From: ohrd!jlevine@cs.toronto.edu (Jody Levine)
Subject: misc.
Summary: call for help and other meanderings 
Organization: Ontario Hydro - Research Division
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 92 18:33:21 GMT

I haven't had time to read news for a few weeks, so I missed all the
responses to my flame bait regarding helmet laws (the thread, I've noticed,
is still around) riding in cold weather, and other stuff I posted on but
know nothing about. Oh well :-). This post covers a few topics, because
I'm too lazy to make several postings. Flame at will.

the meaty stuff first

Yamaha Power Valve System problems (RZ350)
------------------------------------------
The bike is an 89, we bought it from an idiot (who had to put a new clutch
in it) in October of 89 when it had 7500 km on it. Soon afterward, the 
power valve cylcle at turn on added a chkchkchkchkchkchkchkchkchkchk...
at the end of its usual bzzzzbzzzz. Being an ignoramus myself, I ignored it
hoping that there was nothing wrong. The bike now has 28 000 km and
tends to choke on the highway. I'd be going along just fine when it would
decide that it does not want to get abouve 5-6000 rpm. If I have any gears
left I can gear up to maintain the speed at lower rpm, but this is just
a demonstration that the bike can still provide power, not a good way to ride
a sick bike. We tried hooking up the Radian's brand-new battery to it, but
the turn-on YPVS cycling is still too slow and still continues with the
chkchkchkchkchkchkchkchkchk... at the end. So the power valves are probably
gummed up. This morning they didn't even get through their cycle, they just
went  Bzz...zz..bz..bzzz.zzz..chkchkchkchkchkbzzz....bzz....  bad news.

HELP!

Do the valves usually develop problems at this age? How can I fix them, fast?
(I hate my car) One bike shop suggested that I pull the headers off, spray
contact cleaner on the valves and work them until they're loose, then spray
Pam on them for lubrication. Is this a really bad idea? Is there a better way?
Are the power valves really the problem? I really don't want to take the
engine apart to clean the power valves, I was going to make a trip to a 
friend's cottage on the upcoming long weekend.

HELP, FAST!

Accessory reveiw: SHOEI GRV and hi definition shield
----------------------------------------------------

"Are those sheilds RED?" I asked. My SO bought a new GRV to replace his
five year old RF-105. The next day, I bought him a hi-definition sheild, 
just to try it, instead of the usual smoked one. He likes it, and I tried 
it yesterday on a short trip even though the GRV has a pressure point on 
the top of my head near the front. It's really great. The world looks rather 
bland when I lift the shield up. The ventilation in the GRV is great, I can
actually feel the air flowing over the top of my head (even in the tight
spot) and I like the short chin bar for shoulder checks. 

Useless comment: I've been complaining that my three year old TF-280 (used 
a borrowed Bieffe BF85 before that, bleach) has gotten loose, but now 
that I've bothered to tape some proper graphics on it (people say it's 
trick) I think I'll keep it until at least next season, despite my SO's 
coaxing me to buy an X-8. I agree that it would be nice to have a snug 
helmet again, though.

Call for comments: HG Paris-Dakar jacket
----------------------------------------

We've got full two-piece Taurus street/sport (i.e. race look but no knee
pucks) leathers, but the jacket is too short and too geeky-looking to 
wear on its own. My SO's thinking of buying a Paris Dakar jacket, or some 
such longer thing of high quality and lots of storage space. Any experience 
with this or anything similar? Where can we get a good price? (We would be 
willing to go down to Barfalo, or mail order, we'll be in Europe (Holland, 
Belgium) in the fall.)

Newbie Relative Drags Feet
--------------------------

I arranged the sale of a friend's 78 KZ400 to my SO's brother in law,
a psychologist, last year in April. He finally got it safety certified (no 
problem), plated and insured last week. He got a 60-day learner's permit 
and is now riding around with no training, going no faster than 60 km/h, 
dragging his feet for ten feet before coing to a stop and ingoring our 
pleas to take a course. Says he has no time. He's 50 and should know better,
but how do we convince him to sign up? I'd hate to bear the guilt of his kid
losing her father to what was originally my idea. He seems to be having fun,
but I'm wondering whether I should have ever suggested the idea at all.

That's all for now,
JPL

I've        bike                      like       | Jody Levine    DoD #275
     got a       you can        if you      -PF  | Jody.Levine@hydro.on.ca
                         ride it                 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles