Yamaha Royal Star Venture

The Vmax sold in the US was equipped with a lower geared drive unit as well which gave it better acceleration but made it a feel a little "busy" on the freeway.

This is most noted in the "Midnight" version of the S model that featured Raven (black with silver metallic) paint.

The older flat panel seats were used on the Midnight models with the addition of chrome studs along the sides.

The seats on the Midnight model were changed to the unstudded pillow top design for the last half of 2006.

[2] Among the standard features are a trunk-mounted CD player, a full AM/FM/tape stereo system with integrated CB (not available on Australian imports), and electronic cruise control.

Volume automatically increases or decreases once the bike is mobile in order to compensate for road noise.

Swing arm motion is damped by a mono shock mounted in the center of the frame.

The clutch is of the wet plate design and is hydraulically activated by the left hand lever.

[4] The gear selection lever is mounted on the left side and is the rocker (heel-and-toe) style, sitting above a spring-loaded, hinged foot board.

The rear brake pedal on the opposite (right) side also sits above a spring-loaded, hinged foot board.

There are foot boards fitted for the pillion passenger that are also hinged but not spring-loaded, so they can be upright when not in use or dropped to the horizontal position for riding.

The front brakes are two-piston design, while the single rear caliper houses four pistons.

Shock absorber design was changed slightly in 2005 to incorporate an elevated vent tube to prevent oil loss in the event of a tip-over.

The factory-fitted mono shock has three-way damping, using a combination of internal coil spring, air and hydraulic fluid (oil).

Third party, after-market replacement units are popular with owners despite the fact they are more expensive than original (OEM), as they are serviceable and can be re-built if necessary.