Steve S

Good evening fellow riders. My Bro-in-law and I made it back home this afternoon after a trip down to Natchez MS on the Natchez Trace. We got on the Natchez Trace Parkway a little SW of Nashville TN and took 2 days to get to Natchez, with a night in Tupelo MS. We crossed the Mississippi River and stayed in Vidalia Louisiana Thursday night. I have been up and down the Mississippi River hundreds of times in my career as a towboater and driven through Vidalia several times chasing boats down for crew change but never spent the night there. We were blessed to stay in a hotel that was right on the river.

I changed the air filters and did a carb sync on the Venture today getting ready for a trip down the Natchez Trace tomorrow. While I had it sitting level, I checked the oil level, and it was dead center of the sight glass. And I have not seen any more oil on the under the bike. So MAYBE, I was wrong about the oil coming from the bike. It could have been some oily drippage from the washing we gave it. I'll keep a close watch one it and see how it goes.

Thank you Paul. I'll check the for gas. I did notice the oil level was at the top of the sight glass.

I got a new lock nut and finished installing the shock this morning. I took it out to the Yamaha shop for a new rear tire, and it rode great. Going to take a ride down the Natchez Trace with my bro in law next week. I'll share a report on that ride when we got home.

The clear yellow oil is the new Yamalube shock oil. The black stuff is what drained out of the shock. Well over 125ml. The engine hadn't been running for a couple of days before I saw the oil on the shop floor.

WELLLLLLL..... It was NOT the shock. The shock was had plenty of oil in it and was not leaking. However, since I had it off, I changed the O ring and oil. I was putting it back on, got all 3 bolts in and could not find the lock nut for the 3rd bolt. 🤔 So, I didn't get it finished today. I'll get a new nut tonight and finish it the first thing in the morning. The other side of the equation is the problem. Where did you clear yellow oil come from that was under my bike after we washed it. I didn't start it to move it out to be washed or when I moved it back in the shop. Here are some pics of the oil and the frame I built to fix it. To say the oil was dirty is an understatement. Now I will keep an eye out for oil leaks.

I got the shock off this afternoon. It took about 20 minutes to get it set in the vise and start draining it. I made the bracket to press it up to change the O ring but stopped for dinner. It looks like it will be an easy fix, but I didn't get the fork oil today so it will be Tuesday before I can reinstall it.

Thank you Paul. That looks very doable for me.

Thank you, Ronnie. I have sent him a text and am waiting to hear back from him.

I washed the Venture today and after backing it back in the shop to put it back together, I noticed some oil dripping underneath the center of the bike. Looked it over and it looks like the shock is leaking. A couple of questions here. Will it hurt to continue to ride the bike with a bad shock? And second, who can I get to rebuild this shock? Thanks for any help.

Nice ride. If I get rid of my Venture, I am thinking of getting a lighter cruiser and a trike for long rides with the wife. IF, she doesn't want to take her Spyder.

Patricia and I had to come home Saturday morning and didn't get to go see the crew before we left. It was a wonderful trip and I was thankful to get to meet some fine people. I pray everyone makes it home safely. Steve.

My wife and I came down the Blairsville GA for the Vogal Venture Rally. I rode my Venture and she rode the Spyder. She has only had a license to ride for a week and did some riding around our home area. On the way to Blairsville, her FIRST trip on it, she told me I was to keep myself OFF of it. If I wanted a trike, I could go buy another one!!!!! Sooooooo, I guess I will be looking for another trike if I feel I must have one. BUT, I am very comfortable riding the Venture alone, so it may be a while before I buy anything else. 😁

Patricia and I made it down. Several people down and dodging the random rain storms.

Thank you, Ronnie. We aren't Coming down until Wednesday so I'm pretty sure it will be here. If it doesn't, I'll get a short bolt that size, put a rubber seal on it and run it with that until the plastic one comes in. Can't leave a steel bolt in the radiator very long. It may not come out again.

Hello Venture Crew. I rode the Venture last week and noticed some coolant dripping on the ground after riding for an hour. (Really thought I had a leaking radiator hose.) I finally got around to checking for the problem yesterday and found the leak was coming from the radiator drain plug. I put a wrench on it to tighten it, and the head of the plastic plug broke off. Thankfully I had a left-hand drill bit and was able to spin the threaded part out without any problems. A new one has been ordered, and I will be able to ride it to Vogel next week.

The wife and I rode to lunch after church yesterday afternoon. DAMN, IT WAS HOT!!!! We got about 100 miles in before we found the shortest way home and put it up. It was a fun ride, but very different than a bike and was even different from the Venture Trike I had. I will get used to it and am looking forward to our first long trip. Probably to the Northeast so I can ride in the 7 states I haven't ridden yet. 😁

Yes, I am Ronnie. What are the dates for it? If I go alone, I will ride my Venture.

This past Monday I picked up a used 2021 Can Am Spyder RT Limited. It was well maintained an in EXCELLENT condition with only 362 miles on it. A fine older gentleman and his wife had a pair, and he sold his due to neck problems. I am very lucky to find one in this condition for a decent price.

I have ridden 2 175-mile trips in the past week and did really good with the Venture. I'm going to keep riding it solo for a while but want a Spyder to ride with the Wife. Going to look at one Sunday and I'll share how that goes next week.

I'm still riding the Venture but going to look at a Can Am Spyder Sunday for making trips with the wife. I'm planning a trip to the Northeast states soon with the Venture. I need 7 states to get all of the lower 48 on a motorcycle and I don't want to count any of them on a Trike. I don't want to stop riding just cause I've gotten old...☹️

I checked Ebay and there were some Venture parts on there. Crash bars and cowling parts. Good luck finding what you need.

Hello Venture friends. I only got one short ride in last year, on November 19th, and broke my ankle that same day. It has rained so much this spring that I didn't try to ride until this week. I got 180 miles in on 2 different days and they were great rides, BUT I realized yesterday that I am going to have to go to a trike instead of the Venture. Between the back surgery and arthritis in my hips, it is a real struggle to manage the heavy weight of the Venture. I do ok when I get moving but getting on and off and moving around in tight places is very hard. I will be asking for advice or suggestions on different rides to check out. I want to stay with a touring ride, so a Goldwing trike looks good, but I am going to look at a Cam Am Spyder as well. Good luck to all. Steve.

I checked eBay and found several sets of Venture handlebars. I used 2 inch Riser extensions to get mine to set back farther. That may be an option for you if you can find a set of Flanders.

I have always Run Metzlers on my Ventures and generally got around 20 to 22,000 miles out of them. The rear tires I may get 11,000 if I make sure I keep them inflated properly.