First 600 miles... My thoughts...

[SilvrT]

I'm not so little. I'm 5' 9.5" and pushing 290lbs (of pure muscle, under the camouflage fat:whistling:)

 

After watching Ride Like A Pro I went out to a parking lot and started practicing. I can do figure 8's now! Woo Woo - Shriners here I come - NOT!

 

I got that CD/DVD 2 years ago for xmas... I watched it a couple times and planned to put it to use come summer... then I made the mistake of lending it to my son.. who lent it to another guy...who lent it to.... and so on and so on... I haven't seen it since and nobody seems to know where it is. Guess I better get another one coz they sure are good.

[KiteSquid]

Low speed handling, I do not understand this issue that many people have. I've never had a problem with low speeds on the RSV. And after watching Ride Like A Pro I can do even more wicked low speed manuevers. Maybe it has to do with my size. I don't know.

 

It has NOTHING to do with the size of the rider and EVERYTHING to do with rider skill.

 

Look at the 5'3" tall 105 LB riders throw their machines around. It is all about rider skill. (and the willingness to improve those skills.)

 

I am trying to improve mine all the time!!!!!

[similost]

Yep.. I'm always working on improving my skills.. and I can ride this bike at slow speed well.. but just because you are good with a bike, doesn't mean it handles well.. just means you can win the battle is the way I look at it...

 

I'll be going to the smaller tire and the leveling links, so hopefully that will take the work out of it and make it more pleasurable in the parking lots and rolling up to lights..

[YamaDuck]

It has NOTHING to do with the size of the rider and EVERYTHING to do with rider skill.

 

Look at the 5'3" tall 105 LB riders throw their machines around. It is all about rider skill. (and the willingness to improve those skills.)

 

I am trying to improve mine all the time!!!!!

I do agree with this in part but I also believe the size and weight of the rider do play a part in the handling. Lets say you have two equally qualified riders one is 5'3" and 110 lbs the other is 6'3" and 290 lbs. Now everything being equal except the size of the riders the 290 lb taller rider would have a higher center of gravity than the smaller rider and so the Venture would be more top heavy and more unstable. Would this effect the handling of the Venture, I believe it would. Would a rider with excellent riding ability notice, probably not. Would a rider with a lesser ability notice, maybe.

 

Just my worth.

[SilvrT]

I do agree with this in part but I also believe the size and weight of the rider do play a part in the handling. Lets say you have two equally qualified riders one is 5'3" and 110 lbs the other is 6'3" and 290 lbs. Now everything being equal except the size of the riders the 290 lb taller rider would have a higher center of gravity than the smaller rider and so the Venture would be more top heavy and more unstable. Would this effect the handling of the Venture, I believe it would. Would a rider with excellent riding ability notice, probably not. Would a rider with a lesser ability notice, maybe.

 

Just my worth.

 

by my calculations, one guy is more than twice the size of the other... one would think his strength would have "some" affect on his ability to manage the bike...or should I say "man handle". I'm assuming here that a 290 lb guy has a lot more strength than a 110 lb guy.... but, you do have a point.

[juggler]

by my calculations, one guy is more than twice the size of the other... one would think his strength would have "some" affect on his ability to manage the bike...or should I say "man handle". I'm assuming here that a 290 lb guy has a lot more strength than a 110 lb guy.... but, you do have a point.

 

As a 290lb guy I can say that I "may" have more strength, but I do know I have more counter-weight .

[Wanderer]

Bought mine Friday, didn't ride much because by time I got home it was very late.

Saturday (Lake Lure, NC) and Sunday (Lake Murray, SC) = 550 miles. Here's what

I have to say "Perfect".

[Guest magiardino]

Similost, I too used to think the Venture revved too high. But this wide-ratio transmission is the cat's meow. When you are cruising at 60 in 4th gear... take it up to 70 and hold it there. You are still only using a tiny portion of the throttle, and the motor sounds great. Then, when you go back down to 60, it seems like you are idling! It's a beautiful thing. That engine sings at any speed. You will get used to it.

 

Good luck and welcome to VentureRider.org.

 

Mark

Rochester, NY

04 Venture

[MikeWa]

First it is your bike. You bought it so you get to complain about it and except for the seat, which I always liked, I had the same concerns as you. After I bought my 08 I wondered if I had made a good choice. For the first two thousand miles the bars seemed to far foreword, the seat to high, it needed 6th gear, it was sluggish on excel, it's top heavy. Then I broke down and bought a cheap tach. It is digital, has a one wire hookup and only cost about $20. What I learned is the RSV has a sound all it's own. What I thought was a comfortable rpm is actually lugging this engine. So I developed a new riding strategy I call 'gear down'. Whatever gear the bike 'sounds' like it should be in go down one maybe two and ride there. WOW after six thousand miles this is the best riding bike ever. Much better on the curves and more responsive at all speeds. Absolute joy to ride. And the gas mileage even went up. Go figure! I am still getting used to the sound but now it is music. All the other issues just seemed to fade away.

Mike