Talked off the ledge

[BG Hawks]

Actually I rode off the ledge...LOL. Was able to test ride a 2008 Goldwing last Saturday and determined it was not the bike for me. Funny thing as I was riding to the dealer (2 hour ride with title in hand) I kept thinking how stupid I was; I was really enjoying my bike!! Shout out to Waukon Powersports in Waukon Iowa. Called them up and told them real interested in a wing but needed to ride one. Also told them unless they got creative I would probably have to sell mine outright, they said no problem and would have the bike ready. Yes, they had the bike out and already to go when I got there. Funny thing when I arrived there was a couple there from Wisconsin on an 06 Venture, same as mine! Waukon answered all my questions and then took me for a ride. Although it was brief, I knew from the start it was not the bike for me. As I thought, I did not like the feet position and honestly liked the ride on my bike better. Yes there were many things about the wing that I like but at the end of the day; I'm keeping my 06. Heck at 23K miles; not even broke in! Road home and started thinking of all things that I want to do with the bike and started to laugh, I have some thoughts for a later day as I will probably asking many questions. When I arrived at home, handed my wife the title and said how do you like your new bike. She did not go with me nor did she know that I had the title. Thanks to all who shared their thoughts on the previous post; just wanted to share my update.

[yamagrl]

Sometimes the best is right before your eyes.

 

Rupert Holmes once told a story like that.

 

[BlueSky]

You just never know what you like until you ride it. Usually the magazine test riders (and maybe everyone else) have a different agenda than you.

[BG Hawks]

Amen to both thoughts!

[Larry1963]

I always wanted a Wing. Then I moved to this little town in South GA, Alapaha GA and one of my church members has a wing and another bike, he does not like the Wing, it was a 09 with all the bells and whistles or farkles a wing could have. It even had XM radio, navigation and weather radar. He offered me the wing with nothing down, pay as I can for 9K the bike had about 22K miles on it. I loved the bells and whistles, but being 6'3" 280ish lbs the wing did not fit me well. When I road for a long distance and put my feet on the highway bars my left leg would get hot from the engine. Over all the Wing is a great bike, but I was glad without paying for it, it was not the bike for me. So he sold it. He was the one that did the research and found my 07 RSV, I had never heard of it.

 

I really wanted a Victory Vision or a Indian Chief. I have a 01 Deluxe Cruiser that I love. I love the Victory engine, but Victory has stopped servicing the older bikes, an oil change is 70-80 dollars using the Victory oil change kit and doing it yourself. Much like HD the parts are very expensive, unlike HD or other bikes repair shops are far and few between. So because money is tight I decided not to go with a Victory for my next bike.

 

Bottom line, we found my 07 RSV in the next town over and I got it for 6K and I love it. It fits me well, I love the way it feels and looks. My only down side to the RSV is they did not update the electronics to keep up with the times. I think this is a common complaint in here. I mean come on an 07 with a cassette player. I believe they stopped making the RSV in 2015 you would think upgrades to the sound system would be easy to come by but yamaha really never upgraded it.

 

I also wish the RSV was fuel injected too.

 

But those are minor complaints. I bought this bike almost a year ago with 13K on it, and it now has 23k and I haven't even been on a long trip.

[BlueSky]

I went to the local Honda/Suzuki motorcycle dealer today just to see what they had. I've been thinking about maybe getting a newer fuel injected bike to replace both of my old bikes. There wasn't anything there that appealed to me. They had the new adventure bikes like the 650 and 1000 V strom. No appeal to me. They had a new red Goldwing in the showroom that looked nice. I know they are the ultimate in touring bikes and are great machines but it looked like a boat on two wheels to me. They had cruisers. Just don't do anything for me. My 89 Venture's looks appeal to me more than the wing. And it still looks like a new bike with only 6k miles on it. That V4 sounds much better too. It stirs my soul! I bought the Venture because my wife complained about the small hard seat on the ZN700. But, she doesn't want to ride with me and the Venture is a big bike for one person. Discussions on the forum have got me to thinking about a Honda ST1300 or BMW R1150RT. Fun to look anyway.

[camos]

I went to the local Honda/Suzuki motorcycle dealer today just to see what they had. I've been thinking about maybe getting a newer fuel injected bike to replace both of my old bikes. There wasn't anything there that appealed to me. They had the new adventure bikes like the 650 and 1000 V strom. No appeal to me.

I'm in the same boat and totally know what you are talking about.

 

They had a new red Goldwing in the showroom that looked nice. I know they are the ultimate in touring bikes and are great machines but it looked like a boat on two wheels to me. They had cruisers. Just don't do anything for me.

The Goldwing is the closest thing to a motorcycle that I might possibly be willing to consider except that it is somewhere between being a motorcycle and a car which is just not good enough.

 

My 89 Venture's looks appeal to me more than the wing. And it still looks like a new bike with only 6k miles on it. That V4 sounds much better too. It stirs my soul! I bought the Venture because my wife complained about the small hard seat on the ZN700. But, she doesn't want to ride with me and the Venture is a big bike for one person. Discussions on the forum have got me to thinking about a Honda ST1300 or BMW R1150RT. Fun to look anyway.

I bought my first Venture because I loved the look of it and for a bit of touring as well. When I take the Virago for a ride, it is so not enough, too little, too uncomfortable, too not powerful. I ride my Venture almost every day of the year and find it to be just right, certainly not too big and sometimes a bit too small on a trip to Costco. All the current sport touring bikes are too much sport and not enough touring for me. Sitting in the Venture is so much better than sitting on any other bike.

[BlueSky]

I owned a 1983 Yamaha 750 Virago in the past. It was a good bike but to me it felt under powered and it vibrated. Another thing I didn't like that wasn't the bike's fault was that a PO had put straight pipes on it. They sounded good for about 15 minutes of riding.

 

My smaller bike that I have now is a 1985 kawasaki ZN700. The 4 cyl engine has 74 hp and in a 500 lb bike it screams pretty good. No lack of power and the 4 is smooth. Just has a small seat that won't do for riding any distance.

[cowpuc]

You just never know what you like until you ride it. Usually the magazine test riders (and maybe everyone else) have a different agenda than you.

 

I am soooo right there with you Sky, buying the right bike is a like buying a really good fitting pair of Boots.. IMHO, you cant just read about how good they feel on someone elses feet and order a pair. You never know until you try em on and take a few steps..

I have never had the chance to ride one of the newer Wings but have bought/sold a few of the older ones and I could just never stretch out on them because of the engine design. Also did a few of the early Kawasaki Voyager 2's.. I really liked those bikes but they were also to low slung and left me crunched up in the saddle and could not stretch out on them either.. I do gotta say though, those Voyagers (talking about the inline 1200cc) looked great and got AWESOME MPG's.. Picked up our first 1st Gen MK1 back in 87,,, fit like that perfect pair of boots, ran like a scalded dog and toted my kids and I all over the country with very little problems.. Now after wearing out 5 of them (considering Tweeks as worn out) it seems like my backside is permanently molded in the shape of the MK1 saddle..

Problem with me is once I get onto to something like that there's no looking back and these MK1's are not getting any younger.. I often wish Mom Yam would just put the 83 Venture back into production (with the updated stator, water pump and hardened tranny shim of course - I am fine with carbs). I know a lot of modern day bikers that would look at Mom Yam and laugh at them if they did BUT I would not be one of them.. I still think those original Ventures were the greatest touring scoot ever built

[BlueSky]

There are still lots of low mileage Gen I's out there that come up for sale occasionally!

[yamagrl]

these MK1's are not getting any younger.. I often wish Mom Yam would just put the 83 Venture back into production (with the updated stator, water pump and hardened tranny shim of course - I am fine with carbs). I know a lot of modern day bikers that would look at Mom Yam and laugh at them if they did BUT I would not be one of them.. I still think those original Ventures were the greatest touring scoot ever built

 

 

I must agree. When I found Big Red I fell madly, deeply, hopelessly in love... There is simply none other that matches up. Big Red is no doubt "high maintenance" But, I sometimes wonder what I'd do without him. The alternatives? 5,10,20, maybe $30,000 or more... for something that doesn't really even match up.

 

So what's a girl to do?

[BlueSky]

After reading the comprehensive testing the LAPD did on potential police bikes, I don't think I'd buy a BMW R bike. The manufacturer gives an acceptable oil temp of up to about 300 degrees as acceptable. 400 degrees for the Harley oil temperature acceptability! No air/oil cooled bikes.