Time to start Tearing into the Bike,....

[DarrinGT]

Wow, truly awesome.

 

I love the fact that you just started doing, and the results and nothing less than spectacular. Inspiring.

 

Would love to see it up close one day.

 

Thanks for making the long winter worth the work and the wait.

 

 

I appreciate the kind words! I also like how you worded it,.."you just started doing",..well put,.. because that is pretty much how I felt like I went about it, I have never tore into a bike before, just sorta knew what I wanted and ran with it.

 

It has been a very rewarding winter doing this makeover and now my wife and I get to enjoy it for years to come.

 

We got to put about 125 Miles on it last week on a cold ride but it performed flawlessly, very comfortable, lots of power, great sound, and about 37 MPG.

 

Still waiting on a few parts to come in today or tomorrow, drivers studded backrest, kuryakyn ISO grips, throttle lock, chrome brake reservoir covers, and oil cap. I hope to get the carbs synced this week, and wait till we get some sunshine and I will post pics of the finished product.

 

Ride On,...

[MAINEAC]

Darrin you done good man... You've come a long way from that weinie wing... I just saw your build post here today... I don't get on here as much as I used to.. I almost bought a RS like yours back in 05 but it was turquoise and white.. The Harley Stealer was asking $6500 and I offered 6 cash they came back with $6450... I walked out figuring they would chase me out to the parking lot but it never happened and I never went back.. I ended up buying an 03 RSV with 10K miles on ebay and have put another 111K on it..

 

You've done more work in 1 off season than some guys that have owned a bike for years... keep up the good work...

 

PS I sent you a friend request... Would like to meet you sometime..

Edited April 5, 2011 by MAINEAC
Spelling

[DarrinGT]

Darrin you done good man... You've come a long way from that weinie wing... I just saw your build post here today... I don't get on here as much as I used to.. I almost bought a RS like yours back in 05 but it was turquoise and white.. The Harley Stealer was asking $6500 and I offered 6 cash they came back with $6450... I walked out figuring they would chase me out to the parking lot but it never happened and I never went back.. I ended up buying an 03 RSV with 10K miles on ebay and have put another 111K on it..

 

You've done more work in 1 off season than some guys that have owned a bike for years... keep up the good work...

 

PS I sent you a friend request... Would like to meet you sometime..

 

 

Thanks! We are pretty excited about the new ride! Just need some better weather,..Friday looks good for this week.

 

I own a car lot and if I am asking $6500.00 for something and someone offers me $6K,.Ill take it, not insult them and say,.. I can go down to $6,450.00 pretty ridiculous! But it sounds like you did pretty good anyway with the 03!

 

As for the ole weinie wing,.. it was a great first bike for us, The new owner just emailed me some pics of it, He restored it and it now has a new paint job on it, Looks great!

 

http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/45615/2108213340101950171S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

Thanks for the kind words on the bike, I appreciate it, I hope to get some fininshed pics on Friday, i just saw the forecast, and looks like it will hit 55 Deg and sunshine, Well plan on a ride and ill get some pics then.

 

Friend request accepted, hope to meet you sometime as well.

[DarrinGT]

Now that I have put a few miles on the bike, I have a few more questions.

 

The bike does not have a tool kit, Is there a list of tools that should be on the bike? or does anyone know where I can get a tool kit?

 

 

I would like a brighter headlight and passing lights, Is there a good replacement for these? I also would like to adjust my passing lights, I cant see a up/down adjustment without bending the bracket, Will the light move in the housing itself? One is too high, one is too low,..

 

 

I got my Matzu Backrest, and with all of the information that I gave them about my bike, they still sent me the wrong one! I sent them pics of my bike and everything. There is no application on thier website for the 96-99 RST, just 99 and up. I am waiting to hear back from the, In the meantime, Is Utopia the only one that makes a drivers backrest for the 97 RSTC with the Yamaha Corbin Seat Setup? Would anyone here have one that they would like to sell? Any other sources that I cant find on a Google search?

 

Lori and I rode last night and it seems like we are bottoming out the resr suspension a little, we are not heavy people, I did not do anything with the rear shock this winter but from the research that I have done it looks like there is some adjustment. It also looks like I will need a tool for this, Would this be the same shock setup as Road Star,, my buddy has a tool for his, thought it may work on mine. Any input on this would be great as well.

 

Thanks for your help!

[DarrinGT]

A week ago Sunday, it hit 86 deg and we got to go for a 125 mile ride down Michigan Lakeshore.

 

I took a few pics:

 

 

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s564/Darrin-GT/1997%20Yamaha%20Royal%20Star%20Makeover/094_zps249726a6.jpg

 

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s564/Darrin-GT/1997%20Yamaha%20Royal%20Star%20Makeover/097_zps3c9bc9e5.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/47062/2698229390101950171S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/47220/2284752020101950171S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/47012/2427875490101950171S600x600Q85.jpg

 

The Biker Chick on the right is my wife Lori.

 

http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/40873/2420387210101950171S600x600Q85.jpghttp://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s564/Darrin-GT/1997%20Yamaha%20Royal%20Star%20Makeover/096_zps1beb77eb.jpg

 

 

http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/44877/2561005320101950171S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/47984/2196712380101950171S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

We had a beautiful stretch of weather so along with this Sunday ride, we also rode Sat, Tues and Wed before the weather turned cold and rainy again and will be for the next week or so.

 

So we were able to put about 450 miles on the bike since it has been done, and we are loving it!

 

One thing that I have been chasing is the rear suspension. It just seems like we are bottoming out, or there is not enough suspension travel. My wife weighs a buck and a quarter, and I am at 190, so it is not like it is overloaded. I bought a Spanner wrench and have been adjusting the preload on the spring and it might be changing it a little but no real noticeable difference. How far can I crank the nut into the shock? or am I really doing anything with this adjustment? Is there a heavier spring of shock that I can install? My buddy (No Harley Charley) put a heavier one on his Road Star, but it is a different setup.

 

I am worried about loading the saddle bags and tour pac for when we take our 4 day weekend trips and how it will handle those loads. I have been searching the site but have had no luck getting input on this subject, since it is not a Venture and does not have Air Ride.

 

Other items, I put together a Tool Kit so we are all set there, I also got a Riders Backrest off of Craigslist, It is a Protact http://www.protac.net/page7/page5/yamaha.html

 

Got it installed yesterday and it is DARN Comfortable! Ill get some pics of it soon.

This afternoon wer are installing ISO Grips.

 

Now we just need some good riding weather,..

Edited October 19, 2013 by DarrinGT

[DarrinGT]

Couple of updates:

 

Lori and I have put 500 miles on the bike since the makeover and are still working on a few improvements, We are loving the ride! smooth, powerful, comfortable and sounds great.

 

A few more things that we have done;

 

Kuryakin ISO Grips, Throttle Lock, and Throttle Boss. I took off the Offset's for the highway pags and installed standard ones. They put the pegs more where I want them.

 

We also installed new PIAA Headlight as well as the Napa H7616 Driving Lights. Way better lighting than the stock setup, especially with all of the lights adjusted correctly!

 

I found out (the hard way) that there is no reserve in the tank so I need a new petcock with both straws. We pulled it out last night and ther is only 1 straw coming out of the top.

 

MPG as been not great at about 31, so my buddy was available last night to sync the carbs. They were way off! I took it for a 50 mile ride and got 37 MPG out of it. Figure with the Barons Big Air kit that is about the best that it will get.

 

I also installed 1.5" Risers and that eliminated the discomfort in my upper back.

 

http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/47938/2329657640101950171S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

Few more pics of the finished ride:

 

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s564/Darrin-GT/1997%20Yamaha%20Royal%20Star%20Makeover/2012-06-14121949_zps317a0792.jpg

 

 

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s564/Darrin-GT/1997%20Yamaha%20Royal%20Star%20Makeover/2012-06-14122030_zps1e3cfbd9.jpg

 

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s564/Darrin-GT/1997%20Yamaha%20Royal%20Star%20Makeover/2012-06-14122044_zps7681983d.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s564/Darrin-GT/Bike%20Pics/yamaharoyalloriandI_zpsdfe12979.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/12738/2812281860101950171S600x600Q85.jpg

http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s564/Darrin-GT/2013%20IDI%20Weekend/2013-07-05131235_zpsd4e7aef8.jpg

http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/32533/2019040170101950171S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/15069/2202800350101950171S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/21296/2936810180101950171S600x600Q85.jpg

Edited October 19, 2013 by DarrinGT

[DarrinGT]

Well it appears that in the next month or so this thread will loose all of that pics that I have posted,..

 

All of my pic were uploaded to Webshots, then imbedded in the forum to get the bigger pics that you don't have to click on. Now webshots have been sold, and they are getting rid of all of the pics when they change owners. So I would assume that all of the links will now just be big red x's

 

We will see what happens when they make the changeover, in the meantime I will be looking for a new pic provider that will be around longer than Webshots!

 

Just wanted to give you the heads up,..

[vee4dfw]

Your ride looks wonderful. I just came into a 98 with 32K on it. My only recommendation is to be mindful of your current electrical load. I have heard that 96-98 had weak electrical load characteristics. You might look into a heavier rectifier/regulator and heavier magneto. Those things are electrically similar on any bike. The only difference are mounting points. Maybe one off a Goldwing would be better?

 

I am going the opposite direction. I removed the backrest, saddle bags/brackets, windshield and mounts. I'm just going to add hard patrol bags.

[SapperJM]

Darrin,

 

Somehow this the first time I've come across this. I wish I'd found it earlier. Man, the ride looks great and I could have used many of you ideas on my bike.

[playboy]

Darrin,

 

Somehow this the first time I've come across this. I wish I'd found it earlier. Man, the ride looks great and I could have used many of you ideas on my bike.

 

 

 

Yeah me too great thread and awesome looking ride.

[vee4dfw]

Yeah, I have "fairing" envy. My wife is watching the checkbook closely because of all the mod$$ I threw on the VMAX. I'm going to have to ninja any changes to mine

I already snuck in a couple .

 

[DarrinGT]

Thanks for the comments guys, I appreciate it. Lori and I have really enjoyed the bike. We did about 13,000 miles on it last riding season, this year is only about 8,000 as we had a lot going on.

 

Couple things that we have done to the bike is a new set of Studded Mustang Seats, and Avon White Wall tires. Other than normal maintenance the bike has been flawless. Right now it is up on the lift getting oil, and antifreeze changed, hope to get in a couple more rides this fall yet.

 

vee4dfw Your ride looks wonderful. I just came into a 98 with 32K on it. My only recommendation is to be mindful of your current electrical load. I have heard that 96-98 had weak electrical load characteristics. You might look into a heavier rectifier/regulator and heavier magneto. Those things are electrically similar on any bike. The only difference are mounting points. Maybe one off a Goldwing would be better?

 

I am going the opposite direction. I removed the backrest, saddle bags/brackets, windshield and mounts. I'm just going to add hard patrol bags.

Going the opposite direction is not a bad thing, These bikes look great striped down!, and the Hard Patrol bags will add to the look, Sounds Great!

 

Thanks for the heads up on the Electrical Load, I have watched that since I was able to put a Volt Gauge in the faring I can see the load. I took out the 55w driving lights, have reinstalled the ones because of this. The Radio only gets used when I ride solo, so by watching the Volt Gauge I can monitor the drag, Seems to be fine so far.

 

 

Thanks again guys, It is just a bummer that all of the pics may disappear when Webshots shuts down. Ill keep an eye on it and see what happens with it.

 

Ride Safe,..

[DarrinGT]

Almost a Year to date from my last posting on this thread,...but yup it is back..WHY,?.. you ask,...I will tell you,..

 

When Webshots shut down I lost all of my pics that were posted in a forum. So this thread lost all of the pics and was pretty worthless with no pics in it,,..Since then I have been able to slowly load them to Photobucket.

 

I have now gone through this thread and replaced all of the pics that were lost, so the thread is now back to complete, and hope that it can be used to help fellow VentureRiders out with any information that has been posted.

 

Another reason that I am looking to go a different direction with the bike this winter and plan on tearing into it again and making some changes as well as maintenance.

 

More to come on that soon,...

[Hucklecatt]

Holy cats - just caught this thread. Very nice work! Love it when folks get their hands right into it.

 

PM sent to you.

[DarrinGT]

Holy cats - just caught this thread. Very nice work! Love it when folks get their hands right into it.

 

PM sent to you.

 

Thanks!,... I appreciate the kind words,.

 

Gonna do it again this winter,.Stay Tuned,...

[Bodaggit23]

Anyone know where to get one of these luggage racks?

 

[BratmanXj]

Looks awfully similar to the Custom Chrome luggage rack I had on my HD Road King a few years back.

[DarrinGT]

Anyone know where to get one of these luggage racks?

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]98740[/ATTACH]

 

Its a stock Yamaha Luggage rack for the Royal Star. Watch Ebay, that is where I got mine that that was a number of years ago,.. Like the start of this thread! lol,..

[Bodaggit23]

Gotcha. I've been looking but haven't seen one yet.

 

Thanks!

[bwk]

Will this work on a 2005 RSTD?