cowpuc

OUCHY OUCH OUCH OUCH my friend - that sounds HORRIBLE!! Any clue of what caused the sudden infection? My Dad had a LOT of ear problems thru the years and finally ended up having to have major mastoid surgeries late in life cause he let things go.. Those ears are nothing to fool with brother - I would personally not hesitate to take matters to the next level of expertise if I were you!! Hope you get feeling better soon Rand - my thoughts and Prayers Up are certainly pointed your way!! Puc

Finally,, someone with connections to Mom Yam,, sounds like you may have some inside insite for us that could possibly help in some way.. I am a nobody with nothing but a fair amount of ride time out motorcycle touring America - by that I mean actually riding cross country on a motorcycle with very little to no interest in sparkle and bling.. I also have done the big rally's like Sturgis and Daytona for many years.. One of the things I have noticed throughout the decades of touring I have done is the constant decrease in the number of people actually out chasing the front wheel in the capacity of which I speak. Even the big rally's have seen a steady increase in the numbers of folks who trailer in - ride the area (maybe) - bar hop then load up and head home.. Dont get me wrong - I think its awesome that folks are even still interested in our sport but, again, IMHO,, things have changed HUGELY in the touring world. Personally I see the Big Twin Air Cooled bike market that HD owns the big piece of as a HUGE market in itself. Then there is a much smaller market that the RSV, Wing, Beemer and the like connect with - this market is TINY compared to the non touring but more bar hopper short range cruiser bling type of market that HD has sewn up IMHO.. Like others, I have toured on the air cooled scoots of yesteryear.. I had a shovel low rider that I wrenched my way to almost 200k of really fun cross country miles on.. Like all air cooled machines, it was HOT in the desert tempts that people liked to ride back then.. I wasnt married at the time and normally rode 1 up so the engine heat was workable, I was also young and able to be happy with the wind in my face and prickly skin from being slapped all day so the scoot was able to get a constant solid air flow with no fairing or windshield disturbing the air movement.. Problem is, now I am married and the woman who owns the rear seat on my Yamaha Venture REALLY does not appreciate being toasted back there.. Getting long winded here,, sorry about that... My point is,,, is this new machine aimed at the Harley market which Polaris with its recent Indian repop is aimed at and all the other V-Twins or is actually aimed at the smaller for real touring market that is dominated by the Honda Goldwing? Do you and/or Mom Yam see the difference between the two markets or am what I (and a few others like me) wrong in my preception? If a person were to take one of these new Ventures into tempts out west ranging well above 100 degrees for hours and hours on end would the passenger pay the price with burned legs and feet? Would high cross winds like daily seen in places like Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada be a problem for the passenger as the winds blew thru the cooling fins on the rear jug and across the legs of the passenger? Also, as a Yamaha dealership having dealt with a similar motor/tranny to this in the Strat/Roadliner and Raider (someday,, somehow I am gonna OWN a Raider = I DO love that motor but think it best to love it in a "chopper") - did you folks see an increase in your sales of bikes with that particular engine in it? In our area those scoots were more of a hard sell because they just could not compete with HD on HD turf.. Their only saving grace was price point - a person could buy a new Strat for half the price of a similar HD BUT - even at that - there were left overs for years and now those same bikes show the same in resale value - less then have the resale value as a similar HD.. Another ? I just gotta ask,, did Arlen Ness or someone else with Polaris jump ship to the Mom Yam design team? The second I saw that new one at the unveiling at Americade in NY visions of visions popped into my head.. Not trying to be a smarty pants or nothing,, just some questions that been buggin me... Thanks for your time Night Wind and seriously,, I hope this new one really does turn the touring world upside down like Mom Yam said it was going to and that its not just another shot off the bow of The Motor Company!! Puc

Sure wish we could have taken some of the constant rain we experienced in Wisconsin out to the western states to help with the wild fires we would later encounter.. Tweeks new Shinko Tour Master 230 tires did an AMAZING job out there in the real world!! I liked em so much that her 3rd new tire I spooned on her this season out in California later in this series would be another Shinko = THANK YOU to my friend videoarizona for the recommendation!!

We will see a little more of this over the next few days but NONE of it will have the gorgeous scenery to stare at or coolness of temps like good ol Michigans U.P.!

And then ya just HAVE to go play in the water after sleeping next to it all night!!

Nothing like getting rocked to sleep by the sounds of the wave action on Lake Michigan... Makes me drouzy just listening to the back ground of this..

Caught these folks admiring the shear beauty of our scoot "Tweeksis" and they agreed to a short interview.. We got some amazing people in our awesome country and meeting them/making new friends is something Tip, Tweeks and I always look forward to!!

My fingers dont work well anymore so I decided to continue developing my video blogging experience.. Kind of fun really.. Here is where it all began a couple days ago:

Ya BUT,,after an epic adventure like you and that GORGEOUS scoot of yours just pulled off,, that stiffness has got to have almost good reminder feel to it brother!! Any idea on the latest about Mike? Last I read he was looking for help in finding info about getting his trailer repaired?? Sounds like he is doing ok in healing up on the injuries and is out and about ok?

My pea brain is still stuck on "I smell Polaris Victory" every time I see a pic for some reason.. I LOVED the "feel" of the Vision 8 Ball = amazing scoot for handling, any of you riders happened to have also rode a Vision and have thoughts of comparison between the two? Tip n I bumped into one of the Star Rider Chapter guys on our way in yesterday who was coming from test riding the new one up in Minnesota. He was riding a Strat (which he LOVES) and said he thought Mom Yam did a splendid job but still thought the MSRP was way to high and going toe to toe with HD from that perspective probably wasnt a good idea.. He did say Mom Yams quality did shine thru though.. This is a good thread - THANK YOU for all the pics and good reporting gang!!

Roller, I told the CHiP that stopped me for 68 in a 55 while coasting down that mountain in The Sierra Nevada's on "88" that my bike was shut off and in neutral and I didnt have any intent of breaking any laws out there.. He said many times in life things happen that we never intend to happen and we should be prepared for those times too... Have no idea why I wrote that Roller ,, guess it sounded good to me when I did ,,, gotta forgive me bro - been in the sun a lot the last couple days and thinkin part of my brain got toasted,,, bottom line - hope ya have as much fun using your Enhanced as we have using ours

Hey ya lop eared desert riding varmint,, ya know what they call that spot at the end of that roadway dont cha? That there is a CAMP GROUND = and pretty dog gone nice one too I might add - yep,, would LOVE to put that one on a "Pucs Home Away From Home" list David = NICE PICS brother!! Thinking out loud here on your tuning,,, personally I would also double check my diaphrams if that 05 was mine.. 12 year old scoot could definitely have a pin hole or two and those little vacuum leaks can really drop the MPGs when the cylinders start fightin each other.. Might be worth a peek.. I have yet to set a set of valves in any of my 1st Gens (sounds nuts but its true),, holes in diaphrams = TOTALLY different story line...Dont forget to double check along the edge where the diaphrams meet the carb bodies if you do check em.. Another I have noticed about all my v-4's,, for some reason they do tend to use a little more fuel when running in extreme heat and they have warmed up.. Always figured it was the nature of the beast,,, could also be that I tend to wick em up a little harder to increase the air flow over my body too though I suppose,, you know,, kinda like turning up the fan some.. Ohhh trust me Fool,, ol Pucster would continue to harrass you and your Wisconsin White Washer even if he moved to Hawaii - some varmints deserve to be harrassed no matter what!! I take issue here,, NOT think = KNOW,, you KNOW cowpuc would LOVE to ride that spot!!!

WOWZY WOW WOW WOW = TOTALLY awesome pics and trail tale here Leo = THANK YOU for sharing!! Was out doing a little traveling when I heard of Mikes accident,, definitely a game changer there!! Glad to hear he is ok and that you got to finish the ride brother!! BEEEUUUUTEEFUL pics here = no tickets from the on this one

Roller, both Tip and I have the Enhanced Michigan DL's and have used them many times at many locations for going back n forth into Canada =absolutely NO issues at any USA/Canadian border coming or going and that includes States outside of Michigan and Provinces with borders that do not connect with our home state = you will be fine!! Ours "broadcast" our info using some kind of a chip but we are always stopped at the window to verify the info the guards are reading... The licenses come with a sleeve to carry em in so our info is not being spread all over the place,, Tip is more jittery about that kind of stuff so she keeps her license concealed,, personally I dont much care about stuff like that (remember back during the Y2K scare when everyone was stocking up on toilet paper? I wasnt one of them,, more of I would rather go back to using leafs then have a basement full of toilet paper kind of guy) so I just leave mine broadcasting.. Yep,, things work AWESOME!!! Found out by trial and error they will not work to get into Mexico though,,, BUT - they werent billed as such either = at least ours arent.. Those bandito's they got down there in Cactus Country were intrigued with them but would definitely not allow passage without other paper work = Canada only I reckon I reckon..

I hear you guys and right there with ya's... Use to be I could grab a sledge hammer and bar, C-Clamps or even my 16 inch channel locks I carry in my right saddle bag and snap a bead on a rear tire swap without much fuuu dooo.. This last trip taught me those days is gone - think they took more then bladder and prostate parts on that last tune up cause WOWZY I got no strength.. I have always carried my tire spoons but now I think I gotta figure out a way to tote my bead breaker - aint no way, aint no how I am gonna hand a roadside dealership no 400 bucks to swap on a new tire!! Tip n I been talking about grabbing a 4x4 pickup, tossing on a topper/air conditioner/generator so we can tour the out back on trips out west and side lining the scoots - really really hard and sad though cause, like you two and many others around here - its in my blood.. I had to give up racing dirtbikes (which I LOVED) a number of years ago cause my spine is shot and now this = sucks getting old,,, BUT = sure beats the alternative!!! Tell ya one thing,,,, that Cancer Doc mentioned bucketlisting a while back,,,, grabbed one of those Yamaha liter bike/crotch rockets = talk about restoring that childlike adrenline rush,,, freaking thing is nothing short of amazing!! Just pulled in from our first CTFW fling since '14,, opened the garage door and there was that pretty little (they only weigh 400 pounds) sprinter staring at me with her naughty grin = definitely helps in the therapy department = at least for me..

Thanks Or!! You da man brother!!! Yep,, definitely a pleasant surprise here = house is still standing and neighborhood seems really quiet - NICE!! Thanks again for letting us flop in your garage my friend = another PERFECT nights rest!! @Flyinfool = THANK YOU again for contacting Or for us.. We said our goodbyes and left early yesterday morn,, BOOKED to the terminal in Walkie and arrived at 11:35 am.. People were waiting in line,, we went in and checked and were told they had room on the 12:15 depart and if we decided to pass they could not guarentee passage on the 7:15 pmer.. Looking at the skies there, we jumped on the ship and split,, or should I say = floated away... Our phone was still no servicing so I could not reach you.. Hopefully we did not mess your day up and you got to fly with your fly group on time.. THANK YOU again you two!! Your hospitality and assistance in hooking us up was, beyond words = totally appreciated!! Love you guys!! Puc,,,,, n Tip,,, n Tweeksis!!

+1 brother - I stand TOTALLY with you here!!! We came rippin into Wisconsin last night on the way in from the west coast.. Last time I saw Orlin when he was here in Michigan he reminded me that the camping area on his property is always open = 24/7 should we need a place to flop while out CTFW.. I remembered reading about the flooding in his area and thought best to see if the area was now open BEFORE riding Tweeks down into their valley.. Our phone had been dead for days with no service, FlyingFool was kind enough to jump in and contact Orlin for me,,, Orlin said the camping area was wayyy to squishy but to come on in anyway and camp up by their house... Resulting in the pic below!!! Yep Ty - I KNOW exactly of which you speak!!

You are a scally wag of a lop eared varmint and a really bad egg ,,, my kinda people though cause I was wonderin the same thing DanL':mugshot: By gursh it better,,, 119 inch against a puny little 74 inch = if it dont theres gonna be some big twin Venture riders out there... Dont be to skeered though bro,, Tip - Tweeks and I went flyin past a couple of 110 inch big twin riders out at Sturgis on the way in,, they pulled up next to us in Dead Wood and asked what the heck we was riding to run like that with all the "crap" on Tweeks.. I smiled and said a beat up ol 74 inch Yamaha Venture,,, got another one of those typical :scared:from em as Tweeks sat there makin :stickinouttounge:faces at em = sometimes I think that ol scoot is related to you Mom Yam and I are not on speaking terms right now or I would inquire as to answer to that deep, but necessary question brother:thumbsup: Hey Cimmer,,, REALLY excellent ride report brother!! Totally enjoyed reading it!! Thank you for taking the time to fill in the blanks.. It will probably be next ride season before we get to see this new one out on the open road but I cant wait to see em out CTFWing..

hearing ya brother,,, to bad time wasnt created with 67 hours in a day lol.. missed ya brother,, did make an awesome vid just for you though, will post later with trail tales.. Just coming back north after ctfw south to escape fires, currently at the bonneville headed to yellewstones west gate.. zwowzy wow wow wow is it awesome out here. Warm but unending beauty. Met two ranchers last evening whominvited us to stay on their ranch. People are wayyyyy friendly, specially if ya carry a gorgeous riding partner like mine, get out n ride. Puc

Still thinkin ya should stick with what cha cha know at this stage of da game bro... had a neighbor offer us . an amazing deal on a wing before we pulled out to ctfw.. told hom same about us,,, just to many years on the 1st gen,, to much know where everything is and what they feel lke when their sick, to many spate parts and,, get this,,, even this well established family network here on vr is wayyyyy to hard to come by and replace... If urvstill gonna do it,,, maybe price out normal wear items n get a feel for costs associated with parts replacement. Not sure what years were afected but i do know that some beemers had drive shaft issues n some had abs issues that ended real pricy for the owners.. i know one guy that chased that trail n ended up with more in beemer repair then i spent buying 5 ventures..

Like what happened with the cowboy,, we r a dieing breed... just swapped on my 3rd tire 4 the season n can honestly say though,, the amount of sport touring bikes with younger folks on them out here in the west is encouraging. Been trying to teach em the code though. They gotta learn that even those air cooled bikes sitting in the shade cooling off need to be checked on to see if they are ok.. the market may be shrinking some but its farr from in trouble imho. Perhaps the hd market n its clones are sidelined some.

We got chased outa north nevada by fires, had to drop down, head east n then back north to head up to the bighorns. Just pulled into wendover fromt the south side, sitting here in bk cooling off, would be more then happy to shoot over to salt lake n case the joint for ya if ya need me too mike. I have been here at the bonivelle a number of times,,,, cant be no mre then 1 n half hour putt if the place is in slc. I will hang here for half hour or so to give ya a chance to respond. Really sorry about your acident brother,,,, still in my thoughts n prayers my friend.. Puc

You nailed it gr8! Klr250, son in laws scoot, hadnt been ridden since 01 before i came out to sac in 14 and got er fired up. Been sitten again since about that time,,,, 15 year old grandson n i are working on gettin it fired up again.. got the p dubya goin for the younger one, now gotta toss a wrench at the klr and see whats up.. almost for sure its just dirty carb, again.. @Condor , just came in from uc davis sac visiting daughter at work, rode past that bike shop on grantline = east side of 99, noticed they got the guzzi n aprilla demo truck there.. gonna shoot over for a gaze, test n tuner lol. Wanna meet up there n then do a banana nut at leatherbys? Its 10 till 3 ur time, should be at the bike shop by 3.30 n ice cream at 5ish.. be great to c ya if yagot time... Puc,, the

Yep,, personally I liked the E2's considerably more.. Both still well under 6k miles of wear while loaded and touring the deserts in high temps. My very highest mileage tire to date was the Michillen Commander 2 which landed me close to 6k under those conditions BUT = they handled no where near as good as the E2's (they were hard rubber - slippery when wet or on cooler pavement in the corners).. Have yet to try a dual compound (as shown here = http://www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com/tire-line/american-elite/ but also available as the E3MT ) hard center and soft outer edges.. Maybe someday (when they get within reason in price) will give em a shot!

Noticing a LOT of these "Please update your account = 3rd party photos" thingys where, I assume, pictures belong? ANyone else seeing this or is it something I did to my son in laws computer today while he was at work?? OHHHH PLEASE TELL ME I DIDNT JINX THIS THING!! http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e369/RR322/VisitedStatesMap_zps5b1f149b.jpg?t=1417982165