About VentureRider.Org

VentureRider.Org was started on July 21st, 2004. The object of this site is very simple. To bring together folks who enjoy friendly discussion of the Yamaha Venture, Venture Royale, Royal Star Venture and Royal Star motorcycles. What started as a very small group of owners has become the most active site on the Internet dedicated to these bikes. Though most of us share a passion for these particular bikes, we welcome all riders who enjoy the company of a friendly community of riders who have a desire to lend a hand when needed, share a cold drink when possible and simply enjoy the company of other riders. On August 15th 2006 there was a major server crash and we lost two years worth of messages and member information. At that time, we had over 3600 folks registered here. After a total rebuild of the site, the numbers are still coming back and the great technical information lost is being reposted as we continue on.

This is a very informal group. We don't feel the need for a lot of club officers, rules, regulations. We do have some basic guidelines for our organization though. These are guidelines that the majority of the members reached a consensus on long ago.

Edited by V7Goose:

The original intent of the founding members was that this site is, always has been and always will be free to all. Don Nelson, Freebird, spends almost unimaginable time and effort personally creating and maintaining this site for the benefit of all members, and for five years he personally covered 100% of the costs for software, hosting, bandwidth, etc. A few members donated to Don in an effort to help out, but they were only a small percentage of the members here. In 2009, Don and his family were beset by some unexpected health issues and large medical expenses that forced him to make some hard decisions about continuing to spend his own money on this site. As a result, the members here were quite vocal that we needed to implement some form of membership fee so that those of us who enjoy this site would all begin to share in the cost. At this time, the forums are open to all to read but registration is required for posting a new message or replying to an existing message. Registration is just $12/year, is easy to do and helps to protect us against spam.

Just as important is the fact that this site is PG rated. There are a lot of sites on the Internet where people can look at pornographic materials, use vulgar language, etc. We do not need that here. By keeping this site PG rated we are able to reach a wide range of people. Please respect this simple guideline when posting here. Although we do not have many rules, keeping the PG rating in all things would be Rule #1.

We have also tried to keep political discussions to a minimum here. Many people have very strong political opinions, including me. Again, there are a lot of places on the Internet to discuss politics and I've never seen any good from mixing politics with motorcycle discussion. What starts off as a rational discussion always seems to turn into a heated debate and it usually gets personal before it ends. All of the same things can be said for religious discussions. Rule #2 would be that politics and religion are two subjects that will not be tolerated.

The last rule, Rule #3, is that all discussions need to remain civil. That is not to say that we do not expect disagreements, and even some "lively" discussions where it is clear that opinions are held strongly by some individuals. It does mean that personal attacks and insults are not acceptable.

Our primary focus here is motorcycles, motorcycle touring, technical discussion, etc. This site would get pretty boring though if no other discussion was allowed. We have become much more than a website here. We have become friends and many of us have met in person as well as here on the site. It was the motorcycles that brought us together but it's the friendships that keep us together. As in face to face meetings, conversations other than motorcycles will often come up. We have specific areas for just that type of discussion and we encourage folks to please try to post in the appropriate areas. If a mistake is made and something is posted in the wrong area...it's no big deal...we will either overlook it or move it.

The main thing folks is that this site should be not only helpful but fun as well. I hope that we all remember that first and foremost, we are friends. This is the kindest and most considerate bunch of folks I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. There are no cliques here and no secret groups within our group. If you are new here, simply introduce yourself and you will be warmly welcomed.

You said it plain and simple Bro. Now if we need a preacher on Sunday morning are you available? You can say with few words and get the complete subject together.

WELLDONE DON

Amen Bro Don. Thats the way I like it. uh huh uh huh!

No truer words spoken

well put

...If you are new here, simply introduce yourself and you will be warmly welcomed.

My name is Tony and I'm a Ventureholic!

THANKS DON,

THAT'S WHY I COME TO THIS SITE AS MUCH AS I CAN BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU JUST PRINTED. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!

KEN:178:

Thank you, well said....

Semper Fi

Mr. E-Fishin-C,

I just had to send you a note to say that everytime I see your little picture on the top of your posts, I just get the biggest smile on my face. What an incredible dose of happiness. . . . . .I love the little guys messed up hair and the coffee cup in his hand. . . .maybe I identify with it!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rotf:

Thanks for using that picture!

cg

PS: someone should start a poll of who has the cutest pic on their posts! BTY, how do you get that on there anyway?

:clap2: :clap2:

Nice job, Don. Thanks for the site and the insight.

Well stated. This should be posted as a sticky in the sign up area. Thanx for the great site to share!

Couldn't have said it better.

Very well said. Every new member should have to read this before getting there membership, as it is so True.

Thanks to everyone here, which I get to call a friend

(at least I hope so, even you Mr. Owl.)

Brad

as usual, don, you said what needed to be said!, but do we have to put up with charlie, on a daily basis?

?????

lol

for you new members, charlie is the one with the "road rash" and a cane!

charlie! you'll do!

just jt

Well said Don as usual. Hipshot we couldn't do without Charlie.

Well said Don as usual. Hipshot we couldn't do without Charlie.

I'll 2nd that ^^

Jerry

Well said Don. We agree completly.

Don for president . He has a way with words.

Everything I would have said, has already been said. Let me just add another "Thank You, Don" for your work and dedication to this site. The information, knowledge, and help from you and others on this site has been invaluable to me. I knew nothing about my Venture when I bought it, other than I liked the looks of it. I found this site the next day and started laying out my questions. Don was the first to contact me and respond and many others followed. I have felt like I belonged from the very first post. It is nice to know that friends are only a key stroke away.

Don,

You da man! You've suceeded in the mission you described and I think I can safely say we all support the few constraints you've had to put in place. Thanks as always for making this place possible. I travel a lot and really miss it when I'm not able to spend time on the site for a few consecutive days. We all appreciate the work you've put into the site - and again when reconstructiong after the recent unfortunate event.

Simple, short, and to the point. Yeah Don!! :thumbsup2: