Winter Doldrums

[Curmudgeon]

Just sending a few electrons to the site so the server doesn't think it died.
I hope everyone has a good Christmas, Festivus, or what ever other holiday or holidays you may celebrate between now and spring.
Sitting inside in this less than balmy 28F. weather I've been contemplating upgrading my 04 KP in the spring, finances permitting, with one of Scott's (Conquest Customs) Penske shocks, then taking another ride out to Pine Bush, NY to have Lloyd Greer install a 104 kit and tune it. Andrews 438 cam, Lloyds VM-1 cam? 10.5-1. 11-1 pistons? Any thoughts on the matter? Beuhler? Anyone?:crazy:

[Frank/Coletto]

Just sending a few electrons to the site so the server doesn't think it died.
I hope everyone has a good Christmas, Festivus, or what ever other holiday or holidays you may celebrate between now and spring.
Sitting inside in this less than balmy 28F. weather I've been contemplating upgrading my 04 KP in the spring, finances permitting, with one of Scott's (Conquest Customs) Penske shocks, then taking another ride out to Pine Bush, NY to have Lloyd Greer install a 104 kit and tune it. Andrews 438 cam, Lloyds VM-1 cam? 10.5-1. 11-1 pistons? Any thoughts on the matter? Beuhler? Anyone?:crazy:

Wow, you are going all the way!! You going drag racing?? What you install depends on what you are planning on doing with it?? I agree Lloyd is the king, but have also read some postive stuff on the S&S kit. Heard it was cheaper also. If you want a good tech to install Vs going to Pine Bush, you might think about the guy in Des Moines, 104 Vic (not 100% sure on the name) He does good work and a quality wrench. He comes to Chi-Town to visit in-laws so he can actually do it in your garage. You adding juice too?

[BigJim]

I have a Penske shock on my KP. It is one of the best mods I've done to the pin. When I ordered it I told Scott I was a heavy guy so he sent me one set up for my weight. I have not bottomed out since installing it. It also gives the bike a stiffer ride in the corners.

As for the performance stuff, I really don't know that much about it. I had the 100 CI kit installed along with Andrews cams, Eaglecat intake and the Vic full length performance pipes back in 05. That has provided me with more then enough power for the kind of riding I do. Then again, I don't go out looking to race anyone either. I doubt I will do much beyond pipes and intake on the XC. The 106 has plenty of power.

[Curmudgeon]

No drag racing, no bottle. Every riding season, several times, it seems, I'll be out minding my own business and enjoying the scenery, when some knob on one of the other American brands, one (or more) of the sort who feel irresistably compelled to get in front when he comes upon a Vic, will sneak up from behind at stop light, hoping to go unnoticed, then try to shoot past when the light changes. I can't be the only one who's encountered this. Often the passing is done in the right half of the same lane as I am in, which really lights me off because of the pointless safety hazard it creates. I would simply prefer, once I see one of these humweeds sneaking in my rear view mirror, to keep him in my rear view mirror, as a rapidly diminishing dot, even when, as is usually the case, they time it to keep rolling to give themselves an advantage,when I am fully stopped with a foot on the ground. It is my hope, perhaps unfounded, that having been thoroughly humiliated when attempting to pull this stunt, they will finally realize that their newly built antique with mystique simply isn't up to the task; something they must already have an inkling of since they try to take an unfair advantage, and they will not again attempt to embiggin themselves and lord it over a Vic rider. I must add that I don't have a problem with a rider of the other brand who pulls up next to me at a light in his own lane, comes to a stop, and fairly wants to see if what he heard about Vics is true; I might even humor the poor brainwashed sod and let him go first. I really haven't had much of a problem keeping such persons in the mirrors as the bike stands now, but, of course, more is better. We all have some little pet peeves or other, and this happens to me one of mine.

[Curmudgeon]

Sorry, doubled on edit.

[Curmudgeon]

Just another thought. The reason I mentioned going out to Pine Bush is twofold. I could probably install a engine kit myself if I had to, but I think that's a job best left to an experienced pro. I could, I'm sure, get the installation done locally by a shop or Rylan Voss, but here's the rub; tuning is, at least to my way of thinking, a huge component of an engine build, and there simply is nobody around here who even has a dyno along with the knowledge and skill to properly tune such an engine mod on a Victory. Who better than the guy who designes and installed the components?
The second reason is that it's an excuse for a really nice ride out there, with plenty of options of both interstates to make time and secondary roads for the sheer pleasure of the ride. The last time I went out there I took U.S. 6 part of the way back through Pennsylvania and it is a great ride. It is however slow, with a lot of curves and small towns with 25 mph speed limits. There are plenty of other scenic secondaries if you want to meander a bit, and the Adirondack and Pocono mountains to see. This is pretty much also true for the National Meet in New Hampshire next year, which is pretty much going the same way only a bit farther, and being farther East and North, adds the option of going through southern Canada with no appreciable increase in time or distance.

[Daffy]

You want real zip? Look into some flow work. pricey but effective with the right setup to some cams.

[Curmudgeon]

Mark, I considered getting the heads done, Lloyd offers this service, but the "pricey" part reared its ugly head. Have to wait a couple of months and see how much I can squeeze from the bank account. I figure though, if I go to the trouble of getting any of it done, I should get as much as I can afford done at the same time, so I'll probably stretch it a bit. I doubt I'd ever get the engine out of the frame more than once, not exactly being what you'd call a young man. I definitely need a new shock to even thing of riding the KP out there, the old one's about shot; my back would never make it otherwise. I've even considered trailering the bike out there, but that would be a very regretable last resort.

[Daffy]

Schumakers sp? over by Indy did a 01' back when. He said around 2k would get the job done at the time. Let me tell ya everybody that test rode the bike came back with a smile from ear to ear. I brought it back and regretfully handed him the key and the left side mirror. :D :D :D Was hard not to twist it up hard and man could that mutha run!

[Red SC Rider]

Sounds like some neet mods. I like your thinking on having the person who designs the part install it and tune it too!!! I'm with you on that passing on the right, UNSAFE at any speed!!! Why do people do that? Thanks for keeping this sight alive!

[Curmudgeon]

I don't know why people do that but I could venture a theory. I'm not a "Harley basher", honest. I believe we're all brothers under the skin no matter what we ride and should, I believe, be willing members of an informal mutual respect and assistance society. Note the "mutual" part. I've learned that's not an achievable real world goal, but we have to have ideals, right?
That said, I think it's because some (Emphasis on "some".) riders simply cannot stand to be behind a Victory. That may be true with respect to other brands also, I don't know. If the situation I described is particular to me and hasn't happened to anyone else, please enlighten me. It is certainly possible that this a matter of my perception, and I'm perfectly willing to modify my theory if presented with facts, even contradictory ones. If I find I'm the only one this ever happens to, I had better give it a re-think. I may unconciously being doing something to invite it. (Please, no "unconcious" jokes...)
I said that I have considered porting and polishing for its not insubstantial benefits, in addition to the 104 upgrade. However, Lloyd does offer this service, but, first, the price is not listed, which leads me to think it ain't cheap. Also. the websites indicated a five day turn-around time, which means it's either very labor intensive or that he sends the heads out to a specialist. The bottom line is that if I were to go out to his shop I really couldn't stick around long enough to get that mod done, as nice as the Cup and Saucer Diner is. The only hope would be an exchange program where he could simply swap out the heads when doing the jug, piston and cam work. I thought of going out there immediately before the New Hampshire VMC meet, as it could be on the way, but then I figure since Lloyd is going there as well, he's going to busy getting ready and not doing any shop work for a few days.

[BigJim]

I see these jerks too. I simply ignore them. If it makes them feel good to pass me and think they out ran me then good for them. I know I can take most of these guys and that's good enough for me. No need for me to show them. Besides, I'd rather have these idiots in front of me where I can easily keep an eye on them then behind me where I have to worry about being rear ended by them.

[Curmudgeon]

Jim, I wish that I could be that laid back and rational, but at this late date it doesn't look like thats gonna' happen.
Besides, truth to tell, in addition to what I've said, sometimes I just like to go some place like out on Keslinger road out in the farm country during the week, when there is almost no traffic at all, and just twist the throttle, turn it loose, and hang on for the ride. That's where I found out for sure the Vision will do an honest (GPS) 110, and get there pretty quickly to boot. I'm just happy I'm not too old to enjoy that once in while. :D

[Daffy]

Jim, I wish that I could be that laid back and rational, but at this late date it doesn't look like thats gonna' happen.
Besides, truth to tell, in addition to what I've said, sometimes I just like to go some place like out on Keslinger road out in the farm country during the week, when there is almost no traffic at all, and just twist the throttle, turn it loose, and hang on for the ride. That's where I found out for sure the Vision will do an honest (GPS) 110, and get there pretty quickly to boot. I'm just happy I'm not too old to enjoy that once in while. :D:cool: :cool: :cool:

Reminds me of when I went for a test ride early the summer on a demo vision (not yours Jim M. ;) )

Went north outta the dealer to hit some country roads, had the better half on behind me, got to a stretch of road I know real well, a little hilly but no driveways or side roads to worry about. I ran it up good and hard through the gears and just as I went into 6th going over a crest there he was... Mr State. Momma leans up and says you gonna stop?? I said hang on this is gonna be some hard riding for a few minutes. Hammered wide open til just before the next crossroad, went under hard braking/downshifting, made the righty and down hard again. Knowing that 2 miles up the road turned to gravel I eased up before I got there but let me tell ya the Vision handles really well on gravel, better than my bike and better than a wing by far.

Don't have many jerks like you're talking about around here, but I'd have no problem running them down and offering a piece of mind, more if I happen to have the wife on with me. Solo I'm more sedated to that kind of crap, the second you endanger momma with stupid it becomes a much different situation and I get .. angry.

[Curmudgeon]

Ditto on the gravel. In November I was riding west on Keslinger, just looking around and letting my mind wander. When I to Hwy. 23 I believe it is, I just kept going straight. Now, I know Keslinger turns to gravel west of there, but I just kept going. To tell the truth I was afraid that if I stopped or tried to turn around I'd drop the bike, so I kept going. I think it was about 4 miles. I was a little tense, but did remember to ease up on the bars and let the front wheel wander a little bit as the road surface required. No problem, the bike handled it fine. I eased off the speed and slowed down very gradually approaching the next blacktop crossroad and made a right turn back towards 38. I have to admit I was relieved. I have a bit of a phobia about riding on gravel. When I was about 17 or 18 I turned off a road in Wisconsin late one night into a gravel parking lot to turn around to head back home. When I hit that gravel the bike went down so fast I was on the ground in less than a heartbeat. Minor scrapes to me and the bike; picked it up and went on my way. Every time approach gravel now that pops into my head. Strangely, I don't even think of scraping up my hide, I worry about the paint and chrome on the bike and looking like a damn fool.

[Red SC Rider]

Ah yes, gravel, been there done that!!! Don't want to do it again!!! Give me a shout here the next time you're going to cruise Kesslinger, if I'm not busy I'll join you. So you hammered down, slowed down, made a right, etc; etc; etc; what about Mr. State? Sounds like a good story. I'm guessin' you already told us the best part.

[Daffy]

Mr State.... never saw him again, I was gone b4 he could get stopped to turn around. :D

[Curmudgeon]

I ride out Keslinger quite a bit in the summer, mostly during the week, but sometimes on weekends. I pick it up off of 38 in St. Charles. There a couple of back roads out west that actually have a few curves. I thank Sidecar for showing me those. A ride I take frequently is Keslinger to 23 South to 30, then west to Shabbona State Park for lunch. Depending on time available I meander back home, or sometimes head further west, out Daffy's way, before swinging north and back east.

[SIDECAR]

That was one of those follow my nose days, since the route we had was straight.:( I was surprised that some of those roads had curves myself.:D
Tim T...sidecar

[BigJim]

Gravel? How about cinders? Its not uncommon up in Wisconsin to ride a road which is paved one weekend and covered with cinders and fresh oil the next week.

[Curmudgeon]

Cinders are bad. I had a small Honda dirtbike when I was stationed in Japan which I rode a lot on an airfield last used during the Korean war. There was one area that was like a motocross course made from coal cinder hillocks from years and years of dumping cinders from coal heated military buildings. I can tell you that takes weeks and a lot of hydrogen peroxide to get small cinder particles which are embedded in your skin to come to the surface so you can get them out. Guess how I know that....

[Curmudgeon]

A little update. About a month ago I e-mailed Lloyd Greer with some questions about an engine upgrade. Apparently his mail server has failed to deliver quite a few messages in a timely fashion. I just figured he was busy and didn't want to bother him about something that could keep. Anyway, I resent it the other day and Lloyd phoned me that afternoon. We talked about20 minutes.
I ended up making an appointment for three days before the NE Victory Rally in Pocono Manor PA., which is about a two hour ride from Lloyd's shop, if you take the scenic route. I'm going to get a big bore kit installed, Lloyd's, not S&S, about 107CI, with 11-1 pistons and the recently updated VM-1 cams. The valve seats in the heads will be 3 angle re-cut. Depending on how it tunes out, he may swap out the current VFC-lll for a Power Commander. I could be wrong, as don't know anything about them, but I think they can tune the front and rear cylinders independently. As it is (on both bikes), the rear seems to run richer than the front. There will also be a clutch upgrade to handle the power increase and one of Lloyd's billet clutch cover plates for the primary case to beef up that area. When the works done and a basic break-in done, it will be dyno-tuned. He and I are both going to the NE rally then. Depending on how long the job takes, he may have to do the final tuning there. Rough estimate of results; mid 120's for both HP and Torque, which is plenty for my wants. I just hope I don't slide off the back and hurt myself. Now I just have to make it through this miserable winter.

[Wink]

Just wondering if anybody noticed:
I received an e-mail blast about the Stephens Center Winter Bike Show yesterday, and found it interesting that Vic wasn't being represented at the local show.

http://www.motorcycleshows.com/Chicago

A little further research found that they are only participating in 3 shows - the ones in Long Beach, New York and Minny.
Anybody know why that is?

Kind of a bummer; I was looking forward to checking out the new models at the show (bring a little sunshine to February, ya know?) but evidently no dice.

Happy New Year-
;)

[Curmudgeon]

Cost cutting I would think. Randy may have a booth.

[Frank/Coletto]

Or just take a ride over to Randy's. He would have all the current stuff anyway.

[Wink]

I'll do that once the weather clears. But in the meantime... Think Spring!!!

To not participate in this show seems an odd choice, because it's very well attended. Went last year, and the Vic booth was mobbed. I was just curious if anybody knew any inside details. Chicago seems like an awfully big market to skip. Maybe there is a problem between Vic and this particular show?

[BigJim]

I heard its a couple of things. Part of the problem is the only dealerships that ever helped work the booth were America's Open Road (now closed) and Randy's. Corporate did not see much enthusiasm from the dealers in the area (Illinois, northwest Indiana and southeast Wisconsin). Also despite all people that visited the booth the number of bikes sold as a result of the booth were not that great. So corporate decided to let the dealerships have their own booth thinking a dealership is more likely to work hard pushing the brand if they are going to get the sales.

[Frank/Coletto]

I would have to agree with Jim. In today's market, everything has to do with Return on Investment or ROI. Just think of the cost to do one show. Getting the bikes and booth to the show, set up (the facility does this for a stiff charge)T&E for Employees to be at the show, fee for attending, I am sure there is more.

Now if Randy attends, they pay a portion of his expense to have a booth.

Jim, is Randy getting a space? Thanks

[BigJim]

Randy will have a booth. Not sure if he will be doing both Victory and Lehman.

[BigJim]

Paid a visit to the new shop today and talked to Randy. He said because Vic is not going to have a booth at the IMS they would make the semi available to him twice this year. He was told that is part of their new approach to helping the dealers more this year.

[Curmudgeon]

Rather see the resources go directly to Randy's. Randy's presence at the show would, I hope, pique some peoples' interest, but an open house with the Vic people there, I think at least, would actually sell more bikes. I'm a firm believer that test rides sell Vics, especially if prospects have ridden the competition and are smart enough to want the steak over sizzle.

[Daffy]

Along the line of Winter Doldrums.......................................... ...........

The rain sure IS washing away all the road salt!!

I'm trying to look at the bright side.

[Curmudgeon]

Yeah. There was a thunderstorm that came through here one night last week that I'm sure got rid of most, if not all, of the salt. I think you would call it a "frog strangler". I was lookin' out the front window, watching the lightning show, and that's what I was thinking, "The salt's going." Managed to get a ride in last Saturday to Randy'e new quarters, and another short one, 20 miles, the other day to test the new idle air valve I installed. Now it's back to the crappy weather for a few more days, but my resident Cardinal has been singing the last few days, and a Robin landed next to my driveway when I was setting the IAV on the bike, so spring is just around the corner.....

[Red SC Rider]

It 's close enough to Spring for me. It was 52 degrees when I left home about 5:30 pm. I didn't go far, but it sure was nice to be in the wind. Saw my first robin today, so yea I'm thinkin' (& hoping) that spring is just around the corner.

[SIDECAR]

Ya, Finally got out Sunday for a hour scoot. :goofy: Hopefully I will have more time this coming weekend if the weather is good.
Tim T...sidecar

[BigJim]

People start talking about riding and I wake up this morning to 31 degrees and close to two inches of snow on the ground. Damn, I really want to get out for a couple of hours today.

[SIDECAR]

I think we were just dreaming!!!!:confused: Dam spring Fever!:eek:

[BigJim]

Got out on the Kingpin for a couple of hours today for the first time this year. There was a heck of a wind out of the south but it still felt good to get out and ride. :)

[Frank/Coletto]

Got out on the Kingpin for a couple of hours today for the first time this year. There was a heck of a wind out of the south but it still felt good to get out and ride. :)

You ever going to show us pictures og the X bike?

[BigJim]

You ever going to show us pictures og the X bike?
I'm scheduled to bring her home Saturday. I will get pictures and post them then. I plan to ride her Sunday in the spring ride. If you were to ride with us Sunday... oh wait, you bailed on us for warmer weather!!!

[Frank/Coletto]

Sure did and ate dinner last night at a place called Duckworths. Daffy, you own restaurants in NC?? :)

[Daffy]

Sure did and ate dinner last night at a place called Duckworths. Daffy, you own restaurants in NC?? :)
Well I'd have to know how the food was before I'd answer a question like that!

[Frank/Coletto]

Well I'd have to know how the food was before I'd answer a question like that!

Not bad, Margaritas were top notch.