Venture Road VR_1987-10
Transcription
Venture Road VR_1987-10
VTS Chapter Meetings ALABAMA CHAPTER 2 meets the 1st Wednesday of each month at DeFilippo's Pizza Pub in Daleville at 7 p.m. Info: James Hurley, 205/393-3822. MICHIGAN CHAPTER 2 meets for breakfast the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 9 a.m. at Falcon's Nest on Michigan Avenue in Wayne. Meeting follows. Norm Schultz, 313/5325904. ALBERTA CHAPTER 1 (Edmonton) meets the 2nd Monday of the month at the Capilano Inn at 7:30 p.m. Info: Scott Murray, 403/436-3878. MINNESOTA CHAPTER 1 meets the 1st Saturday of the month at the Prairie House Restaurant, Lake Crystal, at 9:30 a.m. Weather permitting, ride leaves at this time. Thain Dikkers, 507/642-3152. ALBERTA CHAPTER 2 (Calgary) meets the 1st Saturday of each month at Granny's Pantry at Bay 16, 5147 20 Avenue SE, at noon. Info: Wade Youngman, 403/294-5056. MISSOURI CHAPTER 2 meets the 2nd Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. at Pacific Texaco (formerly Skelly's) in Pacific. Tom Miller, 314/257-4753. ARIZONA CHAPTER 1 meets every other Monday at 7 p.m. at Matta's Restaurant, 932 East Main, Mesa. Info: Glen Kay, 602/897-9106. NEVADA CHAPTER 1 meets every Sunday at 8 am. at the Slot Joynt Restaurant & Casino, 3750 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. Fred Vogt, 702/648-3522. BRITISH COLUMBIA CHAPTER 1 meets every 3rd Sunday at 8:30 a.m. at Hammermill Restaurant, Alder Grove Mall, Alder Grove, B.C. David Huxley, 604/852-4204. NEW JERSEY CHAPTER 1 meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Tom and Cathy Gitto's house. 609/7649354. BRITISH COLUMBIA CHAPTER 2 meets the 3rd Sunday of the month at 8 a.m. at the OT Restaurant on Highway 97 in Kelowna, B.C. Ride follows. Rick Jewsbury, 604/492-0285. NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER 1 will meet in various locations around the state. Call Jerry Lee at 919/488-0325 or Ted Monroe at 919/488-5055 for info. CALIFORNIA CHAPTER 1 meets the last Sunday of the month at 10 am. Info: Vince Lake, 209/369-1388. OHIO CHAPTER 1 (Warren) meets theist Saturday of the month at 9 am. and the 3rd Sunday at 1 p.m., April through October. Sunday meeting only November through March. All meetings held at Enzo's Restaurant, 5201 Mahoning Avenue, Warren. George Bresenhan, 216/369-3763. CALIFORNIA CHAPTER 2 (San Jose) meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the American Family Steak House, 1164 North 4th, San Jose, at 7 p.m. Michael Stansbury, 408/779-1201. CALIFORNIA CHAPTER 3 meets the 1st Friday of the month at 8 p.m. at the Community Building at 2000 Artesia, Redondo Beach. Dick Sader, 213/639-3723. CALIFORNIA CHAPTER 4 (Antelope Valley) is in the process of reorganizing. Info: Ray Holub, 805/943-3571. CALIFORNIA CHAPTER 6 (San Diego) meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 4166 Kirkcaidy Drive at 7 p.m. Cal Stanford, 619/278-1698. CALIFORNIA CHAPTER 7 (Sacramento) meets the 1st Friday of the month at 7 p.m. for a barbecue during or a pie run after a short meeting. A regular ride is also planned for the 3rd Sunday of each month. Sam Armes, 916/636-4640. CALIFORNIA CHAPTER 8 (Santa Barbara-Ventura) meets the 2nd Sunday of the month at 11 am. Ride follows meeting. For location & details call Mel, 805/964-2830. CALIFORNIA CHAPTER 9 - Info: Jon Fleischer, 714/7922247; Sue Carmickle, 714/381-2405. DELAWARE (EASTERN SHORE) CHAPTER 1 meets the 1st Sunday of the month at 9 am. at Pappy's Restaurant, North Broad St., Middletown, Del. Buffet breakfast and meeting. Bill, 301/398-7446. FLORIDA CHAPTER 2 (Miami) meets the 3rd Sunday of the month at Denny's just east of the Palmetto Expressway on NW 36th St., between 9:30 and 10 am. for breakfast, meeting and ride. Bill Martin, 305/821-0944. FLORIDA CHAPTER 3 meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at JoJo's Pizzeria in Palmetto, at 7:30 p.m. 813/722-9940. FLORIDA CHAPTER 4 (Jacksonville) meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. and rides every Sunday at 9 am. Meeting place is Shoney's Restaurant at 103rd and Blanding (Fl-21). Info: Cliff Beasley, 904/772-0127. INDIANA CHAPTER 1 meets the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at the West Side Waffle House, on the southwest corner of Rockville Road and Girls School Road, Indianapolis, at 9 a.m. rain or shine. Ron Ray, 317/271-4919. INDIANA CHAPTER 2 meets the 2nd Sunday of the month, April through October, at 9 a.m.; November through March at 2 p.m.; at the Lamplite Restaurant, Pierceton. Contact Harold Gibson, 219/453-4043. INDIANA CHAPTER 3 meets the 3rd Sunday of the month at the Pie Pan Restaurant, 943 North Green River Road, Evansville. Charles Barker, 812/426-2692. IOWA CHAPTER 1 meets the last Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 2699 John F. Kennedy Road, Dubuque. Come early and enjoy an all-you-can-eat chicken supper, complete with salad bar, $4.25. All bikers welcome. Lee Baumhover, 319/557-1081. IOWA CHAPTER 3 meets regularly. Contact Murray Armstrong, 515/224-0118. KANSAS CHAPTER 1 meets the 2nd Saturday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Federal Building, 12th 8 Topeka Blvd., Topeka. Info: 913/267-2269. LOUISIANA CHAPTER 1 meets the last Sunday of the month for lunch and a ride. Info: Cycle Shop, 504/872-9448. MICHIGAN CHAPTER 1 (Kalamazoo/Battle Creek) meets the last Sunday of the month at 9 am. at the Stage Coach Inn at the intersection of M-43 and M-89 in Richland. Info: Jeff or Donna Cross, 616/649-3456. OHIO CHAPTER 2 (Akron-Canton) meets the 2nd Saturday of the month at 8 a.m. and the 4th Sunday at 1 p.m. April through October. Winter meetings are the 2nd Saturday at 9:30 a.m., November through March. All meetings held at Walker's Restaurant, 1-77 and Ohio Rte. 241. Thom Hans, 216/836-2171. OHIO CHAPTER 3 meets the 1st Sunday and 3rd Saturday of each month, April-October. For winter times and dates contact Don Molnar, 216/974-9514. OHIO CHAPTER 4 (Dayton) meets the 1st Saturday and the 3rd Sunday of each month. Info: Glenn Roberts, 513/236-5753. OHIO CHAPTER 5 (Cincinnati) meets the 2nd Saturday and 4th Sunday of the month. Info: Shannon McDaniel, 513/874-8592. OHIO CHAPTER 6 (Cincinnati/Covington) meets the 1st Saturday and the 3rd Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. at the White Castle/Kroger parking lot on 1-275 and US42, Exit 46, in Sharonville. Info: Larry Cox, 606/356-1148 (Ky.). OKLAHOMA CHAPTER 1 meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Catfish Ahoy Restaurant, East Reno & Midwest Blvd., Midwest City (suburb of Oklahoma City). Charlie Baer, 405/390-2018. OKLAHOMA CHAPTER 2 (Tulsa) meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Western Sizzlin' Steak House, 9066 New Sapulpa Road, Sapulpa (suburb of Tulsa). Victor Bowen, 918/227-0317. ONTARIO CHAPTER 3 meets the 1st Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. Info: Jim Baker, 416/895-6423. ONTARIO CHAPTER 4 (Burlington) meets every Sunday at 9 am. at Clappison's Corners (intersection of Hwys. 5 & 6) at the Tim Hortons Doughnut Shop. Ride at 10 am. Jack or Polly Colley, 416/335-8947. ONTARIO CHAPTER 6 (Ottawa) meets the 1st Thursday of the month. April and October meetings will be at Hurst Yamaha (Ottawa) for maintenance info. Remaining meetings will be at Venture Inns of Canada, 480 Metcalfe Street. Info: Michael Cardill, 819/684-6601. OREGON CHAPTER 1 (Portland) meets the 4th Sunday of the month for breakfast at 9 am. at Tee Dee's Pie House & Restaurant, 1715 S. Beaver Creek Road, Oregon City. Robert Burroughs, 503/646-4587. PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER 1 meets the last Sunday of the month at Denny's Restaurant next to Valley Forge Music Fair, Devon. Ride follows, weather permitting. Info: Jeff Landis, 215/723-4653. PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER 2 (Lehigh Valley) meets every month on the 2nd Sunday at 8 am. at Superior Restaurant, Emmaus. Take Rte. 22 to Rte. 309 South, Emmaus Ave. exit. Turn right (west) from exit. Go to light after underpass, then turn left. Restaurant is on left, meeting room on lower level. Brad Snyder, 215/282-3402. PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER 3 meets and rides the 1st Sunday of the month at Spangler's Restaurant, U.S. Route 15 & Pa. Route 394, Gettysburg. Jeffrey Martin, 717/486-7007. PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER 4 (Keystone Capitol) meets the 3rd Sunday of each month at the Dutch Pantry Restaurant at the intersection of U.S. 15 & Market St. in Camp Hill, Pa., for breakfast and ride. Michael Croftcheck, 717/763-8563. PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER 5 meets the 3rd Sunday of the month at Pot 0' Gold Restaurant, Rtes. 61 & 1-78 just north of Hamburg. Ride follows, weather permitting. Info: Curt Steely, 717/385-3190. PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER 6 meets the 3rd Sunday of the month at 9 am at Cimarron Restaurant, Route 19, Wexford, Pa. Art Webster, 412/728-2013. PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER 7 meets the 4th Sunday of the month at Country Surrey Restaurant, Route 309, 1/2-mile north of Route 415, Dallas, Pa. Horacio Blanco, 717/869-2842. PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER 8 meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Cycle City Yamaha, 2612 West Chester Pike, Broomall, Pa., at 8 p.m. Ride is the 2nd Sunday of the month. Tony Liberati, 215/747-5935. SASKATCHEWAN CHAPTER 1 (Regina) meets the 3rd Sunday of the month at the Red Ox Restaurant, Dewdney Avenue and Lewvan Drive, at 10 am. Info: Cindy Bernhardt, 306/543-0303. TEXAS CHAPTER 1 (Houston) meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Info: Jack Freeman, 713/460-1303. TEXAS CHAPTER 2 meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Coca-Cola Plant in Beaumont. Norman Dill, 409/2837664; Woody Sweetin, 409/745-4747. TEXAS CHAPTER 6 (Dallas) meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 1112 Via Del Ray in Mesquite. Info: Jim Wilson, 214/279-8239 or 288-5992. VIRGINIA CHAPTER 1 meets the 2nd Sunday of the month at the Hot Shoppes on Route 1 in Fredericksburg. Breakfast is at 9 a.m. Wayne Hart, 703/582-2043. VIRGINIA CHAPTER 2 meets the 3rd Sunday of the month at 9 am. at the Village Restaurant (Exit 18, 1-81). Info: Jim Grubb, 703/783-8383. VANCOUVER ISLAND CHAPTER 1 meets the 2nd Sunday of each month, rain or shine, at the MGM Restaurant in Nanaimo, B.C., at 10 am. for breakfast and ride. Info: Archie Hannah, 604/753-8440. WASHINGTON CHAPTER 1 meets the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Bob's Big Boy Restaurant in Kennewick on Hwy. 395. Dee Carson, 509/547-8060. WASHINGTON CHAPTER 2 meets on the 2nd Sunday of the month at Charley's Restaurant in Auburn. Donald Daugherty, 206/847-1465. BUYSELTRAD Venture Road offers ad space in this section at no cost to members buying or selling personal items. Commercial unclassified ads also available at 506 a word, $20 min. per issue. Logos, line art or photos may also be included for additional $10 per issue. Submit all ads to Venture Road c/o "Unclassified." Allow 60 days' lead time. GREAT GIFT! VTS HELMET BAGS: Velour with VTS logo. Maroon, Blue, Brown, Gray, Tan, Black. Protects helmet from scratches. $7.45 ea. plus $1 shipping. (Ariz. res. add 6.7% sales tax.) On 10 or more, no shipping charge. No CODs. Visa/MC okay. Order # HB-1. Order from A.C.S. Enterprises, 10388 West Earll Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85039, 602/877-3061. FOR SALE: 1986 Venture Royale 1300cc. Per- fect. Garaged. Black and greenish-tan, 7,200 miles, radar detector, luggage rack, heavy fork brace, helmets with factory intercoms, floorboards. Better and cheaper than new. $7,200 OBO. Mark Hachigian, 213/836-7455. CUSTOM ENAMELED PINS & Embroidered Patches & Decals - Highest quality, low minimum. Luran Emblem Co., 441 E. 4th St. #9, Loveland, CO 80537, 303/667-4940. (11/87) FOR SALE: Won at V-Daze, blue "Wheels of Man" rain/riding suit. $130 value. $100 or best offer. Call VTS 702/457-6657. 1983 VENTURE 1200, very good condition, new Michelin tires, recent tune-up. Asking $2,500. Call Ralph Kanitz #04636, 714/220-0801. (10/87) TABLE OF CONTENTS Volume 4, Number 1 October 1987 ITEMS OF INTEREST The Lady or the Tiger? ............................................... A Haven for Motorcyclists ........................................ Product Review: The Napper II ................................. Bombay Hook: A Ride on the Wild(life) Side ......... Touring Northern Arizona .......................................... 8 10 11 14 19 DEPARTMENTS Mail Call .................................................................................. Women's Page: MSF Beginners' Course ........................... Gold Priority Dealers .............................................................. Bench Wrench: Variations on a Wobble ............................. Regional News ....................................................................... New Products ......................................................................... 4 9 15 16 20 21 VENTURE ROAD MAGAZINE PUBLISHER/EDITOR: JOE SCHAERER COPY EDITOR: KATE McLAUGHLIN NATIONAL SALES MANAGER: BOB SENOR PRODUCTION: WESTERN TYPESETTERS Copyright e 1987, Venture Touring Society, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Single-copy price $2 for non-members, $1 for members with membership. Subscriptions: $24 per year (U.S. funds only Outside U.S. add $5 per year). Publication deadline is the 1st of the month two months preceding cover date. For ad rates and information, please contact Bob Senor, National Sales Manager, at 702/457-6657. Second Class Postage paid at Las Vegas, Nevada. POSTMASTER: Send FORM 3579 to: VTS Venture Road 1615 South Eastern Avenue Las Vegas, Nevada 89104 The Venture Touring Society is a completely separate entity from Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, and is not affiliated with any other organization. The Venture Touring Society, Inc., is a Nevada corporation. "Venture" and "Venture Royale" are trademarks of Yamaha Motor Corp. USA and Yamaha Motor Canada, Ltd. The VTS is a li censed user in Canada. The Venture Touring Society is an official chartered member of the American Motorcyclist Association, #5465. VENTURE ROAD is published monthly by the Venture Touring Society, Inc., a non-profit organization located at 1615 South Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89104, 702/457-6657. All letters, articles, photographs or other material submitted to VENTURE ROAD become the property of the VTS and are subject to reprint unless otherwise requested. If return of material is desired, a return-postage envelope must be included. VENTURE ROAD reserves the right to edit all material to conform with our editorial policies and/or space considerations. Send all subscriptions, advertising, letters, stories, news, etc, to the above address SUBMITTALS FOR COVER PHOTOS should be very sharply detailed 4x5" color transparencies or 35mm slides. 8x10" or 3x5" color-corrected prints possibly acceptable. All photos become the property of VENTURE ROAD. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the Venture Touring Society, Yamaha Motor Corp. USA or Yamaha Motor Canada, Ltd. The Venture Touring Society and Venture Road exercise reasonable care in screening and proofreading advertisements: however. errors do sometimes occur. All such errors are inadvertent and are not intended to mislead or misinform. VTS and Venture Road do not accept any liability for such errors. USPS No. 730-250 ISSN No. 0883-7821 This issue marks the beginning of our fourth year of the publication Venture Road. It also gives me an opportunity to reflect on the past, ponder the present and look optimistically to the future. The Venture Touring Society is growing, and with this growth comes new leadership with new and exciting ideas. This is vital to an organization li ke ours, but we can't forget the old guard and what has brought us to this ti me. And as we feel a few growing pains, we shouldn't lose sight of the basic concept of the VTS, which is simply to ride our Ventures and have fun. I remember times before the Venture Touring Society, when I and close friends would plan our yearly vacations on our Yamaha XS11's around the U.S. and into Canada While on those trips we'd take lots of pictures, generally enjoy ourselves and return with anticipation of going again. I also remember taking over the VTS, then with some 700 other members, and producing the first issues of Venture Road. It was fun. I still found time to take those vacations, still had fun, but took fewer pictures, and the "high" was a little less, too. What was beginning to happen was that the association was getting larger and my energy was being directed into making it exciting for you, the members. It surely wasn't my intention to completely stop having fun, nor have I. I want you all to know that I take great enjoyment in the satisfaction of seeing this association become the best thing going. Yes, many of you have told me I work too hard at V-Daze and never seem to enjoy myself. Not true — I do have fun. But from now on, a lot more of the work is going to be delegated to some fine Regional and State Directors. Our growth has taken a toll in other areas than the Home Office. On the state and local levels, chapters have started and failed. Chapter and Area Reps have quit. State Directors have "burned out." Why? What's happening? Some of you worry a lot about this. Is it a trend? First, this is not unique to our association. All associations who have a similar structure experience this syndrome. The difference with VTS is that we challenge ourselves to do something about it so as to both preserve and build. In the early stages of our association we didn't push the chapter concept. Why? Because we had witnessed this up-and-down syndrome in other associations such as the GWRRA, Retreads, BMWMOA, Blue Knights, etc. We saw their leadership change many times and we saw their members taking the fun out of touring by trying to conduct the chapters as businesses. "So keep the chapters social," we said. "Have fun, don't do anything different from what you did as friends enjoying a common hobby. We'll keep the paperwork to a minimum." But some groups still get caught up in too much "organizational" activity — boring meetings, inventing paperwork, etc. — instead of RIDING. The only advantage of a chapter is that it's an authorized vehicle to channel or focus your activities while supporting your association. We have many active chapters that are successful and they Continued on Page 7 ON THE COVER and above — Vince Johnson's Venture at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge on the seacost of Delaware. See story on Page 14. FORK BRACE NOT A "MUST-HAVE" ITEM For many months I've read about the super fork brace that was offered to VTS members at a reduced rate. I waited because I wanted to see it hands-on. At the recent Americade in New York, I went to the manufacturer's booth and asked for a demonstration and also if they offered VTS members a discount. Well, they looked at the four of us Venture riders as if we had two heads and were insulting their intelligence. They said, "Of course not." I said, "Well, you introduced it in our magazine." They said, "Only to get exposure." The price was $69.95 firm. Needless to say, we were quite put off by this and went to the Yamaha reps at Roaring Brook. They told us that the brace wasn't needed because the bike was tested and proved to stand up to hard driving with the existing brace. We are all very hard riders, and often carry full loads. We have not had any problems with our machines, and Yamaha agrees. The attitude of the brace manufacturer should change; they don't have a must-have item. I'm not saying a VTS member should have any clout, but tell any Venture rider I ride with about this experience. By the way, I think the VTS Fellow Pages is one of the best ideas since the electric start. Dick Leveroni #03964 Rockport, Massachusetts ■ I cannot excuse the manufacturerfor any rudeness you may have incurred, and we have already informed our readers about the circumstances of the withdrawal of the first fork brace from our magazine. The fork brace is an accessory item and Yamaha is correct in saying that it's not needed. Accessories are not needed — that's why they're called accessories! Under many riding conditions and habits, hundreds of users of the fork braces say they experienced a betterhandling motorcycle. You will no doubt notice the emergence of another manufacturer in this issue, and we hear there may be a third 3-POINT LOCKDOWN I am satisfied with my 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale except for one problem: the radio/cassette player has a three-point lockdown. This would suffice except that there are four corners that need to lock down. As it stands now, one corner of my cover plates stands up about 1/8-inch, allowing water to get into the fairing. The reason I know the cover plate doesn't hold down correctly is that my radio/cassette player has been dismantled with other components and sent to the repair shop. Apparently, the three-point lockdown allows the one corner to vibrate, and with 55 pin connections under the radio, a few quit making contact. I have talked to other Venture owners who have the same problem with the connectors. Page 4 / October 1987 / Venture Road • * • Call! * • • • Also, the dealer I took my bike to gave me a sick look and said, "Not another one." It's a two-hour job to get it out or put it back in. The radio is then shipped to a Mitsubishi repair center. Obviously, this problem will continue till Yamaha locks down the fourth corner. So far, there is not any hope from Yamaha that they will fabricate a means to lock down the corner. All I've been able to figure out is to put a screw in it to hold down the free-floating corner (engineering technology gained from years of riding a Triumph and Harley-Davidson). Rick Endres #04123 Hamilton, Ohio ■ We've had very few, ifany, complaints on this subject come through the main office. But if any of our members can help Rick, here's your chance .. . . PRIORITY PROBLEMS I've just returned home from my trip to the East Coast. There was plenty of rain going there and most of the way back. My bike ran like a clock all the way in heavy rain and all kinds of weather; from 38° in the mountains near Flagstaff to over 100° in the deserts of California and Arizona. Through it all, it never burned a drop of oil. I had the oil changed at Yamaha of Lebanon, Missouri, going east, and they are very nice people. They took me in right away and I was back on the road in less than an hour. I have a question: what makes a dealer become a Priority Dealer and get listed in the Fellow Pages? While in the Bergen County, New Jersey, area I called various dealers and told each one that I was touring through the area and needed service done on the bike before leaving for the West Coast. This didn't make any difference to them. The only one where I could get service done was Golden Cycle of Lodi, N.J. I called on Thursday and was told to bring the bike in early Monday morning; that was the first time they could get me into the shop. I was there bright and early at 8 a.m. They don't open till 9 a.m., so at 9 a.m. they wrote me up a service ticket. My bike sat in the same place I'd parked it until 12:30 p.m., when it was taken to be serviced. In the meantime I called other shops in the area but couldn't get in for at least a week, so I sat there and waited. There is no place to sit at this shop, no chairs of any kind, no water fountain, no soda machine, and it's a long way to go for anything. During the trip, my speedometer cable had come loose at the bottom and the core had fallen out someplace. No-one in the Bergen County area had a replacement cable. I asked at Golden Cycle and they didn't have one either. They had four Ventures for sale on the floor and I asked the service manager if he would consider taking one cable off one of those bikes as they could wait for a replacement. He said, "No way." So on my way out of New Jersey I stopped in Essex County, where I used to live, and started calling all the Yamaha dealers in the Yellow Pages for a cable. After four dealers with no cables, I finally found one: F.W. Speer Yamaha, 7 Main Avenue, Passaic, N.J., 201/778-6256. It's not a big shop with lots of fancy gear, but he has all the parts a traveler needs in case of a breakdown. Golden Cycle is listed as "pledged to go that extra mile" but I find it hard to believe after being there. I'd also like to mention a restaurant I found. It's called the Round-Up and it's on Route 3 in Seminole, Oklahoma. It's within sight of Route 40 and Hwy. 99, and if anyone likes catfish /Ed. note: YES!] this is the place — all-you-can-eat catfish for $6.95 with tole slaw, hot biscuits and small apple fritters. I was glad I had air shocks when I came out of there! They also have other food but everyone seems to go there for the catfish strips. Very good. For anyone passing through the area it's worth the stop, but you had better be hungry going in. All I can say is, I'm glad I got my adventure on my Venture; it was worth every mile. Tom Larkin #04346 North Long Beach, California ■ Our PDN list comes from members and often from dealers themselves. The levels of commitment are the important feature. Our Gold Priority Dealers head the list, then Silver and finally regular PDN members. We cannot police this network but rely on our members to report any improprieties. A copy of your report on Golden Cycle has been forwarded to them for their response. BAD-BIKER IMAGE PROTESTED Here's a copy of a letter I sent recently regarding American Express's tv commercial showing purse snatchers riding a motorcycle: Mr. Edwin Cooperman President Consumer Card Group Division of American Express P.O. Box 770 New York, New York 10274 Dear Mr. Cooperman: I find your decision to air the recent Continued on next page American Express commercial depicting motorcyclists as criminals very objectionable. I have had the opportunity to travel in 22 states, all while enjoying my favorite sport of motorcycling. I also belong to two national motorcycle organizations, the American Motorcyclist Association and the Venture Touring Society, as well as a state club. In all my years of riding I have never met the type of person your commercial portrays. Such a commercial is a detriment to me and all others who enjoy this sport. As for myself, I am a salesman with an international firm and travel quite extensively, most of it with the benefit of an American Express Gold Card . . . member since 1973. After viewing the aforementioned commercial, I have to question my decision as to the card I carry. In the future, I would hope that American Express will choose other avenues to present itself to the buying public. Ken Sparks #01666 Harrisburg, North Carolina ■ Joe replies: I've written to American Express also, and we've just learned that the AMA has formally protested and requested that American Express stop using the ad. Let us know if you get an answer. VINTAGE V-DAZE Like a fine wine, V-Daze improves with age. Number 3 was the best yet. The first two were great, but I think at this one I received more for my money than at any place I have ever been — all the tickets to Dollywood, the steak dinner, the Sawyer Brown concert. The things that I really enjoyed at this VDaze were the way the people of Pigeon Forge and Dollywood treated us. From the store clerk up to the top I felt that they were glad that we chose Pigeon Forge for our rally. Not just from a business standpoint, but to show us real Southern hospitality. I didn't spend as much at the rally this year due to the fact that I didn't think the deals were as good as at Steamboat. Have to come down on prices quite a bit to beat my dealer without the sales tax we don't have to pay in Oregon. I had a little work done on my bike by the people from Ed's Cycle. They were all very helpful under trying conditions; also Tom Mix from BM S. The trip to and from V-Daze was great. Bike ran well. The only problem in the 7,000mile, 28-state trip was that Yamaha should not have changed the seat. My '84's was much better. Other than that, I like the '87 real well. V-Daze No. 3 was truly "An Affair to Remember." Marvin L. Fackler #01143 Oregon State Director Scappoose, Oregon I V-DAZE OVERVIEW "An Affair to Remember" will be very memorable to me. It was great seeing people I had met at the first V-Daze, as well as making new friends and seeing some of the most beautiful scenery I could ever imagine. I want to thank all the people it took to get the events organized, to plan the poker run routes and music, to schedule the seminars and prepare food; plus the vendors, and especially Yamaha. The seminars were very good and informative. The Yamaha Service Representatives are to be commended for their hard work, for being able to keep smiles on their faces and all their subjects in order, even when people were complaining about things they (the reps) had no control over. One thing that was brought up too often was the bike's load capacity being too low. Then they would point out someone they knew who weighed 300+ pounds and his wife weighed 200+ pounds, and they pulled a trailer — and they said that Yamaha didn't meet these people's needs. Well, as anyone should realize, a mass-produced item can't meet everyone's requirements. They try to select an average and go from there. If the bike were made to meet those weight requirements, it would have such a harsh ride I wouldn't be able to keep it on the road. If they have a complaint about it, they should talk to the design people, not the ones who were trying to help us keep our bikes running and riding right. The time it took to discuss the "weight problem" made it much more difficult for the reps to get everything they had to cover out of the way. The poker runs were great, except for the one that took us back through Knoxville to Oak Ridge. The first part was great, but riding through a strange city in heavy traffic was not enjoyable, and I felt some of it a little dangerous. The run to Highlands was some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen. I wish I had spent more time in that area. It wasn't as commercialized as Pigeon Forge, and didn't have nearly the amount of car traffic. I didn't enjoy the city of Pigeon Forge nearly as much as Steamboat Springs. At Steamboat we were the majority and at Pigeon Forge we were a minority. One of the stores I was in asked if there was a motorcycle rally going on, and hadn't even heard of the event. Steamboat businesses were very aware of who we were and why we were there. There wasn't anything wrong with the people at Pigeon Forge; it just wasn't the same. But as I said before, you have to plan for the average, not the few. So if it is there again next year I will still come because you don't have to stay in Pigeon Forge to have a good time. All in all, I am looking forward to next year. I really liked the way the awards were handed out and the way the prizes were put into the different boxes; it made things more fun. I was disappointed that so many people left when their names were not called, but it made it quicker for me when I left the parking lot. Congratulations to the winners; even though I wasn't among them, I still had fun watching. Well, I might be one of the lucky ones next year. On a different note, thanks to Jefferson Personal Lines Insurance and the people at VTS headquarters for the special policy you have worked out together. I'm saving over $200 a year on the policy I have with them now. I also enjoy Venture Road. The cover photos are great; you can tell that the motorcycles were ridden to where they were photographed by the dust and bugs on them. You can tell they are being used for great enjoyment and are not just another picture of the bike. So for the great work you have done here is my renewal for another great riding season. Carl Graham #01232 Butler, Missouri AVON COMMENTS PART I This is in reference to Matthew Flooding's letter (August '87). I am presently running Avon AM 20/21 Roadrunners on my '84 Venture. I'm very hard on tires as I run my bike to the limit whenever I'm on my favorite back roads. Also, I drive it daily to and from work. With one exception I have yet to get over 8,000 miles on any tire I have ever had on any motorcycle I've ever owned in the last 22 years. After the original Bridgestone rear tire on my Venture wore out at 8,000 miles, I had a Carlisle Tour Max installed after seeing the ad claiming 25,000 miles on a Venture. It wore out at 7,000 miles. About the same time (15,000 miles), the original front tire wore out. At that time the ads for the Avons appeared, guaranteeing 18,000 miles, and I had a pair mounted. I now have over 6,000 miles on my Roadrunners and less than a third of the tread is gone. Unless wear really starts to accelerate, they should make 18,000 miles okay. The surprising part about the Avons is the softness of the tread compound. I can push my fingernail into the tread and the indentation remains. The tire is very stable through both high- and low-speed turns. It is also very stable at extended high speeds. So far the Roadrunners are the best tires I've ever owned. Venture Road / October 1987 / Page 5 The Venture Touring Society is pleased to announce a special Silver MasterCard® for VTS Members only. The travel benefits are outstanding and, best of all, you can try it FREE of an annual fee for one full year! THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE SPECIAL FEATURES YOU WILL RECEIVE WITH THE VTS SILVER MASTERCARD®: X NO ANNUAL FEE the first year (Only $20 each year thereafter) X HIGHER CREDIT LINE up to $5,000 X GRACE PERIOD for purchases X TRAVEL BENEFITS including Travel Accident 13nsurance, Emergency Cash/ Airline Ticket Service, 24-Hour Travelers Message Service, Lost Luggage Protection, Auto Rental Deductible Reimbursement, and Much More X NO LIABILITY for lost or stolen cards (not even the $50 allowed by law!) x LOW ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE of 17.9% X PREFERRED ACCESS CHECKSsm X AND MUCH, MUCH MORE ! WATCH YOUR MAIL FOR AN APPLICATION! MBNA® a subsidiary of MNC Financial. Not available in Delaware. Page 6 / October 1987 / Venture Road As for Dunlop Tour Elites, I had a pair on my '82 Virago and they lasted approximately 7,500 miles. I don't know how well they would do on a Venture. I also have a question for anyone who may have experience with disc brake pads. I had to buy my last set at the Yamaha dealer and they set me back $25 a pair. This was just for the pads; I mounted them myself. Does anyone know where I can get some pads without having to hock my wife? Mike Brasher #02716 Thcson, Arizona ■ We certainly hope so! Readers? AVON COMMENTS PART II I just put 17,289 miles on a set of Avon Roadrunners on a 1986 Venture Royale and rode from Key West to Seattle, Washington; down to Los Angeles, back cross-country to Lake George, New York; down to Virginia, over to Pigeon Forge, back to Virginia and then back to Key West. They did a great job, even with a lot of riding in the rain. The tires look like they could do the whole trip over again. Never seen anything like them for wear. Hope this information helps you. Al Crockett #01869 Key West, Florida BAD TASTE I would like to take this opportunity to express my opinion on the remarks made about our Canadian friends who attended the recent V-Daze in Pigeon Forge. I feel that the remarks made at the Friday night show about the "Canadians winning a lot of the prizes" was in poor taste. It was stressed at the general meeting that we were an international organization. If we are an international organization, everyone should be treated the same. Inasmuch as the parade was organized alphabetically, the Canadians should have been in the front of the parade, under "C," not in the back, after the U.S. I know from my own experiences that when I have attended a function in Canada I have been treated well, and I think we should extend the same courtesies in the States. Jim Avery #03827 Area Rep Cleveland, New York ■ We don't recall exactly what was said, but any remarks along those lines were only in the spirit ofgentle teasing that so many of our members seem to enjoy — look at it this way: it probably would have been much worse if a lot of Texans had won prizes! Nevertheless, we apologize to anyone who may have been offended. As for alphabetizing, it's up to the Canadians. They can be in front under "C" or perhaps go by provinces included with the states (Alabama, Alberta, etc.). Again, no offense was intended. Balderdash! A rumor was recently relayed to this office that we would like to lay to rest even though it really doesn't deserve the space due to its absurdity. It seems that at a recent midwest ladies' rally someone was heard to say that P&S Management (which controls GWRRA and other M/C associations) was taking over VTS. Not only is this untrue and unfounded, but I think many of you know that P&S Management has its hands full with the GWRRA. (And, of course, there are always rumors circulating about them, too.) Speaking of rumors, our so-called legal problem has been resolved without a legal problem and we hope all parties involved have been served to their best interests. This is all I can say on this matter and this office would like to have everyone just forget the issue. No damage has been done. Let's get back to enjoying ourselves! 45 Peripheral Vision From page 3 . should be role models for those that are not. If pr your chapter is not, try comparing how much time you spend on organizational stuff versus how much time you spend riding. A common problem with chapters is that they start out with high anticipation of success but the members are not prepared to ensure that success with their own input (that's an '80s word meaning "work"). They are content to leave it to the other members. You may have already seen where such passivity leads. It's also the quickest way to burn out your leadership. Often a State or Provincial Director works hard to start one or more chapters, only to see them succumb to the passive inactivity of the majority of chapter members. The director then throws his hands up in frustration, feeling he has only wasted his time. But chapters can also fail simply because of the demographics of an area — meaning the people in some areas just don't want to be in chapters. In that case, a State or Provincial Director can still do plenty to promote VTS to individuals, and relieve the stress that comes from (figuratively speaking) beating one's head against a wall. There will likely come a time when a saturation point is reached, and the motivation for a chapter will occur spontaneously. Members who have assumed leadership 4.1, positions are not immune to the problems of growth; in fact, they probably feel them more because they are looked upon to initiate and lead. We don't want them to start asking themselves, "Is this worth all the trouble?" Now is the time to give our leaders more support and more meaningful opportunities to participate. You'll see some good changes in this area in coming months as I delegate some of the work I've been doing, to others. A friend once told me something about planned events that I think is good advice. He said, "It doesn't matter to me if five or 500 people show up, we'll have fun. If no one shows up, I'll have fun!" Chapters shouldn't be anything more than you and your friends (including new friends you haven't met yet) getting together periodically because of a common interest, and promoting that common interest to its fullest enjoyment for one and all. When it stops being that — you're in trouble. Let's remember that fun is the accessory you purchase when you buy your Venture, and the VTS is the tool to mount it with for the best results. But only you, the individual member, can make it work. A final thought. Members will come and go, and so will chapters. This is normal and is MP" nothing to get excited about. The Venture Touring Society is a good concept and we will survive as long as there are people having fun on Ventures. Li QUIKNOTES ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • .• • •• • • • • • .................... * Apologies are in order to Wayne Hart for leaving his name off his "Great Expectations" letter. * As you may know, the Western Regional Rally, part of the Lodi Grape Festival, has been cancelled. Dale Edens put a lot of time and effort into its organization and we won't try to analyze his difficulties. We tried to impress on those who wished to attend to get their registrations in by August 1. When that date arrived, only 25 or so had registered. We needed some 100+ to guarantee our spots on the events planned. We will be handling a rescheduling of this event for mid- or late-spring with various representatives soon. * Our thanks to Dale Edens for his many years of dedication and support as Northern California State Director. Dale is stepping down to pursue other interests, such as having fun and enjoying the fruits of his labor. If you have thought about a trailer for your motorcycle but with over 50 brands to choose from how do you decide on the one that is best for you? Safety: The foremost consideration in purchasing any motorcycle accessory. Bushtec is the safest and best handling trader soley engineered for your motorcycle. Period. The Bushtec trailer will not whip, sway or bounce, even empty, ands only as wide as your motorcycle. Totally adjustable, independent suspension with a sway bar so your motorcycle can flow through the corners or handle severe crosswinds effortlessly. Appearance: You have spent a lot of time, not to mention money to personalize your motorcycle to your taste and needs. At Bushtec we designed the Turbo to enhance your motorcycle, not detract from it. You decide what options best corolates the combination. * The caption said "Made to show image only," except that the image looks as if it has disappeared. Of course I'm referring to the new motorcycle pin we have in stock. In this issue we have redone the artwork and we hope it shows it better. * Also, the fixes and bulletins referred to in last month's "Bench Wrench" can be found at your local Yamaha dealer; they are not available through VTS. * Our regional news will take on a new look next month. It will be called "Around the VTS World" and will feature in condensed format highlights, important announcements, pictures and such. So keep sending in your reports, newsletters and photos and we'll use whatever we can. * Next month — association membership, financial report and updates. We have a full color mixing system and can match any color. Commitment to Quality: At Bushtec we produce all the componets required to build the trailer. We are the only trailer company that produces Its own full size mag style wheels and features Bushtec brand hi-speed tires. A complete fiberglass division to build the molds and bodies to meet our rigid specific ations. Our machine shop assures the close tolerances on all parts for the chassis. This is the absolute finest trailer available today. Specifications: Load Capacity Approx. Cubic Feet Weight Turbo 0-350 lbs. 23 .125 lbs. , Ultimate 0 - 300 lbs . /9". 120 lbs , L Always a Step Ahead... Call or write for a free brochure with a list of options BUSHTEC • 802 6th Street • Orland, California 95963 • (916) 865-2986 Venture Road / October 1987 / Page 7 The Lady or the Tiger? By John Obermiller #01465 El Paso, Texas s a law-enforcement officer, I have knocked on many doors with criminal warrants in my fist. At first I was super-careful because of the danger, but eventually I lapsed into complacency when the arrests became routine. But after hand-tohand combat or a bullet or two flying by, I'd become alert again, approaching each door with my hand inside my coat and my finger on the trigger. I didn't know what the other person was going to do, so as soon as possible I exercised some control over what he was going to do or not do. Fellow riders, you are knocking on that door at each intersection you come to. You A are knocking on the door on each stretch of highway. The person on the other side has a potentially lethal weapon in his or her hand and you must gain control of the situation as soon as possible, for your life's sake. I went to the law-enforcement academy to learn how to stay alive and became an expert on the firing range as well. Recently, three officers were killed on an attempted badcheck arrest. They must have been complacent. A bad-check arrest is about as serious as a traffic ticket, yet I also have come under fire on a bad-check arrest. Take the course and learn how to neutralize the actions of other drivers The fact is, there is no place on the highway safer than any other to ride. You must be alert always. You should consider going to the "academy" also — the life you safe may be your own. Allow professionals to help you. The professionals I'm talking about are the instructors of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. They are continually trained and their goal is to help you combat your two potential enemies: (1) the other vehicle operators on Page 8 / October 1987 / Venture Road the highway, and (2) yourself — the complacency within you. Especially vulnerable are those who have ridden 50,000-100,000 miles or more and think there is nothing more to learn. Our own police motor patrol officers go through the course every six months. In the August issue of Road Rider magazine was an article entitled "MSF Challenge." The MSF started raw, first-time riders in their course and trained them up to examination day. On that day, the magazine staff riders, who have tested motors over the years, were invited to join the group. Results: all of the raw recruits who took the course passed and one even got a perfect score. The old-timers didn't fare so well; not one got a perfect score and some flunked entirely. I took the course before going to V-Daze, and I recommend it to all my friends. It was especially nice to say "Yes" at the rally when I got an insurance quote and was asked if I had taken the course. This course is being offered at most community colleges and is usually scheduled so as not to interfere with work schedules. Take the course. Learn how to neutralize the actions of other drivers with "deadly weapon" vehicles before an accident happens. Learn what to look for, and what evasive actions to take, just in case you open the door with the tiger behind it. Women's View By Jerry Hart #02422-01 Spotsylvania, Virginia p (40 , robably one of the most rewarding and terrifying experiences of my life was my decision to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Beginning Riding Course. I decided to undertake this venture for several reasons, the most practical being that I would be prepared in case of any emergency; I could at least ride for help. Other not so practical reasons were my need to prove to my boss that I am not totally insane, the fact that I had my own 750 Maxim in the basement, and my adoration of ladies who ride. In Virginia, the course is a three-day affair given at community colleges by MSF-certified instructors. Friday evening was classroom instruction and a get-to-know-each-other session. That seemed easy enough. The movies were cute, the literature nice and my best friend and her son were there to deliver the pieces to my husband in case I blew it completely. I knew Dominick, one of the instructors, through his VTS affiliation. The other instructor, Sam, seemed harmless enough. Okay, I thought — the first session wasn't so bad; I'll drive the 50 miles and come back Saturday morning. I should have known what kind of day it was going to be! I was a half-hour early so I could meet everyone, but had a flat tire in the center lane of 1-95 at 60 mph and had absolutely no idea how to change it. (I'm a liberated woman — I don't pump my own gas, change tires or cut the grass.) After the nice policeman pointed out that I was tightening, not loosening, the lug nuts, he changed my tire and off I went to class. Saturday morning was a review of the Friday evening class and a strong briefing on "safety on the range." "Outside, you guys — let's see what you're made of." There they stood! Twelve 250 Rebels that looked bigger and badder than any Venture I'd ever seen. "First you push it around the parking lot, just to get the feel of the motorcycle," the instructors said. Hey, I can push anything. It's riding I came to do. I wondered very quietly why all the turn signals and mirrors were either missing or dangling by their wires, but decided not to ask. Finally I mounted, started the engine, let out the clutch and actually moved. What an experience — so much power! Oh — I have to put my feet on the pegs? Well, that doesn't seem too hard, right? Wrong. After many tries and the phrase I would hear a hundred times ("Faster, Jerry — it's easier at speeds over 10 mph"), I accelerated up to 15 or 20 mph. Dominick and Sam took us through many experiences, carefully teaching, coaching and smiling us through each exercise. (I never realized that if you smile, everything works much better.) We rode through cones, corners to the left and corners to the right, learned how to make smoke with our brakes while keeping our heads up, change gears smoothly, etc. Then came the circles. While one group rode the circle traveling left, another group rode an inner, smaller circle to the right. This exercise was my downfall — literally. When I applied the brake, the throttle rolled open and I went tearing through the outer circle. When I realized what was happening, I immediately applied my foot brake and locked up the rear wheel. Boy, can I make that rubber smoke! All I could see was a Venture, a Goldwing and the 18-wheeler parked at the far end of the course coming closer. I knew there was a way to stop, but couldn't quite remember exactly what I was doing wrong. Finally, my motorcycle decided to help me out and it stopped, dumped me over the side, and we both just sat there. Sam came over quickly, picked up the bike, checked it out and said, "It's fine. Now you do the outer circle again." All this concern while I was still sitting on the ground! My turn to get upright: nothing broken, just a bruised ego and the growing feeling that a lunch break would be welcome so I could regroup. Secretly, I was glad that Sam made me get right back on and that my friends were laughing; otherwise I might have been sitting there for the rest of the class. Saturday afternoon's session included more techniques with more tightly placed cones, and practice time. I know for a fact that my husband, Wayne, doesn't do all those steps. He just gets on, I climb into the passenger's seat and off we go. Sunday we had classroom review and more range riding; nothing really new from Saturday, just perfecting the skills we'd learned Saturday and getting ready for the TEST. You are graded on the range and then you Continued on page 19 Venture Road / October 1987 / Page 9 High Country Cycle Camp: A Haven For Motorcyclists any of us have spent more than one sleepless night camped out next to a large RV whose air-conditioning unit whined all night, or have been turned away from our chosen campground because we were riding a motorcycle. Tom Thompson, founder of High Country Cycle Camp, met some of these discomforts himself in his 300,000 miles of motorcycle touring, so last year he bought 14 acres along Stoney Fork Creek in Wilkes County, North Carolina. M Each campsite is fitted with a tiny concrete pad for your motorcycle. Only eight miles off the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, HCCC offers motorcyclists their own retreat from the four-wheeled world — RV's are not allowed. People who haul their bikes on trailers park their cars outside the gates as the entrance road to the campsites is only about four feet wide. Each campsite is fitted with a tiny concrete pad for your motorcycle, and the camp offers a modern bath house and laundry. If sleeping on the ground leaves you cold, there are several little chalets, each of which has a double bed, a small desk (on which to write colorful, entertaining letters to Venture Road) and a rechargeable lantern. There's also a hot tub and an open-air clubhouse. Page 10 / October 1987 / Venture Road Some of the chalets at High Country Cycle Camp. Thompson is a professional chef and can host and cater rallies of up to 700 people. The 14 acres include wooded creekside and hillside tent sites and two cleared fields for field events and extra camping. Thompson has also created a day-trip guide for visitors which outlines the area's attractions (including canoeing, white-water rafting, horseback riding and cultural events) and guides riders through miles of unspoiled back roads around the camp. There is a stocked lake for fishing, a halfmile of trout stream, a waterfall and a swimming hole. Breakfast is available for a nominal charge. Open April through October, High Country Cycle Camp is at the end of the pavement on Mt. Zion Church Road (Secondary Road 1155), 6.4 miles from its intersection with Mt. Pleasant Road, near Ferguson, N.C. Rates are $6 for a tent site and $18 for a chalet. Call 919/973-7522 for more information. Napper II Even Draws Praise From Fair-Weather Camper By Ron D'Alessio tresses rather than one big one because I felt that in the morning I could maneuver them better. The air mattresses are the only real complaint that I have. They wouldn't hold air during the colder part of the night and early morning, so around 4 or 5 a.m. we were almost on the floor. I'm not really fond of fooling around with air mattresses, especially since the rest of the trailer is so easy to work with. I've talked to other owners who don't mind the air mattresses and prefer them because of their easy storage when deflated. I feel that cushions would be better, knowing well that they would require more room for storage, but I'm sure this could be worked out. Also, some type of pad or carpet in the storage area would be a welcome addition, besides being comfy for bare feet. The tent/trailer market is rapidly expanding and the demands being put on manufacturers by consumers are constantly growing. To satisfy everyone is no easy task, but I think S&S Manufacturing has done a very commendable job in this respect. One comment I heard in most campgrounds we visited was, "How can a tent that big come out of a trailer that small?" This is a definite credit to the compactability of the Napper II. Additional options include a spa- Flathead Lake in Polson, Montana. I was amazed at the speed in which it went up (by myself). This would be really important if you were setting up in foul weather. The table top serves a twofold purpose, one naturally being a table and support for the bed. The second is that, when disassembled, it becomes part of the floor. This works out quite well. One thing to remember, though, is not to leave anything that you might need during the night in the cargo section. It would be a hassle to get to it. As for the sleeping area, we chose the Napper's option of two single-size air mat- cious add-a-room that attaches to the front of the tent and can be used as additional sleeping space for guests, a dining room or dressing area. All the trailers on the market have their advantages and disadvantages. I feel that, as an all-around trailer (tent, cargo, handling, etc.), the Napper II is one of the best in its class and deserves your consideration. Until next time, happy camping! I decided that when V-Daze was over I would take to the road for a couple of weeks. This would give me a chance to relax and an opportunity to try the Napper II tent trailer that had been sitting on my patio for the last 11 months. Keep in mind that I've always used ground tents and have never used a tent trailer. Add to this the fact that I'm a fairweather camper — any signs of foul weather or running late into the night and it's Motel City for me. The first thing I noticed about the Napper II was how easy this trailer is to tow. With its low-profile design and the rounded corners, there is a minimal amount of air resistance. Wouldn't you know it, the first night out turned out to be Motel City. Even so, the Napper II showed its colors. When you open the trailer you have an option of either erecting the tent or having access to the cargo area. This night it was obviously cargo time. It was so easy just plucking out the bags that we needed for the night and repacking them in the morning. This shows me that some good thinking went into the design of the trailer. We finally got a chance to set up and use the tent in a beautiful KOA campground at VTS has grown since we first printed this article; we just wanted to enlighten our many new members about the manufacturers and businesses who have supported us faithfully. Venture Road / October 1987 / Page 11 Bombay Hook Ride on the Wild(life) Side By Vince Johnson #01406 Newark; Delaware very fall Sharon and I see thousands of ducks and geese fly over our area. They're headed for a place about 45 miles southeast of us — Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. This year we decided to follow them. The ride down on our Venture was a very nice one. We rode a few miles over to Delaware City and picked up State Route 9 South, a pleasant road that meanders along the Delaware River, crossing a number of bridges and going through the marshlands adjacent to the river. During high tides or heavy winds, it's not unusual to find water over the road. We like to stop or slow down and watch the tankers and cargo ships go by and to watch people fishing off the small bridges and banks of the river. Bombay Hook comprises 15,122 acres, about three-quarters of which is tidal salt marsh. It also includes 1,200 acres of impounded fresh-water pools, brushy and timbered swamps and 1,000 acres of agricultural land and timbered and grassy uplands. The terrain is flat and less than 10 feet above sea level. As you enter the refuge, you see the visitor center, which has a display of wildlife and information about the area. A map for the public tour route may also be picked up here. The roads in the park are dirt but reasonably well maintained. The speed limit is 15 mph but to drive any faster than that would loosen more than a few screws in your bike. Set the suspension setting down and take it easy and you'll have no problem. Along the tour route there are several observation towers and foot trails. To get to the observation towers you park your bike and walk up the trails (they're not far away and a little walking feels good after a ride anyway). From the towers you can see the pools and marshlands that the waterfowl and other migratory birds use for their habitat. One of several refuges along the E Page 14 / October 1987 / Venture Road Following the birds, Vince and Sharon Johnson found a refuge for wildlife on the busy Atlantic seacoast. Delaware coast, Bombay Hook is a focal point between breeding grounds and various wintering areas. Tens of thousands of ducks and geese arrive each year to spend the winter, or to stop over on their way south. On rare occasions you may see a bald eagle. In addition to the excellent production of aquatic food plants in the refuge pools, the upland agriculture crops provide supplemental food. Whitetail deer, red and gray foxes, river otters, muskrats, opossums, squirrels, woodchucks and beavers may be seen, usually just before sunset, but only if you know where to look or get lucky. The refuge is open year-round for wildlife observation and photography. We took our camera with us but it was pretty small compared to some cameras we saw — I think to carry some of them you'd need a trailer! A pair of binoculars would be handy too. October and November are the best times of the year to see ducks and geese. On the day we were there, there were thousands of snow geese. Don't expect to get close to them; they keep a substantial distance between themselves and humans. As the roads are dirt, the traffic on them makes a very fine powder on the surface. We were taking pictures and on the way out of the refuge, we noticed that our Venture was looking more like a big blue dirtball all the time (of course, if we never went anywhere, it wouldn't get dirty). The tour route is only a few miles long but you can spend as much or as little time as you like visiting there. For further information, contact the Refuge Manager, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, RFD 1, Box 147, Smyrna, Del. 19977, 302/653-9345. D ear Bill, In past issues I have noticed a few references in your column to a wobble problem. I am the proud owner of an '86 Venture Royale and have recently had an experience which scared the qt)#*% out of me! At the time of this occurrence, the bike had approximately 5,000 miles on it and the trunk and saddlebags were virtually empty. I had checked the tire pressure the day before my outing (and also the following day) and the tires were properly inflated. While riding across the desert on California Highway 127 from Shoshone to Baker, I stopped and let my riding buddy continue on to determine the effective range of our CB radios. At a distance of about four miles, the Page 16 / October 1987 / Venture Road radio signals started to break up, so I decided to take off and catch my buddy. It wasn't necessary to ride nearly as fast as I did to catch him (he was riding a Brand X); however, the straight, clear road and cool, fresh air caused me to feel particularly invigorated, so I took off. I accelerated through the gears and continued with full acceleration until the speedometer needle swept past the 120-mph mark. At about that time I reevaluated my actions and decided that I had enjoyed enough exhilaration for the time being. My memory is not totally clear regarding the events of the next few seconds (it seemed like hours), but I do recall that I decelerated — rather abruptly, I believe, just turning the throttle off — and the bike immediately went into a severe high-speed wobble with the handlebars oscillating back and forth violently. I was hanging on for dear life, attempting to hold the handlebars steady, but to no avail. I have experienced some degree of wobble in the past, more of a swaying back and forth and not the violent handlebar oscillations which were occurring at this time — nothing like this. Several thoughts crossed my mind. "Oh, s--!" and others along those lines were first, then came "Brakes!" My intuition overcame the urge to grab the brakes and instead I dialed in a little power. I was too frightened to add very much power; the last thing I wanted to do was go faster right at that moment! Adding power didn't seem to make much difference, so I then tried the foot brake very gently, and that didn't significantly affect the handlebar oscillations either. T1 I still had a little power dialed in, but the bike was gradually losing speed. I decided to let the speed continue to drop gradually and to hang on to the bars as firmly as I possibly could. Somewhere around 100 mph the shaking got so severe that I was certain I was going down. I decided to tell my buddy via the CB to come back and pick up the pieces, but found that I couldn't release the index finger of my left hand to press the push-to-talk switch on the CB, so I just hung on. At about 80 mph the violent oscillations subsided and the bike smoothed right out. I continued on and caught my friend, not mentioning my experience. As a matter of fact, I didn't say much of anything for some time; my mouth was too dry. I think my only comment was something like, "By the way, how far is it to the nearest restroom?" My question to you is: What steps should I take to prevent this from happening again, other than the obvious one of resisting the temptation to experience the "exhilaration" of going that speed? The only thought that occurs to me is that possibly when I dropped the weight back on the front wheel, one fork leg may have hung up and caused the fork to twist slightly, allowing Amp\ some degree of lateral deflection at the top of the wheel. This lateral deflection could then be translated into turning torque — i.e., wobble? Perhaps those who are familiar with such things as gyroscopic precession and the mechanical dynamics of bike front ends will be able to offer an explanation and possibly a solution. While I'm very interested in the cause and cure for this problem, I don't know how I'll determine if it's fixed, as I am not in the least bit interested in a repeat performance of this scenario! The problem I mentioned regarding the swaying back and forth I'd experienced earlier seems to have been cured by setting the preload on the rear swing arm bearings slightly higher than the Yamaha specs call for. Are you aware of any method to check the bike for high-speed wobble (such as some type of dyno set-up) without actually riding at high speed? Don Clement #04015 Placentia, California Don, this is probably the most entertaining letter I've received yet. I know the feeling very well and you described it to a "t." Unfortunately, there is not a cut-and-dried answer to this problem that many of us have experienced at one time or another (no matter what brand we ride). The variations of rider weights and riding styles, and the unlimited combinations of motorcycle geometry and accessories makes it almost impossible to even spot the problem area. A checklist of different things to try will help, but a combination of two or more small problems could be causing one big problem. So a trial-and-error process must be used to see gradually if the problem is better or worse. Trying one thing at a time may make your job a little longer but will show more quickly whether it has helped. This is an unofficial list of some things that could cause a wobble, either by themselves or in any combinations. Now you know why it can be very hard to find a cure quickly. CHASSIS: Head bearing torque Swingarm Front axle Rear axle Rear sub-frame Front fender bolts Fork brace torque Fork tube bolts on triple-tree clamp Handlebar weights Motor mount bolts Lower frame bolts (right lower side of engine) Fork springs Fork oil Handlebar torque and bushing wear TIRES: Tire pressure Type of tires Combination of brands Tire bead (mounted correctly) Tire roundness Tire balance Direction of rotation Condition of tire (new or used) OTHER: Amount of weight in trunk and bags Weight distribution on bike Tongue weight of trailer and load. Tech Tip Squeal Solved We had a terrible squeal in our intercom system that even the dealer was not able to solve. In tracing everything from the radio on, I found a slight bit of moisture in the connection under the seat. After beating on the thing to get all the water out, and then using a vacuum cleaner on it, I finally got it dry. This solved the problem. The next day I was talking to another VTS member who had run into the same thing, only on the connector by the helmet. This was much more obvious, and he was able to correct the situation at once. Edward O. Thomas #04233 Appleton, Wisconsin Continued on next page 46, Venture Road / October 1987 / Page 17 Dry Idea We've gotten a lot of reports of Ventures stalling in wet weather due to water in the fuel. Under the right conditions, it is possible to pick up water through the fuel tank vent hose. Rerouting this hose to a location away from the rear wheel, or even shortening the hose, will help keep water from being vacuumed up the vent the next time you get caught in a torrential downpour. —Bill Proper Sidecar Attachment Crash bars, stock shock bolts and saddlebag guard rails are not suitable mount points for sidecars. If sidecars (which are becoming more and more popular as families and older riders choose to keep touring) are not properly mounted to the motorcycle, they can be a hazard not only to the rider and passengers but to others in a touring group as well. I would hate to see some government bureaucrat calling for an investigating committee and possibly banning sidecars altogether be- cause some mount points like crash bars or guard rails failed with tragic results. To all sidecarists and potential sidecar buyers, I implore you, use common sense in mounting a sidecar. Your life and the lives of others are much more important than not notching a side cover to place a mount where it belongs. Also, Grade 8 and 5 bolts of and 3l" diameter should be used in the mounting hardware, not ungraded /16 and 1/4" inexpensive bolts. Anyone who tells you it's okay to mount a sidecar to a crash bar or guard rail does not have your best interest or the best interest of the sport at heart. 5 " Chuck Lehman (non-member) Van Nuys, California ■ Chuck, we agree with you wholeheartedly and we thank you for writing. On the Venture, there are four mounting points, two in the rear and two in front. In the rear, (1) above the side panel below the seat at the frame and (2) below the side panel on the frame.In the front, (1) on the frame below the water pump and (2) on the frame above the radiator. No drilling or welding should be necessary. On some applications the fairing or side covers have to be cut away to allow the sidecar mounts to fit. amp Page 18 / October 1987 / Venture Road Women's View Continued from Page 9 adjourn to the classroom for a written exam. I can honestly say that when I received my card and patch, I felt very gratified. It's good to know you are prepared and "can do" if necessary, along with the enjoyment of riding. I may never ride alone, but I wouldn't trade that weekend. My husband says I am a much better passenger on the Venture now, and I feel much more relaxed. I find myself understanding why Wayne does what he does and I now anticipate his actions. This makes for a more pleasant ride for both of us. I have purposely not told you any howto's of motorcycle riding here. Second-hand knowledge from a novice whose only riding experience has been in a parking lot could be misleading or dangerous. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses are taught by instructors who have much experience and knowledge to pass directly to you. The classes are highly recommended and well worth the time and money. The Better Biking Course, also given by MSF instructors, was given to Virginia Chapter 1. The participants had nothing but praise after completing it. They said they learned new and better riding skills no matter what their previous level of experience. Touring Northern Arizona In early June I had a great time touring northern Arizona. I rode to Flagstaff first and spent the next three days seeing many of the sights around there — Walnut Canyon, Meteor Crater, Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and both the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon. The helicopter ride over the canyon during a thunderstorm was especially exciting — almost as exciting as a fast ride through a canyon on a Venture. Walnut Creek National Monument is a ehistoric Indian ruin east of Flagstaff on I40. The canyon walls are very similar to those at the Grand Canyon, very deep and sharply cut out of the rock by years of water cutting through them. The Indians, ancient ancestors of today's Hopi, used the rock overhangs for the roofs of their houses, and then built the walls of rocks. The small doorways were probably made small to help keep in the heat in winter and the coolness in summer. Small openings at the top let the smoke from the fire out. You can walk an easy trail along the rim, or hike down 200 feet to the ruins. It's quite interesting and the scenery is beautiful, not to mention the clean mountain air smelling of sun-warmed pine needles. The Meteor Crater, also east of Flagstaff, is where a huge meteorite struck the Earth about 50,000 years ago. I had seen pictures of the crater and had always wanted to see it. It has a three-mile circumference and it's over 500 feet from the rim to the bottom. While you cannot go down into the crater, you can hike a trail around the rim. There's also a museum and theater there that give more information about the meteorite and the crater. North of Flagstaff I viewed the Sunset Crater, the remains of a volcano that erupted around the year 1000. It is also quite a scenic spot. Archaeologists say that lava and cinders from the eruption covered some 400 campsites of Indians living in the area at the time. Others escaped, and stories of the eruption are still passed down through the generations of the Hopi people. pr Just north of the crater is Wupatki National Monument, a large area of Indian ruins. I was surprised to see the multilevel places these Indians built so long ago. They also built a ball court where they played games, and a large circular meeting place that reminded me of the fire rings that we see in the national parks for campfire talks. At one ruin I also saw a "blow hole," a hole in the ground that connects a large volume beneath to the surface; due to temperature and pressure changes, the air passes back and forth through the hole at speeds up to 30 mph. I held my hand over the opening to find that a cool breeze was coming out of the hole. For those of you who have not been fortunate enough to get to the Grand Canyon, the north rim is truly beautiful. I did run through quite a bit of rain getting there, and at 8,000 feet it was a bit chilly. The lodge at the north rim is just on the rim of the canyon, and I decided that since I'd have to eat somewhere, the lodge restaurant would be it. I waited for a window seat and had some hot soup and coffee while I enjoyed the view. The next day I explored the south rim on two wheels, on foot and by helicopter. As I mentioned earlier, the helicopter ride got a bit exciting in the thunderstorm. So much so, in fact, that the pilot turned back and they refunded our money. The next time I get to go, which I hope is soon, I'd like to spend at least a week to see more. It's really a beautiful place with many different things to see and do. [Editor's note: And that's only the beginning of northern Arizona. There are the Hopi and Navajo lands, with some of the most beautiful artwork, rugs and jewelry to be found anywhere in the world; the interesting towns of Jerome and Prescott, Grand Falls on the Little Colorado River, Monument Valley and the Painted Desert, the breathtakingly beautiful Canyon de Chelly (you can camp down in the canyon in a grove of trees); the Mogollon Rim, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon . .1 Venture Road / October 1987 / Page 19 TEXAS CHAPTER 3 KANSAS CHAPTER 2 Kansas Chapter 2 has been busy enjoying the riding weather that summer has brought to south-central Kansas, with both individual and group trips keeping the Ventures active. Memorial Day weekend saw members going in three different directions. Six of us joined Kansas Chapter 1 for the Blue Bence Cream run to Texas. Another member joined a friend and visited Taos, New Mexico, while I made a trip to the hills and curves of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The mini-tour to southeast Kansas to visit "Brutus," one of the largest coal shovels in the world, was our June chapter ride. Twelve motorcycles and 22 people left El Dorado at 8 a.m. under partly cloudy skies. We rode east on U.S. 54 to Fort Scott for a gasoline stop, then turned south on U.S. 69 to Chicken Mary's for lunch. Chicken Mary's is located off the highway about three miles past old coal strip mines that are now filled with water and stocked with fish. A private room was set and ready for our arrival, and an excellent fried chicken dinner was enjoyed by all. Fed and watered, we got back aboard our Ventures for the trip to Brutus, near Mineral, Kansas. Several Ventures would just be a tasty snack for Brutus, one of the world's largest coal shovels. Sitting alone out in an open field, Brutus presents a powerful sight. A small gravel road leads to the huge, quiet machine, and stairs into and over the quiet giant are provided. Usable parts have been removed, so it's no longer operable; however, its 15-story height and massive size dwarf both people and motorcycles. Sixteen of us climbed the numerous steep steps up the boom to the top for an excellent view of the surrounding area. After a good looking-over and picture-taking, the group headed for home, with a stop for gas and ice cream at Fredonia. Our next group ride is planned for Lindsborg, Kansas, a Swedish community 80 miles northwest of El Dorado. A Swedish lunch is planned at a local restaurant followed by visits to the cultural shops, an old flour mill museum and Coronado Heights, an old stone fort where Coronado is said to have camped in his search for the Seven Cities of Gold. After that mini-tour is the local community parade in which our chapter will participate, and a chapter potluck picnic with members and friends. Richard Srna #04672 Chapter R ep El Dorado, Kansas We want to express our appreciation to Brenda and Chuck Esposito for mapping out the Blue Ridge Poker Run at V-Daze. This was a beautiful ride through a national forest on the way to the mountains. The mountains had twists and turns and enjoyable riding to thrill and chill. (We even heard that some riders were receiving word from the back seats that they were leaning too hard.) In the mountains we stopped and enjoyed a waterfall from a lookout while other bikers rode by not knowing it was there or where to stop. We then moved on to another area where we parked and walked a quarter-mile path down the mountain and ended up walking behind a substantial waterfall. We were then led to a French restaurant and ate on the veranda overlooking the lake. My French dessert was as expensive as the meal, but well worth it (and a subject of conversation for some time by those who did not receive their dessert). On the return trip, we were given a choice where the road came to a "T" at a Texaco station. We could turn right and return through the same national park or turn left and add another segment of the Smoky Mountains to our ride. A good 95% elected to turn right. Too bad. We turned left and I have never in my riding life been on such an exciting and AP) enjoyable ride. We rode in beautiful mountains and the twists and turns were one after another without stop and were sharp to say the least. Beto Soto was the last man and he claimed that never in his life had he seen bikes leaned so far over without going down. He claimed that in his estimation (as a Harley rider of many years), Continued on Page 21 •94 Page 20 / October 1987 / Venture Road Continued from page 20 The Venture Touring Society has in stock a new cloisonné pin of a Venture and a trailer made so that the trailer will break away for those who do not have one. See "For Members Only." Note: The above enlargement was made to show the image only; the actual pin is smaller and has finer detail. no Harley could have made the ride at our speed and lean angle. He also claimed that even a lighter 1100 bike such as a Virago could not have made it. Scratching his head, he further claimed that only a cruiser of the weight class we rode could have hugged the road and stayed up at our angle of lean. As Beto explained what he was seeing, we had to take our bikes rapidly from one extreme lean in one direction directly to an extreme lean in the opposite direction without stopping in the straight-up-and-down position. This was not a ride for a beginner or for a passenger with a weak heart! After miles of this we stopped at a lookout and saw in the valley below a lake and dam. This was a fantastic and enjoyable ride and we're sorry so many elected not to take it. Thanks again, Brenda and Chuck. John Obermiller #01465 Chapter Rep El Paso, Texas "Jack-Pack" Combination Backpack, Nylon Jacket That's Al Blunk's (#05028) '86 Royale in front, shining in the Florida sunshine. You'd have to see it up close to appreciate all the mods. TAKE IT ALL - AND MORE - WITH TratifiLe . 4 the only motorcycle camping trailer that gives you a roomy tent-camper with the storaae capacity Strait Designs, based in Benicia, California, has an innovative idea in backpack design called the Jack-Pack. This versatile design incorporates a two-ply, poly-coated, waterresistant taffeta jacket with a nylon daypacksized bag. The top-stitched nylon bag features storm-flapped two-way zippers, two side pouches (one with a tab closure) and a front organizer compartment. Slip on the padded shoulder straps and wear it as a pack. Should you be faced with inclement weather, unzip the special jacket compartment and wear it as a jacket and a backpack. You ti never again have to secondguess the weather. Printable and fully washable, Jack-Pack is available in Red, Blue, Pewter Gray and Black, sizes S-M-L-XL for adults and children. Suggested retail price is $17.95 (adults) and $16.95 (children). For more information contact: STRAIT DESIGNS 862 Southampton Road, Suite 237 Benicia, California 94510 707/745-3875 LJ M/C ❑ VISA CARD # SIGNATURE EXP. DATE PHONE ORDER ALSO ACCEPTED WITH MASTERCARD OR VISA - 806/746 6324 - PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY: QTY. ORDER # SIZE COLOR LOGO PRICE EA. TOTAL SUBTOTAL Postage/Handling (See chart at right) TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED NAME ADDRESS CITY OPT. NAME ST/PROV ZIP OPT. NAME (Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery / All monies in U.S. funds only / Payment must accompany order) All merchandise is sold with satisfaction guaranteed. Items returned without cause subject to 10 /c restocking fee. Please call for return authorization number. ,