Freebird

Nothing monumental but did get a couple of fair rides in last week. After owning the '18 for about 10 or so months, I finally got past the 1,000 mile break-in period. That's pathetic I know but it is what it is. Went for about a 150 mile ride on Friday. Finally hit the 1000 mile mark on my way home. Until them, I had been following Yamaha's instructions in keeping it under the recommended RPMS and etc. It felt good to finally be able to wind it out a bit and put it through some paces. Yesterday, I went for a ride down to Amish county with Eric Drake, Drake44135 , Some of you probably remember his from Maintenance Day this year. He was the guy that joined the night before and stopped by. It was a good day. We rode safely but fairly aggressive a few times in some of the curves that we found. Eric was leading on his second gen as he had put the route into his GPS. We probably only rode maybe 175 miles. Some observations about the 3rd gen. I wish the rev limiter was about 1,000 higher. I've pretty much gotten used to it and the bike has no problem staying with the 2nd gen but I just feel that it could rev higher and be OK. If you don't pay attention, you will hit it quickly in 1st - 3rd gears. You will actually hit the limiter at 70 MPH in 3rd and at 90 MPH in 4th. Didn't get to see about 5th and doubt you would hit it in 6th at all. Still, it has so much torque that even having to shift quickly, it will keep up just fine. Just have to get used to it. Wish it had a bit more lean angle. I seemed to drag my boards easier than I did on the second gen. Didn't feel that I was riding that aggressive at all but still drug them a couple of times. Stability is fantastic. It lays into the curves very easily. Brakes, in my option, are great. Some people complain about the seat but to be honest, I find it much better than most any stock seat I've ever had. I doubt I'll be changing it. In fact, there is very little that I would change about this bike other than what I have already done. I've added highway pegs, risers, backrest. Also some things like trunk rack, hitch, bag top guards, etc. but that's about it. We swapped bikes for a few minutes and I was amazed at how different it felt to get back on a second gen. I felt that I was sitting more on the second gen and "IN" the 3rd gen. The second gen also felt a bit smaller after riding the 3rd gen for a while. Both great bikes in my opinion and I still love the 2nd gen also but at this point, I think that I prefer the '18 in regards to comfort. I know that there are still those, and always will be, that just can't fathom going to a air cooled V-Twin and I get that. For those who can though, the 3rd gen is certainly worth consideration. After riding it for a few minutes, Eric commented that it would certainly be his next bike.

OK...the first thing is to make sure that your headsets are selected. You can select both external speaker and headsets. Here is how you do it. First, click on the "Music" icon from your screen. Next, click on the "Settings" button. Next, click on the down arrow to get to the next page. Now click on the "Audio Output: button. Last, select the output for sources that you wish to hear through the headset and/or speakers. Notice that your have selections for from and rear headsets as well as external speakers.

A lot of us have them, or had them, wired that way. Just open the fairing and change where the wire is connected.

I am so very sorry for your loss. Such a terrible and sad story. I'm sure it will take you a long time to come to terms with it but please know that she would want you to carry on my friend. You are all in my prayers.

They are all approximately 1 3/4". Maybe just slightly less. They are all the same though regardless. There were a few years that had the catalytic convertors in the mufflers, you are best to avoid them. The later models had them in the head pipes so you should be good on those late ones.

Just to be clear. That is NOT normal. It would have had a site glass when new. I've never seen one that didn't.

Same place. There is no difference between the two models.

Defiantly implications to having an auction. Payments would be a big thing. PayPal does not allow such payments. I'm sure there are other gotcha's also.

Isn't it amazing how quick the price dropped? Dennis Kirk now has it for $201.88. It may be cheaper elsewhere. https://www.denniskirk.com/bridgestone/exedra-g853-g852-tire.pfp543500.prdf?rs=545537 Dunlop is about $250.00. Dunlop D423. Don't know anything about them. [h=1][/h]

Yea, I remember that discussion. Crazy price. I would guess that most everybody would be "dark siding" if it hadn't changed.

I suspect that the person you talked to had no idea what they were talking about. The stock Bridgestone Excedra is available for $201.00 with free shipping. Dunlop makes on that is just a bit more. That's just from a quick look. They may be even cheaper if you really look around. That's the rear tire. Haven't looked for the front.

I've just seen pictures of them. I am really happy with what I have though. A LOT of adjustment available with them.

I've seen several people post about this issue. Found this elsewhere and it has helped a couple of people with the issue.

I found this elsewhere and posted it here for another member. He reported. back that it solved the problem.

Basically, the Royal Star Venture's, come in three models. The RSV, The Midnight RSV, and later the "S" models. The ONLY differences were cosmetic. The Midnight Venture has more chrome. Forks, Brake and Clutch reservoirs, etc. were chrome. It started with the Midnight models but later the "S" models also had the extra chrome with the only different being that they were different colors. The Tour Deluxe was different. It was the Royal Star Tour Deluxe. Same frame, engine and etc. as the Venture but no fairing or tour pack. It had a windshield and hard. bags only. That's pretty much it.

Thank you much for the pictures. He will be missed.

Just learned that we lost an old friend Fred Vogt to cancer. Truly sad news. Fred and I served together on the board of directors of the now default Venture Touring Society/Motorcycle Touring Association. He was never extremely active here but graciously gave his permission for me to post many of his old Venture maintenance and repair articles. Fred was truly a Venture guru. There just wasn't much that he didn't know about the first gen Venture. He was a friend and will be missed. I don't even have a good picture of him to add to our memorials. If anybody has one, please get it to me please. Godspeed our Friend. Till we meet again .

If you look further up in the thread, you will see that I installed the 2" Rox Risers on mine. Easy to do, takes about 15 minutes. I love them.

I'm suspecting that you didn't get it uploaded correctly or it needs to be updated. The dealer should have had it all set up and ready to go. I would take it back and make them do their job.

you need to click on Log Out at the upper right corner. Then you can enter your username and new password.

The exception is the "Member Vendor" ads. Those are supposedly ongoing sales and will not be deleted automatically.

Due to the problem of people posting their ads and then never taking the time to delete them once the item is sold, I will be implementing an auto-delete feature in that section. I recommend that any of you with ads in the classifieds copy and save your ads so that you can repost them has needed. I have not decided for sure yet but it will either be a 60 day or 90 day period of deletion.

Mine are black but are Kuryakyn knockoffs. They seem ok though.

No, it did not. The 1999 - 2013 and the 2005 and later RSTD had the exact same engine. Only difference was they went to black fins on the later ones. The early Royal Stars had less power but they stopped making them in 2001 I think. There was no change at all with the RSV between 1999 and 2013 and they were the same as the 2005 -2009 RSTD. NOTE: The early Royal Stars DID have less power.

You can use any engine or parts from a 1999 - 2005 Royal Star Venture or Royal Star Tour Deluxe. They were all the same. You might try Pinwall Cycle Salvage for a good used engine. They usually have a couple. As for what caused it, if the rods are indeed bent, then hyrdrolocking is the most probably cause.