Age old quetion ????

[Steve Hamm]

I am sure this has been gone over a few times in here , but I am starting it again , sorry . I have been riding a 2002 RSMV that I picked up wrecked , it was flipped quite bad . Fixed it up with a used triple tree and a bunch of plastic and chrome . It had 29,000km on it when I picked it up , we rode it to Galena a couple years ago . Now it has 64,000km on it , but not from this year , this year I have been riding a 2009 RSTD'S , I picked it up wrecked as well , but this one was just a lay over , replaced plastic and chrome . Any way , my questions are , if these bikes are so much the same , then how can they be so different ???? The tour deluxe will walk all over the Venture , 5th gear on the Venture at highway speed it will just lug along , where the tour deluxe will get up and go ???? Handling , now that's another deal , around town the tour deluxe is GREAT , the Venture , WOW , scary , every corner on the Venture is an adventure , LOL , it seems like the Venture wants to lay down every time I lean into it , the tour deluxe just leans over and goes . So , how different are these bikes ???

[cowpuc]

It will be interesting to read the responses you get from folks who have actually owned and operated both bikes Ham,, looking forward to reading them!! Just wondered if you ever checked the frame on your RSV? Might suggest this:

Take a friend who you trust to ride your scoot - go find a big parking lot or quiet piece of roadway where you can play.. Have your buddy ride your bike out a half block or so, lay down on the pavement and look down the axis of the tires with him coming straight at you - he doesnt have to be going real fast but fast enough that he can maintain a good straight line.. If the frame is tweeked you should be able to pick it up in tire to tire alignment visually..

I have purchased a few tweeked frame bikes from salvage for parts/restoration and can tell ya, you get scoot whose neck is twisted and what you are describing is how they can "feel" = weird.. Another issue can be a little tight on the neck bearings or bad neck bearings.. Its amazing how this will effect in a very bad way, a scoots cornering charactoristics..

[Venturous Randy]

If you have not done it yet, check tire pressures.

Also, on the RSTD, look at the final drive and to see if there may be a shock post that may have been sawed off. If so, you may have a V-max drive.

Randy

[slowrollwv]

My thoughts on this subject. The RSTD does not have the fairing with all the weight of the RSV and the trunk and CB radio under it. I am not sure but think that the RSTD is a little lower also. Just those will cause a lot of differences in acceleration and cornering. They both have the same motor, tranny and rear gear unless the PO changed the gearing to a V- Max gear in the RSTD.

[eusa1]

I have both, the fairing and tour pack don't weigh enough to make a big difference, however the wind drag is a ton of difference.

everything mechanical on the bikes are the same, the only frame difference is the drivers seat mounting points.

the leverage of the wider handlebars on the tour deluxe takes a great advantage in tight slow turns, along with a lower narrower seat height.

I installed tour deluxe bars on my venture and it brought some positive results for me also.

note:

you can use tour deluxe bars on a venture

you can Not use venture bars on a tour deluxe.due to wide speedo mounting requirements

[vzuden]

I have had both also. As for the handling - Your RSTD may have had the rear suspension altered to raise it slightly improving the handling. Tires can make a significant difference also

[Steve Hamm]

As far as I know the RSTD is stock , it only had 3200km on it when I got it , still looked brand new , the venture I have raised the back end , tires are all stock sizes ,

[vzuden]

I have both, the fairing and tour pack don't weigh enough to make a big differenc...

869lbs venture and 844lbs RSTD. Wet - with fluids and fuel. More fuel in venture