To bump a thread to current events...
The 2010 V Star 1300 will have the improved bars and I believe they are the same as the Royal Star Tour Deluxe (RSTD) and will also have a lower seat. I bought a 2009 Tourer last month and the first thing I did was to angle the windshield back so its in line with the forks, the addition of lowers shields will further reduce buffeting.
I am ordering the RSTD bars soon, a lot of 1300 owners are finding out that starting with simple mods like drilling extra holes in the air box and drilling out the exhaust with a 1 1/2" hole saw (some say only a 1 1/4" will fit) that the performance addition is jaw dropping, and with further mods like a fuel management system this engine will out perform anything on the road in its class and even larger displacement cruisers.
In my brief time of riding to me this bike is like buying a Camaro and finding out it wound up with a Corvette motor in it, this engine is an awesome design that in a stock form is more than adequate and with mods a sleeping monster, and it can dish it out without having to replace almost everything internally, basically its peripheral outside equipment.
Off hand its a great deal and has potential, its water cooled but looks like an air cooled engine, the front fender should have a rear mudflap on it as road debris will immediately hit the radiator core I have found, I am buying a chrome grill guard with wire mesh AND installing a mudflap. On other forums I am seeing what this bike looks like with a Memphis Shades Batwing fairing and I like the look, my other bike is a 1980 Honda CX500Deluxe with a Vetter Vindicator fairing and it reduces almost all wind buffeting, so I am in favor of a fairing, the stock windshield looks nice but to me its a big wind deflector that could be smaller, and even with this slap of clear plywood in front this bike can get over 50mpg its being said.
It has tall gears, in parking lots you have to clutch it around a bit, I personally find the heel toe shifter awkward and I basically just use the toe part and I may cut off the heel portion. I have a feeling this bike will be historically a winner, its priced right and can do the job of either a two up tourer or a cruiser, it may be difficult to get going on a hilly area and not the best choice for in city use unless an optional rear larger pulley and belt combo comes out to lower the gearing ratio, right now I can cruises at 55 in second gear, I cannot wait for spring here in Alaska so I can go riding again, until then its sitting just behind my widescreen TV in my hobby room just hibernating the winter out.
This isn't my bike but exactly what my 1300 Tourer looks like.
