Along with the power and torque mentioned above, the Royal Star Venture has all the amenities you would expect to find in a long-distance luxury tourer, including a wide ratio five-speed transmission (although fifth gear is technically an overdrive, it is very useful - even for high-speed passing power), low-maintenance shaft drive, excellent wind protection from the wide, fork-mounted fairing and windshield, with wind deflectors and frame-mounted lower cowlings, large, six-gallon fuel tank (with low-fuel warning light), DC power outlets for both rider and passenger, air adjustable suspension (both front and rear), electronic cruise control, AM/FM radio and CB radio (with handlebar-mounted controls), cassette deck, four speakers (14 watts per channel) which incorporate speed-regulated volume control, two-way rider/passenger intercom system, and massive luggage (15 gallon rear trunk matched with dual 9.3 gallon saddlebags). Basically, Yamaha took the performance promise that the v-four engine provided in the Royal Star line and finally delivered on it in the Venture.Īt more than 800 pounds, the Venture is a lot of motorcycle. Put to the test on the road, this engine delivers with almost effortless power and torque to move the huge, 807 pound luxury tourer along at a pace unmatched by any production v-twin cruiser/tourer (more about this later). Yamaha claims 98 horsepower and 89 foot pounds of torque are delivered by the 79 cubic inch (1294cc) liquid-cooled, double overhead cam, 70 degree v-four engine in the Venture. The result is a classically-styled tourer with modern, powerful engine performance. Yamaha significantly re-designed the Royal Star engine specifically for use in the Venture tourer. So how did the Venture fit into this Royal Star scheme with its heritage of awesome engine performance (for the luxury touring class at least)? Here’s how. The v-four engine configuration didn’t seem to catch on with the cruiser crowd, and the motor (loosely based on the awesomely powerful V-Max) was so dramatically de-tuned, that the large, heavy machine was relatively slow (even for a cruiser). Although beautifully styled and detailed, the Royal Star never sold in numbers satisfactory to Yamaha. Gen I Venture on left and Gen II on the rightīasically, Yamaha’s grand experiment with the Royal Star had reached a dead end. I was well aware of the first generation machine (particularly, its reputation for outstanding engine performance), and remember being a bit surprised that the Venture name resurfaced in 1999 with the Royal Star cruiser affiliation. I had never ridden a Venture, either the first generation or the second. In 1999, the Venture name returned to the Yamaha line-up in a new, cruiser-styled machine based somewhat on the Royal Star, v-four cruiser that itself was destined for extinction and replacement by the Road Star v-twin 1600 cruiser. The bike combined performance and luxury in a special way that still energizes a loyal fan club. This machine was a fast, v-four engined luxury tourer built to take on Honda’s Gold Wing. The first generation of the Yamaha Venture (it was not a member of the “Royal Star” family at that time) appeared in 1983, and was refined through the 1993 model year, when it disappeared. The 2003 Yamaha Royal Star Venture is a bike that has been around for a few years, and has developed a loyal, almost fanatical following (take a look at the Venture Enthusiasts’ website). The bike that is the subject of this review is a perfect example of the latter category.
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