1981 venturer

[1981XS]

I was arguing with my buddies the other day about the yamaha venture having an 1100 motor in it.......turns out i meant the venturer, so in my attempt to prove it to them i discovered that my motorcycle looks very similar...... I called Yamaha and gave them my VIN and they told me that VIN doesnt work in the computer (No Record) after they dug out the old books they found that my bike is indeed a Venturer....one that Ive seen referred too as "one of the rarest factory motorcycles" built.....just wondering has anybody else run across one of these bikes?
http://www.knowlesville.com/matt/mot...enturer_ad.jpg

[cywelchjr]

There are a few guys on here with Venturers, which are the 1981 "standard" XS1100H model. There are models very similar from earlier years that are almost the same that were basically dealer venturers without the larger tanks using either Yamaha or Vetter or Pacifico Branded Fairings, Bags and Trunks, and some are Owner created versions, some even with venturer tanks from junked venturers or from European bikes that got the same larger tank.

The Venturer was indeed rather unique though in that it's frame was different than all the other standards in being more like the special frame and using the special exhaust while still retaining most of the other standard features and body styling.

[1981XS]

Cy, Ive noticed a few people on here claiming 1100Gs as venturers, and bikes from previous years as venturers which after my conversation with yamaha this morning i know isnt true..... also they informed me that they only came in one color, Indigo Blue I was alittle surprised when yamaha couldnt find my Vin setup in the computer but I know one thing for sure.... my plans to Strip all the paint off and paint it a custom color might be going out the window now back to the drawing board........

[DGXSER]

Yep, basically if you have an H model XS1100, it is an 81 and it is a Venturer. If it is not an H, then it is not a factory Venturer.

[1981XS]

Yea it'd be cool to know how many were made but the "product expert" I talked to at yamaha said there are no records as to final number built, that they started and ended pretty quickly because the market wasnt there, my serial number is 458 so I'm thinking there's at least that many built lol

[cywelchjr]

Most likely. Mine came from the dealer with fairing and bags, so came in touring form, sort of a dealer venturer, but that isn't the real thing as the 81 H model is the only real thing, and mine is the Vetter flavor at that (actually as I understand all the 80's were really sort of a Vetter flavor, just mine actually is Vetter branded where some were Yamaha branded even though all where Vetter made (bags are a different story). I know most of the H models are L or S rather than plain H models, but I'd love to find an H myself as a second ride, as I'd likely hang a sidecar off the side of it given the larger tank and keep the 80G as my solo machine and daily driver but who knows, given that a hack can more easily carry extra fuel the larger tank might be better on a solo machine.

BTW my 80G happens to have an 81H engine in it sans the factory oil cooler which I am passing on to nate on this site.

[motoman]

1981XS, if tank and covers need re-done the correct color for that is Carbon Blue-Black, 2000 Toyota. A perfect match. There was some time ago a seller on the Bay offering the decal set guarenteed a match within .001in.

[jwhughes3]

Venturer decals

I did see the venturer decals on ebay for not too much $$ (I don't remember how much) but I had just taped and repainted my tank with the knee indents (see pics thread on "Surgery begins") and it wasn't too hard.

here is the auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/YAMAH...ht_1456wt_1165


John

[1981XS]

Very nice jw, I'm going to need a set of those,does anyone have any good sources for petcock rebuild kits? I wanna make sure that I'm getting all the fuel my bikes lil heart desires , I figure the innards on them are as old as the bike so time to go while the tank is off

[1981XS]

Motoman thanks for that color, my paint guy should be able to match that up easy enough....... Gotta get going on this, riding season is almost here

[natemoen]

Very nice jw, I'm going to need a set of those,does anyone have any good sources for petcock rebuild kits? I wanna make sure that I'm getting all the fuel my bikes lil heart desires , I figure the innards on them are as old as the bike so time to go while the tank is off

Georgefix on ebay.

[MaximPhil]

1981XS, if tank and covers need re-done the correct color for that is Carbon Blue-Black, 2000 Toyota. A perfect match. There was some time ago a seller on the Bay offering the decal set guarenteed a match within .001in.

Thanks Motoman,
I am saving up to get the tank repainted. that is useful info.
Phil

[rpgoerlich]

my serial number is 458 so I'm thinking there's at least that many built lol

My serial number is 1202.
Took me a while but I finally found the correct seat for it and it's comfy.
I've put 3.2kmi on it this since the rebuild. Gonna replace clutch/springs this month.

[1981XS]

It is a VERY comfortable seat.....and a spectacular riding bike.... I won a week on a 2010 Ultra Classic Electra Glide and I put 3000 miles on it in those 7 days, had one of my buddies trailer his 79 Special and my Venturer to rapid city while another buddy and I rode our Hardleys, got to Rapid and my dad rode my venturer and at points i switched between the two and to be completely honest the harley was nicer because the radio controls were on the handlebar..... kinda drove like a barn but the wind, ride and comfort level were very very similar between this 30 (had to pause to do the math there....I must be getting old) year old bike and that brand new (20 miles when I picked it up) Bike........ That lil yamaha blew me out of the water more than once on that harley but of course that didnt stop me from trying though

[xs11lover]

If you click on the xs info tab at the top of the page, then ads, then 81H you'll see a factory pic of the bike you are talking about.