1st Gen trivia: All/some/none had "reserve"

[cowpuc]

The year is 1983, you left the dealership on your new Yamaha Venture, got a little second gear wheelie as you left the place (young and stupid) - put a big smile on your face cause you KNEW it was BYE BYE time for your buddies wing.. Later, as you watched this buddy disappear in your right mirror you felt the horrible feeling of a bike running out of gas

You pull over, do a little digging for a fuel petcock,,, ahhhh,, saved by grace there it is,,, now,, the big question,,, does your 1983 1st Genny have an actual "reserve" petcock like ALL bikes should have??? :stirthepot:

[Squidley]

Nope, some of them are just on/off, I know because I have one. Yamaha must have thought that the gas gauge was a fail safe for folks that dont check the gauge on a regular basis.

[bongobobny]

Yup! I bought what I thought was a reserve petcock for a VR off ebay and when it came it was just on/off in the original box. Still have it...

[frankd]

Yes, my 83 came with a 3 position petcock (I bought the bike new in May 1983).

[cowpuc]

Ahhhhh,,, so we got a yes, a no and an explanation of why they didnt BUT we still dont have a real answer for this one... I mean,, come on you guys, after all,, these are OLD bikes and there has to be someone out there that has collected a stock pile of these bikes that has run across the answer to this little trivia.. Bets still on at two :stirthepot:

[93 venture]

Yes my 93 has reserve, have used it a few times. and it turns hard but i can still move it with my fingers.

[Ben Rollins]

Mine is on or off.

[dingy]

I think the reserve was added midway through the 83 production run. I know the early 84's had reserve petcock. I had one of those last year.

 

Easiest way to know if the bike has a reserve petcock is to look at side cover. The covers that had reserve feature have a 'notch' for easier access to petcock.

 

1st picture is of Tweety in early years, side cover is not notched.

 

2nd picture of yellow bike, which is not Tweety, has notched cover.

 

Gary

[Yammer Dan]

They got a Off??? What For??

[B.C. Rider]

My 89 Royale has a reserve but it is a canadian model and there was a couple of diferences between the Canadian and US models

[Venturous Randy]

I think my 83 is just on or off. I have never tried to put it on reserve and can not imagine why anyone would want to put it on reserve.

RandyA

[Yammer Dan]

I think my 83 is just on or off. I have never tried to put it on reserve and can not imagine why anyone would want to put it on reserve.

RandyA

 

 

I guess off would be for when you are waiting for the 2nd Gens to catch up....

[icebrrg3rd]

On/Off on my '83 with no notch in the plastic. Oh, and my lever is broken off, so I can't really switch it at all. So what's the point in it?!?

 

-Andrew

[Prairiehammer]

There was no reserve on my first '83 (VIN 001764). There is no reserve on my current '83 (VIN 006708).

[GS51]

There is no reserve on my 83 Vin 101 no lever either just a square head with a slot. I even ordered a replacement to get the leaver didn't happen, the only thing I did get was the screen. it's a pain to turn it off to change the filter i have to use a wrench.

Gary

[rbig1]

my royal has a reserve. notch for key to turn it. pass foot rest covers it so good luck using it. its a 83. cant remember notch in side cover. after company leaves will have to look.

[cowpuc]

my royal has a reserve. notch for key to turn it. pass foot rest covers it so good luck using it. its a 83. cant remember notch in side cover. after company leaves will have to look.

 

Indeed!! My first Venny was exactly that, 83 Royale and it had a reserve tap.. Next was an 83 Standard - no reserve tap.. All three next bikes were standards and none had the reserve tap (includes the one we are riding now).. All makes me think that Yamaha actually considered the reserve petcock assembly part of the Royale package...

[pmelah]

mine does not have the original tank in it it has a tank from an 83 that has on/off and thats broke so its always on and i cant shut off to wait on a 2nd gen to catch up:whistling::stirthepot::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf::rotf: