What did you do to your bike today?

[MPittma100]

Fork Length

Hi Phil,

Yes, I will do that. The red Standard that I have is a Venturer. Original owner decided that a red custom paint job looked better than the Yamaha dark blue. Will measure that one as well. It has mid 20K miles on the clock.

As you say, these bikes have proven to be bulletproof for 37 years and hundreds of thousands of miles!

Hi Phil, The measurement on the Venturer fork is 32 3/8". Taken from the (flat) bottom of the right fork to the top of the fork tube (not including cap) with bike on center stand. Note that the fork protrudes approx 1/4" out of the top clamp. Will measure other bike ASAP. I can take another measurement with bike off of the stand (bike's weight on the forks) as soon as I can persuade an assistant to help.

[nzemke]

Time to make her shine I will go through one piece a night till I get the rest of the painted parts back from the paint guy....that should give me enough time to really make this engine stand out...

And of course I need more polishing compound, otherwise its a dull reflection. I want to see my ugly mug staring back at me! So here is where I started and ended for the evening.

Used (400, 600, 1000, 1500, and 2000)

[MPittma100]

Fork

Hi Mike,
Every picture just makes it look better
May I ask a favour before it leaves the driveway. Can you measure the length from bottom of fork to the top ( triple tree) for me please.
I suspect my front springs have collapsed and that would confirm my suspicion.
Mine has close to 100,000 miles or 150,000 miles or even more depending on how many times the odometer has maxed out.
Looks like poop compared to yours but has carried me far and wide, at times under protest, but never let me down.
Phil

Hi Phil,

Yes, I will do that. The red Standard that I have is a Venturer. Original owner decided that a red custom paint job looked better than the Yamaha dark blue. Will measure that one as well. It has mid 20K miles on the clock.

As you say, these bikes have proven to be bulletproof for 37 years and hundreds of thousands of miles!

[MaximPhil]

Hi Mike,
Every picture just makes it look better
May I ask a favour before it leaves the driveway. Can you measure the length from bottom of fork to the top ( triple tree) for me please.
I suspect my front springs have collapsed and that would confirm my suspicion.
Mine has close to 100,000 miles or 150,000 miles or even more depending on how many times the odometer has maxed out.
Looks like poop compared to yours but has carried me far and wide, at times under protest, but never let me down.
Phil

[MPittma100]

A lot of work

Wow...just when I thought i have seen pristine bikes....this one comes along and blows them all away...great job Mike!!!

Thanks Ben. Put a lot of effort into obtaining this result. Turned out really nice.

Mike

[madmax-im]

Wow...just when I thought i have seen pristine bikes....this one comes along and blows them all away...great job Mike!!!

[IanDMacDonald]

Crazy that over 35 years ago when every car on the market was ugly, that beautiful bike was built!

[Prisoner6]

Here is a newly completed 1981H Venturer:

Outstanding, Mike ... simply OUTSTANDING!

I'm sure the new owner will be thrilled with this Venturer ...

[MPittma100]

Venturer

Hi Mike and Phil,

There is a chance that this one will be seen at XSSE 2016.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Mike,
That turned out really nice. I too am sad not to see such an excellent example at XSSE. Perhaps the new owner will join us ?
Phil

[Radioguylogs]

Mike:

Those pictures were worth waiting for.

I have to try the Coke /foil after seeing your remarkable transformation on the exhaust.

Now I'm disappointed we won't get to see the Venturer in person sometime- assuming the new owner is not a member.

Really amazing job! Thanks for sharing it.

[MPittma100]

Venturer Notes

This one has 14K miles, original paint, original everything else except ss brake lines. Bike has been cosmetically and mechanically detailed and is ready to ride. Took it out for a shake down ride today. It performed beautifully.

Long list of repair/rebuild items - front to back, top to bottom.

Original plan was to keep her in the stable. But going to new owner this week.

[MPittma100]

Venturer Completion

Here is a newly completed 1981H Venturer:

[MPittma100]

Exhaust

Mike,

That exhaust system looks amazing!

That's a lot of hours of meticulous work ... well done!

Look forward to more Venturer pics ...

Hi Marco,

Thanks. Left just enough patina for show and ride. More pics to come.

Mike

[Prisoner6]

Wow!

Mike,

That exhaust system looks amazing!

That's a lot of hours of meticulous work ... well done!

Look forward to more Venturer pics ...