Colorado Riders Thread

[Valkorado]

This should be an epic ride!  Hopefully I can vanquish the chirping tweety bird from my bike between now and then.

[MarkT]

We are riding into Salida on the 4th, hitting the great restaurant there (I think that's the Country Bounty), and staying at the American Classic Inn.  Not the best reviews but the cheapest for the night at $80. Next price is $100 at the Circle R.  OK, only staying 1 night, not gonna live there. They have one room left as of right now.

[Valkorado]

We are riding into Salida on the 4th, hitting the great restaurant there (I think that's the Country Bounty), and staying at the American Classic Inn.  Not the best reviews but the cheapest for the night at $80. Next price is $100 at the Circle R.  OK, only staying 1 night, not gonna live there. They have one room left as of right now.

Mark you know good grub.  That place is like stepping back in time to Granny's kitchen.  The service is always awesome, too.  We'll probably just get up early Saturday morning and ride over Monarch. 

[Valkorado]

Booked!  What's the head count so far Damon?  Looks like we could just about own that little 18 room motel in Florence!

[Tailgate Tommy]

I booked my rooms yesterday,
Tom

[Misfit]

Booked!  What's the head count so far Damon?  Looks like we could just about own that little 18 room motel in Florence!

Here is what I know as off now.
Misfit
Diskett
Chase
MarkT
June Bug
GreenDragon
Polky
Valkorado
Deadpan Dick
Hard6
DDT
Wrangler
Tyklli
Corn Kid
On Sunday Denver Dave and Robin will meet us in Florence along with Pastor Dean and his wife High Maintenance and my wife.
I'm not sure about Sage, and Phil's wife Lupe, or Cheeto.
I think that's everyone. Anyone else care to ride with us? 

[DarkSideR]

Since we are doing line-ups, who is in for the Pikes Peak Or Bust ride this Saturday?

Who: You
What: Ride 19.5 miles around 162 turns, making a 6,000ft ascent to the top at 14,115 feet.
When: Saturday, August 29th @ 10:00am
Where: Pikes Peak Highway Main Gate (5069 Pikes Peak Hwy, Cascade, CO 80809)
 - Park outside the main gate and we will go through together. We may be able to get a group rate.
How: Gas up & Show up
Why: Because it is glorious to see a flight of Valkyries at 14,115 feet.

[MarkT]

We're in.

[DenverDave]

I'm in,  for Pikes Peak, with a passenger to be named later 

Taken on a earlier ride



Dave

[fotoman]

Thanks for starting the thread....my wife & I were just talking about riding that way this morning over breakfast....we always head to the Smoky Mountains instead of going west to Colorado.   It's that area between Hays Ks. & Colorado Springs on I 70 that's terribly boring....no torture. Highway 50 is just as bad. No trees or  rocks, nuthin. Probably why they build all those prisons out there. Hell if you escaped you' d be the only thing besides dirt out there

[Wrangler]

Josh, Do we have to bring a spare set of plugs and some smaller jets?  I'm jetted for sea level!

[DarkSideR]

Josh, Do we have to bring a spare set of plugs and some smaller jets?  I'm jetted for sea level!

If you have any issues we will tow you to the top, and you will be able to coast down to where the bike starts running again.

In all actuality you should be just fine. If not there will be 10-15 highly experienced Valkyrie owners around to help you. 

[R J]

My old Yamaha Hopper that was jetted for sea level ran great going up & down Pike's Peak back in about, I want to say 67.    If that 'particular' damn bike, gas wise and etc., went up & down no problem, then your Valkyrie should run the balls off of anything going up and down now.

[DarkSideR]

I'm in,  for Pikes Peak, with a passenger to be named later 

Taken on a earlier ride



Dave

That is one good looking fella. 

[baird4444]

I'm in,  for Pikes Peak, with a passenger to be named later 

Taken on a earlier ride



Dave

That is one good looking fella. 

no Bromance here....
    I was admiring the Cream and Maroon on the far left!!

[Wrangler]

Just joking guy's, but I think I'll bring my oxygen bottle to be safe!  For me, not the Valk...

[DarkSideR]

Well folks it looks like my little wife will be joining us on the Memorial Ride  . Her name is Melanie, and her handle will be MelBelle.

We got our rooms booked for both nights. Thank you Damon for arranging.

Looking forward to see everyone and meeting new folk in Buena Vista.

[DarkSideR]

The weather forecast for the Pikes Peak or Bust Ride looks great. Up there in Cascade it will be a high of 82, and no rain in the forecast. Now as for what's going on on the top of the peak I won't be responsible for.

See ya'll Saturday morning. 

[R J]

Be sure and take a nice warm jacket up top.

[Valkorado]

Won't make it over the pass for this one.  Between trying to save pennies for next weekend's Darby ride and trying to figure out an engine chirp, I'm holding off.  I ordered Gates belts and tensioners, it sounds to me like it may be tensioner bearings going.  Hopefully a parking lot surgery can be done if that's the case.  If not, at least there will be some folks there to help with diagnosis.  Hope you guys have a great ride!  

[Tailgate Tommy]

I can't make the Pikes Peak or Bust Ride but I will be on the Darby Memorial Ride.
Tom

[DarkSideR]

After the Pikes Peak ride I was chatting with the two guys that came up from Pueblo with me.  Jim,  the guy on the Harley was very impressed with our group.  DDT, coming all the way from Alabama amazed him,  and DDT's Valk with 490,000 absolutelty blew him away. He said it made him want to get rid of his HD and get a Valk. I told him there is an Interstate for sale right here in Pueblo. I guess we have this affect on people.

[DarkSideR]

Anyone else down right giddy for this weekends ride? 

Putting in a new air filter and doing the 1/2" spacer mod for this weekend. 

My wife MelBelle is coming. I'm excited  She isn't all that thrilled  ??? But hopefully the ride, one of Marks Markarita's, and hanging around such a great group of people will change that. 

[Tailgate Tommy]

I promise to be nice to her 

[Valkorado]

Got my fingers crossed, having progressively worse bike issues.    Harley guys were staring at me when I chirped by today, not a good feeling.  Also started hearing some kind of a grinding.  Left an after hours message at the local shop, I'm going to bite the bullet and bring my bike in tomorrow -- if they can even work me in.  I already have a new U-joint and new timing belts, if it's either of those.  Could be clutch, hell I don't know.  I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure it out, but the grinding today really got my attention.  Pretty sure I've eliminated bearings, never heard a bearing sound like that!

Really hoping to make this ride, I'll be one sad puppy if I can't.  

[baird4444]

holy crap, this sounds serious, wish you were closer, we'd have that
sucker tore apart by now,,,,,,,    drop them off a set of O-rings for
the rear so long as they are in there.
       - Mike

[Valkorado]

Thanks, Mike.  Good idea, I have one set left.  Thought about calling you, wasn't sure if you were back from Illinois yet. Amazing the addiction caused by twisting the throttle on this bike, and the frustration and depression that results when it needs attention.   

Man, I love this bike.  

Must.  Get.  Fixed.

[baird4444]

it was a great trip. Rode US 36 across Missouri and Kansas. 700 miles yesterday in about 15 hrs, mile after mile, just me and the rode!! You should always have spares, text me your snail mail and I'll send a couple sets.

[Valkorado]

Well, crap.  Didn't get a return call so just called the shop.  As expected they're booked up, owner says they definitely can't get me in today and probably not tomorrow.  Tiny shop, one (supposedly Honda certified) mechanic.  I'd bet at least 80% of their work is dirt bikes.  Regardless, I'm bummed out.  Symptoms over last week or two in case anyone is a master at long distance, sight unseen and sound unheard diagnosis:

--  almost constant audible chirp/chatter noticeable at lower speeds (25-35) and stop/go stuff.  

--  one loud chirp when letting off throttle at highway speeds.  Sometimes can hear the chirping at highway speeds if engine is not pulling, and engaging clutch seems to make it stop (not wheel bearing related)

--  brand new, $h!++y grinding sound.  Noticed yesterday when going uphill in 1st gear from a near stop.


I'm thinking clutch, transmission or drive related (u-joint), but I ain't no mechanic.  Engine itself seems to be running strong.

[DarkSideR]

Okay Seth here is what I want you to do.

Get the bike up to 30mph on a road with a slight downhill grade, pull the clutch and hit the kill switch turning off the bike. Simply coast for a bit and listen.
 - Does it still chirp? If so we can isolate it to the the wheels. If not we can isolate it to the engine.
 - Does it still grind? If so we can isolate it to the wheels. If not we can isolate it to the engine.

Of course any variances while coasting to help isolate the noises might be needed;
 - Apply front brake and listen, disengage front brake
 - Do the same for the rear.
 - Shift to neutral and engage and disengage the clutch, and listen.

Lastly, post your results here so we can look at how to move forward.

[Wizzard]

what you have going on is the exact same noise and speeds that I had that problem. It was the rear wheel bearing and when it starts the grinding and chirping it is not long till it goes totally.

[Valkorado]

Good suggestions, Josh.  Thanks.  I've pretty much eliminated wheels/bearings because when I pull in the clutch when mobile the chirping stops.  Pretty sure not engine itself, it runs strong and powerful on the road and sounds good at idle. Still leaves me thinking clutch, drivetrain or belts/tensioner pulleys.  

The new grinding sound  is wicked enough I'm about done with diagnosis.  Don't want die-agnosis!

[Valkorado]

Thanks, Wizzard.  I was thinking that too, but I don't hear it at all when I pull in the clutch when moving which makes me think it isn't that.

Just thought if anyone has any ideas PM me so we don't turn this thread into a diagnose Valkorado's bike thread.  That would probably bore the heck out of everyone!  

[Wizzard]

The noise went away when I pulled in my clutch also. That is because you take away the torque on the bearing.

[baird4444]

does the noise vary with engine RPMs or forward speed....
this could tell you if it's belt and tensioner = RPMs
or varying road speed = u-joint

   just my way of thinking....  if you have eliminated rear wheel bearing

[Valkorado]

The noise went away when I pulled in my clutch also. That is because you take away the torque on the bearing.

OK, I'll have that checked first.  I hope it's that simple, I just had to have my front bearings replaced at Inzane.  Might as well start with the easier (cheaper) stuff and go from there!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks, Wizzard.  I was thinking that too, but I don't hear it at all when I pull in the clutch when moving which makes me think it isn't that.

Just thought if anyone has any ideas PM me so we don't turn this thread into a diagnose Valkorado's bike thread.  That would probably bore the heck out of everyone!  

Doesn't bore me. I enjoy hearing the description of symptoms. Then if it happens to me I have an idea what's going on. Enjoy might be the wrong word but you know what I mean. 

[Tailgate Tommy]

I agree with meathead. I'm interested in hearing what the root cause is. If it's a rear wheel bearing wouldn't there typically be some side to side play if you wiggle the wheel side to side?

[Wizzard]

mine did not, just did exactly what is described

[Misfit]

For those of you that are going on the Darby ride we will meet at the Shell station next to K's in Buena Vista at 10:00 am. Several folks are leaving from my house at 8:00 we will pick up Dick in Woodland Park. Mark and June will be leaving out of Salida Saturday morning. Everyone ride safe and have fun.