Running 0-70mph & cruising countryside on a 2002 V Star 1100 Classic with Vance & Hines Classic II pipes. Watch for more bike tests on my RU-vid channel. Don't forget to share & rate it if you like it
I have an '02 Vstar 1100 as well. It has pipes from an '03 Roadstar and it's pretty loud. Cheap upgrade using free parts from a broken bike! Always good to have a unique sounding bike. The Vstar is a very good jack of all trades in the bike world.
Great sound. I test rode this bike with the V&H pipes recently and you've captured the sound well (as much as speakers can reproduce it). I thought this bike was a good size and I'm 6'2" also.
This particular ride was on some back roads just outside a village called Lasalette Ont. If you're riding to Dover, head down to Port Ryerse which is close and pick up Front Road. It's a gorgeous ride all the way down to Long Point. From there you can pick up Lake Shore Rd & ride out to Pt. Burwell. there are about 65 350' tall wind turbines between Long Pt. & Burwell so it's an interesting ride.
@1vnman Hi there, Good questions. The clearance is good by cruiser standards but it won't compare to a sport bike. You should test ride one thoroughly before making this big a purchase. I've changed the oil without trouble. I put the relocation kit in, but you only have to change the filter every 14000km (oil every 7000km) so it's not as big an issue as it could have been. It's been the perfect bike for me but your taste may be different. The sound & feel on the road is awesome!
I love the sound of that bike, it is almost exactly the same sound as my Virago 1100S, not a coincidence as they are basically the same motor. I'm guessing by your handle and that you are riding lake Erie, you are in Ontario? What road is that? My friend and I are planning a ride from the Hammer down through Port Dover over to Fort Erie, to Niagara on the Lake, back through Jordan then Ridge road back to Hamilton. About 300 kms, looking for as many interesting roads as we can find. Thanks!
@94SexyStang I understand the science that says there's no performance to be gained by higher octane fuel, but I've seen the difference that switching from 87 to 94 has made in this bike. In the summer it doesn't change much, but it makes a big difference when it's cold out. It starts quickly with little or no choke, needs almost no warm up time, & has more torque at lower RPM's It's not much faster from 0-60, but I don't need to gear down nearly as often.
being interested in purchasing one of the v stars, which do you think would be more suitable for light/medium highway use? the 650 or the 1100. I heard the 650 winds up quite a bit. great video by the way! :D
@Mandorelian7 I would go with the 1100. I spent alot of time on my dad's 650 before making that decision (and made a video with it that's on my channel) and in town it's fantastic, but if you're out on a major highway and need to pass someone, it's a chore. The 1100 has no problem passing anyone anywhere any time. Also if like many you consider the sound to be part of the experience, you'll get alot more from an 1100.
I have the exact same bike love it still have stock exhaust what pipes you have on yours are they stock i am cosidering putting the exturnal oil filter on hate changing oil having to remove the front pipe,keep on keeping on bro
@jdoggreviews I have only one. This one actually. The Hyosung was my first bike, but I sold it, and the 650 that I did the video with was my fathers. I do know a few people with an interest in having me do a video of their bike, so stay tuned.
I used a Panasonic camcorder mounted on a tri pod which I stuck down my jacket. I plied it with 3 layers of foam around the mic before the ride to keep the wind from becoming a disruption.
@tonopahbubba when I made this video, I'd had this bike for less than a week & I upgraded to this from a 250 so my skills weren't anything to write home about. I still shift more than I likely have to but that's because I enjoy running it through its paces. That is one of the nicest of my everyday riding roads, but I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by places like this one, most of which I didn't know existed until I got a bike :)
@MrGeorge1029 I'm running Vance & Hines "Classic II" pipes & I agree wholeheartedly about the oil filter. I can't imagine why they put something that is such a huge pain for owners on such an otherwise awesome bike.
@youfan2222 I couldn't wear boots on the first bike I test drove (a Honda Rebel) because there wasn't room to fit between the shifter and the peg. Fortunately that's not an issue anymore :)
@osacrosacr2 Most people start out thinking they need something small and for the sake of the initial licensing road tests that may be true, but it doesn't take long to feel the need for more. I was still a fairly new rider when I got the 1100 and I felt the Road Star was a bit too physically big and heavy for me to handle. That may change one day but for now I'm very happy with this 1100.
@DeniskaFromRussia Using 87 Octane gas it's around 9 seconds. Using 94 it's about 7.5. The best I've ever managed (so far) is 7 seconds. I have heard of people buying aviation fuel from local airports & mixing it with gas to get a rating around 100, but I haven't tried that yet & I'm not sure if I will because getting the mixture wrong could be very bad.
@DeniskaFromRussia I'm fairly sure it could be done if a person knew exactly how to mix it, but I'm a rider not a chemist so I'm not going to try it. Small engines (lawn mowers etc) tend to run hotter on 'premium' fuel, & while the bike runs great on 91 - 94 octane, I imagine I would have nothing but trouble if I went much higher. As I said in another comment the biggest difference I've seen is in low end torque & cold starting. Speaking of which, I think I'll go for a ride now :)
@dks13827 While I suspect you would be fine, I'm considerably shorter than that so you should go test ride one at a dealer. If the 1100 doesn't quite do it for you, I've heard great things about the 1300 FI. I know a guy about your size who is very comfortable on his Vulcan Nomad 1500 so that might be worth a look too. You may be dissapointed going from an 1800 to an 1100 as that's a big drop.
I'm 6' 250 and while its a little cramped you should be fine. Its a lot smaller engine the 1800 tho. I have had no problem with the power though its there when you need it. And it does like RPM's. Its a Japanese.
1100 sounds good kind of big for a beginer but u will not outgrow it very soon my first bike was a 650 vstar i tough it was to big 4 me at first but after 4000 miles i felt like i needed more power so i went with the 1700 yamaha roadstar and i love it so powerful machine thats why i said go with the 1100! good luck.
Could be a bad planetary gear on the front of the shaft where it connects to the rod coming out of the base of the engine. Mine let go at 2500 miles after 4 years of use and I could not get Yamaha USA to stand behind the repair..wouldn't pay for the part or the labor or give the part(s) at discount and I talked to the head of customer service in Yorba Linda..There response was "It's out of the 1 year warranty period" and I kept saying "It only has 2500 miles on the engine, do you honestly expect me to believe that Yamaha cannot make an engine part that doesn't have a life expectancy past 2500 miles". Did no good. They would not move off the 1 year warranty period logic. I even tried the "good customer relations" approach and that had zero affect. The shop that worked on it gave the parts at their expense but had to charge shop labor...$2200 later...runs great and with the Hardchromes and the HyperCharger with the jet kit I am well over the standard 65 HP. But what really ticked me off is that Yamaha could not, in good faith, admit that an engine part should not fail in 2500 miles regardless of the time period. You will hear the wine when you back off the throttle and it is louder on a down hill grade..the sound will disappear or disparate when you pull in the clutch. However, it is a must repair because at sometime it will let go and when it does it will lock up the shaft drive and that is not a pretty sight at 70 miles an hour.
Bob Corridan Thank God you can go on social media and blast Yamaha for their lack of customer service. I rode an 1986 650 virago for years without any problems. To me they seem indestructible, and now, many...many years later I'm thinking about riding again. I saw an 87 750 virago on sale...guy says it's in excellent condition, listed everything he had done to it, can back up with receipts. I still trust the brand.
kunjidee..I still trust the brand and ever since the repair 5000 miles later it is rock solid...what with the Hyper Charger and the jet kit and the Hardchrome shortstacks this puppy flies like a bat out of hell...I'd have this 1100 over any Harley 1400...the only thing I'd like to see is a good after market 6th gear for the trans because it feels like it could use one more gear at 85..other than that no complaints...my issue was with the asinine approach that customer service took on what should have been a no cost repair to me...I mean you (Yamaha) warrant the bike 100% for one year or 12000 miles and I had only 2500 and you step outside the protection of common sense goodwill by sticking with the story that it is outside the 1 year period of the warranty even though the mileage is 1/6th of that which you warrant...good customer relations should have been no less than "will sell you the part(s) at cost and we will handle the labor by one of our factory mechanics"...can you imagine how far that kind of good will would have been towards the brand. What should have been replaced is not the part but rather the clown in charge of Yamaha USA customer service.
I agree; customer loyalty is everything. Im lucky I wasn't responsible for getting any repairs done (or pay for them!) but having the company go the extra mile is huge bonus points. I'm still waffling on buying the 87 750cc. The guy has it listed for 1200 bucks and says its in excellent condition. I'm pretty sure if anything did go wrong it would be pretty easy to get parts for this bike though.
kunjidee...at $1200 you can't go wrong but if the guy is local, I would go over there with several $50s and $20s and $10 not to exceed $1000....and then say "I like the bike but this is all I've got" and then pull out the $1000...reason behind the smaller denominations is because it make the wad thick..."I've one more bike I am looking at but I really like this one" and then see if he waffles....if he goes for it you now have $200 left over for any repairs..if he says the $1200 is his bottom best case rock solid price then give him $100 to hold it for 24 hours, go home and get the other $200 and return for the full price...never hurts to start low and negotiate up...makes him feel he is in control of the situation and not giving away the farm....when I sold my Suziki 800cc low rider (sweet bike and easily kicked the shit out of any Harley 881 Sportster) I had a guy come over and look at it twice. On the second time he said "I really want this bike...but let me talk it over with my wife"...when he said that, I turned around and walked away and he hollered "where are you going"..and I said "if you have to ask your wife, you're not a serious buyer" He bought it on the spot and came back later with his helmet to ride it home.
@DeniskaFromRussia I'm fairly sure it could be done if a person knew exactly how to mix it, but I'm a rider not a chemist so I'm not going to try it. Small engines (lawn mowers etc) tend to run hotter on 'premium' fuel, & while the bike runs great on 91 - 94 octane, I imagine I would have nothing but trouble if I went much higher. As I said in another comment the biggest difference I've seen is in low end torque & cold starting. Speaking of which, I think I'll go for a ride now :)
@DeniskaFromRussia I'm fairly sure it could be done if a person knew exactly how to mix it, but I'm a rider not a chemist so I'm not going to try it. Small engines (lawn mowers etc) tend to run hotter on 'premium' fuel, & while the bike runs great on 91 - 94 octane, I imagine I would have nothing but trouble if I went much higher. As I said in another comment the biggest difference I've seen is in low end torque & cold starting. Speaking of which, I think I'll go for a ride now :)
