Rode a Yamaha Star 650 the other day....

[cmptrmn.1]

My goodness, what a small bike. I had to drive the car Saturday to take my nephew to his MC safety class. My friend has an FJR and his wife has the 650. She has had it for three years an only has 2600 miles on it. I was told it needs to be ridden and please take it for a ride. So, off we go. Yuck. After you've been riding a bike that is almost double the size, it is hard to go smaller. Got used to how it handled after a mile or so. But, jeez, is this natural?

[Spok]

I know EXACTLY how you feel

YouTube - Warming up the 650

[RichLockyer]

The 650 Custom was one of the first bikes I looked at.
Everyone said "start small and move up when you are ready"

Well... had I started on the 650, due to financial issues over the last year, I'd still be on it... but beside that point, when I sat on one at the dealer, I commented that forward controls might help.
My wife looked at the salesman and asked if they could mount the forward controls to the front axle

[CycleDude]

I almost bought one of the 650 Classics, but my dealer had the 900 next to it and it was no contest. They are pretty bikes though.

[RichLockyer]

Ever change the oil filter on one?

[CycleDude]

Thank god, no. I read about the exhaust having to come off for an oil change and said ..........nah!

[RichLockyer]

You can spend the $250 on an adapter to relocate it and use a normal spin-on, but ya... front pipe has to come off to access the oil filter, and that's on BOTH the 650 and 1100.

I'll have to take a look at the 1300 and the new 950 and see if they fixed that little design flaw.

[okplayer]

Rich - That sounds like a horrible design flaw or they are trying to increase their dealer maintenance sales.
I started small with the 800 and now I am ready for a v2k. <checks wallet> Well, not yet.
The 250s that the MSF has almost killed me. Just about ate my kneecap on those things.

[CycleDude]

My boot kept dragging the rear brake on the 125 in my MSF class which was a real PITA on the figure 8.....

[RichLockyer]

Rich - That sounds like a horrible design flaw or they are trying to increase their dealer maintenance sales.
I started small with the 800 and now I am ready for a v2k. <checks wallet> Well, not yet.
The 250s that the MSF has almost killed me. Just about ate my kneecap on those things.

I had the Eliminator 125 and there were a few teeth marks on my kneecaps.


I complain that stock bars... even on the V2K... hit my knees on full-lock turns... but the 125's bars hit my ankles

[jbsmd]

I've had a lot of fun with my 1100. I also still think it looks pretty good. I've done a few things to it and it can keep up with most any cruiser.

[RichLockyer]

I've had a lot of fun with my 1100. I also still think it looks pretty good. I've done a few things to it and it can keep up with most any cruiser.

And you fixed the oil filter issue too

That IS a sweet looking ride... a nice complement to the Z.

[jbsmd]

And you fixed the oil filter issue too

That IS a sweet looking ride... a nice complement to the Z.

Thank's for the comp. It looks like they dropped the front pipe on the 950 and 1300 to get around the filter. And they still have to 1100 carbed, go figure. Maybe they may not be in a line up much longer.

[RichLockyer]

I'm expecting all carbs to be gone by model year 2010 with the new EPA regs.
MAYBE still on the 250/125... but right now, that's all that's been available in CA since '07 in the Kawi lineup.

[polizei]

My dad just got an 1100 a few weeks ago. It's a nice scoot, and it's cheap...anything to get him to ride more! He has an original KZ1000 LTD that beats him up so it's a nice change!

As for me...my next scoot will either be the 650 or maybe a vn900...even though I really want a sportbike.

-Cody

[cmptrmn.1]

Well, Cody, you may want to rethink the 650. It is really light and small. And that is coming from someone that is only 5'6" tall and 160#'s. The 900 is great.

[Spok]

Well, Cody, you may want to rethink the 650. It is really light and small. And that is coming from someone that is only 5'6" tall and 160#'s. The 900 is great.

5'7" and agreed, its light and small to me as well. and up above 60 it became a bit buzzy

[Daddyo Vulcan]

You can spend the $250 on an adapter to relocate it and use a normal spin-on, but ya... front pipe has to come off to access the oil filter, and that's on BOTH the 650 and 1100.

I'll have to take a look at the 1300 and the new 950 and see if they fixed that little design flaw.

My lovely wife has a nice little V-Star 650 and yes it says in the manual to take off the front pipe to change the filter but it is pretty easy to do it without taking the pipe off. Strange place for the oil filter buried like it is. She has bee riding for 6 months and allready wants a bigger bike like the 1100 V-Star or the 900, I am pushing for the 900!!! I am amazed at how short the gears are on the little thing but she runs 70 mph pretty well. Her little popper next to the beast in the pic.

[wild_deuce03]

I almost bought one of the 650 Classics, but my dealer had the 900 next to it and it was no contest. They are pretty bikes though.

Me too. That was the bike I had been planning on all along. Thank goodness my salesmen steered me to the 900. Whether he was just trying to make a sale or not, he told me he didn't care what bike I bought but that if I went with the 650 I'd want more in a week. He was right. Nice looking bike but much happier I went with the 900.

[GeorgiaRider]

My wife has a V-Star 650 and I have a Vulcan 500. I hate riding hers because it has no power compared to the 500. It's comfortable, but too slow. I don't ride that fast, but I like decent acceleration.