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FYI.... I ASKED COWPUC ABOUT MY STARTER WOE'S AND HE BEING ONE OF THE KINDEST AND MOST INFORMATIVE MEMBERS ON VENTURE.ORG.....TOLD ME WHAT TO DO. I BELIEVE THIS INFO IS TO BE SHARED WITH EVERYONE ELSE ON THE WEBSITE.....THANK YOU COWPUC !...YOU ARE THE BEST.....COWBOY BILL HOWDY COWBOY!! Always a pleasure hearing from you my brother! On the starter question... Years ago Yamaha produced a bike called the 750 Virago,, do you remember them? The 750 Virago design with its "bendix" was a huge failure for Mom Yam because of the noise you are hearing and my shops backroom made good money fixing the noise by grinding relief on the mating gears of the bendix to quiet them down (something Mom Yam approved of for warranty repair but never did a recall on,, made me mad - I should have been rewarded HUGELY for that lol). After regrinding those mating gears all that was left was for the owner to ALWAYS remember to use a GOOD battery and to keep the starter cleaned internally so the starter would not let the engine backfire on start up, ruining the gears. Mom Yam DID make a new design for our Ventures, thankfully, called a Starter Clutch as shown here: https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/yamaha/motorcycle/1983/xvz12tk/starter-clutch As you can see, our Ventures do not have a Bendix. Instead there are idler gears that transfer the power from the starter to the starter clutch and that "clutch" has 3 spring held engagement devices that engage when you spin the starter up. It sounds to me like your starter clutch has failed, cracked where the pins set in it that hold the engagement arms. Bill,, this is actually very common because most owners do not know that they REALLY need to keep the interior of the starter clean from carbon dust created by the brushes and to always keep a good battery employed - basically the same maintenance I ALWAYS explained to the 750 Virago owners I had done my repair to to quiet their bikes. The hardest part of fixing/replacing the starter clutch is removal of the flywheel to get at the starter clutch. If the flywheel has never been removed it can be a bugger.. You will need a GOOD 2 or 3 jaw puller and, I suggest, a GOOD impact rotary. Put a bike strap over the flywheel to catch it when it finally lets go so it dont get ya. Also take a REALLY close look at your bikes stator assembly while your in there, look for burned coils. Make sure your bike has had the update to the stator installed consisting of a splash plate to toss oil on the stator and a wire that goes into the flywheel nut oil orifice. You could also look into locating a 4 brush starter (as used in the MK2's) as many Venture owners have found them to not be so dependent on keeping the starters clean internally, at least that is what I have read/heard. Personally I have never had need to replace my starters with the 4 brush or ever had a starter clutch fail in any of my 6 MK1's covering over 1 million miles. I am pretty sure that has to do with the fact that I always kept my starters clean and maintained a good battery. Hope this helps my friend! If you have ANY other questions do not be hesitant to ask! Your brother of the wrench n saddle. Puc P.S.. - it might not be a bad idea to repost your exact question to me in the Watering Hole and I will copy/paste my response to you there. It may produce other ideas (always a good thing) and help others in the future. what say you?

My husband and I have been members here since 2006. We have a 1999 RSV. We have ridden together since that time. I have always enjoyed riding with my husband but then last year I decided to no longer ride. I did not ride at all last year. I believe I decided I was no longer willing to take the risk of riding. I told my husband of my decision, and he is still riding. I am going to let him decide for himself. I just felt with all the crazy drivers out there in this world, I am not willing to accept the risk any longer. What do you think of my decision? Yama Mama

I appreciate all the comments. I have no plans to leave the group. We have made too many friends here over the years. Who know when riding season starts up once again. I still might get back in the saddle. But as of right now, I am staying with both feet on the ground, and my mind in all of those wonderful memories of riding.

@Yama Mama!!!! Yeeee hawww!!! I know just how you feel Peggy! I had to make that decision numerous times thru the years. 1st it was to stop competing on the MX tracks, then it was no more dirt bikes at all, then it was no more touring. TIP and I moved on to E-Bikes as our main 2 wheel excurtions and I have no doubt that will have its limits too. It's hard as heck to make those decisions and it's different for everyone how they want to proceed. Personally I am proud of you for facing the feelings of its time. Makes no difference though concerning our lasting friendship. We ALWAYS have each other! Tell your first husband HI for us!! Puc, TIP and Tweeks!

As others have said that's your decision to stop riding but you don't have to leave VentureRiders hang around.

We hope to still hear from you. We’ve been friends for a long time now.

To be honest, I have no use for an electric touring bike. It may or may end up NOT being the future but it’s certainly not MY future. For me, the sound of the engine and many other things are part of the riding experience. An E-Bike for cruises in the local parts and etc. might be fun but not as a replacement for a motorcycle.

THX AGAIN PUC !...THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE WITH YOU IN IT !....PEACE BROTHER....COWBOY !