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I carry a .50-cal poly ammo box fairly well equipped with a good complimentary set of tools including test light and compact voltmeter, a spool of wire, electrical tape, magic tape (as it is re-marketed today. Old time electricians would remember it as splicing compound). Home made light weight booster cables with small clamps to make them more bike friendly. Recently included a small booster pack. Some low stretch multi-braid rope. some paracord. Nylon tarp an assotment of zip ties. A permacure tire plug kit (permacure plugs are the only plugs I trust when unable to properly patch a tire. I have used hundreds of them over the last 30 years on every type of tire from motorcycle to transport and if I have to trust a plug for a road side repair they be the ones). A small 12v air compressor. First aid kit in a waterproof package such as can be purchased from wilderness outfitters supply stores. Rain gear. a small dry sack containing a change of clothes and a campers towel.

I've ridden the second gen Venture many thousands of miles and to be honest, I've never carried a part of any kind. I've been lucky I guess and have never had a failure of any type. My bag consists of simple things like rain suits and etc.

Troubleshooting blinker issues on this 50 year old Water Buffalo..

Hello Cowpuc, and thank you for your reply, the biggest issue with the starter on the way home was #1. an old (no date on it) AGM battery, I'm waiting for the OEM battery to arrive from battery shark. the starter momentary switch has been replaced with flip switch. #2. the starter relay was tired but semi functional. I pulled the starter out and it was fried, plus the armature was dragging on the permanent magnets in the housing. I ordered on from ebay for 109 bucks, in hind sight I should have sprung for the 225 dollar model. Internally the new starter looks identical to the one that was on the bike (both are 4 brush models). I cleaned all the connections Positive and ground in the circuit with emery paper. I ran a jumper ground from the upper bolt on the starter behind the thermostat housing over to the ground connection on the block. I even used the old starter spline and front housing to check if the starter clutch was working correctly. I them wound a piece of para cord around the armature and was able to spin the engine over with a two handed pull. I did a voltage drop test but don't remember what the readings were, when I get the new battery I'll do another one and write it down this time. I'll finish this tomorrow this computer is burning my old eyes. I ordered a new starter from D B Electrical that should be here in a couple days or so. It should work I looked at the rebuild kit and it has asymmetrical brushes which gives much better torque over a symmetrically configured brush placement. The fuel pump: I got the bike started using the fuel bypass / choke and then I found the sweet spot to keep it running. Obviously the engine has a strong enough vacuum to suck the fuel up to the Carbs. It ran pretty well for the 6 miles home considering the non functioning fuel pump. But it died as I rolled into the driveway, so I had the fun of duck walking the heavy old girl the last 50 feet. I charged the battery and got it started again to move it out of the way so I could tear into it. I replaced the fuel pump and starter, Removed all the plastic and spent two days welding all the cracks and fabricating new tabs and welded them on the panels. Waiting for parts to arrive from ebay has taken longer than the actual work to replace them. The Carbs are ok for now and I have a complete rebuild kit, and a minor rebuild kit, for them if needed. They aren't puking fuel so the floats are working fine. During the ride home the bike didn't want to idle unless the choke / fuel bypass was in the sweet spot, I closed it after I was running and it died at the intersection and had to jump it off. It also ran out of fuel and had to dump a couple gallong in it, but the vacuum was strong enough to pick it up and I rode it the rest of the way home. The oil level is at the 3/4 level on the sight glass when sitting level. The bike was originally owned by a lady in Washington state, who sold it to a guy who dumped it on the right side. Judging by the scratches it probably happened at around 10 to 15 miles per hour. The left engine guard was tweeked and somebody didn't install the spacers on the lower mounting points. The first guy sold it to the second guy who dropped it on the right side, that only cracked more plastic because the bike wasn't moving. I bought it from him for 500 bucks because he couldn't figure it out. He did tell me "I learned allot". As a side note the frame is straight I checked that closely. I haven't put a compression guage on the jugs yet But will when I buy one, I bought new NKG DPR8EA-9 plugs and replaced the autolite's they had in there. I have two bikes in the Philippines a 2004 Honda wave 125 which is perfect for around town in the heavy traffic there. It sucks on a long ride though. I also have a a 1993 Yamaha 250 inline twin classic I was rebuilding before I left. My visa got jacked up during the "Plandemic". I bought the Venture because it will be much easier on gas when it hits 10 bucks a gallon which I believe it will, and it won't be too bad a ride in the rain with good rain gear. 30 years ago I had a GS 1100 GL that I rode in the snow and ice, but I don't think I would like picking this bike up on a slippery surface. I apologize for the long winded reply and thank you and the rest of the folks for any advice you offer as this is my first Venture Royal experience.

You have about 1 gal. left in reserve. I have used Lucas oil additive in my '83. It makes shifting smoother. I have not used it my '06 as of yet, but I don't have the clutch whine everyone comments about. Either no whine, or it's the same frequency as my tinnitus and I just don't hear it🙃

means your running out of gas on the main tank, need to flip it over to reserve and ride another 35 or 40 miles and be look'n for a gas station. i normally have to flip over to reserve at about 150 miles to 170 miles, depending on riding conditions. get anywhere from 35 to 40 miles on reserve.

What RDawson said, twist the throttle and let her fly. All the power is in the higher RPMs.

A tire plug kit available for $8 from WallyWorld or elsewheres

Similar to whatca got there, plus one of those little battery packs to jump start my, or others bikes, and I carry a replacement fuel pump, as I've read where it's a common problem.... Also carry a tow rope and light duty jumper cables. 2 of my friends ride bikes from the 80s and I'm keeping them in mind.

I only find a few hours a week to try to work on it these days. I traced the electrical problem to the pulse generator for cylinders 1 and 4 (pick up coils on the crankshaft). I bought a used assembly on ebay. This picture is taking the old one out, I just got the new one installed/routed and hope to start putting parts back on this week.

Congratulations! Wishing you fun and frolic(and getting too all those " honey do" chores) in the coming years! Be well, stay safe and relax!!! D

I'd offer to come help, but we're on opposite coasts and I just saw in you're profile you're a caterpillar mechanic so you'd probably want to bop me on the head with a wrench in no time! You should be fine. Very much worth the time/effort.

Hello Guys and or Gals, Just about a month ago I bought a 1993 Venture Royal XVZ13DEC. I rode it home but there were serious issues with the starter and the fuel pump didn't function. I replaced both but the starter will not turn the engine over with the spark plugs installed. Pulled them out and it spins fine. Tested it on the bench and it functions fine. I even went through all the safety switches and relays, they're all ok. I can turn the engine over past the compression stroke with a socket, (plenty there) I jumped the starter direct bypassing all the safety cutout switches it just tries to turn it over until it hits compression, then it just whines. I don't let it sit like that long as I will cook the new starter. Do I need to go to an asymmetrically brushed starter? the one that came off the bike is symmetrically brushed (brushes + and - are 180 degrees X 4 and the new one I just purchased from ebay. I would appreciate any feed back any of you have dealing with this annoyance< thank you for your help. Respectfully; Braun.