Texas Tom

I was told by Yamaha that the GPS updates (system updates) are included, The MAP updates however; are not, they will be about $150.00 per update. I was very disappointed when I head this since the mapping of the area I live in is about 2 years out of date. You would think that the first one would be free. Sad thing is, you can buy a Garmin GPS with life time maps for about the same price you pay for the updates. I have the same complaint with the NAV system in my truck.

I have noticed a beeping that starts when you bring the bike to a stop, put the kickstand down and it shuts the engine off. It keeps making that beeping until you turn the ignition off. My first though it that it is a reminder for you to turn the ignition switch off, but I read something in the user's manual that mentions some type of a disabling function under certain circumstances that required some type of reset. I didn't understand it, so I just moved on. Can anyone clarify this beeping for me?

I checked with Utopia about a backrest for the Eluder, they had plans on making one, but they ran into issues related to the GT heated seats and advised my they would not be making one.

I have logged just over 5k on my Eluder and consistently get 40 mpg while running at 80 mph on the tollway. If I stay in the 70-75 mph range I get about 42 mpg. I am running the mid-grade gas in it, not sure if the premium would yield any better mileage.

I have yet to find an aftermarket seat for the Eluder GT, I believe it was Ultimate Backrests that was looking to make a backrest for it, but the heated seats on the GT created issues for them and they will not be making a backrest for it, they do make one for the Venture, not sure if it works for the TC.

Thanks for all of the replies. I have a couple of chapters in my area that I can join. I have completed the member training, the videos are well done and the training follows a logical path that lays out the CMA, missions, charter and rules very well. I am waiting for my member number so I can order the patches. So far, nobody from the local chapter I am in touch with are going to the National Rally, many are going to the Changing of the Colors. If I can't make the National Rally, I will go to the COC instead. I am looking forward to getting involved with a local chapter. The Texas State Rally is underway as I write this. I couldn't go to it due to short notice and inability to get the time off work etc. If I am able to go to the National, I will post my information here and try to set up a group meeting of the VR members in attendance. Thanks and God Bless.

Just wondering if there were any Christian Motorcyclist Association members here in the VR world? If there are, will any of you be attending the National Rally in Arkansas next month. I am hoping to go and would be interested in meeting up with anyone that will be there. PM me if you are going and we can try to set up a meet if I am able to get the time off and ride there. If I go, it will be my first CMA rally of any type and I will be tent camping to keep costs down.

I had issues with my GPS on the Eluder locking up. After many trips to dealership and conferences with Yamaha techs, they issued a beta-update and had the dealer apply it to the gps. It is working fine now. They said that they were going to release it to all the dealers shortly. This update does not include a map update. They say they will be issuing 1 free map update in the near future, after that it will be about $100 for each new map update.

I appreciate the participation in the thread and I too had tried a couple BMW 1200 LT when I got ride of the 2nd Gen, loved the bike and features, it was an 05 and was much lighter and had more up to date features than the 1300 Venture, but the seating position was not conducive to my hip issues, the rearward angle created pain and safety issues for me so I sold it. I didn't have a bike at all for about 5 or 6 years and then bought the Stratoliner Deluxe because it was the closet thing I found to the Venture that was more up to date, lighter, better seating position and height for me. I was disappointed with the smaller tank and the handling of the bike, while better than the 2nd Gen, still not as nimble as I had hoped and I like riding it, but can't say it was enjoyable, as it lacked the higher end features off the show room floor that the 2nd Gen did, but with no other alternative in the Star line and no Venture update in the foreseeable future I "settled" and was happy, but not ecstatic. It handled better than the 2nd Gen, the stock seat was comfortable enough, but still not the nimble I had really hoped for. At the time I bought it, there were no "demo bikes" and little did I know they were discontinuing the line shortly after. When I saw the new Venture/Eluder articles and the comments, I got the "I really want one" bug and the announcement that they would have the demo ride program with them, it was "what can it hurt" and gave it a shot. I waited a long time before one was in stock and the dealer called me as promised. I looked at both, like the look of the Venture, but the bulk kind of put me off, but the look was definitely appealing and the features were what I was looking for.... price.... not so much. My wife liked the Eluder look better and her arthritis limits her ability to ride as often as we had hoped and it isn't getting any better. As a result, I decided to try the Eluder and as I stated in the original post, immediately loved the weight, handling etc. That along with the price point and financial aspects of it, I declined the Venture and have no regrets. My commute to and from work is about 100 mile round trip and I have found the seat to be acceptable, but am disappointed that Mustang doesn't plan on making a seat for them ( the didn't with the 2nd Gen either), I had a Corbin on the 2nd Gen and would never buy one again.... talk about a brick. I would need to have assurances that it would be more comfortable before I would even remotely consider it. Yes I know they will soften it, but I am not a fan of having to send it off without knowing how soft/firm it will come back and taking it to them to have it done while I wait is out due to time and distant. When I have the $$ for an after market, I will see what is available. MPG is between 37 and 39 on the highway so far. Will be watching it after the breaking period... which will end tomorrow when I take it in for the first service and oil change (560 miles on it right now). As Russ stated, each ride gets better and the adjustment period to the bike characteristics is virtually non-existent in my mind. Very easy to handle. I have even had a couple of HD riders comment on the looks of the bike and the features and warranty being a real bargain for the price in comparison to what they would get $ for $ from the HD line. The are hardcore HD lovers and I doubt they would switch, but I think the HDs come with a Matrix type Red pill that you take to develop that die hard mindset. I am not a pill taker and am thrilled with my Yamaha products, especially this one. The 1100 classic was a great bike and mustang had a seat for it, but the 2nd Gen was bigger and more feature laden, but had the previously noted trade offs, the Stat Deluxe was okay, but the Eluder is my "cats meow" so far. I will keep looking for and posting updates as tie passes and will be interested to see what aftermarket items are offered in the coming months.

I didn't like the short windshield on my Stratoliner Deluxe and ended up going with the medium from Clearview. I really like the S-Curve that Clearview has incorporated into their shields as well as the vent. For me the short shield doesn't push the air up high enough to go over my helmet. It hit me right about in the eyes. Not sure of where it hits you being taller, I like to ride with my face shield up and the tinted visor down, the medium makes that possible where the short didn't. As far as looks, I think the taller looks better (my wife likes it better too). For the true bagger look that HD has presented for years, the shorter one fits the classic bagger look. It is really like all else in riding, a matter of preference. I know I had a shield take a 2-3 inch rock off the back of a dump truck that would have hit me in the helmet visor/face, made me a believer in having one. No aeronautical engineer here, so all I can do is go with what I like and the feeling I get when riding. I know guys that don't wear helmets, except when required, don't want a shield on their bike at all. I guess it is getting bugs in your teeth from smiling while you ride. Don't know if I answered your question or not, but I gave it a shot. Question for you, if you have the Eluder, being as tall as you are how is the lower seat height compared to the RSV for you? I was curious if you feel like your knees are up too high for comfort?

Anyone here using it? Is it worth buying the pro version?

Here are couple of pictures of my new Eluder GT and my first impressions and some comparisons between the ELUDER GT and the 05 RSV I previously owned Eluder GT – First Impressions / Comparison with my 05 Royal Star Venture A week ago I purchased a 2018 3rd Gen Star Venture GT at Houston Motorsports after 10 mile test ride. First impression was WOW! what a difference the redesign of the retro style Royal Star Venture. Immediately noticed a significant difference in the seat height. The old model left people my height vertically challenged in achieving a flat footed stationary position. The modern design provides me with a solid foot on the ground with some knee bend. Next was the change in weight of the bikes. It comes up off the stand easily and has a well-balanced feel. I was leery about taking the bike out, having never ridden one (it is actually the first time a dealer has let me test ride any bike I have purchased) and the less than comfortable first experience when I got on my brand new 2nd Gen for the first time. Once in motion, any trepidation I had felt went away. The bike is very nimble at slow speeds, responsive to very little throttle and the clutch is very smooth. Once on I turned onto the street and gave it some gas, it moved out nicely. I would say the torque of both bikes is similar (it has been a while since I have had my 2nd Gen). First gear has a higher speed than the previous model (not being a mechanic, I can’t say the gear ratios are different or not with any certainty). The Eluder GT has the six speed transmission like the previous version, but, also has 2 different ride “modes”, a touring and sport mode. I haven’t experiment much with them (I had to read the manual to know what the mode button did other than show a T and a S on the console). According to the book it lets the bike response be like a sport bike (to some degree) or the standard touring bike responsiveness. The first negative of the bike was the windshield, it was too short, and the wind buffeting was the first thing I noticed. Toss in a crosswind and it only made it worse. I will admit that it is something that I got used to after 2 days of riding to work, but coming from a taller windshield, it was something that I knew I would change on the very first ride (the dealer threw in the medium windshield including installation). On my 2nd Gen the stock shield was too tall and I ended up going to the Clearview medium windshield. Speaking of consoles, the new console is light years ahead of the 2nd Gen, but in all fairness, technology has advance so much it couldn’t have stayed where it. It is a combination of analog speedometer and tachometer, the odometer and gear indicator are digital and the GPS/Infotainment Center is touch screen digital, has a big display that can be toggled to show Audio, GPS, Phone, MPG, Battery and Communications connection information. All of this is controlled from a set of buttons on the left side of the handle bars. It takes some getting used to (reading the book really helps too) but given what it does it is pretty intuitive as well. The Eluder GT is alarm equipped and uses a key-less radio frequency fob like may of the new cages. The ignition took me sometime to figure out since it only requires a push, hearing a click and turning the knob. Overthinking Tom, though you had to push, hear the click and keep it depressed while turning the knob (which, by the way does nothing). If the buttons on the fob are pushed too many times trying to figure it out, it locks out for about 5 minutes as an added anti-theft safety feature. Mother nature has cooperated 3 whole days for me to ride it, 2 days to work and back (53 miles each way). Today I got to ride to the dealership to have the new medium windshield installed, and a bit of around town before heading home(about 50 miles. The taller windshield makes all the difference in the world with the wind buffeting. Who knows, if Clearview offers up a windshield for it, I may invest in one, I like the S-curve at the top and the vent you can get in them. The bike has a 6.6 gallon tank an to date I have been getting 38 mpg on the freeway and 37 in the around town riding. If memory serves me right, the RSV I had would get about 36 on the highway and less in town. I am interested to see if the mileage stays as high or gets better after the break in period. I know this has been long winded, but those who remember me from my days on the forum as DK Knight, it is to be expected. It is nice to be back, I hopefully will be able to make it to some of the ride-ins that come up and make some new friends in the local area, I was happy to see so many in the Cypress/Houston area. Those to the north (Dallas/Ft. Worth, Austin and San Antonio) ae only a couple of hours away and would be great to have a lunch meet and greet. I remember one of the reasons to ride was to find a good place to eat! I will post more as I get more saddle time and miles behind me on the bike.

Just went for a Stratoliner Deluxe to the Eluder GT, have had the 20s for about 3 years and was never able to get it to function as I wanted it to with the Garmin GPS that came with the bike and my phone. Anyone with experience in the sequencing of device etc, any assistance you can offer would be appreciated. The Eluder GT has a touchscreen bluetooth capable system and If I can avoid spending 300 bucks to go to the J&M corded headset it would save me money to get the add-on fog lights ($379.00.... ouch!) Thanks in adavance!

I am local, in Cypress off of Fry Road about 2 miles from the Berry Center and Cy Ranch High School. My number is listed in the VR Assistance. Call me if you would like to meet up. We are new to Texas and are looking for folks to meet and share interests with.

I just picked up the Eluder GT, it is much lower than the 2nd Gen Venture. I am 5-9 and a 32" inseam and I am totally flatfooted with some bend in the knee with the stock seat. To get anywhere close on the 2nd Gen, I had to go to a narrower seat (Corbin Brick). This bike sits lower and the passenger foot platforms are adjustable. I would think that your wife would be able to get on and off the Eluder without issue, I can't speak for the Venture or the Venture TC due to the trunk. Seat height is the same for both bikes. I would be interested to know if the bike works out for you. I was able to test ride one (they offered to let me ride both) at Houston Yamaha Motor Sports. Taylor was my salesperson. There was another salesman (possibly the sales manager) who was very knowledgeable about both bikes. Good luck in your quest.