At long last, success!

[Heavy Armor]

I've been screwing around with this bike for 2.5 years, fixing one thing and then another..... and at last, LONG LAST, it's roadworthy. Had an outing today that went exactly according to plan, no hiccups, 188 mile round trip. Still trying to work out a slight stutter at idle, but on the throttle, the bike screams. My big issues were a cocktail of clogged main jet in carb #3, and then bad cable adjustments, ignorant A/F screw adjustments, and total guesswork on the idle screw after reassembly. But after days of tinkering and cursing and more tinkering, finally got it sorted. Man I hate carbs.

So the only remaining issue is that my temp gauge is basically dead. Pretty sure there's a broken wire, because it'll waver upwards and then suddenly just cut out, and I've already cleaned all the connectors I can find and added the extra ground wire. Brakes are spongier than I care for, so I may look into getting some braided front brake lines, but it's not a major problem at the moment. Oh, and one of my rear speakers fell off during the ride. The rubber mounts are all completely shot, brittle and torn. I just pulled them off, the radio doesn't work anyway (guess that's technically an "issue" as well, but I've never been interested in listening to music while I ride).

So anyway, just wanted to report a win. Today was a very good day.

[Nails]

So the only remaining issue is that my temp gauge is basically dead. Pretty sure there's a broken wire, because it'll waver upwards and then suddenly just cut out

Maybe https://amervoyassoc.org/techtipsXII.ph ... auge%20Fix will help.

I've never been interested in listening to music while I ride).

AVA politics -- around here there are two kinds of people: those who like radio noise in an already noisy environment; and the more reasonable folks who don't. This is a warning that you must be careful not to take sides and risk offending anyone.

[GrandpaDenny]

I've never been interested in listening to music while I ride).

AVA politics -- around here there are two kinds of people: those who like radio noise in an already noisy environment; and the more reasonable folks who don't. This is a warning that you must be careful not to take sides and risk offending anyone.

With my new helmet and the built-in bluetooth, I'm'a rockin' all day long. Huh? What'd you say? I can't hear you!

[cushman eagle]

I've been screwing around with this bike for 2.5 years, fixing one thing and then another..... and at last, LONG LAST, it's roadworthy. Had an outing today that went exactly according to plan, no hiccups, 188 mile round trip. Still trying to work out a slight stutter at idle, but on the throttle, the bike screams. My big issues were a cocktail of clogged main jet in carb #3, and then bad cable adjustments, ignorant A/F screw adjustments, and total guesswork on the idle screw after reassembly. But after days of tinkering and cursing and more tinkering, finally got it sorted. Man I hate carbs.

So the only remaining issue is that my temp gauge is basically dead. Pretty sure there's a broken wire, because it'll waver upwards and then suddenly just cut out, and I've already cleaned all the connectors I can find and added the extra ground wire. Brakes are spongier than I care for, so I may look into getting some braided front brake lines, but it's not a major problem at the moment. Oh, and one of my rear speakers fell off during the ride. The rubber mounts are all completely shot, brittle and torn. I just pulled them off, the radio doesn't work anyway (guess that's technically an "issue" as well, but I've never been interested in listening to music while I ride).

So anyway, just wanted to report a win. Today was a very good day.

I am glad to hear you got those bugs out of the system.

[SgtSlag]

FYI: the new, in-helmet Bluetooth systems offer built-in AM/FM radio; Bluetooth connection to your GPS's audio directions ("Re-calculating... Turn Right -- NOW!", Mayhem GPS commercial), connection to any Bluetooth audio system, including making/receiving phone calls (most folks cannot tell you are riding a motorcycle, as the system seems to filter a lot of the noise from your microphone!). Best of all, though, is that most Bluetooth Helmet Intercom Systems also allow you to communicate with other bikes using similar systems, up to a mile away, depending upon signal-blocking terrain!



My wife and I started out using a AA-battery powered, wired intercom system, in helmet. We were great while riding, as it had an AM/FM radio built in, as well. Getting off the bike was a chore, as we often forgot about the wired connection between us... When we went to Bluetooth Intercoms, it was heavenly. You do need to remember to turn it off when one of you goes inside the gas station, while the other is filling with gas, outside... I could hear her talking to the clerk at the register, and that led me to making joking comments about her conversation, while she was chatting. I couldn't resist the temptation to interject humorous comments. She was laughing, but angry, as I embarrassed her -- she laughed and the other person had no idea why... We both have a wicked sense of humor (I helped her augment her twisted humor beyond what it was when we first married, ).

Bluetooth is the way to go -- worth every penny. Make sure you update your GPS before each trip, though, and test it! I updated our GPS prior to circling Lake Superior. We ran into road construction near St. Paul, MN, so we pulled out our GPS to locate a non-Interstate route away from the slow zones... My wife asked me, "Which State is GU?" I said, "GU? GU is Guam!" The update blew out our North America map, replacing it with a GPS Map of the Pacific Island of Guam, a US Territory, with fewer than six roads on the whole island! Good thing we packed paper maps, as well. We always pack paper maps, now, in the car as well as on the bike... Cheers!

[GrandpaDenny]

One of the nice things I got with the money I got for Gertrude was a new AGV Tourmodular helmet. I got the Cardo Insyde system for it - man it does everything except pick my nose for me. TWO bluetooth phone connections, TWO bluetooth intercom connections, mesh, and with the phone app controls media player, am/fm radio, phone, you name it. Kinda expensive, but Liberty Mutual paid for it. Actually very expensive. I still have cheapo bluetooth communicators on my other helmets, and they're OK. They all connect to my phone just fine, and have an intercom and built-in FM radio.

So the setup I use on the road is phone connected to Insyde, 2m and CB radios connected to Sena SR-10, SR-10 connected to Insyde. I can also connect GPS to the SR-10. With the old intercoms I had to connect the phone via the SR-10 so I didn't get stereo.

I have a (Honda) connector to connect the SR-10 to the Voyager intercom - I tried it on Gertrude, and it sounded tinny. It did work, though.

Another nice doo-dad I got on the helmet is the Brake Free brake light. I'm told it works excellently.

[SgtSlag]

Another nice doo-dad I got on the helmet is the Brake Free brake light. I'm told it works excellently.

We bought one of these, with two helmet mounts which allow us to swap back and forth between our helmets: when one is driving, the other is behind them, as the passenger, wearing the Brake Free light. They work superbly, and brightly! The Brake Free product is something I would highly, highly recommend. Cheers!