Demo ride impression 2018 Star Venture

[cimmer]

I had the pleasure of taking a demo ride on the new 2018 Star Venture Transcontinental today. I will start by saying I wasn't sure if I would like the forward controls, V twin air cooled engine but after riding it I would buy one if they price was cheaper. We went on about a 20 mile ride mostly on country roads in the Red Wing area what included turns, elevation changes and long straight sections. I also sat on the bike with it running as I looked over the center screen to see what all you could do with it.

First off, I never felt the heat from the bike as it idled in 85 degree sunshine. I presently ride an 89 VR and sitting in traffic on that can be a hot experience and the Star Venture didn't even approach that. The bike was also very smooth at idle and while riding. I was able to idle around the parking lot at about 10MPH as we positioned ourselves for the ride and it didn't surge or struggle at all. Acceleration is very crisp in sport mode with a little less in touring mode. You are able to switch between the two with ride by first releasing the throttle and the pushing the mode button and the twisting the throttle for the new mode. The indicator is on the speedometer and easily seen. The bike handled the curves with ease and had no problem accelerating out of them. I found that when running about 55 MPH I was usually in 4 gear unless I pushed my self to shift up to 5th or 6th which I did for testing purposes. Again, no issues with lugging the bike down while in 6th to 55 and accelerating up to 65 or so. I did hit the rev limiter a couple of times early into the ride when accelerating from a stop sign but quickly got the feel for the engine and the speeds and had no issue with the rev limiter after that. I did find myself not using 6th much as I felt I didn't need to. The escorts did have us running on some of the roads at 65 MPH and the engine never seemed to care what gear I was in.

I did find that after a few miles the forward controls were very comfortable to use and I seem to adapt to them ok. I loved the foot boards as they are big and roomy and you can change the position of you feet and hence your leg/knee and still have them firmly planted on the boards. Yamaha did a great job on those in my opinion. Air flow on the bike for the driver was excellent. The wings on the side of the fairing are adjustable and I was able to get plenty of airflow onto my body to stay nice and comfortable. I was wearing a ventilated jacket and never once felt hot. There is also a air opening at the bottom of the fairing for air to your feet and these were open also.

We also tested the 2 helmets in the travel trunk and found they fit with room to spare. Also the key fob has an emergency key attached to it for the ignition in case of the FOB losing power and unable to activate the bike. There is a key switch in the right saddle bag that the key fits into.

The side pods with the louvers on the front are where the electronic are located and do not provide air flow to the engine as I thought they did. The louvers are just for show. The center screen for the GPS, Audio Controls, and bike information was large and well lit. I had no issues seeing it while on my ride. I was wearing sunglasses and at time I believe there was direct sunshine on it. There is a control button array on the left handlebar that allows the rider to move around as you are riding. I was also able to use the touch screen with my riding gloves on when needed. I know some touchscreen want to feel your skin for the heat to sense where you are touching. The bike information included present fuel MPG and average fuel MPG.. mine was indicating 34 by the way and had 1700 miles on the odometer.. I didnt get much more into the electronics other then to set up a radio station to listen too. The sounds was very good and easy to hear at speed on the ride.

I guess the bottom line is I really likes the bike and felt very comfortable on it. I would be temped to buy one other then I have a hard time spending $27,000 on a motorcycle at this time. When they come on the use market, I would sure like to get one then.

That is about all I can think of now but feel free to ask question and I will see if I can answer them for you but I think Yamaha has a winner here with this other then the cost.

Thanks

Rick F.

Edited July 23, 2017 by cimmer

[Yammer Dan]

Will it Outrun "Brown Sugar"???

[cowpuc]

Will it Outrun "Brown Sugar"???

 

You are a scally wag of a lop eared varmint and a really bad egg ,,, my kinda people though cause I was wonderin the same thing DanL':mugshot: By gursh it better,,, 119 inch against a puny little 74 inch = if it dont theres gonna be some big twin Venture riders out there... Dont be to skeered though bro,, Tip - Tweeks and I went flyin past a couple of 110 inch big twin riders out at Sturgis on the way in,, they pulled up next to us in Dead Wood and asked what the heck we was riding to run like that with all the "crap" on Tweeks.. I smiled and said a beat up ol 74 inch Yamaha Venture,,, got another one of those typical :scared:from em as Tweeks sat there makin :stickinouttounge:faces at em = sometimes I think that ol scoot is related to you

Mom Yam and I are not on speaking terms right now or I would inquire as to answer to that deep, but necessary question brother:thumbsup:

 

Hey Cimmer,,, REALLY excellent ride report brother!! Totally enjoyed reading it!! Thank you for taking the time to fill in the blanks.. It will probably be next ride season before we get to see this new one out on the open road but I cant wait to see em out CTFWing..

[Karaboo]

I pretty much agree with everything from Cimmer's report. I was also in the first group ride at Red Wing.

I was impressed with the slow speed handling. Add the park assist and it takes a lot of the "do I want to park over there" worry out of parking lots.

I also was hitting the rev limiter, mostly in second gear with the "Tour" mode selected. I did not notice it in "Sport" mode.

The gear indicator on my bike had problems when down shifting for a stop. That is usually the only time I pay attention to it. Sometimes it stayed at "5" or "-" until I stopped.

They did have at least one bike there with the heal-toe shifter. I did not get to ride with one, but I did get used to the forward controls, same as Cimmer.

I am not sure if I liked the sounds from the bike while riding. With a little more seat time I probably wouldn't even notice. The shifting was actually better than I expected, and Cimmer was right on about the overdrive gears. You could use 5th or 6th without worrying about lugging it down, unless you were wanting to pass.

I did notice a little heat when I let it idle at the end of the ride. It was no worse than having the fan kick on at idle on my first gen.

Not a big fan of the "Smart Key" system they came up with. I am not sure why they did this? Did too many people complain about having to lift a key all the way to the ignition switch? The rest of the electronics are well done and anyone should be able to adjust to the controls easily.

It was a good time, but I wish I could have stayed longer and made a few more rides.

[CaseyJ955]

I'm really glad to hear that heat was not an issue on the guided rides, maybe a good indication that they have massaged good effectiveness into oil cooling.

 

I like the analog gauges and the nav screen, double overdrive also has to be sweet.

 

Do those of you that rode it feel like you would miss the mid-range and top end of the V4? Is the low end grunt enough to sate the power needs/wants of a V4 owner?

 

Did you get to put it through its paces within the realm of the guided ride, was cornering clearance as good as the gen1?

 

I'm going to call Powersports and get myself on a ride when they get their demo in, talked to the sales guy last week, they will have a demo long before they have sellable inventory. The curiosity is getting under my skin now with these initial good reports.

[cowpuc]

My pea brain is still stuck on "I smell Polaris Victory" every time I see a pic for some reason.. I LOVED the "feel" of the Vision 8 Ball = amazing scoot for handling, any of you riders happened to have also rode a Vision and have thoughts of comparison between the two?

Tip n I bumped into one of the Star Rider Chapter guys on our way in yesterday who was coming from test riding the new one up in Minnesota. He was riding a Strat (which he LOVES) and said he thought Mom Yam did a splendid job but still thought the MSRP was way to high and going toe to toe with HD from that perspective probably wasnt a good idea.. He did say Mom Yams quality did shine thru though..

This is a good thread - THANK YOU for all the pics and good reporting gang!!

[cecdoo]

Yep, Thanks to everyone who has ridden one and taken the time to write up a report. So far I like everything I have seen and heard about the new bike, except for the price. Looking forward to sitting on one and taking it for a spin.

 

Craig

[Karaboo]

Do those of you that rode it feel like you would miss the mid-range and top end of the V4? Is the low end grunt enough to sate the power needs/wants of a V4 owner?

 

I would miss the fun of running through the first two gears on our V4's and having to back off, because I am over the speed limit by a bunch. The low end grunt of the twin would move it along pretty quick, but it's not the same. I know some of the magazine reviews said how smooth it rides, but I don't think it was a big difference from my first gen (with a good sync and fresh plugs). There was less shaking at idle than I expected (almost none). They did a hell of a job getting that balance right.

Cornering clearance: I did not take it over far enough at speed to tell, but the slow speed maneuvers seemed a lot easier.

 

Sorry Puc, I have never driven a Polaris (not even sleds).

 

I will have to see if I can get a ride set up on an Indian, Harley and Wing to compare.

[cimmer]

A little more to add here, we did play around with the parking assist and how to use it. One thing to note is when engaged, you dont need to use the brakes as the electric motor locks in and the bike wont move till you push the control buttons. When you release the button the bike stops and stays stopped. I didnt move the bike a lot, just forward and back with the assist as it was in line for the ride but it was simple to use and engage. Also the adjustable windshield was nice also. I ended up using it at the up most position as the bugs were getting thick out in the country, but it raises and tilts as it changes positions. This is also able to be done while moving on the bike.

I should also note that when testing the 2 helmets in the travel trunk, they were full face helmets we used for the test.

 

Also, the Loveland Co area is where the demo bikes were headed to next so the members out there will have a chance to ride them also.

And I know they were taking a full dressed one, as the Yamaha guys called it, to Sturgis as it had already left Star Days for there. I also see that they will be offering demo rides on the Star Venture out there for the week of Sturgis,

Saturday, August 05, 2017 - Saturday, August 12, 2017.

 

 

 

Rick F.

[snyper316]

Now I'm getting curious, guess we shouldn't knock something till we try it... Good reports and love the pictures... Wonder if they will have any near me because I really want to test one out now..

[cowpuc]

A little more to add here, we did play around with the parking assist and how to use it. One thing to note is when engaged, you dont need to use the brakes as the electric motor locks in and the bike wont move till you push the control buttons. When you release the button the bike stops and stays stopped. I didnt move the bike a lot, just forward and back with the assist as it was in line for the ride but it was simple to use and engage. Also the adjustable windshield was nice also. I ended up using it at the up most position as the bugs were getting thick out in the country, but it raises and tilts as it changes positions. This is also able to be done while moving on the bike.

I should also note that when testing the 2 helmets in the travel trunk, they were full face helmets we used for the test.

 

Also, the Loveland Co area is where the demo bikes were headed to next so the members out there will have a chance to ride them also.

And I know they were taking a full dressed one, as the Yamaha guys called it, to Sturgis as it had already left Star Days for there. I also see that they will be offering demo rides on the Star Venture out there for the week of Sturgis,

Saturday, August 05, 2017 - Saturday, August 12, 2017.

 

 

 

Rick F.

 

Thanks for that info Rick!! If I get out to the Rally I think I will drag my Lazer Thermometer to do some experimenting out there. Initial shock is wearing off some so I will also be looking for a test ride or two too - I am really curious to see how they ride compared to the Polaris Vision.. Could be a good place to have some fun with the new Yams cause historically the metrics dont really draw much attention at the big Rally.. This could be revealing.... Good time to attend Sturgis..

[BG Hawks]

Thanks for the update, Red Wing was only 3.5 hours away from me and was thinking of heading up that way. Friday was my 27th wedding anniversary and I hung with my bride all day...time well spent. Probably a good thing I didn't go; don't have a spare $27K lying around as the more I read and hear about them the more I like them!!! Job well done guys!!

[Bextreme]

I also demoed one and loved it and agree with everything you said though I didn't get to spend as much time on it as I would have liked to. As far as the price it's less than a Harley or Indian which I've considered for my next bike. I like the CB and communication options on both Harley and the Venture since I ride 2 up and with a group and GPS. I guess I'll figure it out between now and spring [emoji41]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Freebird]

I would have to do some real soul searching to make the decision. Indian would be out of the running for me. Just not really a fan.

 

It would come down to either the Harley or the Venture. People keep saying that the Venture is less money but I don't see it.

 

The nearest Harley would be the Road Glide Ultra. Suggested MSRP starts at $26,399.00

 

The new Venture Suggested MSRP is: $26,999.00.

 

I know that discounts are available on the Harley and I'm sure that they will be on the Venture also.

 

Price is pretty much a dead wash. The Venture has more of the latest tech features though.

[djh3]

I might consider an Indian Chieftain Limited. I dont care for the full fend pant and frilly things a lot of the Indians have. Just priced one out on the web and would be just over 26,000 with a heated tour seat and passenger floorboards. I would still have to find a luggage rack or trunk. I dont see the Victory leaving my garage either. I seriously think if I was to change bikes I would just be a lemming and go with a Goldwing. LOL

Hoping to find a demo ride sometime this winter here in Fla I can make. Biketoberfest if probably out as those things are booked up weeks in advance.

[IdahoHacker]

I would have to do some real soul searching to make the decision. Indian would be out of the running for me. Just not really a fan.

 

It would come down to either the Harley or the Venture. People keep saying that the Venture is less money but I don't see it.

 

The nearest Harley would be the Road Glide Ultra. Suggested MSRP starts at $26,399.00

 

The new Venture Suggested MSRP is: $26,999.00.

 

I know that discounts are available on the Harley and I'm sure that they will be on the Venture also.

 

Price is pretty much a dead wash. The Venture has more of the latest tech features though.

 

The TC is aimed right at the HD Road Glide Ultra. I have a 2015 Road Glide Special. Just passed 2 years, and 40,000 miles. Not a garage queen! Best bike I've ever owned. However...I'm about 99% decided that the TC will be my next bike, and one of the key reasons is that it's thousands, and I mean thousands, of dollars cheaper than a comparable Harley.

 

If you buy a Harley, you will need to add heated seat ($800), heated grips ($500), CB ($800), XMSirius ($600), Stage 3 upgrade to match the power ($4,000), full Bluetooth connectivity (new option; current guess: $800+), traction control (oops, N/A), dual ride modes (oops, N/A), assist & slipper clutch (oops, N/A), 5 position adjustable clutch & front brake levers (oops, N/A), adjustable windshield (oops, N/A), Park Assist (oops, N/A), central locking (oops, N/A)...

 

I'm sure there's more, but that's all that pops into my head.

 

The Motor Company's business model is very straightforward: Sell you a $25,000++ motorcycle that has been very carefully and very strategically crippled, so you can then spend thousands more to, and I quote, "Make It Your Own". My Road Glide is my fifth Harley, and I'm done.

 

Can't wait for a test ride!

[Freebird]

I do agree that you get more tech with the Yamaha. As you pointed out, some things are not even available as options. Not everything that you list are extras though. The new Road Glide Ultra comes standard with Sirius, Bluetooth, Intercom, ABS. I don't know if they still have the CB or not. It was standard on my 2013 Road Glide Ultra.

 

Yamaha blows it away though with things like traction control, parking assist, etc.

[Bigfraid]

I do agree that you get more tech with the Yamaha. As you pointed out, some things are not even available as options. Not everything that you list are extras though. The new Road Glide Ultra comes standard with Sirius, Bluetooth, Intercom, ABS. I don't know if they still have the CB or not. It was standard on my 2013 Road Glide Ultra.

 

Yamaha blows it away though with things like traction control, parking assist, etc.

 

 

You still have to buy the module from harley to make the sirius radio and it's close to $400

[Freebird]

That is a bit rich. Especially for somebody like me who doesn't even have the ones that I own activated. I'll just stick with Pandora and IHeart.

[snyper316]

That is a bit rich. Especially for somebody like me who doesn't even have the ones that I own activated. I'll just stick with Pandora and IHeart.

My friends bought envoy got into a bit of trouble pushed onstar.... Lady told them they needed subscription I found that a bit rude to offer something as standard in vehicle and you have to pay a subscription for. My sis on the other hand has no problem paying subscription for stuff like xm and onstar... But her and hubby own car stereo shop.

 

Sent from my LG-K371 using Tapatalk

[Lbarr4207]

I took a demo ride with the Yamaha demo team in Murfreesboro TN 4 days ago. Temp was in the mid 80's and was a bright and sunny fall day in Tennessee.

 

My riding experience with Ventures covers 2 MK1's (new) 1983 burgandy and (new) 1986 Gold then 2 MK2's, 1992 and 1993. The MK2's were not new but very low mileage, 14K, barn finds about 5 years ago. On those 4 ventures saddle time equates to about 350k+ miles. Other bikes include a z1-900, Suzuki Intruder 1500, virago, XS1100, 650 twin, wing and honda 350F adding another 250K+ miles to saddle time.

 

OK, the test ride. The star venture is well balanced, easy to manage in traffic and seems really stable at low speeds. 5 mph+, up to legal interstate speeds, 70+. Wind management for the driver is good and I like the fairing side louvers, adjustable windscreen and the riding position. I didn’t get to play with the electronics as much as I wanted but did get to play with sport/touring mode, the windshield adjustment, GPS, cruise control and the radio played the sirrus demo channel. The cruise control worked really well. The radio sound quality seemed weak and didn’t stack up to audio quality of the radio on a Golding. It is better than the one on my Royale but it should be since mine is 24 years old. side note: I think I’ve gotten spoiled on the sound from my Sena.

 

Brakes and shifting were solid and predictable even with the forward controls and the clutch has a light feel and was smooth. Engine power was good. Not being familiar with the engine sounds I hit the rev limiter during acceleration a few times and teh engine was pulling strong up to that interruption. My passengers viewpoint was that it seemed windier than the Royale but the seat was comfortable. I had the windshield in full up position so I was surprised to hear it was windier for the passenger. 15-20 minutes isn’t a lot of time to develop a good feel about the extended ride comfort level though. The exhaust note sounded good, rich and full, but it Is louder than I care to listen too all day. Hard to beat the VR notes for me.

 

I'm 5'11' and could easily flat foot the SV at a stop. However ground clearance is less than what I’m used to and like to have when I ride. I found the floor board scrappage limits in the first left and right turns that I made. Its quickly apparent that driving/cornering the SV is not the same as the Royale. So I was forced to make cornering less aggressive and the demo ride became less enjoyable. It may be that the floorboards reduce the cornering clearance but its still reduced. After 5 minutes of riding I noticed a lot of heat on my legs as did my passenger. My Z1, 650 twin, virago, XS1100, 350F and Suzi were air cooled so the heat was expected by me but surprised my passenger. She’s only ever been on the water cooled 2 MK2's and the Goldwing. Mileage display indicated 34.7. Lots of low gear travel to get that kind of mileage.

 

I think anyone moving up to the tourer market for the first time or into a full featured tourer from other vtwin machines will like it a lot. it’s a contender as a replacement for my Royale but not high on the list. The price point for the TC is steep for what is offered when you look at features on a wing or features and performance of a bmw gtl premium. Also its hard to believe that there's a manual adjustment for the rear suspension given this price point.

 

The comment made in here about the smile factor when the throttle is cranked is spot on for my riding experience. The other part of that experience for me is being able to see corners and indulge up to my comfort level in the corners. With the VR there is plently of cornering left when my comfort level is achieved. On the SV I did not get any wow moments or find any "gotta have it" features except for being a new ride with tight plastics. However that does not take away from what the engineering of the machine or what it has to offer. Not everyone rides a touring bike like I do, open road, daily commuter, keeping up with crotch rockets (and sometimes winning to their embarrassment) . The new Star Venture is a good machine, full featured and solidly built. For me though it does not come close to providing the ride experience I have riding my VR and my passenger echo's that sentiment.

[CaseyJ955]

There is a lot of tech involved in the TC, it's true.

 

I just came from Yamaha (had to get another fork seal) and he tried to sell me on the NEW Venture when he found out I had an old one. Really cool guy so I didnt bust his chops much. I told him I would like to ride but would never buy and he told me that they would be later than expected getting them because of a new recall. No details but all the demo bikes and others scattered around had to go back to Yamaha for recall work. No word on when we would see them. Anyone waiting for their 18 bike to arrive might want to place a call and see what happened.