Prairiehammer

In 1983 CYCLE Magazine ran the 1983 XVZ12TK through the ¼ mile in 12.69 seconds at 103.92 mph. In 1986 CYCLE ran the 1986 XVZ1300 through the ¼ mile in 12.5 seconds and 104.5 mph.

Here:

Here is a homemade ramp for loading a motorcycle: http://www.bikercamps.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/DIY-bike-Ramp.pdf Off hand, I think that six feet long might be too short and steep. Lots of motorcycle loading mishaps on You Tube and one common failure is when the underside of the bike catches the trailer lip because of insufficient ground clearance. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMBbzzfkQbs]Motorcycle load crash - fail - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmaVlJmHgGc]Loading Motorbike Epic Fail - YouTube[/ame]

Happy Birfday, Kevie

Happy Birfday, Tom.

Oh, man! DON'T DO THAT! The shop vacs use a universal (brush type) motor that creates a spark at the brushes while operating. Sucking gasoline vapors into a running shop vac will virtually guarantee an explosion. IMHO.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't that speaker. That Polk speaker is/was a 10" subwoofer. Polk currently offers a 4" marine speaker, model DXi400. http://www.polkaudio.com/products/dxi400

1983 TCIs are unique to that year, will not work well on any other year. The 1983 TCI should have number starting with 26H. The 3JJ TCI that you refered to is for the 1990-1993 Ventures. Check this thread: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=79858

One must eject the cassette (or cassette adapter) in order for the radio to come on. The cassette itself does not have to be removed from the deck. Depressing the eject button on the cassette deck just disconnects the cassette from the tape head and drive belt. It will remain in the slot under the cover. What does a Russian gymnast have to do with the cassette. Super horky...?

Obviously, I am not Condor (though I play one on TV) but in answer to your question about the MKI vs. MKII foot pegs. I own both and I actually compared (measured) the difference in foot peg placement in relation to a fixed point on the engine. My conclusion: there is no difference between the position of the fixed MKII peg and the position of the MKI peg when it is in the forward most position. In other words, there is no gain in forward placement of the MKI peg compared to the MKII peg. But, if you were looking for a more rearward peg position, then replacing the MKII peg with the MKI peg would offer that alternative.

Mr. Brandon, I am 6'4" with a 36 inch inseam (actually more like 37" plus with my normal riding boots) and I too feel your pain regarding legroom. Like Shorty, I removed the "cantle" in the stock saddle and gained perhaps 1½" of knee room at the fairing. Also like Shorty I run with the lowers removed sometimes, but prefer to leave them installed on long trips for the protection from the elements. Conventional highway pegs on engine guards do give an alternate foot position, although for me the location is somewhat high. Shorty has the "Longhorns" from Kuryakyn on his Venture and as Mike stated they give a lot more adjustability. And as Snaggletooth raised his butt via a sheepskin, I raised my butt higher with BeadRiders. But the biggest seat rise was accomplished with a Travelcade/Saddlemen Road Sofa seat. It alone is probably more than inch higher than the stock seat. And it has the much desired backrest. My particular Road Sofa has also had the Butt Butler mod done and I run the BeadRider beaded cover on top of it. Unfortunately, I lost the 1½" rearward relocation I attained with the modded stock seat when I installed the Road Sofa. I am contemplating reducing the size of the cantle on the Road Sofa as I did on the stock seat, but I am concerned about the integral back rest and interference with it as I attempt to move rearward. One possibility: your stock seat may not be "stock" any longer. When I bought my '90, I could barely ride it the 250 miles home. It was extremely cramped. I discovered that the PO had removed a lot of foam, apparently to lower his butt and to reach the ground. Perhaps yours has been similarly modified ? I restored the lost seat height with various foam densities until it finally suited me. Don't give up on your bike. It can be the most comfortable touring bike you have owned with a bit of customization.

I've got a (presumed) Big Bike trunk light on my '90 and I wanted to convert the incandescent bulbs to LED, but I can't figure out how to get the lens off without breaking them. What is your secret to removing and replacing the lenses? Do you have a link and part number for the new lenses?

Wish you luck.

I've never done this, but is it possible that the air line that was on the compressor/valve assembly can be swapped for the blown hose on the shock?

It sounds like it is already lean if the only thing you have is a steel washer.

To clarify: ALL the Ventures have air ride suspension, but just the 1983-1993 Royales have an ON BOARD air compressor and controller. The Standards have air ride, but as Earl says, the suspension has to be aired up manually. His suggestion is to find a Standard being parted out and obtain the air hose from it.

Instead of a POLL, I suggest we start a POOL. Winner gets to add to the VentureRider FUND.

Petcock open?

According to Yamaha ( http://m.yamahamotorsports.com/partsviewer.aspx#/Yamaha/XVZ12TK_-_1983/CARBURETOR/XVZ12TK_%281983_MOTORCYCLE%29/CARBURETOR_%28XVZ12TK_-_1983%29 ) the cap is the same as the 1986+. I would be suspicious of the all metal float valve needle. That isn't the norm. Almost all have had the Viton tip. Your kit included new seats?

According to this supplier, the pickup for the 1990-93 Venture is the same as for a V-Max from 1986(? I don't think that is correct, because Yamaha shows a dual pick-up for 1986),1990-2007. But not the same as the Second Gen. http://www.boats.net/parts/detail/yamaha/Y-3UF-81670-00-00.html

Huh! I didn't know there was a CD on rebuilding the V-Max carbs. I would like a copy. Anyway you can burn one for me? Or point me to where I can get one?

Thanks, Mike. Sounds like your memory is just fine. Jason's dilemma has me checking for a solution to a problem I have never encountered. Your experience is invaluable. It seems that the BDS35 carbs have a slightly different arrangement than the BDS34 (like on your bike). On the later models perhaps the plug is more a "cup" held in with an O-ring? I don't know, but I am certainly going to keep an eye on this thread and hopefully Jason will include pictures and Model description when he get this sorted out. Jason, based on what Mike has said, can you not just keep driving the seat out toward the plug until everything is pushed out of the carb body? I know you will ruin the seat and the net filter and maybe the plug, but if you are careful not to damage the bore where the seat is, this may be doable.

In addition to the fine points made so far; try tapping with a wrench or other hard metallic object on the banjo union; both the one on the slave and the one on the master cylinder. The intent is to dislodge those clinging air bubbles trapped in the recesses. Also, if you have a Mity Vac, try reverse bleeding; that is, try forcing clean brake fluid from the slave bleed nipple through the slave, up the line and out the master cylinder. The Mity Vac has a pressure pump capability as well as a suction pump. Simply reverse the lines on the Mity Vac and it will pump fluid.

You sure, Mike? Cause, I've been reading on the V-Max and Virago sites that IF, IF you need to replace the seat, that it goes in from the bowl side and the new one gets pressed in, again from the bowl side. But, I've never removed the seat to know for sure. One guy drilled his seat out using incrementally larger bits until he could pry out the remains. I sure don't see how you could get a straight shot at the seat from the bowl side, though. To the OP: what year Venture are we talking about? If it is a 1986 or newer the plug is available from Yamaha ($$$) just as Carl (MiCarl) said. Part number: 41R-14118-01-00. The same setup is used on the VMax and Virago.

Here is my thread about the Lake Superior Circle Tour. At the end of the thread I posted a post trip report including a map of the route we took. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=55675 One thing: there is no fuel between Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa.