vzuden

Take look at the date code on your tires. If they are 5 years or older they need to be replaced and that should make your decision easier. i had an Avon Venom once but on the rear so if it were to have any negative impact on handling I probably didn’t feel it. I had a flat on a trip so I was at the mercy of the closest dealer and it was all they had in stock. That tire served me well and I replaced it at 20,000 miles. Other than that one, all others are E3’s. By the way, Jake Wilson usually has the best price with fast service.

I was listening to a MC podcast a week or two ago and the speaker was relating how he drove his Zero through a stream. The bike was set up as an off-road version with knobby tires. As he proceeded the water level was over the handlebars so it was completely submerged. He crossed or rode through the stream, climbed the bank on the other side, turned around and crossed back over again. Then he had a one hour ride home. It never missed a beat

Dakota, Another thing to look at would be the front tire size. Some of us have switched to the 130 size tire in order to improve low speed handling. I have not done so because in reading posts from others there is a concern of it affecting higher speed handling in a detrimental way. I improved my low speed handling by raising the rear at the shock by changing out the leveling links. Others have accomplished the same by lowering the front at the forks but this would be more for those who cannot afford the slightly higher seat position. It could be your previous owner has changed links/lowered forks plus changed the tire size. I would tend to lean towards the forks being lowered as that may have contributed to your dented front fender. As already mentioned, look into the steering head bearing adjustment. There is a description in the tech area of how to test. Then a shortcut to adjust plus the more involved cleaning and repacking the bearings with adjustment to follow. Personally, I repack the head bearings and the swing arm bearings every 20,000 miles.

i had the tips on all the time so I can't really say whether I would have like them without. They rotate via a set screw so you can direct them to any angle you want

No. Ran like a top to 50,000 miles. I pulled them off when I traded it in on my new one and put back the original mufflers. Sold them to one of our members and I'm pretty sure he's still running with them. I did repack them before I sold them as I was planning on putting them on the new bike but went with Harley take offs instead.

Many of us have installed spacer to move the driving lamps out away from the fairing. You don't have loosen them to split the fairing. Plus it makes for a little easier cleaning and polishing

I had Baron 4-2-4's on my RSTD. They are loud and sound good. Simple to slip on

Just like the Amphibicars of the 1960's!

To elaborate a little - to sync your gauges you pull the same vacuum on all and each gauge has an adjustment.

I use a long Phillips to adjust the left bank from the right side when syncing. Maybe 16"?

Never had to remove more than the front motor mounts to replace the plugs. Tank removal is easy and does make the access to the sp plugs easier but it is not necessary

I agree with you Rick. The 2nd Gens weren't selling well so Yamaha had to make a change. Their marketing research led them to what they are offering today. That research could be flawed but it is what it is and if they have made a mistake they will have to correct it in time. If they would have asked me I would have recommended our good ol' V-4 but they didn't and obviously even if they had, I would have been in the minority because not enough others wanted it.

Wheel balance comes into play only at 40-45MPH + since that is when the centrifugal forces take over. I suspect steering head bearing issue

By leveling links and improved handling we are referring to raising the rear about an inch or so, as I recall. The same would occur with the earlier mention of lowering the front at the forks. The choice of which route to take would be determined by your ability to plant your feet at stops. I have no problem flat footing with the raised rear so I use the shorter links at the shock (leveling links).

Having had both, I second that, or is it third that! The handling on the road seems about the same. I did some 10 and 12 hour days on the RSTD and last year a 15 hr haul on the Venture and don't see any difference. The softer seat on the Venture may be a little beneficial. My wife, has a strong preference for the Venture as a passenger

Great pictures! thanks for sharing

I had a green 4 spd clutch version and my cousin had a blue 3 spd semi automatic. I followed him several times and always noticed his brake light coming on. After a few questions we determined he didn't know he didn't have a clutch lever - he was applying the rear hand brake every time he thought he needed to shift! (glad it was him and not me because at that age I probably wouldn't have known the difference either)

I would check drive pins

They advertise on this site. Look under the Vendors section and the are a Gold Star Vendor

Take a look at Bagger Shield. It is two position with the lower tinted. I like mine and have it lowered for local, low speeds and raised for long trips and 65mph plus.

Oh, yea, Brew. I almost forgot, moving the trunk back was something I did before she rode the first time. It wasn't that she needed the extra room to fit but more of a case of sitting slightly back from original. It is easy to do and she will gain a couple of inches. A backrest for the rider with a pouch on the back is pretty valuable also so she has a place for her phone and sunglasses. We use UClear communicators (Full face/modular helmets) so we can converse easily and listen to music/navigation/phone calls independent of the other also.

Yes and in my opinion it's the way to go. I have it and it produces great light

My previous ride was the Royal Star Tour Deluxe and although almost the same bike as the Venture there are a few differences. One of which is the seating. My wife didn't like the RSTD because she sat too low or I was too high. When I switched to the Venture she was thrilled after the first ride. Her position is higher now resulting in a better view of our surroundings. The seats are softer also. Wind buffetting isn't an issue but I have changed the windshield and did so prior to her first ride. I have the Bagger Shield and use it in the upright position when riding two up.

That looks like the one. If you select it and go to "specs" it does list the Tour Deluxe and Venture

I bought my new 2012 Venture in the fall of 2014. Not sure if this indicative of the second gen sales across the country but with a new bike sitting on the showroom floor for 2 years is it possible that it had some bearing in Yamaha thinking they had to make a radical change? I still would have preferred a water cooled V-4 in this new bike but maybe those who are not happy with the change could have spoken with their wallets before 2013 when Yamaha stopped building them?