Daveand Barbie

I bought one 2 years ago and have enjoyed 20K miles on it since. It has been a fabulous performer in all ways since I have owned it. My FJR was my ride for a month long 8000 mile tour through the Rockies last June, and I loved every minute of it. i hope you have many enjoyable miles on yours.

Just trade for a Slingshot and be done with it........

And that, in a nutshell, is the result of higher education going off the rails. Self absorbed college professors have to do the studies and write the articles and rules to retain their sense of relevance. UNC is listed as a "research institution", and this is the type of research being done. Reading articles like this only sustains my choice to not enter the job market at the higher ed level.

I know you were attempting to make the quickest run to Charlotte from Cincy, but, last week, I rode US25 to Lexington, US421 to Boone, NC, then US321 on to Charlotte. US 421 along the way includes the section in the mountains called "The Snake" and is a blast to ride. The next day, I made my way over to the coast and rode US17 on in to Florida. It was a great ride. If you haven't been to the Robbinsville, NC area to ride, that would be a fantastic trip. There are so many great roads around the area that you could ride for a week and not be on the same great mountain roads. Ever done Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway? 620 miles of beautiful mountains and great roads. So many places to go........so many things to see.......

Looks to be about an '82, don't know whether it's a 650 or 750. I had a bunch of the 650SC and 700S models over the years and found them to be as reliable as a 1st gen VR. Be very careful, you may ride it some and begin to like it.........a lot.......

You know, the ST1300 isn't being built any longer, and the used market is really proud of itself.

Here ya go....... http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?105609-My-quot-coming-of-age-quot-trip-report

OK, I'll play. I have lusted for an FJR for a bunch of years, and in a weak moment in April of 2014, I bought a beautiful Black Cherry 2007 with only 7K miles on it. The PO babied it for the 7 years he owned, added some super high dollar upgrades, and, because he feared being laid off from his job, liquidated all his stable of 3 beautiful bikes. Mine has a Russell Day Long saddle, Rifle oversize windshield(he gave me the stock one as well), a MCL top clamp, and a passenger backrest that was the prototype by some major manufacturer that I forget just now. Since I have owned it, I have added aftermarket cruise and a GIVI mount for a top case. In June of 2014, I took a trip to the Smoky Mountains in TN and NC that included most all of the most desired roads of the area. Total miles of the trip was 3200, my riding partner was on a modified SV650 and try as he may, could never get away from me, even on the Dragon. The FJR loves motoring quickly through the mountain twisties in 3rd gear. After that trip, I knew that this was my absolute best motorcycle ever. Fast forward to May 28, 2015. The last day of the school year and the day I decided I was finished( I wasn't successful the first time). 40 years is plenty to get it out of your system. To cement the choice forever, and to celebrate my "coming of age", I left on June 1 for all points west. Now, because of my chosen profession, I had never been able to venture west of Springfield, IL on terra firma, I now was the opportunity. I struck out and toured solo from border to border north to south, through the Rocky Mountains. Along the way, I visited 15 National Parks and Monuments and rode many of the "must do" roads along the way. That trip was 29 days and 8000 miles. This morning, as I type this, I have just returned from a week long trip that included US421 from Lexington, KY to Charolotte, then RT17 down the coast, then on to visit a friend in Orlando. The trip back was old US25 through the mountains whenever and wherever possible. This was a solo trip that was 3500 miles. My impressions: The Russell Day Long is magic. Never once have I had issue with a sore butt or significant fatigue. This may work in concert with the MCL top clamp, I don't know, I have no experience with the stock one. The oversize windshield is most excellent. Again, I have not mounted the standard one because I have not needed to have anything different. What I do know is that with the windshield in the full up position, it is super quiet and the rain is so well managed that I don't need to add rain gear until it is a downpour. Mon Dieu, this thing is capable! Cruise all day at 100? Ummmm.....yes, I-90 through SD was proof. Peg feelers touch down in the twisties? You betcha, and at that point, it still feels stable. I also have a well set up Bandit, and the FJR handles the mountain twisties nearly as well. Did I mention that rush of power when you twist the grip? Wheelies?....I don't know, never tried it, don't care to. Yesterday, I rolled over 29,000 miles, so, in 2 years I have ridden it 22,000 and have been more than impressed. I know it is a 2nd generation, but I am satisfied with it. I don't need a 6 speed, 4K on the tach returns 77 mph on my GPS, and considering a 9K redline, don't feel I need it. On this last trip, I averaged 47.8 MPG. I guess the electronic front suspension would be cool, but I have tweaked the standard front to the point of being near perfect. There is a reason the FJR is the weapon of choice for the Iron Butt. I hope this helps shed some light on the subject.

Hi Patti. Sorry to hear about your troubles. After owning a motorhome for a long time, we are selling ours and have bought a new 5th wheel rig. I looked at the Keystone models and read everything about them that I could find on the various forums, and to say the least, I wasn't all that impressed with the Camping World people, so we bought a Cedar Creek. We will be spending 5 or 6 months out of the year in it and will use it as temporary housing when we start to build in TN. I wish for you all the best in getting your issues addressed and repaired.

Tooch......in the Black Hills, ride around to Crazy Horse from the northwest and then to Mt. Rushmore. The tunnels on that route that frame the monument are fabulous. In southern Utah, be sure to ride across Rt. 12 , the Grand Staircase Escelante. That road is truly breathtaking. It it looks like you are going to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and that is absolutely the way to do it. It is so much better than the other tourist infested side. Also, on the way, check out Kanab, Utah. It is the number 1 movie town for westerns. Cody WY also has a rodeo every single night that is way cool. I trust you will have the time of your life! Be safe and enjoy every minute!

Bill Dozer is the bass player in the rock and roll band Phil Dirt and the Dozers. You're welcome

Puc, it was a 107 inch S&S with a Baker 6 speed built by Big Dog. Along with many others, they are out of business. Rear suspension was air much like a Venture with an onboard compressor.

Well Puc, I went to the Classified section and made every attempt to create an ad, but was successful. Try as I may, I couldn't locate a tab to create an entry. Since this is my very first foray into this, I am certain that there is something I am missing. Anyway, I added another ad for the lovely Barbie's Ascot in the same section that I listed the Venture.

So Puc......speaking of chops.......I had one some years ago. A crazy friend and I went together and acquired one to ride up Duval Street in Key West to entertain the people walking the sidewalks just for our own entertainment, and I must say, the entertainment value was significant. After a few years, it got old, was somewhat ill handling, and a bit uncomfortable to ride for any distance, so it went bye-bye. We would tell our girls that we were going to "take the dog for a walk".

For anyone who might be interested, my 1990 VR is posted in the classifieds.

I wouldn't trade my Russell for 5 Corbins. Then again, that's just me.

One of my riding buds here has a ST1300 and loves it. He rode it to California and back 2 years ago and did a couple of WVa trips with me as well. I am sure he has at least 75K miles on it and still loves it. He is kind of short legged and small framed but has no problem at all handling it. He he is a hard core rider, and as of yesterday has already ridden 67 days this calendar year. The he sound of the bike is somewhat different in stock form. I would liken it to the flying car that George Jetson had. Very unique. before I bought my FJR, I looked at a few STs and just liked the deal on the FJR better. And now, after almost 2 years on the FJR, I have come to the conclusion that a lighter bike that tours well is a better fit for me as well. As a result, my Venture is on the block. the one in the ad is a bit speedy, but those bikes are great performers and stone reliable.

I don't have any real world experience with Yamabond, but do have a bunch of years experience with Hylomar. It was originally manufactured by Rolls Royce for use in assembling Continental aircraft engines. Like Yamabond, it doesn't harden, you only need a light coating, and after a number of years, upon disassembly, you can wipe it away with a rag dipped in lacquer thinner. I used it most recently on the O-ring seals in the rotary engines I built for my race car. I understand and that someone like Permatex bought the US rights to it and is now selling it. I don't know if it is the same formula that I bought from the mechanic at the airport. It might be worth looking in to if you don't have any other good source for Yamabond.

So Big Lenny, can you imagine what poor Barry Manilow has had to endure, dealing with the ladies, for his entire adult life? Here's another little known fact that you may find interesting. Being that he has a high quality formal education, and is an astute businessman, early in his career he evaluated his chance of success by analyzing his demographic carefully. He found that demo to be women aged 25 to 50, and set about developing a "formula" for his songs to appeal to his targeted demo. All of his songs are structured alike, meaning they are in a very few keys, and they change to a new key at the same place. The subject material is usually similar among all his songs. Would I go to one of his concerts? No, unless I was assured the subsequent rewards would be worth it. The lovely Barbie isn't a fan......

As a musician, I have to respect some things about him. - he earned a degree in composition from one of the most respected schools in the world, The Julliard School of Music - he has made millions not only from his pop songs, but from other music. - recognize any of these? - get a bucket of chicken, finger lickin' good - it's the real thing, Coke is - Dr. Pepper, so misunderstood - you deserve a break today, so get out and get away to McDonalds - like a good neighbor, State Farm is there - I'm stuck on Band Aid, cause Band Aid's stuck on me And the list goes on..... It's one thing to have a million seller on the charts, but jingles pay residuals every single time they are aired. His stage persona may be a bit questionable, but as a businessman, he has it covered.

No, I am not. I bought the VR for the express purpose of touring with the lovely Barbie. She has become disinterested in riding more than about 15 minutes, so I have no real need for it any longer. After spending a month and 8000 miles on my FJR last summer, I have concluded that it is fine for me for touring. as far as the Ascot is concerned, she is not comfortable in being able to handle the weight of it, so there is no real need to keep it. Believe me, I really want to keep it for me, but I know it wouldn't get the exercise it needs and I don't want to modify it to fit any perceived need for me. It's just to nice to mess it up. Since I first posted, I decided to get rid of her Montesa too. i will still have my FJR, Bandit 1200S, Bultaco Alpina, and Bultaco Sherpa T, and that's plenty for me.

This is a photo of Barbie's Ascot that I found.

As the lovely Barbie and I are making preparations to make the trek back north, we have been having some pretty serious conversations about what we plan to do in the future. We have decided to begin "lightening" our holdings so as to make a break for our place in the mountains. With th that in mind, I am going to part with my 1990 VR and her 1984 Ascot VT500. Barbie doesn't feel secure driving it any longer and really doesn't enjoy riding with me either. When we we get home, I will create an ad on the forum here with photos and all.

Being a national meet sponsor in past(Austin Healey Club of America), some of the reasons I chose Sharonville are: Access to roads ....I-275, I-75, and I-71 are just minutes away A very good size convention center to handle an event of this size Lots of accommodations at every price point within a mile A nice water park for the kids Kings Island A variety of really good places to eat(Donald Healey loved the crepes at one of them) Tons of great riding roads to the east, west, and south.

Thanks for the ear worm Puc.........you're such a poet.