OK, I did it, I finally did it

[MartyA]

The 1st generation (as they call it) Venture Royale also uses the same rear drive and oil filter housing as the XS (I changed that to T.C.'s spin on adapter made for the XS). The V-4 is from the V-Max. So it takes from a few Yamaha models. I don't know where the cruise control, tape player, and AM/FM/CB come from...

My oldest daughter just moved to Pittsburgh, so Sally and I put another 400 miles on the FZ today visiting, it is such a blast...

I think I have a name for it - Ilene. Comments???

[Parr8hed]

sweet, love the bags on the fz. Pretty impressive stable all lined up there together. Shame to see the for sale sign on the xs though. Really like the new one though.

[Robert Haller]

Marty,

I'll be there in October, can't wait to see your new ride. I probably won't know what to do with myself whenever I get a new bike.
I've been MIA cause I used to check the list daily while at work, but I got transferred and am rarely at my desk anymore. So it's whenever I feel like getting on the computer at home now.
I haven't been riding much lately cause It's been too hot - 90+. Plus I discovered some rust in my gas tank so it's currently off till I decide how to remedy that.

[CTSommers]

Love Naked bike. In a few years when i Land a real job after college I want to get something like the FZ1 or maybe one of those Super Dukes from KTM if the ever decide to bring them to North America. Here a link to the super duke http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Articl...ArticleID=2143

Oh yeah I thought this would be helpful, its the specs on Marty new bike the FZ1

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_fz1_2005.php

[scoobes]

nice bike marty and glad to see you enjoying it so much,i have a early r1 a 1999 carb model goes like f### but i do enjoy going out on the xs,with the new bikes you cannot take them to there limit but get on the xs and get that scraping sound round bends well you just cann`t beat that.

[MartyA]

Took the words right outta my mouth!!!

Well I have 3700 miles on now, it is a BLAST!!! Went to madbikers for the weekend with Sally on back, had a swell time. ( Found the best road in PA, the northern part of Rt 125.) Had a business trip to Ithaca last Wednesday, 400 miles round trip, took the FZ with my boss and his Buell. He don't lean much...

Motorcyclist magazine did a comparo in the October issue. One day ride at Laguna Seca, 2 days on the road.
Bandit 1200S
Honda 919
Kaw Z1000
Tirumph Speed Triple
FZ-1

Guess which one won?

It had the most HP and 2nd torque - 125 and 72.5 (must be California model, mine has 143 HP) and borrows a lot from the R1.

I tried on the Kaw and the Honda; I didn't fit on either, and Sally didn't fit on back either. The Bandit would of course be fine, it is most like the XS, big, long, but a bit dated compared to the others. (Not a bad thing. I almost bought sixtysix's Bandit.) As you can see in the photos, it does tour very well.
Other than it being the bike Sally and I fit on when I was trying them out, the two things that impress the most are the very well mannered but totally awesome amount of power that is available, and "I don't slow down in corners anymore."

I absolutely made the right choice! And you can't beat the price.

By the way, they are not "naked" bikes anymore, they are "Sport Standards."

[MartyA]

Sorry it was Rider magazine. Motorcyclist also did a comparo and included the FZ-1, don't know the results of that.

[bandet01]

nice looking bike i thought about one but i changed my kind

[MartyA]

I am not at all sorry I bought it. It is a blast every time I get on. I have to make some adjustment to the rear shock, though. It is cranked up all the way but it is still just a skosh too soft. I scraped the can a couple of times in GA last month....