarlands Center over to Townsend. I guess I've missed the Old Cades Cove Road somewhere/somehow. I did see a note on the Tail of the Dragon website that said to watch for gravel that has washed out onto the roads from the recent heavy rains they've had. I'm really wanting to get down there this year, but work may get in the way, but I do have my reservations made for Memorial Day weekend next year.

I just put a 6" dark smoke Slipstreamer on mine Sunday afternoon. Haven't gotten in a lot of riding yet but love it so far, and it looks GOOD! Probably going to cut down my stock windshield a little bit too, just to have for cooler weather. Just be careful when you remove the chrome trim, it's kinda easy to break the tabs. UPDATE: I just added a couple of new pics to my album, one of the new 6" windshield and one of the air cleaner mod I did over the winter. Next project is doing something with them tall antenna's! Thinking about a hidden antenna for the radio in the fairing, and removing the CB antenna completely since I don't use it. It's always something to get your $$'s!!!

Sounds about right to me!

My seat guy called today and they're ready, I'm planning to pick them up tomorrow. The total cost for the seat work, making a "filler" pad for the passenger seat/backrest, and repairing my chaps was $125.00. That's the same as what he charged me 6 years ago on my other Venture seats.

I don't know for sure how much yet, it'll depend on whether the foam is broken down or not. I can tell you that he's doing the same thing to these that he did to my other Venture. He had to re-foam the driver seat then and the mods cost me $125.00. I'm having him "narrow down" the sides of the seat where your legs drape over when you stop, and relieve some of the curve across the back where your low back rests. Since my back surgery that area puts pressure on the hardware they put in. He's re-shaping the pass. seat a little, and doing some foam work to make it more comfy for the wife. I'm having him make a pad to go between the backrest and the top of the pass. seat too. The wife said last week when she rode that she felt like she needed something between there to help support her too. He's done seats on the last 4 bikes I've had and I have always been pleased with the quality and price of his work. He's been in the upholstery business since 1966 with boats and bikes being his specialties. It'll be probably a couple of weeks before they are ready.

I got out early this morning to go to my upholstery guys to drop off my seats for re-work. I took the backroads there and found something we all need to watch for. Right-of-way mowing season is in full swing around here now, so that means ALL kinds of debris on the roads. I saw everything from fine gravel patches to road kill that has been slung out from the roadsides.

Wow, that looks good. I've got to get mine out of "storage" and get my hitch and harness on the bike. I procured a piece of aluminum electrical wire chase that measures about 4" high and has 3" holes about 2" apart. It will polish up really easy, and I'm planning on putting LED lights in it. I've held it roughly in place and it makes a nice looking rear bumper for the HF. I'll get a pic of it and put it in my album

Well, at least they weren't poached!(LMAO)

Thanks Miles!!! Just PM'd him.

A friend bought a new Ultra Classic in '07, and it's a very sweet bike, it just doesn't fit me nearly as well as my '99 Venture, just seems like "something's missing". I looked at/rode a pristine '84 Electra-Glide before I bought my '04 Venture back in '06, same thing. That pretty much scratched my Harley itch. The friend with the '07 said his felt "mushy" to him, so he bought a "bracket" that bolts up under the engine, then ties to the suspension with a heim joint. It stiffens the rear end up so you don't get that squirming. I've seen them in Baggers, but can't think of the name of them, gone brain-dead. Once upon a time I was an active member on the Volusia Owners League forum. It now seems like most everybody has gone the HD route there, mostly RK's and TG's. It's kinda funny to sit around at a rally and hear some of 'em say how much they miss the ride of their old Volusias, a 7k bike vs a 20k bike. I guess I'm just getting old, but I like to be comfortable.

A set of 2nd Gen fork deflectors/lowers they want to part with? I didn't pay any attention when I bought the '99 last year, but just happened to notice a few weeks ago that they are missing. I'm thinking the PO may have taken them off and put them on his '06, I think I remember him saying something about that now.

Wow murph, you're killin' me here, that 32 IS a sweet ride. The twisties up to the Appalachian Trail crossing are WAAAAY cool. Has the traffic picked up any since 441 is closed? I really miss Mountain Momma's, it was a great place to stop and get a cold drink and a bologna sandwich on a hot day. I even recommended it to our "big boss" once when he was down there. Planning on getting down there sometime late May/early June myself. Oh yeah on the Alamo too!!!

Happy anniversary you two!! My wife and I will have our 36th on the 29th.

"What comes around comes around". In memory of my late friend "Cool Pops".

Just sent you an e-mail.

I've looked around and really didn't find anything related to this, so here goes. Has anyone totally replaced the audio setup on a 2nd Gen? I'm talking removing the whole Yamaha system, CB/receiver/control pod/(even the cassette deck:confused24:)/antenna's? I know some folks have replaced the stereos only. I guess my main question is,,,would there still be any way to wire in the headsets? I realize if you remove the control pod then you'll lose the selection ability. Just doing some "thinking outside the box".