SilvrT

I know Donny Petersen, and he adjusts his writing style to suit the target audience that the various publications are aimed at, in order to get his point across. I remember avidly reading Joe Minton articles in the eighties and nineties, and thinking how factual and clearly written they were. And then I read one that he had done for Easy Riders magazine. It was all "Yo Bro, lets blow the Yamahondukis into the weeds" stuff. Different publications have different house styles. Cycle World was always different to Hot Bike for example. Journalism, wether we like it or not, is about getting a proper balance between entertainment and facts. If it's not entertaining, in order to hold the readers' attention, then it won't be read, and the point of the article will be missed. If we want pure facts, then take a workshop manual to bed, rather than a magazine. (I do that, but then I'm probably a bit weird...). Donny doesn't have anything to prove, either to himself, or to others: he's been there and done it all. However, his large motorcyling audience is obviously interested as to why a previously die hard Harley enthusiast has chosen to jump ship to another brand (and yes, he has bought a Magnum). Some of Donny's experiences mirror my own, albeit he's been around longer. I've owned 20 H-Ds over the last 36 years, and have run my own shop for 25. I build H-D engines, have my own machine shop and a dyno. I also write articles (mainly technical, and more recently, road tests) with the first one appearing over 20 years ago. Just over a year ago I was invited by a magazine to be involved in a large road test review, comparing the new Project Rushmore H-D Streetglide, the new Indian Chieftain, and the Victory Cross Country. I've always considered myself open minded (the motorcycle doesn't make the man, the man makes the motorcycle) and don't give a damn what anybody chooses to ride. If it makes you happy, get on with it and enjoy your motorcycling. I was so impressed with the Cross Country, that it never went back to Polaris. I sold my 20th H-D, that I'd thoroughly enjoyed for 5 years, and bought the Victory. Here's something else to consider as well: look at what many of the names in the American V-Twin world are doing, and they've all had a lifetime of getting down and dirty with H-Ds. Arlen Ness, who built a career customising H-Ds switched to Victory. He's a member of the Hamsters, a unigue 'club' of top flight custom builders. Many of them now ride Victorys (mainly Visions). Arlen also sold a Vision to Sonny Barger. Doug Coffey from Head-Quarters in Canada, who's been in the H-D business since 1969, and pioneered a lot of the performance camshaft and cylinder head porting we see today, has just bought a Magnum. When we see the guys, who are at the top of their respective games, moving across to Victory, then there is clearly something going on. The secret's out, 'The times they are a changing'....

says ... "this video is private" ... hmmmmmm ......

now there's a great idea ...

How absolutely asinine! What manufacturer actually makes winter tires for touring motorcycles? Talk about enforcing the law to the limit!! Same thing about being charged for riding without a helmet while sitting on the bike, engine not running. Frikken major example of an officer's position go to their head. ohhhhhhhhhh my hair is standing on end and I don't even have any ... better I stop! LOL

They wouldn't be able to ticket me since I'm running a winter tread car tire LOL!

I've mulled over your post for quite some time now and am compelled to comment. Considering your "rant" in the following post, I'm of the opinion that your comments here are fueled by your previous experience in that you're still harboring a grudge. As such, I feel your "bad mouthing" the Victory product is unwarranted. Being an owner of an XCT, I find no truth in most of the negatives you're saying about them. It's really a shame that such an experience has closed your eyes to such a great motorcycle. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?89241-My-letter-to-the-Victory-management

puc, I figure everyone here is interested in hearing your perspective ... including your's truly! So, let 'r rip!!

Guy compares Harley to Victory Starts on page 30 http://issuu.com/theridersmag/docs/2015-02_riders_mag_feb_2015_mag?e=5092282/11037933

Click on the "Built With" button and there's a whole lot more "stuff" to check out... http://michaelbach.de/ot/-misc/cappuccino/index.html

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Puc! There's one thing to be said for enjoying life while you can but if a person enjoys it too much along the way (like me) and doesn't concern himself about those "golden years" then you can wind up reaching those days only to find you can't fully enjoy them because you didn't prepare for them along the way. Here I am at 68 and scrambling to hopefully retire in 2-3 years but somehow in the back of my mind I know I'll probably need to continue working well beyond that at least part time. Here's hoping for healthier days ahead my friend!

Where in Clinton is this? Oh, I'm very interested in the "hot beaver" .....

Came across an article on facebook that I felt worth sharing. I, like many others, slow down using engine braking and gearing when approaching a stop or other situations requiring slowing down. I'll generally not apply my brakes unless/until necessary. In doing so, there is no indication or warning to whoever is behind me that I am slowing down. If they're not paying attention and notice my speed change, which can be fairly rapid, I'm putting myself in danger of being rear ended. As a precaution I am now going to start activating my brake lights while I'm gearing down and engine braking. I think this is a good "preventative" practice, one that I've not heard anyone mention before nor have I thought about it before. Something I do do is when stopped and there's traffic approaching from behind, I'll flash my brakes a few times just to ensure I'm getting their attention that I'm stopped or for that matter, that I'm actually there.

Gotta remember, the numbers I mentioned are Canadian prices. We pay a whole lot more up here for what you got down there.

That surprises me. Every time I've ridden an Ultra I've found them tons easier than my old '06 RSMV even with leveling links and 130 front tire on it. Congrats on your new ride! Thinking back to when I bought the RSMV, I was at odds between it and a new Ultra ... just couldn't bring myself to forking out the bucks. Kinda wish I had coz now I'll probably never know if I would have liked having one. Same issue when I bought the Victory but I was looking at 10 grand more for the Ultra. Vic XCT - $23,500 , HD Ultra Limited - $31,900 Plus tax! OUCH! That's a big chunk of change!

Slowly we're moving away from the Venture motorcycle and just "venturing" on what we're riding. Perhaps the site should be named ADventureRiders.org

It could be that the clutch line runs too close to the engine and the heat is causing the "gas bubbles". That said, flushing the system and rebuilding the master wouldn't solve it unless they used DOT 5 fluid maybe?? (just a wild guess)

Gee, I wonder why no Canadian models are being recalled? (maybe we don't start them in gear )

here in Vancouver ... don't know about the rest of Canada.

Is this carried on in the US like it is here? 25,000 potheads (mostly young people) gather annually to get high. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-4-20-rally-costs-to-be-paid-by-the-city-1.3043110

Woman’s A$$ Size Study There is a new study about women and how they feel about their a$$es. The results are interesting. 10% of women say their a$$ is too skinny. 30% of women say their a$$ is too fat. 60% of women say they don’t care, they love him, he is a good man and they wouldn’t trade him for the world.

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Tigard-cop-on-motorcycle-narrowly-misses-oncoming-car-299218021.html?tab=video&c=y

hey puc, isn't one post enuf ya gotta double them...??

Sweeeeet!!! I love my Victory but I've always wanted what you got. Wish I could have both!

Just like old times, my phone rings and who's on the other end? Our old friend Rocket! Haven't heard from him in ages but he must have known I was thinking about him the other day. He's doing well, sounds the same, and is working on getting his bike operational. Hoping we'll see him at Venture West!

He sent me these pics ... says they were on it when he bought it.