Last Monday 8-8-16, I traded my 06 Roadliner 23K miles for a 08 Royal Star Venture S 25K miles and could not be happier! Don't get me wrong the Roadliner is a great bike but the wife and I were not comfortable on it on long trips. We came to that conclusion when we took a weekend trip to Hayward Wisconsin for the Lumberjack World Championships. 220 miles one way. We had to make about 4 stops for fuel and to give our butts a rest....lol. We went looking for something different in a touring bike. I sat on them all that were in our price range. Goldwings, Harleys and a Honda Valk Interstate. It came down to the RSV and the Valk Interstate. I could not get comfortable on the Harleys and Goldwings I'm 6'2" 300 the wife is 5'11" 200. The Valk was out due to a couple things. One the storage was too small, no cruise, and it was a 99 with only 7K miles. Red Flag for me since bikes are meant to be ridden, Lord knows how long it sat and how bad the seals were not to mention through my research that the Valk eats tires like the Roadliner did. I got less than 4K on the rear tire and I was babying it. and the fuel mileage. So we took the 08 RSV out for a test drive and instantly know that it was the bike for us. The only issues that I have, but can live with, is the top heaviness compared to the Liner and the shaft whine, but I knew this going into the deal. The radio makes up for, drowns out, the whine. Long story short. I gave up power 1850cc for comfort. Now that you got the background, what should I be looking out for? Valve adjustments, carb syncs and the like? I am somewhat mechanically inclined but bikes are new to me I haven't ridden in 25 years (Mid-life crisis)! Thanks STAT.
