Cycle World Long-Term Update
CYCLE WORLD Long-Term Update
YAMAHA
VENTURE
Tour deluxe
YAMAHA’S VENTURE TOURING CRUISER is the most recent addition to the CW long-term fleet. Its presence fills the long-haul gap that was previously missing with our other extended-test Yamahas, the YZF-R1 and WR400F.
Initial impressions? Great windscreen, maybe the best buffet-free coverage around. Liquid-cooled, dohc, 1294cc V-Four produces terrific grunt, a bonus anywhere. Supportive seats, too, with plenty of legroom for taller riders. Top trunk and saddlebags are positively cavernous, though the former’s lightweight lid feels flimsy. Also, steering is somewhat high-effort,
a likely result of the fat Dunlop tires. That’s great for straight-line stability, but when the stock rubber wears thin, we may look into possible quickersteering alternatives.
Size-wise, the Venture strikes a pleasing balance between saddlebagequipped sport-tourer and full-boat luxury liner. Lane-splitting is okay, in other words. And when the road turns twisty, handling and ground clearance are such that one forgets that the Venture’s roots are firmly embedded in the boulevard.
Total miles:........................993 Next service:...................... 4000 Maintenance costs (including tires):......$0 Repair costs:........................$0 Average fuel mileage:............49.8 mpg List price:......................$15,999
YAMAHA
YZF-R1
Shock treatment
ASPORTBIKE AS FAST AND CAPABLE as Yamaha’s YZF-R1 tends to bring out the lunatic within even the most conservative CW staffers. If it’s not pulling a wheelie or scratchin’
footpegs, the R1 is likely to have coaxed its rider into exceeding the posted speed limit. Heck, the bike’s aggressive stance and knockout styling get the blood boiling while still sitting in the parking lot!
After about 5000 miles, we noticed our long-termer’s rear shock had lost most of its damping control. The Öhlins-style piggyback damper was removed and sent to DeWayne Jones Performance Suspension (909/6262751). For $175, Jones altered the valving, increasing both compressionand rebound-damping resistance. Overall length also was increased by 5mm for improved cornering clearance.
Keeping with that theme, Pro-Tek’s billet-aluminum rearsets ($320) relocated the footpegs 1 inch higher and farther back. Ultra-grippy Michelin Pilots ($453) completed the upgrades. Once warm, the latter are so sticky that the stock exhaust canister and left-side engine cover graze the tarmac at extreme cornering angles.
Will the madness never stop?
Total miles:......................11,340 Next service:.....................12,000 Maintenance costs (including tires): ... $1005 Repair costs:......................$175 Average fuel mileage:............39.6 mpg List price (1998):................$10,199
SUZUKI
SV650
Tweaking our Twin
WHEN term LAST Suzuki WE SV650, SAW OUR it was LONGin need of some cosmetic surgery. Road Test Editor Don Canet had dented the fuel tank courtesy of a flubbed stunt wheelie. Now, the bike bears scratches and a hole in the seat after tipping over during transit by truck. But that’s another story.
In the meantime, we’ve focused on the SV’s less glamorous bits. First up, the too-soft suspension. Progressive Suspension replaced the fork fluid with heavier PJ1 15-weight oil. Then, they ditched the stock straight-rate springs for stiffer progressively wound coils ($67). An aluminum-bodied 420 Series rear shock ($419) takes over for the steel stocker, providing both preload and five-position rebound adjustment.
Next to go was the SV’s hefty stainless-steel exhaust. In its place? Jardine’s RT-One System ($422). The 2-into-l system has stainless-steel head pipes and a polished-aluminum muffler.
This and a Dynojet Stage I Jet Kit ($63) added 4 rear-wheel horsepower and upped torque by 5 foot-pounds, so says Jardine’s Dynojet dyno.
Next, we’ll get around to fixing the gas tank and seat. As for Canet, stand-onthe-seat wheelies are strictly off limits.
Total miles:.......................4127 Next service:...................... 7500 Maintenance costs (including tires):......$0 Repair costs:........................$0 Average fuel mileage:............46.0 mpg List price:........................$5699
