2/19/2023 0 Comments Yamaha venture![]() There are a million functions and adjustments built into the Infotainment system (with seven-inch screen), and the manual is 116 pages. Probably operator error, since nobody else was having that problem. Our main problem with the intercom was it wouldn’t mute the external speakers when the mic was keyed, which made it hard to hear each other over all the head-banging tunes we were cranking: Turning down the speaker volume also turned down our intercom volume. Our helmet speakers were hard-wired into the bike, which was kind of a PITA, but Yamaha says there are too many transmissions going on for Bluetooth to handle all of them at once at this time. ![]() Two 375-watt alternators, mounted low on the engine, produce 750 watts of power. There’s a USB port in there and one up front in the cockpit, also a 12V outlet in the left side of the bike. Your trunk’s huge and supposed to take two XXL full-face lids. The styling department must’ve won that one. Up or down was a little blusterier for me than it might’ve been, though, I think because the Yamaha doesn’t use a low-pressure relief hole at the base of the screen like many others do. And there was no way of not acceding to her wishes thanks to the intercom. But Christine liked it better, far better, all the way up, where it was less blustery for her. It was best for 5-foot-8 me all the way down, where the top edge is just below my line of sight. The wind-tunnel-tested windscreen adjusts up and down 3.6 inches. (Late-breaking news: One of our party did drop their bike in a parking lot, and it only falls about 45 degrees with no damage.) Nobody in our group fell over in two days of riding and paddling round parking lots. The seat’s only 27.4 inches though, which meant my 30-inch legs could flatfoot both sides at once, and the bike’s low cg makes it easy to balance. It’s a little sketchy every time I get on one of these big things after not riding one for awhile. If you live in Montana or Germany, this is your big touring cruiser.) Some big Twins, most big Twins as I remember, start feeling a bit vibey when you’re really in a hurry. (And even moreso at 100 mph and 3500 rpm, where the thing is perfectly serene. Those and the primary cush drive add up to the smoothest big V-Twin I’ve ever ridden, both accelerating from a stop but especially cruising along at 80 mph and 2800 rpm. Those new “composite” mounts transfer into everyday speak as rubber, but the line drawings showed some kind of Buell Uniplanar or H-D FL-like deal that restricts the engine’s movement to the vertical plane. There was also a very cool line drawing of the new double-downtube steel frame the bike uses, along with its aluminum subframe. An external oil tank is integrated into the aluminum subframe to centralize mass and reduce weight, and a compact oil cooler is hidden between the front frame downtubes to help maintain ideal engine temperatures. The engine’s semi-dry-sump design lowers the effective center of gravity by allowing the engine to sit lower in the frame. The huge torque and relaxing V-twin pulse are complemented by lightweight forged alloy pistons, carefully-tuned twin counterbalancers and advanced composite engine mounts, which combine to deliver a smooth and comfortable ride on long days in the saddle while reducing fatigue. Here’s what we did get: The Star Venture boasts a massive and torque-rich 113 cubic inch (1854cc) air-cooled V-twin engine with a class-leading 126 pound-feet of torque providing smooth and responsive power delivery even when fully loaded. ![]() Sometimes we can’t remember if we’re coming or going. (If we must discuss money, the base model is $24,999 and the Transcontinental Option Package makes it $26,999.) Not only do Yamaha reps say this is one of its most important new models in years, they also like to think they’ve created their own little niche this one’s a luxury tourer that combines traditional/emotional components (humongous V-Twin), with cutting-edge modern styling and all the luxury features you’d expect on a $25k touring bike. Now there’s this all-new Star Venture, with which Yamaha says it’s officially re-entering the luxury-touring category. Then there was a Royal Star Venture in the intervening years, but it wasn’t so luxurious. I have to admit I’ve been around long enough to have ridden the original Yamaha Venture Royale, and quite a lovable beast it was. Photos by: Brian J Nelson and John Burns 2018 Yamaha Star Venture Editor Score: 91.0% Engine
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