BigLenny

Yeah, its a huge deal. I don't even want to imagine want my company spends to make it all happen.

Ahhhh, we Americans. We always fall for the, "if it cost outrageously more, it's gotta be better" trick. You know what I mean. Like, yeah, the Toyota is nice, but I think I'll pay $15K more for the same car that looks a little different but has a Lexus badge on it, because it "has to be better because it costs more". Or, I think I'll pass on the nice new $25K Honda Accord and buy the $45K Mercedes E Series with its $200.00 oil changes because it "has to be better because it costs more". NO! IT ISN"T ALWAYS BETTER! I know people with long miles on Mercedes', and I know a lot of people with 200K+ and 300K+ on average old everyday vehicles. Consumer Reports tests and rates products of all kinds every year, and they always give some low dollar version that tested just as good as the most exepensive ones. But, we always buy the most expensive because it "has to be better because it costs more". So, here's my delima. I sit here in the same boat that some others are in, looking at buyng new helmets for my wife and I. I am looking at modular styles only. Let me make this clear, I am not considering low dollar helmets like Bilt, and several of the others. I have seen them and tried them on and operated their latches and the cheaper ones are certainly off the mark in fit and finish, and usually have clunky latches that do not open and close smoothly. However, there are a few mid priced helmets that I've tried on that are very comfortable, and have a quality feeling to them in all areas. HJC and Nolan are two brands that i have tried on that feel just as comfortable and quality built and operate just as smoothly as the Aria and Shoei brands that a lot of people will swear up and down are over twice as good a helmet. I'm having a tough time biting on this notion, and when i'm standing in the store switching tryons between Nolan, HJC, Aria, and Shoei I get a sick feeling that I'm being sold the ole "it has to be better because it costs stupidly more". I have specifically asked more than one helmet sales rep to give me data or studies, or some kind of buld quality comparisons that prove that the Aria, Shoei helmets are twice as good as the Nolan, HJC helmets. They never can provide anything other than verbal stuff like " it just fits better", or "it's tested better" or yada yada yada. So, what I'm asking is; for any of my friends here that might have concrete proof that Aria and Shoei, and Shuberth are without a doubt, hands down twice as good a helmet as some of the better mid ranged helmets on the market. I don't see it, or feel it when I'm trying them on and comparing them. I will gladly plunk the $600.00+ down for them if I need to. Thanks, Lynn

Every year my company takes 12000 of us including our customers to Orlando for a huge trade show and sales convention. Well, next week is the event. I have to be in Orlando Tuesday aftrnoon for registration and start of the event. This year I am going to drive down from Arkansas instead of fly. It just so happens that Daytona Bike Week is next week also. So, I am going to leave Sunday morning and drive to Albany, Ga via Memphis, and Birmingham and spend the night, then get up early Monday morning and drive to Daytona and spend the day there checking out venders and such before I head down to Orlando Tuesday. Just wondering if any of y'all are going to be at Bike Week Monday? Might catch up with you and put a face with a name.

Ya know? This is just a thought. But, why haven't big rigs progressed to installing backup cameras on their trailers like so many of the new vehicles have on them nowadays? Maybe they have but I just haven't noticed them. As common as they are today on regular vehicles, it's amazing the government hasn't mandated them on tractor tarilers.

As some have stated, all bikes have their quirks. I have a cousin and her husband that for about 10 years they owned Goldwings (thats before they had too much to drink one day last year and traded it for a Harley Road Glide Ultra) LOL. They loved them and rightly so because they are world class touring machines. Not much negative to say about them. One weekend they encouraged me and my wife to take it out for the day and see if we liked it enough to by one. The first thing I noticed was the thing had a whine in certain gears at different times during the ride. Didn't bother me much, but it was loud enough for me to take note of it and mention it to my wife. Here was a wonderful nearly brand new Goldwing that had a whine in the gearbox, especially during downshifting. I test rode a Victory Vision last year that did the same thing. Lets me know there's more whining going on besides the Venture/RSTD. LOL.

Your last sentence is why you should buy the bike. THE V FOUR. I guess I'm lucky to not have the whine on my 07 RSTD, but even if I did, I've fallen so hard for the V4 motor, I would still have the bike.

Brian, She's an Oklahoma girl. How could you not like her?

Dallio, If the application is a bolt only, or bolt/nut combination, us a Nord-Lock washer instead of Loctite. If you are absolutely sure you will be removing it later, us the Nord-Lock. I am a sales rep for Grainger. We sell boat loads of Loctite. However, we are seeing more and more people who know they are going to be removing the bolt later, switching to the Nord-Lock washer. It is a European designed double washer system that takes the place of Loctite, or standard lock washers. I have several demo kits, and I can finger tighten the bolt with a Nord-Lock under the head, and you won't get it loose without using a wrench. I have a manufacturing customer that I call on that switched from using a thread locking material to putting Nord-Lock washers on their milling machines because the vibration was so harsh it was causing bolts to back out, even with Loctite on them. Just a suggestion. Call me if you have any questions. 501-766-2864

Did you guys notice how many times his head made contact with the pavement? It proves that even a half helmet is worth wearing.

I wonder when the Cherohala Skyway will reopen? IMO, that's a more fun road to ride than 441. I do like 441 though.

Brian, As a matter fact, not long after those test rides, I had the opportunity to test an XCT. The bike was SWEET. I liked it considerably more than the Vision. The storage capacity on the XCT is cavernous. It was chilly that day and the heated seat and heated grips were awesome. Certainly on top of my list if Yammy doesn't do something. 3 things that I am so hung up on that i want on my bike are: 1. Liquid cooled. 2. Shaft drive. 3. More than 2 cylinders. WHY DO I HAVE THIS HANG UP!! Someone please convince me that those things don't matter so I can lose the phobia.

Back in the fall of last year, I went to a large multi line dealer here locally and test rode back to back to back a brand new 2012 Kawasaki Voyager, a very slightly used (272 miles) 2012 Victory Vision, and 2010 Yamaha Venture with 25K miles. I ride a 2007 RSTD that has given us great service as we've vacationed across this great nation over the past 4 years. The idea of moving to a full dressed tourer has been on my mind for quite some time now, hence the test rides of those three bikes. My findings shocked me, and left me walking away from the dealership unsure what my next steps will be. I, like so many others have grown weary of waiting on Yammy to upgrade the Venture, so I went to the dealership hoping that the Voyager would be the answer I'm looking for. I really liked the fact that it looks different, it has a great company with years of solid quality history building it, and the fact that it's liquid cooled turned me on. Well, that all changed with the test ride, and inspection of the bike. I was shocked that the dange thing vibrated so bad at freeway speeds, and the wind buffeting was something that I don't even have on my RSTD which only has a windshield. Then, what really disappointed me was how flimsy the plastics are on the bike. The saddlebag lids wobble real easy when theyre open, and the trunk was the same way. The flimsyness of the windshield surpised me too. I know the power plant is probably bulletproof because it's made by Kawasaki, but the fit and finish of the bike, as well as the ride characteristics, just flat shocked me. The Vision was very impressive. It felt quality built, had plenty of power, and was way smoother than I ever expected it to be. Very nice bike, but it had two hangups that bother me. 1. It's air cooled. 2. It's a very long bike, so the space between the rider and the fairing makes for an area of feeling like it's way out there. However, I really liked it. What shocked me the most was the 25k mile used Venture. This bike performed way better than the Voyager, and was neck and neck with the Vision as far as overall likability. I was stunned that as old as the design is, it felt extremely comfortable, with hardly any wind buffeting , and the powerband of the V4 was unlike, and considerably more fun that the other two. It felt very solidly built and the Yamaha fit and finish quality was there as usual. The thing just felt like home. I came away from the whole process with a competely new respect for the Venture. I think what it's done is caused me to give it this year to see if there is a new Venture design, and if that doesn't happen, then I'll probably start looking for a very clean low miles used one and be happy. Or, I might keep the RSTD and ride the hair off of it. Who knows. LOL.

You are so right. It doesn't compete at all with the Vegas. Mainly because the Yammy has: a fairing with sound and GPS, color integrated hard locking bags, and most importantly, it's........LIQUID COOLED. Oh yes I did. LOL. Just ribbing ya.

Are you talking a patch on a hat, or having the hat direct embroidered?

Bumble Bee, I know a guy that a few years back was on his way to work at about 5:00AM running 75mph on the freeway, and out of nowhere a dog ran out from behind a bridge railing and into his path and he hit it. He de-horsed the bike, and skidded down the freeway and he can't really remember what all happened after that, but from the injuries he received (broken collar bone, broke ribs, broken ankle, collapsed lung, road rash all over), he did some pretty violent tumbling and stuff. He spent several days in the hospital. The amazing thing about the accident is this; my cousin who works with him, went to visit him in the hospital, and he said the guys HJC half helmet he was wearing had highway scuffs and scrapes and gouges going every which way all over it. He said that several of the snaps across the front of the helmet were grounded down flat from sliding on the freeway. It was completely and very apparent that the half helmet, as minimal as it is, had saved his life. So, I'm just saying, don't underestimate what event a half helmet can do. A short while back, someone on here posted a video of a motorcycle police hitting a speed bump at speed, and de-horsing. It was a crazy scary looking thing, but after rewinding it several times and looking at it closely, the amazing thing to me is that even though it happens so fast on the video that you can't detect it at regular speed, when you slow the video down, you can see that his head actually slaps the pavement 3 times before he gets stopped rolling and sliding. He was wearing a half helmet and it saved him. Go find it and check it out.

Arkansas has no helmet law for over 21, however, my wife and I wear ours because I require it to get on my bike. I am responsible for mine, and even more importantly, my wife's life while we're riding, and imagining what life would be if my wife received a brain injury because we wanted to "feel the wind through our hair", well, ugh, I just don't want to imagine it. Having said that, I do believe it's a personal choice. If you don't want to wear them, then don't.

Hmmmm. Is it me, or are there other folks that didn't understand a word of what this said??? LOL.

Can I buy my ticket now, or do I get to keep watchin this fer free?

Man! I'm so glad I don't work for Lowe's or Home Depot! My self esteem would be pretty low about right now. LOL.

Hi Dave, I might just give you a call when we're out there. BTW, In the SLC area specifically, what are some of the must see's. We are of course thinking the Great Salt Lake, Mormon Tabernacle, Bonneville Salt Flats, but are there other spots that we need to check out?

Miles, Thanks for the ideas. We will certainly consider the gun museum, and we do have planned to slide by Little Bighorn. Since this trip has materialized due to my mom's 70th, we are putting the Seattle, Alaska trip off until next year. I'm going to be filling all of my vacation days calendar at work this year. I get 4 weeks, 2 for this trip, I just used a couple days 2 weeks ago for a surprise trip to Vegas my wife gave me for my 50th birthday, and we'll probably take a week ride to the Smoky's later this year.

That's cool! Can't wait! I'm sure i will experience numerous moments that I wished that I was on the bike.

I guess I should've noted in my original post that back in September of last year, my wife and I did a two week ride out west to northern NM, southern Colorado, AZ (4 corners, Monument Valley, Page, Grand Canyon, Sedon), and back home. So, that area we kinda know already, it's the other areas that I mentioned that I need help with. Thanks, Lynn

Absolutely, we will do this trip again on the bike. We are doing it this year in the cage because my mom will turn 70yrs young while we're on the trip, and she wanted to get up to Montana to see relatives she hasn't seen in 20 years.

Hey Folks, I'm looking to pick y'alls brains on some ideas of what to schedule on our vacation we are going to be taking in June. My wife and I are going to take a two week trip in our cage with my mother riding with us, while my aunt and uncle follow us in their vehicle. From our home here in Arkansas, we will head north to Omaha, then on up into South Dakota to Rapid City area. I am looking for suggestions of must see's in this area, such as Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Sturgis, and any other little neat things we ought to check out. Then, we will be heading to Helena, Mt by way of Bozeman to see relatives. Then down through Yellowstone (definitely need some must see's for Yellowstone), Teton's, Salt Lake City. After Salt Lake City, I need to put together an interesting route across Utah, Colorado, and probably New Mexico to eventually hit I-40 to make our way back to Arkansas. Give me all your wisdom on these areas. Places we must check out as we travel. The whole group is relying on me to make the schedule, so, I could think of no better source than to reach out to my Venture Rider family for help. I'm all ears, Lynn