CTR_001

I searched and searched for a backrest and finally found a very good one at Utopia Products. They're a small shop in Ohio and the backrest cost me just under $290.00 including shipping. A couple things about the backrest: It's not heated and it only works with the low (OEM that came with the bike) butt-rest. It's adjustable forward / backward as well as up and down. It's made a huge difference for me after riding it for just under 2,000 miles. Utopia Products 330-576-3024 andy@utpr.com www.utpr.com

I'd say between $75 - $125. If you search Canada "cruiser bag company" you'll come up with similar but no exact match, I believe.

Does anyone know where to buy a rider's backrest for the Star Venture? (I've got a 2018.) Thanks in advance. LMK at rivis123@outlook.com

I'm reasonably certain that you can't connect a headset directly with the Eluder or Venture infotainment system WIRELESSLY. (Hard to believe, huh?) I've been trying to do that with both Sena and Cardo headsets. No go. My reading confirms this too. Here's what I understand you need to do: You MUST use Yamaha's hard wired 7-pin DIN connector and connect that to your headset. BE SURE that you DO NOT have your phone connected to your headset. INSTEAD, you have to connect your PHONE to the infotainment system system. Got that? Headset --> hardwired --> to Infotainment (Headset NOT also connected to your phone.) PHONE --> connected by Bluetooth --> to Infotainment You can then have your phone GO THRU the infotainment to your headset. I do NOT have the TC. I was trying to connect in order to use VOX (voice commands) to be able to go thru the multiple level menus. That did not work but I was using a variation by trying to go "wirelessly" from my headset to the infotainment. You CAN go wirelessly to the infotainment system from your HEADSET. But, that will cost you an extra $250.00 or so. for THAT, you have to buy a Sena Freewire device which comes with a 7-pin DIN that's made for Harley Davidson bikes. (Be sure NOT to get the one for Goldwing as that is a 5-pin connector.) BUT, you also have to have a SENA headset. THEN, the Sena Headset (I've got the 10Upad but it works with a bunch of Sena headsets) will connect thru Bluetooth to the Sena Freewire which in turn is hardwired to the bike. AGAIN, be sure your phone is not also connected to your headset or there will be a conflict between which device gets the phone call, etc. This all worked for me ... EXCEPT ... I still could not use voice commands to connect with the infotainment system. Otherwise, I could hear music played by my phone ---> thru the infotainment system ---> thru the Sena Freewire ---> to my Sena headset. BUT what a convoluted, crappy way to operate. It is incomprehensible how Yamaha in, say, 2016-2017 when the Star Venture was in final design and testing that they made the engineering decision that, "Yes, we'll install a jury-rigged system to connect a rider to the infotainment system." Don't get me wrong, I just got my bike in November 2020 and have ridden about 700 miles and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this motor. What a fine machine. But the rider to infotainment system ... let me be nice and just say, 'not so much'. So, I"m sending back the Freewire and going back to using my excellent Samsung phone, Spotify, Google Maps with Bluetooth connection to my headset. I'll do my best to get the bike infotainment set up BEFORE I ride off. Too bad ...