KIC

Well I found the culprit. After checking the bike out pretty thoroughly over the last week. Including a 150 mile ride last Saturday, The bike was running very well. I checked the tire pressures Tuesday night and rode it to work on Wednesday. A little more tinkering and a good washing on Wednesday night and decided NOT to ride it to work on Thursday so everything was ready for our Friday AM departure. I guess on Wednesday I picked up this little hitchhiker. This little nail is going to cost me over $300.00 including a new tire, lost hotel reservations not including my wife and I both took a day off from work. It had 18 lbs of air in it, so when I got off the bike and looked at it it looked OK, but with both of us on it, obviously flat.

I sit here really disappointed in my 89. All packed and ready to go a a great ride and when pulling out at 4:45am with my wife to meet the group, the rear end started dragging. basically got out of the driveway and had to turn around and pull back in. It appears to be some type of shock failure again. I just tore the thing apart no to long ago and replaced the shock with the one from my 87. I believe the first issue was with the CLASS system and not the shock. Maybe the same this time although I do not know how to figure out if it is the shock or the CLASS. The CLASS appears to pump up but doesn't really lift the rear that much. In fact when I pump up the rear, the front seems to raise and get very stiff. I can let the air out of the front using the CLASS. I will try to work on the CLASS solenoids and see if there is some type of issue there again. I do not relish the idea of tearing the rear apart again to replace the rear shock again. If I do... it will have to be with a new one and I am not sure where to even start with figuring that part out and the $$ it will cost. The worst part is my wife has lost confidence in the bike and it will be hard to get her to commit to a long trip again. Unless I can make the bike reliable. We both took a day off to leave today. Lost $150.00 in hotel cancellations. Lost confidence in the bike. Sad day for me and the Venture.

I have to tell you that today is the first time I have been really disappointed in my Venture. Had a great ride planned with a group to go to Northern Arizona, up through Salt River Canyon, Flagstaff, Prescott and staying the night in beautiful Sedona Arizona. As my wife and I left at 4;45am this morning something happened to the rear suspension ( again) and the rear just collapsed. The air system seemed to work to some degree. but the rear was dragging. Ride cancelled. I am fed up with dealing with the CLASS system and rear shock. I had already torn the thing apart last year and put the shock from my 87 on the bike which turned out no to be that original problem but a CLASS problem. Just the thought of tearing that apart again makes my stomach hurt. I don't know about spending $600.00 on a new shock is worth it anymore. Such a beautiful bike. Just don't know if I can depend on it for long rides. This is a real let down for my wife and I.

Welcome to the farm. JOIN. You won't regret it. Well you might, but we try to keep Cowpuc under control. Here is some info on the battery wire. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?489-Battery-Warning-Bypass Some more info you can use: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?1066-A-list-of-known-problems-on-the-First-Gen-Venture http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?65738-Things-I-would-Check!

Not to hijack the thread but I have been battling oil leaks too and just changed the oil. For the first time I used the diesel Rotella. I now have more of a burned oil smell. Is that normal ? Does the diesel leak more for some reason? Does it just smell more than regular Rotella ?

What did they charge for what you ordered ?

I made a bunch of little "T's" from the back cardboard of a 8 1/2 X 11 paper pad. All the T's were identical and about 7-inches long. This allowed me to make identical measurements on the T's so that I could measure the fluid level in each fork to make them equal. The oil will eventually seep up the cardboard so the additional T's are then used. Here is a thread on the oil: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?67742-Fork-Oil-Height-The-saga-continues/page2

These might help. The E-4 error fix is really simple, sound intimidating to those of us electronic ability deficient but I have done it to two bikes so if I can do it, anybody can. The battery wire is also a quick fix. Good luck. I love my 89. ( just finished changing the oil in it ) CLASS repair.doc Battery Warning Bypass.doc

I presume from what I can gather I am looking for EBC FA123's ?

HAha...no real offense taken. I guess I just wanted to whine like a 2nd Gen in 3rd gear.. I looked at EBAY originally and then read some of the reviews and there were some that said the EBAY ones were too big, didn't fit etc. I guess I should have asked what the best brand was then searched for the best price.... but then again, I was acting like a 2nd Gen...

Hey ,, just what I wanted ...worthless sarcasm... LOL.. I kinda expected some of that .. I was just looking for good pads without going to the dealer here in town since I hate them with a large passion. But, If they will match the price as David says..maybe not so bad. I will still hate them though.... almost as much as worthless sarcastic comments... :rasberry:

Going to replace all my pads and just wondering where the best ( cheapest) current place to buy the pads are ?

Both of our fans are working. But we both are going to get caps and see if that solves the problem. Isn't there a car radiator cap that works well that fits ? I think I had read that you have bend or remove a tab or something.. Is it best to just get a Yamaha over priced cap ?

Curious about an issue I have developed and then recently found out my friend who has an 83 is also dealing with. After riding for a while, even in cool weather when the temp gauge is not even ½ way, and I shut off the engine the water in the bottle is boiling. There is plenty of water, no leaks but it is not that hot yet. I am use to riding in Arizona temps in the summer where the temp gauge is just under the red line in city driving. In the winter it is ½ way. My friend’s 83 seems to run under the red line in city riding even in the winter and boils when shut off. I guess we are going to do a clean out of the systems and he is going to change his impeller…but anything else we should be looking at ?

Cool accessary. And I am really glad to see you back on the ride again after the accident.

Sounds like a killer deal. I love my 89. Here are some links of what to look for on the 1st Gen MKII's http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?65738-Things-I-would-Check! http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?1066-A-list-of-known-problems-on-the-First-Gen-Venture Good luck and welcome.

What part of Arizona are you snowbirding in ?

Here are a few threads for you to check out: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?65738-Things-I-would-Check! http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?1066-A-list-of-known-problems-on-the-First-Gen-Venture 1989 stats and information.doc CHECKLIST for 1st Generation VENTURES.doc

Wishing you the best and prayer for fast and solid healing. I will be nice for the first 20....uhm 30 days of you being a crippled..then it's all bets off since you will just be another Venture rider in therapy..

Some things just scream PUCster.... The Gladiator https://www.facebook.com/stephen.clay.315/videos/879711265451372/ (and I wish we could edit the spelling in the Thread titles... )

did you ever get your final drive to stop crying ?

Let's talk about the reality of a 1st Gen once you sober up... Just tryin' to fit in with the bashers....

Did you hear that Victory owners are 1st Gen wannabes that can't handle the realty of a real bike ? Or, that a Victory is one step above a peddle tricycle but lower than a skateboard ? There ya go SilvrT...don't ever want you to feel left out in any way...

Hey Puc... you take care and follow all the Dr's orders. I want you to be able to throw the "finger" at me anytime. Have you ever tried a throttle assistant called Throttle Rocker (and other names since there are other brands) Take care and heal up fast. :080402gudl_prv:I have a really hard time giving a recuperating old guy a hard time. Being nice just isn't in my genes. So heal fast and let's get back to normal.

I tried pulling a 23 foot sailboat behind my bike but the mast kept getting stuck in the overhead wires...