DaveDanger

I've recently purchased a previously-loved trailer to pull behind my 06 MV, and I fabricated and installed a receiver hitch on the bike, but I don't have the bike wired yet for the trailer lights. My question relates to the necessity of using a powered converter on my bike. Most of the websites I referenced for hitches and trailers, make mention of the fact that many modern bikes use either computerized switching or control of the light wiring, and they say as well that the wiring is too light a gauge to handle the extra amperage load of additional trailer wiring if simply piggy-backed or spliced in. Can anyone verify the existence of computerized switching for the light wiring on these bikes, and has anyone had any difficulties with the gauge of the wiring being too delicate? I simply can't seem to find any verification of either of these items in reference to these bikes, but if it's true... I want to install it properly. I just have no desire to spend money on kits that aren't necessary. I have the wiring diagrams required to tie in the circuits, so I don't need that info. Thanks for any info

Read thru all the above and it matched up with my experiences. I googled motorcycle hitches all over the net for several months while squirreling away some cash for the purchase. I looked at what was available and fabricated my own from scratch like a few others did. I obtained a 1 1/4" receiver tube from a local automotive hitch shop, and cut its length down so that with no ball-mount installed, it sits flush with the bottom end of my rear fender. Obtained a 9" x 9" sheet of 3/16" plate large enough to cut down into a stiffener. I cut its corners off at 45 degree angles, and had the forward edge bent at 90 degrees straight up. Removed my existing spreader bar from the rear end baggage supports and welded my receiver tube horizontally to the center of the spreader, the clamped the 3/16" plate under it with the folded edge snug against the fwd side of the spreader bar and welded all that together. Drilled 3/4" safety chain holes in the aft edges of the stiffener plate. Reinstalled everything to the bike and hitched up my trailer and towed it around the airport for a bit. Can't tell it's there. I'm not super comfortable with the fact that the hitch supports whatever weight is on it on only 4 bolts at the ends of the spreader bar, but I'm going to test it a bit before making any changes. I think I may want to add a pair of supports from the stiffener plate and go upwards into the baggage support rails thereby reducing the possible twisting torque the hitch weight can put into those bolts. A lot of leverage capability at that point. I got into the hitch fabrication more quickly than I intended because I stumbled onto a deal for a trailer for $75.00 from someone getting out of the riding business. Similar to others here... a cartop luggage carrier on bolted to a small utility trailer frame, already wired and ready to go. Older gentleman with a Goldwing is selling off all his stuff to deal with cancer. My next step with this trailering deal I'll post over in tech questions. Bike wiring

It's now a Midnight Venture with Aurora Borealis highlighting (from the land of the midnight sun). I'm seriously looking into simply adding some Georgia Bulldawg Red pinstriping to my 06 MV.

Thanks All! Ya'lls replies were enlightening and elucidatorial in the extreme ! I kinda figgered on my own that the 1st gen and 2nd gen had to do with the manufacture years of the earlier and later models. The Star, Royal Star, and such had me gasping for breath though. I'll peruse the history links and see if my old southern brain can osmose some of the facts and figures Appreciate it again, I have been active over on the GSresources site for several years now and will wade into a verbal conflagration with the best... once I know the combatants, and whose side I'm on

I'll top his offer and give you $4.000 right this minute! I'll even come get it!

Hello All, I'm new to the world of Ventures and need some info. I see here on the site references to "first" and "second" generation Ventures. I'd appreciate some clarification on the terminology. I suspect it's purely the year model ranges, but not sure. Also, Is there a site or post that provides some history of the development of the Venture in its various models to help me follow the differences between them. My bike is an '06 Midnight Venture, but I have no idea whether it's a Royal Star, a V-Star, or any of several other somewhat nebulous names. I thought I'd bought a Yamaha, but I seem to get the impression that there's a grey area here that I'm not familiar with. Help me! Thanks

Read this entire thread with interest since I'm wanting to pull a popup type camper trailer behind my new Venture. I pulled a homebuilt utility trailer behind an '82 Magna 750 daily for about 12 years (it was my only transportation and the stuff had to go somewhere). No idea what kind of miles I racked up on the trailer, but the bike was given to a young fella for a restoration project after I'd put about 80k miles on it, and the trailer had been behind it most of that time. I remember having to moderate my riding style with the trailer behind, as it does obviously push when stopping, and changes the acceleration curve as well when rolling off from a stop. As long-time riders, we're all aware that no one out there sees us, or recognizes the limitations we have to deal with, so it's up to us to make our own riding zone as safe as possible. That includes watching every other vehicle within sight, thinking about the fact that deer can and do pop out from roadside brush with little or no notice, and that wet asphalt changes the way you can react to situations. The initiator of this thread felt it seems, that it's almost an unacceptable risk to pull a trailer. Not to belittle his feelings after a take-down of this magnitude, I can sympathize, (A "grocery-getter" tagged me once before). But to take the attitude that you have to give up what you want to do, is unacceptable to me. you do what you desire to do, but change your approach to the situation in a manner that minimizes the risks. I mean, pulling onto the highway in my pickup truck increases the risk of me getting hit on a daily basis, I don't leave my truck at home and walk. Getting on any airplane and flying to a vacation destination increases my chances of drowning in an ocean, but I ain't walking or driving to South America because of it. I hook up the trailer, and drive/ride more slowly. I anticipate a bit further ahead what I may have to do to react to the traffic I'm in. If the road is wet, I slow down even a bit more. If I have a passenger, I do all the same things. The bike is heaver than normal and will take longer to slow down, stop or control in a sudden reaction situation. I accept that and adjust my riding style. JamminJohn, I'm tickled to see that you're still here to start this conversation and that you've already gotten another bike. get back on the horse and do what you want to do. Hope to meet you on the road someday