Long Trip Plans

[Houndawg76]

Thanks everybody, I really appreciate all the good tips. Here's my grocery list of things to do to my bike:

Tires- I replaced the back tire last fall (Metzler 880) so that's not a problem. I'm replacing the front tire this spring- it has plenty of tread, but I'm seeing hairline cracks in the sidewalls. I'm going with a Metzler 880 on the front because I got 11,000 miles out of these tires.

Charging system- I replaced the stator last spring (thanks Stator Papers) but I left the original RR in place since it tested OK and the battery held up last summer without any problems. I'm thinking about going ahead and replacing the RR just in case......

Brakes- this is my big concern. I'm going to replace all the brake pads and rebuild the front brake calipers. I'm also going to replace the brake lines, too. I have the caliper rebuild kit for the front brakes.

Saddlebags- looking on Craigslist for a good deal.

Carbs- going to clean them and give them a looking over.

That's on my list so far. One of the other things I'm thinking about doing is replacing the windshield. It's just tall enough to block the wind off the upper part of my body, but the wind comes off the top edge and hits me right at forehead height. This gets annoying after an hour or so.

[posplayr]

Thanks everybody, I really appreciate all the good tips. Here's my grocery list of things to do to my bike:

Tires- I replaced the back tire last fall (Metzler 880) so that's not a problem. I'm replacing the front tire this spring- it has plenty of tread, but I'm seeing hairline cracks in the sidewalls. I'm going with a Metzler 880 on the front because I got 11,000 miles out of these tires.

Charging system- I replaced the stator last spring (thanks Stator Papers) but I left the original RR in place since it tested OK and the battery held up last summer without any problems. I'm thinking about going ahead and replacing the RR just in case......

Brakes- this is my big concern. I'm going to replace all the brake pads and rebuild the front brake calipers. I'm also going to replace the brake lines, too. I have the caliper rebuild kit for the front brakes.

Saddlebags- looking on Craigslist for a good deal.

Carbs- going to clean them and give them a looking over.

That's on my list so far. One of the other things I'm thinking about doing is replacing the windshield. It's just tall enough to block the wind off the upper part of my body, but the wind comes off the top edge and hits me right at forehead height. This gets annoying after an hour or so.

The unfortunate consequence of indecision is that with a Shunt R/R you are hastening the death of the newely installed stator. By the time you do change to a SERIES R/R the stator may already be damaged (cooked) making failure on the trip a real possibility. I would pull the statro cover and check to see how cooked the stator is and make a decision to change it along with the Sh-775.

[jdvorchak]

Too bad you are not closer to St. Louis. I have a really nice set of throw over saddle bags for sale. $50. Honestly they look like new. They are vinyl not leather and pretty sure they've never seen rain.

[Houndawg76]

Yeah, me too. I am on the opposite side of Missouri from you.

Question on the RR that Posplayer is recommending- does that come with the correct connectors or will I need to rig up something to connect it to the stator and battery? I'm asking because if it doesn't what kind of Polaris vehicle did go into originally so I can see if any of the local motorcycle wrecking yards would have anything like it to get the correct connectors.

[posplayr]

Yeah, me too. I am on the opposite side of Missouri from you.

Question on the RR that Posplayer is recommending- does that come with the correct connectors or will I need to rig up something to connect it to the stator and battery? I'm asking because if it doesn't what kind of Polaris vehicle did go into originally so I can see if any of the local motorcycle wrecking yards would have anything like it to get the correct connectors.

details and links are here. It is listed in my signature as "GS Stator"

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?191795-GS-Stator

[twr1776]

Have you been through the wiring yet?

By that I mean taking every connector apart (including the headlight bucket), cleaning with electrical contact cleaner, re-assembling with di-electric grease, and using heat shrink tubing everywhere you can.

IMHO more stators and r/r's fail because of poor wiring connections than any other cause.

[Ray916MN]

Some great riding in AR. Don't miss AR125, 7, 16, and 341. 160 running east/west across southern MO is a good road too and if you take AR125 and use the Peel Ferry to hook up with 125 MO north of 160 it is an excellent ride.

Have fun!

[jdvorchak]

Have you been through the wiring yet?

By that I mean taking every connector apart (including the headlight bucket), cleaning with electrical contact cleaner, re-assembling with di-electric grease, and using heat shrink tubing everywhere you can.

IMHO more stators and r/r's fail because of poor wiring connections than any other cause.

I also think a lot of stators and R/Rs are mis-diagnosed because of the wiring.

[Houndawg76]

On the subject of saddlebags, I found out Amazon.com has some great deals on saddlebags. I found a set that listed for $119 on sale for $39 plus shipping.
BTW, here's a picture of my bike. For some reason I can't upload anything more that 40KB.gs850L_001.jpg