Ain't getting old grand

Went to the doctor about my lower back pain. Well the good news it isn't gastro...intestinal whatever. It is more arthritis. Started with the rt. knee then shoulders, then neck,then upper back, then hands, now lower back. What's next?
I did a list of my overall aliments, defects, aches and pains 2 years ago. It was almost 50. Probably 60 now. Oh I get it, one problem for every year. At 80 I will have only 20 more. Or is it not proportional but exponential.
But what is the alternative? I'm not ready for that. Just more drugs. It's the AMA way. That's not the American Motorcyclist Association.
I guess I'm lucky, I only take one prescription drug now. And that is for my previous arthritis, but does not work on this newest aliment. There are over 100 different arthritis's, you needed to know that.
Nice doctor from Chile, if he only spoke spanish better I could have understood him better. He really does but it wasn't MEXTEX. Or is it TEXMEX?
Now if I could just get rid of the left big toe bunion pain... and... and.... Dang, that would be more drugs, forget it I put up with it.

2 weeks

Last week it was only in the mid to high 60's, but hit 70's this week. Low winds. Yes sir hee bob, global warming is in the southwest. Sure is nice for riding and being outside in the late mornings to early evenings, tho.

The most ever showed up for the ride today. 11 bikes and 13 people. 2 females, one drives the other rides. BMW's Honda's, Yamaha's, no Kawasaki's or Suzuki's. Sport bikes, cruisers, touring cruisers, tourers, sport tourer. From 800cc to 1800cc. From 54 to 65 years old. Lawyer, several business owners, sales people, educators, administrators, only one retired bum and leader (and I'm proud of it), 3 with mechanical skills, 3 doctorates, 2 star Army General, Air Force Colonel, service vets. "Old Coots on Scoots" Some just want to look good on their bike...

Still haven't installed the new toilet. Waiting for bad weather. Hopefully it will never get installed...

That's NOT us in the image, why NO WATER, couldn't you figure that out yourself, gee wiz.

Rub a tub, rub a tub, oh just rubbing it in.

We did it. Monday we checked the valves on Mike's and Lowell's Yamaha Ventures Monday and put a new rear tire on my Red 92 Suzuki all in one day. Worked in T-shirts in the afternoon.
Tuesday I went for a ride in the high 60's. Had way much clothes on.
Wednesday I'm riding again. Thursday it may rain so the toilet may get started. Friday in the 70's, Sat in the 70's. Boring boring hot hot Just rubbing it in.

Pretty Typical

Winter weather: Colder in Dec. than Jan. Been in the 60's in the afternoons all week, but in the high 20's to low 30's at night. Rode several days and not windy. Last month heating $40, expecting $60 this month, but probably less.

Doings: Got one toilet installed, waiting on bad weather to do 2nd. Why waste a good day inside?

All bikes running good. Looking for more projects.

Wesley a 26 yr. old neighbor comes by to have his 70's 400cc Yamaha worked on. Baffles and mufflers kept falling off. Welded brackets on the back because they were suspended from the engine only.

Potentials: New steering bearings on 102,000 mile bike. Oil temp gauge on Venture. 2 friends Ventures need valves checked.

Would like to spend more on gas than parts this year.

Vacations: South Padre Island on Venture, Mexican Riviera on cruise, maybe a trip to Colorado on bikes too.

More about my Venture

Before the ride Thursday I wanted to fix the 2 small oil leaks. 2 covers had to come off. After replacing the gaskets I poured the same oil back in since it only had less than 75 miles on it. Towards the end I noticed a lot of specks/flakes of metal in the bottom of the oil pan. OH NO!

For 2 days I could not get out on it with the plumbers here replacing the toilet. Which could save 20 gallons of water a day, 600 a month, 7200 per year. Didn't sleep good thinking what had I done wrong?

Thursday I did ride it to Sierra Blanca, 40's when I left at 9 am, mid 60's upon arrival home at 1pm. Got 47.5 mpg, very good for cooler weather. I drained the entire oil and replaced the filter. Very few specks. Most were aluminum, a few steel. A friend from Indianapolis thinks it could be residual from the original build in 1983 that were in spots were the oil does not drain from. I hope he's right. So far no grinding, bearing noises, actually the engine is quieter.

The low speed cold stumble/lack of power is gone, it is riding better (wandered bad when I got it) and handles better too.

It hurts my back the least, is extremely comfortable, and smoothest bike I ever had.

I fixed as many parts as I could for longevity so Linda and I can go on long trips. Look out Texas and New Mexico!

Look at the pic closely, the 2 half split washers on the right have a small wear indentation around the inside diameter. When this wears down about .030-.040" 2nd gear goes out. 40 hours to replace them! At the dealer it would cost over $3000. One dealer here charges $140 hour for bikes over 10 years old. That would be $5500!!! plus parts.

Some riders wait too long and it's over $750 just in other parts that get damaged. Mine all looked nearly new. I spent $200. Some just ride without the most fun gear, 2nd.

Finally done

Just about a month ago I took my Yamaha 1200cc Venture touring bike apart to fix a potential 2nd gear problem. Parts were $200. The actual part needing to be replaced was a $14 item but to get to it the entire engine had to come out of the frame and be taken apart. About 6 days work at 6-8 hours a day. Some days required help from my friend Mike too.

The last thing I wanted to do was check the valve clearances. 7 of the 16 were too tight. On Venture Rider.org a member had a valve shim kit and compressing tool available to fix this problem. But it took 3 weeks to get in. Last Friday it finally arrived and I was able to make the adjustments. I had enough of it together to start it Friday. By Saturday it was mostly together and I could ride it. Sunday I got all the plastic, saddlebags, trunk, lower fairing and chrome back on. I installed a oil pressure gauge Sunday also.

Now I really wanted to drive it. I drove it about 15 miles listening and looking for loose parts, rattles, and unusual noises. All A O K!

Monday we had a plumber in to put in a new higher toilet in our bathroom. (my knees were above my waist on the old one). But of course the floor tile we had put in 5-8 years ago was not right so I had to fix that before they could continue. Later I went for a 35 mile ride.

The bike had 2 small oil leaks. Tuesday I fixed the oil leaks but it is too cold and windy to get out on it. Wednesday the plumbers come back.

I decided we should do the same in the guest bath. But I'm going to do it, since I had to do 1/2 work myself and it will save $150.

Maybe Thursday I can get out for a long ride....