BlueSky

I just read an article about how the sales of large motorcycles are plummeting and Harley sales are plummeting the most. So, Yamaha decides to compete with Harley. Some things are hard to understand. I think a Gen II with the V4, made lighter, lower center of gravity, and a frame mounted fairing would have made more sense. But, it is what it is. We shall see if it is a success. I hope so.

The battery voltage is low. I'd take it to get a load test after charging it. it should be 12.6 volts or higher fully charged.

Some time after we bought a boat, my wife bought a Black & Decker Jump Starter, one of those things that has a built in air compressor with a claim of 500 amps on the side. I put it in the garage and didn't use it for years. This year I took it out of the box and it was dead and wouldn't charge. I took it apart and the battery inside was a 19 amp/hour motorcycle battery. I just took it to Sams Club and they accepted it as a core on a real marine battery that I will make sure it is kept fully charged. We kept the boat in the back yard with the battery disconnected and I charged it before going boating every time we used it. This year we put it in a wet slip and I have to leave the battery connected to power the bilge pump. The float switch stuck and ran the bilge pump until the battery was dead. It wouldn't take a charge, so I replaced it and now have a second real marine battery for a backup. I never signed up for Seatow and if we get stranded, they will charge an arm to get a tow back to the marina. So, I try to minimize that possibility. So, my recommendation is to buy a real battery for backup and forget about those "Jump Starters" unless it's one of those small ones for a motorcycle.

I'm sure the new Venture will be much quicker off the line.

Very extensive and complimentary review. Now we know, maximum of 76.9 hp at the rear wheels. Also noticed that max torque of 109 ft lbs occurs at 75mph so downshifting won't be needed to pass at highway speeds. I think I read that the lifters were hydraulic?

Attention getting sidecar companion.

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?127689-Anyone-Used-the-Motion-Pro-Bead-Breaker-Tire-Irons-Shown-in-this-Video&highlight=motion+bead+breaker

I must have forgot to hit submit before when I tried to post this. Anyhow, I bought an 89 owner's manual from yamahapubs. I think they print them on an as needed basis. I also bought an original owner's manual from ebay. I think it's for the 87 but should be the same. One neat thing about the original is that it has a 12" x 12" fold out wiring diagram in the back of the manual.

I bought one from yamahapubs for my 89 which they print as needed I think. Then I saw a original owner's manual on ebay and bought that one. It's for an 87 I think but should be the same. The original manual has a great folded up 12" x 12" wiring diagram in the back.

How is your brother-in-law doing? Hopefully, he is on the mend. I admire and respect you immensely for what you are doing to help.

Cowpuc I'm guessing may have been asking about straight line performance. With the super Tenure at 110hp and the CTX at 83hp, I think that answer is obvious.

I think you are correct and I would proceed as you described. The battery may or may not come back. If it is an old battery, I would replace it too.

Maybe clean the tank and put a bottle of Naval Jelly or similar product in the tank and let it sit for a while. It's supposed to remove rust. Just a thought. I have never done this. There are videos on the internet where they drill a hole to allow the removal. Don't remember all the details.

This made me look up the hp ratings for the CTX1300 and the ST1300. According to what I found, the CTX engine is rated 83hp at 6,000 rpm and the ST1300 is rated 126hp at 8,000rpm. Same engine just cammed and tuned differently. Big difference.

I agree the drivers in FL are the worst. But, it seemed to me around Miami it was the young guys driving as if they were on a race track and other parts of FL the senile retirees driving around almost totally oblivious to what was going on around them.

You can still buy new 2014 CTXs and they are going cheap. Evidently the styling didn't appeal to enough folks to keep it.

Yep, an aramid belted bias ply tire. Shinko bought the motorcyle tire business from Yokohama so I wouldn't have any qualms buying them.

It all depends on far out of balance the tire is. Some tires will require more than others.

Cowpuc, one thing I'd really like you to ask the Yamaha rep is what is the specification for maximum allowable oil temperature. There is an online LA Sheriffs dept test of potential police bikes back in 2009 as I remember and oil temp is one of the things they checked to see if it was within the manufacturers specification. According to the test report, the two Harley's that were tested had a maximum allowable oil temperature spec of 410 degrees F! That it amazing to me. As I remember the BMW R bike had a maximum oil temp spec of 300 degrees F. I think the R bike has partial or supplemental water cooling. The rest of the bikes were water cooled and were speced in the range of about 260 degrees F maximum.

I doubt they will let the new Venture sit and idle. It ain't designed for that and will overheat regardless of whether your legs get hot. The fins and the oil cooler might keep the engine cool while riding but it just isn't possible for it to stay cool sitting and idling.

Yep, when I was riding my 74hp Kawasaki ZN700 to work when in Florida where a lot of construction was going on, a lot of workers had Harleys which I think had about the same hp but much more torque. Several times I pulled out to pass a slow car and the Harleys pulled out with me and couldn't keep up! I know they would spank me from a stand still but once I got going.........

I think the hp is the same. the Gen I weighs about 180 lbs less. My manual says my 89 weighs 785 curb.

Put some Chevron Techron in the gas or Gumout with PEA. Use a little starter fluid on the air filter and run it and keep doing that a few times. Even though it is fuel injected, the fuel passages must be tiny for a little engine and they may be gummed up. Just wild guessing here. When my yard tools don't want to start, I use a little starter fluid to get them to fire at first. After they run a bit they usually will keep running. You do know that you shouldn't run pressure washers without the water hooked up and on?

It would be interesting to see if the new Venture can hang with a Gen1 above 60mph?

From what I've read the Honda ST1300 has a heat problem. It's is due in part to having an aluminum frame that is bolted solid to the engine using the engine for frame strength and the heat transfers down the frame.