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Freebird

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Everything posted by Freebird

  1. Freebird
    Well, I can only repeat what I've been told. I also have a couple of friends who are dealers and they tell me that Yamaha tells them absolutely NOTHING. They find out what new bikes are coming out at the annual dealers meeting IF there is an annual meeting. I'm told that there is not even going to be an annual meeting this year and they will likely just be notified by a letter. They say that Yamaha is very secretive about such things and don't want any leaks and therefore, even the dealers are kept completely in the dark. One of these is a good sized dealership. Very nice place. He has NO information about a new Venture or the future of the Venture.
  2. Freebird
    Well we have actually done that before. I don't think that we actually emailed it to Yamaha but we've had the threads. A couple of problems. 1. We don't agree. You have two different opinions here. Those that love the style of the first gen want to see Yamaha go back to an updated version of something like that. Body over foot position, modern aerodynamic styling, etc. Those of us who love the cruiser styling of the second gen would like to see it simply updated with perhaps a version of the VMAX engine, ABS, better sound system, quieter drive train. We are talking about two entirely different bikes between the first gen lovers and the second gen lovers. 2. Yamaha doesn't respond to us. They claim that they don't even look at this forum though we know for a fact that isn't true. So, even without emailing it to them, they DO see our opinions here but we simply will never get a response from them. I will back off that just a little bit. Yamaha Canada has been very good to us in the past. They seem to recognize that we are the most ardent supporters of the Yamaha touring bikes and actually attended and brought door prizes to our international rally when we held it in Canada. Yamaha USA tries to pretend that we don't exist. They know we do though.
  3. Freebird
    First of all, I absolutely do NOT think that there will be a new generation Venture for 2013. All the talk about it got me to wondering about something though. In the unlikely event that there IS a new Venture at some point and Yamaha is actually smart enough to build it around the new VMAX engine, what can we expect in regards to the engine/gear/clutch basket noise. Did Yamaha improve that with the new engine? OK...I addressed this to Squeeze because I know that he has the new generation VMAX but there may be some others that own or have ridden one also. So...I guess you can answer too.
  4. Freebird
    Have you actually pulled the lenses and checked for water/corrosion? I've seen at least three RSVs that had water in the rear turn signals...these happened to all be the left rear though and the sockets had corroded.
  5. Freebird
    Done.
  6. Freebird
    The link I posted was to Sierra. They are a great company to deal with.
  7. Freebird
    Have fun Eddie and be safe. My one and only trip to Sturgis was in '98. Had a great time.
  8. Freebird
    Bob Dakin told me this week that he had bought a couple of half helmets and IMC headsets. He said that they work great and he is actually impressed with the speakers. He bought the type that goes around the back of the head but they also have some that fit into the neck curtain pockets. He said he paid in the $70.00 range for them. http://www.sierra-mc.com/products.asp?cat=248
  9. Freebird
    Actually, we are both wrong. It is 1" with the lowering kit and then I guess whatever you can get cutting the seat down. Here is the link to the Baron's kit. http://www.baronscustom.com/catalog/display/565/index.html
  10. Freebird
    I'm not 100% sure but I think the Baron's lowering kit will lower it about 1 1/2". That is the only actual lowering kit that I know of. Other than that, you might be able to go with a custom seat or modify the stock seat and take perhaps another 1" off. All said, I would think that about 2 1/2" or so would be about it.
  11. Freebird
    I just uploaded that photo from my IPhone using Tapatalk.
  12. Freebird
    Test [ATTACH]70356[/ATTACH]
  13. Freebird
    I've never seen it either.
  14. Freebird
    In my opinion, EBC is the way to go. I run the EBC HH pads and won't try to save a few bucks on pads that I know nothing much about.
  15. Freebird
    I've got a Garmin POI file that lists all the dealers. I just don't have time to count them.
  16. Freebird
    Yes, I remember his also. A nice gentleman and he seemed to enjoy being there. We will keep them in our prayers also.
  17. Freebird
    Thanks. Maybe in the future but the decison has been made to have the 2013 Rally in the NW IL area...somewhere around Galena. I would like to do it in the hill country one of these days but deciding what time of the year is the only problem. I think that October would be best but then some of our northern riders are getting into questionable weather already. Oh well....that will be a topic for another time.
  18. Freebird
    I would almost bet that it doesn't.
  19. Freebird
    I'm seeing new 2012 Voyagers with ABS for under $15,000. Add the CB/Intercom and you are still around $16,000.00. Adding those thing to the Venture does not have to price it above $20,000. They may increase it to that but I don't think they would have to.
  20. Freebird
    Absolutely.
  21. Freebird
    They are Nolan. I had them several years but I think they were N41 or something like that. Not sure if they still make them. I think they were replace by the N42.
  22. Freebird
    OK folks, due to the overwhelming willingness of folks in that area to help, I'm pulling the trigger on the general Galena area for the 2013 rally. Now I said that general area so you can all discuss the specifics whether it be Galena, Orlins place, whatever. So please start getting your committee together, elect a fearless leader and let's get it going.
  23. Freebird
    I would be completely SHOCKED if there is a new Venture for '13. I will even be surprised if there is a Venture at all. I honestly didn't expect to see one for '12. I know that Yamaha is not holding their annual dealers meeting this year. That leads me to believe that there are no new major announcements coming.
  24. Freebird
    Eileen and I took a 2012 for a little ride while at the International. I liked it a lot. I probably didn't ride it enough to really comment on the heat issue but it was warmed up from just returning from a test ride and we probably rode it about 20 miles and I was not bothered by any heat. I've also heard similar complaints about the RSV though and have never been bothered by it either. Overall, I was impressed with the bike. If I were in the market and was looking at something other than the RSV, it would be high on my list. I would want to test ride a Victory Cross Country Tour first but it would have to be fantastic to justify the additional price. I found the Voyager to be extremely comfortable. Probably the only bike I've been on that compared to my RSV in that regard. Eileen liked it also and didn't complain at all about not having enough room. I found that it handled exceptionally well in the curves. I think it had the edge on the RSV in that category. Gearing is VERY high in my opinion. It has enough torque to make it work but I swear you wouldn't need 6th gear below 85 MPH. Take that with a grain of salt because I'm used to my RSV with the VMAX rear end. I felt that when I opened the trunk, the plastic felt a bit flimsy. Maybe it would hold up just fine but I did notice it and it bothered me just a bit. Dash, controls, etc. were excellent. I felt that the price was very good for all that you get but remember you have to add about $1,000.00 to that if you want the CB, Intercom, etc. It does not come standard. Even at that, it is thousands cheaper than the Victory or a Harley. It does have adjustable vents in the lowers. I had them open so maybe that helps with the heat. Like I said, I really wasn't aware of any excess heat on my short ride. Bottom line. I liked it a lot and it would be on my short list were I in the market. In fact, I may have come home with it if I had any money.
  25. Freebird
    No story really. Eileen and I took it for a little test ride on the Windmill Tour. We stopped for lunch at around the halfway point and when we got ready to leave, I made the mistake of asking Eileen if SHE wanted to drive. She said YES. So I rode on the back all the way back to Pioneer.
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