SilvrT

I painted mine flat black two years ago and it's still not showing any signs of peeling, chipping, or any sort of deterioration. I cleaned it good with Lacquer thinners, let it dry and shot it with some sort of flat black spray can ... I think maybe it was either bumper paint or high-heat paint... can't recall.

I'm in the same area ... IMHO, it ain't all that warm and I sure don't like ridin in the rain...which we get a lot of around here as you know. Since weekends are the only time Nina & I can get out to ride, it don't happen all that often between now and next spring. My insurance has lapsed as of Oct 1st and I don't plan on re-insuring it again until mid april ... so, if/when we do get an opportunity to ride, it will be a day permit. Now, as for what I'll be doing to the scoot over the winter... Aside from doing the regular maintenance things... Installing levelling links Putting the stock size (150) tire back on the front Putting stock mufflers back on (coz I forgot what it sounds like with them) Installing a Clearview windshield Adding more LED lighting Replacing my sirius radio antenna ... it died I think Power polishing the paint (I accidentally got a bit of clear overspray on the upper parts when I was repainting the roof of the truck a year ago) ... no biggie and unnoticeable...but I can feel it yanno... probably nobody else would. Adding a few more "safety chrome" items (yet to be determined) Possibly getting some pinstriping work done. ...and this list may grow as time passes LOL

That's exactly how I mounted mine... in fact, I posted pics of this ... http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=41530&highlight=stebel

That happened to me last spring... I put ins on the scoot Apr 1st coz it looked like we might be in for some nice weather... didn't happen ... we had almost 3 months of mostly crappy weather. So now my ins has expired as of Oct 1st (I only ins for 6 months) and guess what??? ... nice weather and I can't ride LOL ... go figgure!!

Thanks for the feedback. I've never ridden the "Dragon" but we have lots of tight, twisty, mountain roads around these parts .... I've found that with the 130 tire on the front, I can handle them a lot easier and a lot faster than when the 150 was on. Similarly, I have much more "ease of control" in slow speed parking lot-style turns. The only thing I don't like about having the 130 on is the straight, "super slab" as some call it ... the bike seems to want to "jump" from one position to another... I call it "squirrelly". ... and this seems to happen most when the parallel highs and lows of the road surface are more pronounced such as the lane the heavy trucks use most, etc. Seems to feel as though the ass-end of the bike keeps slipping side-to-side and/or the front end. I'm planning on replacing the front with a 150 and installing the levelling links prior to next riding season.... that is of course, if I don't go thru with buying a Wing or something else.

'course not... haven't found one that could catch up to me yet soas I could swap ....

It's a copy/paste from MSN so I don't see why not as they don't disable that capability.

Another obvious UN-BIASED opinion ... which I agree with since I too am un-biased ...

Found this on MSN Canada ... thought it worthwhile to post this. Ten tips to make your motorcycle journey safer How to keep your bike and yourself out of harm's way during the riding season 1. Ride with attitude http://blstb.msn.com/i/29/54E116E3CD89CC4563F46CF03A82A.jpg As the old saying goes, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you - they most assuredly are. They being uncaring, unaware metal cocooned motorists. But you don't have to succumb to the persecution complex worn by motorcycling's pedal-powered two-wheel brethren. Just ensure you acquire the necessary skills and ride with a positive attitude that includes accepting that self-preservation must be the topmost priority throughout your motorcycle ride. Never, ever, let your guard down. This doesn't mean you can't enjoy chuntering along on your cruiser, or carving up back-road curves on your sports bike. Just ensure you maintain constant 360-degree situational awareness and be prepared to deal with anything the road or its other users throw at you. 2. Wear hearing protection Wind-generated noise, at anything over 50 km/h, can harm your hearing in minutes and your ears can be blasted by more than 110 decibels of noise at 100 km/h. Contrary to what you might think, a helmet isn't much help. And remember ear damage is permanent. This is why the plugged-in motorcyclist plugs in a pair of ear protectors, even on short rides. These can reduce noise levels by 20 to 35 decibels. There are several types available, from cheap, but comfortable and effective foam plugs, to reusable ones with high-tech filters. If you've got a little more to spend, we highly recommend investing in a set of custom-made units that are moulded to the shape of your ear canal for the best fit. 3. Be wary after dark Unsurprisingly, riding after dark is more dangerous than during daylight, although it can be a magical experience on a warm starry night. To be safe reduce speeds and increase the distance between yourself and other vehicles. Make sure your lights are functioning and lenses are clean. Keep your face mask clean too. Avoid oncoming headlight glare and don't fixate on off-road lights. Use your high beams whenever possible and pay attention to the shoulders where animals may be lurking. Moving your vision from side to side will help pick out objects in poor light. Pay attention - objects in your path won't reveal themselves until they're closer than during the day reducing your time to react. 4. Pillion Sharing the experience of riding with a friend or significant other is a wonderful experience, but not something to be undertaken casually. Your passenger needs to be as well-equipped as you in terms of protective gear and you may need to adjust the rear suspension to deal with the added weight. You'll have to adjust your riding style too. A passenger adds weight, often quite high up, affecting handling. And you need to accelerate and brake more smoothly to avoid throwing them off, or having them rattle their helmet off yours. Basically the passenger has to "ride" too and not just sit there. As a rider, you must explain this concept to a novice. They need to know what to hold onto (rails or you), not to make unexpected moves, how to lean with the bike not fight it, and pay attention to anticipate turns, braking and acceleration. 5. Be seen The biker's lament about car drivers - "he didn't even see me" - is all too commonly heard during coffee breaks, but it's something riders can do something about. Research shows wearing reflective or fluorescent gear can reduce the chance of being in an accident by 37 per cent. Even the colour of your helmet makes a big difference - a swap from black to white cuts incidences by 24 per cent. Light or brightly coloured riding gear and helmets help, but maximize their efficacy with a vest. High-visibility fluorescent yellow with reflective panels is virtually impossible to miss. These vests are easy to put on and take off and don't take much room to store either. Sew-on reflective tape can be added to riding jackets. Failing to cancel turn signals is a common but dangerous oversight. 6. Don't be afraid to use your horn We Canadians are polite bunch - perhaps to the point where it can endanger us. Proper use of the horn should be part of how you ride and in urban traffic your thumb should always be poised to hit the button. Beep to warn the driver of a parked car you're about to drive by, and to warn a driver you're overtaking. Pedestrians who look like they might just be considering stepping into your path can be warned off with a polite beep too. In an emergency keep your thumb hard on the button. Some bike horns are a bit anaemic, so consider upgrading to an air horn. Don't forget that flashing your headlamp can also provide a heads up of your presence in the vicinity. 7. Foil thieves There are few feelings worse than returning to where you parked and finding your bike gone. Always engage the steering lock. Secure the bike to a sturdy object with a no-kidding-around cable or chain and lock. Don't cheap out on these. Using two different types of locks can often foil unprepared thieves. And by making it more difficult they may decide to move on to easier pickings. If you have to leave it outside at night, while touring perhaps, park in as secure and brightly lit area as possible. Outside a ground floor motel room or near its front lobby door are good spots. Even in your garage engage the steering lock and chain the bike to something, maybe a lawn tractor if you've got one. That way you'll get to keep both. Keep the bike covered when in the garage so it won't be identified from the street. 8. Riding in the rain Riding in the rain isn't just uncomfortable, it can be downright scary. The need to reduce speed is obvious, as corning and braking capabilities are reduced and tires can aquaplane on just few millimeters of water leaving you with no grip at all. You also have to increase distance to vehicles ahead to reduce spray and maintain visibility (anti-fog compounds help on visors). Take extra care changing lanes as painted lines can be very slippery. In the city wet tram tracks or manhole covers can drop you instantly. Puddles can conceal potholes. And spilled oil and water definitely don't mix with motorcycles. Brakes may take an extra moment to begin working and care is required in their application to avoid lock-up. Be very smooth with downshifts to avoid locking the rear wheel. 9. Parking Parking is all about peace of mind - in other words not returning and finding your bike on its side. Park on hard and even surfaces if possible, but don't trust them. Carry a metal plate you can put under your side stand to stop it sinking into hot asphalt or soft ground. When parking street-side back the bike in until rear wheel is at the curb, angled at about 45 degrees so it can be seen by would-be parkers and (maybe) the car driver ahead. Using the side stand provides more stability (three points of contact) than the centre stand. Leave it in gear (never leave it running and unattended), with steering locked and not under a no-parking sign. In parking lots pull through so you can drive out, and ride through them slowly and carefully. 10. Know how to pick up your dropped bike properly It's embarrassing, but it happens. A bit of gravel rolling under your foot when you bring your bike to a stop can cause you to lose your balance and have 350 kilos of bike fall on its side. Step one is switch off the ignition (and fuel taps if your bike has them). Step two is get help. But if it's not available the following is the almost universally acknowledged best way to get it back on its wheels. Make sure it's in gear and back your butt up to the seat, reaching down with your right hand to the left grip (or vice versa if it's on its other side). Find something solid to grip with your other hand and snuggle your backside against the seat at what feels like the best point of leverage. Now push with your feet (make sure you've got traction), taking half-steps while also lifting with your arms, until the bike is upright. If the side stand is on the other side, gently ease your bike over onto it. If it's on your side carefully balance the bike while you deploy it. Do not try this if you have any doubts about your physical ability to accomplish it. Check the bike for damage before riding away.

now there's an UN-BIASED opinion for ya ...

"Were there any improvements to the Venture over the last 10 years?" shoot... I've only had mine for 2 years and I've made quite a few improvements.... just imagine the improvements me or most guys will do to it in 10 years of ownership.....

Rick... curious to know what you didn't like after installing the levelling links. I have the smaller front tire and the bike handled great hauling the trailer around. Seemed as tho the trailer helped "stabilize" the bike some ... I found I could crank a tight turn in a parking lot even easier than without the trailer. Out on the highway ... no problem. Other than noticing a difference in acceleration power, it was as if the trailer wasn't there....and we had that sukkah LOADED!

There's a ton of info about the whine on this site. Frankly, changing to a different oil will probably not help a lot but that's just my opinion. Some say it does... didn't do a thing for me. If you get one that's a bit too tall, you can always cut it down. It's a pretty easy job and well illustrated here on the site.

Mine runs on the outside from underneath the seat, down the fender and out to the trailer connector. When in use, I just zap-tie it to the signal light. When not in use, I un-tie it from the signal light, route it back up the fender, underneath the trunk and zap-tie it to the mounting bracket somewhere. I have the wires all taped and covered with that corrugated plastic wire loom cover.

ROFL .... thanks ... sourdough? ... or plain ... like a scone? yummmmm I do love those especially just out of the oven after they've sat for about 10 minutes ... dip 'em in my soup ... green pea, French-Canadian pea, beef barley... plain old tomatoe, you name it ... gotta be Campbell's soup tho... now that I am in their commercials LMAO!!!

What's a biscuit?? (enquiring minds want to know) now if you were asking about bread, I'd say I butter it on the bottom, turn it over and eat it.....

Wikipedea Most modern motorcycles use unsynchronized transmissions as synchronizers are generally not necessary or desirable. Their low gear inertias and higher strengths mean that forcing the gears to alter speed is not damaging, and the pedal operated selector on modern motorcycles is not conducive to having the long shift time of a synchronized gearbox. Because of this, it is necessary to synchronize gear speeds by blipping the throttle when shifting into a lower gear on a motorcycle Motorcycleforum motorcycles have constant mesh sequential transmissions. no synchros. you can upshift or downshift at any rpm without the clutch. won't even damage the trans. the clutch is there to get you out of first, and allow you to control how much power gets to the wheels, and how smoothly it's applied--in the case of downshifting, you're using it to reduce the driveline shock so you don't lock up the rear or overload it midcorner. This topic has come up numerous times and it's always the same thing. Those that swear by their clutches, those that aren't afraid to shift without it and those that just flat out don't have a clue what they are talking about. Those of you that have it figured out... congrats!!!! Car tranny and bike tranny= completely different. In a bike tranny all of the gears on the main shaft are meshed with all of the gears on the counter shaft all of the time. The only things that engage when you shift are the dogs on a slider gear to the slots on a freewheeling gear. Shifting without the clutch on a bike isn't going to hurt a thing. You would actually have to do some pretty bone headed stuff to mess it up. Like red line 3rd and kick the bike down into second. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SilvrT My feeling is as above and as long as you pre-load the shifter before you "blip" the throttle, I don't feel any damage will occur. I have up-shifted without the clutch numerous times under varying conditions such as normal driving and hard on the throttle racing and not once have I "blown a shift" or felt any grinding or mis-engagement. Having said that, I NEVER shift without the clutch between 1st and 2nd due to the possibility of hitting neutral. As for shifting with the clutch, I have, on a few occasions, hit a "dead spot" between the gears and over-revved the engine (not necessarilly on my current scoot). In any event, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and beliefs.... these are just mine, you can take 'em or not.

If it was ok to shift the "old International" without the clutch, then why would it not be ok to shift the Venture without the clutch? Why would the drive train be in jeopardy on the Venture and not on the International? To me, that doesn't make sense but then again, a lot of things don't make sense to me LOL. (I guess that's why I like to question them)

"patronizers" ...? ok, this is a new one for me... 'splain please. Now as for syncronized tranny's, it seems to me that shifting without the clutch is a lot easier when the tranny IS syncronized. Now I know the tranny isn't syncronized in our scoots but I do believe that they are "constant mesh" (or something like that), which also makes it possible to shift without the use of the clutch. I oftentimes shift without the clutch. Been doing it for many years on several bikes. Done a fair share of downshifting without the clutch too; however, I do believe this is, or can be, hard on the shifting forks and other components if you don't get the revvs just right. As for up shifting, it's a piece of cake, takes very little pressure and is instantaneous and I've never had tranny problems on any bike... well, I'm not counting my old Triumph Bonneville 650 (1972 model). But that thing was a P.O.S. when I bought it. Oh, I forgot to answer the "why" question. Because it's reduces strain on the left hand, is a much quicker and smoother shift, there's absolutely no loss of power or hesitation between shifts and, if you're havvin yerself a little drag race, it will give you a major edge if the other guy is clutchin it. Having said the above, if you're just lobbing along, taking your sweet time, and not running the rpm's up before shifting... kinda like maybe you're shifting wayyyy too soon and lugging the sukkah... then I'd advise you use the clutch.

Dang... guess I gotta watch more TV ... ain't seen nuffin yet!

LooL ??? were you drooling when you typed that?

sure... one-up me why dontcha ... that is a good one and still funny the 40th time...

One of the local RSV riders and a member here passed this on to me in an email. Thought ya'll might be interested in it. I have no idea how this could possibly have been filmed, but its one terrific video http://www.flixxy.com/game-of-survival.htm

NO FAIR!!! I remember reading your post ... now what was it????

honey, isn't it about time you learned to spell my name correctly?? :rotf: