Should I buy it?

[JFootman]

My '83 is FINALLY up and running well and have been enjoying the heck out of it. Clutch is starting to slip but not a big deal to replace. However...

Found an '89 Venture Royale with 38k miles. Seat is buggered (but patched), new tires, newer battery, no smoke or overheating, recent carb rebuild and sync, CB & radio disconnected so unknown functionality, rear shock compressor apparently works and maintains pressure, plastics all in place, "runs like new". Only major issue is he said the clutch m/c needs rebuilt and leaks. Said he'll take $800 for it. Seems like a heck of a deal but as always "if it sounds too good...".

What are your thoughts? Will likely put up the '83 for about that much with all I've done to it so more or less an even swap.

Thx in advance, guys!

[Freebird]

Sounds like a great deal to me.  

[campfire12]

Hell Yea. Go for it!

[Squidley]

Do it

[luvmy40]

Buy it and keep the '83 too!    

[uncledj]

I'd be all over that like a fat kid on a cupcake.

[RDawson]

Cupcake. MMMHHHHMMM. Yeah I’d but it too. 

[N3FOL]

Buy it before it is gone. 

[Squidley]

2 hours ago, uncledj said:

I'd be all over that like a fat kid on a cupcake.

I like cupcakes! 😋

[skydoc_17]

Hey Jason,

Well, my friend, we meet again! I wrote this post some years ago for a member that posted a question very much like yours! Take from this article the items you need to address, and leave the rest. This article will give you a much better idea of the condition of the bike you are looking at, and will give you a head's up to look for. I personally would scoop this bike up at $800.00, (offer him $600.00) and settle at $700.00.

 

CHECKLIST for 1^st Generation VENTURES

 

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 needs service

 

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 you have an issue.

 

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.

 

Cracked frames. Early Ventures, '83 models specifically, have been know to develop cracked frames. This occurs just above the area where the center stand attaches.

Second Gear. In models from '83 through mid '85 there is a problem with the bikes losing second gear. It does not happen on all bikes but is very common. Usually starts by slipping out of second gear on hard acceleration. Can be repaired by a savvy home mechanic but does require the removal of motor. Expensive fix if you have it done at a dealer. I've seen estimates approaching $2,000.00

Stators. Early models suffered from stator failure due to over heating. Later models incorporated an oil cooling system.

Cracked trunks. Very common to find the bottom of the trunks cracked out.
Class air suspension controller. E4 errors are common. Caused by bad solders on the circuit board within the controller. Easy fix if you are familiar with using a soldering iron.

Front end wobble. Pretty common. Various causes but usually either a slightly cupped front tire or loose steering head bearings. Repacking and proper tightening of the head bearings is highly recommended whether you have experienced the wobble or not.

Exhaust collector. Baffles become loose and cause a rattle. There is a tech article on opening up the collector and repairing. There is also an after market system out that does away with the collector.

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.

 

 

I hope you will find this info useful, and "Happy Hunting"!

Earl

[JFootman]

Well... the trailer is empty. Drove over an hour and had a good time with the missus but I just couldn't pull the trigger. While I would have loved to have used @skydoc_17 checklist, (thx BTW!!!) but cosmetically it was in pretty rough shape and as difficult as it was to get up and running "decently", it just wasn't what I thought I was getting into. The images he sent were apparently from when he first obtained the bike years ago which soured me right off the bat. While most of the plastics were present, they were pretty mistreated, especially the black plastic around the CB (nearly destroyed) and multiple areas of chunks missing from them. Left rear saddlebag with large crack through almost the entire top, crappy repair on trunk with water inside. It had been left outside for some time and multiple areas of rust on the chrome. Numerous items missing (parts not on my '83) and even more numerous oversized screws in areas that had wallowed out the holes (including the airbox). Dash was in rough shape and discolored and oil light error (I believe) was on. Clutch lever missing and for some reason the clutch line was transferred to the front brake (somehow to "diagnose" the m/c issue). Seat was completely trashed and multiple tears on the passenger "armrests". Engine looked remarkably clean and no apparent leaks (except clutch fluid from m/c he had already pointed out). Required heavy choke to start and still some to keep running even after warming up. Couple faint backfires when revved up until warm. I question the carb rebuild & if someone actually did it and a carb sync (said he paid $400 for carb work) I would have expected it to run much, much smoother.

By comparison, I think this '89 with 39k on the odometer vs my '83 with 69k on it would have been a step backwards. I'm not saying it couldn't be brought back to life but I poured many an hour into my '83 and was essentially an absent father for almost 2 months getting her to where she is now and I just can't justify doing that again.

Now if someone needs a bike with a good motor (I would LOVE to ride a bike with 2nd gear!) and has the time and patience I can connect you with him. He posted it for $1200 but even before showing up said he'd take $800 but I know he'd accept a little less. He even offered to meet someone a reasonable distance for the price of gas. Obviously he's pretty desperate!

Thx to all who responded to my request for input and still thankful for the "adventure". Looks like it's time to put that new clutch in the '83!

Edited August 18, 2021 by JFootman

[larrydr]

Sounds like a good buy...I would buy it , even if it does need some work the Venture is solid bike

[cimmer]

Looking at the pictures, are we sure this is an 89 as I have one and the colors are reversed on this one compared to mine.  Also I see the bellows on the front forks also. I am thinking this is a 90 - 93 Venture actually. Also the top grainy picture is not the same bike pictured in the other photos also. I know you walked away from it and sounds like you did the right thing to me also. There is a lot of chrome on the bike but if this are old pictures it might be rusted and in bad shape also.

Rick F.

[luvmy40]

I have given up hope on ever finding an honest CL or eBay listing for a Venture. Stick with buying from VR members! I've not had any problems with any of the purchases I've made from this bunch.

[JFootman]

That guy was pretty squirrely and when I talked to him on the phone he kept saying it was a '90 but the listing showed '89. Good catch, @cimmer!!!

I think ur right, @luvmy40. It's a crap shoot and integrity is harder to come by any more.

I think the engine might have been solid & looks aren't everything, @larrydr but after pouring so much time & effort into my '83 I just don't have it in me. Plus the degree of damage to all the plastics I'd probably have to buy a parts bike as my skills on that kind of plastic repair are wanting.

Ironically enough, he relisted it for the same asking price but included a Sprinter car with the deal! Sadly, he's just desperate for money. BTW, he DID say he'd transport it for anyone who's in the area (it's about 15-20 min from Terre Haute).

[larrydr]

On 8/20/2021 at 2:15 PM, JFootman said:

That guy was pretty squirrely and when I talked to him on the phone he kept saying it was a '90 but the listing showed '89. Good catch, @cimmer!!!

I think ur right, @luvmy40. It's a crap shoot and integrity is harder to come by any more.

I think the engine might have been solid & looks aren't everything, @larrydr but after pouring so much time & effort into my '83 I just don't have it in me. Plus the degree of damage to all the plastics I'd probably have to buy a parts bike as my skills on that kind of plastic repair are wanting.

Ironically enough, he relisted it for the same asking price but included a Sprinter car with the deal! Sadly, he's just desperate for money. BTW, he DID say he'd transport it for anyone who's in the area (it's about 15-20 min from Terre Haute).

@JFootman ...I finished 10 months of work on my 83 ...Started with the front forks, new tire,,,120 70 R18 , steering head bearings , brakes  & hydraulic cylinders , hoses , new rear tire , 150 80 R16 , clutch basket , new Stator , oil leaks , relocated relays to under the seat , removed the front fairing , mounted a new Batwing to cut down on weight , mounted new gauges , cut the seat 1 1/2  inches , repined the center shock 1/2 inch to drop the rear of the bike 1 1/2 inches , removed the rear trunk and installed a back rest and I will be moving the battery down in the rear in front of saddle bags  1 on the left and 1 on the right , the 2 batteries together will equal the cranking power of the one larger one .I am about 85 percent done now ....I will post pictures of the bike with the changes soon ....The bike weights 70 lbs less now . and sits 1 1/2 inches lower now at 15 psi in the center shock and 20 psi brings the bike up and inch higher