2018 Star Venture

[garyk]

I had pretty much dropped the new Venture, but thanks very much for the responses, as a result of which I will give it a test ride.

 

GaryK

[American]

I had pretty much dropped the new Venture, but thanks very much for the responses, as a result of which I will give it a test ride.

 

GaryK

 

Just remember that a new bike in the break in period will run hotter than after the break in period.

 

My 2018 Star Venture has gotten cooler as it was breaking in. I now have 1,000 miles on it and it puts out no more heat then 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour did or my 2016 Harley Ultra Limited Low with twin cool did.

 

One thing I do find on all the air cooled engines in bikes I have had is if you run conventional oil they will run a little hotter and if you run synthetic oil they will run just a little cooler.

[YamahaParExcellence]

I rode em numerous times out in Sturgis last year and put the engine/exhaust pipe heat smack dab between the Polaris bikes with the 111 in em and the HD 103/110 which I have some experience on both of those too.. The Polaris Indian being considerably hotter and the Harley being the lesser of the 3.. Keep in mind that my opinion is coming from a "2 up" touring perspective. Ironically,, one of the major bike magazines just spun out a comparison between the three and totally agreed with what I experienced HOTTEST = Polaris 111, HOT = Yam TC and lesser of the three when coming to heat = HD Road Glide with the M8. All my opinion (which we are all entitled to IMHO) - always best do your own test!!

 

Another close friend of mine, brother and fellow VR member also did a journalist ride on the Eluder and SVTC and he found the exhaust header heat on the left side to be unbareably hot and shared your concern.. Personally, I know the person who wrote this and can tell you he has a ton of experience on the tour and I trust his word.. His experience and professional opinion can be read at the link at the end of this paragraph. https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2018/03/01/iron-butt-comparison-2018-yamaha-star-venture-vs-personalized-2007-royal-star-venture/

 

A new member here at VR named Zelthian purchased the new bike and wrote this as a summary of his ride experience:

"""" 2018 Yamaha Star Venture - Mike's Personal Review

 

I'm going to attempt to make this concise. Please feel free to ask questions, and I'll add things as I see fit from these questions.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

I'd had my eye on this bike since it was announced back in the June timeframe last year. I was still feeling the effects of the Victory closure announcement (I had a 2011 Victory Cross Roads), and since that time I had been window shopping for my next bike. I had mentally settled on the Indian Roadmaster, as I wanted a v-twin touring bike, but I wasn't completely thrilled with the option. I'm a bit of a geek (as some might have noticed), and while the traditional styling of the Indians is nice, it just wasn't really my mug of coffee. I still remember the first time I saw the new Star Venture. My first reaction was, "Yeah, like that!" on the styling. I was hooked, so I had to force myself to curb my enthusiasm. I wasn't yet in a position to be able to afford it, and I didn't want my fan-boy feeling to cause me to overlook flaws that may give me reason not to buy one. My biggest concern going in was the weight; 963 pounds is nothing to sneeze at. So I did my research, read the reviews, kept up with things in the news and bid my time until my daughter finished school.

 

It was then I saw on on the showroom floor at the same dealer where I bought my Victory. I made the mistake of sitting on it and letting the sales guy hold it so I could check my sitting clearance for my legs. It was, of course, a perfect fit. I let the guy "tell me all about it" (not mentioning the research I had already done), told him I was considering it, and left. A week later I brought my teenage son in try out the passenger seat. Of course he loved it. Told the guy I was still seriously considering it, and left. It was another week and a half before I returned, having done due diligence on finances and whatnot. I insisted on a test ride. The sales guy immediately agreed. I was so nervous I was going to drop the thing, but I didn't. It just didn't feel like a 963-pound bike, even at low speed. It accelerated far more effortlessly than I imagined and it turned and handled very well. When I returned to the dealership, I bought the bike.

 

THE GOOD

 

Now that I've put 2000 miles on the bike, I'm comfortable saying I am more confident riding this bike than my Victory Cross Roads, which surprised me given the 200-pound difference in weight. At low speed it feels like a much lighter bike. On the highway it doesn't break a sweat. Indeed, my son, having eaten good BBQ before a leg of a ride as dozed off on the back more than once (he's ok, no worries). The passenger seat is equally comfortable, and I find myself debating on whether I really need highway pegs (I'm 5' 9" in boots). Despite its bulk, it is a well-engineered machine.

 

Power is awesome for a stock v-twin. Now that I can rev the engine beyond 2600, I've been able to get a better idea of the engine's capabilities. I'm not a expert (this is only my third bike), but I haven't found myself wanting for power. The transmission shifts easily (though I find myself occasionally over-shifting neutral).

 

Storage space is cavernous. This is my first tour trunk, I've been kicking myself for not investing in one sooner. What I normally carry fits well in the saddlebags, leaving the trunk to stash my helmet and jacket when I stop. The cubbies elsewhere are nice but I haven't found a use for them yet (yet) outside of holding and charging my phone.

 

I have the Transcontinental model, so features are vast. I haven't use the CB yet (I have along trip coming up), but I've taken in most of the other audio options. It's easier to list what doesn't come with the bike than what does come with the bike, which is saying something.

 

This is also my first bike with heated seats and grips. And you can set the levels for High/Medium/Low heat in the infotainment system. I also got the accessory headed grips for the passenger. My son loves them.

 

Generally, I'm getting about 35-37 mpg in the city, and 44-47 mpg on the highway.

 

One year warranty, four additional years extended warranty.

 

 

THE NOT-SO-GOOD

 

Does the engine put off heat? Yes. Is it enough to be a real bother? No. I've found it's most noticeable when I've been on the highway, then I have to stop and wait for several minutes. It's not going to burn your leg off, but it will warm you up a bit on cool days. Also, this heat can be mitigated a great deal by opening the vents just forward of the floorboards to let air in by your legs.

 

My biggest gripes are with some of the niggles with the Infotainment System. These are documented ad nauseam elsewhere on the forums, so I won't go into too much detail. The voice prompts on the GPS can't be adjusted (the voice breaks in too often for my taste). Importing a route is needlessly complex. Routes are limited to 5 waypoints. The Pandora control isn't stable and breaks randomly (viva la Bluetooth). Despite these niggles, it is quite functional. An update should be available "Any Day Now

^TM

".

 

My bike does get a bit of transmission whine from time to time, though it seems to be lessening a bit as time goes on.

 

The throttle can be a bit twitchy. It's a throttle-by-wire system, and there are times when I feel I may have let off just a tiny bit only to have the engine down-rev more than expected. It has taken some getting used to.

 

SUMMARY

 

I've gotten into the habit of telling folks that this is the bike I was waiting for. I really like this bike, and I find myself trying to come up with excuses to get out on it. It is fantastic for what it is, and I'm very glad I made the upgrade.""""""""""

 

And yet another one of the new members who is suppose to be picking up his brand spanking new Red SVTC today, wrote the below after he was finally able to procure a 50 mile test ride up near his home in Ontario Canada. Personally, I think that until we hear of actual riding of the SVTC in the kind of temps you are speaking of in the desert regions where many of love to ride so we know exactly how the new Venture is gonna handle the heat - it is still up in the air.. Here is the report from the person getting his today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I in fact did pick up my SVTC yesterday Puc...and I had the lower set of wind deflectors also installed. They work great...bring lots of air into the mid to lower section of the cockpit...and they really bathe the engine jugs in cooling air. The standards top ones, not so much, because they are so high. I recommend this second lower pair, to all owners.

[cowpuc]

I in fact did pick up my SVTC yesterday Puc...and I had the lower set of wind deflectors also installed. They work great...bring lots of air into the mid to lower section of the cockpit...and they really bathe the engine jugs in cooling air. The standards top ones, not so much, because they are so high. I recommend this second lower pair, to all owners.

 

Yamster,,, what "standards top ones" are you refering to? I dont recall seeing an upper set of deflectors on any of the new Ventures I have ridden.

 

By the way,,, WOWZY that Charlotte is gorgeous!! CONGRATS to you both!! Or should I say the three of you,, cant forget your ride partner in that congrats!!!

[YamahaParExcellence]

Just remember that a new bike in the break in period will run hotter than after the break in period.

 

My 2018 Star Venture has gotten cooler as it was breaking in. I now have 1,000 miles on it and it puts out no more heat then 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour did or my 2016 Harley Ultra Limited Low with twin cool did.

 

One thing I do find on all the air cooled engines in bikes I have had is if you run conventional oil they will run a little hotter and if you run synthetic oil they will run just a little cooler.

 

Do you have a WORKING navigation system? No matter what I do...Yamaha's P.O.S. Toolbox software keeps coming up on W10...as Device Not Detected. I can open a window to my USB stick..and there are all the files that my SVTC put onto it, as a Device Fingerprint. So...their software should see it, but it doesn't.

 

If yours is working...what did you do to get it to see your stick? BTW, what was the size of the storage on that stick...if it worked for you? 16 GB? 32 GB?

Edited May 10, 2018 by YamahaParExcellence

[YamahaParExcellence]

Yamster,,, what "standards top ones" are you refering to? I dont recall seeing an upper set of deflectors on any of the new Ventures I have ridden.

 

By the way,,, WOWZY that Charlotte is gorgeous!! CONGRATS to you both!! Or should I say the three of you,, cant forget your ride partner in that congrats!!!

 

Hi Puc, the Venture comes standard with a set of Wind Deflectors just below the mirrors. Take a look at my front side shot. The lower ones, are the ones that are listed in the Options Folder and ordered by myself and installed by my dealer. The ones above that, are installed as standard equipment.

 

Thanks for the congrats. My wife absolutely LOVES the room and comfort of the new co-rider position. She said, ten times better than the 2008 Wing. Wow....you go, girl! Oh...combine that with the dual-zone, with private phone calls...practically has her swooning!

 

As the knight in the Raider's movie said..."You...chose wisely...". Yes, I did....and I can live with the paint...there's lots I can yet do, to make all of that swirl go away. Almost 7 months...just glad to finally have our ride at home!

[SilvrT]

I like the design and all the bells and whistles but air cooled?

My wife and I just made a trip to Vancouver BC with a trailer and we were stuck in the mother of all traffic jams on the #1 highway.

Very hot, constantly clutching 5 to 10 feet at a time for hours. Couldn't shut the bike off. Yes, I got the heat from the fan but can't imagine surviving the traffic jam on an air cooled v twin.

Waiting to hear stories of how this bike is in city traffic.

 

I have lived in the Vancouver area for 15 years and during that time have had 6 different bikes … an 85 VR, and 87 VR, an 06 RSMV, an 03 Wing, an 05 Road Star, and a 13 Victory CCT.

 

I can tell you from my experience being in those traffic jams many times that the air cooled Vic and the air cooled Roady felt minimally hotter than the other liquid cooled bikes. Minimally meaning not enough to be an issue.

[cowpuc]

I have lived in the Vancouver area for 15 years and during that time have had 6 different bikes … an 85 VR, and 87 VR, an 06 RSMV, an 03 Wing, an 05 Road Star, and a 13 Victory CCT.

 

I can tell you from my experience being in those traffic jams many times that the air cooled Vic and the air cooled Roady felt minimally hotter than the other liquid cooled bikes. Minimally meaning not enough to be an issue.

 

and Tip and I have done a fair amount of transcontinental touring with friends who were riding an air cooled V-Twin and also riding 2 up down into the 100 degree tempts of the south and can tell ya first hand that the lady passenger on the back of that great big gorgeous V-Twin got baked enough on her legs and feet while sitting in a construction zone down yonder that she swore she would never ever ever do that again... And to this very day,,, she hasn't... IMHO,, the ride experience for 1 up on an air cooled V-Twin tour is a totally different debate than that of a full out cross country tour in 2 up mode....

[American]

My wife rides with me and has no complaints about heat from our old 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour to our old 2016 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited Low to the new 2018 Yamaha Star Venture Transcontinental, all three bikes are V-Twin with the Victory and Yamaha being air oil cooled and the Harley being air cooled with water cooled heads around the exhaust valves.

 

To many people get on a motorcycle and think it should be like in their air conditioned car.

 

My old 1989 Honda GoldWing GL1500 was liquid cooled and it would throw off quite a bit of heat and would about cook your left foot while riding due to the heat coming off the left cylinder head.

[cowpuc]

My wife rides with me and has no complaints about heat from our old 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour to our old 2016 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited Low to the new 2018 Yamaha Star Venture Transcontinental, all three bikes are V-Twin with the Victory and Yamaha being air oil cooled and the Harley being air cooled with water cooled heads around the exhaust valves.

 

To many people get on a motorcycle and think it should be like in their air conditioned car.

 

My old 1989 Honda GoldWing GL1500 was liquid cooled and it would throw off quite a bit of heat and would about cook your left foot while riding due to the heat coming off the left cylinder head.

 

Must be west Michigan ladies aint as heat resistant as them Floridian ladies

[American]

There is more to be said about that then you know, people from hot climates go up north and need a jacket while the locals are walking around with just a long sleeve shirt on.

 

The reverse is true when people come down south they are burning up while the locals are just enjoying the nice day it is.

 

I for one do not like the cold nor does my wife.

[SilvrT]

IMHO,, the ride experience for 1 up on an air cooled V-Twin tour is a totally different debate than that of a full out cross country tour in 2 up mode....

 

Agreed! However, I should have mentioned ... it's a rare occasion that I am out riding solo. Nina is almost always with me and I've never heard any complaints about heat from her.

 

My wife rides with me and has no complaints about heat from our old 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour

To many people get on a motorcycle and think it should be like in their air conditioned car.

 

 

DITTO!

[YamahaParExcellence]

I had pretty much dropped the new Venture, but thanks very much for the responses, as a result of which I will give it a test ride.

 

GaryK

 

I think you will find the 'the plane boss, the plane, the heat boss, the heat'...to be in ownership, an non issue, or at least much exaggerated.

 

How many of those demo riders even KNEW there were two lower warm-weather vents that should be opened as part of the manufacturer's heat management? Probably very few.

 

Were they opened? Were they not, on all those YouTube or comments, Demo Rides?

 

If you have those open for Summer riding...and open/closed for Spring/Fall/Winter...you are good to go. I also can't more highly suggest that a owner, put on those lower mid-body/waist/twin jugs wind deflectors, or cool air input towards the riders and engine, or deflection for colder riding ambient temperatures. I have run an SVTC with just the stock (upper) wind deflectors pitched in...and with my ride home...BOTH sets pitched in...and it is like a hurricane, LOL if you want it to be. Plenty of cooling air washing not only over both saddle positions,but the very engine itself. I wound't buy this bike, without them had I been given a chance to ride with, and without the lower accessory set. Just my usage suggestion. More air control wash and user direction, is better than LESS air control...and the money will be well spent.

 

Cheers,

[ChiefGunner]

I think you will find the 'the plane boss, the plane, the heat boss, the heat'...to be in ownership, an non issue, or at least much exaggerated.

 

How many of those demo riders even KNEW there were two lower warm-weather vents that should be opened as part of the manufacturer's heat management? Probably very few.

 

Were they opened? Were they not, on all those YouTube or comments, Demo Rides?

 

If you have those open for Summer riding...and open/closed for Spring/Fall/Winter...you are good to go. I also can't more highly suggest that a owner, put on those lower mid-body/waist/twin jugs wind deflectors, or cool air input towards the riders and engine, or deflection for colder riding ambient temperatures. I have run an SVTC with just the stock (upper) wind deflectors pitched in...and with my ride home...BOTH sets pitched in...and it is like a hurricane, LOL if you want it to be. Plenty of cooling air washing not only over both saddle positions,but the very engine itself. I wound't buy this bike, without them had I been given a chance to ride with, and without the lower accessory set. Just my usage suggestion. More air control wash and user direction, is better than LESS air control...and the money will be well spent.

 

Cheers,

 

Let me know what happens IF you try to put highway pegs on. Again, my concern is my legs hitting the lower wings while trying to use the highway pegs.

[tomephil]

I have lived in the Vancouver area for 15 years and during that time have had 6 different bikes … an 85 VR, and 87 VR, an 06 RSMV, an 03 Wing, an 05 Road Star, and a 13 Victory CCT.

 

I can tell you from my experience being in those traffic jams many times that the air cooled Vic and the air cooled Roady felt minimally hotter than the other liquid cooled bikes. Minimally meaning not enough to be an issue.

 

Thanks,

That's one of my biggest concerns with this bike.

Still on the fence.

[ZOEYDOG]

Let me know what happens IF you try to put highway pegs on. Again, my concern is my legs hitting the lower wings while trying to use the highway pegs.

 

Highway pegs work great on mine I am 6"3 very comfortable on the highway

[ChiefGunner]

Highway pegs work great on mine I am 6"3 very comfortable on the highway

 

Thanks Zoey, I know the pegs will work great but do you have the lower wings on your SVTC also? If so, do the lower lower wings create a clearance issue for you legs when using the pegs?

[ZOEYDOG]

Thanks Zoey, I know the pegs will work great but do you have the lower wings on your SVTC also? If so, do the lower lower wings create a clearance issue for you legs when using the pegs?

 

No do not have the lower wings my heel sits on the floor and rest of foot on pegs I don't think the lower wings would be a problem but not sure

[garyk]

I think you will find the 'the plane boss, the plane, the heat boss, the heat'...to be in ownership, an non issue, or at least much exaggerated.

 

How many of those demo riders even KNEW there were two lower warm-weather vents that should be opened as part of the manufacturer's heat management? Probably very few.

 

Were they opened? Were they not, on all those YouTube or comments, Demo Rides?

 

If you have those open for Summer riding...and open/closed for Spring/Fall/Winter...you are good to go. I also can't more highly suggest that a owner, put on those lower mid-body/waist/twin jugs wind deflectors, or cool air input towards the riders and engine, or deflection for colder riding ambient temperatures. I have run an SVTC with just the stock (upper) wind deflectors pitched in...and with my ride home...BOTH sets pitched in...and it is like a hurricane, LOL if you want it to be. Plenty of cooling air washing not only over both saddle positions,but the very engine itself. I wound't buy this bike, without them had I been given a chance to ride with, and without the lower accessory set. Just my usage suggestion. More air control wash and user direction, is better than LESS air control...and the money will be well spent.

 

Cheers,

 

Thank you for taking time to respond. There is only one situation about which I worry, and I will address that on my test ride Saturday: It can get very hot sitting in traffic on the blacktopped freeway in SoCal. I got stuck in a massive traffic jam on the 101 in the valley last year on my FJR. Couldn't even lane split. It was 113F, and my calves were roasting. Air vents don't help there.

 

I hope to see how the SVTC compares to the FJR. If it's worse, than I'll probably go with a Gold WIng. If it's better, than I have a problem. A good problem.

[cowpuc]

Thank you for taking time to respond. There is only one situation about which I worry, and I will address that on my test ride Saturday: It can get very hot sitting in traffic on the blacktopped freeway in SoCal. I got stuck in a massive traffic jam on the 101 in the valley last year on my FJR. Couldn't even lane split. It was 113F, and my calves were roasting. Air vents don't help there.

 

I hope to see how the SVTC compares to the FJR. If it's worse, than I'll probably go with a Gold WIng. If it's better, than I have a problem. A good problem.

 

solid truth happening right there..

 

Been there MANY MANY times... Fact is,, if your gonna tour the west coast or east coast,, your going to face what you describe, only the extreme tarmac heat of the west coast seperates the two... A lot of folks dont realize this but "lane splitting" in California is only allowed in multi lane situations.. Therefore,, lets say your on your way out of Tahoe on a Sunday night and headed toward Placerville - that 4 1/2 hour line of traffic can make a bike get SCREAMING hot in those 105 degree temps and NO lane splitting allowed to get the air moving across the fins. Another real burner often over looked in these types of discussions IMHO has to do with cross winds.. The air blowing cross wise thru those cooling fins on an air cooled scoot can also be a scorcher, especially for the passengers legs/feet.. I wish they would have allowed me to let the SVTC set and idle for 20 minutes next to Tweeksis out at Sturgis last year to somewhat duplicate what you are referring to Gary.. The plan was to do just that and then take temp readings with my infra red on both bikes just to put some scientific truth behind it all.. Unfortunately the factory techs would not allow it.. I still think that until that is done,, Yamaha's claim to having solved the hot air cooled big twin issue (thats what we were told at both Americade and Sturgis) is just as subjective as our debating the subject..

[YamahaParExcellence]

Let me know what happens IF you try to put highway pegs on. Again, my concern is my legs hitting the lower wings while trying to use the highway pegs.

 

 

I won't be, Chief. I have plenty of movement to change the angle of my knees and thighs, so I'm good with just that monster long, foot board.

[YamahaParExcellence]

Thank you for taking time to respond. There is only one situation about which I worry, and I will address that on my test ride Saturday: It can get very hot sitting in traffic on the blacktopped freeway in SoCal. I got stuck in a massive traffic jam on the 101 in the valley last year on my FJR. Couldn't even lane split. It was 113F, and my calves were roasting. Air vents don't help there.

 

I hope to see how the SVTC compares to the FJR. If it's worse, than I'll probably go with a Gold WIng. If it's better, than I have a problem. A good problem.

 

After owing five past Gold Wings...I can tell you...that even in stop and go, when those two side mounted fans kick in...that can, not always, but can push really hot air out of those twin rads, back at you. I have had that happen, but not on a regular basis.

[American]

Any engine no matter if it is liquid cooled or air cooled is going to radiate heat from the engine itself.

 

An air/oil cooled engine is going to use the engine fins to pull heat from the engine and it will use the oil cooler to pull heat from the oil.

 

A liquid cooled engine circulates antifreeze through the engine then to a radiator where is needs air flowing through it to cool down the coolant, if no air is flowing through the radiator the fans will kick on when the engine coolant reaches a certain temperature. This will keep the engine around 200 degrees to 220 degrees as the coolant circulates through the system and cools down in the radiator.

 

With the liquid cooled engine you have two sources of heat to deal with, one is the heat radiating off of the engine itself and then you have the heat coming from the radiator(s) that is being directed through the body work cowling which if their is no wind ends up around the rider as it exits from the cowling.

 

I live in Southwest Florida and it gets hot here, and we have high humidity to go with the heat. I have seen over 100 degree read outs on my bikes on board air temp displays, add in the humidity and it is hot period.

 

You are likely to be no more comfortable on a liquid cooled bike stuck in traffic than you would be on an air cooled bike stuck in the same traffic.

 

Then you have the maintenance issues with liquid cooling, you have maintain the cooling system, flush the radiator to replace the coolant every so many miles, you have to maintain the cooling system hoses so they don't fail and you have a water pump as well that can fail. If the ambient temps get to hot it can even overwhelm a liquid coolant system and cause the engine to over heat.

 

Just because an engine is liquid cooled does not mean you won't feel any engine heat. My old 1989 Honda GoldWing GL1500 would bath you in heat when stopped and the cooling fans kicked on, when you were moving it would cook your left foot from the heat radiating off the left cylinder head.

Edited May 11, 2018 by American

[garyk]

After owing five past Gold Wings...I can tell you...that even in stop and go, when those two side mounted fans kick in...that can, not always, but can push really hot air out of those twin rads, back at you. I have had that happen, but not on a regular basis.

 

Thanks for pointing that out. When I think about it, I suppose they're all going to do produce heat, aren't they? I mean they're internal-combustion engines; they burning/exploding stuff less than a foot beneath me and just a few inches beside either leg.

 

The three bikes around which I have circled are the new BMW Grand America, the Gold Wing, and the SVTC. I quickly eliminated the SVTC, put off by the early heat reports. My FJR experience, which is otherwise very positive, has me leery of the heat reported in early SVTC reviews. The FJR can get very hot; even when moving quickly on a hot/humid day, the heat coming off it can be very unpleasant.

 

We quickly eliminated the BMW after riding it. Even in Touring mode the ride is stiff and jiggly, far more of a sport bike than a touring bike. (The K1600 GTL is too high for my wife's arthritic knees, and the seating is too cramped for us.) BMWs are, in an odd way, too sophisticated. I think of them as over-engineered. Plus their reputation is not good maintenance-wise, and BMW doesn't stand behind its products the way Yamaha does. The Gold Wing and SVTC are also sophisticated machines, but, and I don't know how exactly to quantify this, they are not "overly sophisticated" the way the BMW is, and that, to me, is a good thing.

 

The touring-mode ride on the new Gold Wing, and the ride is the main criteria for this purchase, is amazingly supple. Bumps from street irregularities are still there, but they are distant, cushioned, more like echoes of bumps. Yet I'm repeatedly drawn back to the SVTC because of my very positive experience with Yamaha over the decades, first on a 2-stroke 350 in the early 70s, then on an XS750 triple, then after 11 years on the FJR/AE (the AE is the designation for the auto-clutch), which, aside from the heat issue, is to my money the greatest all-around street motorcycle ever created.

 

I have a test ride scheduled for Saturday in Pasadena on the SVTC. It should be a hot day, and there should be traffic on the 110 that we can sit in. And as I write this I realize how perverted that sounds: On a test ride I will be seeking out traffic to sit in.

Edited May 11, 2018 by garyk

[cowpuc]

Thanks for pointing that out. When I think about it, I suppose they're all going to do produce heat, aren't they? I mean they're internal-combustion engines; they burning/exploding stuff less than a foot beneath me and just a few inches beside either leg.

 

The three bikes around which I have circled are the new BMW Grand America, the Gold Wing, and the SVTC. I quickly eliminated the SVTC, put off by the early heat reports. My FJR experience, which is otherwise very positive, has me leery of the heat reported in early SVTC reviews. The FJR can get very hot; even when moving quickly on a hot/humid day, the heat coming off it can be very unpleasant.

 

We quickly eliminated the BMW after riding it. Even in Touring mode the ride is stiff and jiggly, far more of a sport bike than a touring bike. (The K1600 GTL is too high for my wife's arthritic knees, and the seating is too cramped for us.) BMWs are, in an odd way, too sophisticated. I think of them as over-engineered. Plus their reputation is not good maintenance-wise, and BMW doesn't stand behind its products the way Yamaha does. The Gold Wing and SVTC are also sophisticated machines, but, and I don't know how exactly to quantify this, they are not "overly sophisticated" the way the BMW is, and that, to me, is a good thing.

 

The touring-mode ride on the new Gold Wing, and the ride is the main criteria for this purchase, is amazingly supple. Bumps from street irregularities are still there, but they are distant, cushioned, more like echoes of bumps. Yet I'm repeatedly drawn back to the SVTC because of my very positive experience with Yamaha over the decades, first on a 2-stroke 350 in the early 70s, then on an XS750 triple, then after 11 years on the FJR/AE (the AE is the designation for the auto-clutch), which, aside from the heat issue, is to my money the greatest all-around street motorcycle ever created.

 

I have a test ride scheduled for Saturday in Pasadena on the SVTC. It should be a hot day, and there should be traffic on the 110 that we can sit in. And as I write this I realize how perverted that sounds: On a test ride I will be seeking out traffic to sit in.

 

There ya go Gary,,, get right into it and go right after it!!! Hopefully you are going to be doing your testing with a passenger onboard and hopefully that passenger has some experience on riding two up = THAT would be awesome,,, icing on the cake so to speak.. Another simple thing that I would suggest is to bring along one of those infra red themometers and take temperature readings of both the bikes heat on items that are near the rider/passenger legs/feet as well as the rider/passenger legs/feet while sitting in one of those traffic back up situations that anyone who attempts a real deal tour is going to encounter.. IMHO,,, putting some real scientific proof by quantifying things would really add to reducing the subjectivity of this debate.. Either way though,, I personally look forward to the report of your encounter..

By the way,, have you ridden the new Wing? I have not but I have heard that Mom Honda positioned the rads on it to actually remove the engine heat and blow it out into the air flow outside of the cockpit.. I have read where riders have stuck their hands outside and into that air foil and they could clearly feel a 2 or 3 inch jet stream (my words) of hot air flowing past them.. Any idea if this is true?