[Dirtballx2]

No longer looking to upgrade because I have

I currently ride a 93 Yamaha XV535. This is the first bike I have every owned. I bought it knowing that is was just to learn on and one day I would move onto a bigger bike. That day is coming soon. I hope to move up to an 1100 or a 1300. I have done test rides on Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki and saved Yamaha for last. I rode a 950, which was ok, rode an 1100, fell in love with it, and still have to ride the 1300. A knee operation is delaying that test ride and my final decision. I found this site and it has been very helpful in making my final decision. I look forward to taking my first long distance (more then 70 miles) ride on my new bike this summer.

Thanks in advance for any guidance or assistance that might be provided.

 

[zioo]

Every month or two someone wants advice on the bike they are going to upgrade to. Price has been left out and other than a tour, no information. Without anything to go on, if you really want a bike you can fall in love with, get a well-operating but used XVS 1100 V-Star. If you want a bargain on a bike and don't mind the look of water cooling, get a V-Star 1300 which is competent for just about everything. If you like air cooling, get a 950T for a bike that is very well balanced and has a lot of extras. If you want the largest amount of extras available, there's nothing like a V-Star 1100. Decide on Classic or other model, though. Cast wheels help in one area: tubeless tires.--Zioo

 

[Dirtballx2]

Zioo,

Thanks for the advice. All three (950T, 1100 and 1300) are right in my prices range. I just have to test ride a 1300 before I make my final decision. I am leaning towards the 1300 for size comfort from what I have read. Most of my travel is on interstates so I think the larger bike would handle the cross winds and buffeting from traffic better.

 

[linerdave]

Tough choice

Dirtball,

My amateur opinion. The 1100 has that traditional look, a proven bike has been out for a long time. Lots of after market accessories and mods. Carburetors easer for some people to work on. Shaft drive.

950 about the same power in a slightly lighter bike with lower seat and center of gravity. Slightly smoother. Newer bike better balanced not as many accessory's. Fuel injected more modern smoother motor. Belt drive.

1300 Never rode one. But I read and hear it is in that newer smoother fuel injected design. Slightly heaver and bigger motor water cooled. I lean toward the bigger bike. I believe it also has the lower center of gravity and balance of the newer bikes. Belt drive, four valves per cylinder.

You might go to starmotorcycles.com and compare features. In the end only you can decide.

Dave

 

[Sugar Bear]

Listen to Dave, he always makes sense, I run an 1100 and love it, but that's me, the end choice will be yours. When you get "THE FEEL" you will know it's THE one. All are good, what fits you best?

 

[Dirtballx2]

Dave and Sugar,

Thanks for the advice. I have not fully settled on a bike until I ride one or two more models. Luckily, the local dealer is great and limits test rides to about 45-60 mins. He lets you get a great feel so that you are comfortable before you buy. I rode the 1100 and 950 the same day. 950 was nimble and quick but I liked the feel and ride of the 1100 better so for now that is my choice. Hopefully weather around here is nice in a week when my knee feels better and I can ride the 1300. I plan on riding it and the 1100 back-to-back so I can compare them. That is how I narrowed selection down before. Rode Honda, Suzuki, Kawa and Yamaha all same day and all about the same size. That sure helped to clear up any confusion I was having.

Thanks again and I will post pics when I make decision and ride the bike of my liking home.

 

[vstar23]

I have a 2000 vstar 1100 custom, put over 2000 miles on it since i bought it recently and like it very much. I havent had any trouble with it yet. It is smooth, starts easily, well balanced , and has many accessories. I have heard they stopped selling in US this year, but parts and service are still availalbe. I like it, enjoy your test drives and making the decision, they are all good bikes and will serve you well. enjoy and ride safely.

 

[Dirtballx2]

Vstar23,

Thanks for your response. I saw where it appears that the 1100 is no longer being made for 2010. That concerns me some as I hope this is my bike for a long time. I have been laid up after some minor knee surgery but am on the road to recovery. I will post pics of the bike I select when that happens but might not be for a month or so. Darn the rotten luck

 

[Dirtballx2]

Update: Knee healed enough for me to do some test rides. The dealer was great about them. He filled up any bike I wanted to ride and said see you in an hour on each one. I took a 1300 out and OMG what power it had, very responsive to the smallest movement on the throttle. I liked it but just could not get comfortable on it. Then I took the 1100 out again and the hour flew by. So the 1100 has selected me. I am waiting on word on financing (not from the dealer) and hope to get my new bike in the next week. I will put up some pictures when I ride home. Thanks to all for the advice and words of wisdom. They helped allot.

 

[Sugar Bear]

Congrats on your new ride! I feel you made a good choice, if you come to love your 1100 as much as I do, you will be one happy guy. Have a great and fun riding season

 

[Dirtballx2]

WoooHoooo !!! Got my financing, have to go to bank tomorrow, sign papers then off to the dealer to get my ride. Will post pics this weekend. Now to teach the wife how to ride my 535. She used to ride horses and atvs so this should be a peice of cake.

 

[linerdave]

Excited

Sounds like you might be just a little excited. Good for you.

Dave

 

[Dirtballx2]

Ok picked up my new 2009 V Star 1100 Silverado. All I can say is OMG... I love it. Luckily for me the dealer is about 50 miles from home so my first ride was not that short. It was sunny and about 45 degs but I dressed for the wind chill so it was not bad at all. the bike is almost all stock. The dealer installed some Vance and Hines pipes, put it on the dyno and the thing rocks. If you want some noise to your bike, I suggest these pipes. My wife said she can hear me from about a mile away and it sounds like a Harley. I will take pictures and post this weekend.

 

[farmalldanzil]

v star 1100

Dirtballx2. Just a word or two on the pep of the 1300. A buddy traded of a 650 for the 1300. After he had about 1500 miles on it, he wonted to (race ) my 1100. So we did and from 0-90 he could only get 2 bike links up on me.

 

[Dirtballx2]

Ok changed my profile picture to one of me on my new bike. I figured out how to raise the windshield so that now the top of it is just about eye level. I have yet to take it out on the highway for a test but rode around town in 20mph winds and did not feel them at all. Next is to relocate the helmet lock to a useable location. Also it looks like I will not have to remove the exhaust to change the oil filter. I think I lucked out there thanks to the dealer putting on vance & Hines pipes.

 

[zioo]

One warning to 650 and 1100 owners, particularly guys and gals who love to race, or should I say ride enthusiastically. That's the clutch. Composed of things like a basket, steel plates and friction plates and a pressure spring plate, the clutch on these smaller V-Stars is not all that strong. Slipping the clutch to get a hole shot or off the line big time will in some cases last one to three times before the clutch is nearly shot. The cheapest way to extend the life of the stock clutch is to put on a Barnett pressure plate as soon as possible. If this is done early in the life of the bike, parts expense will be minimal if the clutch has not been abused. Last, after I get my new Barnett Clutch plates and springs and pressure plate, I'd like to have a try at that 1300 with my Cobra Speedster Slashdown pipes with Powerbraidz baffles and Predator pro air and jet kit. While it is not tuned for max power, but rather a combination of power, sound and gas mileage this 1100 seems to run fairly strongly. It is loaded and clad with lots of aftermarket stuff and weighs a lot more than some of the 1100's. Let's just say like some other Star owners, I love this bike--Zioo

 

[beebop60]

Congrats on your new Bike..... It's a Yamaha so you can't go wrong