Hey Everyone. Looking at an 84 Royale. Thoughts?

[dezmond]

Hi Guys and Gals,

 

Love this forum.. SO MUCH information to take in about these great bikes. I started out by riding a 83 Honda Shadow VT500 that me and my buddy did a complete strip to frame restoration on and had a blast with it!!! Moved up to a Seca for about 2 years.

 

Been off a bike now for 3 years but really want to ride again this year.

 

I found a 84 Venture Royale for sale. Buddy said that it needed brakes and a battery... He said 2nd was replaced already...

 

What I would like to know is what else should I be looking for when I go see the bike this weekend?

 

I hope to pick it up if it's in good enough shape. I'm a big boy so this would be a nice bike to cruise around with.

 

Thanks everyone!!!

 

Dezi

[bongobobny]

Does it run? If so, how well?

 

Look for date codes on the tires. If older than 6 or 7 years old replace them.

 

The MK1 brakes leave a little to be desired. A good upgrade is to change out the front forks with MK2 forks ('86 - '93) and put on FZR R1 or R6 calipers. Also, the rear brake is linked to one of the front brakes. There are pros and cons to this, you have to decide to leave them linked or delink them.

 

Keep in mind the Venture is a full sized bike and it takes a bit to get used to them. Properly maintained they should get about 300,000 KM out of them. They are designed to be ridden long distances...

[KIC]

Here is some information that was given to me when I was looking at my 89. Just take out the 89 and look at the other information.

 

Good luck !

 

Bill

CHECKLIST for 1st Generation VENTURES.doc

[saddlebum]

What I would like to know is what else should I be looking for when I go see the bike this weekend?

Lots of good roads to ride and the location and times of all the meet and eats.

[syscrusher]

I had an 83 VT500C, you could think 'C' for "chopper" since it was laid out like a mini cruiser and a little more chromed up. I got the sissy bar and engine side covers chromed to complete the look but I also got the 18" rear wheel from the sister bike the VT500E "Ascot" and used it like a dual sport. I got rid of the pull back bars and replaced them with straighter enduro type bars with Brevetatta grips.

 

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg287/DogTi/grip.jpg

 

As for the 84 VR, I will probably catch hell for this but my survey of the info tells me that in all honesty there are a list of possible problems with those years. Don't pay over $2000 unless it has had those problems fixed and you can see evidence. Check to make sure the front and rear suspension will hold air and not leak oil. It should idle at 900 at the stops once warmed up. One of the biggest problems, read expensive, was with second gear shelling under hard acceleration, if this has not been fixed I would not take the risk unless you never will ride it hard even in the mountains. Consider looking at a Gen 1.2 VR after '86 or even better after '90. They got the bugs sorted by then.

 

 

Hi Guys and Gals,

 

Love this forum.. SO MUCH information to take in about these great bikes. I started out by riding a 83 Honda Shadow VT500 that me and my buddy did a complete strip to frame restoration on and had a blast with it!!! Moved up to a Seca for about 2 years.

 

 

Thanks everyone!!!

 

Dezi

[dezmond]

Ya I loved my VT500... Was a great project.. We stripped it right down and did a repaint and re build. I learned a lot.

 

As for the Venture. It had the 2nd Gear replaced already and I'm not too concerned about minor fixes here and there. Me and my buddy Kev are pretty good with wrenches. I wouldn't hesitate to tear it all apart if I had to.

 

Nice thing is it is at a really good price and he has a whole other one that needs 2nd gear but hey. That would be a great project to work on over the year and do it all up pretty like

 

I will post pics of what I am getting myself into once I pick the bikes up

 

Here are some from when I did the shadow.. Hope you like

[syscrusher]

That VT500 brings back memories. The blue frame is an interesting touch. Mine started as red and I painted the tank and rear fender a similar color of blue. I also masked off the edges of the side cover and painted the center sections blue. Sometime I'll look for a digital picture of it and post it here.

 

I hope you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of your VR.