Recent content by oldryder

I have a zumo 550 that suddenly won't work in either the car or bike cradle. It's not the Zumo battery and the unit still powers up fine from the USB cable. Since it's unlikely both cradles suddenly went bad I'm suspecting the Zumo unit. I'd like to apply 12v directly to the correct pair of...

I've owned a lot of bikes over the years; often several at a time. There was never a time when the FJR wasn't the bike I'd keep if I could only have one. I like my GoldWIng better for 2 up X-country. A modified Suzuki TLR was the torque monster from hell and a modified ZRX1200R was my...

spending a week near Jacksonville NC the end of May to celebrate daughters discharge form USMC. Brother in law and I would like to rent bikes but so far all I can find are Harley's and scooters. Almost anything not a harley over 500cc would be acceptable. looking for referral or suggestion...

I've been lucky enough to have several bikes for the past several years but recently starting culling the herd. Long term I expect I'll keep my Gold WIng and the FJR and maybe a beater track bike. SInce I expect to have the FJR for several more years (and I have cash from selling other bikes)...

I did a test ride on the BMW last summer. felt bigger but not heavier than my FJR and no faster. definitely was "buttery smooth" although I've never found the minimal vibes on my FJR objectionable. My biggest issue with the BMW ownership is the likely cost of long term maintenance. IMHO The...

Planning next springs road trip. Per recommendations here I expect to ride the "million Dollar Highway" and highay 50 from Gunnison to Poncha Springs. my route planning software shows me const. on those to roads. I spent a miserable 4 hours in Glacier NP in 2011 and learned to avoid mountain...

thx for suggestions. I'll check them out

currently planning my 1st road trip with Marine daughter since she enlisted summer 2010. plan is to ride to Denver late May or early June from MN and daughter fly in. was considering trailering bikes to Denver but it might actually be cheaper (and definitely easier) to just have her rent a...

Planning a road trip beginning and ending around Denver for late spring/early summer 2013. Daughter will be flying in from Camp LeJuene and I will be trailering bikes from MN. I'm assuming I'd pick her up in Denver but am open to other options. will leave the tow vehicle and trailer at a...

It time up here to put the bike away for the year. Put the bike in the barn and brought the snowblower into the garage last weekend. A sad day every year. just a reminder to plan on making your last fill-up premium "non-oxygenated" i.e. no alcohol fuel. Run the tank to near empty and then...

Have had a GL1500 and FJR for several years. Got rid of the GL1500 last spring and replaced it with an almost new Royal Star Venture. (for anyone unfamiliar with the Venture it is a "cruiser" style bike with a detuned version of the original VMax motor.) FJR is my everyday commuter bike; GL...

Rode a GTL this summer. Buttery smooth. good power. large bike. my biggest issue is long term maintenance. Everything on the BMW will be expensive and I predict (as an electrical engineer with a lot of years experience with components) that the neat handlebar switch for scrolling thru all...

you'd probably get sued but ... saw this years ago. neighbor had a 63 vette that had been keyed. being an electrical crafty guy he made an electrical fence type charger for the car that gave an energetic poke to anyone that touched the car. It drew very little current unless someone was...

I looked at a BMW as a replacement for my FJR and GL1500. really liked the R1200RT but was scared away by the final drive failures and BMW's piss poor response. the problems been around a few years and is still unresolved. I could live with the chronic fuel level sensor failures but I won't...

i have fought this battle for many years. the ONLY sure fire approach is to eliminate any source of food. If they don't have a food source they won't hang around. if you have pets this is hard to do. Last summer I left a couple of granola bars in the trunk of my goldwing after a roadtrip and...