Prairiehammer

Nine degrees below zero Fahrenheit here this morning (-22.778ºC). Thankfully, our power outage occurred and was remedied just before these sub-zero temps hit.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and to all a good night!

Merry Christmas! BTW: do you blokes ever have a White Christmas?

Doug, the "E4" error is most commonly associated with cold solder connections on the controller board. See this Tech Bulletin: Also, the controller from the '85 should be the same as the controller on the '83.

Kevin, The available features for a Canadian market Venture may have been different than the US market. For instance, there was no 1985 or 1986 Standard Venture in the US export market, but there was a 1985 and 1986 Standard sold to the Canucks. Similarly, the European market features differed from the German export market and both of those differed in available features compared to the US audience. To me, at least, it's all a very interesting detective endeavor, sorting out the vagaries of the First Gen Venture. Perhaps you could forward me the VIN from your '86, so that I may add to my database and further my knowledge. Thank you.

Carl is mostly correct, but to clarify: the 1987 Standard Venture (XVZ13T, 2LW) did not come with any audio systems; the air suspension was manually adjusted, with no on board compressor or controller. The Standard did have electronic cruise control, though. The Standard also had a unique color: Orion Silver (actually looks like two-tone blue).

I am certain that is not part of OEM brake system. Was this nail actually inserted into the brake line? Perhaps, it was someone's attempt to block off the brake line? I cannot fathom why one would do so, though.

While Progressive may not offer the shock, it is still available on eBay. For how long, though? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Progressive-465-Series-Single-Shock-Standard-For-Yam-Venture-83-88-Royale-83-93-/191007233755?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c78eb16db&vxp=mtr

I am sorry for your loss, Annie.

Doug, when speaking of the VENTURE, the second generation began in 1999 as the Royal Star Venture (RSV). As Paul says, the First Generation Venture is from 1983 to 1993. Within the First Generation Venture saga is the Mark 1 (MKI) from 1983 through 1985. A Mark 2 (MKII) First Generation Venture is a 1986 through 1993. All MKI First Gen Ventures are 1200cc. All MKII First Gen Ventures are 1300cc. There are differences between model years within the MKI genre as well as differences between model years within the MKII group. MKI Ventures are XVZ12(x) and MKII Ventures are XVZ13(x) There are also two generations of Royal Star XVZ1300. The first Royal Star (RS) was in 1996. I am not certain what year the second generation RS started. Confusingly, all Yamaha V-Fours from 1986 to 2013 are grouped into the XVZ13 group. The suffix after XVZ13 determines the model. For instance: 1986 Venture Royale is properly called a XVZ13DS. A 1987 Royale is a XVZ13DT. Your 1985 Royale is a XVZ12DN. Your 1983(1/2) Royale is a XVZ12DKC2. I hope that clears up some things for you.

Paul is mostly correct, except: the 1991-1993 First Generation Venture Royale came from the factory with four brush starter. Two ways to identify a four brush starter without taking the starter apart: On the end cap there are cast-in numbers. A two brush starter will have Mitsuba SM-229 or similar (it may be 229x), while a four brush starter end cap will show Mitsuba SM-13xxx. The other, easier way to differentiate two brush from four brush: If there is a large Phillips screw head showing on the side/barrel of the starter it is PROBABLY a two brush. If there are no Phillips screw heads showing on the starter it is a four brush. This last identifier is not 100% confirmed, but I have yet to see a Venture Mitsuba two brush starter without that screw. The screw holds the field coils onto the starter case. Later four brush field coils are secured with some form of adhesive instead of a screw. It is not to say that ALL Mitsuba SM-13xxx starters will work on a Venture. Mounting points, starter motor rotation and the number of teeth are all pertinent. The SM-13xxx is a SERIES of Mitsuba starters. Various forms of SM-13xxx starters are used on a bunch of disparate Japanese motorcycles. Here is a pic of a Mitsuba two brush starter with the tell tale screw. And a pic of a SM-13 endplate, showing the cast in number.

I do! Jack, don't take the SuperBrace banner too seriously. If most members are like me, they will realize that the SuperBrace is over priced, always has been. So, that is why when I saw your brace offered here, I jumped on it...twice, now. I also have chosen to deal with Earl whenever I need something for the antiques. Shop Local, y'all!

Looks like you!

Todd (tvking), took some good pics of the gears when he did a gear swap from an '89 into his '84. There are two pics in which he compared the 1984 second gear/fifth gear dog engagement to the same engagement in the '89 gear set. His '89 gear set shows two grooves while the '84 set shows none. Go here and scroll down to see it: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=47405

Good job! Makes one feel very satisfied, doesn't it? One point: On some 1983 Venture carbs, there was a sharp edge on the inner side of the diaphragm covers that tended to wear and cut the diaphragms. It was explained in Tech Bulletin M85-012. Check your diaphragm covers and utilize an abrasive to smooth the inner shoulder to prevent cutting your new diaphragms.

Apology accepted and I am sorry for my apparent curtness. As for the 1985 transmission repair, attached is a scan of the Tech Bulletin M85-014, showing the Venture models affected and the cut-off point for the afflicted engines.

If you want to spend the bucks there are NOS rubber gaskets here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-XVZ12-XVZ13-Venture-EXHAUST-Rubber-Damper-OEM-NEW-NOS-/400455964312?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d3d091698&vxp=mtr

Please excuse me if my replies to your post seem condescending and arrogant for that is not my intention. I believe that your engine number is 1416. Perhaps the number stamp is slightly imperfect, thus the "o" as the last digit is actually the "6" minus the curved part. The engine number and the last digits of the VIN will match in an unmolested bike. So, it appears that your engine came with that frame. The "59J" part of the VIN and of the engine number is correct for a 1985 Venture, thus it is a 1198 cc (1200) engine. In 1986, Yamaha increased the engine size to 1294 cc (1300). The starting engine serial number for a 1986 1300 engine would have "1NL" where your 1985 engine has "59J". The frame serial number (VIN) on a 1986 would be JYA1NL00*GA000101 (starting serial). Thank you for posting your 1985 VIN. I have been compiling Venture VINs and adding them to a database. The build date of 12/84 is also informative.

If you use the Google Search at the bottom of the search box and click on the www.ventureriders.org button then a search for "oil" will return all results that contain the word "oil". Or "oil change". http://www.google.com/custom?domains=www.venturerider.org&q=oil&sa=Google+Search&sitesearch=www.venturerider.org&client=pub-1134398399274804&forid=1&channel=6437042346&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%23006699%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%236C82B5%3BVLC%3A32527A%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AE6E6E6%3BLBGC%3A003366%3BALC%3A0066CC%3BLC%3A0066CC%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A66B5FF%3BGIMP%3A66B5FF%3BLH%3A50%3BLW%3A51%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.mkpitstop.com%2Fimages%2Fdirectory.gif%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.mkpitstop.co.uk%3BFORID%3A1%3B&hl=en http://www.google.com/custom?domains=www.venturerider.org&q=oil+change&sa=Google+Search&sitesearch=www.venturerider.org&client=pub-1134398399274804&forid=1&channel=6437042346&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%23006699%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%236C82B5%3BVLC%3A32527A%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AE6E6E6%3BLBGC%3A003366%3BALC%3A0066CC%3BLC%3A0066CC%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A66B5FF%3BGIMP%3A66B5FF%3BLH%3A50%3BLW%3A51%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.mkpitstop.com%2Fimages%2Fdirectory.gif%3BS%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.mkpitstop.co.uk%3BFORID%3A1%3B&hl=en

You say it is a 1985 with a 1300cc engine. Since there was no 1300 in 1985, someone put the 1300 into the 1985. What is the engine number (left rear of the engine case, behind the cover, over the middle gear)?

I know it is registered as an '83, but if I saw that bike on the street I would call it a 1984 model. It's got the 1984 Royale paint scheme and maybe the 1984 choke? Is the clock above the CMS or below? I'll bet it is a 1983½; features of an '84 with the VIN of an '83. Correct?

The 'bird doth protest too much, methinks. I never said anything about a Harley...

"A Freebird. Used to be kinda fast. Now it just makes a lot of noise."

Found this ad where the seller says that a "Stand was made by a gentleman going by the name Freebird". Anyone WE know? Nah...couldn't be. http://pennsylvania.freecycleshopper.com/motorcycles-and-parts/yamaha-star-venture-center-stand.html

That is a six inch rule. The "15" is centimeters.