YamaGeezer
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Everything posted by YamaGeezer
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I rode two different Ultra Classics a couple of weekends ago. Their owners rode my Venture. Riding the UCs didn't feel any different to me. Of course, maybe if I'd put on my pirate gear, it would have been different.
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Rear End Noise
YamaGeezer replied to Disciple Rider's topic in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)
If I'm not mistaken, there's a new TSB out from Yamaha that deals with drivetrain (sp?) alignment on our Ventures. Or, at least that was what I was told by my dealership in Greenville. I developed a bad "clicking" noise in my rear hub. I was also upset at the noise my drivetrain was making after they put new tires on the bike last month (grinding, whiney noise). I took it in last week because they said they needed to realign the drivetrain. They did it with shims. They also re-lubed everything. The clicking noise is gone, and the whole drivetrain it quieter after the work. It now gains speed coasting down the Saluda Grade (a steep hill) with the clutch engaged - before it would lose speed. My gas mileage has also gotten better (42-44mpg today on a 525 mile ride vs. 35-38mpg before the work). It still ain't perfectly quiet, but much better than before. I'm loving the bike again. Has anyone else had this work done to their bike? -
My friend at work just bought a 2009 Ultra Classic. He went to 8 different HD dealerships in three different states, and $24K was the best he could do. He got a few T-shirts thrown into the deal. Don't know if he's just sucker when it comes to making a deal, but he sure put in the effort to get a '09 cheaper. Ended up buying it from the HD dealership in his hometown (HD of Greenville). I know you can get a '09 Venture for $15K. And you won't have to travel to dealerships in 3 states to get it.
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Can you give us directions to the Rooster Tail?
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Unless they have radiators, I'm not interested. "Geezer"
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The BRP is my favorite place in the world. I love it even more than the beach! My wife Dianne and I are prepared to accompany anyone who wants to ride the Parkway. Just drop a line and we're there! I'm about an hour away. My bike automatically goes to the Parkway just about every weekend. Hope to see some of you there! "Geezer"
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On a ride to the Dragon with some friends a few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to ride both a 2005 Ultra Classic and a 2009 Ultra Classic. My friend payed 24K+ for the 2009. Both bikes shook badly at idle. They smoothed out once we got going. The shifters were clanky on both - very clanky on the '09. Both bikes were much, much smaller than my Venture. I felt cramped and uncomfortable, even on the bigger '09. I thought both were sluggish, but handled very well in the curves. Both were much hotter on my legs than my Venture. I loved the gauges on the dashes and the better speakers. Both had stock seats. Those, combined with the seating position, would almost certainly mean I couldn't ride for more than a hour before having to get off the bike. They both rode mine and the only complaint they had was the gear noise, which didn't surprise me. Made in America or not, I do not understand what the attraction is to HD's tourers. They're beautiful, no doubt. They sound good. But looking at it and hearing it is not riding. The Venture is a smoother, faster and more comfortable ride. I really felt good about my bike once I got back on it.
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If Honda was stupid enough to stop producing and selling the Valkyries, don't put it past Yamaha to stop making the Venture. Competing against Goldwings and Ultra Classics must be very difficult. That's pretty much all you see on the highways nowadays. Even the new Kaw Voyager isn't selling, I'm told. Maybe ending the Venture is a good business decision, but the touring market will definitely suffer. The Honda isn't for everyone. The UC is way too small for true traveling comfort, in my opinion. A true redesign of the Venture isn't needed, either. Just some tweaks, like FI and better brakes, more guages on the dash and a better sound system. I personally believe the bike already has plenty of power for touring. The EPA is going to eventually force HD to go water cooled. Maybe they're redesign the UC and those of us not sure if we'll keep the Ventures forever will have a good option.
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new bike needed..thinking a about a road glide
YamaGeezer replied to davepa's topic in Watering Hole
I think I'd be highly interested in the Valkyrie on this site - if I was in the market for a bike - which I'm not. Valkyrie - bad, bad machine. Honda musta been insane to stop making them. They should have stopped making the Accord instead. -
Why do the ventures whine?
YamaGeezer replied to Red Rider's topic in Royal Star Venture Tech Talk ('99 - '13)
The question I have is why a bike without significant low end torque needs straight cut gears? My previous bike, a VTX 1800, had enough low end torque to pull stumps out of the ground - yet, the drivetrain / transmission was whisper quiet. I had the "I" basket put on my bike earlier this month for the chirp. THE CHIRP AND THE WHINE ARE NOT THE SAME THING! While the new basket made the chirp a lot better, it appears to have increased the volume of the gear whine. It's getting louder the more miles I put on her, and I absolutely hate it. I have to tell you - I think I'd rather live with the chirp it had before than continue to tolerate the whine it has developed since the basket change. The whine is worse to me by far. If your chirp isn't too bad, keep the basket you have as the new basket may open up a whole new can of worms. I love this motorcycle, but dang, I miss my VTX sound (or lack thereof). My dealership, whose service dept. is very good, says they can't help me with this. I haven't asked that they put the old basket back on the bike, hoping the whine will improve with time. I think what will eventually happen is that I'll trade the bike in for different tourer. Maybe a Goldwing or Voyager. Right now I'd lose my butt on a trade in, so I'm pretty much stuck with it. Good luck trying to fix what appears to be unfixable. -
The Blue/Black combination is '07 model year. I know this because when I bought my '07 Midnight, I liked the Blue/Black, but it reminded me of Duke's colors, and being a Tar Heel and all....well, it just wouldn't do. Love my Midnight!
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If you listen closely, Harley riders even bad mouth their own. UC riders will make fun of someone riding a Sportster. They all speak badly of someone riding a V-Rod. I believe the attitudes appear when they buy the Harleys. Nice folks prior to that. Another reason I bought a Venture.
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At my last service (approx. 9,500 miles), I had three things done to my bike that made it seem like a new machine: I got the "I" basket installed (at no expense to me), had leveling links put on and had it retreaded with Michelins. It handles better, rides better, and doesn't chirp at all right now. I'm loving life. Get the "I" basket. It will not make it worse.
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I also wash mine normally, using Turtle Wax "Ice" Car Wash, which is a fantastic product. New on the market, I think. Really foams up well and leaves a great shine. I then blow my bike off with a leaf blower. My neighbors probably think I'm wacko. But at my age, what's wrong with a little wacko, anyway?
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Yep, just like Harley-Davidson discovered.
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That Black Cherry Venture to the left in the first pic puts that Hardly to shame. Just my opinion, of course.
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Howdy all - Those of you who put the leveling links on your RSV and ride 2-up - did the leveling links increase the wind buffeting for your passenger? My wife loves to ride, but hated the buffeting we experienced on other bikes we've owned. Without the links, she's loving the Venture. Will she love it after I install the links? Thanks!
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My bike came with the Dunlop 404s. They've been pretty good and have lasted 10,000 miles. Michelin Commanders will replace them, front and back, and all future replacements will be Michelin. Outstanding motorcycle tire.
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Skyline Drive is very nice and beautiful, but nothing, and I mean nothing, blows the Blue Ridge Parkway away. The BRP is a motorcyclists paradise. If you think SD blows it away, you rode the Parkway too quickly.
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Roadliner 1900 S to a Venture... Should I take the plunge?
YamaGeezer replied to jgreenfi's topic in Watering Hole
I traded in a VTX 1800 on the '07 Midnight Venture. At first, I thought I'd made a big mistake. I couldn't seem to get the hang of riding the V4 after riding only V-twins previously. Once I got it right (mostly by reading a lot about it on this forum), I'd never, ever go back. I love this bike like no other I've ever had. That VTX would bald a rear tire in 6,000 miles. I couldn't stay out of the gas enough to keep tread on the rear tire. I just now ordered new tires for the '07 and I have almost 12,000 miles on it. If there is one complaint I have about my Venture, it's that Mustang doesn't make a seat that fits it. I loved my Mustang seat on the VTX. That is the only thing about the VTX I really miss. Good luck in your decision! You'll be happy with a Venture, I'm positive. -
I don't know what Yamaha is going to do with the Venture. In fact, I'm not sure they'll do anything at all, which would be a shame. With Kawa's introduction of this new Voyager, you'd think the brains at Yamaha would see the threat to future Venture sales and at least make it public that they're redesigning the Venture if that's what they are in the process of doing. No specifics necessary - knowing a redesign is coming would be enough to delay the purchase of the Kawa if one is a true lover of the Venture. On the other hand, I'm not sure Yamaha can top this bike. From every angle, this Voyager is one of the best looking touring bikes I've ever seen. It obvious that the designers and engineers at Kawasaki spent a lot of time and effort on this bike. They seem to have forgotten nothing, and I'm amazed at what they've done here. It's almost like they came on this site, studied our posts about what we want the next Venture to be, then went out and built it. In my opinion, even Honda's Goldwing will suffer sales losses to this bike. If this 1700 V-twin is as smooth as some of Kawa's other powerplants, this bike spells big trouble for every touring bike manufacturer that can't (or won't) keep up. I'm not in the market, but if I ever get a chance to test ride one, and if it rides as good as it looks, I just might find myself parking one of these in my garage.
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I'm confused. You've been very happy with Michelins and are getting very good mileage from them. Unless Avons are much cheaper, why change brands at all? (I work for Michelin, so I'm a little biased.)
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You know, it just might be the way dealers are doing business now. When I bought my new '07 RSV off the floor, the initial deal was that I put down approx. $7K. My credit is very good, so I held my ground. They finally caved and let me have the bike with the minimum down payment I had with me and an interest rate I was happy with. I've financed every vehicle I've ever owned (who can pay cash anymore?). I'm looking now to buy a 2nd bike that I can set up as a single. I haven't decided which bike to buy, but when I do, I doubt very seriously that I'll be able to pay cash and I will not deal with Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki/Kawa credit. Ride over to Hendersonville, NC to the Honda Dealership right off I-26. Apparently, they sell more Wings than anyone in the country and have the best prices. (Can't think of the name of the dealership, though.)
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Don't know who they were, but I'm positive the Midnight was in the lead.
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Wow - this really is an eating group with a motorcycle disorder!