Yamaha VStar 1100 vs. RoadStar

gmac

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Jan 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/26/00

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I am looking at trading my 1999 Vstar Classic (650cc) for either a Vstar
1100 Classic or a RoadStar Silverado. I've been very happy with the Vstar,
I just need a little more power.

The Vstar 1100 is shaft drive, 1063cc, SOHC, air-cooled 75 degree, V-twin.

The RoadStar is a belt drive, 1602cc, pushrod OHV, air-cooled, 48 degree,
V-twin.

Other than the engine and the drive system, the bikes are pretty comparable.
Styling is slightly different, but it really comes down to engines and
drive.

Any comments? Belt vs. Shaft? SOHC vs. pushrod?

kenklein

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Jan 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/27/00

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Check out the comments in Deja.news. Lots of unhappy Roadstar owners.
Complaints of weird noises and Yamaha "tough shit" attitude toward
customers.

Al Setzer

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Jan 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/27/00

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Check-out www.delphi.com/star_riders for comments on both. There is some
complaining about the RS's drive train noise and some dissatisfaction with
Yamaha's response. The VStar 1100 is built around the older Virago engine
and is about as tough as a bike can be. I've got a '99 VStar 1100 XS and am
very pleased. Most of the people I know who have moved form the 650 to the
1100 cite horsepower and two-up hiway riding as the reasons. Are you aware
that the VStar 1100 now comes in the "classic" style?

Al S.

gmac <gm...@uswest.net> wrote in message
news:3AMj4.468$ov1....@news.uswest.net...

Rick Nelson

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Jan 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/27/00

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I'll look at the deja information, thanks for the insight.

I had a few oil leakage problems with my Vstar Classic, but got great
service out of my dealer.

I'm loking at the Vstar 1100 classic, that's what convinced me to start
shopping again. I'm also considering one of the Honda bikes, but don't know
about the liquid-cooled thing.

"Demetrios" <n...@spam.here> wrote in message
news:3890f2f7...@news-s01.ny.us.ibm.net...

> On Thu, 27 Jan 2000 15:18:28 GMT, kenklein wrote:
>
> >Check out the comments in Deja.news. Lots of unhappy Roadstar owners.
> >Complaints of weird noises and Yamaha "tough shit" attitude toward
> >customers.
>

> Weird noises are a Yamaha trademark, ignore them. Tough shit attitude
> is too.

Demetrios

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Jan 28, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/28/00

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Demetrios

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Jan 28, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/28/00

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On Thu, 27 Jan 2000 20:35:28 -0600, "Rick Nelson"
<rick....@rfc.com> wrote:

>I had a few oil leakage problems with my Vstar Classic, but got great
>service out of my dealer.

It's the dealer that can twist Yamaha's arm. Having to deal with them
direct is stink-o-rama.

>I'm loking at the Vstar 1100 classic, that's what convinced me to start
>shopping again. I'm also considering one of the Honda bikes, but don't know
>about the liquid-cooled thing.

I dunno about the 1100 classic but the Royal Car errr star had been
pretty nice. Honda has legendary reliability but I like the new Yamaha
bits better as they are chunkier.

Allan Flippin

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Jan 28, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/28/00

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I just received the February Motorcycle Consumer News which has a
test of the V-Star 1100 Classic. They gave it a 3 1/2, which is
identical to the score they gave the Road Star earlier.
They tested a V-Star 1100 (non-classic) last year, and gave it a
4, apparently due to a considerable difference in performance (the
Vstar 1100 Classic has 3.5hp less and weighs 48 pounds more as tested.
The weight difference is largely due to the optional windshield and
bags that their test model had).
They also mentioned a three-day road tour they took with this
bike, along with a Road Star, and here's what they said in comparison:
"We expected the V-Star to outrun its big brother handily in the
mountains, which it did, but neither of us was prepared for the V-Star
to also rule out in the desert flatlands. Not only did the V-Star
out-accelerate the larger Road Star, but it turned in slightly better
gas mileage figures while doing it".

Allan

On Wed, 26 Jan 2000 18:44:20 -0600, "gmac" <gm...@uswest.net> wrote:

Jean-Luc

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Jan 28, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/28/00

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I just bought a 650 Vstart after having had a bike for almost 15 years, what
do you think about it? Any major problem?
Thanks.
JLC
French in Texas: http://www.villefavard.com/

Allan Flippin <ajf...@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:3891c627...@news.pacbell.net...

Allan Flippin

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Jan 28, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/28/00

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Having all the authority of somebody who spends as much time
reading magazines as he does riding (in other words, none), it seems
that the only serious complaint made of the V-Star 650 is lack of
power. If it has enough power for you, go for it! In my case, I
can't consider it because it doesn't have enough power for two-up
riding, which is a big priority for me.

Allan (who rides his funky old CX-500 and ponders what to get next
when he has enough money)

Some Guy on a Bike

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Jan 29, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/29/00

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kenklein wrote:

> Check out the comments in Deja.news. Lots of unhappy Roadstar owners.

They can't archive what no one has said. No complaints here. Where are
these complaints supposedly coming from?

> Complaints of weird noises and Yamaha "tough shit" attitude toward
> customers.

::shrug:: I personally know about 20 Road Star owners. Not one has a
single complaint so far. I've also never had any complaints about
Yamaha's responsiveness.

Daniel

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Jan 29, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/29/00

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Actually, I was at www.delphi.com the other day checking out the forums, and there is quite the thread involving complaints and Yamaha's lack of response.

Daniel

-- 
Life is a temporary way to spend eternity!

kenklein

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Jan 30, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/30/00

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My error, comments were on Delphi.com about a month ago, lots of owner
complaints. Search for Road Star group, comments under "problems"
heading and "2000 cams."
Older messages not on the board, does sound like Yama is making effort
to fix problems

KK