I had the opportunity to test ride a Venture in Daytona at Bike Week. I own a Harley Ultra Limited. I’ve owned 3 Harleys; a Heritage, a Road King & the Limited. Before that, I owned a Yamaha Royal Star. I test road the Honda Goldwing and a CVO Ultra as well as the Venture. Honestly, if I bought another bike, I’d buy the Venture. It was very comfortable. It had lots of storage. My wife and I would love to take this on a trip. It was powerful. It handled very well. It had lots of options that I’d love to have on mine. Yep. Once I’m in a position to buy again, this is what I would buy.
I bought a new leftover 2018 Black Eluder last summer. I love the bike and have been a Yamaha fan for years. The bike is just effortless to ride and cruising at 75 mph in 6th gear is a pure joy. I have roughly 1200 miles on the bike and so far no issues at all and being a Yamaha I don't expect any issues. The majority of the Hater's is people that don't even own one. Tire Kicker's we call them.
Jonathan Tyree Exactly! looks like they shrunk down the front end of a 67-68 Camaro and mounted it on a bike. which just happens to be the main reason why I like it.
I got a 2018 Eluder with the GT package and I installed the fog lights and driving lights. I got this bike to replace a 2002 V-Star 1100 Custom that was loaded with hard-shell bags, highway bar, driving lights, fog lights, Dyna 3000 ignition and Predator intake kit. The Eluder is smoother, faster and more nimble than the 1100 was! I am impressed and glad I got the Eluder over any of the other bikes in the price range (18K). I have put 1500 miles on it and LOVE it! Switch it to sport mode and the throttle feels more reactive and the brakes can get you stopped super fast without lockup (ABS). Glad I got it. The front end looks like an old American muscle car as does the rear tail / brake lights.
I love the look, I think it is beautiful. Tons of awesome high tech features. The only thing I do not like is an air cooled twin. I want nothing but liquid cooled for touring.
i took a test ride this weekend on a red Venture and the new Goldwing. The Yamaha was hands down the best overall. I like it even more than the Road Gold ultra.
I recently rode an Eluder and was really surprised with the power and handling. I couldn't hang around to test the Venture, but a salesman said they're very similar. I'm seriously considering the Bagger for my next bike. I was very impressed! Everyone at Demo Days.......including Sport bike enthusiasts loved the styling.
I own a 2017 Yamaha Raider. My wife and I have been doing a ton of day trips. I have saddlebags and a quick release fairing on it. I LOVE my Raider. But.... It is not comfortable for long trips. So I decided that I would try out some of the American Iron "big" bikes. First was Indian. The issue was the floor boards were way too high and forced me to lean backwards. My back was out for a day after riding it. Then I tried the Harley Street Glide and Road Glide. Both bikes physically felt small when riding. I took a photo on each and they look like a scooter under me. The Raider is bigger and longer in length than all of them. I do not dwarf the bike and it is a torque monster. An employee at Indian said to me when he asked what I rode "we've got nothing here that would compare to that." At Harley, they broke out their adding machine claiming they could do a lot of custom stuff to the bike to help make it feel bigger...at a significant cost. My wife and I decided that trading my Raider for anything we looked at was trading down in comfort, power and size. Harley was willing to make an effort to make their bikes a better fit but at a price tag that would choke a horse. Then I saw a Venture going down the road. We watched some videos including this one and realized that everything I love about the Raider is in this bike. The Venture would be trading up. We're planning on getting one. Thanks for your thoughts on this video.
I'm 65 years old now, and Yamaha has been making bikes of various styles and applications for as long as I can remember. Personally , I like what they've done to this Tourer. All the reviews ive watched have given the bike Praise about the power, handling and the looks. One in particular was an earlier year, but he had ridden his over 88,000 miles. He still called it amazing and was getting ready to get one of these again. There's no greater way of giving a good review than trading up to the same steed , just newer year. I'm in total agreement with you about get on it and ride, and then come and talk shop for some of these haters. They don't have a clue about it until they do that. Keep it safe and fun! Thanks for the great review!
I was prepared to HATE it and never imagined I would buy one. After a ride and found out about all it offers/warranties and it beats all the others hands down! I LOVE MINE!
Because I loved riding my raider so much on weekends, I looked at the all new Venture as a long distance mount. The engines have different personalities, the Venture is more like a diesel. It pulls like a train, but it can do it at super low RPM's. It handles well, is comfortable and it has tons of luggage room. I would ride this bike around the western U.S. any chance I'd get. I've owned Indians, Harleys, Goldwings, and the 1600 GTL BMW. I'm keeping this one.
I feel exactly the same way about my bike, I owned/rode all kinds of other bikes too. This might weigh more than the GTL1600 but isn't nearly as top heavy, the weight is much lower.
Perfectly Stated!! I rode on a demo in late July down in Colorado.... I'm only 5'8" and my feet were firmly on the ground. It didn't feel like a 900+ lb bike at all. Great suspension...very comfortable...very nice in the corners...well balanced. I agree the keyboard warriors need to actually ride one before bitching about it at all.
I DID ride one. The pros: Handled well. Didn't handle like a large bike once I was moving. Styling is great. The cons: HEAT. Temperature was 90 when I rode and my left leg nearly melted. Even at speed the heat seemed to funnel directly to my leg. Also, the saddle bags are deceptively small. Kind of like opening a YETI cooler. The price is too high, too. This thing compares with the BMW K1600GT and can't come close to its comfort or performance. Just my opinions.
I think the Yamaha Star Venture is a great bike. I personally ride a Victory Cross Country and love my bike. I always get negative comments from Harley riders about how they don't like Victorys, Indians, or anything else that's not a Harley. Harley riders are so dead set on the Harley brand and closed minded to anything else. Good for you for keeping an open mind and not buying a bike just because it's popular. It's about the ride not the bike!
JoeVictoryCA as the owners of two Harley Touring bikes, I find this Yamaha intriguing as could be....so your observations are partially incorrect. You are right about the victory, though, I don't care for them. Sorry.
On my 4th Harley- before that (4) Kawasaki and (1) Yamaha...part of the process when buying a bike is after market parts, dealer support and long term platform parts supply. Never a problem with Harley, no matter the age...Try buying a coil pack for a 10 year old Kawasaki. All of my riding has been "touring" the last 10 years...Harley excels at that ( my current ride is a 2017 Road Glide Ultra- Awesome!) would love to test ride this new Venture in my mind a true contender has been created here, I too don't care for the Victory, for me- it was mostly styling, saddlebag storage and two up comfort..didn't like them...
David James I agree. My bikes are an '05 Road King and an '07 Ultra Classic. My first bike was a Suzuki TS185. Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Bultaco, all played a roll in my riding history. My mother and father rode all kinds of bikes when I was growing up. Bottom line is you have to like what you ride. I also need to be able to look back and say, "wow, that is sexy". This new Yamaha has that absolutely ferocious Road eating attitude from the front. I feel the fairing and lowers are a real fresh attempt to get away from the way over cartoonish swoops styling that has been the trend for the last decade......except for Harley.......and why I gravitated to them. I will go look at the Yamaha and test ride it.......with an open mind. Ride safe, enjoy....ps, I wave to metric bikes too.
Exactly! Well stated Paul. I own a Harley FXDC and a Honda ST1300 and may buy this Yamaha. I am currently shopping for a new big cruiser and have tried the GoldWing , BMW six cyl, and Harley models. I would like to ride one of these but my local dealer will not let you test ride a bike. If I can find a dealer within reason I will try to ride one of these when they come out but otherwise at the moment would buy a new Harley because of local dealer cooperation.
Can't ride a Venture demo? That sucks. Add to that my local Yamaha dealer not taking a three year old Yamaha Raider as part trade on this expensive bike. And yes, he sold me that bike new!
Having owned a few GL15 and 1800's, this bike has caught my eye. Can't wait to put a leg over the bike and test it out! Thanks for the review. My 2011 Concours and 2008 BKing are concerned. :) lol
Have to say I love this bike took a trip out to eastern Canada over four thousand km and man did it perform, comfortable, smooth stable and love that rumble ,and I could still hear my stereo, well balanced this is an amazing bike mine is a 2020 people check one out !
The people who talk about this bike or any other bike...usually cruiser or touring type bikes...are never going to buy anything like it so does their opinion even matter?!
It's a 900+ lb bike, so that has to be taken into account despite the argument that weight isn't an issue when riding. The bike looks great, but I still prefer bikes that are stripped down just a tad. I'd like to test-ride this bike but for the moment I'm sticking with my '08 RSTD.
Hey Longhaulpaul... thanks for unbiased comments. I'll be testing one next month with the Yamaha demo team is in my area. I'm a big fan of Yamaha. I have a 2009 FJR and it's been a good riding companion. Only thing I don't like about the Star Venture is its air-oil cooled power plant. But I don't think Yamaha would sacrifice reliability and their reputation, so I'll have to trust the engineers. Again, nice video. Stay safe out there.
Air/oil cooling is not new to Yamaha. I read that they went this way for lower maintenance. This engine also doesn't require valve adjustments. People said they wanted to tour and not stop frequently for maintenance...Yamaha listened. I hope that will silence the V4 people since they sound like Harley riders that don't know what to do when HD finally changes something. I thought only HD guys complained about stuff changing!!
The Eluder GT is my next bike. I have a 2011 Yamaha Raider and the engine is amazing. I would love to have something the wife and I can take out longer. I've never had any issues with any Yamaha I've ever owned. I realize the Eluder is air cooled. That doesn't bother me at all. My Raider handles hot weather like a champ. The Eluder to me is just an amazing bike. I need one in my life. Comfort and reliability are my priorities.
Pure beauty! Let me guess, those that called it ugly were Harley riders! I test rode the bike yesterday after test riding all the Harley tour bikes, the Indian Roadmaster and the fabulous Goldwing. It was an incredible ride. It was so nimble, I thought I was riding a sport bike. They gave me the bike for an hour. I put it through its paces. You will not notice the weight at all and it's one fast bike. My only complaint is the bike is too quiet and I'm not sure if they make after market pipes for it.
The best thing with an air cooled twin for touring is maintenance and a few less things to go wrong on a long trip. I lived in Arizona for twelve years with a twin, talk about chestnuts roasting on an open fire. I found it’s about airflow management and adjustable fork wings on the cruiser was key. I also own a BMW K1200GT liquid cooled and this thing gets very hot in stop and go. The difference between the v twin cruiser and my sport touring bike is rpm at stand still. I am seriously looking at purchasing the Star Venture and getting rid of my other two bikes. I was going to purchase a new Goldwing, Honda has a bunch of things to work out with the new design.
It’s different but not ugly. I bought a used 2018 from the owner of the dealership who added all the extras to it. My wife loves it and that’s good enough for me. My only complaint is that it shifts much harder then my 06 Roadstar.
I have owned two Venture Royals .... water cooled ride with CMA and I do a lot of parades... my only question is why didn't they stick to water cool.... I've seen so many other bikes looking pretty but run hot , won't mention any name brands I got nothing but love for the bikes that I have owned... I just got questions about this one
I owned a 2005 Venture I rode for 10 years. I had to replace the water pump with less than 30k miles. In addition, it would intermittently dump about a pint of coolant on the ground at gas stops through the overflow reservoir from time to time. Took it to 3 different dealerships and they never did figure out the cause. With the exception of my Kawasaki Concours 14, I've had issues with every water cooled bike I've owned so just because it's water cooled doesn't make it better IMHO.
Big bikes are made to roll and those that put them down, just take a 2 hours ride on one of them and see why they are the best. I got a 2012 Goldwing (and I love it) and find that in 2018, Yamaha has the nicer bike than Goldwing, but, that's my thinking. The 2018 season is about to start and I wish everyone perfect and safe rides all year.
I ride a Vision, recently test rode the Venture a 2nd time, this time with my wife on board. The highlights, Power: wonderful power, I have never liked the idea of ride modes but I liked it on this bike, noticeable difference in character of power delivery by design. Sport mode would throw you back in the seat. Looks: I thought the looks of the front with the scowl of the light arrangement and the scoops gave it a menacing fighter jet appeal. I didn't necessarily like the design of the back end. weight: it is listed 100lbs heavier than my Vision! But it feels lighter due to the mass centralization tech designed into it. Getting it off the stand is much less effort than my Vision. I couldn't believe how low the trunk lid was compared to my Vision . I'm 5'6" and the back edge of my trunk lid comes mid-chest on me. The Venture comes to my belt buckle. I attribute things like that to it feeling lighter than it actually is. Comfort was on par for a touring bike, ergos good. cargo good. negatives: The heat : heat from the engine was cooking my left thigh and my wife's left foot even at speed. The air deflectors do nothing on this bike for the lower body.. Much hotter than the Vision corner clearance: We are a combined 325-340 ( I wouldn't dare ask my wife's weight) made to extremely mild left hand turns and scraped each time. Didn't scrape on the right, making me think it's the kickstand. Scraping so early makes me think I couldn't even ride this on the Dragon or any road that wasn't arrow straight. The surprsing thing was, I know 2 couples that are avid 1st gen Venture riders and they all did not care for the 2018 before or after a test ride.
Man, the hell with what they say about this bike. I love the Star Venture, and I'm hoping like heck that they keep making the bike. If they continue to make this bike I will buy a 2019 Venture without a doubt. The only thing that I had a question with was the air cooled engine. I have a 2011 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic and that bike is Air cooled. So I want that bike.
Paul,, I have been an avid Venture rider since '87 and have logged over a million miles on them. Have worn out 5 of the 1st Gens and am working on my 6th right now. My wife and I attended the unveiling at Lake George and also did the Sturgis demo's of which you can find short vids of on here if you search my = Puc Puc vids.. Question for you.. Your comment about performance producing smiles and being what its all about is spot on in my humble opinion.. Were you the least bit discouraged that Yamaha didnt stay with the water cooled, high performance V-4 platform in this new one? Did you find the Roadliner air cooled 113 inch V-Twin to produce as much or more adrenaline smile as you might have expected from an updated Yam V-4 like the V-Max 1700 would they have chosen to build around it instead of the air cooled V-Twin? Personally,, when I read the title of your video here (THANK YOU for this vid by the way) I thought the "Elephant in the room" you were speaking of was probably gonna be about exactly this = performance... Thanks brother for your thoughts! Puc
I think this is a sharp looking bike, and I appreciate what Yamaha is trying to do with it. Having come from significant time with an older air-cooled literbike, the big question for me is... how *hot* is this bike to ride? I look at that 900cc rear cylinder nestled up between the rider's thighs and I think "slow roasted to perfection". Would love to get some saddle time on one, though, and see if my fears are unfounded.
The Honda Goldwing is over 900 lbs wet. My 2014 street glide was over 830 lbs. If you want a lighter bike with all the bells and whistles, start with loosing that gut hanging over your belt.
Looks great. You’re right, no where near ugly. It really is a good looking bike, nostalgic and classic. If this style is what you love looking back at while walking away, then yes, this might be your bike. But IMHO, once you run across the owners of the new GoldWings out in the road in your travels, this bike might also make you wish you stepped up to something like the new GoldWing. The new GoldWing ticks off all the boxes. That’s my .02. Nice report. Thanks for posting.
This is on smooth riding air cooled bike which tips the scale in the ride and technology department. I am a die hard harley davidson rider with the gear to boot and on my 2nd hog. Either way i respect what Yamaha & Honda have done in the touring department and its a matter of choice on what one rides.
Hi Paul, not 'bike related' for the test ride. But please, what is the brand of helmet you are wearing in the test? I'm looking for a flip front with a large 'air vent' system on the front.
19Graywulf this was the Schuberth E-1. I am now wearing an HJC RPHA 90. Great venting, 1/2 the price. Just as light, high end composite shell. It’s brand new.
She is super pretty no doubt about that !! Even after seeing th e New Goldwing I still believe that the Yamaha is the right pick up . Enjoy the Ride . it looks more sporty and agressive than any Harley or BMW
I had a 2001 Roadstar and sold it in 2009...saddest day of my life(well....maybe not "saddest"...... but still regret it to this day...Looks like a good replacement here!!!
Longhaulpaul, I know you ride a Yamaha Star Venture a lot. That's why I consider you to be the best reviewer. On the forums you can find not good opinions about the Yamaha eluder, they are said to break down, somebody has a cylinder exploded. Another friend complained that his starter was blown. Are there similar issues with the 2018 Yamaha star venture? Have you had or heard of any ventury failures. Write to me, because I bought such a motorcycle and every information or hint is valuable to me. Thank you in advance for your answer. greetings Radek.
The Eluder and Venture are pretty much the same frame, engine. Eluder is missing the trunk and reverse, power windshield. Eluder was made in 2018 only. Venture was made 2018, 2020, 2021. Very few issues I have heard of with either. There are a few great Facebook groups where you can learn more.
I've been a Harleyman since I was a kid( hell I even worked for them for 10 years), but I am thinking of importing one of these pigs to Norway! Only thing I'll need to fix is the rear light mess.
How hot is the back cylinder? Does Yamaha have a way to direct the air to the back cylinder as well as on the rider? I live in Central Florida and both Harley and Indian's back cylinder is HOT!
I like the fact it's unique compared to a Honda or an American made bike. I'm into Harley at the moment but if I made a switch back to one of the big 4 metric machines this bike would get my attention.
I know where that still pic was taken at the start of the video. I stood there earlier this year. They weren't even open yet, and a friend and I were totally behind the tape closing it off to visitors. Yamaha staff let us wander and offered us feedback when we did approach them with questions. Pretty awesome experience. The storage space on that is absolutely amazing. I'm digging the way they put it together. I may have to visit that ride in the future as my go to touring model.
the goblin that's what a lot of people have said, a lot of people- except those who have bought the Venture and are riding them. It's a non issue as far as I'm concerned. 75,000 miles, haven't missed antifreeze yet.
Did you say the bike handles so well that the guy leaned so far over he was dragging his glove? I will buy most of the points you made but I would see the dragging thing myself. Most big bikes are more nimble than they look like they would be, but I don't think anyone could sit on a 600 lb bike then sit on this bike and think they were the same. Balance and a good center of gravity only can hide 30-50 lbs not 400. We all look slimmer in black don't we, but camouflaged weight still is heavy especially walking it around the garage.
I was sniffing around some Harleys for my wife and I, maybe even the BMW 1600R. But now, holding off until I try one of these. Am a bit disappointed on the Canadian pricing, est ($40K) which is actually double the price of a good BMW so that may end the dream but want to try it out in any event before pulling the trigger on the competition.
All you have to do is ride one to be impressed by it. As a previous generation Venture owner of 10 years, I always felt the Ultra was a superior bike in many ways. However, that's no longer the case with this new Venture. Never a Harley fanboy, I traded in my 2017 Street Glide for a 2018 Venture last week. The difference in ride quality is like night and day. It's a better bike than the Harley, IMHO, in almost every conceivable way. Ride one and just see if that doesn't change your mind about the Harley.
It sounds like a throw back, but this is a fly by wire, dual mapped computer controlled vibration free stump pulling easy to maintain mile munching heart pumping, big ass V-Twin machine. My goal is to put 100,000 miles by next year’s Sturgis.
@@longhaulpaul Paul, you took the words right outta my piehole. That V-twin is all of that. Was lookin' for ya at the Chicago bike show, but I hear you were snow skiing on your Venture. You get all the fun!
I think when people talk about weight and size they don't understand the purpose of this bike. Heavy has certain advantages just like super light weight has advantages. How the bike feels on the road, riding very long distance etc.
I agree Paul, I've seen too many people speaking about it without riding it; that's absurd. You wouldn't listen to someone giving a restaurant review who never tasted a meal there; I wouldn't . So what's up with that. My personal litmus paper for LD Tourers is the Indian Chief which I've ridden and is heavy but as you say about the Venture it feels lighter and more nimble than many smaller bikes. I plan on test riding one soon. I love the Muscle Car look also. It reminds me of a 57' T-Bird. PS - What brand is that helmet you're wearing?
Dos Equis, hydraulic valves. Oil filter looks easy to get at. I think there are a couple drain plugs. Has belt drive, so limited to no maintenance there.
I have Yamaha Midnightstar 1900 for week/2 week road trips, have a tent with me. So I need a lot of room for a lot of stuff for two people. That new Venture is for me - but - it seems that the front is not well thought. Those wind flaps are silly and there should be more storage. Anyway - probably it's my next bike.
First off, the audio was painful to listen to. If you could get some good audio filtering software to clean it up, it would make for a hell of an improvement. Okay, that out of the way, on to my thoughts on the bike and your review. You pretty much nailed it, when it comes to the positives about the bike. There is one thing that I see is lacking, something that I have found VERY important for me on long rides. Highway pegs. I see Yamaha does not offer them among the accessories, nor do I see anywhere to mount them. Maybe crash guards would give spots to mount them, and I was thinking that those guards could be a damn good thing on a bike you don't want to get all banged up. (They have proved themselves worthy on my 1700 Nomad) Now, for a gripe I feel very strongly about. Why the hell are they badging a V-Twin bike as a Venture? I'm certain that they could have retuned the 1700cc V-4 engine to have the desired torque curve and fuel economy. The Venture bikes have ALWAYS been V-4 bikes. Even the Yammie haters out there nod their heads in respect to Yamaha V-4s. They should have given this bike the Stratoliner name. (another excellent Yamaha... one that I almost bought when I found my Nomad) About the review itself, you didn't mention anything about the stereo, the park assist, of how you can get a heel/toe shifter. I'm curious as to how many watts the stereo can crank out, and can you play mp3s from a USB thumb drive?
Biker Dash The stereo puts out 100 Watts I believe. Clear enough at 80 mph to listen to books on tape. Heel toe shifter is an option and lots of riders have added aftermarket highway pegs to the front crash bar just ahead of the floorboard. I see no need as there is a lot of room to stretch out. I am 5’7”. The park assist is handy, allows forward and back travel without using the motor. Don’t use it much because I finally own a bike where I can touch the ground with both feet. Ive done 5-6 1000 mile days and one 1600 mile day so far. I’ve now put 21,000 miles on my Star Venture in a couple months and the reason behind Yamaha choosing this motor is apparent to me. It wallops the miles while pulsing that coveted unmistakable V-twin note. Please follow me on Facebook and subscribe to this channel. I’ll continue to post updates (see the next few videos) and try improving my videos, but understand my real purpose is to raise awareness and funds for MS, and because I spend 160 plus nights on the road, traveling 80,000 miles a year with no income, my videos edited and posted on a cellphone from truck stops, dingy hotels and picnic areas will probably never be polished!
lol, can ya link me to your FB? Also, have you Joined the Motorcycle Riders of Maine page? I know you're from neighboring NH, but that's all golden, we have members from numerous states. I was not thinking of the touching ground with feet issue when it comes to the park assist. I was thinking more of the reverse feature, which would make it so I can back the bike up a bit up an incline. Makes it so I have a LOT more options when I am looking to park the bike. Only 100 watts? I crank out 180W through my stereo on my Quadzilla fairing, and I'm looking to get an amp to boost power to 300W. As for why you're riding... Thank you, good Sir. MS is one of those diseases that is proving challenging to beat, but the efforts of men and women such as yourself are what make it possible for doctors to keep searching for better treatments, and ultimately, a cure.
+I did not experience any heat issues on the three rides I took. I was never in traffic or excessive heat, so no real answer here. I can tell you wearing goretex riding pants in the summer heat on any bike helps insulate your legs from engine heat. (You stay cooler than jeans or lighter clothing while idling)
Yamaha designs a new state of the art touring motorcycle and does not include any tip over protection. Why? A simple tip over in the garage on a bike with this much plastic will cost a couple grand.
It actually does. I have one and it utilizes a small guard in front of the floor boards along with the floor boards. Trust me...it WON'T lay down. Ask me how I know. LOL
I kinda like the looks of the bike. The front headlights looks like the eyes of Godzilla. I wonder if this is the first Yamaha full fairing touring bike? I'm thinking of the closest things the competition has such as Honda Goldwing, Indian Roadmaster and Harley Davidson Ultra. All those bike have been around seems like forever and I can't recall Yamaha ever having something similar. Also, Is this bike going to be priced about the same as those others?
It looks "ok". People that say it's a "pig" don't ride long distances. Weight is nice for touring bikes, they're so stable In the wind and passing large trucks. Especially fixed fairing touring bikes like this and the Road Glide. The weight disappears On these big bikes when you start rolling, I haven't ridden this bike I ride a Harley but it's incredible how stable and nimble you can make a big bike.
I test rode the Venture and Eluder this past Friday. I am not going to comment on looks because that is subjective. The ergonomics were very comfortable for me. The saddlebags look tiny on the inside. They are double walled so the interior is much smaller than they look. My Harley 107 gets 48 MPG and has a 6 Gallon Gas tank. I can see it selling well to Harley haters. But like my friends who would never be caught dead on any cruiser motorcycle tell me, "Well if you have to ride a cruiser you might as well ride the one that owns the market on cruisers." It is a good bike, but for the money and the dealer network, I will stick with Harley. I was disappointed with the complexity of the controls on the bike. I was also disappointed that Yamaha dropped more than just the tour pack on the Eluder. No adjustable windshield on the Eluder. The Vulcan Vaquero is a much better looking than the Eluder, especially from the rear and it can be bought for $10k less money. I also rode the Super Tenere because it is on my short list of bikes to own. I was disappointed compared to the triumph that I owned. The soft setting was not soft enough for rough road use IMO. What's up with the seat? It pitched me forward into the bars. I will stick with my FZ-07 as my only Yamaha at the moment. I wish Yamaha would come out with a 750 Tenere with a driveshaft. You do worry about the weight when you buy a Ferrari. Any enthusiast knows that weight efficiency makes for a better drive. That's whey they use titanium and carbon fiber in high end cars. Stick to motorcycles because cars you don't know.
I had the opportunity to test ride a Venture in Daytona at Bike Week. I own a Harley Ultra Limited. I’ve owned 3 Harleys; a Heritage, a Road King & the Limited. Before that, I owned a Yamaha Royal Star. I test road the Honda Goldwing and a CVO Ultra as well as the Venture. Honestly, if I bought another bike, I’d buy the Venture. It was very comfortable. It had lots of storage. My wife and I would love to take this on a trip. It was powerful. It handled very well. It had lots of options that I’d love to have on mine. Yep. Once I’m in a position to buy again, this is what I would buy.
I've had mine for 3 years now and just love it. I think my bike is very unique and NOT ugly!
I bought a new leftover 2018 Black Eluder last summer. I love the bike and have been a Yamaha fan for years. The bike is just effortless to ride and cruising at 75 mph in 6th gear is a pure joy. I have roughly 1200 miles on the bike and so far no issues at all and being a Yamaha I don't expect any issues. The majority of the Hater's is people that don't even own one. Tire Kicker's we call them.
That front end is bad ass. Looks like a muscle car.
I told people when it came out it liked like a camaro
Jonathan Tyree Exactly! looks like they shrunk down the front end of a 67-68 Camaro and mounted it on a bike. which just happens to be the main reason why I like it.
This bike is a thing of beauty.
I got a 2018 Eluder with the GT package and I installed the fog lights and driving lights. I got this bike to replace a 2002 V-Star 1100 Custom that was loaded with hard-shell bags, highway bar, driving lights, fog lights, Dyna 3000 ignition and Predator intake kit. The Eluder is smoother, faster and more nimble than the 1100 was! I am impressed and glad I got the Eluder over any of the other bikes in the price range (18K). I have put 1500 miles on it and LOVE it! Switch it to sport mode and the throttle feels more reactive and the brakes can get you stopped super fast without lockup (ABS). Glad I got it. The front end looks like an old American muscle car as does the rear tail / brake lights.
Great decision on a great bike!
I love the look, I think it is beautiful. Tons of awesome high tech features. The only thing I do not like is an air cooled twin. I want nothing but liquid cooled for touring.
i took a test ride this weekend on a red Venture and the new Goldwing. The Yamaha was hands down the best overall. I like it even more than the Road Gold ultra.
I recently rode an Eluder and was really surprised with the power and handling. I couldn't hang around to test the Venture, but a salesman said they're very similar. I'm seriously considering the Bagger for my next bike. I was very impressed! Everyone at Demo Days.......including Sport bike enthusiasts loved the styling.
It really takes some time to get used to running at such low RPM's.
I own a 2017 Yamaha Raider. My wife and I have been doing a ton of day trips. I have saddlebags and a quick release fairing on it. I LOVE my Raider. But.... It is not comfortable for long trips. So I decided that I would try out some of the American Iron "big" bikes. First was Indian. The issue was the floor boards were way too high and forced me to lean backwards. My back was out for a day after riding it. Then I tried the Harley Street Glide and Road Glide. Both bikes physically felt small when riding. I took a photo on each and they look like a scooter under me. The Raider is bigger and longer in length than all of them. I do not dwarf the bike and it is a torque monster.
An employee at Indian said to me when he asked what I rode "we've got nothing here that would compare to that." At Harley, they broke out their adding machine claiming they could do a lot of custom stuff to the bike to help make it feel bigger...at a significant cost.
My wife and I decided that trading my Raider for anything we looked at was trading down in comfort, power and size. Harley was willing to make an effort to make their bikes a better fit but at a price tag that would choke a horse. Then I saw a Venture going down the road. We watched some videos including this one and realized that everything I love about the Raider is in this bike. The Venture would be trading up. We're planning on getting one. Thanks for your thoughts on this video.
I'm 65 years old now, and Yamaha has been making bikes of various styles and applications for as long as I can remember. Personally , I like what they've done to this Tourer. All the reviews ive watched have given the bike Praise about the power, handling and the looks. One in particular was an earlier year, but he had ridden his over 88,000 miles. He still called it amazing and was getting ready to get one of these again. There's no greater way of giving a good review than trading up to the same steed , just newer year. I'm in total agreement with you about get on it and ride, and then come and talk shop for some of these haters. They don't have a clue about it until they do that. Keep it safe and fun! Thanks for the great review!
David Greve , words of wisdom!
This is nice looking bike, different but definitely not an ugly bike. The front of the bike looks like an old Pontiac.
Yeah. That's what I was thinking.
I was prepared to HATE it and never imagined I would buy one. After a ride and found out about all it offers/warranties and it beats all the others hands down! I LOVE MINE!
Because I loved riding my raider so much on weekends, I looked at the all new Venture as a long distance mount. The engines have different personalities, the Venture is more like a diesel.
It pulls like a train, but it can do it at super low RPM's. It handles well, is comfortable and it has tons of luggage room. I would ride this bike around the western U.S. any chance I'd get. I've owned Indians, Harleys, Goldwings, and the 1600 GTL BMW. I'm keeping this one.
I feel exactly the same way about my bike, I owned/rode all kinds of other bikes too. This might weigh more than the GTL1600 but isn't nearly as top heavy, the weight is much lower.
Perfectly Stated!! I rode on a demo in late July down in Colorado.... I'm only 5'8" and my feet were firmly on the ground. It didn't feel like a 900+ lb bike at all. Great suspension...very comfortable...very nice in the corners...well balanced. I agree the keyboard warriors need to actually ride one before bitching about it at all.
5'8" here as well, I was wondering if this was too big. Absolutely Love the 'Eluder' styling. Damn! I need another 25k
I DID ride one. The pros: Handled well. Didn't handle like a large bike once I was moving. Styling is great. The cons: HEAT. Temperature was 90 when I rode and my left leg nearly melted. Even at speed the heat seemed to funnel directly to my leg. Also, the saddle bags are deceptively small. Kind of like opening a YETI cooler. The price is too high, too. This thing compares with the BMW K1600GT and can't come close to its comfort or performance. Just my opinions.
I think the Yamaha Star Venture is a great bike. I personally ride a Victory Cross Country and love my bike. I always get negative comments from Harley riders about how they don't like Victorys, Indians, or anything else that's not a Harley. Harley riders are so dead set on the Harley brand and closed minded to anything else. Good for you for keeping an open mind and not buying a bike just because it's popular. It's about the ride not the bike!
JoeVictoryCA as the owners of two Harley Touring bikes, I find this Yamaha intriguing as could be....so your observations are partially incorrect. You are right about the victory, though, I don't care for them. Sorry.
On my 4th Harley- before that (4) Kawasaki and (1) Yamaha...part of the process when buying a bike is after market parts, dealer support and long term platform parts supply. Never a problem with Harley, no matter the age...Try buying a coil pack for a 10 year old Kawasaki. All of my riding has been "touring" the last 10 years...Harley excels at that ( my current ride is a 2017 Road Glide Ultra- Awesome!) would love to test ride this new Venture in my mind a true contender has been created here, I too don't care for the Victory, for me- it was mostly styling, saddlebag storage and two up comfort..didn't like them...
David James I agree. My bikes are an '05 Road King and an '07 Ultra Classic. My first bike was a Suzuki TS185. Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Bultaco, all played a roll in my riding history. My mother and father rode all kinds of bikes when I was growing up. Bottom line is you have to like what you ride. I also need to be able to look back and say, "wow, that is sexy". This new Yamaha has that absolutely ferocious Road eating attitude from the front. I feel the fairing and lowers are a real fresh attempt to get away from the way over cartoonish swoops styling that has been the trend for the last decade......except for Harley.......and why I gravitated to them. I will go look at the Yamaha and test ride it.......with an open mind. Ride safe, enjoy....ps, I wave to metric bikes too.
Exactly! Well stated Paul. I own a Harley FXDC and a Honda ST1300 and may buy this Yamaha. I am currently shopping for a new big cruiser and have tried the GoldWing , BMW six cyl, and Harley models. I would like to ride one of these but my local dealer will not let you test ride a bike. If I can find a dealer within reason I will try to ride one of these when they come out but otherwise at the moment would buy a new Harley because of local dealer cooperation.
Can't ride a Venture demo? That sucks. Add to that my local Yamaha dealer not taking a three year old Yamaha Raider as part trade on this expensive bike. And yes, he sold me that bike new!
Paul you are the reason i bought this bike and have to say i love my 2020 best bike ive owned!
Good looking bike---makes me rethink Yamaha
I love mine is 2009. I really like how this one looks would love to get my hands on one of these.
Having owned a few GL15 and 1800's, this bike has caught my eye. Can't wait to put a leg over the bike and test it out! Thanks for the review. My 2011 Concours and 2008 BKing are concerned. :) lol
Have to say I love this bike took a trip out to eastern Canada over four thousand km and man did it perform, comfortable, smooth stable and love that rumble ,and I could still hear my stereo, well balanced this is an amazing bike mine is a 2020 people check one out !
The people who talk about this bike or any other bike...usually cruiser or touring type bikes...are never going to buy anything like it so does their opinion even matter?!
I'm not into these sort of bikes, but I like the style. I'd rate it the best looking of the big crusers I've seen.
i think that bike is gorgeous. I like it a lot more than the Gold Wing. The Star Venture is on my short list of bikes for my future.
From a previous Yamaha Vstar 950 I do like it. Thanks for the video. It is very good as a tour.
It's a 900+ lb bike, so that has to be taken into account despite the argument that weight isn't an issue when riding. The bike looks great, but I still prefer bikes that are stripped down just a tad. I'd like to test-ride this bike but for the moment I'm sticking with my '08 RSTD.
Check out the Bagger version........the Eluder. I was very impressed with the looks, power, suspension and handling.
Hey Longhaulpaul... thanks for unbiased comments. I'll be testing one next month with the Yamaha demo team is in my area. I'm a big fan of Yamaha. I have a 2009 FJR and it's been a good riding companion. Only thing I don't like about the Star Venture is its air-oil cooled power plant. But I don't think Yamaha would sacrifice reliability and their reputation, so I'll have to trust the engineers. Again, nice video. Stay safe out there.
Air/oil cooling is not new to Yamaha. I read that they went this way for lower maintenance. This engine also doesn't require valve adjustments. People said they wanted to tour and not stop frequently for maintenance...Yamaha listened.
I hope that will silence the V4 people since they sound like Harley riders that don't know what to do when HD finally changes something. I thought only HD guys complained about stuff changing!!
This is a Mans motorcycle. No wimps allowed.
Dont let this comment bother You. Throw this person away. Enjoy Your Bike.
But a wimp could handle it though, that's how superbly balanced it is.
The Eluder GT is my next bike. I have a 2011 Yamaha Raider and the engine is amazing. I would love to have something the wife and I can take out longer. I've never had any issues with any Yamaha I've ever owned. I realize the Eluder is air cooled. That doesn't bother me at all. My Raider handles hot weather like a champ. The Eluder to me is just an amazing bike. I need one in my life. Comfort and reliability are my priorities.
I am a sport bike rider but I am very much considering the Star Venture or Star Eluder. Beautiful bike!!!
Pure beauty! Let me guess, those that called it ugly were Harley riders! I test rode the bike yesterday after test riding all the Harley tour bikes, the Indian Roadmaster and the fabulous Goldwing. It was an incredible ride. It was so nimble, I thought I was riding a sport bike. They gave me the bike for an hour. I put it through its paces. You will not notice the weight at all and it's one fast bike. My only complaint is the bike is too quiet and I'm not sure if they make after market pipes for it.
I'd love to get a demo on one soon .. Will be nice to see how they run. It is priced out of my range, somewhat hehe..
The best thing with an air cooled twin for touring is maintenance and a few less things to go wrong on a long trip. I lived in Arizona for twelve years with a twin, talk about chestnuts roasting on an open fire. I found it’s about airflow management and adjustable fork wings on the cruiser was key. I also own a BMW K1200GT liquid cooled and this thing gets very hot in stop and go. The difference between the v twin cruiser and my sport touring bike is rpm at stand still. I am seriously looking at purchasing the Star Venture and getting rid of my other two bikes. I was going to purchase a new Goldwing, Honda has a bunch of things to work out with the new design.
I like that bike! I also like the Super Tenere. I own a Yamaha Stryker. I love all those motorcycles.
Looks nice, it looks like you get the street bike/ cruiser feel to it
It’s different but not ugly. I bought a used 2018 from the owner of the dealership who added all the extras to it. My wife loves it and that’s good enough for me. My only complaint is that it shifts much harder then my 06 Roadstar.
I have owned two Venture Royals
.... water cooled ride with CMA and I do a lot of parades... my only question is why didn't they stick to water cool.... I've seen so many other bikes looking pretty but run hot , won't mention any name brands I got nothing but love for the bikes that I have owned...
I just got questions about this one
I owned a 2005 Venture I rode for 10 years. I had to replace the water pump with less than 30k miles. In addition, it would intermittently dump about a pint of coolant on the ground at gas stops through the overflow reservoir from time to time. Took it to 3 different dealerships and they never did figure out the cause. With the exception of my Kawasaki Concours 14, I've had issues with every water cooled bike I've owned so just because it's water cooled doesn't make it better IMHO.
Handsome looking bike👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻!!!eagerness spirit in it just shines
Big bikes are made to roll and those that put them down, just take a 2 hours ride on one of them and see why they are the best. I got a 2012 Goldwing (and I love it) and find that in 2018, Yamaha has the nicer bike than Goldwing, but, that's my thinking. The 2018 season is about to start and I wish everyone perfect and safe rides all year.
I ride a Vision, recently test rode the Venture a 2nd time, this time with my wife on board. The highlights,
Power: wonderful power, I have never liked the idea of ride modes but I liked it on this bike, noticeable difference in character of power delivery by design. Sport mode would throw you back in the seat.
Looks: I thought the looks of the front with the scowl of the light arrangement and the scoops gave it a menacing fighter jet appeal. I didn't necessarily like the design of the back end.
weight: it is listed 100lbs heavier than my Vision! But it feels lighter due to the mass centralization tech designed into it. Getting it off the stand is much less effort than my Vision. I couldn't believe how low the trunk lid was compared to my Vision . I'm 5'6" and the back edge of my trunk lid comes mid-chest on me. The Venture comes to my belt buckle. I attribute things like that to it feeling lighter than it actually is. Comfort was on par for a touring bike, ergos good. cargo good.
negatives:
The heat : heat from the engine was cooking my left thigh and my wife's left foot even at speed. The air deflectors do nothing on this bike for the lower body.. Much hotter than the Vision
corner clearance: We are a combined 325-340 ( I wouldn't dare ask my wife's weight) made to extremely mild left hand turns and scraped each time. Didn't scrape on the right, making me think it's the kickstand. Scraping so early makes me think I couldn't even ride this on the Dragon or any road that wasn't arrow straight.
The surprsing thing was, I know 2 couples that are avid 1st gen Venture riders and they all did not care for the 2018 before or after a test ride.
It will not break down as some others do. Nice bike. 😎🏍🇺🇸
Man, the hell with what they say about this bike. I love the Star Venture, and I'm hoping like heck that they keep making the bike. If they continue to make this bike I will buy a 2019 Venture without a doubt. The only thing that I had a question with was the air cooled engine. I have a 2011 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic and that bike is Air cooled. So I want that bike.
Paul,, I have been an avid Venture rider since '87 and have logged over a million miles on them. Have worn out 5 of the 1st Gens and am working on my 6th right now. My wife and I attended the unveiling at Lake George and also did the Sturgis demo's of which you can find short vids of on here if you search my = Puc Puc vids..
Question for you.. Your comment about performance producing smiles and being what its all about is spot on in my humble opinion.. Were you the least bit discouraged that Yamaha didnt stay with the water cooled, high performance V-4 platform in this new one? Did you find the Roadliner air cooled 113 inch V-Twin to produce as much or more adrenaline smile as you might have expected from an updated Yam V-4 like the V-Max 1700 would they have chosen to build around it instead of the air cooled V-Twin?
Personally,, when I read the title of your video here (THANK YOU for this vid by the way) I thought the "Elephant in the room" you were speaking of was probably gonna be about exactly this = performance...
Thanks brother for your thoughts!
Puc
Great looking bike, can't wait to take one for a spin!
I think this is a sharp looking bike, and I appreciate what Yamaha is trying to do with it. Having come from significant time with an older air-cooled literbike, the big question for me is... how *hot* is this bike to ride? I look at that 900cc rear cylinder nestled up between the rider's thighs and I think "slow roasted to perfection".
Would love to get some saddle time on one, though, and see if my fears are unfounded.
Big, smooth, strong, all day comfortable, and good looking...nice job Yamaha.
The Honda Goldwing is over 900 lbs wet. My 2014 street glide was over 830 lbs. If you want a lighter bike with all the bells and whistles, start with loosing that gut hanging over your belt.
I like this motorcycle. Can't wait to get one
Paul that's a nice looking bike, I think it's an excellent choice for the type of riding that you. do.
Looks great. You’re right, no where near ugly. It really is a good looking bike, nostalgic and classic. If this style is what you love looking back at while walking away, then yes, this might be your bike. But IMHO, once you run across the owners of the new GoldWings out in the road in your travels, this bike might also make you wish you stepped up to something like the new GoldWing. The new GoldWing ticks off all the boxes. That’s my .02. Nice report. Thanks for posting.
That's a beautiful bike. It might be my first bagger
Star Venture, imo, is the best looking touring motorcycle of all time. And, the Eluder is the best looking cruise bagger.
This is on smooth riding air cooled bike which tips the scale in the ride and technology department. I am a die hard harley davidson rider with the gear to boot and on my 2nd hog. Either way i respect what Yamaha & Honda have done in the touring department and its a matter of choice on what one rides.
Great job addressing arm chair motorcyclists
This would be the ideal bike for an armchair motorcyclist.
irv is triggered...
Cool looking bike just bought one!
i like it. thinking of trading my harley for one. i need reliabilty in my life again.
i love that front end. its the best looking big bike on the market
Hi Paul, not 'bike related' for the test ride. But please, what is the brand of helmet you are wearing in the test? I'm looking for a flip front with a large 'air vent' system on the front.
19Graywulf this was the Schuberth E-1. I am now wearing an HJC RPHA 90. Great venting, 1/2 the price. Just as light, high end composite shell. It’s brand new.
..Down. with you brother. Yamaha does have the stones to go their own way design-wise.
She is super pretty no doubt about that !! Even after seeing th e New Goldwing I still believe that the Yamaha is the right pick up . Enjoy the Ride . it looks more sporty and agressive than any Harley or BMW
I had a 2001 Roadstar and sold it in 2009...saddest day of my life(well....maybe not "saddest"...... but still regret it to this day...Looks like a good replacement here!!!
Longhaulpaul, I know you ride a Yamaha Star Venture a lot. That's why I consider you to be the best reviewer. On the forums you can find not good opinions about the Yamaha eluder, they are said to break down, somebody has a cylinder exploded. Another friend complained that his starter was blown. Are there similar issues with the 2018 Yamaha star venture? Have you had or heard of any ventury failures. Write to me, because I bought such a motorcycle and every information or hint is valuable to me.
Thank you in advance for your answer.
greetings
Radek.
The Eluder and Venture are pretty much the same frame, engine. Eluder is missing the trunk and reverse, power windshield. Eluder was made in 2018 only. Venture was made 2018, 2020, 2021. Very few issues I have heard of with either. There are a few great Facebook groups where you can learn more.
I've been a Harleyman since I was a kid( hell I even worked for them for 10 years), but I am thinking of importing one of these pigs to Norway! Only thing I'll need to fix is the rear light mess.
Whats wrong with the rear light ?
I am thinking of importing too
@@JUFFAIR101 .....just don't like them....
Very nice ride!
I like it Paul! Thanks for the video
How hot is the back cylinder? Does Yamaha have a way to direct the air to the back cylinder as well as on the rider? I live in Central Florida and both Harley and Indian's back cylinder is HOT!
Great Review And Thanks For Sharing My Friend!
It's a Yamaha I wouldn't expect anything less from the best
I like the fact it's unique compared to a Honda or an American made bike. I'm into Harley at the moment but if I made a switch back to one of the big 4 metric machines this bike would get my attention.
I know where that still pic was taken at the start of the video. I stood there earlier this year. They weren't even open yet, and a friend and I were totally behind the tape closing it off to visitors. Yamaha staff let us wander and offered us feedback when we did approach them with questions. Pretty awesome experience. The storage space on that is absolutely amazing. I'm digging the way they put it together. I may have to visit that ride in the future as my go to touring model.
I ride a 1300 deluxe my only complaint with the venture is that it is not liquid cooled.
the goblin
that's what a lot of people have said, a lot of people- except those who have bought the Venture and are riding them. It's a non issue as far as I'm concerned. 75,000 miles, haven't missed antifreeze yet.
I think they tried to follow the Victory lines of style. Just a coincidence that they came out at Victory's end.
Did you say the bike handles so well that the guy leaned so far over he was dragging his glove? I will buy most of the points you made but I would see the dragging thing myself. Most big bikes are more nimble than they look like they would be, but I don't think anyone could sit on a 600 lb bike then sit on this bike and think they were the same. Balance and a good center of gravity only can hide 30-50 lbs not 400. We all look slimmer in black don't we, but camouflaged weight still is heavy especially walking it around the garage.
I was sniffing around some Harleys for my wife and I, maybe even the BMW 1600R. But now, holding off until I try one of these. Am a bit disappointed on the Canadian pricing, est ($40K) which is actually double the price of a good BMW so that may end the dream but want to try it out in any event before pulling the trigger on the competition.
All you have to do is ride one to be impressed by it. As a previous generation Venture owner of 10 years, I always felt the Ultra was a superior bike in many ways. However, that's no longer the case with this new Venture. Never a Harley fanboy, I traded in my 2017 Street Glide for a 2018 Venture last week. The difference in ride quality is like night and day. It's a better bike than the Harley, IMHO, in almost every conceivable way. Ride one and just see if that doesn't change your mind about the Harley.
Its a beautiful bike, the only thing l didnt like was a air cooled v twin
It sounds like a throw back, but this is a fly by wire, dual mapped computer controlled vibration free stump pulling easy to maintain mile munching heart pumping, big ass V-Twin machine. My goal is to put 100,000 miles by next year’s Sturgis.
@@longhaulpaul Paul, you took the words right outta my piehole. That V-twin is all of that. Was lookin' for ya at the Chicago bike show, but I hear you were snow skiing on your Venture. You get all the fun!
what is your helmet brand and model ?
Mohi Sadeghi I’m wearing a HJC RPHA 90 modular.
I think when people talk about weight and size they don't understand the purpose of this bike. Heavy has certain advantages just like super light weight has advantages. How the bike feels on the road, riding very long distance etc.
+R Flkr agree. Would you ask someone riding an R1 where the drink holder is?
I agree Paul, I've seen too many people speaking about it without riding it; that's absurd. You wouldn't listen to someone giving a restaurant review who never tasted a meal there; I wouldn't . So what's up with that. My personal litmus paper for LD Tourers is the Indian Chief which I've ridden and is heavy but as you say about the Venture it feels lighter and more nimble than many smaller bikes. I plan on test riding one soon. I love the Muscle Car look also. It reminds me of a 57' T-Bird. PS - What brand is that helmet you're wearing?
How easy is the maintenance? Valve check? Oil changes?
Dos Equis, hydraulic valves. Oil filter looks easy to get at. I think there are a couple drain plugs. Has belt drive, so limited to no maintenance there.
I think it's good looking too, but just a little large for my body size...
It's a bad ass looking bike. Be proud of your mean, muscle machine. Haters r gonna hate. Just do your thing.
I think it looks good. Heck, alot of people think the Busa is ugly. which it's not.
I have Yamaha Midnightstar 1900 for week/2 week road trips, have a tent with me. So I need a lot of room for a lot of stuff for two people. That new Venture is for me - but - it seems that the front is not well thought. Those wind flaps are silly and there should be more storage. Anyway - probably it's my next bike.
A gdzie chrom?
Absolutely love that beautiful pig!
Simply a nice bike, one I wouldn't mind owning.
First off, the audio was painful to listen to. If you could get some good audio filtering software to clean it up, it would make for a hell of an improvement.
Okay, that out of the way, on to my thoughts on the bike and your review.
You pretty much nailed it, when it comes to the positives about the bike. There is one thing that I see is lacking, something that I have found VERY important for me on long rides. Highway pegs. I see Yamaha does not offer them among the accessories, nor do I see anywhere to mount them. Maybe crash guards would give spots to mount them, and I was thinking that those guards could be a damn good thing on a bike you don't want to get all banged up. (They have proved themselves worthy on my 1700 Nomad)
Now, for a gripe I feel very strongly about. Why the hell are they badging a V-Twin bike as a Venture? I'm certain that they could have retuned the 1700cc V-4 engine to have the desired torque curve and fuel economy. The Venture bikes have ALWAYS been V-4 bikes. Even the Yammie haters out there nod their heads in respect to Yamaha V-4s. They should have given this bike the Stratoliner name. (another excellent Yamaha... one that I almost bought when I found my Nomad)
About the review itself, you didn't mention anything about the stereo, the park assist, of how you can get a heel/toe shifter.
I'm curious as to how many watts the stereo can crank out, and can you play mp3s from a USB thumb drive?
Biker Dash
The stereo puts out 100 Watts I believe. Clear enough at 80 mph to listen to books on tape. Heel toe shifter is an option and lots of riders have added aftermarket highway pegs to the front crash bar just ahead of the floorboard. I see no need as there is a lot of room to stretch out. I am 5’7”.
The park assist is handy, allows forward and back travel without using the motor. Don’t use it much because I finally own a bike where I can touch the ground with both feet.
Ive done 5-6 1000 mile days and one 1600 mile day so far. I’ve now put 21,000 miles on my Star Venture in a couple months and the reason behind Yamaha choosing this motor is apparent to me. It wallops the miles while pulsing that coveted unmistakable V-twin note. Please follow me on Facebook and subscribe to this channel. I’ll continue to post updates (see the next few videos) and try improving my videos, but understand my real purpose is to raise awareness and funds for MS, and because I spend 160 plus nights on the road, traveling 80,000 miles a year with no income, my videos edited and posted on a cellphone from truck stops, dingy hotels and picnic areas will probably never be polished!
lol, can ya link me to your FB? Also, have you Joined the Motorcycle Riders of Maine page? I know you're from neighboring NH, but that's all golden, we have members from numerous states.
I was not thinking of the touching ground with feet issue when it comes to the park assist. I was thinking more of the reverse feature, which would make it so I can back the bike up a bit up an incline. Makes it so I have a LOT more options when I am looking to park the bike.
Only 100 watts? I crank out 180W through my stereo on my Quadzilla fairing, and I'm looking to get an amp to boost power to 300W.
As for why you're riding... Thank you, good Sir. MS is one of those diseases that is proving challenging to beat, but the efforts of men and women such as yourself are what make it possible for doctors to keep searching for better treatments, and ultimately, a cure.
How was the engine heat? Manageable, or a problem?
+I did not experience any heat issues on the three rides I took. I was never in traffic or excessive heat, so no real answer here. I can tell you wearing goretex riding pants in the summer heat on any bike helps insulate your legs from engine heat. (You stay cooler than jeans or lighter clothing while idling)
I refuse to test ride one right now, I still have 4 years of warranty on my current bike and I don't want to be tempted to trade it in yet.
If someone says this bike is ugly I would say they have absolutely no taste!! In fact it's the best looking touring bike on the rode.
If a Road Glide and a Goldwing had a baby....
Credible review...thanks.
Yamaha designs a new state of the art touring motorcycle and does not include any tip over protection. Why? A simple tip over in the garage on a bike with this much plastic will cost a couple grand.
It actually does. I have one and it utilizes a small guard in front of the floor boards along with the floor boards. Trust me...it WON'T lay down. Ask me how I know. LOL
I kinda like the looks of the bike. The front headlights looks like the eyes of Godzilla.
I wonder if this is the first Yamaha full fairing touring bike?
I'm thinking of the closest things the competition has such as Honda Goldwing, Indian Roadmaster and Harley Davidson Ultra.
All those bike have been around seems like forever and I can't recall Yamaha ever having something similar.
Also,
Is this bike going to be priced about the same as those others?
What helmet is that?
Matthew Johnson that is the Schuberth E1 modular. I’m now wearing an HJC RPHA90 which I like better.
It looks "ok". People that say it's a "pig" don't ride long distances. Weight is nice for touring bikes, they're so stable
In the wind and passing large trucks. Especially fixed fairing touring bikes like this and the Road Glide. The weight disappears On these big bikes when you start rolling, I haven't ridden this bike I ride a Harley but it's incredible how stable and nimble you can make a big bike.
Why is this bike fine but not so with the Yamaha Star Eluder? They seem to be basically the same bike.
what kind of helmet are you using
I am Albert, I’m wearing a Schuberth E-1.
I test rode the Venture and Eluder this past Friday. I am not going to comment on looks because that is subjective. The ergonomics were very comfortable for me. The saddlebags look tiny on the inside. They are double walled so the interior is much smaller than they look.
My Harley 107 gets 48 MPG and has a 6 Gallon Gas tank.
I can see it selling well to Harley haters. But like my friends who would never be caught dead on any cruiser motorcycle tell me, "Well if you have to ride a cruiser you might as well ride the one that owns the market on cruisers."
It is a good bike, but for the money and the dealer network, I will stick with Harley.
I was disappointed with the complexity of the controls on the bike. I was also disappointed that Yamaha dropped more than just the tour pack on the Eluder. No adjustable windshield on the Eluder.
The Vulcan Vaquero is a much better looking than the Eluder, especially from the rear and it can be bought for $10k less money.
I also rode the Super Tenere because it is on my short list of bikes to own. I was disappointed compared to the triumph that I owned. The soft setting was not soft enough for rough road use IMO. What's up with the seat? It pitched me forward into the bars. I will stick with my FZ-07 as my only Yamaha at the moment. I wish Yamaha would come out with a 750 Tenere with a driveshaft.
You do worry about the weight when you buy a Ferrari. Any enthusiast knows that weight efficiency makes for a better drive. That's whey they use titanium and carbon fiber in high end cars. Stick to motorcycles because cars you don't know.
I also have a SuperT 12 model