|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For Sherri who is working on adding wind deflectors for her VStar 1300: I had the same problem with the V-Star 1100, so
Ill share a few thoughts on this one. Second, Memphis
Shades makes lower deflectors you can try. I have them on my V-Star,
and it offers incremental help; Im sure theyd work better with the
Memphis Shades windshield (as they are made to)! They are about $120, I
think. Best regards, Monday, December 3 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Kelcy, I'll simply add that I test rode a 2006 Autoglide when owner Clay Ridley was in Myrtle Beach that year for a rally. I was impressed with the get-up-and-go power, I liked the sound of the bike, the seat height at 24.5" is a huge advantage for shorter riders, and the center of gravity was very low, thus making it easy to handle. If you're interested in seeing what else is available in auto tranny motorcycles, hop onto my Auto Tranny Motorcycle Models page! Mama Monday, December 3 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Jim, Solution: new jackets. I looked for ones that were form fitted but allowed whatever amount of layering (T-shirts, sweatshirts, etc.) I needed. So, for my main jacket I lucked out when Fox Creek Leather sent me their Vented Touring Jacket for review. I chose a size for my normal colder weather riding (turtleneck with short sleeve over it). I had used Frogg Toggs for rain gear, but went to Wal-Mart to try out something that fitted closely and allowed room for a sweatshirt (but I'll note in heavy rains it just doesn't have the same rain protection, so need to re-look at my choice there!). Other than bringing the jacket to a reputable leather shop that understands motorcycle riding, and having them rework the jacket, it's time to go shopping. This time of year of course is great for it, as many of the online leather shops are running specials and looking to sell off remainders at steeply discounted prices. Not enough $$ in the budget for that? I hear through my Message Board grapevine that the site New Enough has good deals on all things related to riding apparel. Mama Monday, December 3 Dear Mama, Some dealers say NO, some say I don't know.... Do you know someone who would know before I pop off and buy some? I know if anything it will affect the amount the front wheel can turn before it goes to full lock. And I know there is a lot of variation out there so maybe something else would work, as well? Oh, I have a Slipstreamer windshield also. Anybody ever try this? Thanks! Patty Dear
Patty, At this point I'm hoping someone writes in with thoughts; otherwise my advice is to order something that you think will work, but understanding the company's return policy so that you can hold them in place and see if you've got a fit! Sounds lame, but it's all I have to give on this one! Mama Tuesday, December 4 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Ana, I know of no search tool that allows you to choose by seat height, so the next best thing is to go to Want Facts, choose Research New, Motorcycles, By Feature, and then enter the manufacturers to consider, sport and standard models, and then limit the cc engine displacement from say 900-1100cc. Now you'll have to click through to see seat heights, but it will help narrow down your research! Mama Wednesday, December 5 Dear Petra, Here's a little project to refresh riding apparel fringe that has some miles on it! It's a new twist on an old theme! Here's how: If your fringe is just about anything other than thin garment leather, you can wet your fringe with either a spray bottle or just by putting it under the faucet. Squeeze out any excess water and sit down with a cup of coffee and begin twisting each fringe strand, one at a time, and all in the same direction. Twist each strand tight, all the way to the end, and give it good pull (hold onto the base of the strand so it doesn't pull off). Yes, it will stretch some, but that will make up for the length you'll be using in the twisting process. Let go of the strand and it should hold the twist. Twisting and pulling tight is the key! After you have twisted all the strands, lay the garment out making sure the strands are straight and not curled up. Let it dry. They will soften pretty quick and will add a richer look to your apparel. A lot of high-end leather apparel has this type of twist and it looks great! For a bit of extra hold, should it be needed, add the smallest amount of Dippity Do hair gel. Usually plain old water will do the trick! If the strands don't hold the twist after they have dried, rewet and rework the strands. Any questions about doing this? Call me at 530-905-0505 or email nanci@shasta.com. Enjoy the best in the New Year, Nanci at Ace High Leathers Dear
Nanci, Thursday, December 6 Dear
Petra, 1) If we get a
break in the weather is it okay to take my bike out for a ride? Someone
told me road salt will really mess her up. Yes I know the feeling of sitting on the bike in the garage going vroom vroom-with 6" of snow outside. P.S. New Enough is a great site for really good bargains on riding apparel-and the customer service is really helpful about fit questions and returns. Thanks, Susan in Deerfield, MA Dear
Susan, Otherwise, winterizing is fairly easy. Add a proportionate amount of gas stabilizer to the full tank (you can still run the bike at any time!). If you can't' get the tires off the ground (via a center stand) then roll the motorcycle to different sections of the tires every week or so. Remove the battery and store properly or get a battery trickle charger (or that good weather day will pass you by as you realize the battery is a goner), or fire the bike up every week whether you can go out or not. The dust cover is good, just remember to remove it once in awhile to check for any moisture build-up or critter invasion! Mama Thursday, December 6 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Lori, Friday, December 7 1st Annual International Trike Rally in Missouri July 24-26 Dear
VTwin Mama, Friday, December 7 For Kelcy who was interested in thoughts on the Ridley auto tranny motorcycles: I have a Ridley and it is a great bike. The only problem I have had with it is the wide gas tank and somewhat heavy front end. It hampered my steering, although I did OK. I still thought that I started out with a bike that may have been a bit much for me and although I still have it and won't sell it, I learned of another automatic bike at about 1/5th the cost of a new Ridley. It is a QLink Legacy 250 automatic. I went to look at them and fell in love. I have had a slow start on riding and it was so frustrating because I just was plain scared. That of course, is not the bike's fault. Since I got the Legacy I can't wait for the warmer days to go ride and I am having a blast. So if you want an automatic starter bike, I highly recommend it. Then you can go to the Ridley when you want a bigger bike. Of course, you may get the Ridley and never look back as we are all different. Good luck! Joan (note from Mama: you've brought a good point ... that just because a motorcycle has an automatic transmission, doesn't mean you still don't have to learn all the other handling rules and characteristics for safe and confident riding! As Joan points out, even in the auto tranny style, there are options on size for those who just don't feel comfortable starting out on something bigger and heavier.) Dear VTwin Mama, I assume I need a new battery then fill all the fluids. After that what's the best way to start. I don't suppose there is a step by step list that would help? Candy Dear
Candy, 1) drain the gas tank and carb float bowls (if the Magna uses carbs instead of a fuel-injection system). Any gas that turned to turpentine and/or crud needs to come out of the system. If possible, inspect the interior of the tank for flaking. Then refill with fresh gas and a proportionate amount of carb cleaner. 2) change the battery, spark plugs and air filter. Then see if it will start! 3) if it starts, then let it warm up for a bit. Then drain the oil and replace the oil and oil filter. 4) lubricate the clutch lever and throttle cables. If this uses a chain drive, lubricate and check the tension on the chain ... look at those two sprockets to see if the tines are worn down or are still pointy and sharp looking. 5) check the brake pads and bleed out the brake fluid with new fluid. 6) check the tires for not enough thread or uneven wear and replace if needed. Clean 'er up in general and go for a ride and see what you've got! Mama Monday, December 10 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Little Mama, Monday, December 10 For SK who was looking for solutions to soft saddlebags and touring: I thought I'd chime in with my .02 (hopefully of help). Is SK currently bolting the saddlebags to the bike? If she'd like to have the bags a little closer to her while she sleeps, one option is using something like Ghost Brackets to attach your saddlebags to the bike. Once you get the knack of it, you can take your bags on and off in less than 10 seconds (I'll be posting a video on my site in the near future about this). If you haven't heard about Ghost Brackets, you can check out the FAQ we've put up. We'll also be putting up some videos shortly as we settle on in. Cheers, David at Motorcycle Parts & Apparel (note from Mama: while this original letter was back from March, solutions and ideas are always welcome whenever ... as we all learn something!) Tuesday, December 11 For Candy who is brining a Honda Magna back to life: The Magnas are known for having a few problems in the early years. I have had mine for more than 10 years and did a lot of research on how to care for her. They had cam problems and stuff. I looked up v45magna and came up with a site that has the words uofwaterloo in it. (go figure). Anywho, the guy who started this site is brilliant about the common problems of the early Magnas if that is what you have. I love my Magna and will never giver her up even tho I just bought my first sport bike 3 weeks a go. A beautiful black 1988 750 GSXR. Anyway, you will love how the Magna feels how she reacts and the fact that she is cruiser with some kick. V45Magna (note from Mama: hmmm ... I couldn't find the site you are referring to, but a Google search brought up plenty of boards and stuff if needed. By the by, uofwaterloo is most likely referring to the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, but that still didn't help me find your Magna guru!) Update 12/12/07: the Honda Magna site is from Robyn Landers for Honda V4s. Friday, December 14 Dear Readers, Friday, December 14 New kit to modify friction zone on Yami VStar 650 Dear VTwin Mama, Mama, I got home after dark, totally frozen, and REALLY proud of myself!!! I called my husband after I thawed out to tell him and he was pretty surprised! I think, maybe he felt like I don't need him as much (no such luck; he is stuck with me)! But, it was a really good experience and I want to thank you all for your stories and support! Pati Dear
Pati, Monday, December 17 Dear VTwin Mama, We are thinking about getting one though in all the years of having his two Harleys he has never had to use one when he keeps them in the living room (it's heated, 65 degrees usually). We plan to ride them at least once a month or when the weather permits. My bike is a new 2007 Shadow Aero and it's the first winter. Also, is it really necessary to take the battery out? I've known so many people who just take the seat off and leave the battery with the trickle charger in use. Some manuals suggest just unhooking the battery cables if no charger is used. Help! What's the best? Thanks so much for your advice! Tempe from New Jersey Dear
Tempe, So, the rule of thumb is that if you're not going to be riding over a longer period of time (some say 2 weeks, I think a month, but just think about how cold your area really is), either take that battery out and move it to a warmer location in the house (but not near anything that could cause a spark) ... or put a charging system on it that is specifically meant for this purpose (a fully charged battery will not freeze). Now, there is a difference between a standard trickle charger and something like the Battery Tender ... one just charges at a slow rate (which is good) but doesn't stop until you turn it off. Something like the Battery Tender monitors the charge in different phases so that it avoids "gassing" the battery. Now, many people, including me, sometimes advocate that you can just start up your motorcycle every month or so to recharge the battery ... but I need to clarify this statement ... yes, if you run around on the bike for a bunch of miles, the voltage regulator/rectifier can do its job of the recharge, but just running it in the garage or around the block is not enough to recharge that battery. So, the bottom line for you is, given the location and temperature of storage, combined with the thought of a monthly ride, you won't need to pull or charge things up. I would however, just like normal maintenance, check the individual cells of the battery to make sure none of the cells have dropped below their minimum water/acid level. If a cell goes dry, you're usually not able to revive the battery even if you refill that cell ... it's kaput! Now, a word on gel cell batteries: the gel cell is still actually a lead acid battery but the electrolyte is suspended, meaning the electrolyte has a silica additive that causes it to set up or stiffen. They do not sulfate or degrade as rapidly as a standard acid battery, but that doesn't mean you can just ignore them in colder weather! Warning ... don't mistake a sealed battery for a gel cell ... if it's sealed it could either be an acid battery or a gel cell ... they are two different animals and require different trickle chargers and charging rates. My BMW has a sealed, maintenance free gel cell because the battery is located under the tank, which is a pain to get to! I just make sure that I'm running the bike for a good amount of miles at least once a month, and given our temperature down here in Mobile, AL, that's not proving to be too hard of a thing to do! Mama Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Liz, If you're a registered member of the VTwin Mama Message Board, then the picture has to be posted on a website, any website, somewhere. Then you can start or join a topic, choose the IMG tag and sandwich in the website address of that picture! Mama Wednesday, December 26 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Kristin, So, I've never seen the type of shelter like the Cycle Shell, which incorporates a flooring to the full system. The bonus as far as I can see is that you don't have to worry about anchoring the shelter 'cause the bike is doing that (particularly helpful in areas known for windy gusts, etc.). They are both ventilated, as noted as important before. I have seen/heard of enclosures that have an "active" ventilation system, meaning that they incorporate an optional heater/blower that keeps moisture from accumulating ... something for those regions are especially high in air moisture to begin with (I'm thinking coastal northwest regions, etc.). I see the Bike Barn has that available. Any previous letters on the subject can be found on the Ride Gear: Security and Storage page ... readers who have chosen an enclosure of this type are asked to chime in now! Mama Thursday, December 27 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Anon, Since I don't have a manual to guide me, I'll give you some general steps. A battery is usually held in place with some sort of restraining bar over the top of it and it will fasten on one or both bottom sides. First take a look at the size of the battery and determine if it can slip upwards through the frame of the motorcycle. If not, then it'll come out through either the left or right side, so remove any covers and take a look. From that point one has to disconnect wire harnesses surrounding the battery and undo the restraining bar. Then you'll want to disconnect the negative (black) lead to the battery and then the positive (red). According to some online chat I came across, it may be that there is a box the battery sits in that has a rear bolt holding it in place. That has to be removed in order to get to things. The chat indicated that Dynas don't have the easiest removal and only the service manual got them through the complicated steps. Mama Thursday, December 27 Hi VTwin Mama, Dear
Netta, Congrats on your time on the Rebel, a wonderful motorcycle that allowed you to build confidence. Confidence can also be found with the Sporty by first sitting on the new motorcycle and double checking your reach to the handlebars (also check that with the handlebar turned all the way to one side), leg reach to foot controls and the ground, your basic sitting position (can you sit straight or are you leaning forward?), and doing some slight rolls forward and backward and tilts to left/right to get a feel for the weight. Then it's on to starting up the engine and going back to the very beginning. That means doing all the practice drills you originally learned, starting with the duck walk (to learn the nuances of that specific clutch lever in combination with how responsive the throttle is), working with the front brake in a straight line stop to gauge its responsiveness, big wide turns to start feeling the balance point and use of the rear brake, and so forth. If you're in a neighborhood that you can do it on a non-busy side street, great ... if not, get that bike to a big empty parking lot, start the basic drills, then add cones/markers to help guide you. Don't forget to do backing into a parking space practice while you're in this "safe" zone. Then head out for a mini road ride on a low traffic day/time! Now, in all of this, remember that the pavement is still below you and you don't need to look at it despite the fact that you've got a heavier, more powerful bike! For some reason, when we get a new make/model, it can be a tendency to doubt the placement of pavement (!) or remember to look through our slow turns, etc. All the skills are the same ... you're just going to be learning the specific handling characteristics of the new beastie! So, head out to where the bike is, say hi, pat him/her on the tank, and say, "I'm really look forward to us being a riding team, so let's get to learn each other slowly and with patience and we'll do great!" Mama |
| © 2007 VTwin Mama | Disclaimer |
