cowpuc Posted March 25, 2014 #1 Posted March 25, 2014 So,, I got in a discussion recently and was asked some questions that I had no answer to (old age catching up, brother,, when I was younger I had all the answers).. Guy asked me how the "new" Yam ventures rode for the passenger compared to my old beaters.. He brought up a couple interesting points.. The 2nd Gens appear to sit higher for the passenger than the 1st Gens . How does this affect wind buffeting for the passenger, top heaviness for the driver and the over all feeling of security for the passenger (that feeling of being securely tucked behind the driver).. I would love to hear perspective of owner/operators of both 1st/2nd Gens and folks who have ridden on the back of both for substantial distances.. THE ROUND TABLE IS NOW OPEN,, ALL COMMENTS ARE APPRECIATED NO MATTER HOW INSIGNIFICANT THEY MAY SEEM TO YOU,, SCHOOL ME!!!! Thank you in advance Ladies, Gentlemen,, and,,,,, fellow crazies:rotf: Puc
Yammer Dan Posted March 25, 2014 #2 Posted March 25, 2014 One of the things these old geezers squawk about is how much the "other half" likes the rear of the 2nd Gen. I think it has something to do with that "Does this bike make my butt look big" thing!! In other words, "I ain't got a clue"!!! You have to ask them Old Geezers.
bongobobny Posted March 25, 2014 #3 Posted March 25, 2014 From what little I can remember Becky liked the 1st gen better but then again she is a woman and they do have the right to change their minds whenever they feel like it! I'll never fully understand a woman...
Kirby Posted March 25, 2014 #4 Posted March 25, 2014 2 gen must be pretty comfortable. My wife always goes to sleep back there. She rode the Iron Butt with me with no problems from her. Haven"t ridden a 1st gen so can't compare the two.
Venturous Randy Posted March 25, 2014 #5 Posted March 25, 2014 It may also have something to do with the stock seat vs. aftermarket on a 1st gen. The Corbin seat I have on my 83 is so wide on the passenger seat that it is very difficult to get your fingers between the passenger seat and the hand rail. Also, I have arm rests and I know that also makes a big difference in comfort, especially for long rides. RandyA
k9cottage Posted March 25, 2014 #6 Posted March 25, 2014 i am tall and the wife is short she is always going to sleep on the back so comfort must be good the other is the seat hight being higher she can see over my shoulder and in a way that is bad so now she can see the speedo from the back seat and i seem to get a lot of bruises around the kidney area, but it must be better as she doesn't have to sit back there looking at my back
Cowboy Posted March 25, 2014 #7 Posted March 25, 2014 Puc, We owned the 1987 1st Gen and had just over 75,000 miles on it. I had formed an 1991 Stock Goldwing windshield on it so the coverage was if I remember correctly 4" each side and almost 6" taller. It put the passenger in a great pocket. Sherrie also liked how much support the back rest had for her. Seems on the 2nd Gen it just is not tall enough. Liked the seat also gave more support on the areas that needed it and I had taken a little out at the tail bone area. I have to say after we have modified and put over 100,000 miles on the 2nd Gen. we both would like to have the old 87 back. Guess it will have to be just a newer bike at some point. Good Luck Ride with the wind my friend. Hope all is well up your way. Brian & Sherrie Shoemaker AKA Cowboy
Tisunac Posted March 25, 2014 #8 Posted March 25, 2014 My wife finds the passenger seat on 2nd gen very comfortable. HOWEVER, she always complains about wind buffeting since she's sitting much higher than I. Rick Butler modified my seat and made it much more comfortable but also lower so my wife is even more exposed to the wind. Spoke with Rick about her seat but he said there's not much material he can take out and make it lower. Again, she said the comfort is great (better than any bike we tried) - if only we can lower it somehow...
Tisunac Posted March 25, 2014 #9 Posted March 25, 2014 Forgot to mention that I have Clearshield XXL windshield with a vent (tallest, widest one) and it's still not enough to protect my wife from the buffeting...
steamer Posted March 25, 2014 #10 Posted March 25, 2014 Other then an occasional Bee in the helmet, Robin loves the new pillow tops I installed on the 99. She seem to spend a lot of time sleeping back there....must be comfortable.
Sylvester Posted March 25, 2014 #11 Posted March 25, 2014 My wife finds the passenger seat on 2nd gen very comfortable. HOWEVER, she always complains about wind buffeting since she's sitting much higher than I. Rick Butler modified my seat and made it much more comfortable but also lower so my wife is even more exposed to the wind. Spoke with Rick about her seat but he said there's not much material he can take out and make it lower. Again, she said the comfort is great (better than any bike we tried) - if only we can lower it somehow... Go with the Clearview XL windscreen. My wife loves it. I like to put on my 16" screen for solo riding and I forgot to change to the XL before we went for a ride. I will never forget that again.
Tisunac Posted March 25, 2014 #12 Posted March 25, 2014 Go with the Clearview XL windscreen. My wife loves it. I like to put on my 16" screen for solo riding and I forgot to change to the XL before we went for a ride. I will never forget that again. In my next post I did mention that I have a Clearview XXL windshield with a vent. I also thought that should do it but didn't... It protect me well but she's still getting all the wind...
stickhandle2 Posted March 25, 2014 #13 Posted March 25, 2014 My 2 cents We had an 86 Venture, my wife always talked about just looking at the back of my head, she considered getting a portable DVD player and sticking it to the back of my helmet, now on the 02 yes she sits higher so now she can see stuff, but said the backrest on the 02 is lower and she lets me know when the shifts are not the smoothest. She likes the seat on the 02 and is trying to figure out how she can knit while on the back, so that tells me she feels both comfy and safe back there. I have looked at the Corbin seats and passenger backrest, the back rest looks taller on the Corbin then my stock one. Next:detective:
cowpuc Posted March 25, 2014 Author #14 Posted March 25, 2014 Thanks everyone,,, all GREAT input!! Please keep it coming... COWBOY,, been a longggg hard winter here, we are in the middle of another blizzard as I type this if you can believe it... Probably gonna be a few more weeks before the "riding with the wind" begins for us up here.. Other than that, all is great.. Looking forward to seeing you folks again sometime this year!!! Ride safe and ya'll breath some of that warm suthern air for us ya hear... Spur that Iron Horse into the wind for me a couple times padna!! Be safe Puc
Flyinfool Posted March 25, 2014 #15 Posted March 25, 2014 Thanks everyone,,, all GREAT input!! Please keep it coming... COWBOY,, been a longggg hard winter here, we are in the middle of another blizzard as I type this if you can believe it... Probably gonna be a few more weeks before the "riding with the wind" begins for us up here.. Other than that, all is great.. Looking forward to seeing you folks again sometime this year!!! Ride safe and ya'll breath some of that warm suthern air for us ya hear... Spur that Iron Horse into the wind for me a couple times padna!! Be safe Puc I told you I had some extra snow to send over the pond.......
cowpuc Posted March 25, 2014 Author #16 Posted March 25, 2014 I told you I had some extra snow to send over the pond....... Sharings a little over rated Flyinfool,,,,,,,,, you could have saved a little for yourself :snow2::snow2: :snow2::snow2: :snow2::snow2: :snow2::snow2: :snow2::snow2:
muaymendez1 Posted March 26, 2014 #17 Posted March 26, 2014 I like all this input as I am on my 2nd rs but first rs venture. My wife compares everything to the 1500 goldwing. That was the most comfortable bike but has yet to ride on this venture yet. We shall see how she likes it 1200 goldwings, kawasaki concourse, royal star tour classic, naked goldwing, 1500 goldwing. I hope she likes this one
OrlinEngh Posted March 26, 2014 #18 Posted March 26, 2014 We went from the 1st Gen to 2nd Gen last summer and got in some good riding time on the 2nd Gen. Sharon says she likes the 2nd Gen better than the 1st after she got used to the diffrence, She says she is more comfortable has more room and can see more, but she still likes the looks of the 1st Gen better says it has a classy look that she likes. As for me with a passenger on I do like the 2nd Gen over the 1st Gen seems better balanced at a stop light or stop sighn and a much smoother going down the road the second Gen just seems more planted on the road. I do miss having a 1st Gen for zipping around on the twistie hill roads around here so I am sure that there is going to be another 1st Gen in the shed before to long. Orlin
Marcarl Posted March 26, 2014 #19 Posted March 26, 2014 It's all in the butt!! If you're sitting too low, get more butt. If you don't have enough room, loose some butt. If the ride is too hard, cushion it with air. Butt if you've never rode a 1st gen,,, how do you know???
BigLenny Posted March 26, 2014 #20 Posted March 26, 2014 Is it about right now that I should mention about how all of you guys have fru fru wives that are too sensitive worrying about their comfy seats while they knit, read, sleep on the bike. We've trecked a buncha miles on our RSTD with my wife on back and she LOVES it! Never complaining, and God forbid she start worrying about whether she has enough pillow puffs on her seat like Venture riders have. RSTD WIVES RULE!!! Tougher n boot leather.
kantornado Posted March 26, 2014 #21 Posted March 26, 2014 We went from the 1983 Venture standard to a 2002 Midnight and put over 100k together on the 83. Owned it for 20 years and now have over 100k on the Midnight and lots of 2 up riding as well. Linda says she likes the Midnight more than the 83, She says she is more comfortable and has more room,she says she has better sleep time and reading a book is easier. While both seats are equally comfy the back rest on the 02 is better suited for her while the buffeting to her is about the same. As for me with a passenger on I do like the 83 over the 02 seemed more balanced but the 02 is more smoother going down the road then the 83, seems to have a firmer footprint on the road and is even more comfortable on my knees and back. I do miss the 83 it was a outstanding motorcycle. But I love this 02 and would not go back even tho I would of loved to of owned a 93 just to see how it compared. Good thread
KIC Posted March 26, 2014 #22 Posted March 26, 2014 (edited) I am currently able to ride an 89 1st Gen and a 2001 RSV. My wife likes the ability to get on and off the 2nd Gen much easier. I rode the 2nd Gen for 2 weeks solid and then switched t the 1st Gen this past week. I like the handling and ride of the 1st Gen better in town. The 1st Gen does have a higher center of gravity than the 2nd Gen. I haven't taken the 2nd Gen on a freeway ride yet, but I will be doing that tomorrow. I don't know if it common to the 2nd Gen, but I find it to be more squirrelly when I hit asphalt snakes and cracks than when I ride the 1st Gen. I also hate the loud pipes, but that is specific to this bike. Edited March 27, 2014 by KIC
XV1100SE Posted March 26, 2014 #23 Posted March 26, 2014 ...I don't know if it common to the 2nd Gen, but I find it to be more squirrelly when I hit asphalt snakes and cracks than when I ride the 1st Gen. I also hate the loud pipes, but hat is specific to this bike. On the 2nd Gen... what size and brand of tires are you running? I found the OEM Bridgestones were more affected than the Dunlop E3's. Some people have gone to a narrower front but have mentioned that it is affected by the road conditions. Tire pressures affect the handling as well (I run 36 front, 40 rear). If my front pressure drops to 34 it is a noticeable change in handling and feels like the front is wandering. Steering head needs to be checked too. Too loose and handling will be affected. Check the tech section on how to check and adjust. Okay.... back to the topic of the thread.... I have been using the stock windshield and I am 6' tall, Nancy is 5'3". She doesn't complain about wind buffeting... but then again she does say if she looks forward all she sees is the back of my helmet. You'll find a common comment for 2nd Gens is that the passenger often falls asleep. One of the reasons I got Carbon One's armrests is to make sure Nancy doesn't fall off ! I can't compare to a 1st Gen but know the 2nd Gen is very comfortable.
Squidley Posted March 27, 2014 #25 Posted March 27, 2014 This is just my portion of this, but Lonna started riding with me on my 1st Venture which was an '84. She liked it ok, then we bought an '86 and there was a bit more farkles on it like the adjustable backrest, she like it better. I bought my 1st '99 and she loved it, way more room for her to be more comfortable. She wasn't as cramped as on the 1st gens, especially if I had a backrest installed. The G2 for both of us riding together is the best bike for us. I personally like the foot position a LOT better on the G2 than a 1st gen. Do I have a soft spot for the 1st gen, absolutely, I have owned 7 of them, and 3 2nd gens. I never had to win over a diehard 1st gen guy, I sat their wife or girlfriend on the back of the 2nd gen and thats all it took....
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