Motorcycle.com

Poor Maintenance Record

To start, this bike is a great handling machine, runs and looks good too..when you can keep it maintained! I've never seen such a fouled up mess of a design (or was it intentioal?)for getting to the valves for a readjust "EVERY 4K MILES". For me that's every eight to ten weeks at $400.00 ...a pop, rediculous! Try reading the oil level, without laying on the ground while a buddy holds the bike level and you peer around the brake rod through, what appears to be, a tinted peep hole abouit a dimes diameter in dementions! How hard would it have been to put a dip-tube in there instead of an almost unreadable site glass? Read Full Review

pleasant ride

For what this bike is, it works splendid for what I use it for. I bought it new in July of 2008 and now have about 3000 miles on it. It averages 40-mpg on Southern California roads, rides smooth, and my wife likes the back rest. The things that I don't like are the distance from seat to handlebars s...eems long (for my short arms), the floorboards are short (big feet), and you cant access the rear tire without taking off the saddle bags. Which are great. No problems, handles well and looks nice. Overall it's a bike I'd recommend to my friends. Read Full Review

GREAT BIKE, BAD SADDLEBAGS

I could not find a better bike for my needs...including Harleys! Great ride & power. When I purchased the bike, there seemed to be small air pockets between the leather wrap & saddlebags. The Yamaha salesperson said, "don't worry about it, it's fine."

Within the first summer o...f riding in Iowa & Wisconsin, the air pockets got way worse. The dealer said there was nothing they could do about it.
I am ashamed to even ride the bike with the condition of the saddlebags (they cost me over $1,000!)
YAMAHA SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AS A RECALL! Until they do, I will never buy another Yamaha product. PS: One thing the jap cruiser companies have to learn, is that chromed bolt & screw heads don't rust! Read Full Review

Old man rides again

65 years old. Have been off bikes for 30 years. Children grown-college educated-married etc.. Time for this old man. Looked at a lot of bikes and decided on the Yamaha 1300 V-twin tourer. After 6K miles I am so glad I did. Amazing power. Great comfort. Great looks. At 712 lbs. am not sure why it is ...called a mid-cruiser. Living in No.Va. the traffic is terrible and non stop-tough to ride a big bike. Rented a Harley and found out why I didn't go that route-quickly ! Asked what other bike I want and I couldn't come up with an answer. Am MOST happy with the dicision to buy the V-Star 1300 Tourer.
Jim Read Full Review

Love IT!!!!!!!!!!

I will have had this bike 2 years in Aug 2010. I have over 24,000 miles on it. Only adj. the valves once. A driver back pad made the reach very comfortable. I live in TN and have ridden to WV.twice and middle FL once. Plus been to GA, NC, KY, VA, AL. AVG. 48 to 50 mpg. Very peppy A Great cruiser! Read Full Review