Market Rearch_What would you pay for a new redesigned Venture?

[FreezyRider]

This is going sideways but what the heck.

 

I've been a fan of GW's ever since they first came out over 30 years ago. But I can't ride them. I won't ride a bike I can't flatfoot. I'm on the balls of my feet on one if I'm lucky. The "official" seat height may be 29in but with the spread of the floorboards, for me it might as well be 32. And since neither the 1500s or the 1800s can be lowered, all I can do is drool over one in the yellow paint job, my favorite color in GW's. Especially in the $40k+ Champion trike I saw a few years back!

 

But lower a RSV an inch front and rear like Owen's '08, or Gunboat's '99 [both sold now], both of which I've ridden, and I can flatfoot them. I also find it interesting that on my TC, put the Mustang seat it came with on it and I can't flatfoot it but put the "Butlerized" stock seat on it and I can. I am closer to flatfooting with the Mustang seat [maybe a 1/2in] than I am on a stock RSV. And my TC is not a top heavy GW or RSV so I can handle the difference. Now I just have to get the rest of the bike to fit me and not the 6 footer who owned it. And get the Mustang trimmed down in front so I can get my feet down all the way. The trip home on that seat when I bought the bike, some 1400 miles from Illinois to Houston with a lil side trip to Bogaloosa, taught me just why those seats are worth the big bucks.

 

A GW trike is the only way I'll ever be able to ride one. I'm keeping an eye on the Spyder RT's as well. With luck, I might find a RSV trike. I'm beginning to think hen's teeth are more common!

 

Hey Brenda, I'm not trying to argumentative, just pointing out some things you may not know.

The GW 1800 can be lowered. The fork tubes in front can be slid up just like you do with the Royal Star. And, there is a company selling a shock-mount bracket that lowers the rear as well. It isn't cheap as it is a cast/machined block....around $300 if I remember correctly. Add a lowered seat and whammo....your feet are flat with your knees flexed.

Enjoy what you ride and ride safe!

Joe

 

Edit: Here is the info on lowering the rear of the GL1800. http://lowerwingproducts.com/index.html

Edited September 15, 2012 by FreezyRider

[midnightventure]

My tastes have changed since I bought my Venture in 2002. Now I lean towards a Super Tenere but my cheap nature won't let me get a new bike until this one is worn out. At 94000 miles I see no sign of that. One good thing about Yamaha not changing the design is there are lots of used parts that will definitely fit. I ride mine regular even through the winter so the carbs have never been an issue. It starts and is ready to go in 10 seconds even with the carb heaters disconnected.

[Brenda H]

I repeat the Arte Johnson quote! I find it interesting that I have never heard anything about lowering the 1800 from any of the dealers I've talked to. I hit several of the local H dealers on a regular basis as they have a better accesories shop [helmets, riding gear, etc.] than any of the Y dealers usually do. I almost always end up in a conversation with the salesmen after drooling over the Goldies.

 

Fortunately or unfortunately, after buying my TC, I consider myself set for the next few years providing I or some dodo doesn't mess up and wreck the bike. Unless and of course, if someone just happens to come up with a major steal on a trike . After that, it will depend on what shape I'm in as to whether or not it's trike time. I'll be 60 my next birthday and a trike is not a case of if for me, it's a case of when. I've even thought about triking the TC but outside of a Voyager kit, even if Hannigan's had a set up for it, the bike is 16 yrs old now and not worth the investment. I may even keep it after getting a trike and use it for short trips. I'm also one of the few female riders on this site who does not have a riding husband. But with the Hubby retiring this year [2 wks to go!], who knows, I just might FINALLY talk him into riding again. If that does happen, he won't be the one driving the trike!

 

Hey Brenda, I'm not trying to argumentative, just pointing out some things you may not know.

The GW 1800 can be lowered. The fork tubes in front can be slid up just like you do with the Royal Star. And, there is a company selling a shock-mount bracket that lowers the rear as well. It isn't cheap as it is a cast/machined block....around $300 if I remember correctly. Add a lowered seat and whammo....your feet are flat with your knees flexed.

Enjoy what you ride and ride safe!

Joe

 

Edit: Here is the info on lowering the rear of the GL1800. http://lowerwingproducts.com/index.html

[tz89]

I would not buy a new Venture. I love my 89. I have a GREAT bike for little money. I think it would run forever except for the electrical systems and the aging plastic. If I had to replace it today I would buy a used Victory Vision or XC or a Triumph. I like BMW a lot but I worry about the fleecing you too often take on dealer maintenance. I like the new GW designs but have a hard time seeing myself as a wing nut. Maybe that will change.

 

I don't think Yamaha intends to redesign the Venture. I think this is a declining cash cow for them. As soon as it's not profitable to sell fewer and fewer it will be gone. I think they are positioning the road liner/strat platform for a variety of option packages including a bagger and lux touring. When they change the transmission to include a highway gear it'll be done - probably the same time they kill the venture, the vmax and the v4.

 

And, I'm okay with that. I'll miss that v4 though. Maybe, just maybe, they'll keep it alive for trikes, but even there that 1300 will look lame next to 17,18,1900 injected vtwins.

 

imho

Edited September 16, 2012 by tz89