New Member with New Venture

[Gary Merriott]

OK, it's only new to me. Just traded my '01 wing for a '99 Venture. A guy in my riding club had wanted my wing since I got it. He had purchased the Venture last year and just wasn't up to handling it, had dropped it several times at walking speeds.

Anyway, I have a couple cages that need work and needed cash and he made an offer I couldn't refuse.

Another member of the club rides a Cream colored Venture and really loves it so I thought I'd be ok. And I love it! It does have it's problems though. It really "flops" over at parking lot speeds. I'm going to replace the front tire, the current one is really worn (a 150?! wow) I also plan to add a wider handlebar for leverage. Has anyone replaced theirs? I could use a suggestion or two. It also dawned on me that it would probably help to replace the steering head bearing with tapered rollers. Does anyone have experience with that procedure? Maybe a part #?

I know I'm asking a lot for a first day member but having read a couple hundred other letters in the forum I feel someone out there will have the answers.

I'm looking forward to a long and fruitfull membership in your group.

Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.

[Obber]

Saw you go by the house Wednesday evening. Welcome to the site. Have learned more from these guys than I ever could imagine. here's a thread that talks about front tires and the effects of different sizes.

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20815&highlight=tire+size

 

Forgot one thing, we must have pictures of your new ride!!!

:photographing:

[Sleeperhawk]

I went with the smaller front tire, improved slow speed handling immensly for me.

 

Also swapped out bar for Flander Bar and some use risers. Lots of threads for both

 

Here is one I started and had questions when installing.

Buckeye Performance helped out a lot.

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18579&highlight=flander

[BradT]

Welcome Gary, Enjoy your stay !

 

Brad

[Guest DragonSlayer]

The Venture already has tapered roller bearings in the steering head but they might need to be adjusted. Try a MT90/16 (or 130/90-16) tire on the front. It's almost like adding power steering.

[BuddyRich]

And for parking lot speeds

http://www.ridelikeapro.com Will really help you at walking speeds

 

[Jerry W]

Gary,

I lowered the front end of my RSV by sliding the forks up through the tripple tree, makes a lot of difference in low speed handling. It is not hard monification and it is free. There is a great write up, with pictures in the technical section. You kinda' need a motorcycle jack to get the weight off the front tire, but that should not be hard to come up with.

[Obber]

Gary,

I lowered the front end of my RSV by sliding the forks up through the triple tree, makes a lot of difference in low speed handling. It is not hard modification and it is free. There is a great write up, with pictures in the technical section. You kinda' need a motorcycle jack to get the weight off the front tire, but that should not be hard to come up with.

 

Hey Jerry,

Gary's RSV already had this done. He got the bike Dennis had. I helped Dennis lower his last fall before I went back to work.

[hipshot]

welcome gary! seems as you are not as much a "stranger" to the north texas bunch, as the rest of us!

pull up a chair and call it home.

you WILL be here a lot!

just jt

[V7Goose]

Get a good set of tires on the bike first before you decide to change the bars. You don't say what tires are on there now, but from your description, I'd bet a fair amount they are the stock Brickstones. Once you have the right tires, you should find the steering at slow speeds is neutral and you are no longer fighting the bars. You may still want to change the bars to get a different length of pull back or different hand position, but you probably won't need better leverage.

Goose

[venture1]

Could someone please post the recommended stock sizes front and back for Avons!

[Squidley]

Could someone please post the recommended stock sizes front and back for Avons!

 

 

Stock tire sizes Stock tire size

2nd gen

150/80-16 Front

150/90-15 Rear

 

1st gen

120/90-18 Front

140/90-16 Rear

[buddy]

Gary,

 

You dint have to buy a Venture to join the family! And YES you can get alot of help from these guys as for performance and parts changing. Sorry your already having to work on your bike. Did your Wing give you trouble for you to trade it off?

Once you get the bugs or kinks worked out your going to Love the ride for sure. Let us know how your New toy turns out.....

 

buddy