vzuden

V7Goose, RE: "...important to have both a real tach ..." What do you recommend for a tach? Type? Brand?

Harley pipes for me. It's best to avoid those where there is a catalytic converter in the right side pipe.

Baggershield for me, too. They offer a discount for our members.

Have you checked to see if there is a draw on the battery when everything is assumed to be off?

rbig, Diamond cut Mike had an engine last fall. He's located pretty close to you

Looks like this might be a good post for the 2nd Gen Tech section

If you don't mind my asking, how much did the lic plate frame cost?

I had purchased the factory passing lamps for my RSTD. Unlike the Venture factory lights the RSTD lights have a small toggle switch on one of the lamp housings. I don't see it in your picture but I am using my phone so it may be there and I just can't see it on the small screen.

I have a home across the river border in Illinois. Close enough to qualify as Ioway?

have you tried to lube it?

rbig, I repacked some baffles in my RSTD aftermarket mufflers a couple of years ago. There was one screw/bolt to remove. I used a large wooden dowel maybe 2ft or more in length and maybe a 3lb hammer to beat them out. I took a lot of effort to get them out but they went back in much easier.

When using the phone, especially for navigation, you will need to have it plugged in to keep the battery charged. I use a Ram mount to mount it to the handlebar and wired in a charger that I added inside the fairing. I bought a cheap (less than $10.00 charger on ebay) with a USB output. I tee'd into the harness going to the fairing power outlet for power and ground then shrink wrapped a USB cable to it and routed the wire up to the handlebar mount area. My headsets have never died even after a full day of riding. I charge them in the hotel room on multi day trips but I also added another 12V weatherproof outlet near the passenger footrest. We can charge hers from there and mine from the fairing outlet if needed but never had to (yet).

Never heard of HD involved in making Yamaha exhaust. Many of us put HD mufflers on in place of the stock mufflers. Myself included. I am not sure if HD mufflers use the stock gasket. I put mine on without checking and they were stigmatized fit. I used aftermarket chrome clamps that are fairly wide in order to cover the header pipe that was exposed due to the HD mufflers not covering all of the header pipe

I have traveled in groups a few times and listened only. I don't have a mic and just listen to the leader and the tail guy converse through the bike's sound system. For phone, music, navigation, converse with passenger, and talk to other riders I use Bluetooth with the speakers added to my helmet. Completely wireless. I use the UClear brand in a modular helmet (wife has full face). UClear does not have mic to add to the face of your helmet or a boom mic as the mic is built into the speakers. Visit their website to see the technology behind this.

Mine will go out in tomorrow's mail

E3's front and rear. Jake Wilson usually has the best price

Looks like the Jason mod. Described in the tech section http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?501-The-Jason-Mod cant say one way or another if it works as I have never tried it

Yes, there should be one. Did you check the bottom of the bag? They like to stick there

If you are willing to step down to a RSTD: This dealer is about 1.5 hrs from me. I know they have had this one for quite awhile and may be willing to deal on it. http://www.worldofpowersports.com/bike_inv_feed/unitinfo.html?vehicle_vin=JYAVP18E37A005720#.VxU70NQrKWg Same dealer but I have not seen this one http://www.worldofpowersports.com/bike_inv_feed/unitinfo.html?vehicle_vin=JYAVP01E7YA000753#.VxU9stQrKWg Last fall they had two used Ventures but I did not see them in their online inventory today

Have you tried Jake Wilson for your tires? Reputable, low price, and ship fast

The low speed handling is improved by raising the rear of the bike about 1 inch. There is a write up in the tech section on how to do this. If you are inseam challenged you can accomplish the same by lowering the front a little. Not sure but it seems I've read where the forks can be slid up further on the triple tree. Smaller front tire has been mentioned but I have not tried that as the raising the rear accomplished what I needed.

I haven't worked on one for a few years but they used to require sensor replacement and quite often more than one. The early systems required at least two sensors to trip before a bag went off.

As Freebird said, they are the chrome tips. There are set screws you can loosen to rotate them to whatever position you desire and it's purely aesthetics. There are two styles at least - short and long.

I had them and sold them to a member. I liked the sound but my passenger felt they were too loud. I had been told they sound like a small block Chevy with glass packs. I have switched to road kings.