Heimdog

I'm late to this game, but to answer the questions: First of all I have no intent to replace my 07 Venture. After a few years of tweaking and 54,000 miles it is exactly how I want it. Anyway, if I had to replace it I would: look for another Venture, look for a Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager, look for a comparable Harley. My son has a Vulcan, it is a very nice bike. That would be my #1 choice. As a riding buddy of mine said after a recent trip to Sturgis, metric bikes are becoming few and far between. We've almost no option but to consider a Harley or Indian. Personally, I won't go to an Indian. I have nothing against the bike, everyone I know who has one loves them. I'm just afraid of the cancel culture discovering it, and forcing the company out of business if they don't change their ways. That leaves Harley. I live in Wi (and 70 miles West of Milwaukee), so needless to say, the HIGH majority of bikes on the road are Harley. That's my $.02 for what it's worth. Ride on!

Been there, done that. You'll be fine.

Very good!

She is back home now in Northern IL and in very good spirits. 4 broken ribs, fractured shoulder blade, road rash, and a huge hematoma on her hip that needed surgery to be drained. She'll recover. It's a good time of the year to be sidelined as the bikes will be put into hibernation soon. She says that it is highly likely her helmet saved her life.

Very good to hear!

I rode down there last month with a group from WI. The wash-out of the Cherohala (Cherry Cola?) Byway happened while we were there. Had 6 inches of rain overnight and it washed out a hunk of the road. Not knowing it was closed, we rode it from the East end. Got within 3 miles of the end and the road was closed. Turned around and rode all the way back. That's OK, there are certainly worse roads to ride twice. Rode The Dragon a couple times, multiple other roads as well. Some of the ones you mentioned. Will we return? Remains to be seen. It was an amazing week!

Her first name is Shari. She is in good spirits. Injuries are not life threatening but she has a lot of healing to do. Thanks for your support everyone.

Many of you may be familiar with the Star Touring Group that recently went bankrupt. There was a Meet & Greet this weekend in Ohio for past members to get together, ride and share some good times. A good friend and riding partner of mine was involved in an accident while attending this event. She's got some serious injuries but sounds like she will survive. I would ride with her any day of the week, anywhere. She is very experienced, has ridden her cycle from coast-to-coast. If I found the right news story regarding her accident, she was subject to a hit & run. The Police are investigating. Meanwhile, she'll be in a Columbus Hospital for awhile.

I have it from a Yamaha dealer that I ride with who said Yamaha appears to be getting out of motorcycles entirely. Also appears that they are cutting back on snowmobiles as well. That is surprising as they're a big thing here in WI and the Northern States. He says he can order all the side-by-sides he wants, but bikes and sleds are very hard to come by. Guess I'll just keep putting gas into my 07 RSV and ride on!

The National Star Riding & Touring group has folded. I hear that the National Gold Wingers group has folded. According to a guy I ride with who owns a local Yamaha dealership there are no "big bikes" in the pipeline. No cruisers or Tourers being made or distributed. Another riding partner of mine goes to Sturgis often. He also rides a Yamaha. This year he said without a doubt the dominant bikes were HD and Indian. Pretty much had to really search for a metric bike. Looks like the touring future is HD and Indian (and $$$). I've nothing against either other than the price. I'll take a few year old $8,000 metric touring bike over a few year old $18,000 Harley and day of the week.

I used Kicker speakers for my replacement. Cleaner crisper audio. I've ridden in the rain a few times, no problems. Still the original head unit and amp, which I'm starting to think about upgrading too.

A good friend loaned me his 2012 RSV while mine was in the shop. He had a dark windshield on it. I did not care for it. I can't say how tall it was, but I'm 5'6" and look through it a fair amount. I have a short tinted windshield in the basement but doubt I'll put it on. To each their own... Yes, less buffeting with the wider windshield.

I run around 40 in my rear shock. I do a fair amount of 2-up riding with my wife on back.

I did once on a different bike, at an ATM. Totally forgot to put the kickstand down. How does one forget something like that?

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