Venturous

I am going to first try to sell it with all the goodies on it except for anything that would work on the wing. If that doesn't work.. then I will strip all the accessories and part them out separately and sell the bike stock. If that happens... I will be sure you get first right of refusal on the rotor covers and breather covers.

Well, I have joined the ranks of defectors.. Hope I can still hang out with you guys!

+1. At very least... one that specializes on personal injury. The persons insurance company will do everything they can to quickly close this claim and get you to 'sign off' on it. A good lawyer will be able to push to ensure you get 'made fully whole' which may include things like lost work wages, medical bills, rehab, bike replacement etc. Plus they may push for some pain and suffering reimbursement. These lawyers usually do not require payment from you but instead you pay a percentage of what they recover. Usually like 1/3. It sounds like you might end up better not paying that 1/3... from what I understand... in most cases, it pays to have the lawyer. What is recovered is generally a lot higher once you have a lawyer. Good chance the insurance company will offer a one time pay-out to close the case. And sometimes that figure may surprise you. Why? They know if they have to pay lost wages and rehab costs over a long time... it could end up being a lot more than that payout. Anyway... see a lawyer soon.

Before I bought my new 2002 RSV, I came close to getting a 2001 Valk Interstate but I was concerned about buying a bike that had already been discontinued after only a couple years and finding parts in the future. It still would be a concern if I was looking at a used one. Anyone know if parts are still easy to get for these?

Seriously... I came close to signing paper on a new Goldwing a couple weeks ago. Although my 2002 only has 120,000 miles on it... I hope to have another 10 to 15 years of riding ahead of me. I doubt my '02 will hold up that long without serious issues. So, now might be a good time to start looking at my next ride. One thing that has me holding off on the Goldwing is I would hate to settle for that IF Yamaha does make a VMax inspired 3rd Gen. That and the fact I like my current monthly payment! If they come out with a air cooled engine... no way. If water cooled twin... maybe. If 1700 Vmax engine... I'm in as long as it has ABS.

Only if it has a dual cassette deck....

Awesome!!! Must some sort of auto-immune disorder if prednisone helps. And it sounds like you know... that can't be a permanent fix. My dad had severe early onset RA. Back in the early 70's.. steroids were thought to be the 'miracle' cure for RA. Well... long story short.. the prednisone is what killed him... not RA. This might be the big AH-HA clue they need to help get you right. Well as right as they can... Prayers!

Best prices I've found on E3's is from http://www.jakewilson.com

Well I think the swivel hitch is a better mouse trap which is why I use it. Looks we are both happy campers.. Now...... which synthetic oil do you use to fill your rear car tire... LOL

For me, the must haves are: Liquid Cooling ABS The 'Like to have list' would be: Shaft drive. Not sure about the maintenance comment. I've had my RSV for 13 years/120k miles and have done nothing to it. What I do know is I have seen many Harley's roadside with a dangling drive belt. Never heard of a Venture being trailered somewhere due to broken shaft. Dont have to worry about picking up a little rock between belt and cog ruining a trip. Forward control riding position. If not for the riding position... I would have been on a new wing last week. Came that close. I still may go that route depending on what Yamaha does during the next year. Or... I may decide not to wait. Fuel Injection. Although with yearly Seafoam... my carbs work just fine and have not been a maintenance issue other than the occasional sync. CB Radio. I can take it or leave it. With the kids almost gone.. I see the next decade Lisa and I travelling more on longer trips with the tent camper and less group riding. If they are going to make integrated navigation the way Goldwing and HD do where its use is restricted on the fly... keep it. Rather save the $$$ and just add my own unit. Beefier charging system that can handle extra lighting, trailers, and heated cloths without needing an upgrade. Those are the things important to me. So lets get to it Yamaha...

Like Mike, I have reached a point where I am ready for a new bike. My trusty RSV is 13 years old with 120k miles. I am hoping for another 10-15 years of two wheel riding, so I think my next bike could be my last. I'm not in need of a new bike, but my current bike is unlikely to last another 10 years, so anytime now would be a good time. I came very close to signing paper on a 40th anniversary ABS Goldwing. One thing kept me from doing it now. That is the unknown on a third generation Venture. I am hoping they build a new touring bike built around the new VMax engine. I would be pissed if I settled for a wing and we did get a new liquid cooled venture. But... some spy pictures speculate that maybe the new Venture could be a Vtwin based on the Stratoliner. I will not buy a touring bike that is not liquid cooled and does not have ABS. Period. So Yamaha... if you are listening. I want to remain on a Venture... but if you release an air cooled touring bike.. I will be a Goldwing owner shortly thereafter.

I know you said you check for air leaks... but my bike did this when I had worn/loose exhaust to engine gaskets. Could not feel it with my hand... but found it by taking a long grill lighter and moving alone the pipes with bike running. As soon as I got close to those gaskets... it was trying to suck the flame into engine. Tightened... pop went away.

In honor of 420.... Here is a map and a link to a GPS file of a 450 mile loop that will take you to the highest points of 4 southern states. NC, SC, GA, and TN. It includes the highest point east of Mississippi. Now thats how ya get high! This loop assumes you are based at the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground south of Waynesville, NC which I recommend. http://www.macesoftware.com/GPS/420_High_Points.gpx The best way to download is to right click the link and SAVE AS a .gpx file. As a bonus... the GPS includes a second loop that will take you to 14 waterfalls in one loop and just around 200 miles. Enjoy getting high!

The Hagon USA heavy duty shock is also $516 delivered. That is what I have and I am very happy with it. Many people also have the Works Performance shock and say they are happy with them also. When I bought mine... Hagon was only $485 delivered and Works was like $799. I think what has happened is Works realized they have some competition and lowered their price to remain competitive. See... free market does work. I think either Works or Hagon would serve you just fine and that price is NOW inline with Hagon.

I agree. If you have space for it... a tarp or ground cloth under tent is a good idea. Eureka does make good tents although I've never used one. My previous scout troop bought several and had good luck with them.

Well Mike, after tent camping last summer in Gulf Shores... we realized we were not as young as we used to be and heat does effect us more than before. So I git your point. But... we weren't ready to abandon true camping. So.. after Lisa pestered all the tent trailer owners at Guntersville with a thousand questions... ... we got this.. And yes... it has AC. And even though small.. for this small space.. you could hang meat after a while..

Hi Jim. Takes me right at 2 hours to get to the 1-40/I-26 intersection. We should try to hook-up one day to run the parkway south. Enjoy the international. We'll have to miss this one. Another group has a ride on lake superior we are going to since we've never been there. If you have any questions about the camping... feel free to ask. I'm no expert... but we have done a lot of camping over the years. Much rather sit around a campfire than sit in a motel room watching HBO.

Oh yeah... and a mini umbrella. They come in handy for more than just rain!

Wife and I have motorcycle camped for a while. Until last year... out of a cargo trailer with tent and cots. We now have a time-out trailer and are still fine tuning how we pack that. But, for cooking.. this two burner propane stove always worked great. We pack one pot, one medium size skillet and a coffee peculator. We have 4 plastic dishes and two plastic coffee mugs. A good cutting knife, spatula, one tablespoon, can opener, 4 forks and 4 spoons. We have a coleman propane light we carry. Always have a couple lighters. And a wind-up flashlight is nice. Batteries seem to die when you need them most. Usually carry a 25' electric cord for when we have electric. Some small card game for rain days. They happen. For us.. cribbage is a good game that takes little space. Each trip might have different gadgets we bring. For example, at the beach we would bring a fan and beach chairs. Normally I only bring two small bag chairs. You didnt say if you are pitching tent or using a tent camper so I'll skip the sleep gear as that would change. Here is our campsite at Gulf Shores, Al last summer. Here is our camp at Guntersville. Took different stuff since it wasn't at beach, but same staples. If you are camping out of a cargo trailer... try what I did. My wife and I would carry to garage everything we felt we had to have. Then played with loading the trailer. We quickly learned what we had to have and had space to have was way different and we then had to pick and choose what was most important. It worked well and we didn't miss most of what we left behind. To give more room in trailer... we would place all our soft gear (pillows, sleep bags, towels) in trashbags then in leather bags and strap to top of trailer. It looks like a ton of weight... but really isn't. Wish I could join ya at WV but I will be tent camping as a scout master with our troop that weekend.

No first hand experience... but I have read that the swivel ball can under certain circumstances shift left or right throwing the trailer out of alignment with the bikes centerline then snapping back quickly causing a potential force on the bike when you least need it... like in heavy leaning. For that reason.... I opted instead for a swivel hitch on the trailer. This stays on centerline with the bike whether swiveled or not. A fixed ball will be fine in almost every circumstance. But we all know it is possible to drop a bike in gravel or oil. I met a Goldwing owner last year whose receiver was twisted because he dropped the wing in gravel with a trailer attached. Something had to give and it was his receiver frame.

Already committed to camp with my scout troop that weekend. Y'all have fun!

Neat dune buggy!

I recently replaced a worn out rear tire. I discovered after it was off that it had a nail in it, yet I never lost one pound of air. Yep... the stuff really works. But also showed I need to visually inspect my tires better... not just check air pressure.

8 seems to work fine for me.

I hope it isn't the new prototype Venture. If so... it looks like they went with a v-twin instead of the liquid cooled 1679cc Vmax V4 that would make so much sence. Maybe if that twin had true water cooling I could consider it... but if it is air cooled.. off my next bike list.