Yuku free message boards

Lou, Yamaha will have their demo fleet in Myrtle Beach during Bike Week in May. I am thinking of going down there on Fri. evening of Bike Week so I can ride the V-Star Tourer early on Sat. morning. That maybe my only chance this year since Yamaha will not have their demo fleet at the Honda Hoot this Summer. Star Days is in Chattenooga in July this coming Summer, but I don't know if I can sneak another bike trip in this year.

Fred

I demoed the V-Star 1300 Tourer yesterday. It's quite a sweet ride. I am very impressed. Like ours T's it is very smooth over bumps and also very stable in the turns. I don't know if it leans as far as the T, but Yamaha has done a good job giving it plenty of lean angle when other manufacturers including Honda (with its VTX's) have gone for lower seat and floorboard heights thereby severely limiting theirs. That 1300cc Yamaha engine is also quite strong. It is very happy cruising at 75 to 85 mph. In fact, the way that it is geared you must be going over 65 mph to switch into the top gear which is fifth. This is one bike you are not wishing it had another gear. It is fine the way that it is.

Some things I would change if I bought one. I would need a wider seat with more thigh support. I would also cut down the windshield a couple of inches. It is even too high for my 6' 1-1/2" height to see over.

Yamaha always seems to have one or two things that would keep me from buying one. Their V-Star 1100 is a nice bike. It feels the closest to a T of any of the other 50-plus bikes I have ridden, but I would not buy one because its single-crankpin engine yields about 10% less power than the T and you must remove the muffler to change the oil filter. IMHO, the fatal flaws that would keep me from buying a V-Star 1300 Tourer are wrong saddlebag shape (not deep enough for my briefcase) and having to adjust the valves every 4000 miles. What was Yamaha thinking mandating that level of maintenance? If a bike requires 16,000 miles or more between valve adjustments I would consider owning one, but 4000 miles on a nuisance maintenance item like valve adjustment is not something I am willing to do. Otherwise it is a great bike. It is fun and comfortable to ride with a powerful engine. I would seriously considering buying one if it weren't for the shape of the saddlebags and the short valve adjustment period. If I get another opportunity I will demo it again, just because I like the ride. I definitely would like to take a week trip with one.