Nightwind15

We discussed various issues of concern about the bike with them. The weight, heat, Vtwin, belt drive and being like everyone else. They assured me that the proof was in riding this bike and that is why there will be Demo bikes at dealerships all over the country. Being a dealer I put my faith in Yamaha and my 500.00 deposit on the raspberry red. I know Yamaha and the quality, ride and handling will make this bike worth the wait and worth the money. If I am wrong I will post here and tell you. I cannot wait for a dedicated forum for this bike. I have been reading everything I can find on harley, indian and other brand forums. The talk ranges from negative to I cannot wait to ride one. We have taken three deposits and offering early buy pricing with no extra fees. If anyone is interested email but buy local when you can.

Check out the 83 on Ebay with one hour left.

I did not intend insulting anyone of course but I am hyper excited about the new Yamaha and will be selling my Raider, my Goldwing and my Stratoliner if this proves to be what it should be. The funny thing is I am a dealer but more so a motorcycle rider and have been since 1964. If you cut me I bleed Yamaha yellow and black (sorry Blue and White). At 67 this will likely be my last touring bike and I hope Yamaha has not let us all down again. There are truly so few true dealer enthusiast any more and that is a very sad thing. Steve

No insult intended but why are credit cards being discussed on this thread? Cluttering up the real topic here.

You are right about one thing they go through 300.00 rear tires like Sherman through Georgia. The issues I saw as a dealer were drive shafts stuck in the cases as there is no way to grease the spline except taking the shaft out, various electrical issues, heat from hell from the engine and a super top heavy bike ( I am 6'1" with 34 inseam). Power not bad for a bike that weighs a great deal. Just my two cents, I have ridden several of them over the years. Steve

If you are referring to a Triumph one bit of advice from a former Triumph dealer, don't do it.

I have been a Yamaha dealer since 1974 and been through the old Venture years and they were great. Then they popped the Royal Star (no power but super reliable). Then the Venture Royale again, carbs, top heavy, comfortable and reliable. Then the model that could have turned the touring market around was introduced. THE NEW VMAX! Stone reliable and if they tuned it to the touring horse power and torque specs they would have ruled the touring market just as they did for a time back in the 80's. We had family affair rally's with thousands of bikes and Yamaha was in tune with their customer base. Some where along that way Yamaha lost touch with their customers and they left the fold in great numbers one by one to the other more progressive brands. If Yamaha brings out the V4 and does the electronics right they will again reach the public in the numbers they so desperately desire and their dealers need. If this is a Twin, I am not interested, too many already on the market place and too late to the game. Just my option, I could be wrong. Steve

I need five ball studs please. Stephen Armstrong c/o Allsport Powersports, Inc. 2608 Beltline Rd. SW Decatur, AL 35601 256 355 9706 ext. 304 Let me know where I can send the money and will a check be ok? Thank you! Steve

One trick I use on finding fluid leaks is to spray dry powder antiperspirant on the suspected area. You will see seepage as the fluid discolors from white to dark and moist. The anti-dive system never was that good anyway, the lady has the best idea if it is those units.

We had a Venture Touring society chapter in Decatur, AL and each year we had around 40 bikes mostly 1st gen Ventures going to Pigeon Forge Tennessee to the Dolly Wood where Yamaha had tents and motor homes set up and there would be thousands of bikes in attendance. Yamaha screwed the pooch when they stopped doing this and did not evolve the Venture in the original platform. The Royal Star just never cut it for me and I moved on to the FJR1300's after I sold my 1991 Venture Royale. People have begged for an all new touring bike from Yamaha but I guess this is just the thanks we got after supporting Ventures long past their being upgraded.

After rebuilding my carbs, replacing both tires, replacing the fork seals and oil, changing the oil and filter and replacing the air filter I am down to my brakes. Tried to bleed them without flushing the lines, was not going to happen. I ended up completely rebuilding both master cylinders and brake calipers. Then proceeded to bleed the system. No way. There are a white substance blocking the hoses and noticeably in the master cylinders and brake calipers. So, I am making braided steel lines for all the lines. Doing away with linked braking (which I hate any way) by installing new front lines with a double banjo bolt on the front master cylinder and a single line with a blind plug to do away with the balance line on the rear master cylinder. I am leaving the black lines on the anti-dive valves as (in my option) was a waste of time anyway. I will post pictures at the end of next week when I finish, hopefully I will by Friday. Oh yes, forgot to mention I replaced the clutch slave cylinder with a new one from Yamaha, they still have five complete units in stock in the warehouse. The engine runs like day one with 28K miles on it. I have decided to put off the transmission fix until next year maybe. Thoughts on this? The shifting is perfect at present.

I have a 2012 level three pearl white GL1800. I am selling it due to the terrible wind buffeting on my wife. Just bought a Yamaha FJR1300 for two up riding.

I have taken the brake lines off and you cannot force air through the lines. I think I will have op for a stainless steel set unless anyone has another idea. Funny thing though the external hoses look new.

I looked in the classifieds, did not see a delink kit, can you provide a link to the delink????

Hi, Its me again Margret. I cleaned and rebuilt my master cylinders and brake calipers on the 1983 XVZ12TK and then when attempting to bleed the brakes found the brake hosed to be blocked. If there is a way of cleaning them let me know please. I suspect the hoses may have collapsed as the bike sat for 20 year prior to my getting it. I would not mind getting a new set of the rubber hoses if someone could direct me to a reasonable supplier. Every one of them are clogged or what ever. Thanks again Steve

I will post this evening when I get home from work. Thank you

I do not see a Post New Thread button. I am looking for a top trunk lid for a 1988 Venture Royale. The white whale. I found A couple on Ebay but they are rough. Mine is broken behind the backrest and someone tried to repair it, did not work. The break is hidden by the backrest and the vanity mirror. Any ideas? Thank you!

That 84 Royale is exactly like the one I had. A painter named Scarecrow put a Pegasus on the trunk and sumi art on the bags and fairing. Wish I could find that one.

I came here as an enthusiast but I will be glad help in anyway with parts or if you need tech help. Thank you, Steve

Hi, There were actually two color combinations in 1984. Check me on this but I believe my memory does not deceive me. Looking forward to communicating and helping as I can. Steve

Steve Armstrong from Decatur, Alabama. I am a Yamaha dealer and have been for over 42 years. I owned 4 type one Ventures, a 1983 standard, 1984 Burgandy Venture Royale, 1986 Black and Bronze Venture Royale and finally a 1989 Burgandy Venture Royale and then in 1999 Bought a Royale Star Venture. Since then I have been riding FJR1300's simply because I could not do a cruiser and the old Ventures really spoiled me to what a sport luxury touring bike should be. This past week I bought three type one Ventures. Number one a standard 1983 Venture with 28K miles on it garage kept and I sold it new to the guy I bought it from. Number two off Craigslist in Montevalo Alabama from the original owner that just spend 2K on it and got it back in mechanical shape but the cosmetics are no great, it is a 1989 model. The third off Ebay from Omaha Nebraska with 22K miles, it is a white 1988 and is in remarkable condition with new tires all electronics work and on a few minor scuffs. Now you ask yourself why? Why is because I love these bikes and at 66 I likely only have 20 more years of riding left! I will get them all going and working properly and sell two of them. Not sure which yet. So I still have my 2015 FJR1300, a 1972 Yamaha LS2 with 560 miles on it, a 2002 Harley softtail springer, a 1973 Triumph Trident and a 2012 Honda Goldwing that I really do not like at all but that is another story. Glad to be here and glad to see some of the old girls are still appreciated.

A huge thank you all for the help. I will be glad to chip in my 12.00. I have a mechanic friend that rides one of these and he said the washer deal was the way to go if I had a good transmission. That being said I am picking up a 1989 Venture Royal with 22K miles on it tomorrow. I still plan on fixing the 1983 but looking forward to riding the Royale until I get it fixed. I will then sell the 89 and keep the 83 simply because there is less to go wrong with it down the road and it is lighter. Again, thank you all and I will be around lurking here on the forum.

Thank you so much, ordered a four pack just now!!!! Excited to get this old girl going again.

Which kit would you buy? Thank you

If this is redundant I am sorry but I need four complete kits for my carbs. Orings gaskets etc. The diaphragms are actually fine!! I find them for the VMAX and XVZ13's but not the 12's! Help!!! Thank you all for this great forum!!!