IronMike

Great Time as always! Thanks Dave and all who made it! Great ride, food and friendship! I Ended up going home via 555 end to end with the Trailer and then shot over to my 2nd Fav Ohio road and did SR 9 End to End!! So I had a nice ending to the end. I hit the curves almost like I had no trailer at all. Handled great! No Traffic, saw one Rider got Bit by Ohios Tail, They were nursing his bike back to roadworthiness when I went by, he had gear and was ok.

Everytime we camp here the man upstairs doesn't want you on a motorcycle, last time it was the well. Dave is saving the ride you like for until you get here.

OK I have been LOCKED out of this thread! I JUST found out I can go! I left Brooklyn at 2 AM and I Just got back from Aron, packing and leaving, Be there by 8 Need anything three thee Oh 2 one 9 eighty7 26.

If I have off!

I agree with your wife's friends. LOL I was laid off for two years, So what a nice time to ride and I did! Like 20K a year. One trip was starting at The GREAT! !!! SKYLINE DRIVE, (I love that part of the road!!!) and that basically dumps you onto the Blue Ridge Parkway and that we Traveled All the way to the Tail Of The Dragon where we could not possibly STAND it anymore! We must have had good weather, Yes we hit some rain or it hit us but I don't remember pounding wind. Maybe up at the highest part where we actually Rode up through the clouds in some driving rain and got to the higher area (Highest on the BRP) and then looked down on the storm from the top. (That was cool) We saw lots of wildlife and the Bike flooded out while we were within 20 yards of a Mother Bear and two cubs. She snorted and charged a few leaps and that scared the bike into a running state. (I tossed the seat covers as they were beyond repair or washing.) Skyline drive was the highlight, Had the BRP been that active it may have been worth it. But we did have time and was just waiting and waiting at 35MPH 12 hours a day to see what everyone was talking about. Nothing emerged! We did find it hard to find logging, food, gas. There are exits but you can't see whats off them, had a GPS good thing. When I finally got to the TOD for the first time, I sparked to life and swore I would never again Ride or drive or travel any extended length of the BRP. I will jump on for sections, especially around the TOD where they say that is the best section. but in no way would you catch me on that again by choice. Waaaaaayyyyyyy toooooo Booorrrrrriiiinnnnngggggg! Even now when I look at the hundreds of pictures we took, THEY ALL LOOK LIKE THE SAME SPOT! And I had a Go PRO and it was going and it looked like a Hollywood set where the same scenery is on like a 50 foot roll and it just keeps going around and a around. 7 Days of smokey Mountains YES Blue ridge Parkway? PUKE! And thats my opinion! I was laid off had plenty of time and I feel it's 4 days of my life Ill never get back!

Hey I answered a lot of this above. But I don't use Cruise, yet it is a bolt on available. The Backrest comes with the Corbin seat. The Trunk is a Givi 55 And last year I owned the Venture I only used the Senna 20's For intercom And music with ear buds. Sounds way better, no noise. Plus it hooks into GPS and Phone PLUS a bunch of other riders, you can even link in with strangers you pass on the fly with a few taps. It has Am Fm, and I have a small CB that hooks into it I use the extra Senna Mic. Im not going to miss the Venture at all. From the moment I start the FI engine.

TOTAL Add ons $7,510.00 (Explained Below) And from proven and known recipe devised from Concord Owners. Sorry it took so long to reply, That was a busy day off buying the bike. Ill try to Answer all questions. First off, it you watch shootouts from Motorcycle Magazines around the world the Connie seems to always hang in there or win, and it's compared to a much more expensive BMW 1600 and Usually the FJR 1300. On the FJR side, I have heard from several people who rode both and they prefer the Connie. Thats why I landed on it. Trust me when I say I could have gotten a great deal on a FJ. To be Frank, I bought a Tag Along and a Camper and I really was looking to get into ABS Linked Braking system. THIS has it PLUS traction control! SOLD! The Connie did gets it's makeover for 2015 And I waited for it, to either get a new revamped one or a GREAT deal on a 2010 to 2014. The latter happened. They did not change much. On Line experts were disappointed it STILL DOES NOT HAVE Cruise Control! Me, I can care less. I drive over 750 miles a day for the last 30 years and maybe 10 miles of that was on cruise control. I never used it on the Venture. I personally think it's dangerous to use. I feel out of control with it on. Last summer, I rode with the Concours Owners Group (COG) most of the summer. They were impressed with how I handled my Venture but I always noticed I was braking in the curves more than them just slowing down my heavy bike. And that's when I wanted a Connie. But A wing was more my seating position. I trashed the Wing idea when I googled Gold wing problems. Cracked Frames, Failing Radiators and ECM's are things I don't need on Vacation. Back to the Connie. The Concours CAN be made old man rideable. As with any new bike the list of MOds is long and expensive. About $4K more dollars and I will have it like most of them end up. Here is my Mod grovery list. Corbin or Sergent seat with Heat and Backrest. $1000 Corbin Smuggler Trunk with Backrest. $ 900 HeliBars Adj. Handlebars $ 700 F&R footpeg Lowering brackets $ 160 Canyon Cages Crash Bars Bag protectors $ 500 V Stream Windscreen $ 200 Hand Guards (Wind rain Protection) $ 80 Fuze Block (Check that on net its cool!) $ 80 Upgrade tail lamp $ 40\ HID light kit $ 165 Tank Protector $ 75 Gerbing Duel Heater control $120 Australian Hitch and Wire harness $700 (I kid you not Outdoor outfiters.) Upgrade Luggage rack $160 GiVi 55 Top Case (Trunk) $500 (with Pads and liner) Fender Extender and Radiator Guard $150 Bearing Shiftier upgrade $ 21 Dual Stebel Horns $ 70 Kickstand Shoe $ 40 Cover for bike $ 50 Saddle bag liners $100 Cruise control Murphy's kit NOT buying $400 (its a bolt on) Exhaust Power Commander and Header NOT BUYING $1500 So when I omit the Smuggler, the Exhaust Mod and the Cruise, I am looking at like $4500.00 in add on's for a ready to ride cross country bike. The Heli Bars, and the seat plus the lowered peggs ALL are about comfort. Can't do without especially after getting off that Venture seat! The ONLY seat on a bike I never needed to replace! Lots of other things go on not on the list but that I already have, USB ports, Ram Mounts for Go Pros and GPS's, Phone mounts, Cup holders, Lots of lighting, It may sound like a lot, But it still gets me into the BMW range performance wise with way less cost finished product and much less required Maint and lifetime expense. Besides, the BMW guys also have a list! LOL I am using the Senna 20 Communications system for earth shaking Music and communications, it ties in with my phone and my GPS PLUS I can talk bike to bike, even strangers I am passing who have the same thing, for $500 a Pair. Ive used them on the Venture while riding with the COG. They did not have Edsets or CB. BUT I got about 6K off the MSRP of this bike, it's new with 3 year warranty and they have VERY few problems. Like the venture crowd, it's a Cult like following! I won't have time for a Classified, but as a sneak peek of my for sale leftovers of the top of my head I have Everything Leftover from a Trike conversion 2008 style. Bags, Fender, Rear Diff, Lights, Axle and rear wheel with a good darkside tire on it. Whatever the best Edsets system they have, One is brand new in package! Carbon One, Jack Adapter with Legs, Lower Supports, Two Skid plates/ Factory tank Cover, I put on a Leather one and it went with the bike! The Red reflectors for the Bag guards. Lots of Misc stuff too small to list. And Freebird get the Sync tool back for the Maint day! I have FI!

Remember, I don't know how to upload them or mine are all too big. I'll sent ya one SMS.

In the form of a Spanking New Kawasaki Concours 14 Kind of reminds me of a first Gen Venture if it was built today. 152 HP, ABS, Traction Control, Adjustable Riding and brake modes, Gas saver Mode, Adjustable Shocks, Heated grips, On the fly adjustable Windscreen, gazillion other things And something I always wanted on the Venture, a Center stand. My Venture is gone. When I bought this puppy they gave me more on it than anyone could ever get a loan for on an 08, my dealer offered me $500 more in cash, So I guess my bike was all I said it was, it's just no one really can get their hands on money now a days. I paid cold Hard Cash for my Connie, same as I did for my Venture. This si my second New Bike, I hate buying new bikes, you now they whole process of Seat, Tires, Risers, Hitch, Trunk, USB outlets, Cup holder, Horn, and the endless list goes on! I will raid the shop when the weather gets warm enough and list a Junkload of Venture things for sale. I hope I can still drop in on the Maintenance day. Man that was a comfortable bike! And I hear they will be coming out with a revamp!

Well, I was about to pull the trigger on a GW for the ABS (As I tow a camper) I got on the forums and Since the GW moved production from Ohio its went down hill. In their opinion. After reading of Frame Cracks, Tranny failures, Exploding radiators/cooling systems, and lots of ECM failures. I was like ok, I'll hold! Now that the Concours 14 has ABS it's back on my mind, but, that would be 3 bikes in the shop when I can only ride one! It seems bikes are worthless used. You buy one for 10K put 5K into in in labor and accessories and put 5K miles on it and it's worth, maybe 5K! hahaha. but serious.

If I had YELLOW WOLF's Recipe for GW suspension I would just do that! LOL I am really tipping on the teeter from FJR to GW. = Pros and Cons. Maybe ride the Venture another year?

I go there like weekly in my driving job, Queens, Bronx, And a few Long Island destinations. As already has been said. Not me! If you do decide you simply cannot resist, go between like 1 AM and 4 AM in the FALL. lots of a less chance someone will hit you, and if they do you will have all winter to heal and get the bike back up and running. In all my bi weekly trips there the last 15 years I see very few Motorcyclists and the ones I do see are lighter bikes. Very few Dressers. But be advised timming is everything between 1AM and 4AM they like to work on the roads and the traffic could be bad.

Each post helps me think this out. Thanks a lot keep them coming if you have something to say. I wanted the BMW 1600 at one point but got on the BMW forums and a lot of pissed off people with that brand recently and I have even met a few. One guy had to buy a new bike to replace his new bike waiting for the recall to be done, the wait was 8 months to a year and it was not ride-able. If you Google their CS has a bad rap recently and leave the owners out of luck. Very slow and slow to admit problems. So I bailed on that brand, one I had admired for years. Even the Iron Butt people are pissed at them for bikes that broke on a Event run and they got passed by the Yamaha, and the Yamaha won it more than any other brand!

You've got me scratching that itch Dave. Thanks for taking the time to tap that out. I was wondering about the rain coverage. I like that about the RSV compared to my Roadstar. And I also find the Roadstar 1700 kind of laggy compared to my RSV the way your talking it's going to be the same jump then again.

I was thinking $600 a year through progressive for an 08 RSV and an 07 Roadstar was too much. Now I am thinking maybe not. I pay they whole bill the day it comes over the net. I know it adds more if you stretch it out. I save maybe 50 bucks each bike pay by the year. NOW what I get for that is dismal, I bet I did not ride the RS 500 miles all last year. So they won on that one.

LOL that would be one fast Cruiser! A MC Sleeper. LOL I was always looking at the GW and that's what I was going to buy before I landed on the Venture. Since I bought the Venture though, my riding style has changed a lot. Just as I got the Venture dialed in! Blugh! Ya just loose so much money on a bike, I can't afford to be getting a new one every two years, I still think I will end up on a GW but I think maybe I need the FJR as a stepping stone.

Yea I am planning on doing all three at once, Two up and with a trailer. AND thinking I MIGHT have more room when I don't have a trailer. I can put a larger trunk on I think. Funny about the smile. I can tell I am going to have to contain myself on that bike.

Got a lot going on and thinking of Dropping both the 08 Venture Royale and the Roadstar Midnight. Or at least the Venture for a FJR 1300 2013 ES. It just seems it would fit me better the way I ride and where I ride. I have hung out with the Concours Owners Group on some rides and I just like the Ability of that bike but not the few drawbacks it has. Considered a Triumph but ditched that Idea (1200 no go) So far as I look the FJR 1300 is near as perfect as I can get for single, two up and towing. So before I let my beloved beast 2008 go that I have spent so much time outfitting and buying everything Carbon one has for it (LOL) I thought I might ask if anyone has owned both a Venture and a FJR 1300 Keep in mind I am going for the ES model for sure. So any suspension woes you had, don't mention it, that is fixed on the ES. EVEN if you KNOW someone who had the FJR 1300 chime in. I may be letting the Venture go, package deal, trailer and all. I have a crap load of spare parts! Even spare Bags and Wheels and Diff and Fenders, Hard to decide what goes between the Venture and the roadstar, but Think I like one water cooled and one air cooled so thinking of keeping the Midnight RoadStar. If the dealer was open today and had one, I might have bought one today. I know one drawback is going to be the seating position. Legs tuck under and pegs instead of boards. Ugh,

Yep I lost sight in one eye do to RVO, Then the Vein blew up and the retina is kicked off. That is most likely caused by diet, after Cat Scans, MRI's, several kinds of Ultrasounds, Vascular labs. The most through check out ever known to man. They discover Fatty liver. So I have to lose 50 LBS. Your on the right tract. RVO is caused by diets and cholesterol If you have sight in one eye, do continue to tone down the Red meat. To eat healthy or not is entirely about riding for me. I like to be lighter on the bike, and I Live to ride. If I die at 100MPH on a bike in a curve, but choking on a steak, going so blind I can't ride or living a slow miserable death of heart disease or even through a stronk is not my idea of fun. So that's reason enough to change. At a Marks store stop in and get the meal bars called Good greens. Use them to hop you over a meal or curb a urge. They are the BEST for you. 2 for $3 and in many flavors. Also it would be wise to take cinnamon pills with meals. Also helps regulate your sugar while digesting a meal. Add Vitamin D3 4 more months and I might have my eyesight back. Taking the shots now. 4 to go.

Maybe you remember me haveing problems with engine light/oil light and "Fluffy throttle' Well. I still think I need a new TPS (Engine light flickers now and then) but I had a flat spot on the throttle dealer fixed that cheap. but it still ran kind of weak, like a slow throttle. "Fluffy" not crisp rev. Just was at Ohio campout and it was still like that all the way like it has been all summer. It got real dusty as I took one of my Billy Goat roads, 8 miles of gravel and dirt. When I got home all I did was spray it with simple green and wash it with a power washer. BINGO all of a sudden the throttle is crisp again. So what the heck did that do? What could have been clogged that a power wash would open? Dealer is offering me a TPS like half off, but my Clymer does not show how to change it on a 08 what they show must be like 1999 mine looks nothing like the one they show. Anyone know?

I have had one V twin, put 70K miles on my Roadstar Midnight silverado. I turned it into an Ultrastar and when I bought the Venture I switched it bad. It looks Badazz it sounds Badazz. But I am just a 4 cyl guy too. I am actually looking to buy a Concours, Yamaha is just pissing me off here lately. Especially if they make the Venture a V twin.

You really need to read ALL the information in the Darkside information folder. You don't just change the back, idealy you do the rear on the front at the same time, for two reasons, one is they will wear out at the same time. the other is its safer. Its not an easy mount, you have to polish the rim, and use a lube and about 110lbs of air. I can go on and on repeating the whole darkside information folder. But they have it there to read it. If you don't have the time and expect to mount one and go, you will not have the knowledge to run it and you will not have it right and either read the whole information folder then, or take it off. If you are not going through more than a set of tires a year (as in 2 back 1 front) its probably not for you. I had a few trips canceled due to tire wear and availability. DARKSIDE!

All these questions are answered in the Darkside information folder and hashed out in the threads on there. If you go to the Darkside, you really should read and understand ALL of the points made in the darkside information folder to know what to expect and properly run the Darkside. Go here: http://forums.delphiforums.com/darksiding/messages Scroll tab on the left. ALL info is there.

There is no edge, You can Search Darkside tire on You Tube and come up with several videos shown with the camera focused right on the tire as a ride takes place so you can see what it really does. Skip to the Video to see a CT save my ARSE. HAd that been a bike tire I would have been sliced like cheese in a cheese cutter by the Barbed wire fence. What it really does is fight to keep all the tread on the ground. Even in the most extreme lean dragging tailpipes (On Stock suspension) and floorboards you are still going to have 3Xs more tread on the ground (Contact Patch) than you did with the bike tire. We are running the BF Goodrich Radial TA I have about 2000 on mine very very happy camper. I did loose some smoothness over 90 but that is typical, i have not got it dialed in yet. it may smooth out. Its either alignment or Air pressure. Of course GOBS of traction Its like doing the V max rear, it drops the gear ration where you can run in OD a LOT! Smoother ride anywhere below 90. FYI this tire on the rim weigh within 2 Lbs of a MC tire. (i was amazed) I will not go back to a MC tire and I really did not think I would like a CT on my Venture even though I have run one on my Roadstar Over 50K miles. Now when I shop for a bike the first thing I do is check to see if it can go Darkside. Really the biggest reason of going Darkside is if you ride too much and are going through tires. And for me safety reasons, I credit a CT with saving my AZZ 4 times. Here is one such case on Video. Now to set up this foolishness, I was leading much more capable Concours group through some serious twisties of Ohio 555. We were banging the curves extra hard for file footage. The camera is mounted on my trunk shooting the guy behind me. I rarely cross the center line but to gain some speed I decided to go up the middle of a series of S curves.... AFTER I decided that, I changed my mind (Breaking the rule of stick with what you got) My speed was way up there too high to change my mind so when I did all the normal stuff went on. And I started to wash the curve. The only thing I could do to get it back was slow down. With a MC tire I would have had no hope. In the video you can hear the CT in a series of 4 skids slowing the bike enough for me to get it back just before launch. Yes I sheet my trousers. Watch this a few times and notice the Guy on the Concours following my line (He has MC tire and much more capable bike.) we were going THAT fast. We hit the curves like this all day. It was the greatest day of riding in my 40 years on a bike. The fun meter was in the red all day! 12 hour day of riding southern ohio. The Concours riders were simply amazed at how I took the curves with the Venture Fully loaded I might add with 60 Lbs of gear 20 in each bag/trunk. They had a blast following me even though that bike could pass a Venture any day on any road. [ame] [/ame]

I actually can't believe I made it! I slid in on the tail end there spent as much time getting there and back as I did there. But it was solo worth it just for a bowl of the Stew, meeting some famous people and getting a free room at a nice hotel! Thank you! I went home and power washed my bike and it started to run right. Wonder what was up with that? Great Roads great people great food and great weather. I really wanted to get in on leading some of a ride and get on some Billy goat roads and show y'all how the car tire does on rutted gravel, mud and sand. Missed opportunity!