Suzuki Volusia Forum banner

I traded in my MUCH loved c50 for a V-Star 1300 Tourer

21K views 41 replies 25 participants last post by  PAC50  
#1 · (Edited)
I got the itch and no matter how much I scratched it, I couldn't get it to stop!
Last Friday I traded in my C50 for the V-Star 1300 Tourer. It was a grueling trip!
Left my home with the C50 last Friday morning on a 135 mile trip past the Charlotte area. Figures it had to be the first day I can remember in a long time where the sun didnt shine the whole day. Hit rain (on and off) on the way there and on the return trip, after hours in the dealership I hit rain on the way home, navigating rush hour traffic that was moving pretty fast, through the turns and twisted interstate area around Charlotte, battling tractor trailer trucks, cars going every which way you can imagine, all on a new (used) bike I rode for just minutes after leaving the dealership! I kept my eyes open, focused on everything taking place around me and just kept telling myself this is boot camp training for navigating 4 to 6 lanes winding interstate driving, in rain showers no less! I made it just fine.
(keep in mind I have only been riding 3 yrs, total of just over 8,300 miles and the C50 was my only bike)

About the V-Star 1300 Tourer, both cons and good!
1. I LOVE IT!
2. The tall gearing and what I feel is massive power is just right for the type of driving I do here on mostly wide open roads. It took some time to get used to the clutch, power and gearing.
3. The gearing is "tall" I dont even think about going into 5th gear unless I am above 60 (?) MPH which is perfect for me with interstate speed limits at 70MPH. This bike cruises and you do NOT feel the speed, almost boring for lack of better words!
4. There is the danger of getting speeding tickets! My god, because of the gearing, I am just humming along and do not feel the speed, I find myself looking at the speedo all the time and slowing down. Ride is smooth both for me and my wife.
5. When looking for a used V-Star 1300's I knew from reading forums there were some issues with the first production year in 07. So I focused on 08's. I think those issues were taken care of by Yamaha (clutch rattle and other things) I also KNEW the stock Tourer windshield set up was a disaster and made me wonder if the people that designed the bike ever took the bike for a ride before sending it out to dealers. How Yamaha could ship a bike with horrible buffeting with its windshield set up is beyond me BUT I knew that before going into this and fully expected to deal with changing the shield with a National Cycle OR trying lowers. The buffeting sort of ruins the ride above 60 or so, simply because it should not be there. I already ordered Memphis Shades lowers, will see if that does the trick once they arrive, if not, will go to National Cycle for a new windshield, no problem, expected it.
6. I find with riding with my wife, I barely know she is back there, even though she is petite, I do not feel the extra weight and shifting around she does. I would go as far to say, even though the bike is much heaver I find it easier with her on the back then I did the C50. Without her, yes, you can tell the bike is a little heaver but not as much as I might have expected. Smooth and refined is the word.
7. So far the performance has been flawless and I am very happy with the bike with the exception of the stock windshield, again, fully expected when I got it.

Details-
1. 2008 V-Star 1300 Tourer with 6,300 miles on it when I picked it up
2. Cobra Speedsters Long or Extra Long exhaust (more on that below)
3. Mustang Seats!
4. Tourer Saddle bags rock, they are huge, perfect for me.
5. Tassles *L* and Upgraded hand grips (I like)
6. Crash Bars, unsure of the make
7. GAS MILEAGE!! Oh my god. On my return trip of 135 miles or so, I got 52 MPG! I just ran through another tank of gas here around town and got 44MPG
Ok, Cobra Exhaust Speedsters long ROCK IF YOU LIKE A LOUD really wild sounding exhaust. I mean, everyone in the store was waiting to hear the bike start up again when I left, customers included! I will admit, it does sound cool, powerful, really nice crackle to deep sound BUT it's to loud for me long term, this is my cruiser and I knew ahead of time I might want to go back to stock exhaust, however I hear complaints its to quiet, I dont want that either, so I just ordered Cobras "Quiet Core" baffles. I read it will tone it down a little but not to much, sounds good to me and its simple to slide out the straight through baffle that is in there and replace it with the Quiet Core, just one screw for each pipe and 15 minutes.
Here are the photos and thanks to EVERYONE for their input. These forums are great!
 

Attachments

#3 ·
Thanks KingPin!
I think you know from all my posts in here that I started looking at the 1300 V Star then the Nomad then back to the V Star.
Maybe some in here are finally glad I made up my mind *L*

Without question the Nomad is a BEAUTIFUL bike and one we thought about carefully. Both my wife and I really liked it. To me, the Nomad is the king of kings.

We went back to the V Star for a number of reasons. Part of it was cost but not really the reason because I found a few good buys out there.

The other reason was weight, I was affraid of getting "to much" bike and not enjoying it around town as much as something a little more managable. This of course is just a preferance for us.

I could see, some super slab traveler preferring the Nomad or anyone else who is not concerned about a large heavy bike. I just enjoyed my C50 so much for what it was that I was affraid of getting to much if that makes any sense.

I am getting older too and really want this to me a long term bike, for around town and short interstate overnight trips. The V Star fit the bill for us. Gas mileage too, I knew to expect mileage in the 40's MPG with the V-Star abd know I would be more in the upper 30's with the Nomad.

Again, the Nomad to me is the bike of bikes for serious touring (cross country included) and I look at the V -Star as a serious in-between alternative between the Nomad and C50. Manageable for me, good gas mileage, sweet ride, lots of power, comfortable for my wife and hopefully reliable. The Nomad has been in production a long time and I am sure a VERY trouble free bike.
So ends my thoughts for the day *L*
 
#7 ·
Kinda wish my next bike is a 1300 too....

Image
 
#9 ·
Alarmguy, congrats on your step up. I hope you continue to be delighted with your new Star.

Know what you mean about the windshield. It's a peculiar thing, isn't it? But if that's all you need to adjust, you'll have made a great choice.

Ride safe -- and stick around. Many of us still hang out on this board even though we no longer own a Volusia or C50.

P.S. "This thread is worthless without pictures." ;)

.
 
#10 ·
Alarmguy , I knew you would like it , but i didn`t want to push you into it too hard . I get 50mpg pretty much like clockwork on mine. Like I said before , I have no more difficulty riding my Vstar 1300 than my C50 I once had . They will ride all day with the 16-1700 bikes, no problem. I would like to take a nice long ride with that Mustang seat to see if it would be an upgrade in the near future . Now you see what I mean when I say that Vstar cruises at 70, while the C50 buzzed . Congrats on the new bike, that is a sweet color.Those bags list over $1100 from Yamaha if you were to buy them separate. Jim:wayhappy:
 
#13 ·
http://www.buckslowers.com/ will help with your buffeting. The lowers are huge and they hit my cobra engine guards at full turn. It's a slight annoyance but they worked so good I had to keep them.

If you need more pullback on the bars, the Road Star Tour Deluxe bars are pretty popular and are compatible with with the somewhat tight stock controls.

Congrats on the new ride.
 
#16 ·
Oh man, I looked into Bucks Lowers but not much info on them AND the fact that I had to wait since I would need to mail him a check.
Ok, well, if the Memphis Shades lowers dont do the job EXACTLY I will return for the Bucks. Sound like more what I need. I could not tell how large the Bucks were from the photos. I think the Memphis will be to small. I wish I had known! They really work that good huh?

Thanks for the input, yes, I heard about the Road Star bars as well from someone else in here. So far I am ok with the bars, I kind of feel they are almost the same position of what they were on my C50... but time will tell and its good to know.
 
#15 ·
Thanks again, Woodsman! Again, I never needed a lower for a windshield but I hear more often then not you do. NO problem at all for me. Im a big fan of National Cycle Windshields so if the stock one does not do EXACTLY what I want off it goes. I honestly do not care becasue I already knew about it. Anyway, long story short, I got Memphis Shades lowers coming today and already know, no matter the brand windshield I am going to need lowers, simply cause the bike is so darn fast*L* Yes, I will stay around, people in this forum are great.

JIM!!!!!!!
YES!! You were so right! OH my god, Awesome bike. I am amazed at the power and the ride, so "refined". I HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING AT THE SPEEDO around town because I keep going to fast *L* I pull out of my community and what, 2,3? seconds later I am doing 50MPH ....
I find 50 - 60 boring! *L*
My wife and I would joke, you were so convincing about this bike, that we thought maybe you worked for Yamaha ... *L*
I was so concerned about the seating position being too cramped because one review from Motorcycle Cruiser said so.

Honestly Jim, everything you said about the bike is true and its exactly what we need for the type of riding we do. Thanks again for your input, it REALLY helped.
Im kind of excited, my quiet core baffles arrive today - Thurs, along with three Emgo oil filters ( I always use oil filters to make up the difference to get free shipping!)
Friday my Memphis Shades lowers arrive, along with 1 Bike Master oil filter (yup free shipping, so it is like getting the oil filter free cause if I didnt get the oil filter I would have to pay shipping!)
Only thing is I got company coming and unsure when I will get to spend some time this weekend if any with the bike. Ugh ... but thats ok, company coming is my daughter and looking forward to it.
 
#17 ·
Congrats on the new ride!

Star makes the best metric cruisers, hands down.

And the accessories from the factory, at least for my Road Star, had me only going aftermarket for a few things.

That bike should serve you well for a long time. And really, I don't know that you'll ever feel the need for more, unless you wanted to go full dresser.

A 1300 motor is about what the bigger bikes heave, without the bulk of some of them!
 
#20 ·
Alarmguy , Just a little tip . Even though you are set for oil filters for a while , you can pick up Supertech oil filters for the Vstar at Walmart for under $3 each . They are actually a good rated filter. I believe the number is #7317, but check their filter book at the auto department.
 
#23 ·
Oh man... I forgot, Yamaha is not a dedicated filter like the C50? ...
Yes, Supertech are good filters, use them on my boat. Some have quite a bit of filter material, others just ok, thanks for the reminder but yes, you are correct I am set for a while! I am sure they have to be the same size or larger of the rather smallish Bike Master I got in today. Tommorrow with the baffles I have 3 emgos coming. ummm ... wont need filters for a while. *L*
Got the new Memphis Shades lowers on this evening, seem to work GREAT, as posted in another post.
 
#22 ·
Thanks!
I let you know about the quiet baffles, I messed up that post!
Today (Thursday) the Memphis Shades lowers came, Friday, the baffles are due to arrive. Assuming they get here Friday, I am unsure when I will have the time to put them in but will let you know when I do, could be a few days.

Anyway, todays delivery!

Oh my, Memphis Shades lowers really work. I am a bit surprised, they are not all that large but REALLY do the job, these are my first impressions, got home from work, package was waiting for me, put them on and either I got very lucky in the way I mounted them or my thoughts on how they should be mounted were correct.
We will see, need to get it on the interstate BUT, without question, there is a DRASTIC difference in the way the bike handles and god, buffeting is gone! I mean, just FANTASTIC.
In fact, I noticed I was doing 70 MPH and forgot to shift into 5th gear, was so smooth I wasnt feeling the speed, did a quick run up to 80MPH and still no buffeting. I guess, if they were even larger I would feel no wind at all. But I need some air and they work great, boy, you need air here in SC today, temps been running 99 to 103 during the day and right now, Thursday night at 9:30 its still 84. My wife noticed a huge difference with the wind on the back of the bike as well. Anyway, those lowers, worked out far better then I expected and need to take a photo to show what I did considering I didnt know the first thing about where to put them, except my own reasoning, which sometimes is unconventional! *L* (yet that maybe good)

Anyway, very happy with the lowers so far, need a real good run to really make sure, yet, almost scares me, I mean how fast should I go to test them? I know there good up to 80 right now!

Anyway, once I am all set up, maybe need to make another run to the mountains, or the coast, or .. or ... or ... Ill figure it out.
 
#25 ·
nice ride, looks like it will do what you want.
 
#26 ·
if those cobras have many miles on them you may have to work at getting the baffles out, just remeber to keep your cool and keep wigglin and shaking them until the carbon buildup breaks loose, leave the hammer in the tool box :twisted:
 
#31 ·
Congrats on the bike, and safe riding. I had a two-week 3000 mile trip and saw the limitations of my black beauty Vol. My riding needs are much like yours. I too would be concerned about getting an 800-900 lb bike and the Vstar 1300 seemed to me to be a great middle-ground. I'm glad you are so happy with it. Enjoy!
 
#34 ·
Thanks midnight - gambit,
yes, the V-Star really hums along on the interstate real nice, nice tall gearing.
So far I love the bike and power, comfort too for both me and my wife. It came with the Mustang seats and also had them on the C50. Will never own a bike without Mustang.
Like anything, I dont look forward to real LONG runs on interstates and will avoid them if a nice rural road is available. Simply because no matter what bike all the turbulence from other cars and trucks can ruin the ride. Yet, this bike is new to me and yes, more comfortable on longer interstate runs but you always will have that turbulence.
This trip I will be on the interstate for a pretty good run, considering my past anyway.