48 | september | october 2017SHIFT- right now, riders have
two basic touring choices:
sophisticated-but-soulless
luxury machines from metric
manufacturers or tradi-
tional American V-twins
that typically offer more
“authenticity” than modern
amenities. Yamaha’s Derek
Brooks calls this the “full-
dress paradox” and says this
is the problem Yamaha set
out to solve with its new Star
Venture. “Why should buyers
have to choose between
traditional emotional appeal
and modern technology and
luxury?” Brooks asks. “Why
can’t they have both?”
The Venture combines a
comprehensively updated
air-/oil-cooled V-twin with
modern styling, a full suite
of luxury features, and the
most advanced infotain-
ment system on any motor-
cycle today. “We believe
we’ve arrived at the perfect
balance of emotion and func-
tion in this bike,” Brooks
says. We sat down with
Brooks and Venture Project
Leader Masami “Magnum”
Shinsho and asked them to
describe the process used
to create what Yamaha calls
the “Ultimate Confidence
Transcontinental Tourer.”
—Aaron Frank
TECH2018 STAR
VENTURE
Inside information
on Yamaha’s all-new
transcontinental tourerMCY1017_TECH.indd 48 7/24/17 3:35 PM