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I will have to learn how to properly maintain them. I did find an online service manual that I've downloaded and will study. Doesn't seem to be a heck of a lot to do so it shouldn't be a big deal. I've read that these are very stable. They are pretty big, over 10ft long and fairly wide too I guess. They are supposed to be very stable and yet the reports are that they are fairly quick considering their size and weight, about 600 lbs. I think I really got a good deal on them so can probably get my money back if I want to but I expect they are going to be a blast. Like I said, I've never even been on one. Started to rent one a few times but they are expensive to rent.

About 30,000 miles. Did not change any bushings or replace any other parts.

Still makes no sense to me that they would build ANY new Venture and not use the new VMax engine. I just don't get it.

Well now what have I done. Eileen has wanted some Jet Skies for many years. I've never even ridden one but I'm sure it is fun. Ran across a deal on two Kawasaki STX 1100s sitting on a double trailer and they came with a towable thing, ropes, 6 nice life jackets, etc. They are older, 1999 models with about 75 hours on them. Pristine condition and just completely checked out by a reputable dealer. I offered him a LOT less that he was asking and because he was wanting to move fast on a pontoon boat that he had found, he accepted my offer. Crap....I'm sure they will be fun but I've heard horror stories about keeping these things running. Anybody know anything about these Kawasakis? All I've found says that they are pretty reliable, 1100cc triples, about 120 HP. Some say top speed of around 63 MPH but most say mid to high 50s. They are 3 person skis and labeled "touring" models. Whatever that means.

I wish I remembered for sure but I think I used 10 weight. I know that I used synthetic fork oil and think it was 10 weight. I look tomorrow and see if I still have a bottle of it in the garage. I know that I used no air at all after changing them.

It updates automatically if you go to "settings" and then "paid subscriptions". You did it right. Thanks.

Those of you who are having problems with back bookmarks are using bookmarks from the OLD site. I figured everybody would have them updated by now. You need to clear them out and bookmark what you want now. Articles work fine but if you are using an old bookmark, it won't.

I'm logged in with Firefox now. Posted the last message from Safari.

I'm not seeing any slowness and am have had no problems with Firefox or Safari.

Just posted in the watering hole but just a quick note here. I made a fairly big change to the software this morning that I HOPE will resolve these issues.

I made a fairly major change to the software this morning. It is not something that affects anything that you see or how it works but affects the coding in a fairly major way. The reason for it was to try and get rid of any database errors and etc. that you were getting from time to time. Some of you may not have any idea what this means but I removed a large piece of code that rewrites URLs and etc. for SEO reporting. It was code that is supposed to improve our search engine rankings. It remains to be seen if it will hurt us in the search engines but the fact is, it was causing some heavy server loads and some database errors due to those loads at times of the day when the SEO program was running. It was also causing some slow server issues during those times. Hopefully this will speed things up again. I had been meaning to do this for a few weeks but just had to find the time to do it in case it caused a major issue with the site. I appear to have been successful in removing it but I don't know how or if it may have affected any links that you had saved to threads and etc. Hopefully there will be no problems. Just a heads up though in case you have some saved links that no longer work.

Well, I honestly can't tell. I do see parts like the passenger floorboards and etc. that make me lean toward it being a Yamaha. The way I feel about it though is that if it is the new touring model from Yamaha, then call it something else. The Venture has always been and should always be a V4. If they put a V Twin in a bike and call it a Venture, I would be disappointed. It may be a great Twin touring bike but it is NOT a Venture.

Yes, we'll do that. Sounds like fun.

Paul, what lake is that?

I don't know how many of you saw Mike's post in the Prayer Request area but I know that some of you would want to help. This is really a sad story. Here is the original thread. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/inspirational-motivational-prayer-requests-etc-/99631-prayer-request.html They have set up a page for people to donate who are able to. Let's get this young man home. Bring James Home by Cheryl Meeks - GoFundMe

Well, it was premature. I have the money to pay it off but looking at the finances, there are a couple other things that I think I will pay off instead. Interest rate on the bike is 1.9%. I have a couple other things at higher interest and it would make more sense to pay them off at this time. Oh well......it was exciting for a moment.

Today my 2013 Harley Road Glide is all mine. It is paid off in full. I felt some pain after selling a perfectly good '99 Venture that had been paid for a long time and hated adding a motorcycle payment to our bills but it is done now. So I KNOW it's only a Harley but whatever it is, it is all mine now.

Yea, we usually put in at Grider Hill. Don't know why, we just do. It's not as nice as some of the places but typically not very crowded. I knew they were raising the level again but haven't been back since they did. Looking forward to it at some point.

I will just admit that reading our story...his story...brought tears to my eyes. I so with that a day would come when we can all live in peace and the senseless killing will stop but the reality is that it probably never will. We owe so much to our brave soldiers like Brian and your daughters. God bless them all and our prayers will be with you and the families affected.

Oh we love Cumberland. We have been there several times. Last time was he fall of 2013 though. We first found it years ago when we went to a MTA rally in Somerset. It's a haul pulling that boat down there from Ohio though. I was pulling it with a 1/2 ton Avalanche and though it gets the job done, it is at its limit.

I would be surprised if they one they sell is not the same as the one for the Goldwing.

I agree that their MPG figures are questionable. My Road Glide gets right at 40 MPG riding two up and pulling the Bushtec trailer fairly heavily loaded. I also think that their performance numbers are a bit low. Maybe not though. I've done the stage one on my Road Glide and that does make a difference.

Well, every boat I have ever owned seemed to have cost me money for repairs. Knock on wood, our current boat has so far not had any problems at all. I actually have it on the market now and somebody is supposed to come look at it today at 2:00 but Eileen told me this morning that she doesn't think we should sell it. She really loves going out on it. The thing is, I just sold the Avalanche that I pull it with so if we keep it, we will be docking it somewhere probably in the Sandusky or Port Clinton, OH areas. We'll see. Here is a picture of it on a trip we took to Lake Cumberland, KY. We camped on it for a week.

Donation made. I wish it could have been more but if everybody kicks in a few bucks, I know it will help. So sorry for your families loss.

Thanks. It does appear to be working. Some folks don't get them but it seems that it is mostly people who use Yahoo or AOL. Those two seem want to put them in the trash or spam folders. Otherwise, it seems ok.