I have a VStar 650 and I love it, for a more comfortable driving position, remove the foot peds, put regular pegs and add a crash bar with pegs so you can lengthen the legs on the highway. Other thing i found, removing the windshield reduce a lot the vibration problem, otherwise it's a light bike with a big heart!
Pretty good and generally fair review. I had an 05 custom v-star and loved it. Vibration was there but not to bad. I put a DYNA 3000 ignition module, a hyper charger(which required jetting) and v&h pipes. The ignition let me raise the rev limiter to 9000rpm and also provided a more aggressive spark advance curve. All together it was like a totally different bike. I recommend the DYNA3000 to anyone with a v-star. It was the most noticeable upgrade I made.
I have a 650 Classic. Crash bars with foot pegs gives you different leg stretching positions for the highway. I installed an Ultimate Low Rider saddle, with the back rest, and I can stay on the bike all day. I'm 66 and have some lower back issues but that seat took care of it. The older you get, the less comfortable that OE seat is.
Okay, so my son and I just got back from a road trip from WV to WI and back on our 650s. 1500+ miles round trip. It was a great ride. My V Star was very comfortable and even loaded down with all my gear had plenty of power. This bike does everything I need a bike to do.
Loved mine. Me and the girlfriend, now wife, toured all over the country on it while loaded down with camping and cooking gear and supplies. Longest trip was 8000 miles over 5 weeks. Nothing fancy but it gets you there. Stock bike leaves a lot to be desired, but plenty of mods out there to fix most things like doing a good carb sync to fix the vibrations at higher speeds
How was it when it came to pulling with a passenger?? Did it struggle or did it feel like it had enough power? I’m new to cruisers coming from the sports bike side of motorcycles.
I have an XVS650 and love it. I grew up riding 650 and 750 twins and the Star 650 is nowhere near as rough as the older '60s and '70s twins (that were still great for touring on) but thankfully it's also not as sterile smooth as a lot of more 'refined' offerings. Although I tour with mine it's a bare bones bike with no luggage, no windshield, no floor boards or aftermarket accessories... that stuff just kills the whole feel of why I ride a motorcycle in the first place.
That's a nice ride. A little different than the classic I rode but at the core still the same bike. Thanks for the comments and the insights. I'm partial to the bikes that are less dressed as well.
My 01- 650 v-star rides great at any speed no vibs 70 on the inter'' state no problem i had some of the problems you spoke of took the wind shield off that was all i needed to do. good review tho thanks, i have have mine to Ky from Indiana and back loved the ride with some friends.
Any specific name or link to those windshield chrome plates that those bolts are holding? My bike is missing one (in the thumbnail not in the skinny ones in the video)
my 2000 Vstar 650 from day 1 in till 2012 I put 137,000 + miles on it , rode 462 miles in 1 day I wasn't sore at all well maybe my azz lol . for the money u cant go wrong .
I have a 2010 V Star 650 Midnight Custom that I got new and I love it. I use it for both local and long distance riding. I think it is very comfortable and smooth. I don't experience the vibration you mention at 60 - 70 MPH. Nor does she drag her foot pegs in tight curves. Perhaps the difference is that mine is a Custom rather than the Classic.
Very nice video. Your opinions are right on point, I own a 650 V-Star and feel the same way. It is however a very reliable bike. I ride it a lot through country back roads and ride it to work sometimes. The floorboards prevent you from doing aggressive turning as they will scratch on the pavement, so that's a bummer. Also for a bike with 5 gears, once you are in speed it feels like it needs a 6th gear, as I find myself often depressing the clutch and clicking up on the shifter looking for another gear because of the way it sounds. Anyway, I loved the video. Ride safe my friend. Thanks
scorpionchris85 Thank you for the comment. I agree, it's a very reliable bike that is great for back country roads and a 6th gear would do it some real good on the freeway.
As far as the floorboards and shifter, both of those are pretty easily swapped out. You can get standard pegs and highway pegs on the bars to stretch your legs. The shifter can be replaced or you can even cut off the back shifter if you wanted. Its a pretty nice riding bike
I have a 99 V Star 650 Classic and have none of the issues you have. Very light vibration, extremely quick pick up and go, and a pretty comfortable ride. Have no issues riding two up with my girlfriend and still getting all of the above with her on the back. I have no problems picking up and getting up to 75-80 for interstate riding getting up to 60 in just about 5 1/2 - 6 seconds. My bike is all stock other than removing the 1st baffle in each pipe. I don't have much of a problem riding for a few hours at a time. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
I've never ridden the Honda, but just looking at it in paper the Honda might be a bit smoother being larger. they both are shaft drive cruisers with similar seating and controls. but the Honda is going to be more money. I've seen guys get the Yamaha then upgrade and customize it look like the Phantom.
Going to look at an '01 tomorrow for a decent price $1600 Canadian, with 30,000km on it... anyway.. in 'Canadian numbers' I think its still a good deal. Can't wait to throw a leg over it. Thanks for all the info.
Dear AMAP, I just wanted to state that while I myself am a cruiser rider and I appreciate your reviewing the star 650. Myself and my spouse had to sell our 1200 sportster after attempting to do a 300 mile ride 2 up. Due to a birth defect in my back, I'm pretty much limited to the cruiser category. Would you recommend this bike for 2 up riding or could you advise another that is easily found for under six thousand dollars. Once again, thank you for the review on this much overlooked motorcycle. It gets tiresome finding reviews on the megabikes (over 1000 cc) but most seem to ignore the smaller displacement cruisers that were once the backbone of the import cruiser market (shadow vlx, vn500, savage/blvd s40 and the star 650).
You are welcome. I have ridden this with my wife plenty of times and around town and for 30 minute highway runs and no problems. I owned a Suzuki 800 fit a short time and it was stronger but way less comfortable. Depending on your size and comfortable riding position this could work as a highway machine with some extras.
Tankerman Thanks. I really enjoyed seeing my reflection in the tank. It actually has some metal flake and ghost flames in it too. This video is my biggest hitter.
The length of the Yamaha 650 V-Star is 96.5", the length of the Kawasaki Vulcan 500 is 91.3", do you think the Vulcan will have the same 'turning around tight corners' problem? Thanks!
Technician Times This bike would do it, I've gotten comments from people who have traveled 2up with this, but me personally I'd look for another ride. I'd get something 1000cc or so, which this bike had a bigger sister at that range, but Goldwings are built to do what you are asking and older ones can be found in my area at that price range. I've seen them with over 200,000 miles with no problems. My personal favorite is the Yamaha FJ 1100-1300
Correct no fuel gauge but they are very predictable about how far you can go until you hit reserve and how far you can go after you flip the to reserve. So you really aren't watching the odometer the whole time. They get great fuel millage.
Nice little review there man! That whole dragging the peg thing is a deal breaker for me. I need to be able to lean into corners sideways! I really think that would remove the thrill to some extent. I do think they look nice though.
Ride AMAP Maybe that bike has been lowered. We spend 90% of our time on back roads full of sharp curves and my 650 Classic only drags a foot board once in a while if I really lean it hard.
This is a good starter bike. The bars can tilt forward to fit your arms. The best bike really depends on what type of riding you want to do. Highway, twisties, just around town, dirt, gravel roads, etc.? Give me more info and I can give you a better answer.
Thinking about getting one of these for longer trips. I have an R6 now (won't be getting rid of, just adding to the garage) and it starts to suck after about 3 or 4 hours. I've done one 8 hour trip on it and I'll never do it again.
Not a bad choice. I have an SV650 and would definitely choose this over my SV for long highway rides. But, for me, a standard seating position is better and more fun, like a Nighthawk 750.
hey i just bought this bike as my 1st bike and im nervous to take it on the highway as im afraid the foot panels will scrape on exit ramps, do you think this will be an issue?
No there aren't bad at all. I just like to ride more standard bikes than cruisers. I prefer leaning hard into the corners. The floorboards have a break away so they flip up if you do scrub
Ride AMAP I have the '97 Honda Magna 750. 100cc difference from your bike makes quite a bit of difference and it sure scoots and pulls like a freight train.
Hi Sir, Your video is really good and helped me choose a better bike. If i need a bike for week end ride, and say run 200-300 miles, which is the best bike i should choose. Cruiser or Sports bike? Please advise.
The answer to that question depends on so many factors. What type or roads will you be riding? Highway? Twisty back roads? Are you aggressive or laid back while riding? What is you riding experience and age? Are you packing extra stuff with you? I could go on and on. If I was going on a long ride which was just highway sight seeing I would take a cruiser. If it was twisty back roads, I take a sport bike. If you have never been on a sport bike, take the cruiser, they are more comfortable and easier to ride.
Ever had shaft drive rear end problems with your Yamaha V Star 650 classic? I used to own a 2004 Yamaha V Star 650 Classic & had chronic shaft drive rear end problems having to spend $1500. to replace the entire gear case unit in back wheel just to get a new pinion gear with worn out splines. I had to replace the drive shaft coupler because the splines were worn out. Finally I got rid of my Yamaha V Star 650 Classic & bought a 2003 750 Honda Shadow Ace American Classic Edition with chain drive & never had any problems with it. After 7 excellent years it was time to step up to a newer larger motorcycle. I sold my 750 Honda Shadow Ace & bought a 2008 Honda VTX 1300R with only 7300 original kms on it for $7000. It's Pearl White coloured. By the way I'm from Kingston Ontario Canada that's why I say kilometers instead of miles.
+Kevin Marshall Driving style can inhibit the shaft drive on any bike. power breaking and trying to do burnouts, or shifting into the wrong gear often. The shaft components can twist and strip. That aside, as long as you drive the vehicle as intended, and take care to keep it greased, the shaft drive is amazing. New shafts can be expensive, but if you keep an eye out its easy to find a good salvaged shaft drive, just have to know what you are looking for. Have been on my v-star for 4yrs and 39K miles, so far. Aside from tac lights, had to replace my stator and regulator, both coils and plugs. and lots of tires due to nails in the road lol. But I travel working festivals and my bike hasn't been garaged since I bought it. poor gal lol.
+Xyphira Vos I used to pull a trailer with my 2004 Yamaha VStar 650 Classic which probably contributed to rear end problems. But the source of the problem began at the Performance Shed Yamaha Motorcycle Dealership because the grease they were using was always washing away leaving the splines on coupler & pinion gear bone dry. The 2nd time I replaced the gearcase rear end I had it done at K-Tec Motoservice an independent motorcycle parts, service & repair shop by a qualified technician that I've known for 42 1/2 years. He properly greased the coupler & pinion gear did the job right the 1st time took the motorcycle to Daytona Bike Week & Spring Break 2008 on a chariot trailer enjoyed my time there breaking in the new rear end & then sold the motorcycle in June 2008 to get rid of it to buy a 2003 Honda 750 Shadow Ace had it for 6 trouble free years sold it a year ago & bought a 2008 Honda VTX 1300R Power Cruiser with low kms low price & once again trouble free with no problems. I get much better service from an independent than I do from the dealership. The dealerships are crooks their in it for the money while the independants are honest reasonable, do the job right & care about their customers because this is how they make their living they can't afford to be dishonest.
Could you please tell me the manufacturer and model of the windshield? It obviously is not the Yamaha accessory. I love the width and height of it. Couple it with a set of fork lowers and you could smoke a cigarette doing 60 mph!
That is true. That shield is awesome in the winter. I'll have to get back to you the make and model. The make is right on the tip of my tongue but it escapes me. I'll check with my father-in-law and get back to you.
thanks dude.. very helpful. Those nagging questions about cruisers>>cramp on long trips? peg grinding? power?.. I watch your vid and conclude>>look great but slow and uncomfortable. I'll stick with the ZZR.. once you get used to power there's no going back....
Not so many these days 2022 infact going up in value not one on ebay as I speak which must speak volumes ?? I have one of the classics great bike very very reliable and will keep up with most even if only a 650 c.c.
im 6'2 300 pound and own that same bike mine has vance hynes pipes and hyper charger air intake it powers me just fine and I have no issues keeping up on the hwy with my friends Harleys only once have I scraped floor boards leaning and I leaned right over aggressively to do it.
Bay Liner I keep telling my father-in-law, who owns this bike, to get some Vance pipes. I'll now tell him to get a better intake as well. Thanks for the info.
Alright mate, first of all great video! really informative. but I have a cuestion. Im a 16 y old guy who weighs sturdy 132 lbs and measures in at 5,8 foot. i have had my Honda cm 125 for almost a year now and I have driven it almost every day. But now im looking for a new bike. Do you think that i have any chanse of driving this bike with comfort and security? Have a good day friend!
Joel Ruppelt Yes this bike will do you nicely. My wife is 5'3" and can ride this bike. It weights 500 lbs but is low to the ground and she never had trouble with it.
Awesome bike! I wonder if it is possible to upgrade the engine and transmission to a Harley one...that'd be awesome since I love Harleys but they are too heavy for me. You also sound a lot like a youtuber named Leadpin lol
HAHAHA!!! "Dont't tell him!!"" Oh man, self cancelling turn signals would be LOVELY!!! Fir the price she doesnt seem too bad of a bike, esp. for a beginner...maybe?
Well, it's really heavy. The low seat height is great for a beginner but the weight is a lot. My wife has ridden it and she's pretty short but said it is just to heavy. Great around the town bike. Gets like 60 mpg too.
I'm 5'10". If you read the comments below lots of people feel these bikes are very comfortable. The bars are adjustable with four simple screws so no worries there. Your concern will be the pegs/floorboards. Honestly, if I had longer legs I might find the bike more comfortable. You just have to sit on one and ride it around. Aftermarket parts are plentiful for these bikes.
Thank you for responding so quickly, in what way are the handle bars adjustable? is it forward/back or is it up/down? or both i tried sitting on one and my knees hit the bars when i turned the handelbars all the way, D: me having no experiense on crusers and have never ridden one was wondering if that might be bad when riding?
The bars roll forward and back by loosening 4 bolts in the middle of the bars. The only time you will ever turn the bars so tight to hit your knees is when you are parking and have both feet on the ground. While you are riding to make tight turns the bars won't be a problem. In the video I take a turn sharper than most people do and scrapped the floor boards. Watch it again and see I didn't turn the bars that much to make such a tight turn.
vstar 650s are great, my uncle put almost 100k trouble free miles on his before he switched to harleys which he has blown a few motors on... my problem with cruisers is you can't stand up on the pegs, so all the impacts go right into your spine. and the bars are too high and too pulled back so if you sit upright your arms are cramped. also they have the same problem as sportbikes, an unnatural wrist position
Sounds to me like no matter how much you ride cruisers, no matter the make, you just won't like them. Usually that's born out of growing up on Japanese 1970's dirt bikes. If that's the case you will likely never like cruisers. Oh well, to each his own.
Yeah, you could say I'm a bit bias.Cruisers are great for the highway though. I rode my dad's Harley dyna for at least a 100 miles straight and liked it a lot better than this V-Star. I enjoyed the Road King I rented to ride with him also, but for the money, I'll never own one. Now if I could find a Road King for 3 grand, I'd take it, but that will only happen in my wildest dreams. Like you said, to each his own.
When the reviewers are biking and their voices do not vibrate, means the bike is pretty comfy! IN addition, the reviewer here review more cruisers....!
In city traffic it makes a big difference if the cars around you can hear you. My personal experience. I've had more close calls with quiet bikes than loud ones. That and Hi-Viz colors. Colors make the biggest difference from long range and sound from close.
But have your ever ridden anything different? Compared to inline fours, this bike has tons of vibration and corners like a tank. Still a great bike, but it's a cruizer.
i can do do 90mph on my 2008 star 650 custom and i don't feel any vibration, you might have poor shocks or a bad bearing. i don't see why it would vibrate. sounds hazerdous, other than that good video. The customs do handle very well also.
Thanks, I'll look into that. It's not a hazardous vibration in any form, just a v-twin's vibration is different than an inline 4 or triple feel. Thanks for the tips on the bearings. I think the tires had something to do with it as well.
Thanks for the tip. While you're at it watch my track video where I'm going 125 miles per hour on the staights and knee dragging in the corners at Barber race track in Alabama where they race MotoGP. Feel free to give me some pointers on that situation as well.
Cruisers can rip around corners. Gotta learn that lean and counter steer mixed with body positioning lol ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-w4pQlFRiUOo.html
Nice comment bro, don't forget it's a cruiser, not made for the city and for everyday riders, I own a vulcan 800, and a aquila 250, the big "medium" one for cruising and the small one for every day riding, it's true that you are lock on those seat, when you cruise long distances, the trick is to put your feet on the rear pegs, when it hurts too much, so you bring your weight on your inner legs, relax your bottom and move the position of your back for a few kms. Or, you swap your original seat for a large n comfortable solo spring seat. Check my channel, I made it on both the vulcan and the gv250 and tust me, I ride long before feeling pain. The shame on drag 650 is that it is also heavy, same weight as the vulcan 800, but with half the torque plus a shaft drive that absorbs a lot of energy, so I guess it should not go very fast, but come on, at least much enough for the high way I guess. One other thing that is missing on all those cruiser, is this 6th gear, looks like conceptors of those bikes just built them and never ride them, when you cruise, you need this 6th smooth gear to take it easy, but well... just my opinion. Anyway Bro, You, take it easy see you.
Good point on the weight. I've heard this shares everything with the 1100 V-Star and the only way to tell them a part just by looking is the 1100 has dual disks on the front.
ya hear that??!! I'm not very good at riding motorcycles!!! I'm mad at myself I actually took this review seriously.. The least you can do as a reviewer is FILL UP THE GAS TANK!!! BTW, were you only able to be seated in one position?? That wasn't very clear.
1. Change the floorboards to pegs 2. Corner slower 3. Stop hitting limiter 4. Don't ride cruisers, you clearly hate them. You're not reviewing them from the point of view of the segment. All cruisers vibrate, corner like pigs and have more leisurely acceleration.
hahahaha amap , 1st ---- was the fuel turned on at the beginning ? 2nd the tire isn`t as big on your bike ? { what is it a swinn , speed hahhhaaa sorry ! just kidding you } but , the bike you are riding look very similar too the one I have , it is very comfortable on the back roads , and I do think I have the same style of seat , which really makes it better on handling , the stock seat was --- about the thickness of cardboard wrapped with leather ... I have gone on 2 hour trips and at stop lights I do stand up and kind of twist the buns back into place from sitting position ..
+frank younger I understand that, stretching out at the lights is a must on most bikes. Yes, the fuel was on, I just didn't realize I was so close to needing reserve. LOL
Nice review, I agree with you about it being more of an in town riding kind of bike rather than highway. I find that its running high RPM's in 5th gear on the freeway. But great motorcycle overall. Just picked it up a few months ago. Check it out! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HnP7tOOCS_0.html
I had my day racing the high banks of Daytona on a 250 Yamaha and other places . crotch rockets are not fun anymore , they will kill you quicker than a bullet . I like laid back , carrying the wife , relaxed mostly , making long trips with ease and at 71 that is where I am . Have to laugh when I see a pile of bike parts and bodies all over the highway , cause ai know what happened . Anybody can be taken out on anything with 2 wheels , with me at 65 or 70 and you at 180 , who will get there first ?
If you watch my other videos, I'm more into dual sporting and riding off-road. I would have liked a cruiser when I road over 600 miles from CO to UT though. The Dual Sport did the job fine but on the pavement a V-Star would have been nicer.
Well if you don't like cruiser bikes. One would expect this type of review. What surprises me is the dingbats that agree with you. STICK TO REVIEWS OF THINGS YOU KNOW ABOUT.
I ride with 6-700 bikers that have $14,00 $24,00 dollar Harleys and every one if them say that Harleys are not all that..I keep up with them on long rides..I have also riden Harleys and while they feel strong they are not worth the money..if you cant turn with that bike maybe you don't know how to ride cause I turn pretty easy
You've watched none of my other videos and have no idea how well I ride do you. Been riding for 30 plus years. I can turn on a dime on any bike. This one is just really low so you are forced to turn slower than other bikes. Check out my track day video where I'm dragging knees and hitting 125mph on the straights.
@@RideAMAP if a bike can do 50mph Im good..I am just a cruiser and at 56 years old had many bikes since I was 12...the way these idiots drive now days have to be extra careful..they cut in front of bikes every mile
Amazing how many people bitch & gripe & belly ache about a little vibration in the handlebars or foot pegs / floorboards. Go ride a damn HARLEY. *THEN* you will know what vibration really IS! *SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP!*
Obviously you are bias. I'm telling things like this for people who might never have been on a bike or for those who have only ridden inline fours or parallel twins, which are much smoother rides.
hahaha! All I am saying is *every* V-twin cruiser I have ridden, and I will admit it has not been many, has vibrations to them. As far as curser type bikes I have to date owned a Rebel, a Vulcan 500, Vstar 650, XL1200C Harley, and a Honda GL500. I have also owned a Vstrom 650, a Ninja 300 ABS model, and a Honda CB300F. Even the parallel twin bikes get a bit buzzy, esp. the Ninja 300 at anything over 50 MPH. :-D I have been on 10+ mile test rides of a Road King, a GL1500 ( now THATS smooooth!), Suzuki C50, Honda VTX1300, 2014 Ninja 650 (a close friends bike) and a Vstar 1300 touring model. I have not ever ridden any inline 4 bike. I realize re-reading the way I wrote my original post could have (likely was) taken as being, how to put it............an angry post? I assure you I did not mean for it to be. I was being snarky, and serious, but was writing it in good humor. I have and will continue to recommend others to your channel. I think you do good reviews. I stand by what I say though, if someone does *not* want to feel vibrations, they need to avoid V-Twin cruisers *OR* "suck it up!* :-D Peace dude.
