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Showing results for tags 'heavy'.
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Ok Gurus, here's my dilemna; I bought an 86 Venture Royale late last summer. I love the bike, it's what I wanted. I didn't care much for the low speed handling but I new the tires where at the end of their life span and would be replacing them over the winter months along with some regular maintenance like changing the fork oil, regreasing the wheel bearings, regreasing the suspension links including adding grease fittings, adjusting the steering head bearings (they were to tight)and fixing the class system. I believe I did everything that I could based on searching posts on this forum. The bike handles much better but at very slow speeds (like approaching a full stop) the bike gets very unstable or feels tippy? The slightest lean either way to correct seems to overcorrect. Several times I felt like i was going to drop the bike. Is top heavy an issue with these bikes or did I miss something when I went over the bike this winter? I'm at the point where I'm considering selling it before I hurt myself or damage the bike. Thanks, Paul
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I have an 08 RSV and am thinking of buying a coachman express camper, it is 450 pound dry weight, is that to heavy for my RSV? If not any recommendations on a good hitch to get?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=RobaJKGMMiE
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I've ridden a motorcycle since 14 years of age. Got a motorcycle license shortly after I turned 16. Didn't have a car license till I turned 19. Bikes ridden include : Suzuki T250 70's model(wish I had it back), 175 Yamaha Enduro, 1969 honda 350 (extreemely top heavy) 197? 650 triumph(shifter/brakes on wrong side), Yamaha RD 400 (last 2 cycle street, twisted speedo cable off) 2000 Rm 250 Suzuki(wild ride above 5000 rpm), 2002 DRZ 400 Suzuki(to heavy for woods riding), 2005 Vstar 650(perfect well balanced 300 mile bike), 2007 Midnight Venture. Now that you know my backround, my first impresssion of the 07 RSMV was that she was heavy. After 5 mph it all went away. I felt like I was riding my 650 V-Star. That is until I foolishly tried a "leaning " 180 turn on a narrow back road. I ALMOST dropped Her! This bike is a wonderful ride, but, you must keep in mind her sweet spot. If you get more than 3 inches off center below 5 mph , you better have long, strong, leggs. I just about dropped her doing a 180 on a narrow back road that I could have rode 360's on my 650 V-star on all day long. Other than that, I was truely impressed. I've ridden Harleys and I must say I like this bike much better. Never rode a Honda GW. Notes: felt the wind from the top of my kee cap to about 6 inches below on my shin. Probably good in the summer but bad in the winter. Rest of body was well protected. Windshield is slighty above eye level. I can straighten up and look over stock windshield in the rain. I am 6' tall with a 29 inch inseam. Can hold this bike up flatfooted. I'll write more later. Would definately purchase this bike again. Might try the risers to improve the slow speed turning characteristics though. -
Alright, so my only question is, do the 2nd gen ventures handle as well as the first gens. It looks to me like they angled the motor to make it less top heavy, so i was just wondering. Thanks- CJ
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I am back from Mexico, and the bike performed well- except my sticky thermostat. I pulled it, blocked the radiator with a heavy cardboard, and learned a lot about the bike's performance. My earlier issues of the stator not charging in heavy traffic- gone! At least on my bike, there is a direct relationship between charging voltage and the temperature displayed. For example- when the temp of the engine gets close to the red line- the voltage dropped to 12 volts. When the engine runs cool- the voltage is 14 or more. As the temp climbs- the voltage drops. When it runs hot for a while- the bike stops charging, and it is hard to start if I turn it off. So- Is there an alternative to a 180 degree thermstat? My bike likes to run cool! And a cooler T-stat may give me more wiggle room to the overheat condition in heavy traffic. Thanks!
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I'm looking for recommendations on a Bike Cover. It should be a name brand, waterproof, full size and pack up small for travel. The RSV is garage kept so heavy duty cover isn't required. Please include manufacturer, product name and size. Thanks Mover
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Hi Everyone: I am really in a quandry. I feel like my 2009 RSV is top heavy and have read threads that say to lower the back end, to not lower the back end, to change tires on the front, etc. There seem to be cons and pros for all options. The dealer said that lowering the back end without lowering the front would make it worse. The dealer also said they don't recommend changing tire sizes. The dealer also told me that they had someone come in who had put on the lowering kit and took it back off within a week. Said it made it very unstable in parking lots, etc and made it more top heavy. I found a kit that is a "leveling kit" at Diamond Accessories" which actually raises the back end. This is supposed to make it more stable and less top heavy. Here is the link http://www.diamondraccessories.com/yamaha/proddisplay.php?name=Leveling Link Kit Will raising the back instead of lowering make a good difference? Has anyone tried this? Does anyone have any advice for me? I would like to do something to make it better but do not want to do it and the change not have any effect, or even make it worse. Thanks everyone for your help. Don Wood - New Venture owner -
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhuc954gpeg]YouTube - sportloader 2[/ame] i just figgerd out how to upload to you tube . you can see how heavy my 1st gen , it makes that f250 rock
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Been an odd day here, went to SafeWay Grocery Store for some supplies this morning about 7:30 AM. Very few cars in parking lot. I step out of the car, and for some reason, looked down at ground. There, in front of my foot was a " Live 9MM Cartrige " Hmmmm?? says I, looked around, nothing going on, Picked it up before some kid gets hold of it. Ok, about 1 PM I get ready to go for a ride, -- in the driveway, helmet on, engine warming up, and the little birdie, ( in the back of my mind ) seems to be saying, " no no don't ride today " Hmmm ???, so I take the car, go to Lowes, they no got what I want . Home for about an hour, and Heavy rain storm pops up, extreme heavy rain for about 5 min. In the middle of it is One Huge Thunder clap, a 3 banger. Sounded like 3, 500 lb. bombs went off. Seattle gets very little thunder and lightning! I been here 24 years now, and only heard thunder about 5 or 6 times. But this was really loud, Reminded me of growing up in Minnesota !!! Whats the point of all this ?? I don't know, but I ain't starting any more projects today !!
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06 ..1300venture midnight can you get seat that is lowerd to help with being to top heavy any ideas.. any buddy.. Ken..
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Anyone have any suggestions for riding on an 8 lane highway with heavy traffic.
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Just saw Dr. this week after cat scan. Results show tumor is shrinking and starting to break up. Dr. still wants 2 more heavy chemo sessions so go in for one tomorrow. Still asking for prayers for complete recovery. Keep 'em coming. Don H.
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This is my 24th bike and maybe my best yet. I wanted a Venture when they first came out in the 80's but I had a bad experience with a 81 GoldWing. It was too hot, heavy and slow. I was more into less costly sportier bikes then. This year I sold a 2000 BMW K1200LT (Luxury Tourer) which we did not like because it was way too heavy overall, top heavy, unreliable, uncomfortable, terrible in winds, hard to work on, expensive parts and nearest dealer was 275 miles. We still wanted a touring bike so I went looking for a Venture. I found it, none running in near show room condition in PHX with 14k miles. Got it running, cleaned carbs & tank, new fork seals and fixed leaking water pump in 4 weeks. It is everything I want in a bike. Simple to work on, parts cheap, comfortable, torquey, 46 mpg, light for a touring bike, easy in winds, good handling and after reading about the problems (all of these points compared to the BMW) are negliable. Also $5000+ cheaper! It's a keeper! Wish I had done this sooner.
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Let me start off by saying I used to own a 96 Royal Star Tour Classic. Except for power, I really did like the ride of that bike. Now, I own an 89 VR, and for short legged guys like me it is quite top heavy, but ride is OK. Recently I ran into a buddy of mine and he is now riding a 2006 RSTD and it looks sweet...so sweet I am considering looking at one. Especially since I got all the bugs worked out the 89 right? Everyone states that the 2nd gen Ventures are very top heavy. So, my question is this. Is the RSTD top heavy too? I thought they were basically the same bike, just more features? I sat on my buddies and it didn't feel top heavy but did not get to drive it. Does the fairing and rear trunk bag add that much upper weight? I sure would like to get opinions from the RSTD and 2nd gen riders. Thanks.
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Hello Everyone, I'm in need of your assistance again. Here is my problem: when I wash the bike it is always hard to start,if I let it set a while it will start. If I drive in heavy rain the bike has stalled out. When I let it set a while it will start and run fine. I have taken the TCI unit out cleaned the connectors and opened the cover letting it dry out, also used diaelectric grease on the connector. I have replaced the spark plug wires thinking that they mey be the problem but to no avail. I'm leaving on Friday for Myrtle Beach and the forecast is for rain. HELP!
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Does anyone know if it is even possible for a bike as heavy as the RSV to hydroplane?? Just being curiously cautious... :no-no-no::no-no-no::no-no-no:
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I named my bike cricket, just messing around and now I think I will keep the name! Again I will say I really love and enjoy this venture, I do not mind the so called whine at the higher speeds, or at the top of the power band in lower gears, just means no HD will ever catch me!! To me it is just not an issue, I have owned other bikes and several of them had this same gear whine. But I have not been lazy, I have read everything I can find on this situation, both here on this site, have called and talked to an old friend who is most likely the best mechanic ever, been to the library, looked up cut gears, helical gears, beveled gears, meshed and partial meshed, even obtained parts breakdowns of the venture tranny, details and so on. So some of you have tried a different clutch basket-why do they call it a basket anyway? Just the main gear..........? And it has never really cured anything, just changed the harmonics to a different rpm, to the higher range in effect. Some of you have changed the rear drive unit......again this caused you to move your rpms up. Puts you in the peak of the power band for the particular gear, especially the higher gears. Nothing has seemed to work. Now a hint, and my question. And I and all of us may need some help from someone who knows a whole lot about oil, its effects and properties. I found out at the library they used to use and still do use forged and cut gears in machines such as lathes, and sawmill wheels. They use 80 to 90 weight gear oil in the gear box, runs quiet as a snowflake. I own a wood turning lathe, I took the heavy oil out of the gear box and poured kerosene in and turned it on ,rinsed it out. Filled the gearbox with some old 10W30, put the drive belt on the high gear, presto, I had gear whine!!!! Now , all vehicle makers, cars, bikes, snowmobiles, all of them recommend somewhat light and variable viscosity oils, as whomever buys the vehicle may live in Alaska at minus 10 degrees or worse, to South Carolina at 107 degrees in the shade sometimes. So this multi-viscosity oil solves all and answers all, no more discussion about oils, one solution for all. Or is it?? Lighter viscosity oils unless I am wrong are for the north, they coat the motor better at low start up temps. Usn's in the south have runny oil all the time, a cold day around here is 28 degrees. So if a higher viscosity oil will keep my wood lathe quiet, would it not quiet down cut gears in any mechanical gearbox? Any oil research pros out there? Can we use a higher viscosity oil, a slightly heavier one? Warm the bike up for a few minutes prior to putting a load on the motor(all us old Harley riders did that-if we didn't the head gasket would blow by the time we got to the mailbox):rotf:. For what it is worth this is my common sense question, can we use a higher viscosity oil and not harm the engine, I already know it will not harm the transmission, and even heavy oil when warm will reach the rings........but there is the oil pump, a lot of variables, anyone want to take this challenge? It makes a lot of sense to me, my experiment with the lathe was promising. Just how heavy an oil can one use in the Bike? Kit
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I was reading the threads a few weeks ago..about how the 1st gen. handles without the tour pak installed....Well, I thought I'd try it since Yammer Dan said the bike handled differently. Wow, I'm 5'-11 and around 160 lbs., and I can't believe it's the same bike...Handles better than I thought was possible. The VR has always felt top heavy to me..til I removed the big box...I weighed my TP and it tipped the scales at 31 pounds. Now, add stuff to the box and you can easily add 50 pounds way above the center of gravity, and you have a top heavy bike..I bought a piece of .100 thousands thick shiny aluminum tread plate from Lowes and made a luggage platform for a duffle with just clothes. All the attachment points are already available. Now, I can fill the saddle bags and that will help keep the CG low. I took pix of the set up, but have never learned how to add pix to a thread. If someone can instruct me, I'll post pix and, also, how I added a 90 degree zerk fitting to the steering head.... God, I love this stuff....
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So how much weight is safe to pull behind an 84 VR? I've seen these Aspen popup campers that are being pulled by mototcycles. I have an old Nimrod Capri that's 12" wider and a couple inches shorter. I was wondering how much of a difference there would be. I don't know how heavy it is but I can slide it side to side by myself when it's hooked to my car. I would thing it would catch alot of sidewinds and cause alot of drag. How heavy is a typical trailer anyway?
