Yamaha Royal Star Venture

The Yamaha Royal Star Venture is a luxury touring motorcycle built by the Yamaha Motor Company. It is a premier touring motorcycle manufactured in two forms by Yamaha from 1983 to 1993 and from 1999 to 2013.

In 1983 Yamaha created a V4 power package that began the Yamaha Venture motorcycle series. The first in the series was the Venture Royale produced from 1983 to 1993. Yamaha discontinued the design until 1996 when it resurrected the Venture power package and produced a cruiser-style motorcycle called the Royal Star that was produced until 2001. In 1999 Yamaha again brought out a large full touring motorcycle known as the Royal Star Venture, again using a variation of the Venture power package. In 2005 it introduced the Royal Star Tour Deluxe, which is the Royal Star Venture without the fairing, radios or trunk.

In 1985 Yamaha introduced the V-Max. The first generation V-Max power package was a modified version of the one used in the Venture Royale. The Royale model is the Venture with additional accessories and weight.

The re-vamped, new look, Second Generation model was introduced in 1999 and was manufactured, largely unchanged, through the 2013 year model. Though Yamaha revived the Venture name that it used on the 1983 to 1993 Venture Royale models, the Royal Star Venture shares little with its predecessor except for the time-proven, liquid-cooled V4 engine and shaft drive power package. It departs from the earlier sport touring styling in favor of a classically styled touring look.

There are two basic models: standard and S. The standard model has brushed front forks while the S model has chromed front forks. The two models also have different paint colors. Each year the standard model color has changed. Some years the S model has retained the same color, though always different from the standard model. This is most noted in the "Midnight" version of the S model that featured Raven (black with silver metallic) paint.

The 1999 and 2000 year models have different seat styles to the 2001 to current year models. The older seats were more firm than the newer "pillow top" seats. The older flat panel seats were used on the Midnight models with the addition of chrome studs along the sides. The seats on the Midnight model were changed to the unstudded pillow top design for the last half of 2006. This was the last year for the Midnight version of the S model.

In 2000 Yamaha produced the Millennium Edition Royal Star Venture, despite the fact the new millennium did not begin until 2001. That 2000 year model color was Pearl White/Ivory two-tone with tan coloured seats. Only 1,500 of these were produced and a serial numbered placard was placed on the rear of the trunk.

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