1st yamaha stratoliner s

Give it a chance

JVC,

You may just need to get used to the differences on the new bike. I don't think maintenance is any harder or more expensive then any other bike. I consider the three drain plugs a small issue. Use the short style box end wrenches and you can get to them easily. A lift will get the bike to a level easer to work on but, I do not have one. A jack will not help because a jack will always be in the way of one of the drain plugs. I have laid Three 2 X 10's on the floor to gain that extra inch and a half. A couple of flat pans will solve the problem of the three plugs and filter. The $150 sounds really high. Maybe as Bowhunter said although a complete first service will be more than that.

Valkyrie is definitely a nice bike. Never rode one but have ridden with one. Not a cruiser, definitely a different type of bike. May be to late if that is what you want. Guess you will either need to deal with it or loose a bunch of money. Six cylinder, heaver, more power, smoother, Nice bike. A little more money.

Parts and accessories are like any other bike. Expensive, If you shop around you may find some less than others. Maintenance is pretty much like most bikes. Oil changes and other changes not much different. Valve adjustment checks seem a little more often but they are way over stated. I had mine checked once in 42,000 miles after the first service. They did not need adjusted. Hourly rates are the same. You will find they have gone up a lot since you bought the Valkyrie. The wheel hub and brake do get in the way of checking air. I bought one of those cheap electronic gages. Seems to get in there OK. Sometimes I do hold the valve stem just a little forward to make it easer. You will not have any problem after you get used to it, I don't.

The seat on many cruisers seem to be not the greatest for long halls. I believe they are trying to get the bike lower. I went to a Mustang seat. Is about an inch higher. Not the first one to do that on just about any cruiser. The posture of the rider is different on a cruiser. You can change handlebars and seats to change position. If not you will just get used to it.

There is a bunch of happy Liner owners out there just like most other bikes. Give it a chance and you will be one too. It is not a poorly designed bike on the contrary I am very happy with my bike. Repair costs are not an issue because it has needed none. Rates and frequency are no different than any other bike.
Dave

Lack of initial investigation

jcv00fc said:

I've purchased a new stratoliner s 2007....from what I've learned from this bike..is that it is not user friendly...maintenance is a joke..oil change cannot be done unless you purchase a cycle lift..it has 3 drain plugs...1 hr to do a oil change...the dealer wants 150 bucks to do it...this will be my only and last yamaha..before this bike I sold a 2000 Valkyrie.Interstate...now that was a bike!!Loved it to death...why I sold it..I'll never know....parts are a rip off..I guess all parts are..custom made I guess...there should be site for average maintenance cost before buying a certain bike like they do for cars...I hate to say ....I'm not happy with this purchase..biggest mistake in my life...bike looks great...that's about the best about it...the seat is lousy...and I'm not impress with the dealer network who are trying to make up for lost dollars by overcharging for everything......even the engineers can't make it consumer friendly....AMEN...Oh..by the way...try to put air in the tires...you cannot use a tire guage to check air pressure because the stems are too short and the rotors are in the way...you have to bend the stems towards you which creates problems to check..try it..its a joke!!!

Click to expand...

Dude, i'm sorry you feel that way. i think you were used to your Honda. this is a V-twin and they have definite differences, remote oil tank and so on. i have found there is very little maintenance to do. air cleaner and oil change. filling the tire seemed fine to me but i have a nice doulble ended pressure gage not the "El Cheapo" one position gage you get at walmart. if you had purchased a Harley you would be really upset. you would have to change the oil from the engine, trans and t-case and fill each individually. say i bought a Valkyrie, i could complaine that i have to monitor antifreeze, change shaftdrive lube and so on. you should have checked it out first. the internet is a great place to check. like i said the worst maint item is the air cleaner because of tank removale. otherwise it is no harder or easier than any other motorcycle. just different. i agree the seat is hard as a rock. there are ways around that. Yamaha knows most ppl start the modification process on there second year of ownership so they dont put alot of time into the seating because you will always find a better seat later on when you start getting fairings, hard bags, chrome do-dads. my strat has been rock solid for me so far with 11,000 mi the first summer. did you upgrade anything on your valk? i have heard the brakes are soft and they wallow in corners. i hope you warm up to your bike if you still have it. good luck.