YamaDuck

Well made it home today. Pulled in at 3pm. Total mileage was about 3830 miles round trip and that is with time off for good behavior as I didn't even crank the bike up last Wednesday. Let me share my thoughts on the rally. First and foremost Mike, Rick and their wives, and the other committee members did such an outstanding job that I can never express my gratitude for such a great job, WELL DONE! There was so many beautiful bikes there that included Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Harley Davidson and probably some others that I did not see. All the bikes there were outstanding examples of each manufacturer. The Chestnut Mountain Resort was a beautiful place and they went out of there way to make our stay pleasant. And the businesses and members that supplied door prices need to be thanked. I know Mike and Rick talked to a lot of businesses and member in order to get such a huge amount of door prizes, Thank you all. And last but certainly not least is the members, the VentureRiders themselves, Thank you. It is the people that made this International Rally so great. I met a lot of great people at the rally. Some I will remember their names for a long time to come, others I met I knew there names while we were there and will soon forget their names. Some I never knew their names but talked to them like I had known them a long time and many many more that I saw and may have shared a smile with or may have just seen them across the room or on a ride. They are all great VentureRiders and I am glad I had the opportunity to share that time with them and look forward to our next meeting. THANK YOU ONE AND ALL FOR MAKING THIS INTERNATIONAL RALLY SUCH A HUGE SUCCESS! Harry

Leaving right now for the IR. I will see some of you today and the rest tomorrow.

Hey Don you can take the badges off the gas tank and put Venture badges on. Then it will not look so strange that the owner of a Venture forum is riding a Harley. Maybe you could rename the VentureRiders to YamaDavidson. Srs it is a nice looking Harley. I learned Srs (serious) from my sons Facebook remarls. I like that model a lot.

Let's all be honest, Yamaha, Harley, Honda and others make great dependable bikes now. Any would make a person proud to own. It is up to the individual to determine which bike is best for them. Same goes for upgrading and spending a lot of money. Is my current ride good enough?Do I want to go in debt to get all the new bells and whistles. Yes ABS is great and I would love to have it but I don't want to go in debt to get it. Reverse is nice but with care on selecting a parking spot it is not necessary. I try to park with the front up hill so then all I need is my handbrake to reverse. On board nav. The same reason I don't have it in my car I don't want it on my bike. I prefer a mountable GPS. I can use it in the car when I need it or I can use it on the bike when I need it. I pay $200 or a GPS rather than $1800 as part of the nav system which is a glorified name for GPS. Whenever you decide to upgrade be patient and look for deals. They are out there and whatever brand you go with be prepared for the good natured ribbing and be proud of what you ride.

I agree. If he wanted it and has the money then it would make perfect since to buy it whether it be a GW, a HD or a scooter.

You are 100% right. I just saw a chance to have a little fun. I agree if you don't ride lot why go that far in debt when you have two good bikes in the garage a d they are paid for. If I remember right the RSV only has 30000 miles on it. At the rate it is accumulating miles it will be another 15 years before it is even broke in

I don't think the GW or RSV is a bad chose for running to the store. When was the last time you tried to bring a watermelon back on a Vulcan? With a GW or RSV just open the trunk and through it in. Granted it can not be a huge watermelon.

Thanks Todd I wish you could go but I know you had another long distance trip you were taking.

Will do that last thing on Friday so I will have a full tank Saturday morning.

Front breaks are fine and I put new brakes on the rear when I put the new tires on.

My wife Pam of 35 years would not be caught dead on a motorcycle so I will be making this trip (like all others on a motorcycle) alone.

Don't worry I will bring the seat. I did not mention it because everyone would be scratching their heads going...What???

Staying at the resort. Using plastic. I will pack the clothes between now and Friday. I have a little cash but mostly I will be using plastic. And if they stop taking the one plastic I have a stare plastic. If we go to anyplace that doesn't take plastic then I'm in trouble.

Never owned a GW. They are nice bikes from what all my GW friends say. BUT that deal is way too one sided and your not on the winning side.IMHO

Boy wouldn't that be nice. But unfortunately that came out after mine were built.

Alright I think I'm just about ready to go to the International Rally. I have: Put new tires on, Changed the oil and filter, Put new spark plugs in, Cleaned and oiled the K&N air filters, Adjusted the front and rear air pressure in the shock and front forks, I have the address for the International Rally loaded into my GPS, I am registered, I still need to load Rick's address into my GPS, Friday before I leave I will top off the gas tank, put air in the tires, load the Venture. Am I forgetting anything?

I don't think the Metzeler 880 was a bad tire for the Road Star. All the complaints I heard on the Metzelers were on the Ventures and the complaints were 't that many just more than the E3's. Some Venture owners are happy with the 404. They say they get good mileage out of their 404's. I have known to many Venture owners that put 404's on their Ventures because they were on a trip a d had to get a tire and the 404 was all that was available. They only got 6 to 7000 miles out of them The tires that the manufacturers make for the different bikes are different sizes and different model numbers. They may be made in different plants. I know car tires of the same size and same model number are often manufactured in different plants. That would explain why a Metzeler for a Road Star is a good trouble free tire and a Metzeler tire for a Venture gives some people problems. Even the same manufacturer has more than one model tire to fit a particular model of motorcycle. Take Dunlop for example. Dunlop makes both the 404 and the E3. The 404 is available with whitewall tires. The E3 does not. The 404 does not have as deep a thread as the E3 so you don't get the mileage of the E3. I assume all the manufacturers operate in a similar fashion.

Smart to go around Atlanta. The interstates around here are nothing but huge parking lots. Ride safe and I'll see you at the resort.

So are you going through Atl. on Friday? Are you going to arrive at the motel Saturday?

Thanks Brake Pad that looks like the route.

Looks like I-75, I-24, I-57, I-74 to Hwy 117.

Rick's house in Eureka. Google maps says it is 716 miles.

Leaving Atlanta, Ga Saturday morning the 27th around 4:30 or 5 am for the International Rally. Riding interstates as much as possible to make good time. Does VentureRiders have a preferred CB channel and if so what is it? I would like to listen for other members on the road on the way up. Also if you happen to past a MM on the side of the rode it may be me so please stop and check if you see me. See ya'll Sunday the 28th.

I run E3's on my Ventures. I have only replace one set that had over 17,000 miles on them. I had Metzeler's on my 06 Road Star and never had any problems with them but I sold it way before the tires got worn out. Several years ago when I was looking at replacing my Commands (1st type) I saw too much bad stuff on the Avon's and Metzeler's so I went with E3's. I am now on my 3rd set and I have not had one problem. If I remember right I got about 14000 out of the old style Commanders.

Congratulations! A good friend of mine rides a 06 Black Cherry. The 06 is the only year they had that badge on the side of the gas tank.