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Our site has really declined over the past few years. I think it's a combination of some of our ,members simply aging out and the fact that Facebook has taken over a lot of this type site. After much consideration, I have made a big decision in an effort to keep this place going. I have promoted all current subscribing members to Lifetime Members. That means that you will no longer have to pay. My way of thanking you all for the years of support. NOTE: I THINK you all need to go to you PayPal account and cancel your membership there if you have it set to auto renew. I can't do that from buy end. There will still her a one time membership of 12.00 for any new ,members. This ix just an attempt to dissuade spammers from joining. I also extend this offer to any of our old members who have let their memberships expire. If you are one of those,,. Just send ,e a message and I will reinstate you.

Ladies and gentlemen, at a ripe old age of 32 (soon to be 33 in May), I must admit I'm feeling my age somewhat... We took a trip to Kansas City on Saturday and pulled the trigger on this little beauty! She's a 2012 GL1800 Comfort/Audio. It was advertised as ABS but I don't believe it actually has ABS equipped. Its got 59,000 miles and we picked it up for $8,500. I still have the 1988 Yamaha Venture. I've had that bike for 12 years, bought it with 22,300 miles and it now has 112,000 miles. I started to feel it was getting sort of long in the tooth, and since having the carbs out again this winter and having it idle better than it ever has, I finally cussed when it started idling not perfect (still idles good, just not perfect) and decided it was time for an upgrade. I've been around Goldwings my whole life and have ridden several 1800s. The original goal was to get a 2021 + Goldwing, but after sitting and thinking on it, financially it makes more sense to stay with the last generation. Plus I love this color. I think its beautiful. The sound system on this 2012 is better than the 6th Gen Goldwings that I have ridden. I now need to go through it, change all the fluids, add some highway pegs and maybe look at new windshield. We live about 200 miles from Kansas City and I rode it home in 48 degree weather. Those heated grips and seat make a huge difference. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep the Venture or not. Its been a great bike for me all these years, but I've done almost all the kinds of different maintenance and I'm starting to feel as though I'd like to find another, smaller bike to maybe start to restore. Anyway! Safe travels everyone!

'01 RSV (the one with the orange helmet) Still ride this one too...'82 Yamaha XV920 (didn't sell it) And just picked up this lil project - hasn't been cranked since 2008...carbs are a mess. '77 CB750A Hondamatic So haven't actually ridden it yet.. But 3 bikes - that makes me officially a collector now, right?

Some of you may recognize the trike as Motorcycle Mike’s, I bought it last fall. Medical decision to get off the top heavy bike after spinal fusion. Putting the 07 bike up for sale today or tomorrow. Still sticking to the Ventures.

Both 08's blue roadstar silverado and Venture

Riding a 2019 Harley triglide

2002 Goldwing

presently riding 2019 wing/csc, FIL still has 2 ventures

2012 RSV. I definitely get seen when night riding, even wired my undercarriage lighting to go all red when I hit the brakes!

the I’m still riding my ‘09 RSV and my wife rides her CanAm Spyder. When we ride 2up we take the CanAm.

Still ridding my 2012 Royal Star Venture 135750klm(84351mi)

Had a couple of hiccups when I updated everybody to life members. Some could log in but not see the forums. Hopefully irs all worked out now.

There was a time when just about everybody here was riding the Yamaha Venture. Over the past 20 years, many have changed bikes several times. I know that I have gone back and forth between various Ventures and Harleys. My current bike is a 2025 Harley Road Glide. I owned several Harleys over the years and I honestly think that this one is the best yet. Due to problems with my eyes and some vertigo issues, I'm pretty sure this will be my last one. So what are you riding now? Let's see them.

Still riding my 88 Venture Royale, here is the latest pic I had taken, last year on a ride to Arkansas. The other bike is my brothers 1984 Kawasaki Voyager. I guess we are partial to old bikes, being cheapskates, or a little of both.

My 85 now gone and my present ride, when and if I ride.

Very nice. But if you think that 33 is getting old, you need to get you mind straight. Heck, I’m more than double that. I don’t even remember being 33.

'99 since 2010 and '13 since 2022

Although I did not ride last year I still own two 1989 venture royales, Plus lots of spare parts in case I need to make repairs.

Cold weather so been in maintenance mode on my RSV, so got another write-up for some plastic welding repairs I just did to 3 broken tabs...previous owner had put locktight on the 8 bolts that detach the front fairing/batwing for some reason and when I removed the bolts for 1st time back in 2021, 2 of plastic tabs cracked since they have the metal tabs that clip onto the ABS plastic which is fairly thin. Recently 1 of the center tabs to the front "batwing" broke off completely and the other one had cracks in the plastic tab where it attached to the metal clip so it would have broken off soon too (have before & after pics of this repair). Then on the lower left front cowling that protects your knees, the top tab had cracked when the bike fell over on its side one day while I was having a dumb moment, I didn't notice how bad it was then I guess but when I removed all the body panels to do all my recent maintenance, the entire tab column had snapped off flush with the body panel when I removed that bolt...just thankful all the pieces where still there so I could repair it! I didn't get a before picture of that one but have 4 after pics. That one was actually the most involved repair cause I had to re-attach the entire tab to the cowling. Several different ways you can repair/weld plastic but I have a Polyvance MiniWeld Model 7 airless plastic welder that I have used for a bunch of other repairs in the past since myself and almost all my family members all ride quads and duel sport bikes, so plenty of crashes and broken plastics happen when having off-road fun! This plastic welder has saved thousands over the years by being able to repair vs buying new plastics, been a great investment. On the front fairing/batwing, I decided to do a combination of plastic welding & JB cold welding since the plastic was broken and the metal clip had no plastic between it to hold it in place. Since plastic wont secure well to metal I ended up cutting up strips of metal screen, formed it into a U shape and melted it into the plastic both on the inside and the outside of the plastic tab column so the screen supported the metal tab both under and over it...then I used JB cold weld to weld the metal screen to the bottom and the top of the metal tab with extra underneath it on the sides to add additional support. I used some ABS plastic to weld over the areas where I melted the screen into the tab to help strengthen those areas. Its cured and re-installed on the bike now, feels totally solid so we will see if it holds up long term. On the lower front cowling, I cut a bunch of strips of metal screen, held the broken tab in correct orientation and then started melting the screen into the plastic. I did a crapload of metal screen strips on that one since there are ridges/supports around that entire tab and I wanted it to be super solid. After the screen was all melted into place I used plastic strips called fiberflex (works on many different types of plastic) & welded that over all the screen strips. Looks pretty ugly looking at the repair on the inside of the cowling but you would never know it was repaired from the outside and I bet its stronger now than it ever was. The last 4 pics are of this repair.

That being said, when is going to warm up. We had two nice days last week when I could have gone for a ride but was busy. Yesterday it was 16 and snowing. Mostly gone now but everything is wet.

Still riding my first gen, my wife and I usually ride to Arkansas a couple of times a summer and then around the southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma area. I would like to take it to the Taos area of New Mexico but not sure if my wife is on board for that long of a trip on the bike. I also need to start doing some plastic repair, stuff is getting brittle and cracking. Gonna keep going with this bike as long as I can!

Just making sure it’s working

I was just curious who is around here still and riding their 1983 - 1993 Ventures. I am still riding my 89 VR and hope to put on a lot of miles this coming season up here in Minnesota. Last season I ended up having to repair the right half of my fairing as it became real brittle and was breaking everywhere on it. I was lucky as I have a motorcycle junk yard close by, Sport Wheel in Jordan, Mn, and they have a lot of first gen Ventures in the yard. I was able to pickup a right half with the same color combo as my 89 and it only needed few repairs to make it 100%. So I was able to cast pieces off or other fairing components with PLASTEX Plastic Repair Kits, https://plastex.net/ , to graft on pieces or make molds of pieces. Just a side note, I learned about this company form the forum here years ago. Now the fairing is solid and doesnt move as I hit bumps or holes. So I am hoping for a nice ling season of riding here in the upper midwest. Let us know what you have done lately to your Venture and what you are hoping for this summer. Rick F.

There are days I think I would like to take the 85 out for a rip, but then when I go look for where I left it, it's not there,, it seems to be gone,, left,, disappeared...................

I could only dream of a scoot at 33, and then only maybe. Just had the last of 6 kids that needed guidance.

Glad to hear that things are good and you're over your headcold. No idle hands for you I suppose. Its been busy around here too. Still going to school, I have 6 classes left until graduation, I just took a Certified Survey Technician Level 2 test for work which was 4 hours long and I'm working on getting my Part 107, SUAS drone license, so I feel your business.

Still have my 88 Venture Royale! I put about 10k miles a year on. We had our first child last year, so it was hard getting it done but I did it. Even did an iron butt last year. The year before I rode with my mom, she has a 2005 goldwing trike to Washington and back from Nebraska. So we're still out here!

That must have been quite the power nap! Haven't seen you post on this thread for awhile! I'm terrible about lurking and not actually saying anything. We need more people like you out there! Hope everything is going well!

sounds right to me, not to high.

Yepper, looks good for me!

Now riding a 2002 Wing

I have a Clymer Yamaha Royal Star 1996-2003 Shop manual in great condition.....free to good home. You pay the shipping if shipping is required. Bought a Wing, no longer need this manual.

Thanks for all the positive comments. It's been one heck of a ride and it's not over yet.

I will see how my calendar looks but I would enjoy coming down and riding with everyone. Rick F.

Didn't make the ride to Port Dover on Friday the 13th like I wanted to a took Phantom to doctor appointment then by the time we got home it started to SNOW again! with in an hour we had several in's on the ground! It snowed really hard for several hours till I could finally get out to plow it! Still snowing off and on since then! Now will have to try and make the last one this year in November I guess! Trying to get things moved around in garage so can get bike on bike table to get a few things checked! Mostly would like to get Stator and Voltage Regulator checked! Have been looking up U-Tube and information on the site to see what is involved!

Thanks Don, I joined 10 years ago back in 2016 after buying my first bike, an 08 Venture in the fall of 2015, over the years I have gleaned boat loads of useful information to help me with my ride which is still that first Venture.

I like to shoot but have no Walthers. I have a GP100 Ruget 357 revolver, a .45 Kimber, and my latest that I haven’t even shot yet is a Kimber CDS 9. I have some others too but these are my favorites. Oh, Sig 365 is my regular carry when I do carry.

I went to Port Dover for Friday 13th.It happens to be my birthday as well

Yahhhh, I don't visit as much as I used to, but I still love the site for what it gives us,, well at least some of us. Thanks for keeping it going Don.

Maybe "Don't have to" but I will! This forum is by far the best online family one could ask for. Thank you Don, for all that you do to keep this site going

@Woody You know the saying...Family first before anything else. You did the right thing. Many more opportunities to enjoy rides coming your way. Ride safe.

Some pictures as promised. Venture rear lighting breakout harness. 5 wire trailer harness with isolator 4 wire trailer harness with isolator.

Excellent products and excellent customer service! I have Steve's trailer harness on my "06.

When you roll on the throttle of your Second Gen. RSV or RSTD does the clutch slip? When you "briskly" go from first to second gear does your clutch slip? Do you ride 2 up often? Are you trying to pull a trailer and is your clutch slipping? Are you thinking about paying $300.00 plus the install for a Barnett Clutch, well think again! The stock Yamaha clutch is a high quality part and will last up to 100,000 miles. The problem is not your clutch; It's the clutch basket diaphragm spring and that "wimpy" half disc that has failed. So here's the fix! Install an aftermarket, thicker clutch diaphragm spring, and full clutch disc and never worry about that RSV or RSTD or RSTC clutch again! The heavy duty clutch diaphragm spring puts 25% more clamping force on the clutch discs than the stock RSV clutch spring. Here's my deal, you get a brand new .070” thick heavy duty clutch diaphragm spring, (name brand) a new full clutch friction disc to replace the half disc, and a brand new, genuine Yamaha replacement clutch cover gasket, everything you need to do this install for $115.00 including shipping in the USA!!! I will include complete written instructions, and i have a picture file that can be downloaded! what a deal!! If you have some miles on your current set of friction discs, check my other MEMBER VENDOR Classified Ads for the remaining 7 genuine Yamaha friction discs or the seven steel clutch plates for $105.00 a set each, Making this upgrade basically, a brand new, better that stock clutch! This upgrade can be done in less than 2 hours, doesn't require the removal of the clutch basket, can be done with a 10mm and 12mm wrench and an allen wrench, and a pair of needle nosed pliers and side cutters and you will loose very little engine oil! Shipping in the 48 states is free, outside the us is at actual cost! I accept paypal and checks! Thanks for viewing my ad. Earl (skydoc_17)

Nice work, thanks for the write up and good pictures.

I got it from Dennis Kirk... they had halogen or led. This is the led model.