luvmy40

Well, I'm at my sister's place in Lodi waiting for a text to go look at the 99. I am scheduled to look at an '86 at 6:30 about 45 minutes further south. Steven, the first thing I'll likely do to the '86 if I get it is to delink the brakes! Different strokes and all that, don't cha know.

I'm still undecided. I really have many options right now all depending on available funds.(I'm liquidating part of my gun collection to fund a "new" bike.) I have found several good looking project base bikes, including a Gen1 MK2. There are a few running MK2s that are more than 3 hrs away and the best looking ones are 8-12 hours away. The only Venture in my price range any closer is the '99. I originally went into this specifically to get a MK2. Some of the other options are looking like fun right now, one of which is a bobbed '88 Harley 883 Sportser. Another is a 2008 BMW R1200C, though that one may be just a little out of my budget right now. Well, I'm off to the gun show in Berea to see if I can make my fortune! Wish me luck. ETA: I did forget about the ed MK2 in Berea with the busted fairings but otherwise looks great. It did have a bit of oil shmootz at the cam cover on Cyl 2. Probably needs the valves done anyway.

79540 miles on the odometer in the picture. And it looks like a spot of rust cancer on the front fender. The leading edge of the passenger seat is a little rugged as well. ETA: It's actually the top of a small driver's back rest that is torn up a bit, after a second look.

So, I've been looking for a Gen1, MK2 in good condition for a while now. There is one for sale from a member here that looks promising but were are quite a ways away from each other and the logistics make it difficult at best. In my searching I found a 1999 RSV that looks to be in good shape, pretty close by. The seller says "Runs good, rear shock is blown and the paint is a little faded". I know the shock is fixable but what is the PITA factor to get it off the bike? Is there anything specific to watch out for on the 1999? I really do want a MK2 but at $1800.00 the '99 may be hard to pass up. Help me out here.

5 of the wheels are for the truck! I've done quite a few mods on the HF changer. Rubber coated clamps, Nylon ducks head mount/dismount tool head, etc. It's still not as nice as the NoMar stuff, but close.

Thanks for all the input. I checked everywhere I could find, including those suggested here and Cheap Cycle Parts . com was the lowest price including shipping(free). I just ordered a set of the Shinko 777s. HD on the rear but no HD available for the front from anyone. When these arrive I will have 7 tires to mount and balance. I'm going to give the Harbor Freight tire changer and wheel balancers a work out! I'll try to get some video of the process.

The local Yamaha dealership is 40% higher on their tires and they charge $40.00/tire off the bike for mount and balance. An after market shop is 30% higher on tires and wants $20.00/tire off the bike for mount and balance. The dealership's prices on Yamaha OEM parts are sometimes competitive and usually not very much more than Partzilla when you look at shipping added. I'll check at Rocky Mtn. ATV. So far, Cheap Cycle Parts . Com has the best price I've found and, at least for the time being are offering free shipping on orders over $99.

SRK Cycles, of "Bikes and Beards" fame(youtube) is a great example. They are not a dealer for any brand, IIRC. All they do is buy sell and trade used bikes. They have had the same Honda Rune in their possession 3 or 4 times over the last couple years

I had been running the 230 Tour Masters but I'm blowing through a rear tire every season and the front only lasts 2 seasons. I'm hopping for a little better wear from the 777s.

BTW, I want to replace the straight stem with a 90 deg. stem for ease of access.

Sorry Zagger. Sometimes I forget what's going on with all the other things like work and family. I'll try harder to make sure and respond more promptly from now on. BTW, do you know if the 11.3mm or 8.3 mm valve stem will fit the Gen1 MK1 wheels?

I have decide to go with Shinko 777 HD rubber this time around. I've run Bridgestone Spitfires for decades on my XJ bikes. I ran Bridgestone Battlaxs on my Katana and ode it like it was a GSXR. They performed well, had good life and are affordable. Neither are available for the Venture rear wheel. I used to run Avon Road Runners on my Harleys, but Avon's offerings for the Venture get pretty terrible reviews. I considered going to Dunlop E3s buty the price would not justify any possible increase in mileage. I've never changed a tire because it was too old. I wear them out. So like the tile of thread asks. Where do you get the price on tires? Ive looked at Amazon, JP Cycles, Bike Bandit, Dennis Kirk and Cheap Cycle Parts. So far CCP has given me the best price. Who else is out there?

If Rick isn't still doing them, take a look at Diamond Custom Seats. http://diamondseats.com/yamaha-venture/ I just got one of theirs this past winter and it is darn good looking, extremely comfortable and quite affordable as well. They make a new seat pan, so it is a complete new seat except for the mounting ears that you reuse from the stock seat. I highly recommend the drivers back rest option. I went with the smooth, no diamond pattern in black.

Does anyone know if the Gen1 MK1 valves stems are 11.3mm or 8.3mm ?

How much you wanna bet the van driver was texting? You are a better man than I! I'd likely be in jail waiting on assault charges if that had happened to me. Selfish, ignorant, discourteous and easily distracted seems to be the prerequisite for obtaining a driver's license these days.

Definitely go with an AGM. I've had great results from AutoZone's AGM power sport batteries. One of the PO's must have done the bypass on The Beast as I have always had and AGM with no probe and do not get the warning indicator for the battery. I hear it's not a difficult procedure.

Yeah, the compression is a little high. I've had her past red line a few times, briefly with no odd noises or vibrations.

One of these days I am going to take The Beast to a street night just to see what she'll do in the quarter. I know she'll hit 95 in 3rd and I've had the speedo well past 120 more than once on deserted stretches of highway but I've never clocked a quarter mile run. The only "performance" mod made is tighter shims on the carb needles. Otherwise she's completely stock, engine and drive train wise.

I went to look at that bike about a week ago. There are a couple minor issues and one major(to me). I would still agree that he is not asking for too much but I might try to negotiate it down a bit for one reason. The main fairings halves both have what I would consider major damage. The front corners under the mirrors are mostly missing. Not a huge area but significant. Maybe 3/4" wide and running down from the top corner. They are covered with tape and are really not all that noticeable until you look closely. He does have the trunk/passenger back est and it is in excellent condition. The paint, for the most part is in very good shape. Other than the fairing corners, the plastics are all in very good condition. The side bag covers are not original as he learned the hard way to lock them when riding. The replacements are just black rattle can painted. They don't look bad, just not right. He says he might have the driver's back rest and a trailer hitch for it. Not 100% sure but he thought it came with them and he has not gotten id of anything it came with. The radio has been removed and replaced with the left side cargo bucket and that elusive left side cover. It started easily and idled smooth but I did not ride it as I did not have enough cash in hand to make an offer or cover an accident. This was a preliminary inspection as he is only 30 min. away from my place of employment. The wind shield is cut down to only an inch above the console and painted opaque black.

They are working perfectly.

I could not get a link to work. Search face book Market Place in Hanover PA for "Yamaha Venture Lowering Kit"

Funds sent via Paypal. Thanks Don!

I've been meaning to get one of these for a long time. I've also been considering switching over to E4s so now may be the time to pull the trigger on the YellowThing. https://www.nomartirechanger.com/YellowThing_Tire_Tool_p/ac-yellowthing.htm

Yes I am aware and it is sitting on the lower of the two safety bolt settings. This actually standard for any hydraulic lift. The more expensive systems have auto ratcheting safety stops that are always active until you deactivate them.

It seems that all of the complaints about the bottle jack going bad are from 2-3 years ago. I may be wrong. Also the vast majority of reviews I found dated later than 2017 all seemed to give high praise. I do realize that a portion of those reviews are probably from people who used the lift once and never again. However, it would appear that there have been some improvements made. I will certainly keep the forum posted if I have an problems with the lift.