[JaBo]

Hi ,
I am thinking about buying a 950 T. Does anyone have anything bad on this bike? I was going to get a 1100 but then I read about the oil filter. Another thing, If I can handel a 950 would a 1300 be better? Of course more money. Now does changing out the exhaust (like say a Vance and Hines 2 into 2) and air intake and a fuel pack really beef it up. And what do fellow members think is a 950 really enough. Remember I have been riding a 250 cc scooter that weigs about 345 lbs.

Regards,
JaBo

 

[steve foster]

5200 mls on a 950t. the only thing that is bad is there isnt enough time to ride! good on gas too 65-75 mpg. i dont push it 65 tops. sf

 

[Mad Max]

I've got the 2009 950-T and really like it. I took a 15 year hiatus, got married, had kids while living near San Fran and then Atlanta. Moved to the country in Tennessee and bought the bike, no regrets. Great bike for the $'s. I would want more power if I were going to ride super long distance with a passenger...I joy ride solo...it's great fun!

 

[GaryTJ]

not so far

My wife has a 950t and I have a 1300t
Hers can keep up with mine unless I am really pushing it hard.
She gets about 67 MPG I get 52

Hers is so lite that I feel like I could pick it up and move it while driving but it gets buffeted a bit with traffic. also grooves in road move it around.

My 1300 is like driving a cadillac. Heavier and more stable and just easy to drive, but requires more effort because of the weight.

I am comfortable on hers and I don't feel too cramped as opposed to her shadow 750 that I could not even drive more than 50 miles.

She can drive mine and loves to do so, but it is a bit heavy for her if she gets into stop and go traffic.

She does like the looks of hers better than mine. I like mine better, but then again it is customized for me.

Hope this helps

 

[TinyBear]

Looked at the 950 and the 1100 when i was buying. I liked the look of the 950 more than the 1100. BUT the 950 felt more cramped, and i did not like the lesser brakes for a bike thats darn near just as heavy as the 1100.

So in the ended i picked the 1100. Still think the 950 is a awsome little bike though

 

[Supercab95]

I luv the bike

I got my bike last year and put almost 8,000 miles on it. I did some modifications but the bike is awesome. I drilled out the exhaust and air filter box instead of diving in for new pipes and other expensive mods. I like the sounds better. Did it make a difference in gas mileage? Maybe a little, but nothing that great.
I ride with friends who have many different bikes.......HD's, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda and all different sizes. We keep up with eachother and the 950 doesn't cause anyone to hold back. There were even some friends who traded their 1100's in for the 950 T.
Hope this helps....IF I were to buy a bike again, I'd still stick with the 950. Heck, if the wife (war department - ha) would let me, I'd buy another one just for........uh, her!!

 

[GalenEvans]

It's OK for Two Up

No complaints with my 950 at all after 7,500 miles. We ride two up about half the time (total weight about 340 lbs). No problems or complaints, even in the North Georgia Mountains. I did change to a mustang seat for pillion comfort. And I adjusted the spring a bit stiffer with the little tool that comes with the bike.

Oil change is easy - spin off filter (WalMart has them!) and drain plug easy to get to with side stand down.

I haven't heard of anyone making exhaust or intake mods that increased horsepower. Given the computer controller fuel injection, I think it is unlikely that simple mods would do anything except decrease performance (without dyno tuning the fuel and ignition electronics). Mostly 950 mods are for looks or sound.

No regrets, just happy miles.

 

[1276-oldebikerfarte]

Felt like a Buzzzzzy ride to us

My wife took a test ride on a 950 when she decided to move up from a Honda Shadow 750. I rode with her on my Suzuki C50T.
Two miles into the ride she pulled over to the side of the road and said, "Ride this thing." She wouldn't tell me what I was looking for, but it was instantly apparent. At road speed there's a "buzzing" kind of high frequency vibration throughout the bike-- handlebars, seat, floorboards. It would drive me crazy on a long ride at highway speeds.
We took the 950 back and my wife tested an 1100 Silverado. That ride went for 20 miles, and the bike went home with us. Three months and a thousand milles later my wife is loving it. Of course, I immediately had to upgrade to a C90T just to keep up.

 

[zioo]

The 950 has the look of an air-cooled motorcycle because it is. The 1300 has the look of a liquid-cooled motorcycle because it is. It is amazing how little this means to people until they observe things on the bike that would make it look better, but are never satisfied. That is the first thing. The second is the location of the speedo, on the tank with the 950 which is cool, but instead on the 1300, on a silly little added on gauge that looks cheap but modernistic in the futuristic styling attempt. Strictly looking at power and managibility for the long runs, the 1300 gets the nod. The buzziness that someone suggested on their 950 was not something I noted riding around town on the 950. Women are able to handle both bikes with equal aplomb, but the 950 weighs less and parking, u-turning and garage maneuvering are much easier on the 950. The 950 has quite a bit of top end power for a bike that gets such good gas mileage. With the bags and windscreen on, it is a competent tourer. Around town, it is a joy as long as those bags are left in place. If commuting, the screen is needed. The 950 screen has quite a bit of research and development in it. Belt final drive for both bikes is the new choice for manufacturers as it is reliable, long lasting and transmits horse power without torque reaction or the complexity and expense of a shaft. All things to consider. zioo

 

[cruzn50]

OK, I'll throw my 2 cents worth in there. Bought my 950T last June. Love every minute I spend on it. Performs great. Ordered a ram mount for my Nuvi260 and a hard wire kit. Mustang seat should arive today. Only 'issue' if you can call it that, is that the wind coming off the screen catches me at the top of my head and a lot of buffeting. Waiting until I try it with the new seat since the riding position will change. May have to bump up to the 20" screen. I'm counting the days until I can get it back out! If you decide to get one, you wont be disappointed.

 

[drkhrse00]

I have been riding harleys and customs for several years now and just got my wife a 950 in november. I love the bike not to mention her. Its much larger than my softail and loads easier to manuver. We have added vance n hines 2 into 2 with a cobra fi200 as well as a LA Choppers air filter. I havent had the bike on the dyno but seems alot more responsive. When we ride together she has no probs keeping up with me. I have gotten the 950 to lay a nice black strip through second. Defifntly sold on this bike.

 

[danjiray2008]

I have 5,000 miles on mine and after changing seats the only complaint i have is the floorboards buzz around 67 MPH. Other than that it is a great bike, and I LOVE it!

 

[zioo]

Regarding aftermarket pipes, air intake and modules, both are available for the 1300 and for the 950T. Both will pump up the power and reduce the mileage and both will save some weight with the 1300 benefiting from the weight saving the most. With regard to power, both the 950T and the 1300 are adequate for just about any type of riding, but the 1300 will give more bottom, just from the fact that it is liquid-cooled and carries a radiator. Eventually, that radiator will add some maintenance. The 950 is air-cooled.

All of this said, I am a V-Star 1100 owner. With an oil relocation kit, which is easy to install, oil changes are a snap. Looks are not negatively impacted. In terms of rear-wheel horsepower and seat of the pants "go," the 950T and the 1100 are quite similar. Finally the modern convenience of fuel injection has more positives than negatives and belt drive makes tire changing on the rear tire of the 950 T easier than the 1100. The 1100 is a fantastic bike, don't get me wrong and I'm not doing anything other than riding and loving mine, but if I couldn't have my 1100, the 950T is the bike that I would get. All of that said, every bike mentioned, the 950 T, the V-Star 1100 and the 1300 liquid-cooled all can benefit from a PCS seat or a Mutang seat and this change makes each of these mounts the best in motorcycling in their class--Zioo

 

[Tonydtiger1971]

Hi,


Got the 950T for Christmas and love the bike, upgrading from a Suzuki 650 so any buzzing it has when hitting the Hwy (Ga400) is nowhere near what the 650 had. The only problem I have with it right now is that the oil light keeps coming on after the 600 mile tune-up. The dealership told me that the V-star family has this problem and it usually stops after 30 miles, 120 miles later and it doesn't happen as often but it does happen every so often. I keep checking the oil and it has plenty so any suggestions? I will be taking it back tomorrow if it comes on during the poker run and give you an update.

 

[zioo]

This is a most-interesting development. It could mean a passage blockage; a loose wire; an oil filter not changed when the oil was changed; or a number of things. The sensor might be faulty. There also could be a pressure leak somewhere. Check the drain nut for a leak and check for a new washer. Also check the tightness of the oil filter and check to see that the gasket on the filter is not defective. Find out what weight and type of oil was used. It was probably Yamalube, which for the miles on the bike would be the best alternative. Pure aftermarket synthetics should not be used for 2-3,000 miles. I will be interested to hear the outcome of this one--Zioo

 

[GaryTJ]

Keep in mind that the Yamaha uses an oil LEVEL sensor, not an oil pressure sensor. It is there to tell you if the oil gets low, not if you loose oil pressure. They have a tendency to stick. It has happened once on my 1300 also. I stopped at tapped on the side of the motor and it went away and has not been back.

 

[Number13]

I have the '09 950T and I upgraded from a smaller 250cc.

As far as negatives with the 950T, I am very satisfied and don't really have any to share. The bike shifts easily, with no surprises in power delivery and the weight is manageable. Yes it weighs more than the learner bikes, but this adds to the stability on the highway and makes for a more enjoyable ride.

I believe the 950 is a good size (in weight and displacement) to go to after a 250cc. This is my opinion and certainly open for disagreement, but the 1300 is a pretty good jump (in weight). I may have missed it, but alot of it depends on your size and strength. If you make a mistake on a 250cc, it's easier to correct than on a heavier bike.

I think the most important thing is that you're comfortable on the bike and confident in controlling what you ride. Which bike fits you better?

I was talking to a mechanic at the motorcycle shop where I bought my 950T. He has the same bike and much more experience than I have. He said the 950 was one of the most manueverable bikes he had ridden. I mentioned to him that I might upgrade to a 1300 in 3 or so years and HE said it wouldn't be enough of an increase in power to justify the upgrade. He mentioned a Raider, which is a big jump in cc's to 1854, I think.

 

[Tonydtiger1971]

Keep in mind that the Yamaha uses an oil LEVEL sensor, not an oil pressure sensor. It is there to tell you if the oil gets low, not if you loose oil pressure. They have a tendency to stick. It has happened once on my 1300 also. I stopped at tapped on the side of the motor and it went away and has not been back.

Hi GaryTJ,

Exactly where do you tap? LOL, I hit a bumpy road on a poker run saturday and it seems to have gone away. My concern was that it looks like there's too much oil in there right now. Yes, I followed the instructions on how to check the oil before checking it.

 

[zioo]

If there is too much oil in any motorcycle, it can make a negative impact in the shifting and cause other problems. Drain some of the oil, cold, and then put the plug back in. Then check the site glass when the motorcycle is level. Add fresh oil to the full mark. Start the bike. Run for a few minutes. Recheck the oil level. Drain or fill accordingly. Overfilling oil can cause some problems. Don't let this happen to your machine. --Zioo

 

[Sugar Bear]

If there is too much oil in any motorcycle, it can make a negative impact in the shifting and cause other problems. Drain some of the oil, cold, and then put the plug back in. Then check the site glass when the motorcycle is level. Add fresh oil to the full mark. Start the bike. Run for a few minutes. Recheck the oil level. Drain or fill accordingly. Overfilling oil can cause some problems. Don't let this happen to your machine. --Zioo

Very true, one nasty thing( amoung others) is with overfill you will end up with oil in your air filter compt. I do not know about other than stock, but that sure is the case with stock stuff. I have found just a hair below full works well.