Yamaha V Star 250 Highway Climb and Simple Mods 

i downsized from a 650 i4 Suzuki to a virago 250 and i couldn't be happier, tough as nails, excellent mpg, and plenty fast enough.

Thank you

Thank you

That was a long time to wait to get out of storage. Glad it runs good hope you have fun, take care.

Good work mate

Thank you

You should have no problems with the sprockets on mostly level land. With what I had it seemed to run and have good power for hills. And the engine didn't seem to be screaming at highway speed. Lots of fun with add ons. Have fun ride safe.

They are the perfect bike

Thank you

+J Boy Yes the area where I live called the Kootenays in Southern British Columbia has some of the finest motorcycle routes around. One route along Kootenay lake is about 75 km 60 miles long and the speed limit is 60 km or 40 mph and you have to stay pretty close to that speed as it is a great leisurely cruiser road but has lots of sharp and funny sloped corners and some quick ups and downs.

If I lived in flater terrain I would have bumped my gearing up more but I found it a balance for me at 17/ 42. And yes these little gems hold there price quite well.

Krzysztof Blach Thank you for the comment. These are fun bikes, easy to manage and maintain.

Thank you for your comment

Thank you Geri

Thank you

Yes I sold mine some years ago now. It was a fun motorcycle.

The windshield I have was one bought from the Yamaha dealer. I think it was called National or something like that. I don't know where they ordered it from. It is a pretty solid unit but I didn't like the chrome band (which most of them have) around the middle as it blocks some view and collects mashed bugs. :)

Thank you

Steve Coe i am deciding between the 200 Bergman and your 250 ......

Usually the parts are the same for the sprockets. I ordered mine through Ebay and it has a year range for sprockets. As for the saddle bags they are Viking bags and usually they come with enough hardware to make due with mounting. I just added some support for mine. And since yours is a 2004 the mounting may be slightly different than mine. The only thing I really had to make was a little piece of flat bar with a 90 degree bend on either end to bolt to the license plate bracket for a signal light holder. Because I had to move the signal lights back to clear the saddle bag mount. Remember also that some of these bags can be just throw over the seat types for easy removal/use.

Thank you

The small bullet lights were bought at Canadian Tire. And then the halogen bulbs were retrofitted with LED bulbs from China. (The wattage on the halogens were way to heavy for the little battery on my bike). Sorry but I do not think that Canadian Tire has these lights anymore. There is a lot of newer style LED that put out a lot of light that are compact on Ebay or Amazon.

These floor boards were specific for the Vstar 250. The arm that came down was stock then the portion past the pin was the adapter that came with the floor boards. Just one item on floor boards, if you are not used to them they can seem a bit odd when putting your feet down when coming to a stop. My wife liked them but it took her a bit to get used to them.

@@Timealongtheway Thanks.

I took a metal bar roughly 3/4 x 1/8 as long as the back of the saddle bags. Then I drilled it out to bolt onto existing bolts on the fender and frame. I then drilled out the bar to line up existing holes on the saddle bags. I put spacers to move the bags out a bit so they were not right against the wheel.

This particular gear set did not require a different size chain for my bike. As I went up on the driver 16-17 and down on the driven 45-42 for size and the ratio was sort of similar. But if I went less on the driven I would have had to change my chain size to be able to have the same tightening adjustment as I started with. As for chain lengthening or shortening, it seems to be the norm to rivet the chain. There are removeable master links you can buy but I haven't seen much in the way of dialogue on why we shouldn' t use them. In the industrial plants master links are normally used but possibly there is something I am not aware of on motorcycles. Hope this helps.

I got the combo from the dealership in Canada. I don't know the manufacturer but it was somewhere in USA

I'll just give you a basic run down of what you want. Get a hold of a wiring diagram first off.Make sure you get a wiring diagram that matches the wiring color codes of your bike. Most tachometers are wired up similarly. It has a power input, positive and negative, from the battery and a signal wire from #1 cylinder spark plug coil input and a light input. You can tie directly back to your battery for the power input. If you do it this way put a fuse inline. I like to protect my wiring incase it shorts melts and melts all the other wires around if it didn't have a fuse. Next find your driving light circuit, usually easiest in the back of the headlight and tie the light into there. The tach light may also have a need for a separate negative or ground wire. As for the connection to the coil or trigger circuit It is located under the front of the gas tank and would probably be easiest to lift the gas tank to cut into the coil input wire as they come out of the wrapped harness pretty close to the coil or out of the trigger unit.

Viking bags, I had to add a bit of custom metal pieces to support them but here is a link. www.vikingbags.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw_MqgBhAGEiwAnYOAen74WWd8bcgWmX7b4p0LwGPqnkuM_gg58yE99QAk94RH6EitpXU6YxoCW0kQAvD_BwE

Wow you must like your bike a lot. I would think that the cost of shipping would be getting up towards the cost of the bike but I don't know your circumstances. If I lived in a country like the Philippines I may have opted for something like the Hyosung GV250 because of the bling factor and it would be easier to put on additions. But I am not saying the Hyosung is a better bike, just something I like about its appearance.

@@stevesplace3290 I can buy a super low mileage Yamaha 250 here for $1000 to $2000 Cdn. I never seen the Hyosung GV250 here yet but I am researching it now. I hope the big fender model is still available because of so much rain. Thanks for info

Kamfong Chinho The windshield was a dealer stocked item. I do not remember the make but saw similar models on E-bay. The handlebars are factory items that came with the bike. So if yours is different you could possibly order newer model bars to replace. The saddle bags were bought through Viking Bags online. They have many models and sizes. I believe I had ordered the smaller size for my bike. Hope that helps a little.

I have a website with some extra info sites.google.com/site/kootenayrideloops/

sonny fire I don't remember the make as I bought them from the Yamaha dealer. Sorry. I didn't have to drill any holes to install these items they fit not to bad either.

thank you for taking the time to answer me

Natascha Reich My bike was a 2014 which is probably the same. Saddlebags are from Viking bags in the USA. My bags were the smaller size . I added some made up brackets and spacers to position the bags where I wanted them. But you can probably just use the supplied hardware.

Thank you for your reply! Unfortunately, in my experience, the 2014 and the 2015 model are very different when it comes to measures for accessories...But I will go on searching :)

Have a look at a small Website I made. Look under Modifications. sites.google.com/site/kootenayrideloops/

That is a pretty general question so I can't make much more then a general answer. Is this a new bike or rebuilt engine? With my engine there is some cam noise and other noise but yours could be a lot of different things even noise transfer from some other part. Since it is getting louder I wouldn't go too much farther without checking what is definitely making the noise or you may create problems. Sounds like something coming loose or out of adjustment. Try to find someone with the same motor to compare noise. If yours is really noisy you should try to isolate where the noise is coming from then take it apart and check clearances and adjustments. One simple check you could make before anything is your valves, clearance may change with break in (but I doubt that is it). Valve clearances have changed over the years so make sure your engine has the right specs for that year.

I bought it on ebay but I don't remember where. It was specifically made to work with the Yamaha VStar 250

I went back in some info but could not find what brand the floor boards are. I think I bought them on Amazon around 2014. Sorry, but there should be a better selection on Amazon now.

That was my wife's 2010 V Star with the different handlebars. I had added a few different shots just for accessories that you can get.

Steve Coe oh ok, thanks for clarifying

Hey Logan I have a web page that has some links to where I bought parts at sites.google.com/site/kootenayrideloops/home/modifications-and-accessories Hope this helps

Joe Phinney I believe I bought it through Ebay. And that was a while ago so I don't remember a lot of detail. I remember there was different sizes and the one I purchased was made for the V Star 250. I do not remember price and of course that changes anyway. Hope that helps

The tach wasn't too bad an install. Just make sure you have a tach that works for the V Star ignition which I believe is dual fire. For wiring I spliced into the wires just before they go into the coil terminals. I did that just to have a short distance to the tach. I think what took me the longest was trying to decide where to place the tach so I could see it decently.

Steve Coe Where did u get the tach from? Do u have a link to where u got it?

Adam N I purchased it off of ebay and the link to this product is now not on ebay but there is another one the same from Sam power sport on ebay and it is called "MINI TACH TACHOMETER CHROME FITS YAMAHA W/ CLAMP VTWIN"

Steve Coe awesome, thanks

I am not sure how hot your area is. Take a look in the manual as it will give a pretty good idea. I kept what the bike came with oil viscosity all year long but that was probably a little thick for the cold days. A little thicker oil would do better for the real hot areas.

Yes 20W50

I never had any problems with my brakes for very quick stops but I never had to do an outright emergency stop. So I am not sure how they would respond in that situation. I do not know why they still have drum brakes, may be many factors here. Maybe send Yamaha a email they may respond on why they decided to keep doing it that way. Have a great safe ride.

Depending on what type of interstate. If you are going just over 90 kph or 60 mph up you need a bigger engine to be able to give you the extra zip to get by. At those speeds you do not have the power for quick acceleration to protect yourself or pass properly on frenzied freeways. Plus the bike is light and you may get buffeted more. I think a good test is to see if you can try a 250 out on your interstate to get a feel of how much power is left over at higher speeds.

I really want this bike to street ride and back roads. I may have to jump on the interstate for a few exits. WillI be able to do at least 65-70 mph. I am only 155 pounds and don't plan to load up on accessories. Thanks!

I am over 190 lbs and my 250 had a bunch of accessories. I went over a fairly steep mountain pass around 7% grade for long stretches. I was able to maintain 110 kph or 70 mph but I had no extra power to do anything. On the flat you may have a little bit extra but not much. Hopefully this may give you an idea of what it can do.

I am 6' 1" tall. If it was two small people doubling up then probably alright but it would not be very comfortable with two bigger people like me. I didn't have any problem riding by myself and the bike didn't seem to small to me.

jeremy hernandez The bags I got came from Viking Bags (online). I believe I bought the smaller bags to not look to out of place.

I purchased the stand-off brackets for a Yamaha V-Star 650 (you’ll need stand-off brackets so the bags can’t rub your wheels) then had to modify them a little which basically meant I put one end in a vise and bent the ends in about an inch so they’d match up with the bolt holes on my fender. This also requires moving the rear turn signals to the license plate location which requires purchasing another license plate bracket made for turn signal mods! I purchased some really cheap hard cased saddle bags (with keyed locks) on Amazon for around $60 The bags are plastic with a little chrome strip running down the side. They also have a small taillight at the back. I believe the bulbs inside the plastic housings are equivalent to an #1157 bulb. #1157’s have two filaments, one for running lights and another for brake lights but I just wired up for the brake lights so I’d be noticed better when slowing down. I then purchased and replaced the filament #1157 bulbs with LED #1157’s that had some type of built-in circuitry in (the base) so they don’t hyper-flash. Hyper-flashing is a common problem if you replace turn signal filament bulbs with LED bulbs, (the flasher “relay” doesn’t recognize the lower voltage correctly and causes the turn signals to flash maybe four or so times faster than they normally would. Of course I was using them for the saddlebag brake lights so didn’t need the “special” built-in circuitry but they were about the same price so why not? The “cheapo” plastic bags actually look really good on my 2006 Virago. They’re not very big but the Virago250 (Yamaha changed the name to V-Star in 2008 (I think). This is a small bike so little bags look perfect and not out of proportion on it. The bags are more “water-resistant” than “waterproof” so put everything in zip-lock bags if you want to keep things dry but hey, $60!

First off I don't have any problem riding my 250. I am 6' 1 1/2 inches tall and somewhere around 200 lbs. The bike has a few extras so that adds a little weight also. I don't have any problem with my size for this bike, but others may. If you consider that other bikes like a HD Sportster is almost the same size it doesn't really matter as long as you feel the power is good enough for you to get around.

The Sporty is quite a bit bigger... and is more "top-heavy"...Not just the power. Have you ridden the Sporty?

+NorthWest NW I meant that the sportster is about the same length but a lot more bulk and heavier for that machine.

Recursos Humanos Wow this is a hard thing to comment on as these bikes are quite different. As you say the status symbol goes along with a Harley. But casting the status symbol aside what are you using the bike for and how much can you afford. As for handling, though the Harley weighs more it is balanced well so shouldn't be a problem to learn the little subtle differences between enduros and cruisers. First off these bikes have two big general differences. One is weight and the other power. I look at things in a frugal easy to manage view. I like the 250 because it is light , nimble and very cheap to run. For me to run a Harley would cost more than my SUV for insurance, where as my 250 is around half that cost of my SUV. Plus fuel is quite a bit cheaper as I get 3.2 L/100 Kilometers where the Harley get (manufacturers specs) 4.6. I find the lightness good for around town as I can move around and park it easily and it doesn't feel like the weight will push me over. (The Harley weights about 255 kilos where the V Star 250 weighs 147). I have found that the 250 surprisingly can hold at top end highway speed pretty good. But with no extra power and suffers on the long steep inclines, as in mountain passes. You also have to plan a little to pass other vehicles at higher speeds. One added point is that though Harley's have come along way in reliability, the V Star 250 (predecessor Virago) has proven to be quite a reliable machine. I could go on and on but I think it breaks down to what you need and want it for. And when the status symbol wears off what do you want to be riding. I hope this helps you in some way. Have a good safe ride. :)

Steve Coe tks Steve ... quite helpful indeed ... have a good one !!!

+Recursos Humanos The best V-twin is a Hyosung DOHV 8 valve EFI 25HP 250cc sadly they dont make anything between 350-500 except a rip off 400cc thumper by yahama. If you indeed have a very esmalla pennies, get the Hog.

@@Timealongtheway These thoughts about status are interesting. I think Yamaha is gaining in status when I see the sell prices listers are choosing. Also I'd speculate a splurged-on Yamaha looses half rather than two-thirds value, compared to Harley. I bet your 250 sips gas, i have a yamaha 250cc in my Morphous, which- is a whole can of plump pink worms. Someone who wants to enjoy status would well served to buy an American Janus, enjoy it in town, and have another highway bike.

Thank you

+Tom Loes floorboards are a great added feature.

Yes I realize that changing jets will improve where the engine runs at optimum but I was trying to get a little more sound out of it without modifying anything, other than drilling holes. On my bike it did seem to improve performance very slightly without changing the spark plug color at all. Though I know it would be slightly leaner. Thanks for your comment.

I'm trying to do the same on a Suzuki S40. What's your top speed, feet on passenger pegs if possible, and leaning forward? My Rebel 250 does 87MPH indicated, but I recently learned that it's about 5MPH optimistic there. Just wondering if the +16cc of the yamaha makes any difference or not? The Rebel has been running rock solid for hours at Wide Open Throttle, without anything breaking or failing...

+Muranaman ---- I think there are too many variables to compare the two as the engines may be the same size but they are of a different mechanical makeup. Plus mine has different ratio sprockets than stock. The power curves of the Suzuki and Yamaha would be different with each having its best point along the curve. Therefore I don't think you can make a top speed comparison on whether or not it is a few cc's larger. Yes these bikes are quite reliable and rattle proof. Have a good ride.

Mine also have a different set of sprockets from stock. Can gain 5MPH easily by just changing the hopelessly undergeared fucker to a normal gearing! Stock the speedo on my Rebel goes to 83MPH. Modified to 87MPH. You can't find many bikes that are closer than a Rebel and V-Star (both 250's).

Now there is a trade off here. I am not a spring chicken either so when I was going to buy the bike I had to decide how I could handle this bike down the road and what was my intent on riding. I decided on the 250 because as I got older I could handle this bike much easier than a 650 or larger bike. Also I looked at where I was going to be riding it. I really only saw me riding mostly in town or on quiet highways so the 250 was my choice. The bike I really would have liked was the Bolt but it probably wouldn't have worked out well for me in the long run. And I really enjoyed riding my 250. :)

+caleb mullins single carburetor

caleb mullins e

I will get back to you on that soon just have to dig up my old ebay purchases 😊

Judy Stearns Where I purchased my highway bar doesn't exist anymore but there is a lot of the same item by other sellers just search for "Engine Guard Highway Crash Bar For Yamaha Virago Vstar V-Star XV 125 250 " hope this helps. 😊

Bruce Clark On my system both exhausts are joined inside by a connection piece. Yes the front chrome pipe down to the muffler is a dummy but the head of the mufflers are joined so they are both used.

Steve Coe thank you.it was my understanding from a yamaha salesmen that it was a eye piece only.i was a bit confused.needing a commuter type bike after moving to the ozarks and having a hyabusa on these roads would be a moot point in that a kid with good skills on a 250 ninja would never outrun you,but you would never get him out of your mirrors either.

P.S.very nice looking little bike.never knock a small bore(see C90adventures from Edward March)enjoy your ride and i hope you didn't take my comment as snarky.

yeah, really.

Thank you for the comment. Sorry for the music inconsistency. This was my first video that was put together like this. I realize now that music can be left aside as everyone's tastes are different. It has been a number of years since I had the bike, but I leave this video up as a lot of people like the Yamaha VStar 250.

The whole point was to not downshift to try to give an example of what power there is on the highway with long inclines. Thanks for you comment

Yo iba solo. Con un pasajero que ralentizaría mucho más.

Absolutely right, it all depends on what you need. If you are out on the main highways a lot then a bigger bike is most likely a choice for you. As I see it there is a bit of a trade off. Since I did a lot of riding around town and on secondary roads I found the weight of a bigger bike to cumbersome to much of the time so I opted for a smaller nibble bike. If I were to get a bigger bike my next up bike of choice would have been the Honda VT750RS Shadow RS.

@@Timealongtheway Agreed. !