YAMAHA GOES BIG WITH NEW VENTURE
Hefty hauler offers plenty for long-distance bikers
The original Yamaha Venture, a cumbersome, ungainly luxury tourer equipped with a liquid-cooled V-4, dates back 35 years to a time when big touring bikes were a fairly new thing. Its timeline has been interrupted a couple of times since then, but the name has been resurrected with the introduction of the 2018 Yamaha Star Venture TC.
Yamaha’s newest highway hauler is powered by an all-new, 1,854-cc, air-cooled V-twin. It is based on the Raider engine and is big on low-end torque, peaking at an impressive 126 pound-feet at just 2,500 rpm; it has six speeds compared to the Raider’s five. A pushrod V-twin might seem archaic by today’s standards, but it carries its weight low and contributes to lowering the bike’s centre of gravity. The engine includes Sure-Park, a parking-assist system that uses an electric motor to move the bike forward or in reverse at walking speed.
Aside from a Chevy V-8-powered Boss Hoss, the Venture TC is probably the heaviest motorcycle I’ve ever ridden, tipping the scales at a whopping 437 kilograms. That’s more than the Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra (425 kg), the new Honda Gold Wing (380 kg) and the BMW K1600GTL (350 kg). It carries its weight well, though, and its low centre of gravity seems to dissolve that heft once you’re moving.
Seat height is just 695 mm and the riding position is relaxed with an easy reach to a wide, pullback handlebar, while the large floorboards allow you to move your legs around for comfort. The windshield is electrically adjustable and can be raised 90 mm. The rider’s seat bolster is adjustable fore and aft over a 30-mm range and the passenger floorboards are adjustable.
The TC stands for transcontinental, denoting long-distance travel, so the Venture is loaded with features. Seat and grip heat are standard, as is the passenger backrest. Traction control, cruise control, two ride modes, a tirepressure monitor and an alarm system are also standard. There’s ample storage capacity for rider and passenger with 144 litres of storage space available in the top case, saddlebags and fairing compartments. Two full-face helmets can be stored in the top case.
The first thing you notice when seated is the prominent seven-inch (18-cm) colour touch screen flanked by analog gauges. The screen, which can be used with gloves, is used to control the infotainment system, which includes an AM/FM radio, Sirius XM satellite radio, a CB radio and an embedded GPS navigation system. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to connect your smartphone or a helmet headset; the latter can also be used to control the infotainment system through voice commands. The passenger, when connected to the bike with a headset, can listen to a separate audio source than the rider and has access to listening controls, as well as seatheat control.
There are convenient storage compartments in the fairing. The right one contains a USB connector for electronic device connectivity and it locks electrically using the key fob. Oh yes, the bike has a key fob for keyless starting and it operates the saddlebag and top-case locks remotely.
The engine is remarkably smooth and though it is very torquey, it has a low rev limit of 4,500 rpm. This isn’t a problem unless you want to make a quick pass in the lower gears, where the engine picks up speed quickly and then bounces off the limiter rather abruptly. Pulling power is, nonetheless, ample when riding solo with no luggage. Adding a passenger and gear for a weekend ride will tax passing power and it’s here where the Venture will likely suffer when compared with the Gold Wing or the K1600GTL as they have more pulling power in the upper revs, especially the latter. As mentioned earlier, the bulk of the bike’s weight sits low, which contributes to very light, neutral steering. The chassis is rigid, providing rail-like stability, while making turning transitions effortless. Suspension compliance is firm enough to keep the bike planted through sweepers, while soaking up the majority of bumps without harshness.
The Yamaha Star Venture TC is the new (big) kid on the block in the luxury touring category and it’s loaded with features. But it also comes with a big price, starting at $31,999. If you rack on the kilometres, however, know that the price comes with a five-year warranty.