New(To Me) V-star 650

[solorider40]

Last spring my brothers and I took a trip to TN. Of course i rode my KLR650. But I will have to say as I passed these guys riding cruisers I kept thinking to myself "That Looks comfortable". Well, after getting home I started looking around at cruisers and especially one that would be comfortable for my wife to ride. She never complains much about the KLR, but she does drool   over the seats on other "Cruiser" type bikes.

Well Last week a buddy of mine calls me and tells me he is selling his V-Star 650, with only 6295 miles on it. At 1st I said 'Nah, not interested, I want something bigger". He says "ok, well if you hear of someone who might be interested let them know I'm only asking $2500".   "Ok, I might be interested.

After a quick test ride, that thourghly impressed me for a 650, I decided to buy it. It has the "Silverado" package, with Factory windshield and sadlle bags. I thought, "What the Hey" We'll give it a try, if we don't like it we can always get our money back on the bike. So This weekend I will be the proud owner of a 2006 V-Star 650.  

[CWAY]

Good for you 

I bought a cruiser last fall and find myself and my wife ride way more than I thought good luck.

[rarepartbuilder]

congrats solo!
My brother calls the cruiser a lazy boy on wheels... and its really the buggy of choice on those long slab rides....just got to get used to turning around when the pavement turns to gravel

[reddirt23]

Those are nice looking bikes.  Pretty made too.  
I got a V-Star 1300 '08 a couple years back.  The only problem I had with it was major wind buffeting with the OEM windshields.  A lot of fooling around with lower deflectors and getting just the right windshield height helped make it a much moire enjoyable ride (not to mention getting good tires and adding progressive front springs).  
Have fun with it,
Steve

[solorider40]

reddirt, any suggestions on windshield hieght setting? I'm 5'9", what little I have rode it, it seems fine, but I'm always open to hear what works from other riders.

CWAY, I think my wife and I will probably spend more time riding on this bike. Just keep the KLR for aggressive type riding. Plus I won't waste my DS tires on pavement any more.

Yeah rarepartbuilder, it is a lazy boy on wheels. I don't know if I'm getting soft, lazy, or old, but I'm ready for some laid back riding with my wife. As for gravel roads, thats what the KLR is for. Just have to take note of where they are for a return trip on the KLR.  

[reddirt23]

Sorry for just getting back.  I don't get email notifications for some reason.  
On my 1300 I originally started with a tall touring shield.  I could not see over it, and had to keep it absolutely clean or driving into the sun was an adventure.  It also can fog up which was also kinda exciting not to mention rain etc.  I cut it down so that I can see down the road and it still averts the flow over my head.  The 1300 suffers badly from buffeting with any screen on I believe now because it is pretty wide and out front pretty far.  Thus a lot of air comes up under the shield by the tank and can really rattle the teeth.  I added lower deflectors and with engine bar chaps on it is negated pretty well.  Putting my feet up on the top of the engine bars in that space forward under the tank and it goes away completely.  
I am not sure if the 650 suffers buffeting issues.  If your head's not bouncing around above 45mph I wouldn't worry about it.  
As far as shield height, I believe mine measures 19" from the healight cutout to the top, whereas it was 21-2/4" before I cut it down.  The 1300 is pretty stretched out and low, and the shield is way out in front of the rider.  After a 2,500 mile cruise with the taller one (hail, rain, fogging) I imediately cut it down when I got home.  

[damasovi]

hey solo how do you like it? a friend has one, and now bought a g650 single and he thinks the bmw is a little small for him so he might sell 1 of his bikes, and I will love to "help him" for a decent price, but I wonder how is the power, brakes, considering the weight it carries...

My interest is for 2 up light going, you know, Sunday rides and maybe one day an over night stay somewhere over the mountains in a cabin (no camping stuff need it). I do not need this bike to be faster than the KLR, if it equal than I am fine, suspension? I guess it is not as good, but fixable  right? brakes?  And before hand I know my wife will have a lot more space back there so from there it is a clear winner (for 2 up)

Thanks for your comments

Damasovi

[solorider40]

hey solo how do you like it? a friend has one, and now bought a g650 single and he thinks the bmw is a little small for him so he might sell 1 of his bikes, and I will love to "help him" for a decent price, but I wonder how is the power, brakes, considering the weight it carries...

My interest is for 2 up light going, you know, Sunday rides and maybe one day an over night stay somewhere over the mountains in a cabin (no camping stuff need it). I do not need this bike to be faster than the KLR, if it equal than I am fine, suspension? I guess it is not as good, but fixable  right? brakes?  And before hand I know my wife will have a lot more space back there so from there it is a clear winner (for 2 up)

Thanks for your comments

Damasovi

I have only rode it around 300 miles, but so far I like it  Power is maybe a hair better than the KLR(Power/weight ratio) Ride is very pleasant at highway speeds, but a bit buzzy above 70mph. My wife likes the back seat, but I definitely have to get her a back rest. Brakes are a little weak, but like a KLR, its very good when you apply both. I'm still trying to get used to Floor Boards.

All in All its a great Sunday rider for my wife and I. Maybe even a weekend get away bike. 

[solorider40]

  Well After about 1800 miles on the V-Star, my wife and I have realized we are not cruiser riders. I don't care for feet forward riding position and she just doesn't like riding so far behind me on the seat. She actually prefers the KLR to the V-Star. I keep dragging the floor boards everytime I ride a nice twisty road.

  I installed a new rear tire last week and "what a pain" that was. You have to pull the entire rear end to change it and it has to be jacked up in the air to do it. With tube type tires, if we were on a trip and got a flat, we would have to call a tow truck and take it to a shop. I like being able to fix it along the road and go on.

  I think we're gonna sell it to someone who can appreciate a cruiser and look for bigger Adventure Bike. Maybe one with Tubeless tires and shaft drive along with a more comfortable seat for my wife. BMW GS or Yamaha Super Tenere come to mind. 

[damasovi]

    I think we're gonna sell it to someone who can appreciate a cruiser and look for bigger Adventure Bike. Maybe one with Tubeless tires and shaft drive along with a more comfortable seat for my wife. BMW GS or Yamaha Super Tenere come to mind. 

what a difference several hundred miles make! I would go Tenere, I think is the same, just cheaper than the gs (I have problem with gs people now).

Damasovi

[solorider40]

    I think we're gonna sell it to someone who can appreciate a cruiser and look for bigger Adventure Bike. Maybe one with Tubeless tires and shaft drive along with a more comfortable seat for my wife. BMW GS or Yamaha Super Tenere come to mind. 

what a difference several hundred miles make! I would go Tenere, I think is the same, just cheaper than the gs (I have problem with gs people now).

Damasovi

I'm with you on the Tenere! I really like that bike allot. Plus there are GS's everywhere around here. Almost as much as Harley's. I've not had a bad run in with any though.

 

[solorider40]

Well, my wife and I discussed it and decided to sell the V-Star  It's a great bike, I just can't do the cruiser thing. It's just not who we are. Plus I really don't like riding with my feet forward.

So I put the bike up for sale and sold it the next day!  :WoW> < I couldn't believe I sold it so quick and made a profit that will go toward a bigger adventure bike for us.

  Till then I'm fixin up the KLR to ride through the winter.

[damasovi]

great news! I think there is no wrong bike, just there is a bike everyone, we just to find the one (2 or 3) that fit our needs!

And I think the new owner will like it.

So what are you going to do to the KLR?
Damasovi

[solorider40]

great news! I think there is no wrong bike, just there is a bike everyone, we just to find the one (2 or 3) that fit our needs!

And I think the new owner will like it.

So what are you going to do to the KLR?
Damasovi

   Well, It fell over in the garage last week and busted the Center Fairing cowl and cracked the right side panel. So I was able to get Center fiaring cowl off of E-bay for $50. So I'll fix the cracked panel and install the fairing cowl to fix all of that.

   I'm thinking this winter I may install a 685 kit and maybe a Lexx Exhaust. She may also get a new set of Shinko 705's.  I have also been looking at the TCI Rack systems. I already have a set of the tour master saddle bags, so the TCI Rack would be a perfect addition on the bike.

   So I guess you would say I have a few idea's for the ole girl 

[MacGyver]

I think there is no wrong bike, just there is a bike everyone, we just to find the one (2 or 3) that fit our needs!
Damasovi

+1  Sometime we have to try a few out to find one that "fits" better than others. Part of the fun of it.