Need help choosing bike - Kawasaki 900 vs Yamaha 1100

[nivla]

Hi everyone,

I got great from info everyone here that leaned me away from the Mean Streak and Yamaha Warrior as a first bike. So I've decided to go with either the Kawasaki 900 Custom or the Yamaha 1100 Custom.

I realize this is a Kawasaki forum but I'm hoping for some honest thoughts on these two bikes from the experienced folks here.

Both bikes are OTD at $8200 from local dealers (the Yamaha is more expensive but offers a rebate which drops the price down considerably). Is $8200 a fair and decent price both bikes?

I understand the 900 is liquid cooled and the 1100 is air cooled. Is this such a big deal that I would avoid one over the other because of this?

The Yamaha is shaft vs. the Kawasaki chain. What are the positives and negatives of choosing between these two?

Any other items I should consider before making my decision?

Thanks again for your help.

[Rsmith]

The 900 custom is belt drive not chain. Just to clarify.

[fretbuzz]

I had a Yamaha 1100 V-Star before I got my Nomad. It was a great bike and I can't really say anything bad about it. It's not high performance but it's got plenty of torque. I would not make a decision based on the fact that one bike is air cooled. I lived in Wichita Falls, Tx where temps in the summer can reach 105 and never had an issue with it.

BUT (you knew that was coming, right?), the Vulcan engines are kind of hard to beat. Some people have their gripes about the 900 but I really can't speak about them with any experience.

Good luck and post pics when you get it.

[vulcan500rider]

For the same money, I'd go with the Yamaha. Actually, I'm a bit surprised they are the same price, the 900 should be much cheaper - at least $1,000.

[Skunkwurcx]

Originally Posted by nivla

Thanks again everyone for your advice. After reading this post, I've decided on a new black 07 Vulcan 900 Custom. Will be picking this up next week.

Thanks again for your help!

uh, did I miss something ?

[Skunkwurcx]

Originally Posted by vulcan500rider

For the same money, I'd go with the Yamaha. Actually, I'm a bit surprised they are the same price, the 900 should be much cheaper - at least $1,000.

yea, I thought that a bit odd to considering I looked at the MSRP for them in the States and was peed off when I saw that it was nearly $2K cheaper in the states than here. Our dollar ain't the weak suck thing it once was against the green back.

MSRP on the 900 Custom is still shown at $7349.00 stateside

http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/SubCategory.aspx?id=7

[nivla]

Originally Posted by Skunkwurcx

uh, did I miss something ?

Yep, I thought I was set on the 900 until my neighbor told me about the Yamaha rebates. You guys are right - the price is about $1000 diffferent, but Yamaha has a rebate which puts it almost the same as the 900.

[Spok]

900 - belt drive fuel injection

1100 - shaft drive carb'd


both are great bikes, i've personally seen an 1100 rip up the interstate highway for long miles so I know its a stout and robust machine...

[Skunkwurcx]

Originally Posted by nivla

Yep, I thought I was set on the 900 until my neighbor told me about the Yamaha rebates. You guys are right - the price is about $1000 diffferent, but Yamaha has a rebate which puts it almost the same as the 900.

Has the Fire And Steel Promo that Kawi was offering expired ? It was in effect here when I bought mine just over six weeks ago, but then that may have only been here in Canada. They should still have some type of promo going, unless it's an "only spring time" type thing.

Spok just posted that the Yami has carbs and shaft drive, while the 900 is fuel injected and belt drive. The fuel injection and the fact that the 900 had a rear disc instead of carbs and a rear drum helped sway me away from the Shadow....but I said that already in the last thread didn't I. The only bad thing I have heard about Yami cruisers is that they don't lean far before you scrape your pegs....dunno what truth there is to that as I have never ridden one to find out for myself.

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by Spok

900 - belt drive fuel injection

1100 - shaft drive carb'd


both are great bikes, i've personally seen an 1100 rip up the interstate highway for long miles so I know its a stout and robust machine...

I wonder who's that'd be?

Tracy's 1100 is a great, great bike. It's got good power, is light, and handles very well.
We live in a very arid hot climate and have had no overheating issues whatsoever with her VStar.
The only negative I can think of is given that the VStar is carb'd, it is more succeptable to burps and coughs in sever altitude changes than a fuel injected bike.

The VStar is likely the most popular metric cruiser out there, and you would be hard pressed to find a bike with more aftermarket accessories for it.

I can't really speak of the 900 specifically, but if it anything like the 2 Kawy cruisers I have owned............it will be bulletproof.

[Skunkwurcx]

oh and you wanted to know the dif's between shaft and chain drive, or in the case of the Vulcan, belt drive. The others on here could answer that prolly better than what I can, but from what I understand, shaft drive produces an odd reaction when the throttle is twisted as opposed to a chain or belt drive. My good friend who has ridden and wrenched for years descibed it to me when I was considering the '07 Shadow C2, but I can't quite recall all that he said

I know a little about the benefits and disadvanteges of all three, but like I said, others on here are better qualified to answer those than am I. I only know what I have heard from asking questions, no real hands on experience sorry.

[ks_greg]

Check the oil filter location. I looked at a used '05 VStar 1100 before buying my 900. The sales guy was great and pointed out that the previous owner had installed a filter relocation kit. If you look where the filter is located, he mentioned that usually you have to drop one of the exhaust pipes to get the filter off for an oil change. What a hassle.

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by ks_greg

Check the oil filter location. I looked at a used '05 VStar 1100 before buying my 900. The sales guy was great and pointed out that the previous owner had installed a filter relocation kit. If you look where the filter is located, he mentioned that usually you have to drop one of the exhaust pipes to get the filter off for an oil change. What a hassle.

True, you can purchase an aftermarket relocation kit for a couple hundred dollars. In all honesty, I was concerned about the filter location......but it doesn't take that long to replace. I have a "procedure" down, and don't actually have to completely remove the pipes to get at the filter. I do have to loosen the pipes off and angle them up out of the way though.

Definately something to consider for sure..........and I thought that the new VStar 1100's came with the oil fliter relocation kit stock.............but i may be wrong.

If you do purchase a VStar new from a dealership, and if it does not already have an oil filter relocation kit on it, make that part of the purchase deal.

[Tattoomarc]

I looked at the v star before I bought my 900 and i am very happy with the 900 ... I have not had any complaints... after riding a FI bikre i don't no if I could go back...IMO go with the kawi 900

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by Spok

900 - belt drive fuel injection

1100 - shaft drive carb'd


both are great bikes, i've personally seen an 1100 rip up the interstate highway for long miles so I know its a stout and robust machine...

Ditto!

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by trikebubble

I wonder who's that'd be?

Tracy's 1100 is a great, great bike. It's got good power, is light, and handles very well.
We live in a very arid hot climate and have had no overheating issues whatsoever with her VStar.
The only negative I can think of is given that the VStar is carb'd, it is more succeptable to burps and coughs in sever altitude changes than a fuel injected bike.

The VStar is likely the most popular metric cruiser out there, and you would be hard pressed to find a bike with more aftermarket accessories for it.

I can't really speak of the 900 specifically, but if it anything like the 2 Kawy cruisers I have owned............it will be bulletproof.

Ditto again!!

[nivla]

Thanks everyone for the great info.

How's the cost on the 900? For those that purchased an 07 model, is $8200 close to what you paid or would I paying too much?

Thanks

[CheeseHeadNinja]

You could try dealing with the dealership and getting the price on the 900 down. Tell them you're considering a Yamaha for the same price (assuming its not the same dealership) they might lower the price.

As for my opinions, I have an 1100 Shadow (carb'd, shaft drive) and I'm not a big fan of shaft drive. It seems a lot jerkier when you get on and off the throttle than a belt or chain drive. And for FI vs. Carb, well depending on your mechanical knowledge it can go either way (may be able to work on your own carb but FI is so nice!)

[sdbrit68]

I was gonna suggest the same thing, you can get a honda 1100 out the door for under 8k if you deal right, especially since the last shadow rolled off the assembly line in April, so dealers may wanna deal

water cooled,shaft drive, comes with a back rest.....chicks dig it.

oh wait, they dont, they like those damn guys on the v2k's

[jbporter]

Go with the Kawasaki. I've never owned a Yamaha, but I have owned a Suzuki, Honda, and 2 Harley's. After I bought a Kawasaki for myself, I loved it so much, I bought one for the wife. I know there might be an exception to the rule, but, how many bikes have you seen broke down on the side of the road? Now how many have been Kawasaki's? I've only broke down once in my Kaw, and that was because I ran out of gas.