Prairiehammer

The most common hitch for the Venture, whether MKI or MKII, First Generation was the one made by Markland. Markland hitch for the MKI: The Markland hitch for the MKII: Historically, prices for the complete Markland hitch have ranged from a low of $60 to a high of $160 (or more). There was other manufacturers of trailer hitches for the Venture. HitchCo was one, but there were others, I just don't know their names. Some examples of other hitches:

Bongo, stay the course. We can beat this!

May I express my sincere condolences, Jeff? Your Dad's loved ones were there and his very last cognizant observation was that. That all his kids and his wife were there to see him off. Imagine the relief and contentment he felt!

Are you using new, SEALED brake fluid (from a hitherto unopened can/bottle)? Brake fluid, whether DOT3 or DOT4 WILL absorb moisture from the air. Moisture in brake fluid at high temps will cause what seems like air in the system (some maintain that STEAM is actually generated. I doubt THAT, but the moisture and high temperature combined will definitely create a soft lever.) How high are the temps that your engine is experiencing? In the red on the temperature gauge? Perhaps, the slave cylinder seals are not OEM? The seals become too soft at high operating temperature and allow bypass of the lever induced hydraulic pressure? Did you hone, thus enlarge the slave cylinder bore when it was rebuilt? Finally, (I have to ask) did this malady occur with the stock, non-Barnett clutch?

Thanks!

OK, that is a 1993. I was incorrect assuming a 1988 (Standard Venture) based on the color. Still...the front wheel has been replaced. Got to wonder why. A further clue to the repaint theory: the missing YAMAHA badge on the side of the main fairing.

Actually, the 1986 Royale is substantially heavier than a 1983 Standard (the lightest of all the Ventures). The advertised dry weight of the 1983 Standard is 670 pounds. The advertised dry weight of the 1986 Royale is 732 pounds. That is a 62 pound difference! About a 10% increase in weight!

I don't think that is a 1993 Venture. In addition to the 1988 paint (that seems correct down to the pinstriping, except for the saddlebag lid) the front wheel is painted black, as the 1988 wheel would be, whereas the 1993 wheels were unpainted, natural aluminum. The only way to confirm the model year is with the VIN from the FRAME. (I've seen several instances where title VIN and the actual frame number do not match). So, what is the VIN, kansa737?

Thanks Prairiehammer Here is the correct colors (with both Yamaha codes and Colorite codes), but as has been said, computer color matching is the only way to get an accurate match of the aged and probably faded paint. [ATTACH=CONFIG]117083[/ATTACH] Venture Paint and Seat Colors.xlsx

That chart on the Venturers site is not entirely accurate or complete. Here is the correct colors (with both Yamaha codes and Colorite codes), but as has been said, computer color matching is the only way to get an accurate match of the aged and probably faded paint. Venture Paint and Seat Colors.xlsx

Thank you, Mr. Schaefer.

Your 1983 Venture is a XVZ12TK, a "Standard" Venture. The Standard Venture that year came with either "Sparkle Crimson Black" (Black with gold pinstriping) or "New Ruby Red" (with gold pinstriping). [TABLE] [TR] [TD=class: xl64, width: 167][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Thank you for your addition to the database.

Two

You are correct about the backrest as not FACTORY original equipment, because there was no FACTORY rider's backrest, ever on any Venture. But you are incorrect about the brackets, they did NOT come in a "factory package". Your backrest is a Yamaha VentureLine backrest accessory offered by Yamaha dealers. It was available in brown (Yamaha called it "Burgundy") or black (to match the particular Venture seat color.) Retail price in 2001 was $240! BTW: your offer of this backrest for free on the "Paying it Forward" section is very generous. The VentureLine backrest has been sold on eBay for as much as $190! The brackets alone have sold for $50. I have one for sale (in black), too. I am asking $120 + actual shipping costs. You will certainly move yours much quicker!

I have a set of Progessive springs, still in the box, never installed. I can't remember what I paid for them, but they are yours for whatever it was I paid. Gotta find the order.

Yes. Connectors are behind the headlight. Look for a two wire connector for each side with a white wire and a black wire. Probably have to remove the headlight to see them.

Step by step: And after you have removed all of that, you have to remove the left inner fairing panel to get to the cable junction.

One cannot remove the solenoid from the valve body of the EAND while the EAND unit is attached to the forks. Simply disconnect the EAND wires at their respective connectors.

You need to get enough slack in the choke cable in order to rotate the lever until the inner tabs on the lever align with the gaps in the switch housing. Do this by either disconnecting the choke cable from the carb or (easier) rotate the switch housing around the handle bar until the lever tabs are aligned with the gaps, then slide the lever ring off.

The 1984 choke ring is secured to the switch body by a ball detent riding in a groove molded into the switch body. One must depress the detent in order to remove the ring. You may also have to rotate the choke lever to align the lever tabs with the gaps in the concentric groove.

What year Venture? If it is a 1984 with the choke lever encircling the handle bar, you may have to remove the grip, or at least move it away from the choke lever and the switch assembly. If it is a 1983 or 1985-1993, one does not have to remove the choke assembly from the switch body in order to service the switches. Two screws on the underside of the switch body "clamp" the assembly to the handlebar.

Sure! Perhaps it does not contain my ENTIRE Venture brain content, but it IS all the Venture Stuff on my computer. Go here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1fbU3AAk-9pJ74x-_Mk1NWUjC-OxPqW91

The "Twinkie" (that's the breather/oil distribution junction/coolant cover) contains two gaskets; one between the two sections of the Twinkie and one at the base where it mates with the crankcase. The Twinkie contains pressurized oil feeding the heads (the chrome lines with banjo unions), coolant and a crankcase breather passage. The gaskets are more akin to O-rings in composition and cross-section. The O-ring style gaskets become flattened and hardened (less resilient) with time and heat. Tightening the six mounting cap screws does not usually result in reducing the leak, because the housing bottoms out on the crankcase before the shrunken gasket is compressed. Because of the construction and purpose of the Twinkie, it is not uncommon for coolant to enter the engine oil or engine oil to mix with coolant when the gaskets fail. Check your coolant reservoir for milky tan oil scum and your engine oil level (may rise). It is doubtful that the gaskets can be replaced with the carbs in place (replace BOTH gaskets while the Twinkie is out). It would also be easier to access the Twinkie for removal if the intake boots are removed from the heads, but that may require replacement of the intake boot gaskets (also O-ring style gaskets).

One hundred dollars (free shipping!) gets you what appears to be a Mark's exhaust header for the First Gen. It don't look pretty, but I'll bet it would clean up and look fine with some high temperature paint. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-Yamaha-Venture-Royale-XVZ-1200-Exhaust-Chamber-1/333245919346?epid=1822936647&hash=item4d97013072%3Ag%3Am4wAAOSwjG1dEOQF&LH_ItemCondition=4

WoW! This is going to be better than NEW!