IronMike

Well what Brenda said about IQ dropping ten points when you get on a super fast bike I have to agree. My son went to Afghanistan and had me watch his GSXR ya know take it out once in a while. I used my secret safe street but I found out it went from zero to 122 just in second gear. I could not take it out without being stupid on it. I have no idea why they even make em. Had I hit someone who pulled out on me. It would definitely been my fault. And the Venture is pretty fast for its weight. You can cloud someone's judgement throttle rocking it too. If I were speeding and hit someone who pulled out on me. I could not sue them with clear conscience. I'd hope I got well enough to ride again, hope the insurance covered it and forget the rest. But as Dad always said. truck driver he was with six million safe miles in 4o yrs. "You can be dead right.".

As a professional driver of over 30 years and millions of miles. I always say if you are speeding and someone pulls out on you, you are equally at fault. You clouded their judgement by speeding. If they look left right left and they see you on one look way back there and you're doing triple the speed limit, you're going to get to them three times faster than they thought. Now if you are doing the speed limit or even within 10 MPH of it and they pull out on you, get mad if you want, although it won't change anything. But if you or any rider, whatever.... is having fun with the throttle and someone pulls out on you/them, it's no foul. YOU were in the wrong! Everyone gets on it sometime or another. But in any place that has cross traffic or even driveways, it's a dumb idea. Really dumb. For testing Carbs and for vibration tests and such I have a little road a mile from here, farm land on both sides for 2 miles, no driveways or intersections almost straight. I have seen police on that road a few times. But I don't have to worry about anyone pulling out on me.

I have an 08 with 18k on it and it does not whine. I use AMSOIL. No additives. In my Roadstar I used Lucas and it did make the clutch slip. Although I love Lucas.

Well, your type always got double respect in my book! You weren't dumb enough to give up your liberty to protect our liberty, Yet you made the best of it anyways! I have special thanks for those that were drafted, and now those that went back to the sandbox several times. I think everyone should go once before anyone goes again, Unless they want to! And some people do! Yay! Patriots!

Think I am going to call this one not worth the effort, Hard to mount, not electrically friendly for my set up (Although separate switch included) AND it was some Harley Guys idea. (Not Freebird, he would count.) So I am just going to install it on the Car and see how it works there. Ill let ya know. In the fall.

Yea and yea I have used both sizes, Open end, and turning the bars while finangling for a shot at it helps. My front end started showing signs of being too loose, when I went to snug it up this top nut would have fell off in my hand had it not been for the Handlebars keeping it on. Imagine that! So, i only had to tighten!

Like they said, too fast. Brenda H Yesterday the tent I had just seam sealed and waterproofed was stolen while in my back yard to air out the Waterproofing. That line about His IQ dropping ten points soon as he got on the V Max was the First thing since my tent got stolen that made me laugh.

I bought my 08 with 9K on it, at the end of the month Problem free it had 16K on it, I rode it HARD on a vacation and everywhere I could think of, a Few Iron Butt style trips. Just because I did not have time. The tires wore out fast. There is, like any other bike a lot you will WANT to do to it. And if you join up here, double that. http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/usmcxterra/Venture3377954_zps1f470b60.jpg I also have a Roadstar I have not ridden since I bought the venture a year ago July.

I drive about oh say 14K miles a month. I drove 4000 miles so far this week! And i agree with you on this 100% I might not even put it on! The deer I go by that do not even move has to be in the gazillions!

Glad you mentioned That. Here's a little inside story on what is behind that day. For me anyways. I was on Recruiting duty for the Marines when the Beruit bombing occured andthe lowest ranking. Thus I was Honored to pick up the returning Marines from the Airport (with a detail of 8) and escort them to the Funeral home and being the lowest rank I was ordered stand FIRST Casket watch there while the rest do what Marines do best, go to Tun Tavern. (Marines Guard their fellow Marines until the remains are Burried) This first watch is where, the wife, the fiance' Mother, father, sister and brothers show up, and whoever else. 7 times I did that over about two months, it was a full time two month side duty. The moments spent at the side of those Caskets put you in some serious touch with what War is all about. http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=c6bb28dc-f00a-4b4d-b08e-cd90ff50d407 All of that is Memorable. Like yesterday. I watched a movie once called Taking Chance, It was Ok but nothing like what I experienced. I'm just glad the admiration and respect for those who served has taken such an uptic as of late and people are remembering this day for more than just time off work and a Picnic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day 6.5 years In Marines, Service Connected, Lifetime Member of DAV Ch11, the American Legion a few others too. I will be working that day so my Co Workers who never was even in any branch, can go do their picnics and family time. In fact Ill work all weekend, Starting friday and all the way to next saturday. Bummer Ought to be a law Veterans have that day off over Non Service people. I'd like to think they are going to pay respect to family members who Gave all. That might keep me sane.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/usmcxterra/Venture%202008/20140522_093959_zpszlsmjpdn.jpg Thats the baby, Suppose to be all that. Says sends out a signal that mimicks a rattlesnake. Not so sure, I turned it on, you can hear it, never heard a snake go whoop whoop its Audible I imagine you can hear it going down the road, pretty loud. For that reason it says hook into + of High beam, not an option on my bike I have the oscolator on the high side. OK so I say Im going to mount this before the trip. First week of June im riding somewhere! 8 days! Anyways. It's about a little smaller than a gas cap. 2" round. WHERE IN SPELL WOULD I MOUNT IT! Any Ideas? I went out, there is like Nowhere on the 2nd gen for this without making a hole. Not going to make a hole for this. I thought about using the two screws on the bottom of the lowers to make a cross member and bolt it to that. but kinda naaaa Right now I am thinking Glue a High Power magnet to it and use my Charging port to power it, then just slap it on and stick it to the Guard that goes around the Saddlebag. It Should Face Fwd and me Low to bounce sound off pavement. Dont think it would put up with direct water from tire. OR depending on the input here I might scrap the idea. It was advertised for Motorcycles but I think they meant Harleys. And Wings. It looks drab. Any Ideas?

I think I've got like $1200 fighting the shock problem on the Roadstar. Got the progressive 765 on it. The adjustable one. So $900 don't sound bad.

This happens every spring. People are so anxious to get on and ride. Before they even check the air in the tires, the oil, the brakes, the movement of the cables fluid level and the rest of the pretty trip. Then they take off and go ride like it was middle of summer. Should go to the first parking lot and practice maneuvers. And some turns and figure eights and quick stops. Then we have the crown that hops on and goes and drinks and then rides. I feel for the person following. They will never get over it and they will always dog out riding. How they will never ride one. But when they see someone get killed in a car, they keep eight on going. People keep posting I think it reminds people to think through the first few weeks of riding.

What's the best replacement shock? I see two come up. What's one have over the other?

08. 18k miles no Whine, no Beer no nothing. History of rear end noise, no lube either. Knowledgeable dealer told me Ventures known for lack of lube from factory. Told me to get busy and lube the swing arm points. I hope I make it to winter.

As a truck driver I've delivered and picked up tires from many places. All I have to say is. Brand don't mean much. They all outsource and what went into that tire may not be what goes into the next. It seems to be a fairly unregulated industry with a high turnover of labor. And they are always looking for a less expensive source for supplies just like everyone else. You might get 15k out of one tire, buy the same exact one from the same exact people and get totally less than desirable experience. I've never gotten less than 25 k out of a Dark side configuration with a MC rear on the front. I just had two spanking new tires on when I bought the bike. Metzler front and rear and I've worn them both to the threads in 7k mi. First time ever the front did not double the rear. That was a lot of curvy roads though that's what I like.

Well that's good to hear. She always wore gear. But never as much as me. She had it all certainly. Still does. But she never even wore the Bon Armor I got her. And that stuff is barely noticeable. Seen a lot of pictures of road rash. Yech. I don't thing any gear would have helped these two much. They may have suffered more for it in fact. Heck of a wake up call early this spring. More then once she brought attention to something I would not have seen, so I miss the pillion rider. I'll have to be more careful. As wild as I am. Kutos to women in gear.

Chilling the sign that says. Hardies cares watch for motorcycles. I know the families are hurting. No cure for that kind of hurt. I racked up over 70k mikes in fives years two up. Its a great responsibility. I was always afraid of a crash and scratching her beautiful skin. I never cared about me. The absolute worst thing I always thought would be her getting hurt and not me. (She didn't like too much gear on, although I bought her everything , armor everything, leathers bon armor, helmets ). She thought they made her figure look baggy. Impossible. http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/usmcxterra/MS1700/IMG_20120721_152229-1-11_zps162c9b34.jpg Her on her bike. So after six perfect years we broke up because she was insanely jealous. Of anything. Sad face. I had Just bought the Venture in hopes it would be better two up than the Ultra star. (Roadstar with fairing and touring trunk.). So I been kind of looking for someone else to help balance the rear of the bike out. This article reminds me how nervous and cautious I was when she was on the bike with me, a lit more edgy solo. Got me wondering if I should just stay single. I'd hate myself forever if anyone got hurt on count of me. Even if it wasn't my fault. So all you Venture Ladies. I think I just said what a lot of the males here think. And maybe you being on the back does make em that much more careful. This event is exactly what I was always afraid. Of. She had kids. It hits home. I better get on and ride before I change my mind and sell both bikes. My dad always said, Once you think you can handle that thing it will handle you! And you can be dead right. He's still here and he retired with over six million safe miles driving for CF. This is just crazy chilling. I always said though, if I go riding, at least I went happy. Sad as this may be, it is a learning reminder of how diligent we must be to survive the mean streets. It does not matter what happened, no one got up that day thinking they were going to kill someone and no one slung a leg over the saddle thinking they were going to die. But it sure got me thinking.

I've made that mistake myself a few times, came out into traffic when I really did not want to. But my number wasn't up yet.

How do you know it leaks just by spots on the ground?

I should go ! I have a black bike!

On the part where the spring contacts the plate. I think I am going to just cut two half in slits and bend it over ...... Keeping the meat of the metal there and adding stiffness.

One key in the ignition. One in pocket. One in bag for a passenger. One bidder requiring tools to get at on bike and the key code nodded tools required to see. That's my policy. I have no idea if this is right but think the serial number will do you no good. Otherwise anyone can get it while you are parked and have a key made. You have to have the key code or have new locks made or keys made to locks. Its a nightmare. These are stamped keys not cut.

I knew you would see this and come up with some better ideas. I think I will be doing both of what you suggest! I know its hard to fab up things and its a process making some mods according to feedback. Thats how it gets perfect. If you are going to U shape the bolt holes make some kind of retainer. I think I will put one of those HF 55 LB magnets up there with a zip tie and have it on the front of the plate JUST in case it might come loose I will hear a noise before it drops and makes me end over. OR maybe cut the BACK portion of the hole so it hooks on from the FRONT and slides BACK then Finagles into the rear hole. That would keep it up there as long as the rear nut is on. I feel a lot better having this baby on and will especially on a trip! Now I can ride it like I stole it! LOL

The parts guy of over 20 years rode Ventures forever, even raced one on dirt track. Anyhow he knows a lot about them and said to me when this happened, forget the fuel filter its not the problem, he was right. I did try a few of the ones listed, they did not fit right so i just put on a new Factory one. One thing I don't want flopping and rubbing and fitting poorly is the fuel components. I would think Pump. And I carry a spare. The aircraft one. Im not going dealer on that one, its too much money for something that fails too often. I'll fit this one to it when the time comes.