BlueSky

I looked at my VR battery and charged it and I see this wire dangling with a coil on the end. Does anybody know what it was supposed to do/be? http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e369/RR322/YamahaVenture003_zps4dda9a92.jpg

I didn't see any mention of price! I know I can't afford it according to my wife anyway!

The Wing is the ultimate two-seater touring bike in my opinion. Can't blame you a bit for buying one. I looked long and hard at used wings in the 2001 up style but decided I wasn't serious enough to spend that kind of money. Besides, I love the style of the Gen 1 Ventures and Puc and many others have proven you can't wear them out!

What about a seat cushion? Maybe one of those gel cushions? I have not tried one, so I don't know what I am talking about.

I got tossed out after 20+ years when the company downsized. They picked on the 20 yr people who were going to get good pensions if they stayed. Anyway, I have been working temporary contract jobs ever since. It was a blessing in disguise. I have enjoyed the contract jobs more than being direct. They have been more challenging, interesting and more lucrative with a lot less politics. I was divorced at first and that frees you up. Then I re-married and it's a little more inconvenient. But, I never had any thoughts of going direct again. Life has been and is good!

Just for fun, make sure the battery cables are tight!

Glad you had a safe trip even though it was a little troubled. Post more photos if you can. We will enjoy immensely! What tires did you have trouble with, I mean brand and model? Thanks

Thanks for allowing us to enjoy the fantastic trip with you and Tippy! You guys are doers, not talkers!!! Willie Nelson had better watch out! You'll be taking over his job!

There were several of these the same brand on Amazon with different prices. The one I posted a link to was the most powerful and most expensive. I think they fit any bike because they are much smaller than the conventional battery. They come with spacers to fill up the box. Supposedly they are good down to 14 degrees F, which is good enough for the southern crowd. The weight savings normally would not matter but considering where the battery is located, that would be the place it might matter a tad by reducing some top heavy weight. I was wondering if anyone had tried one.

I'm looking for a new battery and the Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries seem to have advantages in CCA that might help start a Gen 1 with 2 brush starter. What do you guys think? [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-BTL35A480C-Lithium-Phosphate/dp/B00F9LPL5E/ref=sr_1_cc_3?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1404786170&sr=1-3-catcorr&keywords=Battery+1989+Yamaha+Venture+Royal]Amazon.com: Battery Tender BTL35A480C Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery: Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Aw0QgaO4L.@@AMEPARAM@@51Aw0QgaO4L[/ame]

I wish you a safe and bike reliable trip! We will all be anxious for a full report when you finish the ride!

Arthur's eye is a few miles east of Wilmington right now. It hasn't been that bad. We didn't get a whole lot of rain and the wind hasn't been too bad either. When you are on the north side or east side of a hurricane is when you really get hammered.

Now they are predicting it will be a category 2 soon by the time it passes my home in Wilmington, NC. We have had 4 direct hits from the hurricanes since I have been living here (20yrs). The worst was a cat 3. I was so lucky in the past not even losing a shingle from my roof. Others were not so fortunate though. They always tear the beaches up, especially the outer banks. It looks like I will be okay this time with the storm center off the coast when it goes by.

Hi, I live in Wilmington. I unfortunately went back to work (I thought I was retired!) and I'm home for 3 day weekends now. I want to change out my starter for a 4 brush that I have in hand and I'll be ready to ride my new to me 89 Venture Royale. I hope to get the starter replacement done this weekend. Bill White

This is probably not your problem. But, the hemi engine will drop a valve seat if it runs hot. Otherwise it is bullet proof. And I just read on the LX forum about a guy who has over 300k miles on his 3.5 V6. So, if would appear to be a great engine.

Sounds like the pilot jets are plugged. Just guessing. Maybe it needs a carb rebuild. I would put a bottle of cleaner in the tank. Everybody recommends seafoam. I've used Valvoline complete fuel system cleaner in one of my bikes with success. I think I would use gumout with regane on the label. Walking that much you won't have to worry about your cholesterol level!

On the Kawasaki forum, a FJR1300 owner said he used Rotella and had samples checked and it didn't last long at all. He switched to another brand that held up much better. The only way you know for sure what oil holds up is to get samples checked at the lab.

That bike looks nice. However, I owned a 1983 Yamaha 750 Virago for a while and I didn't like it. I didn't like the vibration and the lack of power from the V-twin. I much prefer a smooth, powerful 4 cylinder bike such as the two I have now.

I can't imagine learning to ride on a Venture. How much will it cost you if you hurt yourself or destroy the bike?

My wife and I recently went to Monument Valley. It's located just north of the AZ border. Going north on 163, you turn east on I believe Monument Valley road. A few miles down you will run into the Navajo museum. There are 1 1/2 hr and 2 1/2 hr tours of the valley on rough dirt roads. I chose to let them escort us on the tour but if you have a truck or suv or maybe a trike, you can check it out yourself at no extra charge. The old movie director John Ford filmed many John Wayne western movies in Monument Valley. My wife was in a hurry to get to Vegas and didn't even want to go to Monument Valley but afterwards, she said that was the best part of the trip.

That's a nice looking boat. I'm sure you will enjoy it! I bought my first boat 7 years ago, an 18' Boston Whaler Ventura with a 150hp Yamaha OX66 2 stroke on the back. I work away from home most of the time and we haven't used it that much but it hasn't let us down yet on the water. It's a great feeling to be out on the water in our own boat!! I live a few miles from the coast. Other than a couple of batteries and regular service, the fuel pump failed probably due to getting gummed up from sitting and not being used. So, it hasn't been too bad so far. (Knock on Wood!)

Yeah, but Puc is also carrying a cute chick!

If you do not have riding experience, I highly recommend you buy a small cheap bike and ride it for a couple thousand miles while you are sorting out the problems with the Venture before you try to ride the 800lb beast. After you get used to riding, then it will be time to try the Venture.

I'm so glad you and Tippy survived that tire!!!! With the load you carry, you do test a rear tire pretty good. Maybe go for the best of the best on the rear? Michelin or E3? I think the E3 has the highest load rating doesn't it? A few years ago, I had a 2004 Kawasaki Concours and the forum members for that bike did not like the Metzler 880s due to its perceived lack of grip. My Concours had a worn out dual compound tire on the front when I bought it. The soft sides had worn down and left a 1"wide strip down the center. This made an already top heavy tippy bike really tippy. I vowed to never put a dual compound tire on the front of a bike. But, it might work out great on the rear with the hard compound in the center and softer sides to hold when cornering. Rear tires tend to wear flat anyway. I've never heard of a Full Bore tire. I'd trust a Korean tire before I would a Chinese tire though.

I buy the Valvoline motorcycle oil and NAPA filter for my 89. As long as the oil has the proper Jaso rating, you can't go wrong. Oil filters are available in many brands specifically for your motorcycle. But this subject can go on and on and on.