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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.

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

tried to enter this elsewhere but couldn't! Want to try and test stator and voltage regulator as bike hasn't been charging like it should (carry spare battery in saddle bag)! Looked up in maintenance area and pretty sure my tester doesn't have same settings needed to test right. What settings can I use on this tester. Think I need one for AC test. Any help!

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.

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!

sounds right to me, not to high.

In our move south and some PC issues I had lost this site. Thank you so much for your email; now I have found you again!!! And just in the nick of time; I'm gonna need help troubleshooting an electrical problem. This site is worth a lot more to me than the paltry $12.00; as long as it still goes to you it's not worth the time I would spend to stop it. A workman is worth his wage; I read that somewhere authoritative... And thank you again for all you do; these great machines are getting scarcer (also their replacement parts) and as my mileage rises I find I need more knowledge than I thought I had...

Yepper, looks good for me!

Now riding a 2002 Wing

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

Hello, It`s been some while since last update. So I will write, what has happened since that. I pulled out engine. Idea was, that valve seats are damaged. After removing both heads and cleaning them, discovered, that seats are almost perfect. Also other parts are not much worn out. What I found - it looked, that old head gaskets were with some silicone covered. It looked like very cheap "repair" done. I disassembled heads, changed valve gaskets, cleaned everything. Next problem was, that I put in removed heads camshafts (yes, I know, that in manual is written - do not do that), and it seemed strange to me, that I could not move them. After longer time of thinking, I understood, that design of heads is made that middle part is connected only with some tight aluminium parts (where chain goes). And heads align and are straight, only when bolted to the engine block. Still do not know, if it should be so, but when I bolted them back to the block, I could move camshafts very easy. I had not time to do this repair every day. I went to the bike few hours in month, so it took quite long to put heads and engine back together correctly. After few more months engine, carbs and all other was back in bike. Started it and.... again one cylinder did not work. Or even two. Took again off carbs and checked engine timing. Maybe there was some mistake... Manual for this bike is not the easiest what I have read. And especially timing marks are quite strange and do not match with written info in manual. So, I turned countless times the engine and finally went through all the engine timing with logic. All opening and closing intake / exhaust times looked correctly. Checked and adjusted valve clearences. Put back everything again, but now I decided to turn carbs by 180 degrees (so the front two carbs now were rear). It was not so difficult, just needed to make longer fuel hose and few more things. If problem were in engine, then nothing should change. If problem were in carbs, then there should not work other two cylinders. And, yes, I found, that problem were in carbs. But it seemed strange, because they were disassembled, cleaned and changed all rubber parts before one year. I looked deeper in carbs and found, that at least two diaphragms were very loose (yes, I should check them earlier, but then I hadn't learned the construction of these carburetors yet). I decided, that it was time to disassemble them by myself. I also got many good advices from experienced carb mechanic. I disassembled them and found, that diaphragms were run off the seats, where middle of them is attached. Put them back and this time more accurately. It was most likely, because, when sitting on shelf, old fuel glued needles into seats. And when I started the bike, diaphragms run off the middle parts. Also there were dirt in few of main jets and other parts. Cleaned everything and put back together. Washed also fuel tank. There were also few other smaller problems in the middle (like ventilator, what I damaged and repaired and few other). In September 2025 bike again was running. I regulated idle with gas analyzer. Maybe engine is not perfect – when cold, on idle one cylinder still do some small coughing time to time, but I think it runs good. When hot, not any problems. I gave myself a question - why carbs were clogged after one year sitting in shelf. And the answer was - in fuel tank there was some very old fuel left and it clogged everything, when I put carbs back after first cleaning in the very beginning. In Baltics, because of eco additives added by fuel retailers, gasoline is especially bio-active and makes many problems already after 6 months standing in tank. I do not know, how old was the fuel in tank, when I bought it. It was not much there and I added fresh fuel already in first ride to the garage. It was the largest mistake. Only now I realize how powerful and well-handled this motorcycle is, despite its relatively high weight. There is no problem riding it also with two people. Aftermarket exhausts are a great value. They are not loud, but I really like the sound. Hopefully I'll be able to go without major repairs for a while and slowly get it back to perfect condition.

that weekend would work for duey!

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

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

Thanks, but I didn't mind paying the fee. I've gotten so much information and entertainment from this site.

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.

Yes. But you don’t have to.

If we leave the 12.00 going is still goes to you correct? Letting it continue is much easier than trying to figure out how to stop it.

80 degrees today so we got our chores done and took a ride, about 2 hours of back roads.

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

There doesn't seem to be as many young people riding motorcycles these days. The majority of riders I see are older people and an awful lot of us are going to trikes. And it seems to me that Harley is the leader of bikes out there too. Of course these are just my crazy thoughts. 🤔

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.