I now own a 2006 Midnight Venture. Why? First because it's a great bike. Second, I wrecked my 2002 Kawasaki Nomad on 8/12/09. The front vavle stem cracked while I was cruising at @ 70+mph. In seconds I was on a sloped grass median. I have taken many rider courses, including Ride Like a Pro in N.C. All those courses prepared me for the accident. I knew I could not control the bike on the highway and did not want to go down on the concrete roadway. I did not panic, I got on the grassy slope and when the bike leaned into the slope I got off.
What would I do differently? I'D HAVE MY DAMN VALVE STEMS CHANGED MORE OFTEN.