Faults:

It's not a flaw, but the motorcycle is too heavy (over 400 kg), which makes it difficult to handle for those who have never ridden a motorcycle of this type.

The air suspension is good and very smooth, but it may not be firm enough for cornering, reducing safety.

Spare parts are quite expensive and difficult to find; it will depend a lot on your search whether the nearest dealer can help you. The necessary maintenance for the motorcycle is complex; the V4 engine with four carburetors and the hidden wiring make servicing complicated.

General Comments:

It's a classic and robust touring motorcycle, ideal for those who prioritize comfort on long journeys and appreciate a traditional style. It's truly comfortable, and on highway trips, it delivers a very smooth and serene ride. Deep side cases and a very spacious trunk with great capacity.

As I mentioned before, its weight, the complexity of its mechanics, and the lack of modern technology make it less suitable for novice riders or those seeking sportier performance (which isn't my case).

The leg fairings work well and keep the cold out on long journeys. My wife finds the bike very comfortable, mainly because of the seat, but also because the V4 transmits less vibration to the backrest. The final drive is very easy to maintain.

The V4 engine is very reliable, in accordance with all Yamaha engines; they are made to last a very long time if you perform the necessary maintenance. It has very good performance at low revolutions, but its power is somewhat lacking, which negatively impacts its top speed (it does not exceed 180 km/h).

In terms of safety, the motorcycle is safe, but it's true that, being a relatively new model (it's from 2008), it lacks ABS and traction control. While the suspension is good, it can feel a bit unstable in corners, obviously depending on how you ride it. It's a motorcycle meant for relaxed and easy riding, enjoying the scenery, nothing more. In that sense, it will give you a lot of pleasure.

Faults:

The cruise cancel button quit at 15,000 miles and was repaired under warranty.

Radio had issue with cutting out, and was repaired under warranty.

The design on the air filter covers needs some changing.

General Comments:

This is a great bike only if you like to ride long distances. Not great for "hopping" around town as it is massive.

The comfort and reliability have been great, with ample storage for a week at a time (or more).

Handling is very good, even though it is a big bike. With all the luxuries such as the CB and radio with IPod connection, the miles are very enjoyable.

The fairing and windshield do a great job of protecting you in the rain, and if you ride, you will ride in the rain.

Faults:

So far the only things to go wrong with the motorcycle have been premature tire wear. Replaced the stock Dunlops with Metzeler ME880 tires - awesome upgrade.

Replace the final drive - covered under the dealer warranty.

Replace the clutch basket - covered under the warranty.

General Comments:

After riding a Suzuki Intruder LS for 6 months, I was so frustrated at the lousy performance that I stopped into a Yamaha dealer to look around. I sat on a 99 Venture that was a dealer left over. I traded the Suzuki and bought the Venture with the CD option for $13,000, about $3,000 off the original price.

This bike handles like a dream and is exceptionally comfortable, I am 6'4" and 360 lbs and this bike fits me well, more comfortable than any other big bike I have tried.

The power is amazing, it is a v4 with 99HP, I can go 120 in 4th gear on this heavy machine.

The stereo system rocks on this bike, the only drawback is that the CD player skips on bumpy roads, so I use tapes or my MP3 player which plugs into a built in auxiliary jack.

You can't beat Yamaha's 5 year warranty/roadside assistance program- simply the best around.

Faults:

The bolts for the rear trunk mounting brackets vibrate loose on nearly every ride. I put some Loc-Tite on the threads when I was last tinkering with the bike overall, so this may have solved the problem.

The rear trunk bottom had stress cracks around the mounting bolts (this was a service recall only if you found them on your own bike). Bought a kit from Yamaha for $25.00 to help minimize vibration-related cracks from spreading further.

General Comments:

Very comfortable ride for such a heavy machine (well over 800 pounds). Long rides produce no fatigue as there is ample room to shift your feet on the floorboards. Good wind protection, too.

Lots of space in the saddlebags and trunk for bringing everything you'd need along with you.

The windshield is on the tall side, forcing you to look through it all the time unless you are taller than 6'6" (I'm 5'10"). Aftermarket/shorter shields are available, though.