I have owned the Star Venture now for two months and about 2500 miles. Craig, I think your review is pretty fair and accurate. I'm a 65 year-old guy, 5'8" and 165 pounds and I find the bike is comfortable and easy to handle. About the heat: There are a couple of vents you can open or close by your feet. They do a great job of clearing the heat away from your feet and legs. (If you're stuck in traffic on a warm day, you will indeed get hot!) You also have a lot of adjustment with the wind deflectors on the left and right side of the faring and they will let you either stay in your calm bubble or give you a lot of cooling breeze. I've been able to ride in temperatures that range from almost freezing to about 80 F. and still be very comfortable. One other thing: The 400 pound load capacity isn't really an issue for me. Between my wife and me (or my daughter and me) we can still add about 90 pounds of cargo. (But the book says to limit each bag and the trunk to 20 pounds.) Bottom line: I really like the Star Venture! Disclaimer: I really like whatever I'm riding!
Thanks Michael, that is exactly what I go for in my reviews, to be fair and honest. It is good to get feedback from a Venture owner who has had the chance to put some miles on the bike. Great info!
A lot has happened in 2 years. I got a job, and bought a 2018 Yamaha Venture. A great bike. The transmission does not seem clunky at all. It shifts smooth as it should. The low end torque is amazing, almost diesel-like. Loads of luggage capacity. It's GVWR does not seem to limit our weekend packing riding two-up. And its weight makes it very stable on the interstates, especially when passing a semi.
When i first saw it, my first comment was The rear end looks like the current Challenger and Front looks like a vintage "Cuda ... I think they've done a great job, styling wise.
Excellent Honest Review - I think this is the first honest, unbiased review of the new Yamaha Venture that I have heard or read. I am so tired of most reviewers who seem to be afraid of offending the dealer that lets them test drive the bike or the manufacture that is sponsoring them -- so they only focus on the good stuff and leave it up to buyers to discover the quirks and problems. I wish I had been able to find honest reviews on the last two motorcycles that I bought (as the quirks and shortcomings were not easily discovered thought a brief test drive). You are doing us all a great service being so candid. At least we know what to look for and what we might have to live with if we decide to buy the bike. The less surprises the better!
Thank you! That is my goal, just to be honest and balanced. I truly believe there are no bad bikes, but they do all have their quirks. God knows my bikes do...lol.
Finally an honest, balanced assessment of the Venture. I've grown weary of reading/watching reviews of a touring bike by guys that only ride sport bikes. All they do is whine. My current ride is the Yamaha Stratoliner Deluxe, the bike the Venture was based on. I find it very well balanced and it carries its weight easily. Thanks again for what you do on youtube. I find your channel to be one of very high quality & interest. I'd love to show you around the Southern California deserts & mountains.
Thank you, appreciate your comments. I agree, bikes are made for different purposes and you should not expect a big bike to perform like a small one. Also every bike has its good points and it's quirks. Thank you ther invite, would love to out there some day.
Best review I've seen on the Venture to date. At 64 years old, my window for riding big heavy touring bikes is rapidly closing so I don't see a new Venture in my future. I had the previous generation Venture (2005) and rode it for ten years. I currently tour on a Street Glide (my wife doesn't like to ride any more). If I get another bike, it'll probably be along the lines of a BMW R 1200 RT due to my rapidly advancing age, lol. Thanks for posting this.
I have the 2018 Venture. I love, love, love it. I pull a loaded trailer with it and it is a dream to drive. He talked about the shifter klunking. Get a heel-toe shifter. What an incredible difference that makes. Also, I love the remote key. It electrically locks every storage area on the bike with one click. It is awesome!
I actually bought one! Well... I bought the kid brother of the Venture, the Eluder. It's the same bike minus the touring trunk, wrap-around passengers backrest, and no Sure-Park motor, as well as a few minor differences. This is my second motorcycle. I upgraded from a 2012 Yamaha V-Star 1300 Tourer. I rarely ride 2-Up, but I do often commute between Mobile, AL, and Houma, LA, so I added a pillion backrest to strap my travel bag to. I also opted to add the Fog Lamps, Aux Lights, and the Medium Windshield (which is fixed on the Eluder). I also DID NOT get the GT package (XM Radio and Navigation) because for the extra money those were not features I would typically use - why buy satellite radio when you get AM/FM free and the ability to plug in an MP3 player? I can say there is a bit of heat from the rear jug on the left side, but outside of city stop-n-go it's not a problem, and was definitely not a deal-breaker for my money.
TJ Rohyans that’s the exact setup that I’m considering! I want something slightly smaller than my Goldwing for when I ride alone, and I love the look of the Eluder. The rearend is so sexy without the trunk that comes on the Venture. I listen to music through my phone, so I’m not worried about XM or Nav. Just a comfy bike for one person (and the occasional passenger) with hard saddlebags for storage. I believe in buying American, but I love my Yamahas (1983 Venture and 1996 Virago) and think this bike is the best bang for my buck in the segment. I would consider the Venture if the tour pack (trunk) had an easy detach feature like the Harley and Indian does.
All of these large long distance touring bikes are heavy and cumbersome at parking lot speeds and they’re all expensive. In years past I’ve ridden the GL1800 Gold Wing, the Indian Roadmaster and a Vision and although large and heavy, they all carried their weight well. I rented a Harley Ultra last year out in Utah and it is the most top heavy motorcycle that I’ve ever ridden. The only thing it is good at is rolling down the interstate with the cruise and radio on. If I had a spare thirty thousand dollars to spend on a motorcycle, the Harley wouldn’t make the cut.
I disagree. I have owned the 2018 Wing for several months now and it feels fine at parking lot speeds. They have made some changes, I'm not sure about the other competitors updates. I would say that having tested 3 of the top tourers prior to purchasing, the GW definitely felt the most sporty. I have been ripping mine through twisties on back country roads for months now. I would be fearful to do that same thing with my harley. They are all good bikes, the sport touring bikes are much lighter though but come with less amenities. Eventually I believe we will see these classes merge into one. I feel like the goldwing is already leaning towards sport based on its performance so far.
I was surprised you never mentioned the 2018 Goldwing. I wish you could do a review on the new Goldwing. I do appreciate your honesty. Thanks for the great videos.
As always...EXCELLENT REVIEW. I went to see a Venture yesterday and a HD today, I really find no comparison between the Venture with Harleys, as the HD is a bit outdated, not much tech involved and quite expensive, but it is a Harley and it is cool. I currently ride a 2017 R1200GSA and I find the bike AMAZING, except that it is quite high and sometimes difficult maneuvering. I am in the market for a SECOND bike, as I plan to keep my R1200GSA, but I am quite impressed with your review, as it is really well done and tells exactly what I found after a test ride here in CT yesterday, so I am now NOT SO SURE what to do. Thanks a lot. Keep the good stuff coming.
Great review Craig. You're knowledge of this segment is very helpful. I'm surprised you felt the Yamaha didn't have the fit and finish of the Indian and Harley. I think of Yamaha as the best of the Japanese brands and didn't think Harley had the greatest reputation. As someone not familiar with these bikes I'm surprised at the weight and cost. Big commitment to ownership there!
Thanks Keith. As you know I love my Tenere and would not hesitate to buy another Yamaha, probably will in the future. But in this case, they did not do a good job paying attention to details. In the big v-twin segment the details are important to a lot of people. I am not one of those,how the bike functions is far more important to me, but I am in the minority. I think we can say the same things about our Teneres. They are great bikes, but if we put therm next to a Duacti Multistrada they fall behind when it comes to refinement and little details. In the ADV segment this is not as important, at least to me and I would rather spend the extra money on a trip. As far as Harley goes, they do get knocked for reliability, but their fit and finish is the best in the segment...got to give the devil his due.
Excellent review. I have a BMW R1250RT which I love, but if I had enough money to run two big bikes I'd have one of these Yamahas too. Love the big V-twin rumble and love the retro styling.
My 2 test rides of this bike (one 2-up) was uneventful. I like the looks , I love park assist. I'm only 5'6" . I love the power, and storage capacity. Being a Vision rider, I hate the terrible corner clearance , especially left handers. I hate the heat on the left leg. Scorching in my summer demo ride. I also ride a 2017 Roadmaster. I considered the Venture , Goldwing, and HD but the Indian was what I finally selected. I am happy with my decision. It is the 2nd best bike I have ever ridden, nothing quite compares to the long distance range and comfort of the Victory Vision but the Indian comes close.
Oops - not an overhead cam; lower cam with pushrods and OHVs. I own a 2018 SV TransContinental. It's a great bike overall. The misses however are the heat from the engine, which is not an issue so much for the rider as it is for the passenger. The rear cylinder's pipe passes to the left, right by the passenger's leg, and there's an air circulation dead zone there, so their leg gets pretty hot. Yamaha offers OEM lower deflectors to help with the dead zone. Other misses include the infotainment system; the navigation is a little cranky, and on occasion, the wired intercom drops out completely, requiring you to shut down the bike and restart. The keyless ignition and security system works great, but Yamaha gives you only one fob, and it's known to eat up the battery pretty quick. Other riders have had starter issues and a few have seen lifter failures, but Yamaha has the best warranty in the business. If you use their lubricants (Yamalube) and filters and document it, they will extend the engine warranty out to 100,000 miles. The horn is Roadrunner weak (I've added a PIAA sports horn and a SoundBomb Denali) for a total of 119 dB of loud madness. The seat is not that comfortable (I use an Airhawk), and the OEM high backrest is practically useless (I added a Utopia). The trunk is huge, but the lining is crap. The hits do outweigh the misses though - very torquey, smooth, with a low CG making it easy to handle for a close to one-half ton bike. Throttle response is very good with the dual riding mode (I keep it in Sport Mode), cruise control works great and it has TPMS, integrated braking with ABS and traction control (already kicked in when rounding a wet corner with too much throttle), fairing does a great job with the upper wind deflectors, heated grips and seats, yadda yadda. Overall I love the bike and am happy with the purchase, even with the misses. So far 4,500 miles to date.
I waited for 2yrs till the resale value dropped and found 2018 with T/C package and only 4700 miles on it for $16,495. Love this bike. Couple of things that weren't mentioned is it has UBS and ABS braking and adjustable hand levers. Stereo can be split between riders where they can listen to different music or calls.
Why didn’t this bike take off! That’s a lot of bike for the money. It’s extremely good looking. It’s a Yamaha so you know you’re getting top reliability.
I think to they made the same mistake Polaris did with Victory. That is trying to be like Harley. Personally I would love to see something that completes with a Goldwing, K1600 or R1250RT.
I test rode one a couple of months ago and I did not notice a large clunk in changing the gears.Being a Vision rider I did like the bike. Great Review And Thanks For Sharing My Friend!
Wow Craig nice report. Actually the best I have seen yet. I been following and researching the Yamaha for a while. I purchased a new 2013 Victory CCT in 2012. The clunk going into first has always been aggravating to me. Once you get used to the transmission you soon figure out how to shift the rest of the gears quietly and smoothly. I would have never thought a Japanese company could produce a clunky transmission. That would be a deal breaker for me. Also your Vision and my Cross Country Tour don’t weigh as much as the Yamaha but are quite fun when pushed hard in the twisties . I believe we come in around 100 lbs less. But the solid all aluminum frame on the Vic’s make for solid feel. I do love all the tech gadgets on the Yamaha. When I seen the Yamaha up close at the dealer I was a bit disappointed. It was the first bike I ever seen that looks better in a picture than live. Hard to believe how hard it’s going to be to find a bike that can replace my Victory....
Others have reported that they do not get the same huge clunk, so maybe it was just the bike m I was riding. It is a demo unit. It is going to be hard to find another v-twin to replace the Victories. Like everything they have their quirks, but they also do a lot of things right. The Venture does indeed have a lot of great features and it is comfortable and rides great. As close to the Victory feel tha t I have ridden. Thanks!
I have not rode the Venture yet but I like the looks of it. I think we are going to just keep the Vision for at least a couple more years. I cant believe they would throw all that storage on a big bike and only have that much load capacity. Great review!
A local dealer has a raspberry colored 2018 leftover model for $ 18,999 . I may have to pull the trigger for that price . Currently ride an 08 raider with 60,000 miles and absolutely love this bike . Great video
There are a lot of "new" 2018's out there currently at extremely discounted prices. They are a real bargain. I agree with most of your perceptions about the bike and the negatives would not have bothered me or dissuaded me from buying one. It's the ride quality that sold me. My 2017 Harley Street Glide rode like a dump truck compared to the Venture. But we all look for different things on the bikes we choose. I like that K1600 GTL you eventually acquired as well. Ride safe.
You can get rid of the clunk with good oil. I have a Victory XCT and run Rotella T6 5W-40. Shifts like glass. It passes JASO wet clutch standards. The engine runs cooler also on hot days.
Yes, In fact a GW with two up and luggage is over the tire limits!!!! HOLY HIPPOPOTAMUS Bat man. I like that my Indian Springfield leaves lots of room for weight limits. This partly explains why so many get double the miles on their Indian Machines VS Honda GW.
Sadly, it looks like the lives of Eluder and SVTC have been cut short. Numerous actual Owners of the 2018 SVTC/Eluder models have been pressing Yamaha concerning the question of why no 2019 models are being offered (out of obvious concern). Yamaha has officially responded to those inquiries with letters stating that due to poor sales, no 2019's will be made and the future beyond 19 of the models will remain questionable based on whether or not the left over inventory of 2018's sell during the 2019 riding season. They have also been told that even if the model does go back to production it will be strickly done by a new "Yamaha Pre-Order System" and no bikes will be shipped to fill dealership floor space.
I did notice that the bikes are not listed as 2019 models, but that is sad to hear that they will not be made for 2019. Yamaha is having some issues right now, sales have been down and it seems like they are making weird choices with the Niken and two year lead out of the T700. The Ventrure/Eluder has some nice features, but as I mentioned in the video the fit and finish was not up to its competition and of course the weight. But what do I know, I ride a Victory Vision. Sorry, the Venture did not do better.
It's a tough class to compete in. Yamaha gets it right from the off road to the sports segments like the R1 and MT09, Tracer 900GT, Super Tenere etc. When it comes to heavy Transcontinental touring, traditional riders are tough to sway and the new kids trying to compete, usually get shut out of the game. The Goldwing, Harley, BMW, etc. guys, love to stick with what they know, so it didn't surprise me to hear this news about the fate of this bike. Next week or so is bike week, and demo ride heaven in Daytona, so I will be spending the entire week just test riding for this year's eventual purchase.
Sad, that so much "information" turned out to be wrong. 2018 was slow getting to the dealer's because of some late issues. As a result of those issues and a lot of misinformation (see your post) the sales were a little slower than expected. Yamaha held off on the new models until the 2020 models and those are now showing up in dealerships that know how to market the bike and people are buying them.
I'm not doubting the pushrod engine but I think if they were going to call it a venture they should have stuck with a Vmax engine Yamaha Venture has always had the Vmax motor the Vmax and the Venture have always been hand-in-hand
I wanted to try a Yamaha out before I bought my 18 Electra Glide but they weren’t out yet, finally sat on one in Indiana at a dealer. I have owned all kind of Yamaha’s the last 40years and still own an older royal star, I wasn’t too impressed just sitting on it. Hopefully they will have a demo truck in Texas sometime this summer and a plus is I still have my old Yamaha and am happy with my new Harley
I have been watching your vids on your new 1600 Beemer (EXCELLENT CHOICE IMHO) and then came back to visit your take on this Yamaha.. Dont feel bad when I say this cause I am the same way (even at my age) but the sheer joy in your voice of having 160 hp and wider range of R's compared to this 1000 pound 70 hp SVTC that you have to shift like a semi to keep it moving is profound.. I guess even a few of us older fellers still really enjoy performance to go along with our touring fun.. I know that Yamaha is still sitting on tons of left overs in both the SVTC and Eluder lines and are offering them at over 10 grand or more off MSRP.. I still think if Yamaha would have stuffed a water cooled big block V-4 (thinking 1700cc V-Max motor) in comparable, or even higher TQ/HP (sayyy,,, detuned to 175 HP) to those of your Beemer they really would have turned the touring world upside down (like they advertised the SVTC was going to do) and maybe,, just maybe you would be riding a new SVTC now instead of a Beemer LOL. I know of more than one local Yamaha dealership that had several early buyers of the SVTC that, once they found out their new bikes were coming with an underpowered air cooled push rod V-Twin in them they pulled their order.. Another dealership north of us to this day have never even bothered ordering an SVTC or and Eluder and to this day (two years later) have not had an order for one.. Also watched your take on the new Challenger - very well done as always!! It is really neat seeing the banter going back and forth between Polaris and HD = good for us consumers!! Personally I would LOVE to see a side by side comparison of ALL the modern "baggers" but there are many of our fellow riders who do not think comparing a V-Twin to a multi cylinder is apples to apples.. To that I still say then the same could be said in comparing the Challengers watercooled/OHC engine to a HD push rod motor,, strange bunch we bikers.. I say put em all together (Beemer 1600, Wing, HD, Indian, Yamaha, Kawasaki baggers) and let em have at it! What say you my friend?
Yamaha definitely missed the mark with the new Venture. There is a lot to like, but too heavy and it sits on the line between classic vtwin and modern bike, like the Victories did. I agree that they would have been better making something like the k1600. I might have bought that. A round up of all the big touring bikes would be great. The hard part is getting hold of all the bikes. But it is a good idea. I will see what I can do. Thanks!
Hi Craig! Been waiting for YOU to do this particular review as you know. Great review. I do wish that you had shown more of the bike itself, but still a good review. CAN'T believe that the fit and finish of any Japanese entry is poor.....but it appears that you 're not the only reviewer who has said that. The plastic parts appear to be junk as well. What a shame. I'm really not crazy about the new Gold Wing. It looks like a tiny afterthought. Things have changed SO much in this category! I'm riding a 2017 Electraglide Ultra.....and I've got to tell you......it is quite a bike. In my opinion.....the best Electraglide that they've EVER put out. The new engine.....is amazing. The fit and finish....is memorable. I was .....surprised! But for a big long mile road eater.....it looks like Honda and Yamaha have dropped the ball....and have also opened the door WIDE open.....for BMW's new K 1600 Grand America model. I bought a new R1200 Adventure a few years back. It was a goal. It was my dream bike....until I owned it. In the first 400 miles.....the fuel pump went! BMW paid to truck it 4 hours to the nearest dealer.....but informed me that I....had to pay someone to bring it back.....or kill an entire day.....going to the dealer and back to pick up the $23,000.00 bike that I had just purchased. The dealer.....didn't even have a delivery truck! I sold it....with 1,300 miles on it. SO disappointed with that entire experience. That new BMW looks really good, and is comparatively priced well. BUT.....is is....reliable? And have the Dealers.....come down to earth regarding customer service yet? Haven't ridden the Indian, but who knows? Can it be that Harley Davidson.....is now the BEST TOURING MOTORCYCLE out there? Thanks for the review!
Hey Ray, it is unfortunate--and I hope the bike I road is an anomaly--but Yamaha missed the mark, especially on the paint. If they want to compete with Harley in the V-Twin segment they have to do better. And I like Yamahas, they make great bikes. That is too bad about the BMW, I was looking at the K1600 GL the other day and it seems very nice, and has a higher load capacity than the Yamaha or the Honda. Let us know what you decide. Thanks!
Living Off The Slab Craig: How about doing a review on a BMW K 1600 GTL? I would love to see what your experience would be. Hopefully. .the dealers have learned some customer service skills. As you know...I bought my Super Tenere' a couple of bikes after the R1200 Adventure. Honestly....no one can beat the BMW suspension. It is second to none. But Reliability wise? Trust me...you NEVER would have done your Alaska ride ...on the BMW. Not without breaking down at least!
looks like the modern version of the classic intruder... especially when you said to bring the handlebars back "just a tad". i was like BINGO!! the intruders true child.
I think I will have to revisit this bike and test ride it. I wrote it off after siting on it, doing a visual, and seeing the price tag. As you mentioned, I did not like the paint quality nor did I like the trunk and bag lids. They seemed kind of flimsy. I believe after watching your review that maybe they are trying to keep the weight down. Anyway, I am not a believer in "contempt prior to investigation" so I will make an appointment for a test ride before I decide to write this off my list. Thanks for another great review. It really helped me rethink about this bike.
So we ended up at MOM's to test drive the Indian RM and Venture. The mistake we ALMOST made was to travel past the Indians on the floor and sat on them. Of course "the old man" (who I really respect) started a bike discussion about the Indian, Victory, Venture and HD. We were really impressed with the Indian models on the floor. So in my head, this was going to be our next bike. We had them put the Inidan RM and the Venture outside to test drive. I have to tell you if not for your review, I would not of even of test drove the Venture. I just didn't think it compares or is even close to the Indian RM as far as aesthetics. We took the Indian out first for a 5 mile ride. I think this was our 3rd time test driving this bike. We thought that it rode smooth and handled nicely. I love the dash, controls and the quality of this bike. However, we always have the same issue of it feeling to cramped. Now they have an extended seat and Kuryakyn puts out a device which allows the trunk to be moved back a few inchs. So problem solved, right? All we had to do was sign the papers and the search for a new tour bike is over. Not so fast. We still had the Venture to ride. The first thing I notice was how much power it had starting off. I was like whoaaaaaaa. Getting on the main road from Mom's parking lot was a piece of cake. Then next thing we notice was that this bike takes the bumps like a Caddy. I took it down a few bumpy side roads and could not feel any thing like we do on the Vision. Sandra also gave it a 10 rating (Indian a 5) as far as passenger comfort. She loved it. I gave it an 8 rating. I do not like the fat tank but I do think it helps keeps your legs a little further out from the engine which is my next concern.....the heat. Even though it was just a 5 mile ride and close to 70 degrees out, I started to feel the heat on my left side. I open the vents but couldn't really tell if they helped. I knew others were in line to test drive this so I did not want to stay on it too long. This bike has possibilities. When they get the Transcontinental in, we will take it out for a longer ride. Another thing I don't like is the price tag. Like you said, our current bikes are paid for. Not sure if I want to throw 28 grand down on this bike or any bike for that matter. It would really have to wow us. I may wait and see if they mod any of my aforementioned concerns. The best thing the Venture did was steer us away from the Indian. After all said and done, comfort wins out!!
Thanks Randy, I appreciate you sharing your experience. No matter what you decide it is always good to do your due diligence. I agree with you, comfort is the number 1 concern on these bikes, especially if you are riding two up. We all like great paint and toys, but in the end you have to sit on these things for hours, and days at a time.
i am pretty sure the bike can handle a lot more weight as stated. the max-weight is the weight, the bike can handle without any problem, there is quiet a bit safety margin. in the last resort, you can weld some extra rods on significant spots in the frame to strenghten it up. great review and greetings from germany! always ride safe!
It is true, bikes are over-loaded all the time and I am sure there is a safety margin. with that said, I am not going to suggest that people load their bikes outside the manufacturers limitations.
I test rode one at Mom's in Manchester. That switch was a pita. The test drive is limited to a city block. I did not know about the sport/tour button so the bike felt lethargic to me. I did find it to be very stable/ agile at low speeds. I also agree with the transmission being clunky. I did like the bike overall, but probably to your dismay, I still like my Harley Ultra Classic. I hope to ride the Venture again armed with more knowledge. I do like the styling a lot.
The power switch, yeah it was weird. I am not dismayed that you like your Harley, they are nice bikes, and if like it that is all that matters. Ride safe!
Living Off The Slab 😀👤👁👤👤👤👤👤👁👤👤👤👤👤👤👤👤👤👤👤👁👤👤👁👤👁👁👤👤👁👤😊🤩🤩😳🤩👤👁😞😞😭😞😞😭😞😞😭😞😞😞😞😭😞😔😞😭😭😞😞👤😋😁😋😁😋😁👏☹️☹️👏👏☹️👏👏😁👏☹️😁👏👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏👏☹️☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏😁👏👏😁☹️👏☹️👏👏☹️😁👏☹️😁👏☹️👏☹️😁👏☹️👏👏☹️👏☹️👏😁👏☹️😁👏😁😁☹️👏☹️😁👏👏☹️😁😁👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏😁☹️👏👏☹️👏😁👏☹️☹️👏☹️👏😁👏☹️☹️👏😁😁☹️😁👏☹️👏😁👏☹️☹️👏😁👏😁😁☹️👏😁☹️👏😀👏👏😀☹️👏😀👏👏👏☹️👏😀👏😀👏😀👏😀😀👏👏👏😀😖😀😖😖😀👏👏😀👏👏👏👏😖👏👏👏😀😖😀👏😀😖👏👏😀👏😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀👏😀😖😀😖😖😖😖👏👏😀😖😀👏😀👏😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😖😀👏👏😀👏😖👏👏👏😀😖👏👏👏😀😀👏😀😖😀👏😀👏😀👏😀👏😀😖😀👏😀👏😀👏😀👏👏😀👏😀👏👏😀😖😀👏😀😖😀😖😀😖😀👏😀😖😀😖😀👏👏😀😖😖😀😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀👏😀😀👏😀😖😀👏👏😀👏😀😖😀😀👏👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏😁👏☹️👏😁👏☹️👏☹️☹️👏☹️☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️☹️👏☹️☹️👏😁👏☹️👏👏😁👏☹️☹️👏😁👏☹️👏😁🤗🤗🤗😳😀😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳😀😳🤗😳🤗😳😀😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳🤗🤗😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳🤗🤗😳😳🤗🤗🤗😳🤗😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳🤗😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😊😳😀😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳😀😳🤗😳😀😳🤗🤗🤗😳😳😊😳😳😊😊😊😊😳😳🤗😊🤗😳🤗😊😊😀😳🤗😳😳🤗😀😳😀🤗😳😳🤗😳😀😳🤗😳🤗🤗😳🤗😳😳😀🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😀😁👏☹️👏☹️😁👏☹️👏👏☹️👏☹️😁👏😁☹️👏☹️☹️😁👏☹️☹️👏😁👏☹️👏☹️😁👏😁😁👏☹️😁👏☹️😁👏😁👏😁☹️😁
That was an excellent review. I too ride a Vision and probably will till the wheels fall off. My question was about he seat height. Mine as you know is low and comfy. The Venture seemed a little tall. I’m only 5’8”.
For me the Venture was actually a little lower the my Vision. I keep the rear shock pretty high since I mostly ride it two up. Plus I think the Vision handles better when the weight is a bit forward. I don' t think you would have an issue with the Venture.
You are correct, I misread the specifications (OHV v-twin) as overhead cam, when it is actually "overhead valve." I did not catch the mistake. Thanks for keeping me honest.
Thanks for the review. I'm still not completely sold on the looks of the venture. I really like the look of the Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager. Have you ridden one of those?
Love my 2012 Voyager, sure it doesn’t have bells and whistles the Venture has, but new they are $10,000 less. I bought mine with 4,580 miles on it for $9,250 and it still has factory warranty until Dec 2019.
I ride a newer Vulcan Voyager 1700 and love it. I’m (56 years young) 6’3 & 315lbs of loveliness and both my wife ( 5-ft nothing and 115-lbs of feathers) tour all over with nothing but comfort, enjoyment and a “paid for” motorcycle. While I desire something else or another bike alongside this, I think the Kawasaki gets its done. Pushing 30-grand for a replacement bike is hard to live with when this Yamaha is just a minor step up. Now a 2019 Goldwing......that’s another story. Keep the reviews coming my friend.
What bike will run forever? Yamaha is #1 in reliability, period. That's kind of important when touring. When you are chugging down the road at 80 mph in the Arizona or New Mexican desert that is kind of important. I have bad knees and a fused ankle and cant stand the relatively cramped position of the new Gold wing and the loss of storage is a huge error.
I own two Yamahas, they make great, reliable bikes. I also agree that the Venture allows the rider to stretch out, providing a lot of leg room. This is just my opinion, but as Honda screwed up limiting the storage capacity on the Goldwing, Yamaha has done the same thing on the Venture. Sure it has larger bags, but the bike itself is so heavy at over 1000 pounds that its luggage capacity is limited to just over 400 pounds. If you ride solo, that should not be an issue, but riding two up for the average American couple the bike will always be overloaded.
I don't think motorcycle manufacturers are too worried about the load ratings. I know many people who ride 2 up, fully loaded and pulling those big pop up camper trailers all day long.
I know that riders commonly ignore weight ratings, however the Venture's owners manual specifically warns not to exceed the maximum rating. They also specifically say that the bike is not designed to tow a trailer. If something breaks related to overloading the bike, will they cover it? Depends on your dealer I guess, but based on the situation, it could void your warranty. If God forbid, someone is injured because of overloading, I guarantee they will fight you.
Great review of the Yamaha Star Venture TC. It appears the bike does not come with a center stand. Does Yamaha carry an option to have a center stand installed?
Great review. For the price, seems like Honda GW, BMW1600GTL or B seems better bikes to me. The weight fully loaded with pillion and bags is well over 1100 pounds.
I agree that those are both options I would consider. They are lighter, but have the same issue as the Yamaha with limited load ratings. I don't know what this manufacturers are thinking.
Perhaps based on solo vs 2up riding trends, these manufacturers are more focused on setting up bikes for more solo riding....in other words they want us to buy 2 large bikes! My problem is I only have 1 wallet!
I wish more people did reviews like you do. Talking about what matters and still covering all the tech stats. But... seriously... does ANYONE ever care about the load carrying capacity of their bike? I mean, if there's another inch of space does anyone think "I wonder how much capacity I have left" or do we all just pack another 2 inches of gear in?
@@LivingOffTheSlab let me put this way then... when was the last time anyone EVER even heard of someone breaking a frame or suspension from overloading their bike? I've seen what must have been a 350lb driver with a 250lb passenger, loaded for touring and I've never heard of a bike coming unglued because of it. That said... you are exactly 100% correct, it doesn't make it smart. But, just like darksiding, if it's never been an issue... smart is irrelevant 😉
Thanks for your review, finally got to see one on a day ride a few days ago and chat with the proud owner. His was red and good looking, does have a nice rumble to it, loads of grunt, and kinda like my Vision, takes time to figure out if you like the look or not...LOL!
Your point about weight limit really hits the mark and is something most don't think about. The owner of that Venture was a big man, well over 250 and I'm not gonna comment further about the passenger...LOL!
Great review, I rode one too. I did like the legroom, similar to the Victory's. Would like taller bars. Kind of a gaudy finish when compared to my xct. Handled fine. Although no big bikes destroy the twisties like the Victory Vision and XCT. And storage ? Well mine has 42qts so that's a downgrade but all in all definitely a good bang for the buck. Just rode down to AZ. bike week, as usual I came through all the twisties about 200 yds ahead of my Harley and Indian co riders. For now I'll just keep riding this Victory, changing oil and dreading the day it needs replacing. Might go see LLOYD first. He just bought another shop in NC. and he'll be doing Victory work there. So when this hot rod starts to burn a little oil I'm thinking the platform should still support a116 stage 2 rebuild. 58k on it so far. Well ,ride on Craig and thanks for the vid! Your Vision looks great !
Would really like a review on the new GW. More specifically, I'd really like to get your impression of the DCT transmission. I have arthritis in my hands and using a clutch gives me some discomfort in certain situations.
The one thing I liked about the Yamaha was that the legroom was about the same as my cross country, it didn't seem to have quite as good of low speed manners as my Vic but what other bagger does?, of course I'm new to it too. Great review.
I am 64 and have had my Harley Ultra Limited for 2 years. i now worry much more about its weight but it is currently mostly a parking thing. I think the Yamaha park assist feature looks great. I looked at trading to a Gold Wing to get a reverse but that needs too much money. I could fit a reverse to the Harley for about £2500 but I wonder with increasing age whether I should just get a lighter bike! The Yamaha is not available in UK otherwise i would look at it. The Indian Roadmaster is still around. I don't really want an Adventure Tourer style bike and trikes are very expensive (I like the Harley one). I feel disappointed at my options! Any thoughts?
I understand your frustration. When I wanted to move from my 900 pound touring bike, I had limited options that would allow two "middle aged" people to ride in comfort. I love the ADV bikes, they are much more comfortable than you think, but they were just not going to be comfortable for the wife. The only manufacturer that makes a lower weight, comfortable two up touring bike is BMW. I wanted to go with the R1250RT with a trunk, but my wife liked the K1600 GTL because of its better seating option. That is what we ended up with. It is not as light as I wanted, at 775 pounds, but more than 100 pounds lighter than my Victory Vision, a Harley or the Yamaha. The GTL also comes with reverse and it works very well. Other folks I know when with the K1600 Grand America, which is a lower "bagger" version of the K1600. Hope this helps a bit. Ride safe!
Really appreciate your review. Thinking of moving away from Electra glide Ultra to one of these. The New Gold Wing and K1600GTL just don't have enough luggage capacity to really call them touring bikes. If I tour I'm out for 2 to 3 weeks with my wife. I love my Harley and have done a fair bit of Engine Work (Stage 1 and Stage 2) but honestly, I'm sick of intentional design flaws like shift linkages that always snap and could easily be supplied differently and I'm tired of getting screwed by dealerships.... This could be the ticket .... I think I'm going have to get down to a dealer and throw a leg over.
After you got home from your trip do you enjoy riding the Super Tenere more or less than your larger Vision? I also would like your take on the Honda Goldwing.
I am torn between the HD road glide, Indian chieftain and the Yamaha star venture. I currently ride a 2008 Yamaha raider 1900 and she is a beast!! Tons of power and torque but not very good for the long trips. I also like to have the maneuverability in the corners but maybe the venture is a bit too heavy and large for that?
I think the only way to decide is to ride them. The Venture has a lot of nice features, but the weight and load capacity are concerns for me. You should try it out and see if it works for your needs. Thanks!
I see your background is big Vtwins. Have you ridden the BMW K1600GTL or R1200RT as a comparison? I'm not a BMW fan boy by any means, the rebuild costs on a K1600 frighten me.. But if reliable, comfortable and good looking to your eyes they might make an interesting comparison if you were willing to get away from VTwins... The BMs might be cheaper too, they'd certainly be lighter. Those two you mention are not sold here in Australia so I can't compare the prices, but the R1200RT goes for about $Aud32,000 on the road, about $US24,000. Just a thought..
Hi Craig, as usual you did very concise and well done review. One point you didn't touch on and it is something that's very important to me. I had major "heat issues" with my Cross County(dealt with now), so this is a point I'll be looking at closely on any potential replacement for my Vic, especially one that is sporting a big, honking, air-cooled V-twin..... Did you notice the Venture making any excess heat or hot spots on your legs? How was the general air flow while riding. Thanks
It was in the mid fifties when I rode, so I did not have a heat issue. I have heard the Venture gets hot, but it is a 113 air cooled engine. They all get hot to some degree, especially with all that fairing to protect you from the wind. There are vents, but I did not get to try them because of the temps. Thanks!
I’ve been on the fence between this and an Indian Roadmaster. I’m curious if the trunk on this Venture has a quick detach feature like the Roadmaster? I haven’t been able to get an answer to this question.
The service interval on this bike is what exactly. I have a Yamaha but it only has a 4,000 mile service interval. I can easily hit that mark in 2 months and sometimes in just one. I'm looking for my next ride to have something more like 5,000 or 6,000 miles.
Great review and always a pleasure watching your videos Craig. One question on the refinement? I've always found Yamaha products to be refined yet you say Harley's and Indians are more refined in terms of cabling etc...huh. Off topic. How would you compare the refinement of a Gold Wing or BMW GL to a Harley or Indian?
Thank you! I choose the two bikes for comparison because the Venture is an air cool v-twin touring cruiser and, at least in my opinion they are going to be its primary completion. Riders who are shopping in this category typically place a high value on fit and finish. The Venture lags behind in this area, again in my opinion. I can say the same thing about my Tenere. While I love it and think it is a great bike, if I place it beside a BMW or Ducati ADV, it does not compare if we are talking refinement. I still chose the Tenere because of the reliability and value it provides. I am not saying the Tenere is bad, just that it does not reach the same level as the BMW or Ducati. Of course you have to pay for that extra refinement. Comparing a Harley Ultra, an old Wing and a GL, I would rank them like this, 1. BMW, 2. Harley and 3. Gold Wing. Just my opinion and it has no bearing on how good they are as motorcycles.
Thanks Craig. You had me looking at a Tenere from your other videos but decided to hold off and save my pennies for a BMW. Maybe I should say nickels since I live in Canada and we did away with pennies and in the case of a BMW, loonies, toonies, twenties, hundred dollar bills etc...lol PS..Come up to Port Dover Ontario for Friday the 13th rally this July. Love to shake your hand and buy you a beer. Cheers my friend!!
You talk about weight capacity, I never really put much thought in that. I currently run a 2008 C109RT, I've weighed it, and full tank of gas, without me it's right at 1000lbs. My last touring trip through the mountains I had a trailer behind it(with tools and luggage, spare fuel, etc), I figure total weight rolling down the road was 1600-1700lbs.
Wow, I did not think those bikes weighed that much. The trailer does not put as much weight on the wheels and frame, so you can pull far more weight than you can carry. I have actually thought of going that way myself.
Depends how you load it :P I try for about 100lbs tongue weight. "Factory" wet weight on a C109RT is just over 900lbs... mine is heavier due to a custom plate steel hitch, darksiding, and other mods. I've had close to 600-650lbs of people/gear/etc on my bike on top of the 1000lbs, without the trailer. It seems silly but nobody I personally know will hop on my bike due to it's size and weight.
Is that a 6.6 gallon tank effective? My Yamaha V Star 1300 claims to be 4.9 gallons but I have never put in more than 4.4 gallons. Where that extra .5 gallons is, is something I would like to have the answer to. It changes the likely range, and that was one of the factors in my purchase decision.
Great Review! The reference standard review as far as I’m concerned. I would love to see a similar format review for the new Goldwing. Similar class bike to the Venture. After testing the Venture, would you personally consider trading in your Vision for a new Venture? If so or no why? Thank you for sharing this great review!
Well thank you, glad you liked it! I would love to ride the Goldwing. I am going to see what I can do, but sometimes finding a dealer that will let me take the bikes out for extended test rides is not easy. Would I trade the Vision for the Venture...good question. At this point no. The Vision is paid for, so it is hard to get over that fact. In addition the Vision is really a great bike even with its quirks and lack of storage space. However, it can carry over 100 pounds more than the Venture and both my wife and I are very comfortable on the bike. The Venture comes close in comfort and if I was going to buy it, that would be a big factor as it would be a two up bike. If my wife did not ride with me, I would ride the Tenere or maybe something like the FJ1300.
That makes sense! 100% paid for I’ve always said is the best “feature” of any bike. I used to ride a 2008 Honda VTX1800T. Weighed in with all luggage at close to 900lbs. Great for 2up riding. My wife really didn’t enjoy riding that often. Long story short and 3 bikes later, I usually ride my Super Tenere ES solo and thoroughly enjoy this class of bike. Great mix of weight, power, technology, ergonomics, reliability and overall value. I can’t see me going back to a heavy bike again unless my wife wants to ride with me.
Greater Boston Powersports in Arlington. Let me know and I will set us up an appointment with Brian so we can spend some time on the Goldwing. I would interested in your thoughts on this bike. They also have a BMW Grand American. I rode the BMW "B" which is without the tour package. Nice ride!
The Venture has tip-over protection. Go look at one and ask about it. You can't tell everything about a motorcycle by looking at pictures and reading a stat sheet. Even an experienced rider, unfamiliar with the bike, can make mistakes when "reviewing" the bike.
@@danielmoore1394 Fair enough, I am happy to own up to my mistake. Yamaha did a good job of hiding the front tip over bars and they do have the plastic bumper on the bags. I did go to the Yamaha site and do not find tip over protection listed as a feature. I also cannot find any pictures or videos demoing this feature. If you know of one please link it, as I would like to see it. I did find one video talking about it, but no demo. Forgive me for being cynical, but I wonder how many time you can drop a 1000 pound bike on those bags before they crack?
Yes, but this does allow you to make corrections in both directions with out having to disengage the sure park, put it in gear and then re-engage the sure park. So I can see it being handy.
I have a bushtec trailer. I can see the sure park being quite handy. Wife and I rode the Venture 3 days ago. Nice ride, not sure though. Going to check the BMW Grand America and HD Road Ultra and Ultra Glide Limited. I've been tempted to just buy a damn Vision. It's the only touring bike to Wow! Me. (Even though it was a bit to jettsons looking ;) However since they're no longer in production I just haven't been able to do it. I Love my bushtec
No, I did not show that. But if you look closely under the clear, you can see it. I have heard some reviewers say the same things about the new Wing. There are other, little things that may or may not make a difference for everyone. I wanted to mention it, but did not want to make it the focus of the review. My Victory suffers from the same faults.
@@davidfalgout7304 , I took a good look at the Wing and overall I liked it, but as you said there are some places where they fell short. What is holding me back on the new Wing is the lack of storage, worse than my Vision.
I will try, but as you said it is a different animal. For me I prefer the Tenere when I am riding alone. It is lighter, faster and more nimble. In short much more fun. The Venture or any other big touring bike will have more wind protection and allow you to stretch out more, moving your feet around. The Ventures seat is also more comfortable out of the box, but after I had some custom work done on the seat, the Tenere is now very comfortable. I also changed the windscreen bracket to a Madstad and am using he Madstad shield and Yamaha lowers on the Tenere. With all of this, the wind protection is very now very good. Which of these bike you choose would depend on the type of riding you want to do. If you are going to do a lot of highway riding, covering long distances, or you are riding two up, then the Venture would be the way to go. However, if you are doing more back roads or maybe the occasional dirt or gravel road, then the Tenere would be my choice. The Tenere is also, about $10K less than the Venture, but you will not get all of the bells and whistles. Hope this helps!
I have been riding an 07 Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe for the past 11 years. In fact, I am on my second one since I laid my first one down in WV. Once I got the handle bar straitened, my wife and I were still able to ride it back to AZ. However, my damage came to $8000 so the insurance co. totaled it. We just about bought an GSA to replace it when I found another 07 RSTD identical to the one I had with very low mileage and a good price. While keeping this one, I have still been interested in getting an adventure (go anywhere) bike. I've only been interested in the "shaft driven" Beemer and now, the Tenere especially since Consumer Reports came out with their "Brand reliability." My wife and I test road a GS and then I recently test road an '18 Tenere ES. I liked the GS but the Tenere actually felt more roomy. The GS has more power, no doubt. But I think the Tenere will serve our purpose just fine. My wife and I take a 5 - 6K mile trip each summer. The RSTD has been great but we would like the ability to go anywhere. So right now, I'm planning on getting and '18 or '19 Tenere. Anxious to see what if any changes the '19 will offer. Thanks for your reviews and videos concerning the Tenere. You've helped me along in making my decision!
Kyle Duncan, Glad that my experiences have been able to help. Enjoy, the Tenere is a great bike. I too am interested in what Yamaha might do in 2019, especially the T700.
I tried this bike for the heck of it( as well as other yammies) coming from an Africa Twin, it was like a lazyboy with the weight of another bike added. Very laid back. Prefer liquid cooling myself.
I have owned the Star Venture now for two months and about 2500 miles. Craig, I think your review is pretty fair and accurate. I'm a 65 year-old guy, 5'8" and 165 pounds and I find the bike is comfortable and easy to handle. About the heat: There are a couple of vents you can open or close by your feet. They do a great job of clearing the heat away from your feet and legs. (If you're stuck in traffic on a warm day, you will indeed get hot!) You also have a lot of adjustment with the wind deflectors on the left and right side of the faring and they will let you either stay in your calm bubble or give you a lot of cooling breeze. I've been able to ride in temperatures that range from almost freezing to about 80 F. and still be very comfortable. One other thing: The 400 pound load capacity isn't really an issue for me. Between my wife and me (or my daughter and me) we can still add about 90 pounds of cargo. (But the book says to limit each bag and the trunk to 20 pounds.) Bottom line: I really like the Star Venture! Disclaimer: I really like whatever I'm riding!
Thanks Michael, that is exactly what I go for in my reviews, to be fair and honest. It is good to get feedback from a Venture owner who has had the chance to put some miles on the bike. Great info!
A lot has happened in 2 years. I got a job, and bought a 2018 Yamaha Venture. A great bike. The transmission does not seem clunky at all. It shifts smooth as it should. The low end torque is amazing, almost diesel-like. Loads of luggage capacity. It's GVWR does not seem to limit our weekend packing riding two-up. And its weight makes it very stable on the interstates, especially when passing a semi.
Thanks for the info, glad you are enjoying your bike!
It is a cool bike, but nothing yet has come close to my love for my Victory Vision. The Vision was ahead of its time by more than a decade it seems!
I bet you I have watched at least 10 videos from all of the riding magazines and yours was by FAR the best.. nice job👍
Thank you very much!
When i first saw it, my first comment was The rear end looks like the current Challenger and Front looks like a vintage "Cuda ... I think they've done a great job, styling wise.
I like the styling as well, thanks!
Excellent Honest Review - I think this is the first honest, unbiased review of the new Yamaha Venture that I have heard or read. I am so tired of most reviewers who seem to be afraid of offending the dealer that lets them test drive the bike or the manufacture that is sponsoring them -- so they only focus on the good stuff and leave it up to buyers to discover the quirks and problems. I wish I had been able to find honest reviews on the last two motorcycles that I bought (as the quirks and shortcomings were not easily discovered thought a brief test drive). You are doing us all a great service being so candid. At least we know what to look for and what we might have to live with if we decide to buy the bike. The less surprises the better!
Thank you! That is my goal, just to be honest and balanced. I truly believe there are no bad bikes, but they do all have their quirks. God knows my bikes do...lol.
Finally an honest, balanced assessment of the Venture. I've grown weary of reading/watching reviews of a touring bike by guys that only ride sport bikes. All they do is whine. My current ride is the Yamaha Stratoliner Deluxe, the bike the Venture was based on. I find it very well balanced and it carries its weight easily. Thanks again for what you do on youtube. I find your channel to be one of very high quality & interest. I'd love to show you around the Southern California deserts & mountains.
Thank you, appreciate your comments. I agree, bikes are made for different purposes and you should not expect a big bike to perform like a small one. Also every bike has its good points and it's quirks. Thank you ther invite, would love to out there some day.
I totally agree with the high quality comment. I’m so glad you are focused on providing QUALITY content vs high volume content.
Thank you!
I got the Yamaha 2018 Star Eluder GT and love it wish they kept making them.
Same here, happy owner of a 2020 SVTC, wonderful machine!
Best review I've seen on the Venture to date. At 64 years old, my window for riding big heavy touring bikes is rapidly closing so I don't see a new Venture in my future. I had the previous generation Venture (2005) and rode it for ten years. I currently tour on a Street Glide (my wife doesn't like to ride any more). If I get another bike, it'll probably be along the lines of a BMW R 1200 RT due to my rapidly advancing age, lol. Thanks for posting this.
Thank you! I too am starting to think about lighter bikes.
I have the 2018 Venture. I love, love, love it. I pull a loaded trailer with it and it is a dream to drive. He talked about the shifter klunking. Get a heel-toe shifter. What an incredible difference that makes. Also, I love the remote key. It electrically locks every storage area on the bike with one click. It is awesome!
Glad you are enjoying your bike. Thanks you your input!
I actually bought one! Well... I bought the kid brother of the Venture, the Eluder. It's the same bike minus the touring trunk, wrap-around passengers backrest, and no Sure-Park motor, as well as a few minor differences. This is my second motorcycle. I upgraded from a 2012 Yamaha V-Star 1300 Tourer. I rarely ride 2-Up, but I do often commute between Mobile, AL, and Houma, LA, so I added a pillion backrest to strap my travel bag to. I also opted to add the Fog Lamps, Aux Lights, and the Medium Windshield (which is fixed on the Eluder). I also DID NOT get the GT package (XM Radio and Navigation) because for the extra money those were not features I would typically use - why buy satellite radio when you get AM/FM free and the ability to plug in an MP3 player? I can say there is a bit of heat from the rear jug on the left side, but outside of city stop-n-go it's not a problem, and was definitely not a deal-breaker for my money.
Very cool! Sounds like you have it set up very nicely. Enjoy!
oh man, great bike! i'm a bit envious ;-)
TJ Rohyans that’s the exact setup that I’m considering! I want something slightly smaller than my Goldwing for when I ride alone, and I love the look of the Eluder. The rearend is so sexy without the trunk that comes on the Venture. I listen to music through my phone, so I’m not worried about XM or Nav. Just a comfy bike for one person (and the occasional passenger) with hard saddlebags for storage. I believe in buying American, but I love my Yamahas (1983 Venture and 1996 Virago) and think this bike is the best bang for my buck in the segment.
I would consider the Venture if the tour pack (trunk) had an easy detach feature like the Harley and Indian does.
It has the same front end as my 68’ Firebird
Agreed, not a Dodge or Chrysler
I'd consider that a compliment
Thanks!
Hey thanks! . It was your vid years ago that helped me decided to get the Vision...Never regretted it in 37,000m
Thanks!
All of these large long distance touring bikes are heavy and cumbersome at parking lot speeds and they’re all expensive. In years past I’ve ridden the GL1800 Gold Wing, the Indian Roadmaster and a Vision and although large and heavy, they all carried their weight well. I rented a Harley Ultra last year out in Utah and it is the most top heavy motorcycle that I’ve ever ridden. The only thing it is good at is rolling down the interstate with the cruise and radio on. If I had a spare thirty thousand dollars to spend on a motorcycle, the Harley wouldn’t make the cut.
You are right, the nature of these bikes is to be heavy and expensive. They are making what we are buying.
Living Off The Slab I have a few years on you and have started thinking that lighter is the way to go.
I hear you!
I disagree. I have owned the 2018 Wing for several months now and it feels fine at parking lot speeds. They have made some changes, I'm not sure about the other competitors updates. I would say that having tested 3 of the top tourers prior to purchasing, the GW definitely felt the most sporty. I have been ripping mine through twisties on back country roads for months now. I would be fearful to do that same thing with my harley. They are all good bikes, the sport touring bikes are much lighter though but come with less amenities. Eventually I believe we will see these classes merge into one. I feel like the goldwing is already leaning towards sport based on its performance so far.
I was surprised you never mentioned the 2018 Goldwing. I wish you could do a review on the new Goldwing. I do appreciate your honesty. Thanks for the great videos.
I stuck to big v-twins for comparison, but I do like the new wing and would love to ride it.
As always...EXCELLENT REVIEW.
I went to see a Venture yesterday and a HD today, I really find no comparison between the Venture with Harleys, as the HD is a bit outdated, not much tech involved and quite expensive, but it is a Harley and it is cool. I currently ride a 2017 R1200GSA and I find the bike AMAZING, except that it is quite high and sometimes difficult maneuvering. I am in the market for a SECOND bike, as I plan to keep my R1200GSA, but I am quite impressed with your review, as it is really well done and tells exactly what I found after a test ride here in CT yesterday, so I am now NOT SO SURE what to do.
Thanks a lot. Keep the good stuff coming.
Thank you, glad it was helpful.
Be sure to look at the Indian line up!
Great review Craig. You're knowledge of this segment is very helpful. I'm surprised you felt the Yamaha didn't have the fit and finish of the Indian and Harley. I think of Yamaha as the best of the Japanese brands and didn't think Harley had the greatest reputation. As someone not familiar with these bikes I'm surprised at the weight and cost. Big commitment to ownership there!
Thanks Keith. As you know I love my Tenere and would not hesitate to buy another Yamaha, probably will in the future. But in this case, they did not do a good job paying attention to details. In the big v-twin segment the details are important to a lot of people. I am not one of those,how the bike functions is far more important to me, but I am in the minority. I think we can say the same things about our Teneres. They are great bikes, but if we put therm next to a Duacti Multistrada they fall behind when it comes to refinement and little details. In the ADV segment this is not as important, at least to me and I would rather spend the extra money on a trip. As far as Harley goes, they do get knocked for reliability, but their fit and finish is the best in the segment...got to give the devil his due.
AdventureswithMe
Goldwing is a King...
Great review Craig. you are spot on about fit and finish.
Excellent review. I have a BMW R1250RT which I love, but if I had enough money to run two big bikes I'd have one of these Yamahas too. Love the big V-twin rumble and love the retro styling.
My 2 test rides of this bike (one 2-up) was uneventful. I like the looks , I love park assist. I'm only 5'6" . I love the power, and storage capacity. Being a Vision rider, I hate the terrible corner clearance , especially left handers. I hate the heat on the left leg. Scorching in my summer demo ride.
I also ride a 2017 Roadmaster. I considered the Venture , Goldwing, and HD but the Indian was what I finally selected. I am happy with my decision. It is the 2nd best bike I have ever ridden, nothing quite compares to the long distance range and comfort of the Victory Vision but the Indian comes close.
Thanks for thre input! I have heard about the heat, but it was in the 50s when I rode. Ride safe!
Oops - not an overhead cam; lower cam with pushrods and OHVs. I own a 2018 SV TransContinental. It's a great bike overall. The misses however are the heat from the engine, which is not an issue so much for the rider as it is for the passenger. The rear cylinder's pipe passes to the left, right by the passenger's leg, and there's an air circulation dead zone there, so their leg gets pretty hot. Yamaha offers OEM lower deflectors to help with the dead zone. Other misses include the infotainment system; the navigation is a little cranky, and on occasion, the wired intercom drops out completely, requiring you to shut down the bike and restart. The keyless ignition and security system works great, but Yamaha gives you only one fob, and it's known to eat up the battery pretty quick. Other riders have had starter issues and a few have seen lifter failures, but Yamaha has the best warranty in the business. If you use their lubricants (Yamalube) and filters and document it, they will extend the engine warranty out to 100,000 miles. The horn is Roadrunner weak (I've added a PIAA sports horn and a SoundBomb Denali) for a total of 119 dB of loud madness. The seat is not that comfortable (I use an Airhawk), and the OEM high backrest is practically useless (I added a Utopia). The trunk is huge, but the lining is crap. The hits do outweigh the misses though - very torquey, smooth, with a low CG making it easy to handle for a close to one-half ton bike. Throttle response is very good with the dual riding mode (I keep it in Sport Mode), cruise control works great and it has TPMS, integrated braking with ABS and traction control (already kicked in when rounding a wet corner with too much throttle), fairing does a great job with the upper wind deflectors, heated grips and seats, yadda yadda. Overall I love the bike and am happy with the purchase, even with the misses. So far 4,500 miles to date.
Thanks for your input!
I waited for 2yrs till the resale value dropped and found 2018 with T/C package and only 4700 miles on it for $16,495. Love this bike. Couple of things that weren't mentioned is it has UBS and ABS braking and adjustable hand levers. Stereo can be split between riders where they can listen to different music or calls.
Good idea!
Why didn’t this bike take off! That’s a lot of bike for the money. It’s extremely good looking. It’s a Yamaha so you know you’re getting top reliability.
I think to they made the same mistake Polaris did with Victory. That is trying to be like Harley. Personally I would love to see something that completes with a Goldwing, K1600 or R1250RT.
@@LivingOffTheSlabFjr 1300 an amazing motorcycle
I test rode one a couple of months ago and I did not notice a large clunk in changing the gears.Being a Vision rider I did like the bike. Great Review And Thanks For Sharing My Friend!
That is actually good to know. Maybe it is just the bike I was on. But, it literally vibrated my clutch hand.
lonestarrider ...use Shell Rotella 15w40 diesel oil... clunky shifting goes away😉
Wow Craig nice report. Actually the best I have seen yet. I been following and researching the Yamaha for a while. I purchased a new 2013 Victory CCT in 2012. The clunk going into first has always been aggravating to me. Once you get used to the transmission you soon figure out how to shift the rest of the gears quietly and smoothly. I would have never thought a Japanese company could produce a clunky transmission. That would be a deal breaker for me. Also your Vision and my Cross Country Tour don’t weigh as much as the Yamaha but are quite fun when pushed hard in the twisties . I believe we come in around 100 lbs less. But the solid all aluminum frame on the Vic’s make for solid feel. I do love all the tech gadgets on the Yamaha. When I seen the Yamaha up close at the dealer I was a bit disappointed. It was the first bike I ever seen that looks better in a picture than live. Hard to believe how hard it’s going to be to find a bike that can replace my Victory....
Others have reported that they do not get the same huge clunk, so maybe it was just the bike m I was riding. It is a demo unit. It is going to be hard to find another v-twin to replace the Victories. Like everything they have their quirks, but they also do a lot of things right. The Venture does indeed have a lot of great features and it is comfortable and rides great. As close to the Victory feel tha t I have ridden. Thanks!
I have not rode the Venture yet but I like the looks of it. I think we are going to just keep the Vision for at least a couple more years. I cant believe they would throw all that storage on a big bike and only have that much load capacity. Great review!
Thanks!
A local dealer has a raspberry colored 2018 leftover model for $ 18,999 . I may have to pull the trigger for that price . Currently ride an 08 raider with 60,000 miles and absolutely love this bike . Great video
Thanks!
There are a lot of "new" 2018's out there currently at extremely discounted prices. They are a real bargain. I agree with most of your perceptions about the bike and the negatives would not have bothered me or dissuaded me from buying one. It's the ride quality that sold me. My 2017 Harley Street Glide rode like a dump truck compared to the Venture. But we all look for different things on the bikes we choose. I like that K1600 GTL you eventually acquired as well. Ride safe.
For sure, the Venture has a lot going for it. Thanks and ride safe!
Good to see you again. Man, what a beautiful road! It's almost worth dealing with all that cold weather and snow ... almost.
thx S
Lol, yes...almost.
Another great video Craig. A very comprehensive review in my opinion. Hope all is well with you and the wife. Take care.
Thank you! Cathy is doing well, getting better every day.
You can get rid of the clunk with good oil. I have a Victory XCT and run Rotella T6 5W-40. Shifts like glass. It passes JASO wet clutch standards. The engine runs cooler also on hot days.
Thanks!
Yep that's what I run my in my 02 vtx 1800S the best oil out there imo
I like your style of explaining things and I think after this wonderful review of venture you should also get your hands on goldwing
Thanks, I would love to.
Thanks for mentioning the load capacity. An all too often overlooked spec.
I agree, thanks!
Yes, In fact a GW with two up and luggage is over the tire limits!!!! HOLY HIPPOPOTAMUS Bat man. I like that my Indian Springfield leaves lots of room for weight limits. This partly explains why so many get double the miles on their Indian Machines VS Honda GW.
Sadly, it looks like the lives of Eluder and SVTC have been cut short. Numerous actual Owners of the 2018 SVTC/Eluder models have been pressing Yamaha concerning the question of why no 2019 models are being offered (out of obvious concern). Yamaha has officially responded to those inquiries with letters stating that due to poor sales, no 2019's will be made and the future beyond 19 of the models will remain questionable based on whether or not the left over inventory of 2018's sell during the 2019 riding season. They have also been told that even if the model does go back to production it will be strickly done by a new "Yamaha Pre-Order System" and no bikes will be shipped to fill dealership floor space.
I did notice that the bikes are not listed as 2019 models, but that is sad to hear that they will not be made for 2019. Yamaha is having some issues right now, sales have been down and it seems like they are making weird choices with the Niken and two year lead out of the T700. The Ventrure/Eluder has some nice features, but as I mentioned in the video the fit and finish was not up to its competition and of course the weight. But what do I know, I ride a Victory Vision. Sorry, the Venture did not do better.
It's a tough class to compete in. Yamaha gets it right from the off road to the sports segments like the R1 and MT09, Tracer 900GT, Super Tenere etc. When it comes to heavy Transcontinental touring, traditional riders are tough to sway and the new kids trying to compete, usually get shut out of the game. The Goldwing, Harley, BMW, etc. guys, love to stick with what they know, so it didn't surprise me to hear this news about the fate of this bike. Next week or so is bike week, and demo ride heaven in Daytona, so I will be spending the entire week just test riding for this year's eventual purchase.
Sad, that so much "information" turned out to be wrong. 2018 was slow getting to the dealer's because of some late issues. As a result of those issues and a lot of misinformation (see your post) the sales were a little slower than expected. Yamaha held off on the new models until the 2020 models and those are now showing up in dealerships that know how to market the bike and people are buying them.
I'm not doubting the pushrod engine but I think if they were going to call it a venture they should have stuck with a Vmax engine Yamaha Venture has always had the Vmax motor the Vmax and the Venture have always been hand-in-hand
Exactly why I lost all hope for this bike.
The V4 doesn't come close to the power this engine makes below 5000 RPM.
Yamaha made the correct decision for this machine.
.
@@creigmacc I’m with you on this!
I wanted to try a Yamaha out before I bought my 18 Electra Glide but they weren’t out yet, finally sat on one in Indiana at a dealer. I have owned all kind of Yamaha’s the last 40years and still own an older royal star, I wasn’t too impressed just sitting on it. Hopefully they will have a demo truck in Texas sometime this summer and a plus is I still have my old Yamaha and am happy with my new Harley
Thanks!
I have been watching your vids on your new 1600 Beemer (EXCELLENT CHOICE IMHO) and then came back to visit your take on this Yamaha.. Dont feel bad when I say this cause I am the same way (even at my age) but the sheer joy in your voice of having 160 hp and wider range of R's compared to this 1000 pound 70 hp SVTC that you have to shift like a semi to keep it moving is profound.. I guess even a few of us older fellers still really enjoy performance to go along with our touring fun.. I know that Yamaha is still sitting on tons of left overs in both the SVTC and Eluder lines and are offering them at over 10 grand or more off MSRP.. I still think if Yamaha would have stuffed a water cooled big block V-4 (thinking 1700cc V-Max motor) in comparable, or even higher TQ/HP (sayyy,,, detuned to 175 HP) to those of your Beemer they really would have turned the touring world upside down (like they advertised the SVTC was going to do) and maybe,, just maybe you would be riding a new SVTC now instead of a Beemer LOL. I know of more than one local Yamaha dealership that had several early buyers of the SVTC that, once they found out their new bikes were coming with an underpowered air cooled push rod V-Twin in them they pulled their order.. Another dealership north of us to this day have never even bothered ordering an SVTC or and Eluder and to this day (two years later) have not had an order for one.. Also watched your take on the new Challenger - very well done as always!! It is really neat seeing the banter going back and forth between Polaris and HD = good for us consumers!! Personally I would LOVE to see a side by side comparison of ALL the modern "baggers" but there are many of our fellow riders who do not think comparing a V-Twin to a multi cylinder is apples to apples.. To that I still say then the same could be said in comparing the Challengers watercooled/OHC engine to a HD push rod motor,, strange bunch we bikers.. I say put em all together (Beemer 1600, Wing, HD, Indian, Yamaha, Kawasaki baggers) and let em have at it! What say you my friend?
Yamaha definitely missed the mark with the new Venture. There is a lot to like, but too heavy and it sits on the line between classic vtwin and modern bike, like the Victories did. I agree that they would have been better making something like the k1600. I might have bought that. A round up of all the big touring bikes would be great. The hard part is getting hold of all the bikes. But it is a good idea. I will see what I can do. Thanks!
Thanks for the review. My husband loves this bike. You both are the same age so he will have to think about purchasing this bike.
Thank you! You two should definitely check it out.
We will
And just like that you reinforced my decision to keep my Vision! Thanks Craig!
The Vision is a great bike...
GREAT review. Every RUclips reviewer out there should take a lesson from you. Well done.
Thanks you!
Hi Craig! Been waiting for YOU to do this particular review as you know. Great review. I do wish that you had shown more of the bike itself, but still a good review. CAN'T believe that the fit and finish of any Japanese entry is poor.....but it appears that you 're not the only reviewer who has said that. The plastic parts appear to be junk as well. What a shame. I'm really not crazy about the new Gold Wing. It looks like a tiny afterthought. Things have changed SO much in this category! I'm riding a 2017 Electraglide Ultra.....and I've got to tell you......it is quite a bike. In my opinion.....the best Electraglide that they've EVER put out. The new engine.....is amazing. The fit and finish....is memorable. I was .....surprised! But for a big long mile road eater.....it looks like Honda and Yamaha have dropped the ball....and have also opened the door WIDE open.....for BMW's new K 1600 Grand America model. I bought a new R1200 Adventure a few years back. It was a goal. It was my dream bike....until I owned it. In the first 400 miles.....the fuel pump went! BMW paid to truck it 4 hours to the nearest dealer.....but informed me that I....had to pay someone to bring it back.....or kill an entire day.....going to the dealer and back to pick up the $23,000.00 bike that I had just purchased. The dealer.....didn't even have a delivery truck! I sold it....with 1,300 miles on it. SO disappointed with that entire experience. That new BMW looks really good, and is comparatively priced well. BUT.....is is....reliable? And have the Dealers.....come down to earth regarding customer service yet? Haven't ridden the Indian, but who knows? Can it be that Harley Davidson.....is now the BEST TOURING MOTORCYCLE out there? Thanks for the review!
Hey Ray, it is unfortunate--and I hope the bike I road is an anomaly--but Yamaha missed the mark, especially on the paint. If they want to compete with Harley in the V-Twin segment they have to do better. And I like Yamahas, they make great bikes. That is too bad about the BMW, I was looking at the K1600 GL the other day and it seems very nice, and has a higher load capacity than the Yamaha or the Honda. Let us know what you decide. Thanks!
Living Off The Slab
Craig:
How about doing a review on a BMW K 1600 GTL?
I would love to see what your experience would be.
Hopefully. .the dealers have learned some customer service skills.
As you know...I bought my Super Tenere' a couple of bikes after the R1200 Adventure.
Honestly....no one can beat the BMW suspension. It is second to none.
But Reliability wise? Trust me...you NEVER would have done your Alaska ride ...on the BMW.
Not without breaking down at least!
I would to test the K1600 GTL, and the Goldwing.
Your....review. Is.....so....annoying.......to......read.....
Great review, I have an 2014 ultra clásicc that I'm thinking to change. I am looking for other options and for sure I will go an try it. Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks for the very good review, very informative on this 3rd generation Venture.
Thanks for watching!
looks like the modern version of the classic intruder... especially when you said to bring the handlebars back "just a tad". i was like BINGO!! the intruders true child.
Bad paint,bad fit & finish ,bad cable routing nature of the beast bullshit no excuse from Yamaha for $25000
Thanks!
A honest review , bouth good and bad about the bike ... I like that ... Thank you ... 👍👍
Thank you!
I've rode a few different bikes but end up keeping my 02 Honda VTX 1800S
Thanks!
I think I will have to revisit this bike and test ride it. I wrote it off after siting on it, doing a visual, and seeing the price tag. As you mentioned, I did not like the paint quality nor did I like the trunk and bag lids. They seemed kind of flimsy. I believe after watching your review that maybe they are trying to keep the weight down. Anyway, I am not a believer in "contempt prior to investigation" so I will make an appointment for a test ride before I decide to write this off my list. Thanks for another great review. It really helped me rethink about this bike.
Thanks Randy. You should ride it. It may not be for you, but it is worth checking out.
So we ended up at MOM's to test drive the Indian RM and Venture. The mistake we ALMOST made was to travel past the Indians on the floor and sat on them. Of course "the old man" (who I really respect) started a bike discussion about the Indian, Victory, Venture and HD. We were really impressed with the Indian models on the floor. So in my head, this was going to be our next bike. We had them put the Inidan RM and the Venture outside to test drive. I have to tell you if not for your review, I would not of even of test drove the Venture. I just didn't think it compares or is even close to the Indian RM as far as aesthetics. We took the Indian out first for a 5 mile ride. I think this was our 3rd time test driving this bike. We thought that it rode smooth and handled nicely. I love the dash, controls and the quality of this bike. However, we always have the same issue of it feeling to cramped. Now they have an extended seat and Kuryakyn puts out a device which allows the trunk to be moved back a few inchs. So problem solved, right? All we had to do was sign the papers and the search for a new tour bike is over. Not so fast. We still had the Venture to ride. The first thing I notice was how much power it had starting off. I was like whoaaaaaaa. Getting on the main road from Mom's parking lot was a piece of cake. Then next thing we notice was that this bike takes the bumps like a Caddy. I took it down a few bumpy side roads and could not feel any thing like we do on the Vision. Sandra also gave it a 10 rating (Indian a 5) as far as passenger comfort. She loved it. I gave it an 8 rating. I do not like the fat tank but I do think it helps keeps your legs a little further out from the engine which is my next concern.....the heat. Even though it was just a 5 mile ride and close to 70 degrees out, I started to feel the heat on my left side. I open the vents but couldn't really tell if they helped. I knew others were in line to test drive this so I did not want to stay on it too long. This bike has possibilities. When they get the Transcontinental in, we will take it out for a longer ride. Another thing I don't like is the price tag. Like you said, our current bikes are paid for. Not sure if I want to throw 28 grand down on this bike or any bike for that matter. It would really have to wow us. I may wait and see if they mod any of my aforementioned concerns. The best thing the Venture did was steer us away from the Indian. After all said and done, comfort wins out!!
Thanks Randy, I appreciate you sharing your experience. No matter what you decide it is always good to do your due diligence. I agree with you, comfort is the number 1 concern on these bikes, especially if you are riding two up. We all like great paint and toys, but in the end you have to sit on these things for hours, and days at a time.
i am pretty sure the bike can handle a lot more weight as stated. the max-weight is the weight, the bike can handle without any problem, there is quiet a bit safety margin. in the last resort, you can weld some extra rods on significant spots in the frame to strenghten it up. great review and greetings from germany! always ride safe!
It is true, bikes are over-loaded all the time and I am sure there is a safety margin. with that said, I am not going to suggest that people load their bikes outside the manufacturers limitations.
Terrible idea with frame welding.
I test rode one at Mom's in Manchester. That switch was a pita. The test drive is limited to a city block. I did not know about the sport/tour button so the bike felt lethargic to me. I did find it to be very stable/ agile at low speeds. I also agree with the transmission being clunky. I did like the bike overall, but probably to your dismay, I still like my Harley Ultra Classic. I hope to ride the Venture again armed with more knowledge. I do like the styling a lot.
The power switch, yeah it was weird. I am not dismayed that you like your Harley, they are nice bikes, and if like it that is all that matters. Ride safe!
I like your plain & simple logic
Thank you!
Living Off The Slab 😀👤👁👤👤👤👤👤👁👤👤👤👤👤👤👤👤👤👤👤👁👤👤👁👤👁👁👤👤👁👤😊🤩🤩😳🤩👤👁😞😞😭😞😞😭😞😞😭😞😞😞😞😭😞😔😞😭😭😞😞👤😋😁😋😁😋😁👏☹️☹️👏👏☹️👏👏😁👏☹️😁👏👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏👏☹️☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏😁👏👏😁☹️👏☹️👏👏☹️😁👏☹️😁👏☹️👏☹️😁👏☹️👏👏☹️👏☹️👏😁👏☹️😁👏😁😁☹️👏☹️😁👏👏☹️😁😁👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏😁☹️👏👏☹️👏😁👏☹️☹️👏☹️👏😁👏☹️☹️👏😁😁☹️😁👏☹️👏😁👏☹️☹️👏😁👏😁😁☹️👏😁☹️👏😀👏👏😀☹️👏😀👏👏👏☹️👏😀👏😀👏😀👏😀😀👏👏👏😀😖😀😖😖😀👏👏😀👏👏👏👏😖👏👏👏😀😖😀👏😀😖👏👏😀👏😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀👏😀😖😀😖😖😖😖👏👏😀😖😀👏😀👏😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😖😀👏👏😀👏😖👏👏👏😀😖👏👏👏😀😀👏😀😖😀👏😀👏😀👏😀👏😀😖😀👏😀👏😀👏😀👏👏😀👏😀👏👏😀😖😀👏😀😖😀😖😀😖😀👏😀😖😀😖😀👏👏😀😖😖😀😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀😖😀👏😀😀👏😀😖😀👏👏😀👏😀😖😀😀👏👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏😁👏☹️👏😁👏☹️👏☹️☹️👏☹️☹️👏☹️👏☹️👏☹️☹️👏☹️☹️👏😁👏☹️👏👏😁👏☹️☹️👏😁👏☹️👏😁🤗🤗🤗😳😀😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳😀😳🤗😳🤗😳😀😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳🤗🤗😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳🤗🤗😳😳🤗🤗🤗😳🤗😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳🤗😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😊😳😀😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳😀😳🤗😳😀😳🤗🤗🤗😳😳😊😳😳😊😊😊😊😳😳🤗😊🤗😳🤗😊😊😀😳🤗😳😳🤗😀😳😀🤗😳😳🤗😳😀😳🤗😳🤗🤗😳🤗😳😳😀🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😳🤗😀😁👏☹️👏☹️😁👏☹️👏👏☹️👏☹️😁👏😁☹️👏☹️☹️😁👏☹️☹️👏😁👏☹️👏☹️😁👏😁😁👏☹️😁👏☹️😁👏😁👏😁☹️😁
Ok
Lol...ok!
I love your review. Will you be reviewing the BMW k1600b? I would love to know your thoughts comparing the two bikes
I would like to, I just have to work it out with a dealer to let me have the bike for a while. Thanks!
Now I compare every motorcycle to my Vision...LOL! So far it stays in the garage. Thanks for the Venture review.
Mine is still there as well. Thanks!
You can pick up the eluder right now for $15,000 brand new, seems like a good deal.
Sure, there are a lot of things to like about these bikes.
That was an excellent review. I too ride a Vision and probably will till the wheels fall off. My question was about he seat height. Mine as you know is low and comfy. The Venture seemed a little tall. I’m only 5’8”.
For me the Venture was actually a little lower the my Vision. I keep the rear shock pretty high since I mostly ride it two up. Plus I think the Vision handles better when the weight is a bit forward. I don' t think you would have an issue with the Venture.
About time for an adventure!
I have a few things in the works. The weather is finally starting to get nicer!
Man riding got so sofisticated !! To many toys attached on that bike. It’s a great distraction on road. No wonder so many accidents...
Yes it has!
Nice review! One thing to note however is that the 113 ci v-twin is in fact a push rod motor, not overhead cam.
You are correct, I misread the specifications (OHV v-twin) as overhead cam, when it is actually "overhead valve." I did not catch the mistake. Thanks for keeping me honest.
Thanks for the review. I'm still not completely sold on the looks of the venture. I really like the look of the Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager. Have you ridden one of those?
I have not ridden the Voyager, but I think they look cool as well. They too have that old car vibe to them.
Love my 2012 Voyager, sure it doesn’t have bells and whistles the Venture has, but new they are $10,000 less. I bought mine with 4,580 miles on it for $9,250 and it still has factory warranty until Dec 2019.
I ride a newer Vulcan Voyager 1700 and love it. I’m (56 years young) 6’3 & 315lbs of loveliness and both my wife ( 5-ft nothing and 115-lbs of feathers) tour all over with nothing but comfort, enjoyment and a “paid for” motorcycle. While I desire something else or another bike alongside this, I think the Kawasaki gets its done. Pushing 30-grand for a replacement bike is hard to live with when this Yamaha is just a minor step up. Now a 2019 Goldwing......that’s another story.
Keep the reviews coming my friend.
What bike will run forever? Yamaha is #1 in reliability, period. That's kind of important when touring. When you are chugging down the road at 80 mph in the Arizona or New Mexican desert that is kind of important. I have bad knees and a fused ankle and cant stand the relatively cramped position of the new Gold wing and the loss of storage is a huge error.
I own two Yamahas, they make great, reliable bikes. I also agree that the Venture allows the rider to stretch out, providing a lot of leg room. This is just my opinion, but as Honda screwed up limiting the storage capacity on the Goldwing, Yamaha has done the same thing on the Venture. Sure it has larger bags, but the bike itself is so heavy at over 1000 pounds that its luggage capacity is limited to just over 400 pounds. If you ride solo, that should not be an issue, but riding two up for the average American couple the bike will always be overloaded.
I don't think motorcycle manufacturers are too worried about the load ratings. I know many people who ride 2 up, fully loaded and pulling those big pop up camper trailers all day long.
I know that riders commonly ignore weight ratings, however the Venture's owners manual specifically warns not to exceed the maximum rating. They also specifically say that the bike is not designed to tow a trailer. If something breaks related to overloading the bike, will they cover it? Depends on your dealer I guess, but based on the situation, it could void your warranty. If God forbid, someone is injured because of overloading, I guarantee they will fight you.
Great review of the Yamaha Star Venture TC. It appears the bike does not come with a center stand. Does Yamaha carry an option to have a center stand installed?
Not that I am aware of. Thanks!
Great review. For the price, seems like Honda GW, BMW1600GTL or B seems better bikes to me. The weight fully loaded with pillion and bags is well over 1100 pounds.
I agree that those are both options I would consider. They are lighter, but have the same issue as the Yamaha with limited load ratings. I don't know what this manufacturers are thinking.
Craig, the manufacturers are thinking, "Loose weight you FAT Americans!" That is just my 230 lb, 6', 62 year old opinion, haha..
My doctor would agree with them...lol.
Perhaps based on solo vs 2up riding trends, these manufacturers are more focused on setting up bikes for more solo riding....in other words they want us to buy 2 large bikes! My problem is I only have 1 wallet!
I wish more people did reviews like you do. Talking about what matters and still covering all the tech stats. But... seriously... does ANYONE ever care about the load carrying capacity of their bike? I mean, if there's another inch of space does anyone think "I wonder how much capacity I have left" or do we all just pack another 2 inches of gear in?
I am sure you are correct. Doesn't make it the smart thing to do.
@@LivingOffTheSlab let me put this way then... when was the last time anyone EVER even heard of someone breaking a frame or suspension from overloading their bike? I've seen what must have been a 350lb driver with a 250lb passenger, loaded for touring and I've never heard of a bike coming unglued because of it. That said... you are exactly 100% correct, it doesn't make it smart. But, just like darksiding, if it's never been an issue... smart is irrelevant 😉
Thanks for your review, finally got to see one on a day ride a few days ago and chat with the proud owner. His was red and good looking, does have a nice rumble to it, loads of grunt, and kinda like my Vision, takes time to figure out if you like the look or not...LOL!
Thanks for the info. Yeah, like the Victories, the Venture is going to be a love it or hate it thing.
Your point about weight limit really hits the mark and is something most don't think about. The owner of that Venture was a big man, well over 250 and I'm not gonna comment further about the passenger...LOL!
Great review, I rode one too. I did like the legroom, similar to the Victory's. Would like taller bars. Kind of a gaudy finish when compared to my xct. Handled fine. Although no big bikes destroy the twisties like the Victory Vision and XCT. And storage ? Well mine has 42qts so that's a downgrade but all in all definitely a good bang for the buck. Just rode down to AZ. bike week, as usual I came through all the twisties about 200 yds ahead of my Harley and Indian co riders. For now I'll just keep riding this Victory, changing oil and dreading the day it needs replacing. Might go see LLOYD first. He just bought another shop in NC. and he'll be doing Victory work there. So when this hot rod starts to burn a little oil I'm thinking the platform should still support a116 stage 2 rebuild. 58k on it so far. Well ,ride on Craig and thanks for the vid! Your Vision looks great !
I saw that Lloyd went in on the new shop. Good to hear he will still be doing Victories. Keep riding!
Would really like a review on the new GW. More specifically, I'd really like to get your impression of the DCT transmission. I have arthritis in my hands and using a clutch gives me some discomfort in certain situations.
I would love to do that. Hopefully I can find a dealer that will let me take one for an extended test ride.
Nice review that thing is heavy, but looks nice. If I can't pick a bike up from a lay down I don't want it.
There is not getting around it, it is heavy.
The one thing I liked about the Yamaha was that the legroom was about the same as my cross country, it didn't seem to have quite as good of low speed manners as my Vic but what other bagger does?, of course I'm new to it too. Great review.
Thank you!
I cant wait until they start getting out aftermarket exhausts. I wanna see videos on how it sounds
Tab Bam Sticks sound pretty awesome on the Venture.
Thanks!
Thank you. That’s a very good review. Have you ride Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Voyager or Vaquero? What are your thoughts?
I have not had the chance to ride the Kawi's. I have owned a few over the years and always found them t o be good bikes.
My 2018 has great fit and finish and great paint job and your not paying for union assembly that's the big price difference
I am 64 and have had my Harley Ultra Limited for 2 years. i now worry much more about its weight but it is currently mostly a parking thing. I think the Yamaha park assist feature looks great. I looked at trading to a Gold Wing to get a reverse but that needs too much money. I could fit a reverse to the Harley for about £2500 but I wonder with increasing age whether I should just get a lighter bike! The Yamaha is not available in UK otherwise i would look at it. The Indian Roadmaster is still around. I don't really want an Adventure Tourer style bike and trikes are very expensive (I like the Harley one). I feel disappointed at my options! Any thoughts?
I understand your frustration. When I wanted to move from my 900 pound touring bike, I had limited options that would allow two "middle aged" people to ride in comfort. I love the ADV bikes, they are much more comfortable than you think, but they were just not going to be comfortable for the wife. The only manufacturer that makes a lower weight, comfortable two up touring bike is BMW. I wanted to go with the R1250RT with a trunk, but my wife liked the K1600 GTL because of its better seating option. That is what we ended up with. It is not as light as I wanted, at 775 pounds, but more than 100 pounds lighter than my Victory Vision, a Harley or the Yamaha. The GTL also comes with reverse and it works very well. Other folks I know when with the K1600 Grand America, which is a lower "bagger" version of the K1600. Hope this helps a bit. Ride safe!
Nice u-turns and circles Craig!
Thanks Shane, not bad for 1000 pound bike I had never ridden. I had a good teacher!
This thing is a beast
Thanks!
Really appreciate your review. Thinking of moving away from Electra glide Ultra to one of these. The New Gold Wing and K1600GTL just don't have enough luggage capacity to really call them touring bikes. If I tour I'm out for 2 to 3 weeks with my wife. I love my Harley and have done a fair bit of Engine Work (Stage 1 and Stage 2) but honestly, I'm sick of intentional design flaws like shift linkages that always snap and could easily be supplied differently and I'm tired of getting screwed by dealerships.... This could be the ticket .... I think I'm going have to get down to a dealer and throw a leg over.
It is definately worth taking a ride.
Did you get the Venture?
After you got home from your trip do you enjoy riding the Super Tenere more or less than your larger Vision? I also would like your take on the Honda Goldwing.
The Tenere for sure. It is just more fun.
I am torn between the HD road glide, Indian chieftain and the Yamaha star venture. I currently ride a 2008 Yamaha raider 1900 and she is a beast!! Tons of power and torque but not very good for the long trips. I also like to have the maneuverability in the corners but maybe the venture is a bit too heavy and large for that?
I think the only way to decide is to ride them. The Venture has a lot of nice features, but the weight and load capacity are concerns for me. You should try it out and see if it works for your needs. Thanks!
Hay brother one more negative thing to mention is the 16000 mile valve checks. About 900 dollars just for that according to Yamaha.
That is expensive...
Maybe the pushing down knob yo turn it on is a safety thing for strangers who get on your bike and start messing with it or try to turn it on
I guess that is possible, but you do need the fob in your pocket to turn the bike on.
I see your background is big Vtwins. Have you ridden the BMW K1600GTL or R1200RT as a comparison? I'm not a BMW fan boy by any means, the rebuild costs on a K1600 frighten me.. But if reliable, comfortable and good looking to your eyes they might make an interesting comparison if you were willing to get away from VTwins... The BMs might be cheaper too, they'd certainly be lighter. Those two you mention are not sold here in Australia so I can't compare the prices, but the R1200RT goes for about $Aud32,000 on the road, about $US24,000.
Just a thought..
I have not had a chance to ride the Beemers, but would love to do so. Thanks!
Great discussion on the bike thank you for the review!
Thanks!
Hi Craig, as usual you did very concise and well done review. One point you didn't touch on and it is something that's very important to me. I had major "heat issues" with my Cross County(dealt with now), so this is a point I'll be looking at closely on any potential replacement for my Vic, especially one that is sporting a big, honking, air-cooled V-twin..... Did you notice the Venture making any excess heat or hot spots on your legs? How was the general air flow while riding.
Thanks
It was in the mid fifties when I rode, so I did not have a heat issue. I have heard the Venture gets hot, but it is a 113 air cooled engine. They all get hot to some degree, especially with all that fairing to protect you from the wind. There are vents, but I did not get to try them because of the temps. Thanks!
Any chance you can go back and test ride it again in mid July.... ? LOL ;)
I'm concerned about the weight also which is why I think the Cross County is the answere and the Vision/Venture is not.
Last I checked, the Cross Country Tour and Vision were roughly the same weight. Both great bikes.
I’ve been on the fence between this and an Indian Roadmaster. I’m curious if the trunk on this Venture has a quick detach feature like the Roadmaster? I haven’t been able to get an answer to this question.
I do not believe the trunk is quick release. At least I cannot find it in any of the Yamaha literature.
The service interval on this bike is what exactly. I have a Yamaha but it only has a 4,000 mile service interval. I can easily hit that mark in 2 months and sometimes in just one. I'm looking for my next ride to have something more like 5,000 or 6,000 miles.
Engine oil is every 4000, same as my Tenere.
Ok, must be just a standard Yamaha service interval then. Thank you for the feedback.
Great review and always a pleasure watching your videos Craig. One question on the refinement? I've always found Yamaha products to be refined yet you say Harley's and Indians are more refined in terms of cabling etc...huh. Off topic. How would you compare the refinement of a Gold Wing or BMW GL to a Harley or Indian?
Thank you! I choose the two bikes for comparison because the Venture is an air cool v-twin touring cruiser and, at least in my opinion they are going to be its primary completion. Riders who are shopping in this category typically place a high value on fit and finish. The Venture lags behind in this area, again in my opinion. I can say the same thing about my Tenere. While I love it and think it is a great bike, if I place it beside a BMW or Ducati ADV, it does not compare if we are talking refinement. I still chose the Tenere because of the reliability and value it provides. I am not saying the Tenere is bad, just that it does not reach the same level as the BMW or Ducati. Of course you have to pay for that extra refinement. Comparing a Harley Ultra, an old Wing and a GL, I would rank them like this, 1. BMW, 2. Harley and 3. Gold Wing. Just my opinion and it has no bearing on how good they are as motorcycles.
Thanks Craig. You had me looking at a Tenere from your other videos but decided to hold off and save my pennies for a BMW. Maybe I should say nickels since I live in Canada and we did away with pennies and in the case of a BMW, loonies, toonies, twenties, hundred dollar bills etc...lol
PS..Come up to Port Dover Ontario for Friday the 13th rally this July. Love to shake your hand and buy you a beer. Cheers my friend!!
Not sure what I will be doing yet, but if we can work it out that would be great.
You talk about weight capacity, I never really put much thought in that. I currently run a 2008 C109RT, I've weighed it, and full tank of gas, without me it's right at 1000lbs. My last touring trip through the mountains I had a trailer behind it(with tools and luggage, spare fuel, etc), I figure total weight rolling down the road was 1600-1700lbs.
Wow, I did not think those bikes weighed that much. The trailer does not put as much weight on the wheels and frame, so you can pull far more weight than you can carry. I have actually thought of going that way myself.
Depends how you load it :P I try for about 100lbs tongue weight. "Factory" wet weight on a C109RT is just over 900lbs... mine is heavier due to a custom plate steel hitch, darksiding, and other mods. I've had close to 600-650lbs of people/gear/etc on my bike on top of the 1000lbs, without the trailer. It seems silly but nobody I personally know will hop on my bike due to it's size and weight.
HD is popular but last in reliability. Star/Yamaha is first.
Thanks!
Is that a 6.6 gallon tank effective? My Yamaha V Star 1300 claims to be 4.9 gallons but I have never put in more than 4.4 gallons. Where that extra .5 gallons is, is something I would like to have the answer to. It changes the likely range, and that was one of the factors in my purchase decision.
I can't answer that as I have not had the opportunity to fill one up, or run it dry.
I appreciate your honesty, and your review. Thank you.
Great Review! The reference standard review as far as I’m concerned. I would love to see a similar format review for the new Goldwing. Similar class bike to the Venture. After testing the Venture, would you personally consider trading in your Vision for a new Venture? If so or no why? Thank you for sharing this great review!
Well thank you, glad you liked it! I would love to ride the Goldwing. I am going to see what I can do, but sometimes finding a dealer that will let me take the bikes out for extended test rides is not easy. Would I trade the Vision for the Venture...good question. At this point no. The Vision is paid for, so it is hard to get over that fact. In addition the Vision is really a great bike even with its quirks and lack of storage space. However, it can carry over 100 pounds more than the Venture and both my wife and I are very comfortable on the bike. The Venture comes close in comfort and if I was going to buy it, that would be a big factor as it would be a two up bike. If my wife did not ride with me, I would ride the Tenere or maybe something like the FJ1300.
That makes sense! 100% paid for I’ve always said is the best “feature” of any bike. I used to ride a 2008 Honda VTX1800T. Weighed in with all luggage at close to 900lbs. Great for 2up riding. My wife really didn’t enjoy riding that often. Long story short and 3 bikes later, I usually ride my Super Tenere ES solo and thoroughly enjoy this class of bike. Great mix of weight, power, technology, ergonomics, reliability and overall value. I can’t see me going back to a heavy bike again unless my wife wants to ride with me.
I agree. If my wife was not riding with me, I would ride the Tenere all the time.
Greater Boston Powersports in Arlington. Let me know and I will set us up an appointment with Brian so we can spend some time on the Goldwing. I would interested in your thoughts on this bike. They also have a BMW Grand American. I rode the BMW "B" which is without the tour package. Nice ride!
My question is why no crash bars? This bike is heavy. What's going to happen if you lay it down?
Typically, crash bars are add-on's, but yes I would think this bike would require some kind of tip over protection.
The Venture has tip-over protection. Go look at one and ask about it. You can't tell everything about a motorcycle by looking at pictures and reading a stat sheet. Even an experienced rider, unfamiliar with the bike, can make mistakes when "reviewing" the bike.
@@danielmoore1394 Fair enough, I am happy to own up to my mistake. Yamaha did a good job of hiding the front tip over bars and they do have the plastic bumper on the bags. I did go to the Yamaha site and do not find tip over protection listed as a feature. I also cannot find any pictures or videos demoing this feature. If you know of one please link it, as I would like to see it. I did find one video talking about it, but no demo. Forgive me for being cynical, but I wonder how many time you can drop a 1000 pound bike on those bags before they crack?
Sure Park is a good idea for reverse, but can't you just use the clutch to move forward?
Yes, but this does allow you to make corrections in both directions with out having to disengage the sure park, put it in gear and then re-engage the sure park. So I can see it being handy.
I have a bushtec trailer. I can see the sure park being quite handy. Wife and I rode the Venture 3 days ago. Nice ride, not sure though. Going to check the BMW Grand America and HD Road Ultra and Ultra Glide Limited.
I've been tempted to just buy a damn Vision. It's the only touring bike to Wow! Me. (Even though it was a bit to jettsons looking ;)
However since they're no longer in production I just haven't been able to do it. I Love my bushtec
Great review
Thank you!
Thanks for the great info 👍
Thank you!
You mentioned poor fit and finish and orange peel in the paint but I didn't see that shown in the video. Did I miss something?
No, I did not show that. But if you look closely under the clear, you can see it. I have heard some reviewers say the same things about the new Wing. There are other, little things that may or may not make a difference for everyone. I wanted to mention it, but did not want to make it the focus of the review. My Victory suffers from the same faults.
@@LivingOffTheSlab I find the new wing suffers from a great many short cuts etc. You can see where Honda tried to save every penny they could!
@@davidfalgout7304 , I took a good look at the Wing and overall I liked it, but as you said there are some places where they fell short. What is holding me back on the new Wing is the lack of storage, worse than my Vision.
Love the clunk I know I'm in gear!
Very nice review.
I owned a Stratoliner before I got my Vision. The Stratoliner felt the best out of all of these bikes but that five speed trandmission had to go.
Thanks!
Great looking bike... but valve adjustments? That's a super hard pass.
not needed
Thanks!
I know it's a different animal but could you compare it to your Tenere?
I will try, but as you said it is a different animal. For me I prefer the Tenere when I am riding alone. It is lighter, faster and more nimble. In short much more fun. The Venture or any other big touring bike will have more wind protection and allow you to stretch out more, moving your feet around. The Ventures seat is also more comfortable out of the box, but after I had some custom work done on the seat, the Tenere is now very comfortable. I also changed the windscreen bracket to a Madstad and am using he Madstad shield and Yamaha lowers on the Tenere. With all of this, the wind protection is very now very good. Which of these bike you choose would depend on the type of riding you want to do. If you are going to do a lot of highway riding, covering long distances, or you are riding two up, then the Venture would be the way to go. However, if you are doing more back roads or maybe the occasional dirt or gravel road, then the Tenere would be my choice. The Tenere is also, about $10K less than the Venture, but you will not get all of the bells and whistles. Hope this helps!
Living Off The Slab Thanks!
I have been riding an 07 Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe for the past 11 years. In fact, I am on my second one since I laid my first one down in WV. Once I got the handle bar straitened, my wife and I were still able to ride it back to AZ. However, my damage came to $8000 so the insurance co. totaled it. We just about bought an GSA to replace it when I found another 07 RSTD identical to the one I had with very low mileage and a good price. While keeping this one, I have still been interested in getting an adventure (go anywhere) bike. I've only been interested in the "shaft driven" Beemer and now, the Tenere especially since Consumer Reports came out with their "Brand reliability." My wife and I test road a GS and then I recently test road an '18 Tenere ES. I liked the GS but the Tenere actually felt more roomy. The GS has more power, no doubt. But I think the Tenere will serve our purpose just fine. My wife and I take a 5 - 6K mile trip each summer. The RSTD has been great but we would like the ability to go anywhere. So right now, I'm planning on getting and '18 or '19 Tenere. Anxious to see what if any changes the '19 will offer. Thanks for your reviews and videos concerning the Tenere. You've helped me along in making my decision!
Kyle Duncan, Glad that my experiences have been able to help. Enjoy, the Tenere is a great bike. I too am interested in what Yamaha might do in 2019, especially the T700.
I tried this bike for the heck of it( as well as other yammies) coming from an Africa Twin, it was like a lazyboy with the weight of another bike added. Very laid back. Prefer liquid cooling myself.
Thanks!