Prairiehammer

Lou, The way to check the oil level on your First Gen is on the center stand on a level floor. Keep it halfway between the marks and you are good to go.

I believe it is for a 1983 or 1984 Royale prior to factory CB. The "glove box" on upper right of the fairing dash. The CLASS would occupy the lower section of the right fairing compartment. Later the CLASS and CB took up most of the space and there is simply the latched door for checking the coolant overflow tank. Here's a pic of a 1984 Royale with that cover.

Good 'un, Brian

Yamaha Paint code for 1988: Creamy White (Primary): 03X, Colorite: 5329U Ceramic Ivory (Secondary): 0TL, Colorite: 5536U-1 top, Graceful Maroon (Primary): 0RO, Colorite: 5488U top, 1470U-1 base Miyabi Maroon (Secondary): 0JY, Colorite: 5605U top, 1470U base Yamaha Paint Code for 1989: Graceful Maroon (Primary): 0RO, Colorite: 5488U top, 1470U-1 base Miyabi Maroon (Secondary): 0JY, Colorite: 5605U top, 1470U base

And while you are the plumbing section, look for some MEK, the solvent of choice for cleaning ABS. In fact, I have used straight MEK to glue cleanly broken ABS parts. It is one of the solvents in ABS cement. If you don't find MEK in the plumbing section, look in the paint section of your local Home Center, usually next to the acetone (another good solvent for ABS) and other painter solvents.

I removed my TCI fairly easily by first removing the airbox and the plastic baffle over the front head and the "boost sensor". Disconnect the TCI wiring connectors and move them out of the way. Then I used a short handled 3/8" drive ratchet with a 1/4" socket installed on the ratchet and a #3 Phillips screwdriver insert (1" long) taped onto the socket to keep it from falling out. Using a mirror to see where to place the driver bit, I wrenched the screws right out. It is important that one use a #3 Phillips to fit the screw heads. Removing the boost sensor is not absolutely required but by doing so, I more easily got a straight shot at the TCI screws. I replaced the boost sensor back into it's stock position, but I replaced the Phillips head screws with ordinary hex headed bolts (to facilitate future removal). The only plastic I removed was the lower fairings and the triangular radiator trim pieces.

You can get VentureRider business cards made at the site in this thread: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2566 Or print your own from these Word templates downloadable from this thread: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=248 But Easy Rider's point of including the business cards with VRStore purchases is good, too.

Just the manufacturers way of keeping track of manufacturing runs? I dunno, but any 41Rxx will be what you would use on a 1984-1989. See this thread where Snaggletooth asked the same question. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=34709

The middle gear cover gasket is Yamaha Part number 26H-15461-00-00, or 3JP-15461-00-00. It is still available for all the First Gen Ventures and is also used on the First Gen V-Max. Only cost $3 or so. Find another stealer or order on online.

Here is a calculator specifically for motorcycles. http://woodsware.aciwebs.com/gears/ If you were running the stock tire (140/80-16): 6500 rpm in fifth gear equals 116.2 mph. If you were running a 150/80-16 tire: 6500 rpm in fifth gear equals 119.1 mph. If you were running a 150/90-16 tire: 6500 rpm in fifth gear equals 124.7 mph. In the OP you said 150/90-16. In a subsequent post you said 150/80-16. In any case, the tire diameter is less when the weight of the bike and rider is applied, thus my earlier comment about "loaded" tire diameter. However, unbelted bias ply tires do grow at high speed, so maybe the tire diameter is effectively the same as a static unloaded tire.

The 41R series is for the 1984-1989. The 26H series is for the 1983 only. The 3JJ series is for the 1990-1993.

BTW, I thought the R1 calipers were anodized blue. How difficult was it to remove the blue? Usually, anodized color is a bear to polish out, but if it was powder coat (paint), stripper would remove the majority, requiring just a bit of mechanical polishing. I like it (the clear aluminum calipers) alot.

I would estimate your speed at about 114.2 mph assuming a 25"± loaded diameter rear tire.

Here, under the rubber flap.

Yamaha part numbers reflect the size of a bolt in the part number. In this case: "06014" means 6 mm diameter and 14 mm in length.

What gear were you in? What is the loaded tire diameter? Here is a site with a calculator. Try it out. http://wahiduddin.net/calc/calc_speed_rpm.htm

Mike, looking through my "database" of Venture accessory photos that I have compiled, I have found both versions of the Markland hitch; some with no hole and some with the flattened end and a hole like yours. If someone finds the "no hole" version, they better make sure to get the clamps I referred to above or the mounting will not be stable. I am going to propose that the "no hole" version is the earliest, but it showed a weakness due to the slipping of the clamp on the round tube and Markland revised the hitch to have a flattened end with a bolt hole for a more secure mount. I've not found the Markland clamps intended for the flattened with hole hitch. Perhaps, the Markland provided clamps for the later version hitch were exactly what you did?

Not shown in any of the previous pics are the clamps to attach to the saddlebag crash bars. They would do what the chrome clamps that Snaggletooth shows in his last pic do but are made differently. Most sellers don't seem to remove them from the bike with the hitch.

Depending on the brand of hitch, there were significant differences between the two years. Probably have to make some major mods. First pic is of a Markland hitch for a MKI (1983-1985). Second of a Markland for a MKII (1986-1993).

Thanks, Gary for the thread about the First Gen fuel pump on a Second Gen. But what is the difference between the G1 and G2 pumps (besides the mounting) that has manifested a higher failure rate in the G2? Is the G2 version constructed on the same principle (electromagnetic reciprocating diaphragm)? Just curious.

Pardon me if I am incorrect, but it seems that the Second Gen fuel pumps are more prone to fail than the First Gen fuel pumps. What is different from one Generation fuel pump to the other? Can a First Gen pump be used on a Second Gen?

You didn't REALLY plan on 40 pounds on that rack did you? Yamaha had a sticker on the G1 VentureLine racks stating a 10 pound limit. Just Sayin' And, how did you know Bob was my Uncle² ?

Yeah, I hear ya! For the girl at the bar: my first thought wasn't the belly button! Or a twist-off!

That video got me to thinking: I didn't have a bottle opener on the bike! Do now! While most of the time, the beer I drink has a twist-off cap, sometimes while camping, I buy a local brew and those hauty-tauty micro-brewers seem to sneer at twist-off caps, so now I can enjoy my beer without worrying about glass shards and torn up tires.

I don't think there is a way to sort the list while viewing on the VRO site, but if you download the VentureRider Assistance list to your computer as an Excel spreadsheet, you can sort that list by state/province and the cities will be listed alphabetically. Granted the VR assistance list is not as up to date (hint) as the "community" list and not all members have been added to the "assistance" list. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=45159&highlight=assistance+list