Yamaha V-Star XVS1100 Custom

Awesome middleweight cruiser – I got a second hand 2008 Yamaha XVS1100 with 21k on the clock. Bought it from an older person, in really top notch state. Upgraded from Kymco 250cc. Well, where to begin from? Awesome build quality, very responsive brakes, powerful low-end torque, 110% reliable. I have been riding the bike on a daily basis and occasional weekend ride. Very… Read more

comfortable, great suspension, with low CG it is extremely easy to ride it. Converted it to a bobber and upgraded it with Hypercharger Pro R Air Intake with ThugStar Turnout 2 in 1 exhaust pipes. Harley is a brand and a name, but this is reliable, powerful bike that will upstage in performance any Harley. This baby gets 0 to 100kmh in mere 4 seconds :-) Loud and powerful, I have no desire for any other bike whatsoever. Yamaha XVS1100 is product Japanese precision, quality engineering! This thing just goes and goes and goes.....

Great bike plenty of Power – I bought a 2011 Custom Final Edition recently, upgraded from xvs 250. Love the power, shaft drive, high quality controls. Added vance & hinze slip ons, great great sound. I agree the head light too small, should be same as the Classic. Added a Baron taco never have to change the idle speed. Would like a set of highway bars and pegs.No vibration up to 120 ks.

Bargain of the century – I was looking 4 a cheapish cruiser honda vt initially but water cooling on older bikes makes me nervous picked up 12 98 xvs1100 custom for 4grand would have called 6 a bargain 11000km 1 owner plumb . have had a few bikes but this is the most fun many mates have 20-30 grand harleys ridden most when they go . this is never the one on the trailer on… Read more

the way home and they hate that reliable handles well goes well well made did have voltage regulator issue fitted uprated unit to alu plate heatsink with ignition heatsink grease no more problems easy fix everybody.did prefer classic looks originally but this bike is growing on me visually and is in perfect condition removed sissy bar and put chrome trims back on looks great. noisy pipes are a must.no fuel gauge big deal there not fitted to real bikes any way for all the girls there is a trip, meter, no centre stand for gods sake its a cruiser buy a bike lift they are cheap this is the best bike u can buy cheap to buy maintain and run stop stuffing around and buy one you wont regret it richo out Big fun comfortable goes handles and looks good Bigger headlight would look better

A great machine – A great and a comfortable bike to ride. I have been riding cruisers all throughout ran off for a joy ride with my Dad's 1981 Enfield when i was 12. I was thinking of a Harley but with the Vance and Hines and and the Hypercharger it can root a Harley with around AU$3-4000 comparison uprange anytime... Excellent control, powerful, sticks on the road Too low, fuel gauge missing, gear indicators missing

Good – Great bike for all round riding, easy around town great on a trip. I would recommend it to antone it is very easy to ride. Like the low center of gravity and ease of getting off and on ( I old and the legs don't work like they used to, Great handling good power. Upgraded from a 1100 Virago (great bike) so very similar power I think the XVS goes a… Read more

bit better.I have put a Mustang seat on which is great. I have just ridden across the Nullabor and the XVS 1100 performed like a dream 5.8 ltrs/ 100km at 120 - 130kph great bike

Tried a Kawaka 900 didn't like the riding position Oil filter change what a pain and could easily have been designed better

Bad – I got after-market forward controls, seats, sissy bar, rack and 100W bulb for headlamp (If you ride at 40kph then the original will be fine) Did Yamaha think those blinkers were even related to stylish? Was the move to having a plastic rear fender the answer to the overweight muffler system? If you want a good looking bike that has the ignition… Read more

timing of a galloping stallion then buy a Harley. If you want a wimpey, ill-handling, bitch to change the oil filter, stupid stock handlebars, crap tyres and sissy ignition timing motorcycle then the XVS1100 is the one for you. BTW I have ridden motorcycles since I was 17 and I am now in my 40's... I reckon I know what decent engineering is. Go Moto Guzzi, Ducati and Harley Davidson... the Japanese just don't get it even though they have your bikes to reverse engineer! Looks good, shaft drive is a winner, the manual is downloadable in PDF format on the net (as they all should be and no thanks to Yamaha) handles worse than my old 1980 model GSX1100 and that is saying something. At least the old GSX went in a straight line without wandering. The front brake pads wore out at 11000kms (before the tyres). the tyres are the cheapest crap that Yamaha could put on... the Avon I have on the rear has done 2/3 of the kms of the original tyre and it hasn't even started to wear and sticks to the road really well. Should I have had to ask the Yamaha salesman if this model needed to have major disassembly to change the oil filter... DOH !!!! Should I have had to change the handlebars (never ride the bike the bike shop uses for a demo... it had hydraulic clutch, aftermarket pipes + handlebars)

Good – great bike rides well one or two up looks good with the mods ive made and has enough go for the public roads... id definitely recommend it its not as bulky as some of the other cruisers out there and is a good bike for someone who likes to get into the twisties as well as highway cruising. great bike plenty of torque which is what a cruiser is all… Read more

about pulls like a steam train and not too bad top end had mine to about 175kph two up so definitely has the grunt factor!! comfortable and awesome fun.. not a huge fan of the star written on the fuel tank & in its standard format looks a little boring but thats a cruiser thing too...

Excellent – I've 30 years experience and i'd rate this in my two best bike over that time. Well done Yamaha, i'll keep this baby for a while yet. Not just show, but plenty of GO. Reliable, smooth, fast, this is what a cruiser should be. Comfort, handles well at low speeds and on the highway. Starts first time everytime. Runs like a road warrior. Kickstand is a pain in the butt to get down sometimes.

Excellent – Great bike, ideal for your mid life crisis. Very reliable, low maintenance. When I hit the start button of a Sunday, I know its going to start. I also know that when required I can pull her up very quickly. I believe I have twice the bike for half the price of a H D. I will have it serviced regularly by professionals. OK I may not be made welcome… Read more ·  1

by the hard core bikers, but why do it tough when you don't have too? It has more grunt, more comfort and handles better than its American proto-type and will cost me half as much in repairs. It's a win win for the V-star. For head turning style, great handling and comfort I can highly recommend this 1100 cruiser. Purchased mine with 3000 km on speedo, after 30 years off bikes. Took a few rides to get back in the saddle, but have not regretted my decision for one minute. Plenty of power, smooth handling and great stopping ability. Only dislike is the side stand is a little difficult to extend, may get easier with a little use. The lack of fuel gauge is no great problem, set the trip metre, at about 250 klms of average riding you will need to switch to reserve.

OK – Bought the bike as a mid life crisis thing.My wife n I do trips of around 200k to 300k on a weekend.Very comfortable no fatigue.Extremely smooth ride,have 3" risers on the bars for a nice riding position. Has great style and handling,love the low centre of gravity.Two up no problem,I have the Imported American seats ....worth every cent.Jardine… Read more

pipes give it a great note.Originally wanted a HD but you can't beat Japenese for engineering Not a lot to dislike,maybe a bit more tin than plastic under the chrome...ah but who really cares!

Good – Good value and a lot of fun. A bike the missus enjoys too. We get the same enjoyment as our mates with expensive Harleys at a more realistic cost. A welcome change from the boy racer sitting position of my younger bikie days. Big, comfy, cruises effortlessly with the missus on pillion. You get to understand why the straight leg layback cruisers… Read more

are popular with midlife "Wild Hogs". Too easy to forget it does'nt handle like conventional bikes. Not much ground clearance and easy to scrape on corners.

Oil filter is a hell of a job, as is winding up the rear suspension.

Very hard on tyres compared with lighter sports machines.

Why are accessories for cruisers so expensive. Are we a richer breed of biker?