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!
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!