RSTDdog

I had fitted my ST with a Corbin seat as well. Made a big difference. It had a feature they don't make any more. The passenger backrest was a folding unit and when down made it look like a solo seat and when up made for a nice wide backrest. Best thing was it was functional with the optional trunk. As you can tell I miss that bike. 100,000 Km is 60,000 miles if Im doing the math right. Thats nothing for the engine really. If its well taken care of should not be an issue. Lots of low mileage units here in the states, but not sure if taxes/duty would offset any savings. There is currently an 05 Midnight Venture with 5500 miles (10,000 Km =/-) for 8000.00 US on craigslist near me. Have you had the opportunity to ride a Venture yet? Depending on how long distance your riding you may consider the RSTD. A little less top heavy than the venture since there is no trunk or full front fairing. Still comfortable and you can easily remove the windshield. I am Venture-rising my tour deluxe. Have added the pillow top seats and am adding a trunk for longer travels, but will be able to go back easily for daily driving and shorter rides when i don't want or need the added weight. Good luck with whatever you decide. Lots of good help and advice here. You'll have no troubles keeping it on the road. Derrek

If you get the complete assembly I think its as simple as remove the rear wheel, remove 4 bolts holding the Differential assembly on, The drive shaft comes out with it, good time to lube the splines, Switch shaft to the Vmax rear end, re-install and use rear axle by itself to align before tightening the 4 bolts where it mounts to the swing arm. In some cases a shim by be necessary where it bolts to the swing arm. Remove axle, lube the pins, reinstall the rear wheel. I think most people are awapping out assemblies. I haven't done it but this is my undertstanding of what is involved. If I missed anything or made some mistakes I'm sure someone will correct it. I think over all its a pretty simple swap. RSTDdog

I went from a 1992 ST1100 ABS TCS to the Royal Star Tour Deluxe although I had a 10 year hiatus without a motorcycle in between. The Tour deluxe and Venture are similar enough that most of my obervations should apply. I selected the RSTD because it provided the widest array of features and comfort including passenger comfort and likely to be best suited for Florida riding. The roads here in Florida are basically straight with some limited exceptions( 11 turns in 318 miles). I looked at the FJR1300 and the ST1300 also. On a trip last year to the Moto GO at indy from Atlanta via NC, Tennesse, Deals gap, Cherola Skyway, Kentucky, etc. I was missing the ST in the mountains. Not that RSTD was bad, but as my skills improved, I found scraping floorboards to be un-nerving and distracting when I wanted to push a little harder than the bike would let me. I was riding by myself on that trip though. Two up riding with a passenger is more relaxed, at least for me. Depends how sporting your passenger is. Do not misundertand the RSTD is no slouch in the mountains but its no ST either. The ST1100 is Light compared to a Tour Deluxe or Venture. 5 gallons of fuel on top of the engine in front of you is heavier than 7 gallons behind the engine and below you. Once rolling though these bikes lighten up quite a bit. The weight does add to the highway performance and stability. I do miss ABS and being able to grab a Handfull of front brake inthe rain without recourse. Its been over 10 years since I had my ST so I don't know how my back would fair on one now. Have you added handle bar risers to raise your seated position?? If I had the luxury of two bikes, I would have an ST (or FJR or FZ1 even) and the RSTD. For passenger accomdations for my wife the former choices are no longer a realistic option. THe RSTD is the minimalmist version of the venture but you still get the electronic cruise control (Someting I wish they had put on the ST or FJR). The 2005 and UP RSTD has the same engine and horsepower as the venture. The good thing about the Venture/RSTD engine is that it is a proven bullet proof design basically unchanged for nearly 30 years (1983). The bad thing is that it is an engine that is unchanged for 30 years and as such lacks a bit of refinement compared to the Honda engine. That being said there is no timing belt to change in a Yamaha V4 although I have never heard of one breaking in the Honda. FOr overall ridng comfort and accomodations the Venture or RSTD is tough to beat. You will give up some handling and fuel economy and overall range compared to the ST. Bottom line Keep the ST AND buy a Venture!! They are not likely to give you much real money for the ST on a trade anyhow. RSTDdog

When I first moved to Cape Coral in 1991, Lee County Mosquito Control used to spray the area using DC 3's. They had 5 DC 3's they used fly in formation just around telephone pole height. We used to go out and watch them (and breath whatever they were spraying). They did it early in the am when the wind was calm, ended up making a fog at ground level. 5 DC 3's over your house is something to see and hear! Budget cuts, fuel prices and environmental restrictions finally ended this. Its been years now since they have done this. Toward the end they only put up one DC3. It was really cool to see... RSTDdog

The debit/credit gift card rules are not Avons, they are from the credit card companies that issue them. My wife gets these from time to time as perks from sponsors. The best may to use these is to buy something that exceeds the value of the card. Most merchants can apply charges in any order they want. If your buying something for 55.00, they can run your gift card for the $50.00 value first and zero it out, then just pay them the balance with cash or your regular debit/credit card. I usually use the gift cards at the gas station to fill up the cage. Go inside and Have them set the pump for the face value of the card. Leave the card, Shuts off automatically. go back inside and sign. They count on people using it for some value less than the face value, say 48.60 and not bothering with the balance. The credit card company makes out on this I think, not the company providing the promotional rebate.

Shipping is not inflated either. Ground from PA to FL is 15.04.

Just over 9000 miles on a Michelin Commander rear, Still Has 4/32 left. Prior owner replaced the OEM Bridgestone rear at 10K with the Commander. I always run the max in the rear 41 PSI and ride a mix of one and two up. Front Bridgestone had 16K on it when I replaced it with the E3. Commander Rear and E3 front seems to work well. I don't think you can get Commanders anymore though unless you happen to find some left over inventory. I could not find or get a matching Commander front when I got the E3 last year. Interrupted the E3 front and Running the 18" stratoliner S wheel with a 130 70R 18 Bridgestone Radial front at the moment. No ill effects to report so far on this. No idea how the wear will be either. RSTDdog

Well here is an idea...... you could buy the RSTD Quick Disconnect back rest frame I have for sale in the classified and make a custom taller one and it would fit the stock mount. Then everyone will ask where did you get that???? If Yamaha did make a taller one for the RSTD, it would be discontinued by now anyway. The roadstar Vstar ones may fit,but might not be quick disconnect. There are a lot of unused holes and the extra ones where the QD spools are so something is bound to line up. Not sure I have seen one on those bikes that is taller than the RSTD though. The RTSD is already pretty tall as backrests go. RSTDdog

If Hagon lists the shock as being suitable for a Venture, It "should" be capable of at least handing the Yamaha Maximum load listed in the OM. For an RSTD the Max Load is listed as 443 lbs. Not sure what it is for the Venture, but asking for a Shock rated to 500 lbs load capacity (plus what the "sprung" portion of the bike itself weighs) doesn't seem like asking a lot in terms of up rating it. I'm curious if you ask them for a shock rated to 450 lbs what their repsonse is? To be a suitable replacement it should be rated for at least that in my opinion. RSTDdog

That muffler is similar in design, but looks larger (longer maybe) than the one they use on the FZ1. Of course a 2012 FZ1 may also get an update and if they can use the same exhaust on more than one bike they save money. I personally am a fan of the dual exhaust look. Seems more balanced. I really like the way undertail exhaust looks on the FZ6 though.

Yamaha didn't give these bikes a 5 year unlimited mileage warranty out of the goodness of their own hearts. They wouldn't let marketing dept do that either unless they knew overall the claims would be minimal. Basically bullet proof. Watch the fuel pump. Some have had failures around your mileage. Others have never had one fail. It won't strand the bike though. You can bypass it and it will run gravity feed as long as the tank is over 1/4 full RSTDdog