KevinR

Ok, I think I'll go with the points out after my very recent experience with an aftermarket pump and still having the original I'll be fine, I hope! Last fall I installed one of those exact fit, made in China units that I found on EBay for $15 (that should have been a clue but it had a lot of satisfied customers) and this past Saturday, with 110 miles on it, it crapped out! Even whacking on it like the "recommended rescue" for a stubborn pump, wouldn't give me more than 3 or 4 miles before starting to die again, quite unlike the factory pump that only needed some encouragement after sitting for a few weeks. Has anyone had any luck with any aftermarket suppliers of the pumps? I'm not about to spend $250 for one. I see some for $60-65 and wonder if they're any good, unlike the $15 ones that are selling from multiple vendors.

I've been run Kenda Kruz tires for the last 7 or 8 years on both my Venture and Gold Wing. I'm at 10,000 miles now and at the point where the rears could use replacing. The handling is great and they're not bothered by metal grate bridges or those darn tar snakes. Back when I was running Dunlops I darn near wrecked on those snakes on a warm day.

Haven't ridden the Midnight Venture much in the last couple of years as I've been unsuccessfully trying to sell it, but I put a new battery and fuel pump in it this summer and took a nice ride on it a couple of weeks ago. Love riding it, thought about triking it but at $13K to convert, it's not happening. Maybe a sidecar for the wife? She likes the idea.

Yep, that's my problem. The disc I have is apparently only a service manual even though parts of it look like an owners guide.

Thank you! I've seen that pic somewhere before but couldn't find it anywhere on my disc.

I can't even find the answer to this question on my owners manual disc. On the fuel shutoff, is it the "pointy" end or the rounded end that tells you whether you're on reserve, shut off, etc?

According to all I can find about this part number, it doesn't fit any of the RSV's or TD's. 2 different sites, including the link first showing these points say this part is a no go. Are they wrong?

Sounds like you and I had the same experience with the float chargers. Since I'm getting 14V when running, I'd think the R/R must be good. Looks like I'll be ordering a new battery soon. Thanks!

Barely over, 14.05-14.1. Manual says it should be 14 so I'm thinking that little bit is in the ballpark.

I'm wondering if other Venture owners notice their bikes' batteries failing more often than with other bikes they may own? I have a 2006 Venture and it seems like I need to replace the battery every 2 years, much more often than in my '86 Goldwing. Both bikes have the same brand AGM batteries but the one in the Wing is about 4 years old while my Venture battery is only 2 and won't hold a charge any more, just like the previous one in this bike which also died at 2 years. I've done a load test and that checks out fine. Voltage while running is just over 14V so I know the stator and regulator are good. I've even gone so far as to shut the radio off before shutting the bike off, which seems silly, as I know it has to be using a tiny bit of voltage just to keep the memory in the radio. I'd thought maybe I wasn't riding enough but this past week I took it out for a good ride and when I wanted to use it again the next day, it barely cranked. After riding it, voltage checks at 12.8 V when shut off but by the next day has dropped to 12.4-12.5, so that would tell me maybe the battery is on its way out, but why? This is the 3rd battery I've had in this bike in 5 years, first one unknown as to age, as I bought the bike used. First new battery I bought for it, I kept a float charger on it over the winter and it was dead within a month of riding season. I read in a forum either here or the Gold Wing forum that you'll kill an AGM battery hooked to a maintainer, so now I don't, but same results. What's the real answer to that question also? Thanks!!!

Off Road Express in Erie PA has a great reputation. Hopefully I won't have problems with it about 180 miles from home.

Looks like everyone's responses help my decision, thanks very much! BTW, I did the clutch upgrade about 10K miles ago, best thing I've done to the bike since owning it. What a difference! And yes, definitely need the steer lite option, anyone triking a bike would have to be nuts to not rake the front end unless you have biceps like Popeye! I just wish there was a dealer closer to me, looks like the closest one is about 180 miles away. Oh well.

Been running Kenda Kruz on both my '86 Wing and my '06 Venture. Scalloping on Metzeler's drove me nuts and the price from Chaparral Racing on the Kenda's was less for the pair than for one Metz. Handling on both bikes is outstanding compared to the Metz's also. Tried an upgrade Bridgestone on my Wing a couple years ago and it was bald in 5K miles.

I have a 2006 Midnight Venture, 58K miles, in great shape, needs nothing, and am thinking trike. Problem is, it seems no one but Hannigan offers a real trike kit and the nearest Hannigan dealer is almost 200 miles away. There don't seem to be many Venture trikes for sale, and as well as I know this bike it would seem to be logical to have this one done. At 58K miles, does this make sense to spend maybe $15K on it? What's a reasonable life expectancy on my Venture? It's either that or trade it in on a Wing at roughly $27K plus my trade.

According to Amazon's fitment chart that point set doesn't fit our bikes either. Does anyone know for sure that it does? I have an iffy pump in my '06 and would love to know for sure.

A hint of the battery's condition is probably indicated by the fact that this type of charger has an LED that glows when any current is going through it, charging or not but in this instance, the light goes out as soon as plugged in, looks like a dead short

I was just reading another thread concerning battery tenders/float chargers, etc. and upon experiencing what happened to me yesterday, have a concern about what happened to my battery. We took the Venture on a long trip 2 weeks ago and all was fine, never a hint of a problem at all then, or since going back on the road in April. Yesterday I wanted to take it out for a ride and not only would it not start, the tester only showed 4.67V. This AGM battery is only 15 months old and a good one too, rated at 310 CCA. Could the problem be the type of float charger I used during the winter? I know that seems like a dumb question since we're in August now and all has been fine so far this season, but I'd kept one of those cheapie float chargers from Harbor Freight through the cold season and today I noticed the small print, "Do not use on AGM type batteries." I don't know why that is, but I'm guessing it has something to do with my current problem? I got suspicious when I saw another model of charger with a switch for 3 settings, according to what type of battery being charged.

Judy is having the same struggle. She quit for 20 years but when things got stressful after her previous marriage, she got back into them, She's cut way back now but still craves them too much to let them go entirely. She knows she has to quit and promised me she would, so we'll see. Hang in there Tom and good luck!

I had the low rumble you describe, was driving me crazy but then I noticed it got worse on turns. Sure enough, my Metzelers were getting a little worn and the outsides were starting to cup, just like the previous ones I'd had. New Kenda Kruze's and no more rumble, along with better handling to boot. Couple months later my old Gold Wing starts the same thing and by then I was ready for it, off went the Metzelers again! When that problem first started with the Venture I was sure I had a rear end problem but nope!

Just wanted to say thanks for setting up such a great ride. Judy and I really enjoyed ourselves, nice to get to know some more people as we're newbies in the social part of Venturerider having only been to the International previously. LOVED that back part of 3 Brothers winery, looked like something out of Disney! We'll be looking forward to the next event.

Had almost worn out Metzelers, every time I went around a couple of certain turns I had the same thing going on, sounded like from the rear. Checked out the tires, they were getting scalloped so I figured that was it. New Kenda Kruze's proved that idea to be right.

Not that it will do any good today, but there's a new DQ opening on Jefferson Rd. in Henrietta any day now. Finally the Rochester area gets one!

Judy and I threw the suits on this morning also and it must have paid off, got almost enough sprinkles to cover the windshield about 10 miles south of Rochester but that was it. Too bad we didn't have them on Tuesday, lol. Had a GREAT time at out 1st ever VentureRider event and can't wait for the next one! A huge thanks to all involved in setting this up and to Pioneer for being so good to us.

Went to Kendas today, had been running the Metzelers, decent mileage, a lot of 2 up stuff but felt I could do better, especially for the price difference. (Over $375 for the pair of 880's from and about $190 for the Kendas from Chaparral Motorsports) What an immediate difference! No hunting on uneven surfaces, tar snakes, etc., and instant response in maneuvering. They're 5-ply sidewalls too and deep tread, at least on the rear tire, so will probably have excellent wear. The one unsettling thing that I noticed though was the same thing I've seen in treads here, that being the fact that I was towing my small trailer behind me and although it tracked just fine at 60, as soon as I hit 65 started moving back and forth a good 2 inches, something it's never done before, even at 75 on the interstates. The trailer was empty so maybe that had something to do with it? I'll have to be also experimenting with tire pressures, maybe on the bike and trailer too.

I tried the gas cap removal the first 2 times this happened so I know that's not it. After the 1st time this happened the tank was cleaned to make sure there was no sediment so I'm leaning toward either the filter or pump although I always hear the pump clicking when I start it after an overnight. After it's been sitting a long time it's very obvious but of course it's not heard if only shut off for a few minutes, as in stalling, so that could be it. Thanks for all the suggestions! I keep learning a lot about this bike from searching the forums. Update; finally got around to changing the filter today, in spite of some opinions, it IS a royal P.I.T.A. just to get that middle cover out, what with all the lines, wiring, and overflow tank in there. On the way to pick up a Mr. Gasket pump, just in case.......