Yamaha XVS1300 Midnight Star 4 year Review. 

Cheers Tim, yeah I gotta say I'm still smitten with her so there's no point in changing at the moment, so, you noticed it wasn't raining then, lol, about bloody time eh! thanks buddy RSM8.

Many thanks buddy, that rumble travels through ya body when riding, and I swear it's like having a massage, there have been times when my back as felt much better after a ride than before, RSM8.

Many thanks mi duck, yeah the sun makes all the difference, I've got to get used to it all over again now, lol, love the looks and the sound, but like most never totally happy and would love another bike, maybe a bobber or something, lol, RSS.

Cheers Ed! most appreciated buddy, yeah I love it too, I nearly bought the warrior that you have but someone wrote it off on a test ride before I got the chance to ride it, they're not easy to come by over here in the UK, again many thanks & RSM8.

Thanks bro, yeah, love the sound on start up and the feeling that travels through ya body, hard acceleration trying to pull your arms out of there sockets, lol, I turned the mirrors around to get the bike down the side of my house and soon realised I prefer the looks of it with them left turned in, the highway pegs make me so lazy, lol, cheers & RSM8.

Cheers bro, yeah I like all the Star range, the age well and it doesn't take much to keep them serviced, wow 15 years I didn't realise you had it that long, do you miss it yet, RSM8.

Absolutely Skeggy! I miss the sound and how well it run for all those years, it was (still is) a fantastic bike but it was time to move on.

Cheers buddy, Skeg was heaving that day, bikes and cars everywhere except for the top car park where I did the review, most holiday makers haven't found that one yet, lol, Thanks & RSM8.

I can't believe I missed your comment I'm really sorry mi duck, I don't always get notified, great bike wish we could keep em all but I've moved on the the big sister now, the Yamaha XV1900 just as beautiful with a bit more grunt and the same awesome sound, RSS.

Haha! Yeah the Yamis are sweet cruisers right through the range old and new, cheers bro RSM8.

Hahaha! cheers buddy great to meet you too, poor old dears in the shop, lol, I thought I'd already replied to your comment the same day you posted it bud, sorry! don't know where I am with youtube notifications just lately,

Hahaha! is it that obvious, lol, I gotta be careful the wife already complains that I don't fill her tank and polish her dials as often as I do the bikes, lol, her words not mine, RSM8.

Many thanks Vincent, I think so but then again I am slightly biassed, lol,

Cheers bro, yeah that smile and the feeling that runs through ya body on start up, man I just love it, as for getting recognised, it was a bit weird to start with but I've almost got used to it now, it's strange when you go to another town to a big meet up and you know you don't know anyone there, but someone still walks over and recognises me, lol, I forget that people know what I look like from the videos, they sometimes expect me to know them as a subscriber, not easy when you haven't seen there face, lol, Thanks buddy RSM8.

Many thanks Tex, TC&RSM8.

Thanks buddy, most appreciated, RSM8.

Hahaha! cheers bro, yeah I didn't realise it was that loud you could hear it over there, lol, there's not much I'd change now, I gotta admit I'd like another bike too but what? maybe a bobber, so much choice and so little money, lol, thanks Captain, RSM8.

Nice! I'm sure you'll be more than happy with it, I've looked for a replacement for mine but all I can come up with is the same bike but newer with less miles, so may as well keep what I'm happy with, RSM8.

@@SkeggyCruiser there is video of mine on my channel love it

Cheers bro, I tell ya those panniers took a lot of finding and a little play with photoshop before I actually ordered them, lol, Love the Thunderbird but it just didn't give me the same feeling, no doubt in time after playing about with trim etc though, very comfortable bike those LT's Thanks & RSM8.

I've no idea buddy, but I'm pleased you found it in the end, lol, yeah I must say I'm still more than happy with the bike so it does seem a bit daft to go changing, and I suppose compared to some it's still a fairly low mile bike at 21000 cheers bro, TC&RSM8

Awesome buddy, I wish I didn't have to trade it in to get the XV1900 that I have now as I loved it so much, but I really wanted the 1900, can't keep em all eh! does it still have the private reg on it, that's worth a fare bit and was a good bargaining tool to get the trade in price i needed, I've still got the original exhaust here for it, way to quiet though, Thanks And RSM8.

@@SkeggyCruiser No the private reg is gone now. Did you put the cameras on it? I'm trying to find instructions for it but don't know the brand name

@@ScotsmanDougal Shame about the private plate buddy, The Camera I used was my Drift HD1080, so the only thing left on the bike should be the stick on camera mount on the right side pannier between the back of the pannier and the rear mudguard, it's not a built in camera, RSM8.

@@SkeggyCruiser Ahh, balls. An owner b etween you and I has put a front and rear camera on it with a screen attached to the windscreen. I can't find the info for that.

@@ScotsmanDougal Bugger is there no makers mark on the camera then, I wonder if it's one of these Chinese front and rear camera combos I've seen knocking about on the web, by all accounts they ain't that bad, just not the best quality, but they are normally wired to a receiver box under the seat were the SD card goes and record whenever the bikes turned on, hope you get it sorted bro, good luck & RSM8.

Thanks buddy, the V max is a hell of a bike, and I love the looks of the Rocket 3 touring, not sure how I'd cope with that weight with my dodgy leg though, lol, RSM8.

Cheers Bizz, yeah sometimes ya just fall in love with a bike, lol, whats wrong with that eh! lol, Thanks fella, RSM8.

Cheers bud, it's not stock it's the Highway Hawk 1 into 2 slip on, I have a video on the install of it somewhere in the many videos I've put up, I do miss that sound, on my new bike, the sound is great but it's not as deep as this one, RSM8.

@@SkeggyCruiser I thank you. Now i know, my destiny lies upon an iron stead which bellows a sirens song. Rossi protect me :)

Hi Buddy, sorry only just noticed your comment, hope all has gone well today on your trip back out to Bulgaria 2000 miles wow lots of butt ache, lol, RSM8.

Hahaha! oh yes the suns finally arrived in the uk, about bloody time bro, don't keep it so long next time, I get recognised all the time now, but you've got to think how small our town is compared to where you live, RSM8.

Cheers Weggy, yeah you know that feeling, it's strange how some bikes get you like that, I've had loads of bikes where they were just bikes, but every now and then ya get one that just fits so perfect, no everybodies cup of tea, but I love it, Chaz is enough to make anyone smile and have a good old laugh with, top fella, RSM8.

Cheers Dean, yeah I've looked at Harleys and Triumphs, the Rocket was on the list but does 20mpg less than ours, lol, or so they say! like you say it's just justifying the cost, Thanks bro, RSM8.

Thanks Graham, yeah I think we'd all have more bikes if we could, one for each occasion eh! lol, the hidden camera is my old Drift HD1080, the good thing is I use one remote for both cameras, RSM8.

I remember when I got it, everything felt so different I wasn't sure if I'd made a mistake, strange how we change our views eh! lol, yeah I saw the chap at the end beckon me over, I though he was going to have a go at me for accelerating to hard in the car park, lol, Cheers Kev RSM8.

Yeah I know what ya mean, My mrs won't come on the back of the XJ600 but loves the XVS1300, as far as she's concerned the comfier the better, myself I just think she's been spoilt, lol, The screens are ok but if you get one at the wrong height it'll drive you mad with the buffeting on the top of your helmet, you can normally sort it out with the clear bits the sit on the side of the fork legs though, I found that this is perfect for two up, the smaller 800cc I had before did the job fine but the pillion seat was nowhere good enough for long journeys, hope you find the right bike bro, RSM8.

Thanks bud, yes they are the ones from Germany on ebay, I ordered them expecting them to take ages to arrive and three days later they were here, you could make them a quick release bag fairly easy, I have drilled holes to get to the main four bolts that go into the rear mudguard/fender makes it much easier and faster to get them off should you need to, Cheers buddy RSMF.

Hi Clive sorry for the late reply, I bought a lot of mine from Metric Cruisers www.metriccruisers.co.uk/ and ebay still got a brand new sissy bar boxed, needs pad and sides that you buy separately Thanks & RSM8.

Cheers bro, it's not bad at all actually, although she's pretty heavy on paper because all the weight is really low down, she weighs about 300kg before ya start to but all the usual heavy ass cruiser parts on, nothing on a cruiser appears to be lightweight eh! lol, you'd be fine so long as you're not wanting to turn it in a really short space, cheers buddy RSM8.

Many thanks buddy.

Your welcome buddy

Hi Alan sorry for the late reply, the bags are from Germany but as we know probably from China anyway, lol, I paid £98 for them from ebay they're not the best hangers but to be fare they do the job well, they just don't look like they would, I carry far too much in mine, tools air compressor and first aid kit, puncture repair and aerosol gloop type stuff plus heavy lock and chain bungies galore, camera gear and tripod, lol, still room for the flask and butties, here's a link, I can't find the original seller and the price has doubled in a few years, maybe they realised they were better than before, hope this helps bud, RSMF. pyramid-plastics.co.uk/products/customacces-touring-panniers-rigid-saddlebags-black-suzuki-m1800r-intruder-2006-2017?variant=31992945934454&Google%20Shopping&currency=GBP&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvbiBBhD-ARIsAGM48byOdff8c2ypzb8oW4oIDDTziu7-yTLr-ddvDS2HEwY0jTyXqqoWrF8aAtz5EALw_wcB

@@SkeggyCruiser Cheers mate, just had a look at them, they look ok...nobody seems to do decent brackets though

It's electronic fuel injection but can be altered with a power commander if you want to, I ride hard so when I'm on my own I get less to the gallon than most with the same bike, it's supposed to return 54mpg but I get less when I'm riding solo due to continuous hard acceleration but I get more when riding with the wife on the back as I ride more gently, it's an external oil filter and the original seats great, but I suppose that all depends on personal preference as we're all different sizes and shapes, lol, I'm 6 foot tall with a knackered back and knees and can ride it slow around town all day as the centre of gravity is so low it handles so well and to me at least doesn't seem at all heavy, love the looks of the 1100 but agree with the problems, not too keen on the 950 looks or top speed, mine tops out at 135mph but to be honest sat upright with an open face helmet it's quick enough, lol, the 1300 also has it's fare share of plastic chrome, but I can't fault it, and to be honest I didn't even realise it was plastic until it came to time to remove the parts to clean behind them etc, RSM8.

Cheers Nev, this much is true, however she's suffering a little after riding her through yet another winter, RSM8.

Sorry for the late reply buddy, is it the red one that was on ebay for £10,000 ? The value is about right if it,s in mint condition with a full mot, the problem with trikes is it's really only ever worth what someones prepared to pay, but if it's proffesionally built they hold their price quite well, hope this helps bud, RSM8.

Cheers buddy, the bags are Motea from Ebay, I paid £298 but I see them on there now for as cheap as £195 so not a bad buy, not the best brackets in the world but so far still holding well after about 4 years, Thanks & RSM8.

That was cheap :-) Thank you buddy

Cheers Keith, remind me not to let you get to close to it then, so you don't see the bad bits, lol, RSM8.

Nah mate the highway pegs fold it, but when folded it's tight but at least it does fit, lol, long time no hear! hope all';s well bro, no doubt your working all the hours god sends eh! TC&RSM8.

yeah busy boy lol im still kicking about getting into to trouble though lol

Cheers bro, you have a very valid point there buddy, I must start to look after her a little better, after all she's treated me right since the beginning eh! lol, it may be time to spoil her, RSM8.

Haha! not quite bud, 5 year is up in june, can't believe I've had the bike nearly 5 years already, how time flies when your havin fun, lol, RSM8.

Skeggy Cruiser not kiddin mucka! looking forward to the review! rsmf :-)

Thanks for the comment, the XVS1300A Midnight Star is a V Twin not a V4, The XV1900 is the V4, the 1300 does have a single crank pin like the 1100 and the 950, but because the 1300 is liquid cooled it allowed for running all day long in the heat without any problems, she's never let me down and I ride her in all weathers, I would definitely advise a test ride on one, you wouldn't regret it, just be ready for the extra power it provides compared to the 950 and the 1100, no dead spots and pulls like a train in every gear, cheers hope this helps, RSM8.

@@SkeggyCruiser Thanks. I did think it was a V-4, so to hear it's a V-twin is great news. I live on the Costa Blanca in Spain, so a water-cooled bike is better, especially in the summer! I'll be looking at one tomorrow, so I'll probably buy it now. Thanks for your info.

The lights are built in to the bags, just brake and night lights though, no indicators,

Cheers, Yeah I've tried others but as Sinead O'connor once said, "Nothing Compares" lol, Thanks Lee RSM8.

Thanks Tony, for some reason I didn't get a notification bud, so I didn't know you'd commented, got so many like this just lately, you're right in what you say, we lose so much trading in the old etc, if only we could just keep them all, lol, Cheers Buddy RSM8.

Okay ya got me, I'm dreaming of summer, lol, it must be that anyway, cheers Chris.

Hi Phil, they're called the Riderscan, not cheap but cover all the blind spots, very useful, Phil480 as done a review, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-713JoVTGZEk.html also here is their youtube page, ru-vid.com hope this helps bud, RSM8.

Hi Warren, I've got a mate who's 6'8" and 28 stone, and he's had a ride on it, he said it was the most comfortable he's felt on a bike in years, also Dean UK Biker Martin is about 6'3" but only about 14 stone, he put 6" forwards on the boards to move them forward to make it easier and more comfortable, here's a link to his channel if you want to ask him anything buddy, meanwhile RSM8. ru-vid.com/show-UCDZVpxi4Xtd2Z-LJxVE1Yvg

Thanks Skeggy. In the end went for a XV1900, pick up this weekend, can’t wait! RSM8 👍

Beautiful bike, I couldn't find one when I was looking so went for the 1300,

Cheers Darrell, oh you mean the bike, yeah she's a sexy black beast with a fat ass, lol, thanks buddy.

Hahaha! cheers buddy, sorry about that.

I got them from ebay buddy, here's a link hope it helps, www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hard-saddlebags-Delaware-33l-Yamaha-XV-1600-A-Wild-Star-XVS-1300-Custom/391992299121?hash=item5b448fce71:g:YI0AAOSwmepcBo2T RSM8.

Thanx for reply buddy

I fitted the Highway Hawk slip on, the two front sections stay the same leaving the lambda sensor in place, no need to fit a power commander that way, although I do know people with the same bike who fitted the Cobra, some fitted the power commander and some haven't the ones that haven't do getting a lot of banging and popping on the over run and less mpg, here's my fitting vid, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-doSnprp7X6A.html hope this helps, RSM8

This much is true bro, strange how ya bond with some and not others, I went to test ride a Triumph T100, and loved it, but soon came to the conclusion that If I had it I wouldn't want to get rid of this bike, can't convince Emma that I need another bike as well, lol, RSM8.

Hahaha! and how many other bikes have you had along side it to keep you happy, lol, four so far I think isn't it? CBF125, Inazuma 250, Duke 390, & GSX S1000, I enjoy scaring the tourists, lol, RSM8.

you got Me, lol I wonder what the fifth/next will be, I got a few ideas, place your bets. RSM8

Honda C90 with off road tyres, lol.

NO, that was Cat's last ride, lol

Hahaha! Cheers buddy, yeah I got to admit that without the baffles in she just tries to burst your eardrums, lol, RSM8.