Jump to content

craigatcsi

Supporting Member
  • Posts

    652
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by craigatcsi

  1. Thanks again for all of the replies.

     

    I am bouncing back towards getting the Venture Triked. From the above responses, here are my feelings.

     

    My personality is the kind that I like attention grabbing 'showy' bikes, like a lot of us. I usually don't go with the crowd, but more at the fringe of it. Hence - The Venture.

     

    With Triking the Venture, I get to keep my 'non-typical' bike. It's not just another HD or GW. It is still somewhat rare to see a Venture anywhere. We have had ours in 34 states and rarely seldom saw others, so I like that. I am 6' and can stretch out comfortably, I like my positioning, the ride, etc. I really like the 'cruiser' look and at 50ish I am not ready to give that up, I just don't FEEL old enough for a wing. :backinmyday:

     

    With the wing, I will get more power, better MPG, 'fit in with the CROWD' of other Wingers. I can presently buy ANY consievable accessory. I will be able to buy any part for it for MANY years to come. - Do Hondas EVER breakdown!? :confused24:

     

    Craigr

  2. First off, thanks for the replies and keep them coming. I would like as many opinions as possible - even if they are all the same.

     

    Since my initial post, I thought of a couple other issues:

    Besides the power being different how is the gas mileage between the two? We get an average of 35ish on our Venture. I have to believe that a venture Trike is going to be 25ish at best.How is the Goldwing Trike?

    Another question.... I have been known to sneak a little higher than the speed limit at times. On a rare occasion into the triple digits. How fast can one go on a Trike? Are they a death trap above ??? MPH?

     

    Is the Venture real 'dog' as far as power once Triked? I don't race it, but when I want to pass someone, I don't want to downshift 3 gears hoping I can get around them quick enough.

     

    Don't hold back, PLEASE tell me what you think.

     

    Craigr

  3. I have been planning to Trike my 07 Venture that I bought new, for the last year or so. Now, it seems that money should be right for the project come next spring.

     

    But, this past w/e at a local casino, we saw a GW Trike trike that really looked nice. It really got my with thinking and searching Craig's list.

     

    Now, I am wondering if simply trading mine for a finished trike would be the better way to go.

    If I Trike MINE, I still have the classic cruiser styling, I KNOW my bikes history.

     

    If we buy a used GW Trike, I have a, (no offense intended), more modern looking 'retired mans', Bike that is VERY Reliable, I can buy absolutely ANY accessory, more power, etc.. Another thing about the GW Trike is that there are MANY GW Trikes vs the fewer Venture Trikes.

     

    Opinions?

  4. Were any members near Beebeetown, IA yesterday?

     

    We left the Twisted Tail Tavern heading East and there was a Black 2ndGen being pulled out of a deep ditch. One of the other bikes that had stopped told us 'too fast for the corner'. He slao said that no one was hurt. The LOE was there with is ticket book out as we slowly rubbernecked.

     

    Craigr

  5. I left this past Sunday morning from Omaha, NE heading to Rockford, IL. I arrived Sunday afternoon, stayed Monday and left for home Tuesday morning, getting home around 3ish.

     

    One thing I noticed was the large change in gas mileage. The tank I filled in Rockford to come home, at a Walmart, got me 46mpg. The tank I bought halfway between Des Moines and Omaha got me 32mpg!! it was like this heading out there too!! We have taken trips to the East and West Coasts over the years and have found the same.

     

    Is the mixture of the fuels different?

     

    Altitude?

     

    Craigr

  6. We went on a 'Bikers for Boobies' Poker Run yesterday and I parked next to a Blue/Black 07 Venture, (same as one of mine that happened to be at home). This was at a stop in Beebeetown, IA.

     

    Anyways, I mentioned that I had the same at home and of course mentioned this site. I encouraged him to check it out.

     

    As my wife and I started checking out his bike, we noticed speakers CUT into the side walls of the Trunk!! When I mentioned this he grinned big and said that his Saddle Bags were SUB WOOFERS!! He said 'it's REALLY Loud!!'

     

    We told him how we have had ours to the East and West Coasts & he said that he would like to do that some day. (I don't know Where he would carry his belongings.). :)

     

    It's a shame that he ruined those bags, but hey, it's HIS BIke!

     

    Craigr

  7. Well it looks like I'll be shipping. I am not going to fit all of that into my empty trailer with our clothes, etc..

    I'm thinking that I need to sit down and figure out where I want to have thiis done.

    craigr

  8. Leaving the Bags home is a good thought. But I'm sure the wife will want to load the Trailer with things for the Week away from home.

    What other spare parts will there be? I know the rear wheel, but otherr than that what is there?

    craigr

  9. Somthing just occured to me.... If I drive it down to the Factory to have it done, I will still have to pay to have my old parts shipped back home.

    But, I'm sure that shipping wouldn't be all that much. - Just something else to fugure in.

    Where is the Factory, I don't remember?

    craigr

  10. You can save a little money by having the conversion done at the Hannigan factory! If I recall I saved around $2000. Of course I spent a thousand on a trailer and the other thousand on gas, lodging, and dining but we had a nice vacation, went to Nashville, and met some really nice local VR members while down there. Even had one member actually lend me his RSV for the day!!!

     

    The savings comes from the extra cost of Hannigan shipping the kit to your local dealer. There is freight and crate costs involved...

     

    Well, though I have confidence in my local Hannigan Dealer, I am leaning towards riding my bike to Hannigan and having them do it. Then renting a Car while it is being converted to see the local sights, etc. then riding the Trike back home. I wiould also have them install a hitch so I can pull my Bushtech Trailer also.

     

    I am hoping to do this come August / September.

     

    Craigr

  11. I stopped at the local Autozone this morning to get some oil for the bikes.

     

    I have always used Mobile1 or Yamalube. Well anyway, I asked if they had Mobile1 for Motorcycles. When they told me the price I was stunned!!

     

    Holy Cow!!! Is the Motorcycle version THAT much more expensive or has oil REALLY gone up!?

     

    I am going to have the wife pick up some regular Mobile1 at Wallyworld when she goes there Wed..

     

    Craigr

  12. We went on a Charity Ride today for the Council Bluffs DAV, to Freedom Rock which is Just North of Greenfield, IA. If you are anywhere near, I highly recommend going there! It is quite touching and thought provoking, at least it is for me. The web site is -

    http://www.ticz.com/homes/users/bob/On-A-Rock/On-A-Rock.htm

     

    Anyway, back to the GREAT Idea. After the ride we stopped at a Cafe in Greenfield. When we were getting on our Bikes to leave the Cafe, there was a 'Sunkist Orange' HD Road Glide. It also had MUCH Chrome. But what really caught my eye were the Saddlbag lids. They were coated with black Rhinoliner! They broke up some of the Orange and REALLY looked Sharp! If I weren't Triking mine soon, I would probably do mine. He said that he is going to do the hard lids to to the compartments for his Fairing next.

     

    If this has already been posted, I apologize but I didn't do a search for it. It really caught my eye so I thought of you folks right away.

     

    Craigr

  13. I am still trying to come up with the money to do a Hannigan Conversion. - (I had planned on getting it done last Fall)

     

    Anyway, it occured to me today, will I also have to have the steering modified - extra cost?

     

    Craigr

  14. My wife didn't take the Pics yesterday while I was at work, she wasn't feeling well. Then we had plans last night so I didn't get the pics either.

    You can bet that I will prolly never go much over Highway speed again if this can happen at 70ish!! I am still shook up about it and really believe that the good Lord was watching out for us.

    As far as the model, I believe they were the WWW E3s. But I thought they were 404 E3s, so I'm not sure. I do still have the reciept, so I will have to look when I get back home.

    I really don't want to buy a tire for another couple of w/e's worth of riding, but, as someone posted, the labor to have them changed out, AND it looks like a good chance that we will be riding to Kentucky to have the Hannigan put on. So, we will need a good tire for that trip. - Hey, maybe I can sell the rear wheel with a good tire for more money!

    I plan to post the 'leftovers' from the conversion on this site first, then hit Ebay with what you folks don't want.

    craigr

  15. My rear tire lost a chunk approx 8 to 10" long today! My wife and I were on the interstate at approx 70ish when I felt her go! I pulled over right away and once my wife told me what was wrong, she rode home with a fellow rider and since it lost no air, I puttsed it home max 25mph for approx 10 miles.

    Now I don't know What to do. We plan on converting to a Trike this winter, so I don't want to buy a new tire, but I also don't want to stop riding for the year! I'd really like to get a used tire for next to nothing, just to ride the rest of the season.

    I know that an Angel was looking over us and kept the tire from blowing completely! We could've very easily have gone down.

    I plan to take a pic and email it to Dunlop, for wat it is worth. They are 2 years old with Im guessing 10K on them, so I'm sure Dunlop won't care, but I am going to send the Pic anyway. This should never happen.

     

    Craigr

  16. Doc says as of yet, there is no cure for my ailment. It has a probably will continue to worsen with age. And yes, my legs are getting weaker, which is why I came so close to dropping her several times last weekend.

    After thinking about it on and off all day, and again looking at the pick of my model and color of bike as a Trike, I'm thinking that I will probably be triking it.

    I may end up giving Hannigan a call to check further into it. -

    I planned to replace my tires this coming winter, I guess if I am going to do it, now is probably a better time then after I buy that rear tire! :)

    I will show my wife these posts tonight then we can talk about it. I'm pretty sure that she WAS game either way - just that one way or another she gets to ride more!

    Thanks again folks,

    craigr

  17. Somewheres, I have seen MY 07 Blue / Black with a trike kit on it & it looked very good!!

    I would like to find a Trike of the same style close by that would let the wife and I take it for a spin to see what we would have. But, I don't know of any. It would make it MUCH easier to make the decision.

    craigr

  18. Just a note - As for the Hip replacement, it's not an option in my case. They say the Hip itself looks fine & that it is the connective tissue that is failing. I already have to grab a pants leg to lift my Left Leg over the seat. I haven't been able to mount without doing it this way in several years.

    You folks have me bouncing back and forth between the trike and the sidecar. It's just the LARGE cost of the Trike! I REALLY Like my Venture, but the 1300 has me worried about power when going to a Trike. I've considered dropping down to an 1800 Wing so that I still have the umph factor. - I just don't feel old enough for a Wing yet! AND, the Wing isn't a 'cruiser' style. I really wish they made an 1800 'Cruiser' style in my V-4. (?).

    I LOVE that the Venture looks like a slow pig, but that I can roll it on and impress even crotch rockets!

    I know that I am going to give up things by going either way, but am pretty sure I will enjoy riding more because I won't hurt so much afterwards. As I said above, I find excuses to my wife why we can't ride because I know how bad I am going to hurt later. By switching, I really believe we will ride like we used to. I haven't ridden my bike to work at all this year because how bad I am in the mornings. I would prolly ride every day if I had 3 wheels.

    Yes, I am leaning back towards the Trike.

    Thanks for all of the responses, I never dreamed there would be this many!!

    craigr

  19. Okay, so overnight another question came to mind.

    Between the Trike and a sidecar, which would be a larger drain on power / fuel mileage? Probably the most important to me would be 'seat of the pants' feeling when I'm cruising and 'roll it on'. I LOVE the fact that I can be cruising down the interstate on my 1300 and walk away from my V-Twin friends with their 1700s. :)

    I'm sure that both a Trike AND a sidecar will eliminate this. I'm just wondering which would be worse.

    Also, the comment somewhere above this post about the sidecar being hard on the shoulders has me kinda scared, (because of the aforementioned disk problem).

    Another thing that comes to mind is REVERSE. I know that with a Goldwing Trike & a HD I can have a reverse gear. If I convert my Venture, which only has 35k on it, I wouldn't have Reverse. But, 95% of my riding is 2 up, so I almost always have reverse now. It would probably be the same with the trike or sidecar.

    And, another 'small' thing that enters into it, is the WOW factor. I like 'flashy' or 'look at me' rigs. I know that it is shallow, but hey I admit it. Trikes are getting so common place any more. The Sidecar is still kind of a head turner. - Believe me, THIS is probably only 5% the equation on which I get, but is still enough not to ignore it.

     

    Since Hanigan seems to be the manf. of choice, I'm thinking about making a trip to their HQ next season and discuss which way to go. Maybe even stay long enough to have them make the transformation. - This is just an idea at this time.

     

    I hope to actually spend some time on each before hand.

     

    craigr

×
×
  • Create New...