Prairiehammer

Now I am confused. I thought the 'pond' you spoke of was Lake Michigan, but Lake Michigan is 78.22 miles wide from Muskegon to Milwaukee. Is there another big pond that has surfaced since I last rode around Lake Michigan and through Muskegon?

For several years I have been compiling First Generation Venture VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). I've entered the accumulated VIN into an Excel database. It is rather an OCD thing I suppose, however, the database has proven useful to me and other Venture owners by providing some insight into such Yamaha vagaries as annual production numbers, export market differences and accurate model designations for the purpose of obtaining the correct parts for a specific motorcycle. Perhaps you would be so kind as to forward me your Venture's full VIN, the manufacturing date and the Venture's current mileage, so that I may enter it into the database? The VIN is located at two locations on the First Generation Ventures. The VIN is stamped into the frame at the steering neck, but that location makes it difficult to read the VIN on the Venture. However, there is also an applied white label on the lower frame rail beneath the rear brake pedal, that contains the VIN. The VIN is easily read there. The VIN consists of 17 characters and digits and starts with 'JYA'. On the same label, the manufacturing date is shown. The manufacturing date is formatted as month/year, i.e.: '4/83', '8/87', etc. I will send you a copy of this database if you wish. If you want a copy, include an email address where I can send the Excel file. Thank you for your consideration.

I find it difficult to navigate the 'Community' (list of members). The only sortable column is the member username. If I recall correctly, the old community list was sortable by state?

The Gold Wing passenger armrests have been spoken for. Sorry, Andy.

Some months back there was a thread that talked about these videos on U-tube and there was someone who asserted that the mustached, neck tie wearing instructor was our very own Marcarl. I never saw whether that was confirmed. Is the instructor/narrator REALLY Carl?

I picked up an incomplete (they lacked the arm pads) pair of passenger armrests some time back that was claimed to have come off a MKII Venture. I couldn't figure out to make the bracketry work on my 1990 and never installed them. But in my research, I discovered that the one I had was originally for an Eighties Gold Wing. Apparently the Venture owner had cut-off some Gold Wing specific brackets and had clamped the bracket to the passenger hand rails with U-bolts. I'm not positive, but it appears so. Here are some pics of what I got and some pics of what the unmodified Gold Wing bracket looks like. If anyone wants the brackets for their own McGivering, shoot me a PM. Yours for the cost of postage.

Not much. And this list is just for the Venture. I have to refurbish a trailer I obtained, as well.

As long as the battery is maintained at a full charge, it will not freeze. Either way, indoors or outdoors, you should keep a tender on it. Not a trickle charger, but a true 'tender' or maintainer, that will cycle on and off as required to maintain a full charge.

Here is a complete front fork air assembly for just $7.50 plus shipping. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-yamaha-venture-xvz-1200-FORK-TUBE-AIR-NOZZLES-AIR-HOSES-/141102565641?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20da5e4909&vxp=mtr In your case, remove the hose that connected to the compressor and install the shorter hose with the Schrader valve onto the existing fork air collar.

Yes, although the access to the front fork air hose is more difficult.

The easiest way is to obtain the hose and Shrader valve off a Standard.

First (and it is a minor thing, but nomenclature is always important), you do not have a Royal Star Venture. The Royal Star Venture was made from 1999 through 2013 and is a substantially different motorcycle than your 1986 (or 1987) Venture Royale. No big deal, but it is always helpful to address the most interested enthusiast. Many First Generation Venture (that would be the 1983-1993 years) owners know nothing of the Second Generation Royal Star Ventures (1999-2013) and vice verse. As to triking the First Gen Venture, Tri-Wing Industries produced a trike conversion for the First Gen Ventures and MAY still. Perhaps contact them and ask for their specifications concerning the final drive? Good luck and keep us informed as to your progress. Oh! And one more thing, resubmit your question on the 'Trike and Sidecar' forum here or have a moderator move your original post to that forum. Lots of savvy trike people check that forum out, I'm sure some have had experience with trikes and the First Gen.

The official Yamaha paint code: NEW PEARL WHITE ( NPW / 00Y9 ) CERAMIC IVORY ( CRI / 00TL ) ColorRite: http://www.colorrite.com/product/yamaha-00y9-new-pearl-white-npw-1931.cfm http://www.colorrite.com/product/yamaha-00tl-ceramic-ivory-cri-1839.cfm

On the 1983 only, the Boost Sensor (vacuum advance) picks up the vacuum from a port on the number 2 carb body. There should be a vacuum hose running from this port to the Boost Sensor. In the accompanying pic of the carbs, the vacuum hose in question has been cut off at the end of the nipple that is on the #2 carb.

Not only is 'engine' spelled incorrectly, but more importantly, the listed oil capacity is incorrect (way too much oil). Yes, I know, that is what is listed in the Service Manual for Total Oil Capacity, but if you put 5 US quarts in the engine after draining the crankcase and changing the filter, you will have seriously overfilled the crankcase. I believe the '5 US quarts' is what you MAY have to add if the engine crankcase and various oil lines were empty, as in a fresh engine rebuild. We have had several add 5 US quarts as a result of this Service Manual citation and have encountered the typical oil blowing out into the air box. According to the Yamaha Service Manual: Periodic Oil change: 3.5L (3.1 Imp. Qt, 3.7 US Qt) With Oil Filter Replacement: 3.8L (3.3 Imp. Qt, 4.0 US Qt)

Yes the pilot screw can be adjusted, removed and reinstalled while the carburetor is on the bike. If, however you are actually speaking of the pilot jet, then no, the pilot jet cannot be removed while the carb is on the bike.

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Don, I haven't researched the Royal Star colors as much as the 1986-1993 Ventures, so I am not 100% confident the Royal Star colors in the Word document below are accurate. The Royal Star colors were obtained by perusing the parts fiche. Royal Star, 1996-2001 Colors.docx

My submission is correct, there can be no argument. All the colors are from official Yamaha documents and sources. However, the chart still has a couple errors. The 1986 Venture Royale model designation should be 'DS/DSC' not 'DS/DT'. The DT is for 1987. The 1987 Royale model designation should be 'DT/DTC' not 'DS/DT'.

Uh. NO!

Thank you Chris and Don, looks great! There are many errors in the table of 1986-1993 colors. I submit for your approval the correct colors in the attached Word Doc. History of the Yamaha Venture 1986-1993 Colors.docx

Richard, As Gary said, all the engine case covers are interchangeable with the exception of the clutch cover.

Where would you escape to? Is there a 'Zed Zone' ?