Ventureless

Not trying to start anything here with my question. Not looking for brand or weight suggestions. Would it be wise to switch to synthetic oil at over 80K miles? As far as I know, the bike has had nothing but dino run through it. I use synthetic in everything else I own except this bike. It is said that sometimes there is a problem when switching to synthetic. The problem being that it is so thin, you may end up getting leaks in some of the seals. I have only experienced this with one vehicle that I have ever switched over. The rest have all been fine. I have also never switched in something with this high of miles. So what do you think? Thanks

I am 6'4" and have a Corbin. It is an older Corbin and well used (could stand to be recovered). It is rock hard. It felt like it pushed me to far forward as well. But after about 10K miles I got used to it. I actually like it now. Sitting farther forward, I feel like I have more control of the bike. Look at the police bike seats. You are almost sitting half way up the tank on those bikes. They do it for better control and maneuvering. Not saying it is the most comfortable, but you get used to it. And trust me being the same height as you it was hard for me to find a bike in general that I was comfortable on. I tried a lot of bikes before moving to the Venture. Even some so called big Harleys. They were smaller all around than the Venture and I couldn't ride them. Anyway, the Corbin is nice, but as tall as you are, you will likely still feel like you are to far forward. Ride for a while and see if you get used to it.

I bought a 99 about 7 months ago. I to was worried about the miles on it. It had about 70K miles (113000 KM). I now have almost 85K miles 7 months later and have only had minor issues. The worst problem was an electrical issue. Easy fix, but just a pain figuring out what it was. And really nothing that could have been 100% avoided. It is older and will have stuff crap out once in a while. But mine still has plenty of power and runs excellent. And other than the sport tourers and sport bikes I have owned, it outruns any cruiser or touring bike I have owned.

OK I have one more thing to check and then I am out of ideas. If my last idea doesn't work, could it possibly be the oil switch or the emergency (fall over) sensor. It doesn't look like they are in the diagnosing section for the starter not working so I assume they don't need to be working for it to start. But all this happened a couple days after changing the oil. Also, can I just run a push button switch and some wire straight form the battery to the starter for teh time being? I realize that it would be easy to steal, but I am running very low on patience right now.

OK looking at the 2 wires that are not getting power on teh wiring diagram here at work this morning. Looks liek teh 2 wires coming from the ignition are the L/Y and L/B. One goes to the stand and clutch switches. The other goes to the ignitor unit. Can it be the switches? Coming out of the ignition would there still be power to those wires even if the switches were bad? Just not sure which way the power runs through them. I am going to try and find teh time to test the switches today. But wouldn't it still fire up with the stand up, clutch pulled, and in nuetral even if one of the switches were bad?

Thanks. I guess since I have everything off, I am going to do that now whether I need to or not. It will make it quicker and easier later down the road if I do need to remove them.

No offense taken. I went through several ways trying to start it. That actually leads me to another question though. I know I can start it in nuetral with the stand down. So lets say I have the stand up, in nuetral, and clutch in, can teh safety switches still keep it from starting if any of them are bad? I would think with the combination of everything in the right position, it would start even if the switch went bad. I guess I should test the switches just in case huh?

Ok still nothing. Battery, fuses, kill switch, starter switch all good. No power to starter. All but 2 wires going in and out of ignition have power. The 2 that don't are 2 blue ones going to red plug in pic. Also how do I get the damn ignition out? DO I have to drill teh bolts out and replace with new ones? (pic of the ignition as well). I am getting pretty frustrated at this point. Almost posted it for sale as is earlier. As it is, I probably will not have a chance to mess with it again until next weekend. Or is there anybody near me (Warrenton, VA) that would mind helping me in trade for dinner and drinks (or one or the other). Kevin: Got your calls. Sorry the weekdays are busy from 3AM until 8 or 9 at night with work and kids extra curriculars. I will give you a call tomorrow evening if you are available. Well I thought I was uploading photos, but apparently I have no idea how. Upload keeps failing.

I haven't checked anything yet. I didn't realize anything was wrong other than a dead battery until 3:30 this morning. And I was pretty p^issed off because I ride all winter freezing my butt off and never have a problem and then we start having 50 and 60+ degree mornings and the damn thing breaks. It was almost wheeled to my bonfire pit and lit up this morning. I will be checking things when I get home today. One of my biggest concerns is why the oil and temp light come on when I hit the starter button. That makes me think I have a bigger issue than just something electrical gone wrong. Not saying I do, but it makes me nervous. I just don't have teh time right now to be tearing anything major apart.

Ok I am having a problem and wonder what to check first. Saturday I changed oil and final drive fluid. Monday I rode to work no problem. When I got home, I must have left the power switch on (apparently the Ventures had a problem with the ignitions or something and previous owner installed a secondary switch for power - I believe that is correct). Needless to say, I go out at 3:30 Tuesday morning to leave for work and it was dead. I realized what I had done and just drove to work. Put it on the charger when I got home Tuesday and after about 4 hours it fired up. I went for a ride and let it run for about 20 minutes after to charge the battery some more. Cut it off and immediately tried starting again. No go. So I plugged it back in around 6PM last night and let it charge until 3:30 this morning. Green light on charger was on showing fully charged. Hop on and all lights, radio, etc come on as if fully charged. hit the starter button and nothing. When I hit the starter, the oil and temp lights both come on. Starter is not even clicking like it is a low battery. So is it my starter, starter button, fuse? Could the battery have just crapped out? And why do both the oil light and temp light come on when I hit the button? Because those lights are coming on, it leads me to believe that the starter button is working. Thanks

We also like staying in Maggie Valley. We usually stay in the Meadowlark Motel. Fantastic owners. Not the most high quality or newest of places, but it was clean and fun. They have a pavillion out back that they will usually let motorcyclists use to park their bikes under. The stream runs behind the place and you can build a fire and sit out by teh creek in the evenings. They have a grill out there as well. We usually get rooms, but they also have some sort of cabins or something there as well with balconies over the creek. I agree that Gatlinburg is busy, but the one good thing about staying in Gatlinburg and/or Pigeon Forge is that you always have something to do in the evenings. We don't drink that much when on our trips, but to be able to walk or ride the trolley from where you stay and find several restaurants and entertainment is great. Cherohola is much better to me than the dragon. Rode the dragon once and that was enough for me. Now each year when we go down, I take the road around it with a couple others and meet the rest of the group on the other side. Klingmans Dome and Cades Cove are also 2 very good suggestions. One other side trip you can take is down to Tellico Plains. Quaint little town and the Tellico Plains Bakery is an awesome place to have lunch. Great sandwiches and incredible home made canolis and bear claws (I think that is what they are called - cream filled and chocolate covered). And very nice people as well. Parking sucks a bit though. Make sure you have a kickstand pad (unless they have fixed it since last year).

If that is it what am I looking at as far as repair?

I have been finding a small puddle (maybe 5 drops) under the bike after sitting each night. Under left side floorboard area. Guessing it is oil. There is always quite a bit on the shift linkage. I have cleaned it and tried to find the source and haven't figured it out yet. My oil level stays the same so I'm not losing much. Can anybody give me some ideas of where or what to look for. Thanks.

For a .22, I also would go with a Ruger. I don't think Ruger can be beat as far as .22 pistols or rifles go. I have a MKIII Hunter. To me it is a beautiful gun and one of the best out of teh box shooters I have ever bought (of any caliber). I also have a Browning Buckmark. It is pretty close to the MKIII. I bought it because I found it used ( 1 year old) for $200. I ended up putting a threaded barrel on it and adding a suppresor to it. Now the neighbors don't complain when I shoot the skunks and foxes hiding under the cars at 3AM when I leave for work.

I am not as close to some of you, but we now have 4 vehicles (not including the bikes) for 2 drivers. My wife always drives a new(er) Acura. Her employer pays the monthly lease payment and she gets a new one every 3 years. Now me, I drive an 02 Ford Taurus with 150K on it now. Getting ready to sell that to downsize a bit. I also drive a 98 Ford Expedition with 150K on it. A couple months back the Expedition left me stranded on the way to work one morning at 4AM. I was not happy considering I had had a pain in the ass to find electrical problem and had only been back on the road for 3 weeks before getting stranded again. Now I am not a fancy pants car guy, but with my wife working for a large dealership and me falling in love with her Acuras, I called her at 4AM and told her to pick me up on her way in. She did and I found a used MDX on the lot with low miles and very well kept. 2 hours after getting to the dealership I left with it. Now she also gets very good deals on the used vehicles so I was happy. And after an alternator and a new belt, the Expedition is running like a champ and the MDX is sitting. I plan on driving that Expedition until it dies somewhere.

Helmets required here in VA. I heard they were trying to get rid of the helmet law here as well. I usually wear one, but when we are on our yearly trips, if we hit a state that does not require a helmet, I pop it off. The way I see it is that the half helmet that I wear won't do much good anyway and while I am on my trips, I am out to enjoy it and get that "free feeling". So 100 miles through a state without a helmet is really nice once in a while.

I have a Corbin and I am not a fan. I am a pretty big guy (6'4" and about 290). The Corbin really pushes me forward and leaves no room at all to slide back even a little. I have been on the prowl for a stock seat as it seems to fit me better.

I have had my permit for quite a while. I carry a Keltec PF-9. Very small and controllable. I bought the side clip for it and I just drop it in my jeans pocket with the clip hanging on. No need for a holster. Can't tell it from a pocket knife in there. Goes everywhere with me and I have never had any problems with it. I will say though that I am now looking for a FN 5.7 now. If I can find one, I will will start carrying it although it is bigger. BUt the 5.7 does hold 20 rounds and eventhough it is a smaller bullet than the 9MM, with 20 rounds from a recoiless weapon, I think I can stop just about anyone. You can read about how destructive the 5.7 X 28 is.

I still own my 1992 Concours. It has been my old faithful. When other bikes have died besdie it, it has never quit on me so I refuse to get rid of it. Almost 100K miles on it and it runs like it did when I got it with minimal maintenance. I added bar risers, highway pegs, Buell footpegs that lower the stock foot position, replaced the 2 stock coils with individual coils, added the 86 seat which is flatter, and several other things. I have ridden 1000 mile days with no problems at all. Got off and felt like I hadn't ridden any further than the grocery store 5 miles form the house. I did try the newer 1400 and was no where near as comfy. And the power of the 1000 is plenty enough to haul my fat butt around.

Adds more excitement that way!!!!

Having some problems with my current grips and I am getting ready to order a new set. I believe I need 1" for a 99 RSV. Is that correct? I am at work and just want to make sure before I order the wrong ones. Thanks

From Talladega Nights: Here's the deal -- I'm the best there is. Plain and simple. I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence. And Did that blow your mind, because that just happened!

Not trying to hijack the thread. Just wondering who is the butt buttler and what does he/she do? PLease PM me. Thanks

I have a Corbin and it has the same gap. Mine also hooks fine both in the front and rear.

Now I want to see both go up against an Electra Glide:whistling: