Let's have a contest

[Guest cyote61]

I used to be a Goldwing lover for many years but when I left California I sold my Aspencade and figured I just buy a new one when I got settled down south. A few years went by and I had been looking at a Valkyrie sitting in show room across the street from my office. One day I said, know what, I going over across the street and buy that Valkyire, I can't stand sitting here looking at it. The next morning I arrived at my office and went over to the shop across the street. All the doors had large logging chains on them with nastly looking padlocks. There was also a notice on the window saying closed and secured by the FBI. HOLY Crap.

 

Well that ended my immeadate thoughts of buying a new bike. A year later I was in my local farm tractor dealership looking at new Tractors and low and behold in the parts deparment by the service desk was parked a new looking 1997 royal star tour classic. Cream and red with black leather saddle bags. FOR SALE it said. What the hell, in a tractor shop???? Well I looked up the owner "Charles" and asked him what a motorcycle was doing for sale in here. He says, a guy came in and bought a new tractor and wanted to trade the motorcycle on it. Said it'd been started once a month and locked in the garage for 5 years. Yup, this was 02 and the bike had 1400 miles on it. New! I stole it and took it home. Bestest bike I ever owned and went across the states on it more than once. Never did try and plow a field with it though. In 2007 I updated to a new RSV.

[dr_bar]

A friend was looking for a bike four years ago and asked me along to help her out with the right questions and to drive her to the dealers of course. Well, we went to just about every dealer locally that day. I wasn't really looking for a bike myself, but having always wanted a Goldwing, I sat on several that day, I changed my mind. Not that there's anything wrong with the wing, it's just I didn't like the leg room available. Putting my legs way outside those fairings seemed kinda silly since you spend so much on them to protect you from the elements. Well, as we slowly walked around the last stop of the day I happened on a a brand 2005 RSMV sitting in the showroom. I threw a leg over and told my friend that I had found my next bike. Well financing didn't go well, and I ended up putting it off and settled for a used '97 Valkyrie. then last year at the Vancouver Motorcycle show I fell in love with the bike all over again, I put an offer in on a new 2007 model that was still crated and got it for $16,900, (Compared to the $22,000 list price at the time.) I loved it the day I bought it and now that it's a year older and has 30,000 kms under it's wheels, I still love it.

[TxVenture]

Gonna throw my story in here. We were in a Sunday school class and there were 15 bikes in the class. The owners kept after me to get a bike and join then on the rides they would go on. So after thinkig about it a little while, I took the MSF Safety class and started looking. I had never rode a bike before in my life other than a Honda trail 90 that tried to kill me one day. Anyhow, I knew I couldn't afford a Harley, and a Gold Wing was too tall for me. So started looking on Cycle Trader On-Line and other sources. Couldn't find anything for about 6 mos. and had basiclly given up on getting a bike. Was looking on line one night with no success and went to bed. The next morning Linda said take a look at what I found after you went to bed. At a local Yami dealer there was a burgandy/burgandy '91 for sale. It wasn't too far away from where I was working so I said after work I will go look at it. Already had the financing arranged so that was not a problem thank God. Took one look at it and said where do I sign? Did the paperwork and said I will be back tomorrow to pick it up. Went to look at it one more time and there was another guy setting on it. I said I just bought it. He said "you just broke my bubble, because I was getting ready to tell the salesman I would take it". Next day took a trailer and loaded it up and took it home still not having ridden it, or really listening to it run. Had it about 2 yrs. then totaled it being stupid, now have the best of the best, a blue/blue '93 VR. So I guess you could say I bought one of the biggest and best touring bikes out of pure luck, never having ridden any bike other than that evil trail 90 40+ yrs. ago.

 

Don H.

[RedRider]

Growing up my mother would never allow a motorcycle in the family. Left home after college, and bought an old car instead ('57 MGA - wish I still had it). My mother always thought I would get a motorcycle.

 

Fast forward a couple of years. Got married, had kids, got rid of the MGA, no bike was in the plans.

 

Fast forward a few more years. Wife decided to take a different path in life that didn't include me. It was 2002, I was turning 40, always wanted a bike, had cash, and now had no one to tell me 'NO'.

 

A buddy was selling his '84 Venture and I thought it would be a good starter bike. I was pretty sure there would be long distance riding, so I didn't feel the need to start small. Had to stop by the local Yama dealer to get some things, and saw a 2000 RSV and a BMW LT - both the same price. However, I had a bike that was OK. Figured if I am ever going to drop a bike from inexperience, it would be an older, cheaper bike. BTW, I never dropped it or the RSV.

 

Took the MSF riding class over a weekend and got my certificate. Monday, went to the dealer and test rode the LT and the RSV. The LT didn't fit my tall frame, but the RSV was perfect. Traded in the '84 and bought the 2000. Have put about 60,000 miles on it and expect to do another 30 or 40K before upgrading to a new RSV with fuel injection and ..... All this happened within about 2 months.

 

Motorcycle riding has become an addiction. I hope to never get over it.

 

RR

[Guest Swifty]

...4 yrs ago, fuel prices and airplane rental costs were going through the roof, decided to quit flying and replace that hobby with a $5000 touring bike with better performance than the Wing, settled on the "Browner".

[MikeM8560]

Back in 1995 I was riding a Suzuki GS 550 it was a sweet mint shape owned by a sweet old guy who was full of stories of his riding days and as a pilot flying with Lindburg, any way my brother bough t a gold wing I was on the lookout for a touring bike. Thats when a friend told me his neighbor had a nice bike he was trying to sell and he needed a new canvas top on his boat.( this was great for me as Im a marine canvas and upholsterer) so he told him about my shop and contacted me. we worked a deal on his bike for my services AWSOME!, the bike was a mint 84 Royale loaded with all the chrome two tone burgandy. I had to sell it in a few years do to life and a kid and ex wife.

 

after a few V Stars and roadstar I decided I wanted morre comfort after i moved to FL a few years ago and found a 84 venture just as nice as my old one.

 

heres the first Venture

[Carbon_One]

Like many here I returned to riding again after raising a couple of younguns.Having had bare bones bikes in the past i knew I wanted a touring type bike but being a new'old rider decided it best to get a smaller /cheaper bike to see if I still wanted to ride that much again. Ended up buying a new 01 Suzuki Volusia thou I had my eye on the 2nd gen bikes since day one. Rode that bike for 4 yrs and decided by then it was time to get a touring bike with all the goodies.

Wife and I went shopping for something that would please both of us. She liked the Wings seating while I didn't care for the drivers sitting. So went to the Venture across the room and sat on it. Yep we had a winner here. Couldn't close on a deal with the dealer we were at so started shopping the other locals who carried Yamaha's. After some searching we struck a deal for the 05 Midnight I have now.

I put on as much mileage in 2 years on the Venture then I did on the Suzuki in 4 years. Almost all of them have been two up as well.

As soon as I got serious about buying this bike I started researching web sites pertaining to them. After checking several out I must say I've found a home here. Thanks Don.

Larry

[BradT]

Had a 81 Seca 750, had lots of time so we went looking for a touring bike so that we could take off for the weekends. We drove all over the place lookin at mostly wings then saw the 86 Standard and really liked it so we ended up buying it.

 

Had some troubles with it and found Venturers met some really nice people and were getting away quite a bit. Came over to VR and have met a bunch of new friends, upgraded to the 99 a couple of years ago and have not looked back.

 

 

Brad

[brscooter]

I had a Honda Shadow Ace Tourer 1100 and wanted a bigger bike so my wife would be comfortable. Went to a honda/Yamaha dealer and saw the 2005 RSV, like it and traded my bike for it without ever riding it. Still have it even though I now have a 2004 GW Trike now. I am planning on selling the 2005 RSV as soon as I get it cleaned up and ready to go. But I cant leave this site as there are too many good people here that I dont think I would ever be able to meet anywhere else. Lyle

[nkbjones]

When I got back into riding 4 years ago I knew I wanted a bagger, but also knew that I wasn't ready for one after not riding for 14 years. I had seen the venture at the local dealer when I was shopping for a bike and liked it a lot. I ended up getting a v-star 1100 (which I loved) and had that for about a year and a 1/2. While I had the v-star I spent time searching about touring bikes and pretty much decided that I wanted a RSV. Then, I went to Daytona bike week in 2007 and had a chance to test ride a RSV. After that demo ride, I KNEW that I had to have one.

 

Fast forward to then end of April 2007.........my wife and I are getting ready to go to Outer Banks bike week when my v-star will not start. We have the bike packed and we have our rain suits on ready to go and the starter clutch goes bad. Well needless to say I was kind of teed off. I got the bike to a shop and faced the sad news that I would be without my bike for a couple of weeks while they ordered and then waited for the part.

 

Well, my wonderful wife suggested that we go look at motorcyles since we couldn't go away for the weekend. I found a good deal on a new RSV at a dealer and my wife was not opposed to the idea of buying it. I then called another dealer in the area and they had a used 2007 RSV with 1200 miles on it. They told me it was only $500 cheaper than a brand new one. I haggled with the salesman over the phone and got him down another $1000. I told him I would be there in 1/2 hour to check it out. When I get there I see that it already has $1000 worth of 'must have' accessories. Then the best part....................................my wife tells me to buy the bike. So I did and we rode off to bike week for the weekend, 10 hours late but still get to go.

[Oldseadog]

The first time I saw a Venture Royale was in ‘89/90. The foreman on the jobsite where I was working rode one. I’m not sure what year it was but I sure liked the looks of it then.

Last year I started thinking about getting back into riding, after a 28 year hiatus. I started looking at bikes that I thought would be comfortable to commute with. My buddy Don had just bought a ’84 wing and though it was nice it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. Then on the way home my wife said there you go, as we passed a ’83 Venture for sale in a guy’s driveway. After pacing around the house for awhile Leslie told me to just go look at it. After looking at it I still was unsure. That night I noticed an ‘84VR on our local online classified. Two days later I called the guy with the VR to see if he still had it, he did, so I went to look at it. As I was pulling up to their driveway I could see it shining in the sun and was in love at first sight. I bought it that day, didn’t even ride it. It was bigger than any bike I’ve ever ridden, and I didn’t want to take a chance of dropping someone else’s bike. After taking a Motorcycle safety course I’m enjoying the bike immensely and I constantly forward to getting out on the bike and riding. Maybe this year Leslie might join me, then maybe not.

This group is definitely the friendliest group I’ve ever been in contact with and I’m glad to be here. I look forward to getting to meet more of you. You could say I'm definately hooked.

[AKRefugee]

My sweetie and I were out and about one day on my Sportster looking for some new gloves for me. We had exhausted all the local shops so we rode up to a dealers shop about 45 minutes from my home. While in there looking at gloves I noticed a Wing and went and sat it. Didn't like the leg room so I got off. As I got off I happened to glance into a smaller area of the show room floor and seen an 06 Venture. Well I had never seen one, and in fact didn't even know what it was, so I of course had to go check it out (you know what they say about curiosity and the cat). As I was looking at it a salesman came up and we started chatting. His name was Lou and he was a tourer himself. I told him that I had been thinking about getting a better bike for long rides and he said hold on. He then moved some equipment away from Charlie (it's future name althought I didn't know it at the time) and I sat on it. Man it was love at first butt plop into that seat. After my wife and Lou pried me from off the bike Lou than set the trap. He told me that I could take it for a FREE demo ride but that I would need to make an appointment so that he could arraigned to have it out. Always being a sucker for ANYTHING FREE I made an appointment for two days later. I than went off to look for gloves but never found a pair I liked (more on that later).

 

When I showed up for the FREE (yeh right, when will I ever lear about that "free" word) demo ride the bike was all shined up and ready to go. After taking a copy of my license Lou tossed me the keys and said "enjoy the ride". That was it. No set time to be back, no set route to be on, nothing just "enjoy the ride". Well I made a few sweeps around the block to get the feel of it then came back and picked up my sweetie and off we went. We went on twisty road and we went on the freeway, we went along the shore and we went up and down a few hills. After an hour and fifteen minutes we finally returned. The grins were wider than the handlebars and after the Sportster my butt was yelling yes, yes, yes. All Lou did was look at us and say "I told you to enjoy the ride and it sure looks like you did."

 

Well after we looked at the numbers and the calender (near end of August in Connecticut) the wife and I decided that we would wait until spring and look for one than. Lou was very gracious, told us it was no problem, and come see him in the spring. Let me tell you leaving that dealership without that bike was really difficult but walk away I did (at least physically). Let me tell you all I could do was think about that bike, day and night, night and day. Finally I called my sweetie up during my lunch hour on the 31th of August and told her I couldn't take it any more and I wanted to get it now. She said if I could get it by the end of the day on the 31st I could go ahead and get it and we would go for a long ride over the holiday weekend but if I couldn't I would have to wait for spring. Little did she know how determined I can be when given a challenge.

 

Immediately I hung up and started making phone calls. By the time the faxs were sent back and forth and bank transfers made and insurance binders acquired it was 430pm. Lou told me that they were closing at 600pm and that if I wanted to get it I would have to be there by then. (Now for those of you that live in the Northeast you will really appreciate this.) It was about 70 miles north of where I worked, on a holiday weekend Friday, and the weather was great and I had to be there in 90 minutes and I was still sitting in my office. Yeah right. It was looking like I wouldn't get there and get the deal done by 6pm and I would not get Charlie after all because a deal with my Sweetie was a deal. To this day I cannot tell you how I did it (nor will I EVER admit to some of the "tricks" I pulled) but I go there with 10 minutes to spare. We got papers signed and the keys handed over in those 10 minutes and they closed the doors right on time. Now I was stuck there with a car and a bike and I did not want to leave either one there. I finally got a friend and his wife to come over and he drove my car home for me while his wife followed and I rode the bike. I will never forget the look on my sweeties face when I pulled up on the bike. I had not talked to her since lunch so she didn't know I had pulled the whole deal together. Oh yeah that "free" demo ride? Well it ended up costing me $13000. That Lou was a tricky fellow.

 

My sweetie and I took off the next morning and we didn't come back for 3 days. We had a blast than and we have been having a blast ever since.

 

Oh, yeah the gloves. Well today (after 17 months and 24000 miles and a move across the United States) I finally found a pair of gloves I liked and actually got them. Of course there is this ONE bike in the used area of the dealer out here where I found the gloves that has kinda of caught my eye and Valentines Day is coming up!!!

Edited February 9, 2009 by AKRefugee
typo

[Rody 1949]

In 1981 I joined the "Desertaires Motorcycle Club of El Paso", small club with most Gold Wings, two Harleys, one beemer and my first motorcycle an '82 suzuki 650GS. (the smallest of them all)

After eleven years somebody told me about this guy selling his 'venture', it was the first time I saw this kind of bike, like it and purchased it.

So I have had this '86 Venture Royale since 1992, the club disolved in 1995, and have been riding solo, until...

 

Last week, thanks to VentureRider.Org I met "5bikes" he lives here in El Paso too, got together and made my first ride with his group to Guadalupe Mountains National Park in New Mexico, 250 mi. aprox. round trip.

 

Chuck "5bikes" is highly knowledgable of motorcycles (he has 5 of them), we have plans to meet this coming Wednesday at his house to work on some of the 10 things my bike needs/wants.

Rody 1949:sun:

[spear]

Saw it,

Wanted it,

Threw a tantrum,

Got it!

[RoadKill]

This was my 1st Royal. Loved this bike. Bought it new in bought it in March 2005. 25K miles later in October 2005 I totaled it in Tennessee

[DragonRider]

These stories are supposed to have a happy ending, not a tearjerker ending such as yours........

 

These stories are supposed to have a happy ending, but do hope you are all recovered and you got your replacement bike............

This was my 1st Royal. Loved this bike. Bought it new in bought it in March 2005. 25K miles later in October 2005 I totaled it in Tennessee

[DragonRider]

This is one addiction they dont have a 12 step course for, but nobody would take it if they did..........a great addiction and I have been addicted again since 2002.

 

Bought my bike off ebay, was actually looking for a wing and kept getting out bid cause the wife said I had to stay within her budget........then I saw my black 83, looked at a few more on ebay, didnt bid just kept watching the prices, well this one didnt sell so when it re-listed the buy it now price was just under my budget, so I pulled the trigger, the bike was in Carrolton, Ky, and I didnt know how I was going to get it........when I asked the guy if he could hold it for a few weeks he said not a problem. He said it needed a new front tire and that was it, he owned a small shop and the previous owner had brought it to him after it set up for a few years...........he told him make it run like new. Well he did that,carbs, clutch, brakes, electrics, only thing the custome didnt have him do was the tires...............I told him put me a new tire on I will call him as soon as I find a trailer and some time to come an get it................He made me an offer I couldnt refuse and offered to put the tire on and deliver it to my door for an extra $325.00..............Still within my budget. I still have it and its now dismantled getting a face lift........and thats the rest of the story.

 

 

 

 

 

Motorcycle riding has become an addiction. I hope to never get over it.

 

RR

[RoadKill]

These stories are supposed to have a happy ending, not a tearjerker ending such as yours........

 

These stories are supposed to have a happy ending, but do hope you are all recovered and you got your replacement bike............

 

Oh Definetly. While I was laying there writhing in pain, waiting for the helicopter, I told my buddy that "Well, looks like I can bet a Venture now!" Had my 2003 found and bought before I even got released back to work.

[sarges46]

In 1983 I lived in Vancouver BC and owned a 81 Honda 750 4 Custom. It was a great bike for boppin around the mountains and riding through town.

 

I decided to take the bike on a trip to Winnipeg MB to see my folks. After crossing the rockies by body decided I didnt like the bike anymore. It was not made for the journey I made!

I got to Winnipeg and went to a motorcycle show at the convention center.

 

There she was....all gold colored and wild looking for the times! I sat on it...drooled on it and the salesman almost had me buying it...but when I mentioned that I had another bike to take back home he stopped bugging me.

 

I suffered a long journey back to Vancouver 24 hours in total. Got in around midnight and at 8 am was up and over to the Yammy dealer nearby.

 

I asked if I could take that radical new bike for a test ride....yep he said....if I gave him the full cost of the bike first!

 

So I just paid the man what he was asking and drove it away! I had never driven a bagger before but this goldie was just perfect! It was like I owned it for years!

 

Thats my story and I am sticking to it! The bike was one of ten in western Canada that year.

[Dragonslayer]

You see I had this friend that was in a little financial trouble, years ago, and his house was up for foreclosure. He needed $2000 immediatly so he hit me up for a loan. I am always willing to help a friend out when I can but, in this case I had serious doubts that I'd ever see the money again knowing his current circumstances. So, I asked him to cover the loan with the only collateral he had that would cover the note and was not encumbered which was his bass boat.

 

The term of the note was 1 year. So 2 years later without seeing the first penny in loan repayments, I took title of the boat. I had already been through my Boat Ownership phase of life so I had no Interest in keeping the boat. After the preping the boat for sale, I started advertizing it. Two boating seasons later I had few interested lookers and no takers.

 

Out of the blue I got a call from a man in North Carolina who inquired if I might been interested in trading the boat for a 1987 Yamaha Venture Royale. Anxious to move the boat I told him I would consider it and get back in touch with him in a few days.

 

I did a little resale value research on the bike and it looked like it was worth more than what I was asking for the boat. I called him back and we agreed to meet the next Saturday at Lake Lanier to go for a boat ride and check out the bike. I managed to arrange for my Goldwing buddie to be there so he could check out and ride the bike to give me a quallified opionion of it's condition and worth.

 

Bright and early on Saturday morning we met at a boat ramp on Lake Lanier. The owner of the bike rode the bike in with his wife following driving a pick up truck. My buddy Scott arrived on his Goldwing and my son and I were in my truck pulling the boat.

 

The couple that owned the bike were in thier late seventies and had decided that in this stage of thier lives it was time to change there pass time from motorcycling to a slower paced fishing. So getting down to business they were ready to go for a boat ride while Scott went for a ride on the bike. We backed the boat down the ramp into water and to my embarishment nothing happened when I turned the key to start the motor. The problem was minor and it only took me about fifteen minutes to find and correct a bad electrical connection and start the motor. Not a good start for a sales presentation. So after a short demonstration of all the features and apperatus on the boat they wanted to see how she ran and how fast she would go. Making sure everyone was geared up with life jackets and Grandma had her lace scarf in place holding down her Blue/gray hair. I yelled out sit down and hold on, then gave her the gas.

 

My recollection was that it was a sunny fall day with tempertures in the mid fifties and very windy. Windy days on the south side of Lake Lanier usually result in 3 to 5 foot choppy waves. So as the boat launched out of the water and plainned out at full throttle within seconds were scooting across the wave tops at about 80 miles and hour. It was a pretty bumby ride and as the boat crashed down through each wave the resulting splash over the bow was sufficient enough to have us all soaking wet in no time. It didn't take long for them to have had enough of the white knuckle performance ride. So I deacerated and headed back to the boat ramp at a trolling speed.

 

On the way back, there was not a word spoken. He was soaking wet and shrivering and she was staring sraight ahead with a glazed deer-in-the-headlights look in her eyes. Her lace scarf and blue/gray hair were all asque and soaking wet. Her right hand had a death grip on the hand hold next to her seat and her left hand had a death grip on his leg.

In my mind I felt this sales presentation was a disater and I had deffintly blown the sale. As we loaded the boat up and pulled it out of the water , Scott was returning from the bike ride. After a brief consultation with Scott which amounted to him repeating several times in a discrete emphasised whisper, "DO IT, DO IT, DO IT".

 

I casually walked over to thier truck where they were trying to get warm and dry. I queitly said, "I'm willing if you are". He instantly responded, "SOLD", to my amazement. We quickly did the paperwork on the hood of his truck, hooked the boat and trailer to his truck, Shook hands and waived each other goodbye. Scott headed out on his Goldwing with a loud "SEE YA" with my son driving my truck close behind.

 

There I was proud owner of a motoprcycle I knew next to nothing about. At this point I'm thinking Motorcycle sale to recoup my cash. I had had a serious head on collision on a motorcycle as a teenager resulting in a five year recouperation period so I had not riden in about 36 years. Therefore I had no thoughts of keeping the bike and start riding again.

 

But, there I was with no way to get it back home, 75 miles away, except to ride it. Now it was time for my white knuckle ride. I started off causously, slowly getting the feel of the bike and gaining confidence riding it. By the time I got it home I was really getting into it.

 

That was seven years ago, and looking back I believe that trading for the bike was one of those cosmic life changing events. I never did sale the bike, but, I have recouped my original investment several, several, times over as a result of owning the bike. In retrospect, I also believe that being led to this perticular style, make and model bike was nothing short of devine intervention. The love that has developed between me and this motorcyle as I got to know her has changed my life in many ways. And my life now is totally and completely dedicated to motorcyling for fun, profit, lifestyle and adventure.

Edited February 9, 2009 by Dragonslayer

[Dark Wolf]

Well lets see my first Yamaha was a 1979 750 special after that i got an 81 1100 midnight special(wish i still had that one). Next was a Seca 750 after that I got stupid and bought a Kaw GPZ1100 had it for 4 days and totaled it out.Stoped riding for 25 years, then when gas got so high started looking for another bike. Looked for about 3 months on Craigs list found nothing I liked and could afford. Then there it was a 1983 blond Royale, 35,254 miles and asking 1500.00 payed the man sight unseen except for photos. I LOVE MY BIKE. Will hopefully get a Harley in the near future but will never let go of my Venture.

Joel

[fielddoc]

In 1986 I was riding a 500 Virago I got married and my new bride liked riding so much that after just a few rides together I realized that we needed a bigger bike. My father-in-law had a Goldwing but that just didn't do it for me. I went to the local dealer and bought a non-current (remember those?) 1984 Orion Silver 1200 XVZ. We rode this motorcycle through sunshine, rain and even some snow. I Ran in to some financial trouble several years later and had to sell it. After more than 10 years I wanted a "new" bike and had found several possible Goldwings to purchase. Just before I made an offer on one of them I decided to check one last time on line for a Venture, I found a 1986 Venture Royale at of all places a Harley dealer in Milwaukee! I purchased it even though I had only seen 3 pictures. I'm looking forward to many years of riding pleasure with the new bike.

[Pic]

Grew up riding bikes, dirt and strret. Had Yama, Kaws, Hondas and 1 Harley. When I divorced my first wife needed money and sold my Honda 750 CBK and my Yamaha 500 dirt bike.

 

Got remarried, went about 20 years without riding. Started thinking about getting another motorcycle around 2001. At the time my second wife was having a lot of health problems and had no extra money so all I could do was dream about getting one. My wife passed away in July of 2003.

 

After that I decided life was too short and I wanted a bike. Search for a while and found a new 2004 VSTAR Silverado I liked at the Plano Yamaha Dealer so I bought it. It was perfect for me at the time since I had no wife or girlfriend, but did have several friends that rode.

 

Then I met my girlfriend and we started riding and decided the VSTAR was not big enough. I had met several folks riding Ventueres at Rally's and on trips and I really liked the looks of the Venture. Everyone of them loved theirs and even had a guy I just met at that let me ride his 2004. Once I threw a leg over it I was hooked.

 

I looked for almost a year at dealers and Cycle Trader, but was not quite ready to spend the money and figured I would wait till Spring of 2009 and buy a brand new one.

 

September of 08 I found a 2007 Blue Venture on Cycle Trader at a Honda Dealer in Denton, TX. Had lots of accessories and a good price so I called em up and took off at lunch the next day (was a Friday) and went at looked at it. Had everything that I wanted already on it and still looked new and the price was right so I traded in my VSTAR road it home.

 

Never regretted it and love Old Blue. Took a 3 day trip to Arkansa in October with my girlfriend and we had a great time and never once had to stop and rest our butts from riding.

 

Funny part is a friend of mine who had a Harley Ultra Classis before and just sold his Harley Road King cause he wanted another touring bike (and was fed up with the Harley Dealerships) was looking at Wings and Ultra Classics. He really liked my Venture. Anyway he found him a 2008 Red Venture on Cycle Trader with a 1000 miles on it at a great price and bought it.

 

Now we are both as happy as can be.

[Scooter]

My introduction to My '83 Venture Royale was in '97 when I was looking for a bike. I had been looking at Goldwings from about that same era and after riding several wasn't very impressed. Then I visited the Yamaha dealer and rode the VR and my search was over. The Venture was way beyond what the Goldwing was at that time.

[BigBoyinMS]

Since I traded for a '75 H-D Superglide back in '77 I haven't wanted anything at all to do with any other brand of bike, especially Asian bikes. And I NEVER wanted a tour bike. But the last few H-D's that I had just left me disappointed in the power department and hurting because they didn't fit me well. And I hated to see all that money just sitting in the garage. So I sold my Heritage in 2004 and decided that I would stop riding.

Fast forward to February '08 when the wife mentions that she is missing riding. We can't have that, so of course I HAVE to start looking for another bike. I break it to her that I may buy a cheap bike just to see if we want to ride again. At first she thought that I, Mr Harley, was joking but I finally explained that it would just be a temporary thing... just to find out if we still wanted to, or could, ride then we could sell or trade it on a REAL bike.

Well, I bought a Road Star in March. 3 months later I bought the Venture... cause the Road Star was MY bike and the Venture was to be OUR bike! Now I want to sell or trade the Road Star so I can get another Venture or Tour Deluxe to be MY bike!

See what you people did!