pope3567

I will commit to buying a couple...put me down for two. Thanks

I'd like y'all to meet my first grandson, Cameron Tyler Williams. Born Sunday past, daughter and hubby doing great. Just a few more years til grandpa gets him his first bike! Can't wait...

Prayers and blessings to you and the Missus. May his grace pour down, guide the medical-types in their care, and see that you have a full recovery. Nothing but fair winds and following seas from here on out...

VW 2015 was in Yreka, Ca. Good turn out, a lot of folks from North of the border. It was 104 degrees (end of June) so a tad warm, but a good time. VW 2016 was in Castlegar, BC, Canada (Krusin the Kootenai). Very good turnout, a little rain (early July), but overall a real good time and beautiful country. No decision or talk about 2017, so open to anything. It never rains 😎 in Oregon in July 😉 and some nice roads for day rides. Not volunteering, just sayin'.

Sounds like you're volunteering to host, or organize a get together. 🤔😆 I agree, we need something out west. I was thinking of hosting a Venture West in or around Salem, Oregon. Think there would be much interest?

I have Michelin Commanders front and rear. Wouldn't run anything else. Puc is right, they do change the way the bike handles, but overall a very positive improvement. I will reiterate one thing Puc mentioned, the rear wheel will lock up easier when getting on the brake. Not a huge negative but something to be aware of.

Welcome home!! Thank you for your service... Been a few years but I remember coming home from overseas, best thing in the world. Looking forward to the rebuild photos.

Graduated high school in Seattle, 1969. Bought a new Honda 450 to replace the Honda 90 I had been riding since I was 14. The twin, in line 450 was a HUGE bike back then, and I thought I could ride around the world. Left Seattle in late June on a surprise visit to my brother at college in Pullman Washington. Turned out he wasn't there, gone fishin' or something as I recall. Decided to head south from Pullman, down through central Oregon and California via back roads with some highway driving over the Grapevine. Slept when I got tired, usually after 10-12 hours, and I would just pull off the side of the road and sleep next to the bike. Pulled into Imperial Beach California a few days later and spent a few days at a friends house. Left Imperial Beach and headed north to Las Vegas. Spent the night at a truck stop in Las Vegas, and headed north toward Salt Lake City the next day. Ended up that night in Pocatello, Idaho. Left Pocatello the next morning, early. About an hour out of Pocatello, headed to Boise, a pickup truck passed me, he must have been going 75 mph. Hanging out the passenger window was a kid about my age holding a Rainier beer. I gave her full throttle, caught up to him, and the guy reached out the window and handed me the beer doing 70-75 down the road at 7 in the morning. I slowed down, they sped off, and I popped the top on the best beer I ever had doing 60 down a two-lane back road on my way to Boise. Drove all the way back to Seattle that day...best trip of my life. Joined the Navy and rode that bike to Millington, Tennessee after boot camp. Rode it around Millington while I attended school and sold it when I graduated and was transferred to fighter squadron VA-94, Lemoore, California. I think I got almost as much as I paid for it new. Hell of a time to be alive...fun times.

Hey Condor...age is just a number. Sturgis is on my bucket list and I ain't getting any younger. Let's plan on going next year. I'll ride down to meet up with ya and we'll ride out together. Trip of a lifetime, what do you think...? Maybe ride through Jackson Hole and Yellowstone on the way. Ron

Ditto for what Cowboy said. I just installed a set on my 2012 Venture. I'm 6'2" and the risers have made a world of difference in regards to overall fatigue, hand numbness, and shoulder/neck strain. Hitting the plastic trim around the ignition switch is no big deal. I found the more difficult issue to deal with is the rubber dampers between the bars and back of the fairing. After the handlebars are off they just pull off (held on with double-sided tape). They need to be trimmed a bit to re-install higher on the fairing. Don't ride without them...the fairing will ultimately crack if you do. Ron

Thank you Rick and Nina! Cathy and I had a wonderful time. Met up with Vic and Barb in The Dalles Oregon, rode up through Spokane, then on to Castlegar. Enjoyed the rides, even in the liquid sunshine. Beautiful country and the get together in the park was great. Cathy enjoyed herself so much that on the drive home she said, and I quote, "We need to host a Venture West in Salem next year. I think it would be fun." After I recovered from nearly driving off the road, I agreed that Salem would be a good venue. So, maybe more on that later. Thanks again to everyone who participated. Great to see folks and the bikes...Venture or otherwise. Ron & Cathy

Good question Dale, and thanks everyone for the insightful responses. I too am interested in the baggershield for my RSV since seeing a couple of them at Krusin the Kootenai. The stock shield is a bit tall for my liking, don't like looking through it when it rains. Based on these responses I think I'll give it a try. Thanks all, Ron

Looking good...light and nimble. A little different than the RSV, and just as fun. Good choice.

After meticulous planning and bike prep, heading out this coming Sunday on a "North to Alaska" adventure. From Salem Oregon to Great Falls, MT, to meet up with a few other like-minded riders. Will head north from Great Falls to Cochrane AB (just outside Calgary), then up through Banff, Jasper, Prince George, to Hyder Alaska. After Hyder, straight shot south to Abbotsford at the border, I5 south from there to home. Like a kid at Xmas, too excited to sleep. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, but am sure to find rain somewhere along the way. As long as the snow is done for the season I can ride through most anything. Since we all know "without pictures it didn't happen", I plan on taking a few and posting some here as the journey unfolds. This is a prelude to Krusin the Kootenai where I look forward to seeing our Canadian Venture friends, and others, in Castlegar, BC in July. Stay tuned... Ron

We could have worse "vices", although I see it less as a vice and more of a passion. It keeps me somewhat out of trouble, and is an "addiction" I can live with (and so can the wife, so far). Ron

So sorry to hear this...met Ed in Yreka last year; great guy, like all the Venture family. Prayers sent your way, hope all works out. Keep the faith....Ron & Cathy

WOW...what a beauty. Congrats, especially like the look of the white walls! Ron

Hey Jack, Sturgis has been on my list for awhile although like you, not as excited about it as I once was. Would still like to make the trip at least once and next year would fit nicely in my plans. Maybe we can chat more about it at next years Venture West if we both attend. If not, keep me in mind, I would enjoy riding with you. Ron

Been trying a couple air pressures, especially in front. Seems 38 front and 41 rear are optimal. And I run 45 psi in the shock with two-up. Will add a couple more pounds when fully loaded.

Yes, really that much difference. I've been riding bikes for 50 years, many makes and models. Used to run Metzlers...good tire, pretty good wear. Switched to Michelins and noticed a better ride, better stability. I've had my 2012 Venture now for about a year, original owner so had the factory Dunlops on her. Made the switch to Commander IIs last week and all I can say is WOW! Apologies if I sound like a kid in a candy store but I am truly amazed at the difference.

Heading out this Wednesday for Venture West in Yreka. Should be a great time even with temps expected to be 100+. Bike is all prepped, oil and filter changed, fluids checked, all aired up, and ready to roll. More to the point, as part of my prep I decided to replace both tires. Wanted to get the original Dunlops off the bike even though it may have been a tad early at only 8000 miles. After reading as much as possible here regarding tire options, I decided to go with the Commander IIs. All I can say is WOW!! She's a new bike. I expected some improvement, always used Michelins on previous bikes and all autos, but never expected this. After 300+ miles on the new rubber in all conditions, I just want to pass on a couple of observations. Low speed handling - it feels like the bike is 400 pounds lighter. Turns on a dime without that top heavy, "am I going to drop her?" feeling. The narrower front tire (130 vs 150) is remarkable at all speeds. Comfort and feel at speed and above - solid footing, hugs the road like a lizard. Remember (some of you anyway) the old Goodyear 'tiger paw' commercials where the car tires turned into actual tiger paws to demonstrate how well the tires gripped the road? Yeah, like that. Even the wife said "I feel a lot safer now, these tires feel great." Cornering - I can lean deeper into the curves, scrape the floorboards if needed, and power out without feeling like the bike might slide out from under me. The top heavy feeling is gone completely, the bike feels and responds like a high spirited cruiser. She corners and responds almost intuitively; that feeling you get when you become one with the bike (sorry if that sounds too Zen-ish). Wobble - previously at any speed when I released the handle bars, I had a slight front-end wobble. No big deal, I just assumed it was a characteristic of the bike. I checked the front forks, tried different air pressures, checked tire balance, shock pressure, etc. to no avail. Now, the wobble is gone, completely. Steady as a rock... In short, she's a new bike and all I can say is WOW! I liked the bike before...comfortable, smooth, responsive up to a point...but now I've fallen in love with her all over again and can't wait to CTFW as far and as often as she'll let me. WOW!!!

Honda F6B with a modified front end. But from whom? Not seen one of these but very nice...

Best of luck Gunney...let us know how it turns out. Stay safe...