Is 70 tops !?

[Oblahde]

Greetings to you all, I've had my 99 Venture for a couple of weeks now and am somewhat dismayed at the gearing. When I'm doing 60 in fifth the engine/trany noise sounds like I should be doing 80+.

 

Haven't gone through a tank of gas yet, so I'm not sure what's normal for this model. Short of putting it on a Dyno, I'll let the engine sound be my tach....what's the best way to increase the top end if I decide to go that way?

 

Thanks

 

Mark

[CMCOFFEY]

you might have an issue or just not be used to the high reving V4 that we all love.

 

I assure you that stock you can cruise at 85-105 comfortably.

 

When I am on the highway, I normally shift to 5th at 55-60. It is an O/D gear (so is 4th or so I have heard, but don't quote me on that).

[M61A1MECH]

A standard factory geared Royal Star Venture with a Dyna 3K ignition module set on I think 3 will do 90 in third gear with no trouble, 100 to 110 in in 4th or 5th no problem.

 

Two things,

1. These are typically noise bikes, the straight cut gears in the tranny make a lot of noise, but they last for ever.

2. It is possible that the bike you have has a V-Max rear end installed, the V-Max rear end is geared lower than the factory one for the Venture and may restrict the top end and also cause the engine to rev higher. I doubt that a V-Max rear end would limit you to 70 max.

 

Chances are you just not used to the bike yet, give it some time.

[Mike G in SC]

I might suggest if you have anyone else in your area that is familiar with the Venture, have them ride it.

I'm not a mechanic but I have test rode a few for friends to be able to tell them, what is normal or what is wrong.

[etcswjoe]

There are several VR members in your area and I am sure one of them would be glad to look at your bike with you. If it is it the sound that is keeping you from going over 70 I would not worry about it since the rev limiters on these bikes are set well below the point where you will do any damage. I have hit the rev limiter in each gear (just to see for myself) and 75 is really nothing for these bikes. On my bike 75 is a sweet spot and it quiets down and just purrs.

[uncledj]

Just for the heck of it, I took my 06 RSV up to 90-95 and kept it there for a few minutes, just to see how it felt, and I must say, it was as comfy and smooth as could be. I didn't notice any strange sounds, but mine doesn't have the clutch whine I've read so much about either.

Still had more to go, but it seemed quite happy at 90.

[Dragonslayer]

Seafoam it's all about using Seafoam

[XV1100SE]

Wonder if the noise he is mentioning is the whine or possibly coming from the rear end ?

 

Make sure fluids are fresh, use an oil such as Rotella T6 (bike uses a wet clutch)...and as suggested, have one of the members take your bike for a spin.

[alwrmcusn]

Just my two cents worth:

Before I had my 2009 Venture outfitted with a Hanigan trike kit I could get triple digits in third gear. When entering an interstate, I'd just start up the entry ramp, drop down to third and roll it on, click into fourth and we were long gone.

[bongobobny]

Yah! These are high rev'ing bikes! As stated you should have no problem hitting 90 in 3rd. They should top out at 120 - 130 in 5th which is and OD gear. I've had mine up to 115 with more still there but I chickened out. Also as mentioned they have a rev limiter so you can not over rev these engines.

 

To tell if the differential was swapped out to a VMax, try shifting into 5th at about 45 - 50 mph and try accelerating rapidly from there. If it hesitates, bogs down, etc you have a stock differential. If it's a Vmax it will respond normal.

 

To discover what the rev limiter sounds and feels like pick a gear like 2nd and twist the throttle wide open and hold. You will know when it hits the limit, it will act like you broke the engine, but you didn't.

 

Maybe you aren't running on all 4! With the engine cold, start it up and immediately feel all 4 pipes. All 4 should feel warm after a minute of less. If one or more stay cold you have a problem!!

[billmac]

try staying in 4th at that speed.

[steamer]

60 in 5th gear! your not even close to 5th gear speeds. 70 and up, cruising on the thruway is 5th gear time. If it sounds like it is revving high at 60, maybe the clutch is slipping?

[ACE50]

Sounds like you might have a VMAX shaft drive installed.

Look to see if the stud in top of pic or if removed has a hole there. That's the shock mount on a VMAX.

A Venture one should just have a un-used boss there.

 

Either that or you have the dreaded clutch wine, not use to the V4 engine or clutch is slipping.

[YamahaLarry]

Greetings to you all, I've had my 99 Venture for a couple of weeks now and am somewhat dismayed at the gearing. When I'm doing 60 in fifth the engine/trany noise sounds like I should be doing 80+.

 

Haven't gone through a tank of gas yet, so I'm not sure what's normal for this model. Short of putting it on a Dyno, I'll let the engine sound be my tach....what's the best way to increase the top end if I decide to go that way?

 

Thanks

 

Mark

 

I just picked up my '99 RSV a week ago today. And I can cruise comfortably at 85 mph. My first time to hit the interstate, on my way home from picking it up, I didn't even put it in 5th til I hit 80.

 

Very please so far with my RSV!

[Stache]

Greetings to you all, I've had my 99 Venture for a couple of weeks now and am somewhat dismayed at the gearing. When I'm doing 60 in fifth the engine/trany noise sounds like I should be doing 80+.

 

Haven't gone through a tank of gas yet, so I'm not sure what's normal for this model. Short of putting it on a Dyno, I'll let the engine sound be my tach....what's the best way to increase the top end if I decide to go that way?

 

Thanks

 

Mark

Let it rev till the rev limiter cuts you off. I have no real idea of what the top end might be on either of my machines. Mostly because the few times I've crossed 140km/h (about 85 mph) I tend to not look down at the speedo.

 

I'm not interested in speed for speed sake. I will go fast when I have a reason to, but I'm quite sure I'll never reach the top with either bike. Yes, It's a big noisy beast but the rev limiter will keep you from harming a well running machine. Enjoy the ride.

[buddy]

Unlike the GoldWing low end torque these Ventures need to be rev.up to get the power band now the Goldwings can use four gear in town as for the Venture that's not possbile as it will lug hard ! Now at highway speeds the Venture is better than the Goldwing due to the gearing of the trans as the Venture is still in fourth gear say 70mph now you can run 70 in fifth gear if you want as it's over drive only and these Ventures purr in fifth gear doing 80mph as for the Goldwing owners some state that they wished it had sixth gear for highway speed not all just some I myself dint need another gear riding the Wing

Goldwing doing 40mph your already in 5th gear if you so want as for the Venture 5th is not needed till you hit 70 or above big difference in trans gearing

[cowpuc]

Greeting Obla, and welcome to VR!! Been reading the responses so far and you are getting some GREAT advice!! I agree with the thought that you should see if any of these guys happen to be in your area,, someone who has been around these things for a while could probably shed some light on your bikes situation at just a meer listen too... These folks are that sharp!!

True story below, 1st part is for your info,, the second part is amongst some people that have met and know me (not aimed at you in any way)..

Few years ago I went up to Kalkaska to look at what was to become Tweeks, our 5th 1st Gen.. Test rode her, came back and ask the guy how long it had been running like that,, he said,, it has always ran that good since the day I bought it.. I told him that it was wayyyy under powered and I thought it was probably diaphram/carb related.. Got a good deal ($700 bucks) and headed home with her.. Ran 70 all the way home on the highway.. Took the covers off the slides, found 2 (thats right - 2) diaphrams were in pieces,, totally seperated from the slides.. Stuck her back together with good slide/diaphrams,, she is now old and tired but will still run 100 plus all day long,,, running on all 4 has its advantages.. (THAT WAS THE PART FOR YOU OBLA)

Opppsss,, wait a minute,,,, we are talking 2nd Gens here,, my bad,,, I have heard they are slower,, never owned one so I really shouldnt even be speaking up,,,, maybe YammerDan could tell ya if the two are that much different,,,, I cant imagine that the 2nd Gen performance is equal to a 1st Gen running on 2,,,,, maybe,, but I doubt it.... Should at least be equal to running on 3:backinmyday::stirthepot:

(THAT WAS THE PART FOR THOSE WHO KNOW IT APPLIES)

 

PUC

[Yammer Dan]

After "Brown Sugar", "Ugly", and the "Blue Beast" have taken care of so many 2nd Gens this one is shocking me!! It will run fast enough to get out of the way..."Brown Sugar" might have to hustle a little....

For sure pull those slides and take a look.

[Oblahde]

Thanks for all the information....after reading all the posts, I'm pretty sure it's just my not being used to the sounds. I'll defiantly try the shifting to fifth and hit it and checking the bolts on the differential....also hitting the rev limiter, i forgot about that!

 

Mark

[RedRider]

Thanks for all the information....after reading all the posts, I'm pretty sure it's just my not being used to the sounds. I'll defiantly try the shifting to fifth and hit it and checking the bolts on the differential....also hitting the rev limiter, i forgot about that!

 

Mark

 

You won't hit the rev limiter in 5th. Try it in 1st or 2nd. You will hit 90 mph before hitting the rev limiter in 3rd.

 

These high revving engines are fun.

 

Welcome to the family.

 

RR

[XV1100SE]

It is possible that you aren't running on all four cylinders.

 

Start the bike when the bike is cold and after a few seconds touch each of the four pipes and see if they are all getting warm. Don't let it run so long that the pipes are HOT. Only takes a few seconds (20 seconds?) and you should notice the pipes getting warm.

 

Issue with carbs could do it too.... that is where the Seafoam comes in.

[Sailor]

Don't know what the top speed is. We have KPH here and the speedo only goes to 180 kph which is about 112 mph. I did give it a good run when I first got it and it was still pulling strong when I ran out of speedo.

[MikeWa]

I have the V-max gearing and stock ignition module in my bike. I still hit 90 mph in third gear. The sound of the engine rpm is different for every bike. It is just a matter of what you get used to. For me I had a real disconnect between my Venture's sound and what I was used to until I opened up the muffler a little bit. Then all was well in the sound department.

 

So long as your clutch is not slipping or some other mechanical problem. You will get used to the sound. Just apply time.

 

Mike