Scifiman

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Well this thread is over 2 years so I can only assume that the knee has healed up for Spartikus but I wanted to comment on some of the suggestions that he should have started out on a smaller bike. I was bitten by the bike bug during this past summer, booked into the RTI course in my area which consists of a 4 hour theory class and then 16 hours of on the bike training that weekend, trained on a little Suzuki Cruiser 350 I think, learned a lot especially slow speed maneuvers, since I had close to zero previous experience I had no bad habits to break. Passed the course and then went out bike shopping. Had plenty of advice on what size bike I should start with but since the idea of getting the bike was to go 2up touring with the misses a small bike seemed like a waste, learn how to ride the small bike, then buy a big bike and then learn how to ride it, not to mention forking out for two bikes in short order, I decided to go big or stay home. First week of September I picked up an 08 Venture, a lot of empty parking lot practice with some guidance from the Ride Like A Pro DVD series and I am happy to say that I put over 4500 kms on the Venture between September and my last ride of 2016 on November 29th. Set my baby down a grand total 4 times that first week, first time because I forgot the kickstand, other 3 during slow speed turns before I had got the hang of the friction zone and feathering the throttle, all instances in an empty parking lot with no damage to the bike. Was I nervous at first, hell yes, but I don't think I would have been any less nervous on a smaller bike. I spent at least 15 hours and many miles over the fist few weeks in that empty parking lot until I felt confident riding the Venture slow and smooth. After upgrading to my M2 at the end of October it was back to that parking lot this time to practice 2up, glad I did, passenger took a few turns around that parking lot before she got used to just how far that puppy can lean and still stay up. Oh, there was this one embarrassing incident where a u-turn on a dead end gravel road while following a couple of buddies of mine did not work out so well, they were both amazed at how quick I picked her back up, told them I had had a bit of practice picking her up the past few weeks, never let the Venture nap for too long if I can help it. Go big or stay home may not be for everyone for a first bike but so far it has worked out for me, mind you I am not a small lad, 6 foot and about 210, but other than balancing the bike at a stop the Venture does most of the heavy lifting on its own. It has only been 5 weeks since I parked her for the winter and I can't wait for the spring to hit the road again.

Google is my friend. While searching for louder pipes for the 08 Venture I had recently purchased I stumbled across this forum, been a member ever since.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

Shame the tires are brand new I replaced about a month after I got the bike old ones were scalloped (cupped), might have to wait a bit on the 130, but will look into lowering the front. PO had the tires down around 35, pumped the new ones to the max and noticed a big difference in slow speed handling, every little bit helps. Thanks

The best $16.35 CAN I have ever spent, the info and ideas I have picked up from this forum in such a short time has been great, I can learn from other's mistakes instead of making my own, mistakes that is. Dave

An old thread I know but gives me ideas for some mods, glad I seen it. I picked up the Venture back in September and managed to get in about 4500kms on her before the weather closed in on me, but any ideas to improve the slow speed maneuvering sound worth the effort.

Happy to say I am the proud owner of a CarbonOne lift adapter stand, it arrived yesterday and I had my Venture up on it shortly there after. It was very simple to install with detailed instructions, the bike is very stable on the stand, money well spent.

I will add it to the list.

Carbtune, something else I need to add to my purchase list for the Venture.

Old thread, and I imagine you have dealt with the issue by now but I would say tire would be the issue. Cupping from running them low on air pressure, my 08 RSV would hum whenever I would lean left, and only left, steeper the lean louder the hum, could have sworn the sound was coming from the front, guess sound location can be a bit deceiving when riding down the road, ends up rear tire needed to be replaced.

Once I get her on the stand I should have a little room to work on her, thinking of upgrading the lights to LED, and have to figure out what I am going to do with this state of the art cassette deck. It would be nice to find an option where I can tie in a Bluetooth GPS, MP3 player that I can actually control from the audio controller, and still be able to use the intercom and CB. Only had the bike a few months so have not picked up the mics and headsets for the wired hookups as of yet. I have just started looking but so far I am a little surprised that some company hasn't jumped up with a nice all in one unit for the Ventures. That is the winter plan, we will see how it works out. SciFiMan

Picked her up back the first week of September, my first bike having just got my license in August...Go big or go home I guess, put about 4000 kms on her between then and when I finally put her away last week of November.

I did ask if they had found a new cassette deck manufacturer? Now that was funny!