Total Motorcycle Community Forums

hi everyone
well, i went to the local Chicago Super Show on Friday and i had a chance to sit on the V Star 650 that i have been eyeing for a while.
After sitting on the bike for like 30 minutes, i decided to check out the 1100 just to get a feel for it....
It felt so comfortbale, yet large, but i also felt as if it fit my body type just a little better......
so my question is:
How much more power will the 1100 CC have Vs 650. Yes i know its almost double...but when i went to a shop and asked the difference between a VStar 650 Vs like a Suzuki 800 ( maybe it was a honda), the salesman stated that its simply a difference of like 5 -10 horse power and its not that signficant...
I could already tell that the V Star 1100 was heavier ( actually about 95 lbs heavier), and i am sure my turning radious may increase a little....and i dont know about paying an additional $2500 for the upgrade either.....

Maybe i should just stick to the 650 until i get like 20K miles under my belt...but anmy feedback on the difference from 650 - 1100 CC is appreciated! 1 last thing- i loved sitting on all those bikes!
Any thoughts?

1100cc VS 800cc

http://www.motorbikes.be/en/compare/4587/4247/

1100cc VS 650cc

http://www.motorbikes.be/en/compare/4587/5172/

Yamaha V-Star 1100 (53.5hp and 57.8ft-lbs of torque@2500rpm )

Yamaha V-Star 650 (40 hp and 37.5 ft-lb of torque@ 3,000 rpm)

The horse power may not look a whole lot different but you have to sit on one and take it out to feel the real difference... For a better comparison, look at the torque, those numbers really give you a better idea of the power....

I currently ride a Vstar 650. It is my first bike. My boyfriend had the same questions you do. He wanted to put me on the 1100 right away. I am a big girl, about 250-280 lbs. Our decison was made by our local dealership. Our salesman, the owner of the place, and a friend, would not sell us the 1100. After talking to us, and knowing our style, and experience, he wouldn't do it. It wasn't just because he knew us either, I heard him tell another guy the exact same thing. His whole objective was to make happy riding experiences and he said the 1100 would be too much. He had no doubt I could handle it eventually, but for now the 650 was the best choice. (He wasn't trying to move inventory either, he had to get my bike from another dealership as he was sold out of the 650's.)

I can also tell you my dad has been riding for about 35 years. He has many different bikes, but his 650 still has enough power and fun for him too. Don't get me wrong, he has huge bikes now too, but the 650 is still enough, he rides it every week in the summer.....I just don't buy into the whole, you'll outgrow a 650 thing.

And I can attest to the Vstar being an AWESOME bike to ride. I wouldn't trade mine for anything.

all of your feedback is truely appreciated.
I will keep you all posted on how things go...

still have time to hog up and sit on the 650 @ the bike show!

That is unusual. Most dealerships try to sell you something bigger than you really need.

Went to an HD dealer today after picking up my helmet since my wifes cousin wanted to stop in and say hi (she rides an '03 road king and was doing some accessory shopping). My wife wanted to sit on a few bikes, she tried the sportster low, a low rider, and dyna glide deluxe, she was actually very comfortable on the dyna deluxe and could flat foot it easily, she had troubles flat footing the other 2. It figures the bike my wife wants costs 18,000 LOL. Just hope there is something less expensive that she can flat foot.

Everybody told me the same thing - start with the 650, so I did. One note though...I bought my v-star 650 in L.A. while I was visiting at L.A. Yamaha Aprilia in Marina del Rey. I rode around in L.A. for the 2 weeks I was there and put 750 miles on the bike.

When I got it home (by trailer) to where I live in Colorado at 7,500 feet, the reduction in power due to thinner air was very apparent.

So if you live at a high elevation, a larger displacement might do you a little better.

jmillheiser wrote:That is unusual. Most dealerships try to sell you something bigger than you really need.

Went to an HD dealer today after picking up my helmet since my wifes cousin wanted to stop in and say hi (she rides an '03 road king and was doing some accessory shopping). My wife wanted to sit on a few bikes, she tried the sportster low, a low rider, and dyna glide deluxe, she was actually very comfortable on the dyna deluxe and could flat foot it easily, she had troubles flat footing the other 2. It figures the bike my wife wants costs 18,000 LOL. Just hope there is something less expensive that she can flat foot.

Now that isn't right, I never try to sell someone something really big for no reason. Now if I get some kid in who really wants a GSXR1000, I will sell it to him. My boss gets crazy if I dont sell stuff to people who really want it.

Go with the 1100! Just take it slow at first... if you have good skills you can handle that bike just like you could the 650.

Me would stay with 650 cc v-star custom.
reason:
1. I'm in big city like LA so I often ride in traffic on fwy.
2. I always ride 80-85 mph which 650 give me enough power.
3. I'm not too big a guy, 5'7" and 150lbs, so I don't want anything to heavy.
4. I don't plan to ride interstate or very long ride so I donot need big heave engine as of yet.

I had a chace to upgrade to 1100cc and I really wanted to at first but decided against it. I'm glad I did since I've safe myself from dropping the bike a few time.

BTW after the air kit mod plus new exhaust (Roadhouse 2 into 1) my bike should have around 47hp. Only thing I can feel different between 650 and 1100 is vibration which is less in 1100cc bike.