Daelim Daystar

Is a Great Bike – I bought my first bike, a 125cc Daystar, 1 year ago and have now 2500km. I use it daily for usually short distances (1 to 15km) and few times for cruising longer distances. I do not use it during winter or in heavy rain. It is parked outside under a small shelter. I can say I am really very happy with this one. It is a great starter bike for… Read more

learning (you definitely need to learn when it is your first bike). This one is really good looking and quite easy to handle. It is a long time existing type of Korean bike, so no surprises. Very reliable, always starting, low consumption: 3ltr/100km, easy to maneuvre for a cruiser type. I added a sissibar, 2 fog lights, 2 saddle bags, crash bars. You need crash bars + saddle bags + open side pegs to prevent damage on the bike if he drops. Unfortunately the side stand jumps back if the bike gets little upright. It caused me 2x dropping the bike accidentally (but without any damage due to crash bars + bag + peg-out). Even when I dropped on the road due to oil spot in a turn, I had no damage. Quality of finishing is very nice. Only some minor rust spots which I treated immediately with anti-rust and then it stopped. The real top speed is about 100km/hr. The comfortable speed for the bike itself is below 80 km/hr than it also feels great (I usually do 70km/hr because it is also the speed limit around here). If longer distance cruising together with other bikes is not so easy, because not enough power. My wife on the back is OK for +/-flat area. The low bike weight of 150 kg makes it easy to handle but also more susceptible for stronger wind pushes. I recently bought also an old Kawasaki cruiser 800cc of 230kg, (which is perfect for long distance, but not for short distances). 230kg feels more solid rock when wind but also more difficult to maneuvre.

I only had 2 minor issues with the Daystar: oil leakage on 1 front suspension (after cleaning the suspension rubber with a special tool it was solved) and after 1000km the engine started making heavy vibration noise (solved by fastening the screws of the engine block). I am really 100% happy with this bike and definitely would buy this one again. Of course there are cheaper bikes, more powerful bikes but this one is a perfect mix of reliability, acceptable price and really good looking and a pleasure to ride at 70 km/hr. I have quite some issues with my back and I tried a lot of bikes to sit on but this one was my perfect fit and a ride (even a long one) does not bring extra trouble. Hyosung (also Korean) has also a cruiser type which has slightly better power but also higher cost. There are also Japanese brands who have a 250cc cruiser type, but it is a matter of look and cost and finding a dealer not too far away. The Chinese bikes have had bad reliability reviews, but are lower cost and have more accessories than the Daystar. In the mean time they are maybe better.

I had a super buy with my Daystar from someone who had to stop for health reasons after 204km. It saved me 25% of the cost. Advantage here in Belgium of a 125cc: no road tax and reasonable insurance cost (The 800cc is 50% more insurance + need to pay some road tax).

But after all: riding a bike gives a lot of good and happy feelings, because you are at the outside in free air, while a car is more like a cage + nowadays usually a traffic jam article. Some advice: be carefully when you drive because almost every biker at least once has seen the road floor.

Conclusion: if you have the money buy the bike and protective clothing, drive safe and enjoy Life. Make sure that your wife or girlfriend also enjoys because than it is real fun.

Cheers. Michel

Great bike, glad I bought it – After many years without a bike due to having a family, I started looking for a 250 that was affordable and still looked good. I considered the Hyosung Aquila 250, but it was a bit dearer and I didn't like the look as much. I wanted a 250 for cheap rego and insurance, both combined are under $550. I test rode both Daelim 250 VJF sports version… Read more

and then the Daystar cruiser again. The Daystar was a lot more fun to ride and seemed to have more torque, even though they are the same motor. I test rode both bikes twice on the same day and just enjoyed the Daystar more.

It takes a bit to get used to the higher pegs being a cruiser, but after 100ks it became normal. I really like the comfort of the seat and the suspension soaks up the bumps without any issues and it is quite nimble. The mirrors were better on the Daystar as well, the VJF mirrors weren't wide enough to see without effort ( minor point).

Overall, both bikes were surprising but the Daystar cruiser won out. I am also pushing 50 and have had several large cc sports bikes over the years, so time for a change.

*Update*

6 months on and still very happy with bike, getting 420k's to a tank with speeds between 60 and 100kmh and it is a lot of fun to ride. Looks, seat comfort and overall ride. Good economy and affordable price. Triple disc brakes.