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Found this article this morning. Lot of similarities to our Venture Royales! From exhaust handling to air shocks, this little 650 really looks like a small cousin and test bike for our 1st gens released the very next year! http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/yamaha/yamaha_xj650_turbo.htm Enjoy the read... david

Steve, gotta tell Ya...I had tears in my eyes from your writing. funny as heck!!!!

Can't comment on that little scoot @cowpuc but can relate some weird stories on bikes from my past. Storytelling time! Riding the Honda 160 from college in Boston to home in New Hampshire one winter day. Gotta tell ya...when we stopped at a coffee shop to warm up...I had to slide my hands off the handlebars...I couldn't uncurl my fingers. Boy did they hurt when they started to warm up! Or... riding a Norton SS out of Providence one day...hit the freeway north to Boston and opened her up. Speedo needle climbed so fast, I got off at next exit, turned around and went back to friend's apartment. Friend sold that scoot to a numb nuts who decided to saw a telephone pole in half in North Carolina a few days later. The bike was still in friends name so he got the news. Or... Picking up my first new scoot, the Yamaha YDS-6C from Boston Yamaha. The chief mechanic was on the Daytona race team and when I asked him to changed the rear gearing so I could cruise more comfortably on the highways, he said "Why?" "You can't break that motor...just let her rev. She will do 75mph all day long." So off I went after break in and went across country to Mississippi to help a friend build a house there for his in-laws. (on way, got a ticket for passing on the right in Parsippany, New Jersey. I was walking the bike along the right side, motor off, to a gas station where I parked it to wait out a traffic jam. Didn't want to overheat with that motor! Got out of ticket since a lady I was dating at the time...her mom was a judge in Parsippany. One phone call.) From Mississippi, I rode out to Arizona where my love affair with this state started in 1969. Riding the beautiful two lanes in the mountains and desert was like a dream on two wheels. Oh...on that trip out...riding near Tucson at night on I-10....it was a bit spooky. This was new country for me...No one on the road....and I could see shadows of "things" to my right on the edge of the road. Lordy...imagine my surprise when something appeared to jump out at me as I whizzed by! Then another....and soon another! Well...I slowed down and saw what was causing my young heart to beat like mad....a dam Saguaro cactus, tall and lean with arms hanging out!! By the side of the road. They stood 10 feet tall and sure looked menacing to my tired eyes! Needless to say I got a good laugh out of that. But one other thing that stands out as I crossed Texas, is how the towns were always off in the distance. The freeway bypassed most of them. You could see the town glow from miles away....and then had to take the by-pass exit if you wanted food or gas. Dam lonely country on a bike back then out in the West! Or... Riding a BSA 441 Victor in the Agua Fria riverbed outside of Phoenix one nice day. We were riding the sand and dirt...jumping the little hills there that are left from erosion. One jump I do remember vividly was when I crested the top and looked ahead...there was no top...just straight down. Well...needless to say, the 441 was a bit of a nose heavy beastie and down I went. Was able to ride home but have no idea I or the scoot weren't mangled. Got rid of that scoot quickly. Or... The first time I twisted my right hand after I got my 89 VR. Such a rush! Pure, smooth power from 25 mph to over 90...and this was on the entrance ramp to the freeway! Hit 5th and said "WHOA!". Speedo was at century mark....Yikes! Many more stories and great memories... but it's time to head to Phoenix to help with mom-in-law....so who's next?? Happy Easter to all and be safe out there! david

Interesting how many of us have had the VStar 650 Classic or Silverado in our stables at one point in time. I must admit, I sure did like that scoot. But sold it to buy the 950 Tourer. Now wishing I didn't have to sell the 950 as I love to ride it. But 3 scoots is to many for this kid..... even though they are all paid for...!Grins!

Put me in the column to change oil and filter. Acids form in the oil from useage and sitting will accumulate in the oil and make life harder on filter and engine. Dino oil really never goes bad...only the additives get used up. Once used up, you are running straight oil. Not bad, but there is a reason for the additives....such as they are. But let's not go there... Change the oil. And filter. Feel good about protecting your investment.

Wowsers! Wish I had one of those little enduros today....be fun to tool around the neighborhood!

Found it...

I bought my YDS-6C in 1969 and promptly rode it to Mississippi. Spent the summer there helping a friend build a house for his in-laws, then rode it to Arizona. Somewhere around my boxes of "stuff", I have a reprint of a road test.....somewhere...but that's another story.

Scott, the YDS-6C was a 250cc street scrambler. Sold to the public in limited quantities only to satisfy the racing requirements at the time. The 250 put out 30hp on a 300 pound frame. Motor was a street version of the Daytona Racer. (supposedly) I could keep the front wheel off the ground until I hit 5th gear. Fast enough for a young college idiot like me! Thanks, for kind words!

1969 YDS-6C VStar 650 Classic 2009 VStar 950 Tourer - Sold. Sigh. Loved that scoot. 1989 Venture Royale - Still have 2005 Royal Star Venture - Still have

Oh boy. Sad to hear. But understood as we are all reaching that point in time. Sigh.... david

Youngest kidlet and I went for a ride down to Tumacacori National Monument this morning. Since I picked up the Senior Pass last month, I didn't realize I could get a sticker (@cowpuc) since I'm an olde phart. Had to bring down bike registration....so...like a good doobie...I brought the bike down! Now both scoots have a sticker for free camping and such at national parks...nice warm day for a ride!!! Grins!

I put a set of Shinkos on my 89. Nice grip and ride!! But I know I won't get more then 8 to 10 k miles on rear... But that's OK as that's about a year for me. Good time to check rear end, grease her up and check brakes too. Going to put a set on the RSV next year....

I'm with Skid on this. Man up if you want to play. I also like to know how fast I really am going. On the 1st Gen, I have to do some simple math to correct my speedo as it's mechanical. On the 2nd Gen, I can correct using the Speedo healer. So next time I get a few bux ahead, going to get one!

Welcome Lewis. If you need more pictures, yell out...

Nope. Nice try though. I did search the website earlier and didn't find anything. Thanks for the thought, though!

Great idea, Eck! I have a Shark motorcycle stereo that is brand new. I did open it when I bought it a few years ago to install on my VStar 950T. But changed my mind and decided to leave the bike stock without speakers and such hanging on the bars. So I'll do the same as Eck, Lewis unless you choose to do this yourself. I'll hold the unit here until someone wins the bid on it and I will pay shipping within the US and the new owner can pay for overseas.... Here are pics:! Hmm...can't find the little manual. I'll keep looking. But regardless...here it is waiting for a new owner... david

There is the "Letter of the Law" and then there is the "Intent of the Law". Some courts have said you can't really have both. Be interesting to see how NC comes out on this. Especially with scoots. Since our speedo's are inherently inaccurate.

Raindar. Gives me weather anywhere. Bonus... It also gives me traffic... Far faster than maps!!!

Just got back in to green Valley from Phoenix. Windy but fast ride! No issue with front brakes at all!

Went out and bled the brakes in front. In both cases, the fluid came out without any pressure on brake. So bled them more to get some of the fluid out of both sides. brakes seem better now. I think there is to much fluid in master so I'll do a full job when I get home tomorrow. Still remembering the lesson from Bill's @Rafterd experience with his brakes....going to be extra careful going home...

Like that thread write up! You can also use a steel guitar string or even a catgut(or whatever they are these days) "E" string for carbs and little teeny holes. I use the catgut string for scoots and outboard motors. Easier to carry as well....about $3 at a music store. Interesting reading this thread as I'm 150 miles from home now and have lost some of my front braking power on 05 RSV. A hard squeeze on brake lever produces little braking power. Fluid is clear and full. Going to zip home tomorrow morning and then put her on stand and see what is going on. Will be paying attention to any indication that I'm losing speed and pull over immediately. So far rotors have stayed cool on test run last night....but....

Beau, From my experience with a similar break..except mine was in the rear end of the drive shaft... the only way I knew there was a failure was the whine increased during decel. No vibration at all. I would think maybe ujoint dry or ??.... and you may be able to get a peak at the ujoint by pulling boot back and peering down between left side cover and frame. If you put her on a stand, you can spin the rear wheel and see if ujoint is loose. Have you tried starting scoot on stand and putting it in 1st gear at idle and let it turn rear wheel while you search for rumble/vibration?

Ah...sun. sun. sun. Nothing but sun.....warm sun.....

Yesterday we went down to the little town of Arivaca, Arizona for their annual chili cook off. $5 ticket and you get to taste all the chili you can eat. Vote for best chili by giving the vendor you like your ticket stub. Cool beans (so to speak). Everything home made. Naturally, I had a chili dog as well!! So Green Valley to Arivaca... then out to rt 286 and north to Tucson. Back to Green Valley. Nice day trip... Back on road to Phoenix in a few minutes....