Freebird

It was brought to my attention that it was getting pretty lonely in the Eluder forum area. The bikes are essentially the same except for the tour pack so the decision was made to merge the Eluder tech talk into the Star Venture tech talk. Hope this makes it easier, and less lonely, for everybody involved. If there comes a time in the future that the majority of you feel that it is needed, we can always split them up again.

I seriously doubt it is the valves. As the valve train wears, the valves get tighter, not looser. Unless they were set way too loose at some point, that is not likely the issue.

I know that he does some Harley jugs but it requires them to be pulled and sent to him. I won't be pulling my jugs. I do know that he has done some other things though. I'm keeping this one fairly basic. Not adding a lot of chrome if any at all. Everything I've ordered for it is black.

I haven't actually sent Mobil 1 a message but on their own website, there is a "question" section. Somebody asked why the VTwin oil was not JASO rate and they didn't challenge the statement that is was not JASO rated, they simply replied that it is made specifically for Harley Davidson V-Twins.

Some really good information there. I will certainly give the seat some time to break in. I really don't want to buy a new one. I did go with the Utopia backrest and should have it tomorrow. The oil information was very informative. I'm a bit confused. You said the last oil change was Yamalube. Are those test results from the Yamalube or the Redline. I was very disappointed to learn that Mobil 1 for VTwins is not JASO rated. You know from my previous posts that I'm a huge fan of Mobil 1. Been using it in everything I own for more than 20 years. My only issue with Redline would be that I don't think there is a local place to buy it and I'm just not going to order oil. I'll have to check around and do some more research to see which other oils have what is needed. Maybe there is a Redline dealer close by that I don't know about. Will look into that also.

Thanks...also...I just edited my post. I intended to say that I WAS NOT getting bent out of shape over it. I left out the NOT.

It looked like they would be. Hitch looks pretty easy also. Just got home and have to get a stairlift ready to install tomorrow morning but I may get the hitch done tonight. Heck...I probably won't. I want to take my time and take pictures of the process so will probably wait until Tomorrow afternoon or Sunday.

The Hitchdoc trailer hitch was just delivered. As with all Hitchdoc's that I have seen, it really looks to be overbuilt but I guess that's better than being underbuilt. It's a good looking hitch and appears that it will be a fairly simple install. Obviously, I will be pulling the saddlebags for the first time. The good news is that I will be able to take some pictures of the process and post our first article in the 2018 tech library. Wish I had time to do it now but have a service call on a stairlift about an hour away and will have to take care of that first. Then I have a stairlift install tomorrow morning and another one Saturday morning. So, unless I feel like doing it when I get home this afternoon, it will have to wait until Sunday. Don't plan to use it right away but I just hate to have things laying around. Got to get it done.

I agree with you. I'm getting not bent out of shape over it. I feel fairly confident that these issues will be addressed soon enough. I just checked and my software is version 12.0.6. Will have to look through the threads and see if that is the latest or not. Either way, everything as worked with no issues so far so I'll likely leave it as is until the update it to correct one of the problems that you mention. I guess I was lucky because they had everything activated before I left on it. I've read reports from some people with whom that wasn't the case and they had some problems doing so.

Well, to be honest, this one is different. The Harley and the RSV lended themselves to the chrome bling. This one, not so much. There just isn't a lot of chrome on them and most of the very few accessories being offered by Yamaha are black, not chrome. I decided that I wanted the Yamaha luggage rack and since it is black, I went ahead and ordered the highway pegs and drink holder in black also. It's just going to be a fairly understated look. That's a huge departure for me but I'm thinking I may actually like the change. Maybe I was just ready for something different. Heck, the entire bike is a huge departure, style wise, than the cruiser styling that I've always loved.

Too late. The '05 found a new home and pulled out of here last night. Was a little sad to see it go but needed the space and needed to replenish my bank account.

For those who are really disappointed in the new Star Venture, I ran across another option.

Now that is a possibility. Never been a huge fan of pinstriping but this bike looks a little bare with no tank badges or much other trim. I'll really have to think about it though.

LOL...it already has LED lights all around. The Transcontinental also comes with the fog lights. The Navigation system is working great but I haven't checked the version. If so, it is a free upgrade. I have a horn on the way from a member here who is sending it. Don't care about the heated passenger grips. I don't think. Eileen doesn't like to ride when it gets too cold. Also, to be honest, the '05 had a heated Russell seat and I don't think I used it a single time. My kickstand pad is Stainless Steel and engraved with VentureRiders on it from the Galena rally I think. It will be fine for the new bike. Billet shifter and brake pedal aren't important to me. Maybe at some point but I'm fine the way it is. I had the saddle bag and trunk bags for my RSVs and never used them. Just preferred not having them. Trunk rack bag is a possibility. I have other bags that work fine though. So it's all good. You are NOT trying to help me save money.

Due to a very busy week with the stairlifts, rain, and the bike not being set up the way I want it yet, I haven't even ridden the '18 since getting it home Friday night. As I reported, the lack of the backrest and highway pegs were painful for me. I am happy to say that most everything I need has been shipped and should start showing up as soon as today. Though not needed immediately, it appears that the Hitchdoc hitch will be the first thing to arrive. It is scheduled for delivery today. Probably the last thing I actually need but will likely get it installed over the weekend. I got a notification that the Utopia backrest shipped yesterday via 2nd day USPS. So it should get here as early as Saturday. That will be major and I look forward to getting it. I ended up taking the highway pegs off the '18 and putting them back on the '05 for the new owner. I ordered new ones a couple of days ago and they have shipped but won't get here until probably Wednesday. Luggage rack has also shipped and should get here around mid-week also. Same goes for the KuryAkyn driver's cup holder. Haven't decided what to so no the passenger cup holder yet. ROX handlebar risers will probably be here on Monday. I was going to wait a while on the lower wind deflectors but since I sold the '05 and replenished my piggy bank a bit, I will go ahead and get them ordered today. The only other thing that I have to decide on is the saddlebag lid protectors. I'm on the fence about them. We'll see. I've already been talking to Nancy at Ace High Leathers. Will get her to make me a tank big, likely with pocket, but since she has never done any products for the '18, I'm going to have to work with her by making a template and etc. A simple big will be easy but if I decide that I want the bib/tank chap combo, it is going to be more difficult. I've already heard some people report that they are finding paint damage from their knees rubbing the side of the tank though so I'm really leaning towards the big/chap combo. It's coming along. Just takes time. Luckily there aren't many accessories available for the '18 and it really doesn't need a lot of things so I'm pretty much done.

Actually, I did exactly that. I told him to sign up and I would mark him paid for a year. I also made sure that he rode off with a VentureRider Guardian bell and a small patch.

Well, the '05 just pulled out of here headed down toward Cincinnati. Sort of sad to see it go. I actually think it was a prettier bike than the new one. There are things that I REALLY like about the new one though.

Agreed. A manufacturer absolutely cannot require you to use their branded oil. There are laws against that. I used Mobil 1 VTwin in my Harley. I never had a problem but if I did, it absolutely would have had no effect on warranty coverage.

I understand but am absolutely not a fan of YamaLube. I tried them before and it resulted in more noise, harder shifting, and based upon those two factors....seemed to lose its viscosity within a thousand miles or less. Yamaha absolutely cannot void your warranty for using another brand of oil as long as it meets the required specifications.

Selling the Slingshot freed up a lot of room in my garage. When I get the '05 sold, my wife will actually be able to get her Murano in the garage again. She hasn't complained though. The tractor, mowers, etc. are in the building that was once a greenhouse. It is 30' x 60' and FULL right now.

I know...it took me by surprise. I was just getting it ready to ship to you. Oh well......I really didn't want to bother you with it anyway.

I figured that would be he case. Oh well, I guess I'll have to decide which oil to use. I may try the Quicksilver. I know nothing about it.

I haven't taken but one and it's not real good. I posted it in the watering hole but here it is again.

You just never know but there is a guy coming tomorrow from the Cincinnati area who seems very serious about my '05. Didn't try to negotiate, may at some point, but said he was coming with cash in hand. Sounds like a nice guy and rides a '98 Royal Star right now. We'll see. Eileen was wanting me to keep both bikes but I really don't need two large touring bikes.

That's going to be hard for me. I've been using Mobil 1 in my bikes for over 20 years. They say that the VTwin formula is specifically designed for Harleys and I guess they don't require the JASO rating. Haven't checked my manual yet but I'll be the Yamaha does.