Forum: The perfect line and other riding myths
12-29-2012, 10:38 AM
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Replies: 323
Views: 14,358
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Forum: Road warriors
11-23-2012, 03:05 PM
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Replies: 417
Views: 53,686
This +2
I am an avid advocate of the TU250x...
This +2
I am an avid advocate of the TU250x standard single. But, as much as I love my 250 single, it really is working hard on 65mph highways with all my gear acting as an air brake. I don't...
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Forum: Thumpers
11-04-2012, 02:17 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Epic fail update
Hey y'all - just thought I would post so you know that I have not gone off screaming into the night; but I am still disgusted with myself. Not only was my trip an epic fail - the rest of the week and...
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Forum: Thumpers
10-23-2012, 04:17 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
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Forum: Thumpers
10-22-2012, 07:46 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Taking a little trip
I'm not sure this is a trip that will merit a ride report - but tomorrow at dawn I leave Appomattox, VA to ride 800 miles to Shalimar, FL (near Elgin AFB). I plan on doing this in two 400 mile days....
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Forum: Thumpers
10-17-2012, 05:00 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
saddle bag brackets
I purchased a set of the triangular brackets from e-bay. I did not use the slot to mount them on the bike. I purchased the proper length grade 8 bolt from the hardware store (to fit the threaded hole...
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Forum: Americas
10-08-2012, 06:44 PM
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Replies: 2
Views: 361
That's the thing. If the weather turns nasty or...
That's the thing. If the weather turns nasty or really cold it could play havoc with plans. At least during the ride down my office will be open during the day and if I have a 9-5 problem someone can...
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Forum: Thumpers
10-08-2012, 06:23 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
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Forum: Americas
10-07-2012, 12:51 PM
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Replies: 2
Views: 361
Appomattox, VA to Shalimar, FL - NOOB TRIP
I have to go to Florida towards the end of October for a conference. It is 800 miles each way. I could slam down the interstate and be there in 13 hours in a car (a long day, yuck) or I could ride my...
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Forum: Thumpers
10-06-2012, 12:30 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
16T and 120 tyre (D404)
So I'm thinking about a little trip on the TU. If I'm gonna go on the TU the back tire was a little marginal. I'm pretty sure it would come back bald (if it made it back). The tire that came with the...
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Forum: Thumpers
10-06-2012, 12:06 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
2009 swing arm grease - the saga continues
After the (few posts above) ordeal of the squeaky swing arm, I decided to spend Saturday morning taking apart Mrs. Chaplain's TU. There was no squeak, yet, but it was only a matter of time.
It is...
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Forum: Thumpers
10-05-2012, 05:39 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Swing Arm Squeak finally conqured - the right way
After Brett's gentle admonishment that the swing arm is easy to take off and grease, I decided that I should take off the swing arm and grease it. I'm glad I did. Sheesh.
It is the little things...
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Forum: Thumpers
10-03-2012, 07:20 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Local dealer says intrest in small bike way up.
Sat on the Honda 250 sport bike when I stopped in a dealer today. It seemed to have a seating position that is OK, but you do lean a little more forward that on the TU. I didn't like it as well as...
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Forum: Thumpers
10-03-2012, 07:01 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Tune up (remember those?) & the squeek came back
Today I spent a leisurely afternoon adjusting the valve lash on the TU. I really have to get one of those valve adjustment tools. It would go so much faster than using the needle nose pliers. I found...
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Forum: Thumpers
10-02-2012, 07:42 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
I've been using 16T front and stock rear for...
I've been using 16T front and stock rear for about a year now. There are some times that 4th gear is not low enough to produce the power needed to get up a really steep hill (or maybe not enough to...
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Forum: Thumpers
09-23-2012, 09:48 AM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Headed out to our get-away place to meet Mrs....
Headed out to our get-away place to meet Mrs. Chaplain Friday night. I looked at the map and found a just slightly longer road to get there - a symptom likely shared by every inmate. Even with the...
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Forum: Thumpers
09-10-2012, 03:48 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
I find the headlight on the TU to be AMAZING! I...
I find the headlight on the TU to be AMAZING! I have cars with two headlights working, on high beam, that are not as bright as the one light on the TU. If you remember bike headlights from 30 years...
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Forum: Thumpers
09-03-2012, 01:01 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
TU #2 updated to 16T
Well, no surprises here. 3 x 6mm head bolts to get the sprocket cover off. Used my big 'ole flat head screw driver to beat the safety washer into submission. Put the 30mm socket on the breaker bar....
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Forum: Equipment
09-03-2012, 08:24 AM
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Replies: 15
Views: 2,108
So I ordered one
The dealers in Lynchburg do not appear to have tank bags, At least not that I can remember. The closest place is shop is 80+ miles away. Walmart is down the street. In a couple of weeks (If I can...
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Forum: Thumpers
09-02-2012, 05:41 AM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
15t - 16t
I am really blessed at the moment - I have 2 TUs in the house - both red!
Mine has a 16T front sprocket. Mrs. Chaplain's has a 15T front sprocket. Both have standard rear sprockets, and standard...
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Forum: Thumpers
08-18-2012, 07:23 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
500 miles this week on the TU
A 327 mile day, then a few other little trips, and the total is about 520 miles for the week. It was all good - even the bit I did in the rain. Just to keep things interesting the road out to the...
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Forum: Thumpers
08-16-2012, 03:35 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Since I now have 2 TU's in the house (actually...
Since I now have 2 TU's in the house (actually parked out back) I went ahead and purchased the shop manual from the source another inmate posted. The way things are going I will likely not need it....
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Forum: Thumpers
08-15-2012, 04:51 AM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
8850 miles now. 16T on the front, stock on the...
8850 miles now. 16T on the front, stock on the rear. Around Richmond and east it is flat like south NJ and I could use taller gearing OK. But moving west in VA there are rolling hills in what we call...
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Forum: Thumpers
08-14-2012, 05:40 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Mesh gear
Yep! I've got mesh gear. But I was a little rainy when I left in the morning. The weather could have gone either way. And, with fast moving thunder storms possible I just didn't want to mess with...
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Forum: Thumpers
08-14-2012, 02:27 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Kinda hot ride today - 327 miles
Rode 327 miles today - in about 8 hours. This makes me think a 1000 mile ride is possible in 24 hours on a TU, but I would want to work up to it - and perhaps not in the summer! The TU ran great,...
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Forum: Thumpers
08-12-2012, 04:24 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
^^^^^^^^^weird^^^^^^^
Idles fine probably means not an ignition issue with modern ignition. Also, the FI system at idle is working OK. What happens in the FI system when the throttle is opened? Is there a gizmo that reads...
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Forum: Thumpers
08-08-2012, 05:19 AM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Gas gauge? Do you mean reserve light? Does this...
Gas gauge? Do you mean reserve light? Does this problem go away when you put gas in the tank? Never ran mine out of gas. The fuel pump in the tank depends on fuel for cooling and lubrication perhaps....
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Forum: Thumpers
08-04-2012, 07:09 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Summer is nearly over in August!!
The Academy where I am Headmaster is starting classes on August 20. I remember the good 'ole days when school didn't start until the day after Labor Day. Even the public schools in this county start...
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Forum: Thumpers
08-01-2012, 07:58 AM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
2 TUs
OK, so the wife's TU has a 15T front sprocket, and mine has a 16T. Just ordered another 16T. Wow what a difference.
Also the wife's TU has only 2400 miles, mine has 8400. The difference that 6000...
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Forum: Thumpers
07-29-2012, 11:43 AM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
2 TU's in the house now
Sometimes Craigslist is your friend.
I found a RED TU in Virginia. I showed the picture to Mrs. Chaplain. I said 'If you really want a bike you should get this one - it's just like mine! She said...
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Forum: Thumpers
07-27-2012, 03:18 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
OK Brett, you are Basic Rider Experimenter To...
OK Brett, you are Basic Rider Experimenter To Tu250
Looks like you have done all the basic experimentation on gearing.
I'm, for the moment, sticking with 16T front, stock rear and stock rear tire...
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Forum: Thumpers
07-24-2012, 07:03 PM
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Replies: 35
Views: 9,261
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Forum: Thumpers
07-22-2012, 02:37 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Brett can tell you what the 'rocks in a blender...
Brett can tell you what the 'rocks in a blender sound is'. Counter balance for the piston? I think Brett opened up his engine just to look - and everything was beautiful! No need to worry, it's just...
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Forum: Thumpers
07-19-2012, 03:59 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Brett was right - 409 seems to have caused the...
Brett was right - 409 seems to have caused the squeak! I think what happened is the 409 (an excellent grease/oil solvent) prolly took the surface oils out of the bushings on anything that moved....
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Forum: Thumpers
07-15-2012, 02:19 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Squeaks, yikes!
My Red TU (2009, of course) with 8150 miles has developed a loud squeak when the rear suspension moves up and down. Move it a little bit or a lot, it squeaks, loudly. :huh
The TU lives in a 'bike...
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Forum: Thumpers
07-14-2012, 06:58 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Some more 2 up.
Friday I had a meeting in Lynchburg, about 30 miles from Appomattox. It was just me who needed to go. So, off I went. I made an extra stop and got back to Appomattox 60 miles later. Then, that...
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Forum: Thumpers
07-10-2012, 05:49 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
Jug handles
They recently installed one on Rt 460 in Virginia going west out of Lynchburg. As I understand it, a 'jug handle' is a ground level loop that allows traffic that would ordinarily make a left hand...
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Forum: Thumpers
06-30-2012, 04:40 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
2 up day trips & bags on the bike
My Tu just passed 7700 miles - I need to get more time on the bike!!
This past week I did about 200 miles two up with the wife.
Day one we had to go to a meeting (I had to, she went along). 50...
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Forum: Thumpers
06-10-2012, 08:06 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
^^^ What Brett said ^^^
About the heat. Yes. It seems that the warmer weather makes the TU work better. I'm running Mobil1 10w-40 motorcycle oil. Now that the weather is warmer the TU spins up through the gears faster, has...
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Forum: Thumpers
06-09-2012, 06:12 PM
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Replies: 7,853
Views: 1,026,878
My first overnight campout
OK, so I cheated - I didn't take everything I needed to camp out. But...
I loaded up the bike with a 2 man (ha!) tent - a little 7'x7' dome tent from Wal-mart, a sleeping bag, a $6 air mattress...
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