2008 Yamaha Royal Star Venture Review

Introduction

The Yamaha Royal Star Venture is the motorcycle you always knew you’d own one day and that day has most likely come for you my friend. Take it coast to coast and enjoy the comfort, power and style that only a top-shelf touring bike can offer. Combining classic styling, unmatched comfort, class-leading power and flawless engineering, the 2008 Yamaha Royal Star Venture invites you to swing a leg over and get away from it all to have the time of your live. Across town or across America, this sweet ride promises to be the best companion ever.

History

1983 Yamaha Venture Royale

When Yamaha created the Venture Touring Bike back in 1983, it went all the way. At the time it was first introduced, the Yamaha Venture Royale was the first liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, V4 Yamaha and featured adjustable air suspension, luggage and stereo as standard equipment.

Considered by many to be ahead of its time in innovations and leading edge technology, the premier touring motorcycle manufactured by Yamaha from 1983-1993 wrote history with its powerful and smooth V4 engine and excellent handling resulted in what may have been the predecessor of sport touring bikes available today. Many Ventures are still on the open road today managing to go strong and prove that they were made to be ridden for years and years in a row.

Yamaha resurrected the Venture Motorcycle in 1999. Presented as the Royal Star Venture, the new bike had the same perky engine and transmission as the first generation Venture but except that, it shared little with its predecessor. The most striking difference was the body style which was more in line with an American Cruiser type motorcycle than the sport tourer body style of the ’83 to ’93.

Competition

2008 Yamaha Royal Star Venture And Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Classic

In its golden age the Yamaha Royal Star Venture would have competed with the Honda Gold Wing but its most important revamp suddenly changed that and now the big V4 powered motorcycle is up against bigger bore x stroke Harley Davidson touring motorcycles which, of course, gas up only two cylinders fully loaded with history.

The Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide Classic invites you to take the really, really long way home as it is built for the ages.

Turn up the Harman/Kardon Advanced Audio System and enjoy a motorcycle loaded with both passenger and rider luxury. New comfort-stitched seat ensures a comfy ride for you, and the wraparound backrest allows you to have a properly accommodated passenger. The passenger-friendly adjustable Tour-Pak will actually make the person in your back even more commode than you’ll be.

All that comfort gets powered down the highway by a black and chrome Twin Cam 96 engine and six gears.

New this year is a full chrome tank console with inset, and Brembo brakes. ABS and cruise control are available as installed options so it will be hard not to smile when someone tells you to hit the road. That someone could very easily be a Yamaha Royal Star Venture owner.

Exterior

2008 Yamaha Royal Star Venture

The first think that strikes you when you take a look at this Yamaha is size. Weighing over 800 pounds, the Royal Star Venture is more than imposing. It is the result of a wonderful combination: classically-styled tourer with a modern, awesome performing engine.

The large, powerful 12V 60/55-watt remote-adjustable halogen headlight is there to make sure that the coast is clear while riding at nighttime and it also cuts a stylish profile by creating the starting point for wind protection offered by a wide, fork-mounted fairing and windshield accompanied by wind deflectors and frame-mounted lower cowlings. These are all wrapped around the massive, six-gallon fuel tank which only needs a look taken at to prove that this bike is really built for the open road.

What goes next can only deep deeper that thought in your mind because the ergonomically-designed bucket-type seats featuring plush, wraparound passenger backrest are built for unbeatable long-range comfort.

The rear end introduces our eyes to those beautifully looking hard-shell saddlebags each featuring handy, one-touch openers and spacious 9.3-gallon storage space with interior pouch. The saddlebag’s color is matched to the tourer’s color which can be either Black Cherry Raven or Charcoal Silver.

No matter what color you choose (you will also see that the price is slightly influenced by this choice), the fit and finish will be awesome. Flawless paint, extensive chrome and brushed stainless steel accents as well as deep, valanced steel fenders will be a true relaxation source when you’re not riding it.

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