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Considering for my next bike

V4 said:
depending on which yamaha, like the 650-1300, the maintenance are every 6,000 miles while the roadstar/roadliner/rs warrior are at 16,000 miles..
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The V-Star with shaft drive go 10K miles between minor services, excluding oil. The shaft makes it dummyproof to remove the rear wheel, takes about 10 minutes. The 1100 requires you to loosen the pipes to change the oil filter.
 
monkeythumpa said:
The V-Star with shaft drive go 10K miles between minor services, excluding oil. The shaft makes it dummyproof to remove the rear wheel, takes about 10 minutes. The 1100 requires you to loosen the pipes to change the oil filter.
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One of the only things about the V stars I didn't like. I invested in an Oil Filter Relocation kit and it makes oils changes super fast with a spin on oil filter. :thumbup The valves were easy enough to complete in a couple of hours amd that was taking my time. Good gas mileage too, I averaged anywhere from 38-45 depending on how I rode the bike. I'm starting to miss the v star now :(
 
Swole2112 said:
...
Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Classic

Honda VTX 1800 (I've heard really good things about Honda engines)

Suzuki C109R Boulevard

Yamaha Road Star...
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The Vulcan is one of the best all around metric cruisers. Hydraulic valves, shaft drive, reliable, neutral handling, smooth at highway+ speeds. It also has (I believe) the most room in terms of seat to peg distance, but that comes at the cost of cornering clearance since the floor boards are lower on the Vulcan than others. The rear suspension has air adjustable preload with rebound damping. Some cruisers have little to no suspension adjustment capability at all. Some cruisers are also known to kind of wallow in corners and not hold a line, but the Vulcan tracks straight. I am selling my 2006 Vulcan 1600 Classic for $5500 here on BARF and it has 4k miles, so an almost new bike can be had for cheap if you can find one. I can cruise 80-85mph all day long on mine. The Vulcan is also liquid cooled.

The VTX is an overall great bike too, but cost of maintenance will be higher since it requires valve jobs.

C109 - don't know too much about that one, but when I bought my Vulcan it was most probably one of the ones I looked at. I can't remember why I ruled it out.

Road Star - I think this is the one with little or not suspension adjustment and some corner wallowing. I think it also needs valve adjustments?

Warrior - My friend has one and I have ridden it. It is a muscle bike versus a trimmed down tourer like the Vulcan. The Warrior is fast and fun, but my friend is working through some issues on his so he can cruise at 75+ and have the bike be smooth.

Triumph Thunderbird - I rode one. I think the Vulcan is more smooth, but the Thunderbird corners better.


If I were to do it again, then my short list would be:
Vulcan - If I were to get more in to cruisers again, I would go for another Vulcan.

Triumph Rocket - I don't know about reliability, but it just looks cool...and all that torque.

Newer Harley Road King or Street Glide - I have never ridden one, but from what I have heard they have a good balance between comfort and performance. Get one with the new frame redesign (I think from '09 on?) - apparently the older ones had an issue with the rear wheel not being in line with the front because of concessions that were made to go to a belt drive...this is just what I have heard and I can't confirm it.

BMW R1200C - Underpowered and an outcast in the cruiser community, but I think they are cool.


If you are planning on doing a bunch of customizing in the area of bling, then I would put more emphasis on a Harley....you'll get more out of it in terms of value, and after all...it is a Harley.
 
TommyWillB said:
Not sure why things need to be bifurcated. Why can't we all coexist/interact peacefully in one big happy forum instead of little insular ones? One of the nice things about BARF in general is that it's an insanely wide cross-section of folks.

My :2cents !
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:thumbup
 
V4 said:
just to keep it on topic, may wanna find out each models maintenance intervals to suit your needs..

the honda vtx13/18s are at every 8,000 miles unlike the vt1100s which were practically maintenance free..the magna are 16000 and indestructable...

depending on which yamaha, like the 650-1300, the maintenance are every 6,000 miles while the roadstar/roadliner/rs warrior are at 16,000 miles..

some cruisers are a PITA to remove the rear wheel in which the exhaust may need to be dropped..can be a difference if you do your own wrenching or not...

some of the yamaha's you need to take the seat off to check the oil whereas the hondas , harleys you just use the dipstick...
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16000 miles between oil changes? :wtf
 
V4 said:
with all the cruiser threads lately, i've been asking for a cruiser section on teh barf..:x
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A cruiser section would be good - not only to consolidate cruiser posts, but also to help keep the cruiser haters out of the cruiser threads. The cruiser part should at least be deleted from the title of the ST forum. I can see what was intended there - cruisers being used for long rides - but that is not the nature of most threads on a cruiser forum.
 
Test ride the Triumph Rocket III (or the latest Roadster version) if you can. :)
 
Star Warrior :teeth

Start with a boring one

rswarrior01.jpg


Then be a baller...

rswarrior101b.jpg

rswarrior104b.jpg

rswarrior113.jpg
 
brichter said:
Bay Area Rider's Forum

Do you see the word "sport" in there anywhere? :twofinger

Ask Budman what he rides... ;)
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Speaking of Budman, and it is related to this thread, he has his Harley up for sale and I'm sure it has been well taken care of.
 
Dont forget Victory! the new 2011s all have 6 speed trannies and 106ci engines!
 
brichter said:
What was it in for (sounds funny saying it that way when talking about a Harley... :laughing)?

I know many folks with HDs (as well as owning them), they're some of the most trouble free bikes around, and low maintenance. No valve adjust, no chain, etc., means it's pretty much oil and trans lube changes, plus the occasional set of spark plugs and an air filter now and then.
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You know... that's a large part of the appeal of a Buell to me. I wouldn't have to fuck with it at all, just change the oil/tires/brake pads/fluid when needed. Not having a chain to worry about would be really nice at times, and I'm not too concerned about a rock getting stuck in the belt on the street.
V4 said:
just to keep it on topic, may wanna find out each models maintenance intervals to suit your needs..

the honda vtx13/18s are at every 8,000 miles unlike the vt1100s which were practically maintenance free..the magna are 16000 and indestructable...

depending on which yamaha, like the 650-1300, the maintenance are every 6,000 miles while the roadstar/roadliner/rs warrior are at 16,000 miles..

some cruisers are a PITA to remove the rear wheel in which the exhaust may need to be dropped..can be a difference if you do your own wrenching or not...

some of the yamaha's you need to take the seat off to check the oil whereas the hondas , harleys you just use the dipstick...
Click to expand...
Wait... you seriously have to remove the exhaust just to remove the rear wheel? And it's this way off the showroom floor?

Hell, I guess that's nowhere near as bad as having to drop the oil pan on a Moto Guzzi to change the oil filter - but it's still not what I'd expect out of a japanese manufacturer.
 
TommyWillB said:
Not sure why things need to be bifurcated. Why can't we all coexist/interact peacefully in one big happy forum instead of little insular ones? One of the nice things about BARF in general is that it's an insanely wide cross-section of folks.

My :2cents !
Click to expand...

It's commonly said that BARF stands for Bay Area Riders' Forum.

Hah. A likely story.

It's not well known, but it originally was named BARF after Bifurcating, Angry Riders' Forum :teeth
 
Junkie said:
Wait... you seriously have to remove the exhaust just to remove the rear wheel? And it's this way off the showroom floor?
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Actually, my Sportster was set up the same way... I took a micrometer to the rear axle and saw it didn't have to be that way. :teeth
 
Junkie said:
Wait... you seriously have to remove the exhaust just to remove the rear wheel? And it's this way off the showroom floor?
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Same is true for my GT. But, the exhaust comes off by removing 2 bolts and a screw. The single sided swing-arm that doesn't require futzing with a chain or removal of the brake calliper really makes up for it. Overall, it's one of the easier bikes on which to change a tire.
 
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