cowpuc

As always = looks GREAT Don!!! Definitely a welcome addition to the family - I cant wait to read all about the opinion of the new bike once a club member or 2 or 20 take the leap.. As always, the REAL proof is in the ride!!!!!! Hopefully it sells and we get to see some new iron on the open road!! WOW what a party in New York!! Lots of people regardless of the rainy weather we had.. It was a really fun time being surrounded by Venture lovers and touring comrades from all over the place - even had a guy ride in from Guada La Hara Mexico for the unveiling. VERY good turn out!! Got Tweeksis parked inside the gate, looked up and there sat a pretty Blonde MK2 at 11 oclock and a 2nd Gen at 2 oclock. The 2nd Gen belonged to another club member named "Russ". We chatted for a while about the unveiling soon to take place.. Was fun!! Anyway, THANKS for getting right on making any future Venture riders welcome here by getting the site ready!! LONG LIVE THE Yamaha/Star VENTURE!!!!

Just got in from the unveiling in NY Coff - sounds like you got things under control = hope its all going smoother for you now = got EXCELLENT advice as always happening here!! Those little hand held impacts are awesome little tools.. Also have successfully used a very small brazing tip on the torch = heat up the bolt when stuck, helps to break it loose.

I have had my share of flat tires on bikes thru the years.. The art of riding a full sized, fully loaded tour bike with a passenger on the back down from 70 miles an hour with a flat tire is an unforgettable experience, especially when you get below 25 mph and the bike does the dog track routine down the road with no intent of staying upright - that precision counter steer required to maintain forward motion to a stop without high siding always makes me sqweemish.. The memories I have of those experiences with both Tips and/or one of my kids fingernail prints forever imbedded into my sides are a constant reminder to me that = yes,, its ok to have fun wearing out cheap tires (as long as they carry at least a 75H load rating) but once they, or even a high end tire, get a hole in em I get the spoons out.. I may do a road side repair (I havent had good luck with repairing tires once I have ridden them down from a high speed flat) to get to a new tire but thats about the full extent of my trust of a patch/plug on a bike tire.. Car = YOU BETCHA,,, Bicycle = alll day long,, dirt bike = patching tubes is a way of life,, 2 up touring - not me,, never did trust ol Murph...

Be it ever soooo hummmmmble there's nooo place like home - and WE MADE IT!!!!!!!! Wowzy = what a trip!! Lots and lots to write about,, Route "8" thru the Adirondike Park is amazing - OH MY GOODNESS IS THAT LAKE GEORGE AREA AWESOME, Tweeksis did SUPER and the new $45 Kenda Challenger back tire that I spooned on before we left turned out to be one of, if not THE best rain tire I have ever owned (yep - we got soaked,, WOW did it RAIN - I swear those New York rain drops were 3/4 inch in diameter)!! Found out that, probably because of its Nylon carcass, once it got warmed up the high speed bounce I was experiencing completely vanished = smooth as glass 2 up, loaded for CTFW and running 85/95 smooth as glass... Americade was AWESOME to say the least,, I know - I am a geezer but I REALLY liked the antique bike display - they had an inline 4 early Indian with a side car that was BREATH TAKING!! Oppss,, got off to an early hijack - this thread is about the unveiling.. Gotta admit,, like some of you other passionate V-4 lop eared varmints, I too was really hoping for something that really was gonna turn the touring market upside down as marketed.. I confess,, having been around Yamaha for many many years with a fair amount of those years straddling the V-Max powered MK1 Venture that I love so much,, plus KNOWING that Yamaha has always been known for extreme innovation like "the v-boost", turboing that lil 650, the Banshee, the RZ's, the RD's, the Mono-Shock, that AMAZING 5 valved motor in my R1 (talk about putting a smile on your face the size of Texas and scaring the daylights out of ya - that little 1000cc bike will lift the front tire at 140) , the YZF400 and on and on I was having dreams of a 1700cc V-4 twin turbo boosted motor with shoulder seperating TORQUE to die for right off the bottom and HP on the pipe that not even one of the new 170 hp Beemers could even come close to allll while maintaining amazing the MPG's that only turbo motors can dream of - literally,,,,,,, I let my imagination get the best of me... As everyone knows, that didnt happen... Similar to the Indian unveiling out at Sturgis, they had the bikes covered and in a dark area beside the stage. They pulled the covers and hit the start buttons and I instantly knew we were talking V-Twin - POOP I said out loud. As the guy riding the new Venture pulled up close to Tip and I (sitting in the front row) I instantly recognized the motor as a 1900cc Strat motor (I am familiar with them, my nephew bought a brand new Strat in 06 - have spent a fair amount of time on it - GOOD MOTOR but being a long bike/Chopper guy - I prefer that 113 inch push rod sweet heart in the Raider but thats just me). Double surprise for me was the Victory Vision look of the new bike, IMHO - I could not help but wonder if some of the design staff from the now defunct Polaris Victory line had made their way into Yamaha RnD or something.. I like to play on bikes,, allll bikes, and I do a LOT of demoing bikes just for the fun of it. I have ridden my share of Vics thru the years and gotta say - I was always amazed at how they rode, especially the Vision 8 Ball and,, for some reason,, I could sense that style in the new Yam.. Maybe this one will have that "feel".. Something that occurred to me as I sat there thinking thru all that fog,,,,,, Polaris dumped Vic because they simply did not sell (right from the Polaris history book) - I am sure the folks at Yamaha have done a TON of research and have some awesome ideas on how to pull Harley Davidson air cooled V-Twin, belt drive riders away from The Motor Company like Polaris couldn't do with the Vics but, for the life of me,, I dont know how - them HD riders are a very loyal bunch.. Polaris is currently trying to do the same thing with their new Indians and, IMHO, they seem to be having a rough go at it - especially while maintaining at matching MSRP to comparable HD's. Like the Vics,, there seems to be a fair amount of left over Indians (and AWESOME prices) in the dealerships around Michigan. Truthfully,, I was 100% shocked by the whole unveiling,, was it fun - INDEED.. Was it a let down - yes but only because my perspective of what constitutes a "touring bike" is very skewed from years of CTFW.. I am used to seeing lots of Wings, a fair amount of Gen 2 Ventures, numerous Beemers, an occasional Voyager out on the tour, a fair amount of modern day adventure bikes and, of course, my backside is shaped like the seat of the most amazing touring bike of all time who has the heart of the most Iconic muscle bike ever made - the MK1 Venture = have seen my share of the MK1's and 2's too. Those are "touring bikes" IMHO.. Get close to town, any town, and the ENDLESS stream of Harleys and clones become thicker than fog in the Smokies - V-Twins RULE the suburbs but,, again IMHO,,, the tour is a different breed and I honestly thought this unveil was about a straight up, over turning of the touring bike industry, full fledged touring bike as I knew it - I was wrong = definitely an attack on the HD target market and not a threat to the Wing industry = IMHO, the folks at Honda can now go back to work knowing the piece of the touring pie they have owned for a longgg time is still not threatened.. I know one thing,, one of the games I love to play at the air cooled v-twin Rally is to give that little 74 inch motored V-4 Tweeks some reigns when we pass a large group of those air cooled v-twin riders headed that way.. Then get onto main street and watch the riders we passed back there come slowly working thru the crowds while duck walking with their legs splayed wayyy out and ladies on the back telling them they are cooking all while trying to keep from burning their thighs while maintaining composure.. As I examined the passenger design lay out on the new Venture it dawned on me that it appears Yamaha chose to protect the passenger from heat on the new bike - pretty amazing actually. I looked closely at this new bike while I sat there with it right in from of me at Americade and could not help but wonder if keeping mama happy because she wont be getting burned is Yamaha's way of agreeing to that old saying about "if Momma's happy everyone's happy"? Personally, I still think I will continue to play "the game" and see whether Mom Yam's new air cooled touring bike riders will still be competing in it even though their passengers might not be..

Wowzy, 8 thru the adrondakes is awesome. Nothing hair pin like the dragon but nice sweepers and amazing scenery. Right date, in lake george n bikes every where. Talked to mom yam folks, 7 pm is a go.. wish i could sneak past security and get this over with, we been waitin a longggggggggg time for this new 1700cc vmax motor venture lol

Rain chased us all the way to victor ny before we tossed the tent at 2 am. Zigged n zagged across canada to avoid the wet n worked good. Great spot to camp in the willies of new york. Now ay syracuse, skys are on and off clear, nice. Was told americade where the new 1700 vmax motored venture is being uveiled is the sturgis of the east coast, funny we have seen no other bikes but us headed that way. Hope we have the rightbdates for rally n unveil. Be going north out of utica across the adirondakes to lake george. Dont care if daye is wrong, tips, tweeksis n i are having a blast. Feels good to be back ctfw afterb3 years off. Love to all Tip, tweeksis n me

Yep,, I miss country living too.. Raised our family on 20 acres surrounded by over 5 thousand acres of State Forest = a virtual playground!! The only hard part was there was just under 5 miles of gravel road to get to our home and once the kids started driving (they grew up driving junk cars on two tracks and power lines = their "go carts" so drivers training was a breeze) car maintenance became a real chore = career opportunity wrenching on 6 cars that were being destroyed by wash boarded gravel roads.. This old Blueberry patch (C Video) was part of a HUGE farm that the state of Mi bought out. There were miles and miles of dirtbiking/snowmobile trails all around this Patch.. Living here in this resort like area near our State Park does have its benefits for us older folks now BUT - just like the rest of my friends here = I am still a lop eared country boy varmint at heart too = Tip is too,, she still says that our little wood burning stove provided wayyy nicer heat then this natural gas furnace does

Bikes done and ready to rock, gonna snap on the tent and leave here around 1 on Sunday afternoon with hopes to arrive Niagra Falls area before dark.. Not even sure what the roads are across Ontario but I do know there is a main road I have ridden across several times = almost a straight line shot going east from our house to Lake George.. Only issue I see at this time is the weather out east right now = cold and lots of rain? I am still under a low immune system warning and gotta be careful about getting chilled.. Today it was 80 here and BEAUTIFUL - was telling Tip that because of Lake George being straight east of us = they should be getting this weather we have been getting just about on time to make for a great rally out there = the weather man out there does not agree, talking high of 60 degrees and 90% wet Sunday thru Tuesday:bang head:.. Gotta play it by ear - hoping and praying by Sunday afternoon those eastern weather forecasters will come to their senses. If they do, we would be thrilled to share a cup of coffee with anyone wanting to hook up along the trail that has the gorgeous new 1700cc Vmax motored 3rd Gen Yamaha Venture at the end of it!!!!

:scared:Woaaa deee boat,, woaaa deeee boat.... Absolutely POSITIVELY no doubt about it you two - if Riv's got the perfect match for your bike Blaine and can get you on the road with no alterations needed (if your like me, I have done enough alterations to satisfy my need to alter for the rest of my life) and you both end up with exactly what you want:clap2::dancefool: - Cowpuc says GO FOR IT !! Positively, absolutely, beyond a shadow of a doubt NO hard feelings on my end WHAT SO EVER - my love for you two varmints will remain the same either way!!! Now get the job(s) done and get those scoots out CTFW where they belong!!!!!!!!! DO IT = problem solved!! :thumbsup:

Here what got so far Skyster,,,, tire balanced up ok.. Running spec for max load PSI at two up - does good up to 80.. Running 1 up at triple digits and above, actually starts at 85,, it does develop a slight high speed bounce.. Gets worse as ya close in on 120.. Smooths right back out at under 85.. I got a theory that the tire mass on the carcuss may be a bit much.. Also relooking at tire spec stamp shows this tire as a "4 nylon ply" = most of the other Load Range 77h's I have worn out showed added belts on the side walls.. I am wondering if the nylon 4 ply might be ok for load range but not so nice when it gets hot from high speed action/two up riding which adds to out of balance feel at high speeds.. My R1 tires are carbon fiber reinforced and VERY light weight. 160 plus and still as smooth as glass.. Understand of course that the R1 is under 400 pounds dry weight BUT - high speeds still probably take some special thoughts in tire design. Got a call out to Kenda, thinking if I dont hear something real soon about it Tip, Tweeks and I will just run this thing out to New York for the unveiling and see what happens.. If anyone see's us sitting on the side of the road between here/Niagra Falls/Lake George and ya happen to be carrying a 140/16 bike tire in your trunk - your invited to stop = I will carry xtra cash to buy your tire and give you a coupon for 20 free hot dogs at our next MGnEM.. No ABSOLUTE truer words have EVER been spoken Roller - if we do make this unveiling and they pull the sheet back to reveal the new Venture we are all hoping for = I will actually be disappointed if it doesnt have a cassette deck - or at least one listed on its "options" sheet PS Roller - as always = sorry about the nonsense again brother!! THANK YOU for loving me/us in spite of myself/ourselves.. We got a small bike tire shop here locally.. Owner of the place and I go wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy back to the times that he worked for the local Honda Shop swapping tires.. He has a bargin bin for tires that dont sell.. I always keep an eye out on that bin cause I am even wayyy cheaper than you Riv.. I do that before I order off Ebay... Thats where I found this one.. It's build date was 2015 so no problem there IMHO - worth a shot for $45 bucks.. Verdicts still not out though - might wanna keep an eye out here before ya go ordering one.. Riv - I have bought a TON of tires off Ebay too - usually find some good deals there. Whenever I go west out across the desert region like you run AZZI in, I find a cheapy for Tweeks on Ebay and have it shipped to my daughters house in California.. Fact is, I have ran everything from high end stuff to dirt cheap and regardless - the high tarmac heat of the desert EATS the rubber off the tires to the point that its ready for a swap out when we get to the kids. One trip I did this routine with a 404 and never made it to California. We did a fair amount of playing and by the time we got into Moab Utah, @ just under 3500 miles, that tire was ready for a swap.. Guy in Moab wanted close to 200 bucks for that same tire that I had paid 75 bucks for just before we left.. Passed and headed for Richland (think that was the name of the place - something like that = next closest dealer) - the 404 was also the ONLY tire the Yam Shop had BUT wayy cheaper = 130 bucks (UNREAL).. Time we got to the Kids house I ended up changing it again.. I of these days I am gonna spring the 225 for a high end dual compound and see how they handle the load in the desert heat.. I am getting way to old for all this spooning tires on and off THANKS CARL = I really appreciate your input and I am certain other do too!! YOU DA MAN!!!

Our buddy Fool,, he aint no fool!!! Wellll,, maybe next winter when I am standing in 5 feet of snow I will feel different but right now he's not...

Anyone know if a MK1 cap will fit Auggies MK2?

Rodney where in tarnation did you find that motivational thingy stuff? I been searchin and searchin for some.. I got a basement shop, garage man cave and even tent garage that all need your kinda tlc but,, simply put,, aint no one around our area dealin in that motovatin stuff... Not that my intentions aint righteous - just seems like everytime I meander out to do the right thing - one of these scoots twists my arm and away we go!! Tip says I remind her of "Billy" from the Family Circle in the Sunday Paper.. You know,, the little guy who's mama give him instructions to go out to the mail box and the paper = 3 hours later he comes back with no paper and the cartoonist leaves a trail of all the places little Billy has been...

PRAISE GOD BECKY IS OK BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please give her a hug for us and let her know she has our love and prayers of thanksgiving Bob!! WOW - that could have been a LOT worse!!!

Thanks Sky for having your buddies back = THAT is greatly appreciated brother!!! Took a couple quick snaps of the spec stamp on the Challenger = posted below. Of course, when I was picking thru the tire rack at our local tire pub that stamp was what I went by.. Never even really gave it much thought beyond that. Maybe time for a tire debate, see if anyone else has had any experience with the "Kenda Challenger".. Think I will see if I can find a number for Kenda Tire and see if I can actually speak to a techy about it.. It is a very sturdy looking piece, real deep tread (way deeper than any Dunlop or Michelin I have had) BUT - I do know looks can easily be deceiving AND heavy tread does not mean it expels heat well or wont wear fast.. Wonder if MiCarl would have any thoughts on this subject.. DEFINITELY always worth mentioning this stuff BlueSky! I would do it for you too IN A HEART BEAT!! Thanks! Puc

Old Chinese proverb = He who rides on Tigers back can never get off New Pucnese proverb = Tiger who rides on back of motorcycle must have Sabertooth in bloodline

Nope, I am sure its snot.. Still the ol gotta shift er routine.. Probably does have the reverse though.. I am thinking its identicle to the one I just posted on craigs for my next door neighbor shown here: https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/mcy/6156423583.html only it has the trike kit on it. This neighbors bike is the one with the really really hard to get at carb system - it cost him 1200 bucks to have honda redo the carbs cause I couldnt get my deformed hands in there to help him rebuild em.. If I did go look at that trike or if you were to look at a 1500 wing = first thing to check is for the typical flat spot as you spin er up from an idle = can be deadly in an intersection if you wick it up and it hesitates - no cheap fix for it if it needs help.. You and talked about that a while back on the phone - remember? Or was that a geezer dream on my end? You aint ready for a automatic yet any way are ya? If so,,, thinking I saw a 350 Chevy powered automatic Boss Hoss trike at sturgis a few years ago - looked like a 57 Chevy from the rear end...

She is GORGEOUS Dave - just GORGEOUS!!! You getting any miles on her?

Yea,, you and me,, we DEFINITELY share in that opinion brother!!! Tweeksis has been kind of down in the dumps lately,, was thinkin she was a little preturbed with me about all the time I been spending ripping up the roads on my bucket list R1.. Just not feeling herself and I wasnt sure why.. Also, on the way home from "Sams Joint" (grandsons house = his name is Sam) I noticed some strange vibes and told Tip I thought it was tire time - checked the rear,, sure enough = cords just starting to peak thru in one small spot.. Spent yesterday spooning on a new rear tire - picked up a Kenda Challenger - right size 140/90 "C" rated, 77h for load rating, not a bad looking tire for $45 bucks.. I LOVE testing cheap tires. Worst I ever got was 3500 miles from a 404 Dunny - this new Kenda is WAY beafier than the Dunny - cant wait to see how she wears - hoping to try er out on a rip across Canada to catch that unveiling - will definitely take LOTS of pics to share if we are able to make it = want to go REALLY REALLY bad.. Did her tuning, oil change and all that too.. Noticed some odd readings on the sync gauges,, found out she had an issue with a diaphram.. Poor things been draggin a cylinder for a while = these things run amazingly well on 3 cylinders but WOW does she like the repair Swear I saw her at Maggie the R1 a bit ago!! PS = the light spot on the diaphram is light from my pen light shining thru ,, there were FIVE of those holes:scared:

Got that right bro - man wants to play - mans gotta pay... Speaking of playin,, you still thinkin trike? Just noticed this one last night on Craigs. https://muskegon.craigslist.org/mcy/6155030068.html The guy in the pic looks really familiar to me, not sure but I think I may have crossed paths with him somewhere along the trail while out CTFW.. Anyway, Cloverville aint to far from our home in North Muskegon - be happy to shoot over and get a peek at it if you need me too..

No sireeeeeeeeee,, ol Pucster dont need no blastin of that nasty stuff Fool - you can aim those nozzles in a Northerly direction!! And yes sireeeee,, definitely the :bikersmilie::bikersmilie::bikersmilie::bikersmilie:,,, me and Maggie the R1 been having alllll kind of fun!! Gotta admit though,, Tip and I been chasing around some on the :moped: too,, them little putt putts is much fun too IMHO .. Hey,, when ya gonna launch that rocket ship ya been workin on?

My bad @djh3 - I TOTALLY missed your comment here!! Indeed brother - that motor design was wayyyyy cool!! Thinking it was 80's stuff if its the one I am thinking of.. Those pistons were actually kind of like two pistons molded together to form an oval shaped single piston = really trick!! If I recall, Honda had to use dual rods to support each piston and I am sure the crank was extremely special too - sort made me think of a V-4 with a V-8 at its soul (counting the rods).. Been having allllll kinds of fun with my latest bucket list scoot = R1 Yam... AMAZING bike Deej!! Only bring it up cause I have a hunch that Piston/Rod mass on that Honda had to be a limiting factor for high speed revs (more weight at each stroke, size is harder to rev up without coming unglued.. Maybe I am wrong but, if we are both thinking the same Honda design here = just an aweful lot going on there for a high revver IMHO = wayyyyy worth a shot though, gotta love those HRC fellers!!

:178::178::178::178::178::178::178::178::178::178: The body may be in trouble but the heart/spirit is ohhhhhhhhhh sooooooooooo willing!!!

If we didnt have the new grandson for that weekend we would have grabbed Tweeksis and headed that way FOR SURE!! Absolutely, positively looks like my kind of really really fun stuff!!!!

OUTSTANDING DALE = hope you and Doug have nothing but the FINEST of adventure out there in the Wild West my friends!!! Keep your tires inflated and tanks full in case you have to outrun any claim jumpers in the Black Hills and dont let that Divey get robbed by any One Armed Bandiits .. Wish I could be with you varmints!! Puc PS = 's please,,,