PBJ

Strong over built bikes. Suzuki was largely overlooked for its well built cruisers because of its sport bike reputation. But they are sleepers. Strong and reliable. Buy it!!!!!

Understandable. Different tires made for different things. I hadn't done as much research as I should have . Obviously the 777's would have been a better choice but I was also looking at price. Obviously also the 777 and the Elite 3's are fairly comparable. Again price being a difference. But thanks again.

Chicago Pizza is NOT Pizza Its casserole!

Went out to the garage to get the old 86 out for a ride with the wife. I started her up and started to pull out of the garage when a plume of smoke started coming up out of the battery area as i was pulling out. I got it into the driveway and shut it off. The smoke started to lighten up indicating what ever was vurning had stopped but I grabbed a screw driver for the tool area and took off the batter cover and found my fog light wiring to the relay a burned melted mess. I had to cut out some of the wiring and tape everything off in order to take the wife out. I checked all my other lights and electrical and all were un affected. The previous owner had installed the on off switch into a hole in the aluminum part of the handle bar and apparently my sleeve caught it and turned the lights on . But I've never had a fire like that happen before. Could it have been caused by the relay? Or could this have been a short of some kind in the frame? I replaced large car style halogen fog lamps with more effiecent LED lights last year. I simply used the old wiring that was already in place but grounded the wiring onto the highway bar. but i had no problem with them until today. Any suggestions as to what might have happened?

Hey Earl I know this is an old post but so well written. All good advice. Especially at the end of riding season. I'd have gone into fuel stabilizer too . But its spring as i write this and you wrote this originally last fall. I'm spooning in new tires this week. I'll be changing oil and filters before I leave for Lake George in June and the pads will be checked as well. I have a questions for you my friend. I can't get the engine idle down below 2000 rpm's I think I'm looking at a primary vacuum leak. i've tried turning down the idle and i will again after i get the bike warmed up one of these days. but if after doing that it still won't go down . is the primary vacuum he problem and how hard is it to get to to fix or replace that hose? Help!

Well as we all know , the speed with which we ride, and our own weights make a big difference in the tires wearability. I usually cruise along at 65 70 mph when a have a nice curvey road. Without divulging the new wife's weight together with full leathers and stuff packed there's 400 lbs ( most of that is me ) So the Shinko will burn through in less than 6 or 7000 miles. 800 lbs.bike + 400lbs. passengers and luggage 1200lbs. on a 916lbs. rated tire. Oh well. Still as i said before at half the Dunlop price I can afford them easily enough. But now that i have the proper sizes for the Elite 3's I'll try them next.

Sorry big guy I calls em as I see em !! LOL!

well I hope Don will accept my suggestion for a car topic here for all us members who have a love of sporty four wheel objects as well. Love the 240Z a car i wanted my son to get into. He's worked on plenty. Come on Boss give us a four wheel topic thread.Plllleeeaaasseeee!

I did sign up didn't I ???? Bringing the new wife and possibly two more couples. A friend from the Ace Shadow forum lives in Wellsville and he and his wife and another couple will hopefully be joining us. Joe was the guy I helped set up the Shadow Riders rally last August. You'll like him you're birds of a feather. Big, warm Lovable.

Thanks for all the responses. Its seems the Shinko's may give me the same mileage as the $)4's but at almost half the price i can live with it while also getting a sticker tire. thank again all for the good info the 230's are in the mail and will be here tomorrow but thanks for the info on the elite 3 sizes i'll write it down for future reference they may be my next choice.

yes its the 2.3 but don't let that fool ya. These engines are incredibly strong.( some have been built to over 1000hp. My goal 300rwhp) In 84 the Ford SVO made 195 BHP. That was only 5 hp off the Corvette of the same year with a 350ci. V8. My car was rated at 145hp stock. That was equivalent to the V6 Camaro. But my car has been modified with an intercooler and a flow through exhaust so its making a lot more horsepower. I haven't had it dynoed yet because its been at a body shop the last 11 months for a total restoration. But with the engine mods and some suspense modifications the car is a kick to drive. Its no dragster, it loves curves and can pull some incredible G forces in the curves. heres a pick of it doing laps at Watkins Glen Raceway

Well shortly after getting my 86 1st Gen in the end of 2012 I decided to get new ties. I wanted Eltie 3's from Dunlop. But could not find the sizes i needed so a when with the D404's. I put them on in May of 2013, Its now may of 2015 and they won't inspection because they're already down to the wear bars with less than 5 or 6,000 miles on them. I know these were cruiser tires . i realize now that they just weren't made for the 800 lb weight of the venture plus 400 lbs. of passengers and loaded bags. Went to buy the elite three's again this time but was unsure of what size corresponded to 140 rear an 120 from Mu ? MT ? whatever. So I looked around and settled on the Shinko's .Now I see that others have tried them. I read a favorable review in a magazine tire comparison so I'm going to try them. Even if they don't wear any better that the 404'd at lease I won't have paid $300 for a pair of tires I got only two seasons out of. I can live with paying about half if its onlu two years .

This is going on on Craigslist too. It almost happened to my wife several weeks ago. She is selling a table and only hours after she listed someone from the new York City area said they wanted to buy it and that they would have someone pick it up immediately. They asked if we had a paypal account. I have one but was reluctant to give him my account. All this was being done through text messages. We had given him my email address and he immediately sent us a payment and said he was adding an extra $300.00. Alarm bells immediately started going off. We contacted paypal and sent them the address of the sender which they told us was bogus. They instructed us to not open the link they had sent or send it to our paypal account because it would allow the send to get our bank account information. We saved ourselves getting ripped off. But get this, the A-holes kept trying to get her to do it using different numbers but all from the same area code. Idiots! We ended the calls by adding a disclaimer that the buyer had to me local and come in person with cash. hope this helps others out there.

Happy birthday and welcome to the club.

After reading through this thread its been interesting to read some responses everything from that the money and run to getting a lawyer involved. Your health is one thing. that large bump or bruise should be looked at. But a bike like the 93 is old and unless your mechanically inclined or have a friend who does this sort of thing It might be better to sell or part out the bike, Take $2000. from the father if he offers it and move on. There are other Ventures out there or even other bikes. But thats what I would do. My venture only has liability. If there's an accident shes gone and its on to the Valkyrie Interstate. LOL! Good luck with what ever you decide.

This is very sad and you are not the first. BUT you know you don't have to leave and neither does anyone else. We have a topic area for Gold Wing owners or trikes, Gun owner ship has even been discussed with enthusiasm amongst members here why not one for those going to four wheels, like a roadster, ( Mazda Miata, MG's Triumph TR3's 4's, 6's. BMW M3, Honda 2000) or Mustang convertibles, Camaro's, Corvette's. Yes this is a bike forum but why not set aside one thread to keep our friends and family here with us. Many of us own sports cars as well as a bike. I own a mustang Gt Turbo I'm restoring. What do other members think of this?

We got out too today. first ride with carol on the bike with the new fork seals. what a difference. The bike handled wonderfully . better ground clearance, didn't touch down once. no pictures though. travelled down Canandaigua lake then over to Keuka lake. There was also a swap meet in Canandaigua today. lots of riders out enjoying the first real sunny warm day here in New York. Nice to finally have some nice weather on the east coast.

So sorry to hear about the accident but glad its an injury and not death. As others have said the healing will be long but it will be healing. The bike will be replaceable. Good luck and get well.

having ridden with my own children I can only tell you what we did. But first thing to remember is they were our children. This young girls as a god child and the child or a tenant feels already like shakey ground. but more concerning is your lack of experience with road bikes and your getting into a rather large bike like the venture. Thinking about riding with this child at this point should be waaaaay down your list. You will have a big learning curve with the bike alone its weight and how you alone will handle it. Ride alone. Ride with your wife. Give yourself at least a season of riding with the venture. As others have said look into what your insurance says about non family member passengers. Also know your riding area. I can see riding up and down your street with the child. Maybe a round the block but any farther might not be fare to you as a new road rider on a 800lb. touring bike. For me the answer to riding with my children was a sidecar. Which has its own set of rules and dangers. More things to learn but rewarding if learned properly. Others here have said everything else I've thought of too. If it was me I'd wait until I know my bike better.

Thank you Annie so much. We meet you and your husband at Bongo's home when you were here visiting in the USA the first time.(Maybe the only time). Thank you so much for your congratulations . My new bride Carol has a brother Steve living down under. He lives Outside of Melbourne in the town or Torquay. A long ways away from you but even farther from us. Take care. Phil&Carol.

Bike is home and ready to go. I wish there wasn't so much salt on the road otherwise I'd have taken the longer way home.

Congrates Don! Nothing feels better than finishing off a payment ....... so that you know you can buy something else! LOL!

Wow painterman. I remember when you bought that bike and joined here. Your one of several members who is also a member on the Honda shadow Ave tourer forum, or were. Sorry to hear the first gen is gone but glad to hear about the Road star another great yamaha. Enjoy the ride.

Thanks so much. My 86 "Blackhawk" is in the shop right now getting new fork seals before the season starts. I may also have to replace the primary vacuum line because in hot conditions the engine speed keeps creeping up. But Carol and I are ready to ride !!!!!!!!

those bikes are all dreams but I lean towards the Victory. I like different. Of course at those prices and being retired I'll never see one in my garage. Unless a buddy with one parks it in there.LOL. Great Link thanks.