yamaha v-star 1300's

[Mtclassic]

we are training a nearby local agency that scored a deal on 3 new vstars. They have set them up for police duty and I gotta tell you those bikes are taking a beating and they keep on ticking. 3 brand new riders. we have a standard Harley course (NW) set up and myself and the other instructor can easily do the course other than the 18' 360 for some reason. we have moved it out to ~19' the bikes run very well and I gotta say in a drag race feel like they might trump the 103's. They have really nice clutch feel and throttle response. We had to remove the feeler nubs on the floor boards because they kept digging in making it nearly impossible to do normal floor board drags. They do have a better lean angle and are quite a bit lighter. There is nothing like seeing new bikes with 100-200 miles get abused so bad LOL.

[honorsdaddy]

Originally Posted by Mtclassic

we are training a nearby local agency that scored a deal on 3 new vstars. They have set them up for police duty and I gotta tell you those bikes are taking a beating and they keep on ticking. 3 brand new riders. we have a standard Harley course (NW) set up and myself and the other instructor can easily do the course other than the 18' 360 for some reason. we have moved it out to ~19' the bikes run very well and I gotta say in a drag race feel like they might trump the 103's. They have really nice clutch feel and throttle response. We had to remove the feeler nubs on the floor boards because they kept digging in making it nearly impossible to do normal floor board drags. They do have a better lean angle and are quite a bit lighter. There is nothing like seeing new bikes with 100-200 miles get abused so bad LOL.

The VStar 1300 is a large bike. Wheelbase and overall length are 3" more than a Road King. Makes the standard 18' 360 virtually impossible - in fact, it may BE impossible.

Incidentally, yes, they will take a 103". Yamaha doesn't publish HP, TQ or 1/4 mile times, but they do run the 1/4 in under 12 straight out of the box.

Lean angle is around 35 degrees or so - so you've got a bit more there too. They're also 150lbs lighter.

You may want to change out the bars on them. That's probably the bikes biggest flaw - the seating position is ideal for someone about 5'10" - with arms that hang past his knees. You can seriously improve the handling by putting the Royal Star Tour Deluxe bars on them - stock cables fit.

How do i know all this? That's what I rode before we got the Road Glide. Hell of a good bike.

[Mtclassic]

yes the bars are not ideal. I had to raise the bars up so that the bikes could be ridden lock to lock otherwise the bars would contact your knees preventing full lock. They also suffer from a poor angle, kind of like a wheel barrow. I will advise them that the handlebars can be changed to the royal star tour bars.

[honorsdaddy]

Originally Posted by Mtclassic

yes the bars are not ideal. I had to raise the bars up so that the bikes could be ridden lock to lock otherwise the bars would contact your knees preventing full lock. They also suffer from a poor angle, kind of like a wheel barrow. I will advise them that the handlebars can be changed to the royal star tour bars.

Royal Star Tour Deluxe. Yamaha Part Number is 1D6-26110-01-00. You can get them for ~$90 a set. You will need new grips too though. Can't reuse the factory ones.

If someone suggests changing risers, forget it. The only set made is ~$375 a set, and you have to change cabling. Its about a $500 fix. MUCH less to change out the bars.

Overall, that's a damn good bike. Kinda miss ours. The power was incredible for a V-twin and the bags on the touring model will swallow a 3/4 helmet.

[strokerjlk]

Incidentally, yes, they will take a 103". Yamaha doesn't publish HP, TQ or 1/4 mile times, but they do run the 1/4 in under 12 straight out of the box.

not sure which model or year it was but it was a 1300 v-something.
we were on a group ride and someone had invited this guy on a 1300. I will say before the story goes on he weighs about 350 pds.
we hit a stretch of wide open new black top and this guys pulls to the left and starts to blow bye there was about 7-8 bikes.
I am leading and a girl on a heritage is behind me (she dont ride like a girl LOL)
my E-GLIDE then was a rev-tech 100 +.010 motor. her bike a 04 carbed 88 with a Weber and cam .
Ok I twist it and she twists it (I am two up)
I pulled away from both of them and she pulled away from the 1300 . at 115mph she is staying about the same distance behind me and he fell off and pulled back in behind us (embarrassed) then....In the left lane comes a V-ROD STAGE 1 AND embarrasses us all LOL!
the guy said the 1300 was governed at 111 mph. dont know if it was or wasent but that is all it would do.
That my 1300 story just to be a