craigatcsi

I am planning to make a quick trip to get N. Dakota and Minnesota on our map. We live in Omaha, NE and want to do the 10hr trip to Winnepeg the first day, then to Thunder Bay, down to Minneapolis and back home. All of this in three days, four at the most. Does this sound horrible? I am thinking of leaving Next Saturday or Sunday. What are the Temps like that far North this time of year? Do any of you have any opinions or info for us? Craigr

An interesting thing happened Tuesday night.... I bought a Sheepskin off of Craig's List and went to pick it up. After checking out the Sheepskin and paying for it, I noticed that he had a GW Trike, REALLY decked out, sitting in his garage. So, I started asking questions about his opinion of it. WOW, does this guy know Trikes! He not only knows about his GW Trike, but come to find out, he used to have a 99 Venture, that he Triked with the Hannigan kit - which I am planning on!! - When I mentioned this web site, He said that he used to be a member. He named a few different Trike kit conversions and some good and bad points about each. He couldn't say enough about the Hannigan kit and said that he knows the owners, he even gave their first names. He gave a lot of info on the kit, some of which I had already learned about from what research I have done. He named a local Trike shop and said that he knows the guy that runs it VERY well. Now, of course this guy could've been giving me a 'snow job', but if he was, he was very convincing. He never did come out and say 'You should.... ' He never came out and said that he wishes he would've kept the Venture Trike or that he was glad to have his GW Trike. He gave good and bad points about both. Really, he seemed very glad to give as much info as he could. Before I left, he said 'you have my phone number, give me a call anytime, if you have any more questions'. - Obviously, a VERY nice guy. Long story short, I am pretty convinced, prolly 90%, that I will be Triking my Venture, rather than getting a GW Trike. Thanks again for all of the Replies and advice. I REALLY appreciate all of them. craigr

When Doing the Hannigan Trike kit, they use a Ford T-Bird rearend, so the VMax isn't needed. But thanks for the idea anyway. craigr

You folks have been GREAT with all of your responses & opinions. You can't believe how much I appreciate all of them!!! - This is really starting to bother me as to which way to go. Like most of us, I am not rich and this will definitely be a 'one shot deal', no going back for several years. With Triking the Venture, the Power thing is an issue for me, especially as I pull a Bushtec Trailer when out of town. Locally, within 200 miles, I 'at times' like to horse the throttle a little, so I worry that I would end up with a pooch if I trike the Venture. Also at 6' I worry about my comfort on the wing. AND, I have bad hips, which is the reason for the trike idea, so I have to be able to stretch my legs out on Highway pegs AND have a comfortable seat. With the big horizontal engine on the Wing, is there ample room for the highway pegs and room to get legs around those jugs? I am kinda back to thinking that I WANT to trike my Venture, but am afraid that I will be pretty disappointed in the power. I soooo wish there were a Venture Trike close by that I could try, it would probably settle things for me. craigr

Thanks again for all of the replies. I am bouncing back towards getting the Venture Triked. From the above responses, here are my feelings. My personality is the kind that I like attention grabbing 'showy' bikes, like a lot of us. I usually don't go with the crowd, but more at the fringe of it. Hence - The Venture. With Triking the Venture, I get to keep my 'non-typical' bike. It's not just another HD or GW. It is still somewhat rare to see a Venture anywhere. We have had ours in 34 states and rarely seldom saw others, so I like that. I am 6' and can stretch out comfortably, I like my positioning, the ride, etc. I really like the 'cruiser' look and at 50ish I am not ready to give that up, I just don't FEEL old enough for a wing. With the wing, I will get more power, better MPG, 'fit in with the CROWD' of other Wingers. I can presently buy ANY consievable accessory. I will be able to buy any part for it for MANY years to come. - Do Hondas EVER breakdown!? Craigr

First off, thanks for the replies and keep them coming. I would like as many opinions as possible - even if they are all the same. Since my initial post, I thought of a couple other issues: Besides the power being different how is the gas mileage between the two? We get an average of 35ish on our Venture. I have to believe that a venture Trike is going to be 25ish at best.How is the Goldwing Trike? Another question.... I have been known to sneak a little higher than the speed limit at times. On a rare occasion into the triple digits. How fast can one go on a Trike? Are they a death trap above ??? MPH? Is the Venture real 'dog' as far as power once Triked? I don't race it, but when I want to pass someone, I don't want to downshift 3 gears hoping I can get around them quick enough. Don't hold back, PLEASE tell me what you think. Craigr

I have been planning to Trike my 07 Venture that I bought new, for the last year or so. Now, it seems that money should be right for the project come next spring. But, this past w/e at a local casino, we saw a GW Trike trike that really looked nice. It really got my with thinking and searching Craig's list. Now, I am wondering if simply trading mine for a finished trike would be the better way to go. If I Trike MINE, I still have the classic cruiser styling, I KNOW my bikes history. If we buy a used GW Trike, I have a, (no offense intended), more modern looking 'retired mans', Bike that is VERY Reliable, I can buy absolutely ANY accessory, more power, etc.. Another thing about the GW Trike is that there are MANY GW Trikes vs the fewer Venture Trikes. Opinions?

Were any members near Beebeetown, IA yesterday? We left the Twisted Tail Tavern heading East and there was a Black 2ndGen being pulled out of a deep ditch. One of the other bikes that had stopped told us 'too fast for the corner'. He slao said that no one was hurt. The LOE was there with is ticket book out as we slowly rubbernecked. Craigr

No, I doubt I will take a 'Real Vacation' this year. I am saving to get mine Triked. I have never made that gathering, I may have to try once I get Triked. craigr

If it is an Altitude thing, I may have to look into resetting it to Omaha's Altitude. I do have a Colortune, I guess that I will have to figure out how to use it. craigr

I left this past Sunday morning from Omaha, NE heading to Rockford, IL. I arrived Sunday afternoon, stayed Monday and left for home Tuesday morning, getting home around 3ish. One thing I noticed was the large change in gas mileage. The tank I filled in Rockford to come home, at a Walmart, got me 46mpg. The tank I bought halfway between Des Moines and Omaha got me 32mpg!! it was like this heading out there too!! We have taken trips to the East and West Coasts over the years and have found the same. Is the mixture of the fuels different? Altitude? Craigr

We went on a 'Bikers for Boobies' Poker Run yesterday and I parked next to a Blue/Black 07 Venture, (same as one of mine that happened to be at home). This was at a stop in Beebeetown, IA. Anyways, I mentioned that I had the same at home and of course mentioned this site. I encouraged him to check it out. As my wife and I started checking out his bike, we noticed speakers CUT into the side walls of the Trunk!! When I mentioned this he grinned big and said that his Saddle Bags were SUB WOOFERS!! He said 'it's REALLY Loud!!' We told him how we have had ours to the East and West Coasts & he said that he would like to do that some day. (I don't know Where he would carry his belongings.). It's a shame that he ruined those bags, but hey, it's HIS BIke! Craigr

Well it looks like I'll be shipping. I am not going to fit all of that into my empty trailer with our clothes, etc.. I'm thinking that I need to sit down and figure out where I want to have thiis done. craigr

Leaving the Bags home is a good thought. But I'm sure the wife will want to load the Trailer with things for the Week away from home. What other spare parts will there be? I know the rear wheel, but otherr than that what is there? craigr

Somthing just occured to me.... If I drive it down to the Factory to have it done, I will still have to pay to have my old parts shipped back home. But, I'm sure that shipping wouldn't be all that much. - Just something else to fugure in. Where is the Factory, I don't remember? craigr

Well, though I have confidence in my local Hannigan Dealer, I am leaning towards riding my bike to Hannigan and having them do it. Then renting a Car while it is being converted to see the local sights, etc. then riding the Trike back home. I wiould also have them install a hitch so I can pull my Bushtech Trailer also. I am hoping to do this come August / September. Craigr

I stopped at the local Autozone this morning to get some oil for the bikes. I have always used Mobile1 or Yamalube. Well anyway, I asked if they had Mobile1 for Motorcycles. When they told me the price I was stunned!! Holy Cow!!! Is the Motorcycle version THAT much more expensive or has oil REALLY gone up!? I am going to have the wife pick up some regular Mobile1 at Wallyworld when she goes there Wed.. Craigr

We went on a Charity Ride today for the Council Bluffs DAV, to Freedom Rock which is Just North of Greenfield, IA. If you are anywhere near, I highly recommend going there! It is quite touching and thought provoking, at least it is for me. The web site is - http://www.ticz.com/homes/users/bob/On-A-Rock/On-A-Rock.htm Anyway, back to the GREAT Idea. After the ride we stopped at a Cafe in Greenfield. When we were getting on our Bikes to leave the Cafe, there was a 'Sunkist Orange' HD Road Glide. It also had MUCH Chrome. But what really caught my eye were the Saddlbag lids. They were coated with black Rhinoliner! They broke up some of the Orange and REALLY looked Sharp! If I weren't Triking mine soon, I would probably do mine. He said that he is going to do the hard lids to to the compartments for his Fairing next. If this has already been posted, I apologize but I didn't do a search for it. It really caught my eye so I thought of you folks right away. Craigr

Thanks. I'll just figure another grand then. This sure is getting expensive! Hopefully THIS Fall - Good Lord willing and the Creek don't rise. Craigr

So how much extra is this going to cost? Where does one have it done? I have to believe that our local dealer doesn't do this. Craigr

I am still trying to come up with the money to do a Hannigan Conversion. - (I had planned on getting it done last Fall) Anyway, it occured to me today, will I also have to have the steering modified - extra cost? Craigr

If they help the site then my vote is to PLEASE put them back!! I will even click on some just to bring in more money!

Wow! VERY nice job!

My wife didn't take the Pics yesterday while I was at work, she wasn't feeling well. Then we had plans last night so I didn't get the pics either. You can bet that I will prolly never go much over Highway speed again if this can happen at 70ish!! I am still shook up about it and really believe that the good Lord was watching out for us. As far as the model, I believe they were the WWW E3s. But I thought they were 404 E3s, so I'm not sure. I do still have the reciept, so I will have to look when I get back home. I really don't want to buy a tire for another couple of w/e's worth of riding, but, as someone posted, the labor to have them changed out, AND it looks like a good chance that we will be riding to Kentucky to have the Hannigan put on. So, we will need a good tire for that trip. - Hey, maybe I can sell the rear wheel with a good tire for more money! I plan to post the 'leftovers' from the conversion on this site first, then hit Ebay with what you folks don't want. craigr

My rear tire lost a chunk approx 8 to 10" long today! My wife and I were on the interstate at approx 70ish when I felt her go! I pulled over right away and once my wife told me what was wrong, she rode home with a fellow rider and since it lost no air, I puttsed it home max 25mph for approx 10 miles. Now I don't know What to do. We plan on converting to a Trike this winter, so I don't want to buy a new tire, but I also don't want to stop riding for the year! I'd really like to get a used tire for next to nothing, just to ride the rest of the season. I know that an Angel was looking over us and kept the tire from blowing completely! We could've very easily have gone down. I plan to take a pic and email it to Dunlop, for wat it is worth. They are 2 years old with Im guessing 10K on them, so I'm sure Dunlop won't care, but I am going to send the Pic anyway. This should never happen. Craigr