4th Feb 2010, 11:25

I bought a new 650 Classic in 2007. I live in the hills of Northern Arkansas, and I can tell you this bike is a pleasure to ride on our beautiful, winding highways.

Last year, I rode the bike to Sarasota, Florida. Most of the way I cruised at 70 mph, but many times stayed at 80 to 85 mph for long periods of time. After 2500 miles of highway riding, I was still ready for more.

The bike is well designed for a 6' tall individual. I was able to move my legs from the floorboards to the highway pegs and back, so I never got fatigued. The passenger seat is a much different story, however. I will definitely be upgrading the "board" (as my wife calls it) to a Mustang seat.

Overall, it is one of the best purchases I have ever made.

JB - Heber Springs, Arkansas.

6th Mar 2010, 21:31

Have a 2007 V Star 1100 Custom. Last worked on it and found a piece of metal in oil, can my engine be damaged? Was told to sell it at 29,000.00 miles. Like the bike, but don't know what to do.

6th May 2010, 22:58

I just bought my first bike, a 2005 650 V-Star. It has after market pipes. Can anyone tell me a nice quiet set that I could put on? Anyone else feel that you could use another gear on the highway?

16th Jun 2010, 08:00

I purchased a 2007 V Star 650 Custom last month with 3600 hundred miles on it. The bike is beautiful and runs well except for 2 items.

The seat is very uncomfortable for me after about 40 miles. I found a guy in Spring Hill, Fl who fixes motorcycle seats to fit the rider. He uses high grade memory foam and rebuilds the seat. Cost $200.00.

Next, the clutch. In order for me to have the clutch engage, it has to be almost to end of the lever. In other words all the way out. The dealer had no way to fix it. We changed cables, adjusted it and still no headway. There is a company in North Carolina, Seritec, that makes the fix for about $10.00. You can install the kit in 10 minutes.

Hope these suggestions help someone else.

22nd Jul 2010, 12:55

As a novice rider, I have found my 650 V Star Custom to have its challenges, but thought it was just me. A clutching problem where it has to be nearly completely let out before engaging has caused me a lot of stress. Comments by other V Star riders say the same thing. We have ordered both a CleverLever and a clutch fix kit.

I also have had trouble turning the bike on slow turns, as it wants to grab the wheel sharply. Some comments say practice makes perfect, others feel it is more of a bike design problem. My little GZ250 NEVER had either problem.

I just want to warn other new riders if they are considering this bike as a starter bike, they may want to try something smaller and well broke in first. I have now ridden over 1000 between both my bikes, with four hundred on my V Star.

21st Aug 2010, 19:39

I am about to purchase my first bike, and it is a choice between a Suzuki S40 650 and the V-Star 650. I love the look and sound of the V-Star, but the S40 looks easier to manage. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks.

Steve.

4th Feb 2011, 07:53

Bought a 650 2008 Classic - had so much trouble with the clutch.

Dealer sent someone to pick it up, and the technician's comments - 'If you can drive this bike the way it is - you're real good' - TRUTH BE KNOWN, NEVER DROVE A BIKE IN MY LIFE. So I was happy to know it wasn't me.

Now another problem started last summer - feels like the engine runs on a missing cylinder or like the gas is not reaching the carb. This will occur hot or cold. Anyone know what could cause this?

I have only about 6,000km on it, and this bike was never abused.

Help, please.

Linda.

19th Mar 2011, 16:05

Thank you for the list: very informative and helpful!!!

Amber.

20th Apr 2011, 05:34

I have a V-Star 2003 650. My friend that rides a V-Rod says that my clutch feels a little sluggish. After reading the posts, I am happy to know this is common.

I do want to upgrade the exhaust to something that has a little more powerful sound.

All in all, it is a fine bike. Some of my friends that have purchased bigger, faster bikes feel that they also wished they had a more affordable machine.

26th Apr 2011, 22:36

My 07 Virago 250 would die when coming to a stop also. Of course the dealer couldn't fix it. I figured out the factory idle setting was just too slow. Just turn it up a bit. You might want to get a manual and learn to rebuild the carb yourself; mine was missassembled by Yamaha, and with today's gas, it'll save you a fortune.

15th May 2011, 10:26

My 2007 Vstar 650 Custom ran like crap when I bought it used with 200 miles on it.. I found a GOOD mechanic, and he found that it was missing part in the carburetor. A small pin that holds the cup (below the main jet) stationary. I also always use premium gas and use a gas stabilizer to thwart ethanol problems. I have topped my bike out at 115 mph. Find a GOOD mechanic that you trust.

30th Aug 2011, 21:37

Try to locate which cylinder is not firing. Try pouring gas into each carb. and see if it smooth out. If it does, your carb is not supplying fuel to the cylinder. Rebuild your carb.

4th Dec 2011, 08:32

My 650 Yamaha V Star Classic 2005, when started, goes from 1 to 2, and bypasses neutral. Why?

4th May 2013, 06:55

High octane fuel is not a waste. I agree with everything else except that.

I get better fuel mileage in my V-Star, Harley, car, truck and scooter with 93 octane.

Bought all my bikes brand new. My V-Star has 2800 miles and I was running around 90 mph this morning, and I usually never run it this way, but I opened it up and ran it about a mile or so; well it felt like the clutch slipped once for just a second. I let it out as soon as it happened, it took right back off after the fact, but it kinda worried me a little. It's never happened before, but I never run that fast either.

I had to adjust my clutch handle about a week or 2 ago. I am wondering if it is too tight? I know they need just a little slack, so they disengage properly. I just don't know.