BigLenny
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Everything posted by BigLenny
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Now thats the kind of tidbits I'm looking for. So, the Venture has a different gear ratio and more HP than the RSTD?
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Randy, Your experience is exactly what I picture myself doing. I love my RSTD, and I love how convertable it is. I would probably keep it. The 1st Gen is definitely a 1993. The last year they made them.
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Yep, I'm seeing a trailer in my future.
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Very good point. I am seriously intrigued by the 1st Gens, but A. being "faster" isn't that much of a selling point to me anymore, and B. I'm a little concerned about getting myself into a situation where my long range tourer is something that I constantly have to tinker with. Maybe my solution is to buy a 2nd Gen for my serious long range touring, and buy a 1st Gen for a cool project bike. LOL.
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Meach, This is exactly what I'm tossing around in my head to do. The only trump card would be if Yammy shocked the bike world and came out with a nicely updated Venture. I would probably then pull the trigger and buy new.
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Great info so far. I'm not thinking I want to add fairings and trunks to my RSTD. I kinda like bikes that already have all that in a factory made cohesive unit. There is also a good chance that I will be keeping my RSTD as a short tripper. I'm also trying figure out what the real practical value there is in owning a Venture over an RSTD. I know the fairing and the radio and CB and all of those goodies are attractive to me, but on the other hand, there's no way I can pack near the crap in that trunk as I can in our huge freakin Saddlemen t bag with the roll top we have. I'll for sure give up some luggage space there. Doesn't matter, I still want a full dresser. Lol.
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Thanks. Great info. Do you notice any less HP performance when you're pulling it? Does it make the bike feel sluggish?
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I ride a 2007 RSTD. Bought it new and have loved the bike so far. My wife and I have been to several states enjoying this bike, and I am completely in love with the V4. Having said that, I have this constant thought in the back of my mind that I would like to get a full dresser. While I know I could buy a newer or new model Venture and be fine, I wonder if I should just spend a a considerably less amount and get a good low mileage clean maybe 2000 to 2007 model one. When I look at these bikes on the used market, they look like there is no difference, other than color, than the new ones. So, the reasoning is, why would I buy a newer year model when I could save quite a bit of money and get the exact same bike just a few years older. Is there something I don't know? Do the earlier 2nd Gen model years have less HP and Torque, or is there some kind of bug in the earlier ones that has been corrected since then? I don't want to get into a situation of buying a bike that has less performance than my RSTD does. Okay, here's the second part of this question. Is there a huge performance difference between the 1st Gens and 2nd Gens? I'm not completely sure I would consider a bike with the years on it that a 1st Gen would have, but I ran across a 1993 1st Gen yesterday here locally that is in pristine condition with 31K miles, and the guy said even though he loves the bike, he would probably take $3000-$3200 for it if I wanted to buy it. The 1st Gens just look more aggressive. They look like they would be a better performing bike in the turns and such. I know that I could just end the whole discussion by going and buying a brand new bike. I've test ridden several nice bikes (Victory CCT, Victory Vision, Kawi Voyager, GW, BMW 1600 GTL, Etc). I have the funding to go that route, but something just tells me to buy an older but very good bike and save the duckets. Plus I love the V4. Let the opinions and suggestions begin. Thanks, Lynn
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Rickard, I noticed that trailer in your profile pic. What brand is it? Do you recommend it? I'm looking at getting a trailer. I have a wife that is trying to get the Heisman trophy in shopping, and when we are traveling I'm tired of seeing the sad dog face when we don't have the room for her to buy something. Thought I might give us a little more room on the long trips.
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Thats how I am. As a matter of fact, thats how I bought my RSTD.
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I agree, this IS about the never to be seen revised Venture. Lol. I was just asking because I think your philosophy of how to buy a good bike and save a ton of money is very valid. As a matter of fact, I have used that process for many years to buy myself and my wife's cars. I spent a decade in the car business, and if it teaches you one thing, it'll teach you that there hardly ever is a valid reason for buying a brand new vehicle of any kind. On the rare occasion, it makes sense to buy new if the new vehicle price is discounted so incredibly deep(ie:end of model year discounts and rebates) that it is getting close to what a used price would be. No big deal. I was just asking the question because you were so adamant about how people should buy used instead of new, which I think is a smart idea, i just wondered if you used that same smart philosophy across all your vehicle buys. BTW, I hate for you that you can't find good clean low mileage vehicles up in that part of the country, down here in this area it really isn't a problem to find well taken care of used cars.
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I caught Rivco at the Bikes Blues and BBQ rally a couple years ago and purchased it from them and had them install it there. I've been totally pleased.
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Rickard, Do you buy new cars and trucks?
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Thanks everyone for your input. Sounds like several tires you suggested would be a good choice. I have made up my mind, I am going to go with the Dunlop Elite III's. By all accounts that I've read, they seem to be an awesome performing tire with no apparent problems. While I think Metzler may have had a period of time where maybe they put out a bad batch of tires, it appears that they have corrected it and the brand will be okay. I, however, am not willing to take the chance and go with them again when there are a number of great alternatives that haven't had an issue. Tires are just something that I want to always have supreme confidence in. There are enough things to be concerned about while I'm riding, I don't need to be worrying about whether the tires I have on the bike are subpar, or part of a bad batch. Thanks so much, Lynn
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Oh Man! That link that PGunn sent scares the bejesus outa me! That makes me mad! I thought I had found a great tire with the Metzler, but after reading that thread and hearing the advice you guys are sending my way, I'm thinking I better move away from them. I have a nightmare vision in my mind of us traveling loaded up and something stupid happening with that tire. Couldn't live with myself if my wife got injured or worse over something that i had knowledge of and had been warned about.
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So, the Venom's handle the weight fine?
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After getting putrid miles out of the Brickstones that the bike came with, and then slightly better out a set of Pirelli Rt66's, I then went with ME 880's. I now have 15K miles on them, and have been totally happy with them. The rear tire is right at ready to be replaced, but I swear there's another few thousand left in the front. Having said that, my question is, why do I see a fairly large number of folks bashing the Metzler ME880's, and instead recommending tires like Avon Venom, Dunlop E3's, and Michelin Commander II's? The reason I want to know is, if I'm fixin to buy knew tires before the 2 week trip we are taking in September, then I need to know why these other tires are so much better than the Metzler's. I might consider them if they are way better. It's not like the Metzler's we currently have are doing light duty either. Besides the weight of the bike, I'm a pretty good sized fella too (6'6" 300lbs), and my wife adds a bit at 130lbs. Just wondering.
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Miles, I think its a cool idea. All I have to say is.......SEND VERY GOOD PICTURES WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED! Most if us on this site want to learn. Lynn
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Crap! Tried to attach a link. Obviously didn't work. It's a snow mobile.
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2013 Yamaha Venture MP Reviews, Prices, and Specs Guess this will be the only Venture we see this year.
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That makes me wonder if I should be riding a BMW.
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Thanks. Yeah, I saw the road, I just never saw where it ran into any town called Bethel. Maybe he was talking about Balsam Grove. Anyway, I think we'll ride it up to the BRP and take that over to Asheville.
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Dave, I don't see Bethel on Google Maps. Is that after you cross the Blue Ridge Parkway. I'm trying to put together a route for when my wife and I are out there Sept 8th.
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BobbyG, Is that Wayah Rd good and smooth? You got me interested in going this route when we are in that area Sept 8th. Lynn
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Glad you mentioned the Cherohala Skyway, I would rather ride that than the Dragon. Having said that, I don't really have a preference of which way i ride The Dragon, either way is a blast to me. We've ridin it a couple times, but I'm sure some of the folks that live close to it and ride it regularly will have a preference of which way is best. For my money,The Cherohala, Hwy 28, 74, The Blue Ridge Pkwy, and a couple other roads are the reason I would go to that area. The Dragon is just a little fun icing on the cake while you're their. My Honey and I will be riding through that area the weekend of Sept 7th on our way to the Outer Banks. We're looking forward to it.
