1989 Venture

[Travis]

I am going to go look at a 1989 Venture tomorrow. The guy has it listed for $ 1,600, it has 98,000 miles, it also comes with a matching trailer. I have had several bikes in the past but have never had one with such high miles on it. By the posts I have looked at on this site I have seen people say these bikes can have over 200,000 miles on them. I have seen a check list on some things to check. I think $ 1,600 might be a little to much to pay for this even with the trailer. The pictures of the bike look pretty nice. Any tips before I go look at it will be greatly appreciated. How much should I pay for one this old ???

[Peder_y2k]

Selling prices vary by region. In my area, $1600 is very fair for bike and trailer.............the trailer being around $400 making the bike $1200. If the bike is not in obvious need of repairs, $1200 for the bike is a good value.

The bike should show no wet spots underneath, have OK tire tread, have no driveability issues.

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

[Monty]

Depends on the trailer, too. I paid $2500 for a good used Escapade trailer once. They can be high, depending on what they are.

[Condor]

I agree with Peter. The values there. The only thing I can suggest is when checking it out get on your back and take a look at the bottom of the motor. It generally shows how well a bikes been taken care of. Caked with cr@p and it's dickering time.....

[KIC]

Here is some threads you can read about the 89 and below is what I was told when I was buying mine.

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1066

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=65735&page=23

 

 

Originally Posted by skydoc_17 file:///C:\Users\JOHNKO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.gif

Hey KIC,

Welcome to the VR.ORG Forum, you're home brother! The 1989 VR is the last year of the "Old Style" TCI in 1990, Yamaha went to the "improved version". This should not be a problem, plenty of them out there! (1984 to 1989 all fit)

Check all three brake rotors for "bluing", which means that they have been overheated from a dragging Caliper. The left front and rear Rotor are not available from Yamaha any more, and were spendy when they were. This bike is also the last year that came with the "Two Brush" starter motor. 1990 to 1993 had the "4 brush starter". Run the bike for a while, shut it off, and try to restart it. If the starter drags, you will need to address this issue once you have purchased it. I have seen these bikes get 300,000 miles with proper care, so at 65,000 miles I would have a good close look at the front fork seals, (thin, black oil ring above the lower aluminum fork tube) be sure to check BOTH tubes! Also steering head bearings will start to be an issue at this mileage point, check them closely. Check the coolant overflow bottle which is located under the "door" above the CB Radio on the upper right side of the fairing. If the bottle is empty, then you have a "weeper" coolant system. Have a close look at the "fish eye" glass in the front Brake and Clutch Master Cylinders, if the fluid is not clear like water, (cola colored) then this service you speak of that was done 2K ago, is BS! Since you can't see into the rear Master Cylinder, I would "draw" a sample of the brake fluid from the rear reservoir and check the color. (looking for clear color here) Remove the false tank cover and remove the fuse box lid, if any fuses are missing, or are "jumpered" with wire, then this is a major issue, but can be repaired. Remove the air box cover and check the air box for engine oil in the bottom of the box, and bugs and dirt in the air filter folds. Put the bike on the center stand and roll both tires, listening for dragging calipers and dry bearings. Sit down behind the rear of the bike, and hold on to the chrome side bag guard, and place your right foot on the rear tire. (bike in 1st gear helps) Push side ways on the tire firmly, you are looking for the tire and swing arm to move sideways, meaning the swing arm bushings and or bearings are shot!

If this bike has spent most of it's life in AZ., then it has seen some pretty high coolant temps. Look under the water pump, at the weep hole, (right side of bike, in front of and below the foot brake) for signs of anti-freeze staining or leakage. While you are there, look at the front of the water pump where the "Elbow" exits the water pump and turns left to the Thermostat Housing, MAKE SURE that the engine crash bar has not cut a gash in this plastic elbow! If there is a gash on the plastic elbow, then most likely, this bike has been down on the right side at some point. Check right side fairing corner for cracking.

With the bike on the center stand, start the bike and let it run until the electric fan comes on. If the temp gage gets close to the red area with no fan turn on, (fan should come on at 3/4 on temp gage+/- a bit) then this bike has been ridden HOT in stop and go traffic.

While on the right side of the bike, look below the water pump for the "oil level sight glass". With the bike not running, the oil level must be half way up the sight glass. If the oil level is too high and there is no oil level line, then don't return to the dealer that did the 2K service. If the sight glass is so "foggy" that you can't see the oil level at all, this is a sign that the oil changes have been neglected.

Everything mentioned here can be corrected. The point of this inspection is to see if the current owner is being honest with you about the condition of the bike. If everything checks out OK, with NO broken plastic, then this is a $3500.00 bike. If you can't see the oil level, it has at least one blued rotor, the water pump elbow has a gash in it, and the right side fairing has damage at the corner, and the coolant overflow bottle is dry, then this is an $800.00 bike, and will be a $2700.00 bike when you repair everything.

Because the owner wants to sell this motorcycle, he/she will say "anything" to make the sale. Print this sheet off, check everything mentioned, deduct for the issues found, and if he is still firm on the price once you have proved that the 2K service is BS. Then WALK AWAY! In my honest opinion, paying $800.00 for an 89'VR and putting $1700.00 into it to cherry it out is a "fun winter project"! Paying $3500.00 for the same bike and putting $1700.00 into it just to get it to stop and go properly is getting RIPPED OFF!

My thoughts, for what they are worth.

Again, welcome to the VR.ORG forum KIC, you've got some "homework" to do my friend.

Earl

 

[Travis]

Thanks for all the reply's but when I called the guy Tuesday morning he said he has sold the bike Monday.

[Venturous Randy]

Thanks for all the reply's but when I called the guy Tuesday morning he said he has sold the bike Monday.

 

Ya snooze, ya loose.

RandyA