great white
Well-Known Member
Bear with me here as this engine is going in to a 1st Generation Venture, not a VMax.
My current plans were to take the VMax heads and plop them down on my 1983 Venture, drop in a 2002 transmission and a VMax final drive and call it done.
But I have a few "opportunities" pop up recently and am now re-evaluating my options.
Option 1: carry on as planned above
Option 2: Snap up a 1985 Venture that is for sale locally (CHEAP!), buy the 1500 kit and drop the VMax heads on it. Transmission and final drive as above.
Option 3: drive about 14 hours away and pick up a 1300 (engine only, questionable mileage). Drop the VMax heads on it. Transmission and final drive as above.
If I were to build the 1500, I've got lots of time to spread the work (and cost) out as there is nothing wrong with my low mile venture as it sits. I'd just pull the motor this winter and slip in the transmission. Maybe drop the VMax cams in also.
I'm a power junky, no denying it. The Venture moves out decent for what it is, but I want more. That's why I'm kind of liking the 1500 option. I could build it as heavily breathed on as I want and take lots of time to do it.
The Venture is also my around town and back and forth to work ride. It's not really used as a long distance tourer, but it does do a couple good highway runs a year for 4-5 hours at a stretch.
Around town is where I would think the extra CC's a 1500 would give me would get the nod and make up for a bit "softer" bottom end using the VMax heads/cams might give me.
But it's got to be liveable on a daily basis. IE; no overheating, run out past 100,000 miles, decent fuel mileage (mid 30's would be fine), be tractable and easily ridden (ie: the missus goes with me sometimes and I need to be smooth for her to enjoy it), etc.
There's also the fact that the 85 is a complete (used but not abused) bike. Lots of useable/sell-able parts and that's always a good thing with an old bike in the stable.
So, any opinions?
The more I think about it, the more I lean towards riding the 83 1200 for a few more years and taking that time to build a 'Max'd 1500...:hmmm:
My current plans were to take the VMax heads and plop them down on my 1983 Venture, drop in a 2002 transmission and a VMax final drive and call it done.
But I have a few "opportunities" pop up recently and am now re-evaluating my options.
Option 1: carry on as planned above
Option 2: Snap up a 1985 Venture that is for sale locally (CHEAP!), buy the 1500 kit and drop the VMax heads on it. Transmission and final drive as above.
Option 3: drive about 14 hours away and pick up a 1300 (engine only, questionable mileage). Drop the VMax heads on it. Transmission and final drive as above.
If I were to build the 1500, I've got lots of time to spread the work (and cost) out as there is nothing wrong with my low mile venture as it sits. I'd just pull the motor this winter and slip in the transmission. Maybe drop the VMax cams in also.
I'm a power junky, no denying it. The Venture moves out decent for what it is, but I want more. That's why I'm kind of liking the 1500 option. I could build it as heavily breathed on as I want and take lots of time to do it.
The Venture is also my around town and back and forth to work ride. It's not really used as a long distance tourer, but it does do a couple good highway runs a year for 4-5 hours at a stretch.
Around town is where I would think the extra CC's a 1500 would give me would get the nod and make up for a bit "softer" bottom end using the VMax heads/cams might give me.
But it's got to be liveable on a daily basis. IE; no overheating, run out past 100,000 miles, decent fuel mileage (mid 30's would be fine), be tractable and easily ridden (ie: the missus goes with me sometimes and I need to be smooth for her to enjoy it), etc.
There's also the fact that the 85 is a complete (used but not abused) bike. Lots of useable/sell-able parts and that's always a good thing with an old bike in the stable.
So, any opinions?
The more I think about it, the more I lean towards riding the 83 1200 for a few more years and taking that time to build a 'Max'd 1500...:hmmm: