Anyone ride the 2009 1st gen venture Yama Sells?

[timgray]

I spotted this beastie on the road and really like how it's a clone of the BMW touring bike.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/180/home.aspx

 

Anyone know if they are comfortable to ride 6 hours at a time like my 1st gen is?

 

it looks like my only choice if I ever want to buy a new bike. I love the 1st gen styling but dont want to ride a retro cruiser that seems to be all the rage, plus I want to stay Yamaha simply because the parts are dirt cheap compared to the others.

 

I just wish that the 2010 Venture would be a return to the 1st gen styling, but that wont happen.

[Yammer Dan]

If I was to look at New ones that would sure be one of them.

[Guest seuadr]

i've heard nothing but good stuff about the fjr's in general. i'm sure this one is no different. the "air managment" section was kinda interesting.

[StarQ]

Only 6 hours?

 

I once rode my '84 1st Gen from Maine to Philadelphia, 14 hours straight stopping only to eat and fuel up. I never got tired of riding my VR. On another trip I rode from Georgia to PA straight in 17 hours.

 

Loved my 1st Gen. I wish I was more into fixing up bikes. The VR needs too much for me to want to spend a lot of time on it to get it back on the road. I went with the '07 RSTD rather than fixing up the VR.

 

I'm still undecided with what I'm going to do with my '84 VR.

 

Anyone know if they are comfortable to ride 6 hours at a time like my 1st gen is?

 

[keithert]

Any of the sport tourers aren't going to be comfortable like a 1st gen Venture because the seating position is much more forward inclined than a Venture is. More weight on your wrists and not as comfortable of back posture.

[Guest seuadr]

Only 6 hours?

 

I once rode my '84 1st Gen from Maine to Philadelphia, 14 hours straight stopping only to eat and fuel up. I never got tired of riding my VR. On another trip I rode from Georgia to PA straight in 17 hours.

 

Loved my 1st Gen. I wish I was more into fixing up bikes. The VR needs too much for me to want to spend a lot of time on it to get it back on the road. I went with the '07 RSTD rather than fixing up the VR.

 

I'm still undecided with what I'm going to do with my '84 VR.

 

should raffle it off! set a value you like, and then figure out shipping, and figure out a ticket price, then sell tickets to cover what you'd like to get for it, and shipping. any additional funds could be donated to the site here, or a charity of your choice.

[FJR Rider]

Hmmmm...nice "stretch" for you 1st Gen guys.

 

And...if you want to sit bolt-upright on the FJR, you can! Handlebar risers will take care of that one for you if that's your desire. I'll have to figure out this bad posture thing out though, I've never experienced it with either my Concours or my FJR...but if you say so........................................

 

I let you know about comfortable for a "length of time" after this Saturday's ride from Eau Claire WI to Fargo ND to Sioux Falls SD to Tomah WI to Menominee WI. A little more than my last "long" Sunday ride from Lowell AR to Green Bay WI.

[Cerviperus]

Any of the sport tourers aren't going to be comfortable like a 1st gen Venture because the seating position is much more forward inclined than a Venture is. More weight on your wrists and not as comfortable of back posture.

(NOTE: The following is all subjective. Rider comfort depends on the individual) I beg to differ on the seating position making it less comfortable. Now I can't do any comparisons to the 1st Gen Venture, but I can to the 2nd Gen (having owned one). I sold mine to buy my BMW R12RT. I could not get comfortable on the 2nd Gen. The upright seating put too much pressure on my tailbone, and no matter what I tried, I was miserable at the end of a long day. I tried different seats, pads, you name it. My RT has a slight forward lean, though not as drastic as a true sportbike, and it has a standard seating position (pegs straight below). I find this MUCH more comfortable than I ever was on the Venture. I'm able to move around in the saddle, and leave more weight focused on my legs, which I couldn't do when they were stretched out in front of me.

 

Again, to each their own, but I don't think anyone should count out a sport-touring machine simply for fear of a different riding position. I seriously considred the FJR before going for the RT. The BMW simply had more of the amenities I wanted from the get-go, and better weather protection. I wouldn't caution anyone against taking an FJR for a spin, other than the fact you may want one afterwards. The only problem I had when I rode a buddy of mine's, the throttle is pretty much on or off; there is no real smooth roll-on. He has talked to several other owners, and it seems a common issue.

[BuddyRich]

I'd hurt myself with one of those, still got "I feel the need for speed" addiction...

[timgray]

Great info guys.

 

anyone ride 2 up for a long distance on them? My wife loves the queen seat on the Venture, It will be hard for her to give up the luxury she is used to if it's a tiny cramped spot.

 

All it's missing from the factory is a Decent trunk, and I see there are tons of options for it. The Corbin seat does not look like much of an upgrade to ride comfort though.

[RandyR]

Lots of people ride that style of bike 2up accross country. Seat upgrades of various styles available as well as top boxes with passenger backrests. Probably not quite as big and roomy as the Venture though.

 

A good frame mounted fairing with adjustable windshield is what I miss most on my RSTD. What I found impossible to find is a stock bike with a 30inch or less seat height in that style of machine. After several years on a BMW K1100 where I couldn't get both my feet on the ground, that factor became a selection criteria for my new ride.

[Cerviperus]

The buddy of mine I mentioned, and his wife, ride 2-up on trips all the time. They run a Corbin seat, and she has said that after a couple hours on the bike her butt isn't happy. Yet that doesn't keep her from getting on it time and time again for trips. Sometimes they take simple weekend trips, others (like last summer) they went to Wyoming and back. When she sat on my RT one day here at work though, she couldn't believe how much more room it had, and it too is a sport-tourer. So that's definitely something to keep in mind. Best suggestion would be to take your wife with you to any test rides. Because on a trip, if the co-pilot isn't happy, no one is happy.

[cowpuc]

Yes I have and no their not.. One of the huge things that make our 1st Gens so comfy is the narrowness that comes from the V motor, being able bring your legs together and then lay them out on side pegs or place your feet on the sides of the engine and steer with your knees are a big part of the reason we can ride 16 hours and enjoy it.. Also, while I am sure that Mustang or someone will offer a more comfortable seat for two then the FJR has on it, it will be almost impossible to beat the 1st Gens great big wide wonderful seat that it came with originally..

If you do go ride a new one you really need to also take a passenger with you to get a good feel for how they ride two up - you cant estimate what it will be like.. Our 1st Gens actually get better in that low slung, being part of the bike feeling by adding a passenger - especially if you remove the drivers backrest (if you have one on your 1st gen) and lean back against her.. It doent happen the FJ

I think its a matter of design capabilities too that are part of the difference between engineering around a V motor or an inline,,,,,, but what do I know.. Go ride one and see for yourself...

And concerning zip,,, these ol beater 1st genners arent that far behind the mark,,,,, now if we were talking an R1 - than oh yea.... 102 MPH in 1st gear would be fun!!

'Puc

[cowpuc]

Hey Tim,, I just noticed your in Muskegon.. I live on the Northside - 2 minutes from the State Park - 2 minutes to Bear Lake - 2 minutes to Muskegon Lake,, where ya at?? Lets touch base sometime and compare scoots wanna? See if you know people that I know people,, ,,,, bet we do!!!

'Puc

[cowpuc]

and did you see that 1st genner with 27k on it in the Buyers guide 2 weeks ago - 1500 BUCKS!!!! Just missed it!

[FJR Rider]

The only problem I had when I rode a buddy of mine's, the throttle is pretty much on or off; there is no real smooth roll-on. He has talked to several other owners, and it seems a common issue.

 

On 1st Gen FJRs (03-05) there was a mapping problem with the fuel injection that's easily corrected. On both 1st and 2d Gen FJRs (06-08, corrected on 09) they have very stiff throttles; the fix for this is taking one loop off the return spring. I haven't done mine yet, but need to.

 

As far as comfort, you're all right...it's subjective. I like both our RSV and my FJR (notice I said "our" for the RSV and "my" for the FJR ), and I can do long days on the RSV (had a nice 600 mile day last fall), but I find that after the first 100 mile ride or so, I need to get off the bike every 75 miles or so....otherwise my tailbone and lower back are toast. I can stay on the FJR a full fuel load (300 miles plus) with no problems...of course not having a passenger helps because I can move my feet back and forth between the rider and the passenger pegs. Initially I had some problems with my throttle hand getting sore (still do occassionally), but the addition of a Thottle Meister throttle lock helps immensely...a few FJR owners have added an Audio Vox cruise control (fairly cheap, somewhat easy install). Just like my 95 Concours, I like the stock seat and don't see a need to change....but I do put a towel over it when doing long rides...provides just enough "air" to keep the butt burn at bay.

 

As far as passenger comfort, again up to the passenger. My wife doesn't care the FJR..why should she when the RSV is sitting there (remember, "ours:)? We bought our 99 RSV (and then an 06) because my wife loved to ride, but was complaining if we did more than 150 mile day on the Concours. But there are options out there to improve pax comfort if the pax so desires...Sargent makes a great seat for the FJR (preferred by most over the Corbin) and then you have the various custom seat builders such as Mayer. You can add a top case from either Yamaha or Givi, either with a backrest or without. Since I really didn't need the top case I added a custom-made (FJR Forum member) backrest and luggage rack.

 

Regarding weather protection...again, like any bike, there are options to make it better. Several different manufacturers have taller wider windscreens. The windscreen is adjustable in stock form...from laid down (ala sport bike to almost straight up)...I put it up about 1/3 which pushs the air over my helmet.

 

Curt

[Sailor]

I have always liked the FJ's. If I did not have the Venture that would be my next choice.

[sgripp]

I spotted this beastie on the road and really like how it's a clone of the BMW touring bike.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/180/home.aspx

 

Anyone know if they are comfortable to ride 6 hours at a time like my 1st gen is?

 

it looks like my only choice if I ever want to buy a new bike. I love the 1st gen styling but dont want to ride a retro cruiser that seems to be all the rage, plus I want to stay Yamaha simply because the parts are dirt cheap compared to the others.

 

I just wish that the 2010 Venture would be a return to the 1st gen styling, but that wont happen.

 

I just traded my 2007 FJR1300 for a 2009 RSV. Could not get it comfortable. Great bike with tons of power but between the sore butt, shoulder pain and right hand going numb it was "Not so Good for Me". Guys swear by the bike and has a strong following though. I wound up spending a fortune on trying to add all the stuff that a RSV had so it made sense to come back to the Venture.

 

You can get a good feel for the following from http://www.fjrforum.com/forum/