First Bike: 2004 Yamaha V-Star 1100

Soapstreet · 03-27-2009, 10:59 AM

Just got my first ever street bike about 1 month ago. I am enjoying it soooo much! When people hear me say I chose an 1100 as my first bike, they say "that's a lot fo bike for a first time rider". This is bull. Maybe for a wimp. I'm kinda short, but the bike is perfect for me.

Thoughts?

Dodsfall · 03-27-2009, 11:02 AM

The size of bike someone buys doesn't have anything to do with how manly they are. A good rider becomes that way through practice and gaining the skills needed to ride safely.

Ride safe!

Soapstreet · 03-27-2009, 11:12 AM

I agree man. I guess they are just jealous that their first bike was a 250. He he!!

wutzcrack3n · 03-27-2009, 11:23 AM

the only jealous people would be the ones stuck in a cage, not getting to enjoy the open road. a 250 is a great starter bike, i know some folks who would perfer riding a 250 compared to a bigger cc bike.

Dodsfall · 03-27-2009, 11:25 AM

I know a lot of the guys on the 250-500CC bikes could ride circles around me in the twisties. There's no way to match the agility of those bikes with a skilled rider.

Different sized bikes have different abilities. What one model may be perfect for, another would be inadequate. One thing that can be learned with some years of riding is that there is a lot more to motorcycling than going really fast in a straight line.

Firediver222 · 03-29-2009, 09:58 PM

Soapstreet, it's had been 30yrs since I last rode and bought a V-Star 1300 back in February and love it. Hope you enjoy your ride as much as I do mine. Don't let anyone make you doubt your choice, as long as its what you wanted; thats all that matters. I didn't worry to much about the engine size(CC's) as I did overall weight. To me thats where I was concerned, could I handle it. And there ain't much difference between the 950 & 1300; 60 pounds and the 1100's in the middle. Where it does matter is how one rides their bike; speed, riding safe, using common sense and not taking chances. Enjoy your ride it's your!!

skooter Bum · 04-03-2009, 10:47 PM

I have a 08 V1100 Custom and love it. It's my first bike in 40 years.
I'm going to get a little more power out of it in a few months.

aaronrkelly · 04-03-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soapstreet

Just got my first ever street bike about 1 month ago. I am enjoying it soooo much! When people hear me say I chose an 1100 as my first bike, they say "that's a lot fo bike for a first time rider". This is bull. Maybe for a wimp. I'm kinda short, but the bike is perfect for me.

Thoughts?

The VStar 1100 is a ***** cat honestly.....its rated at 50 horsepower....and thats mated to a fairly heavy bike.

Ive ridden quite a few FAR smaller bikes (that also weight less) that would eat it alive.

cc rating means nothing really....engine TYPE means more.

That 1100cc v-twin Star works far better as a starter bike then a 600cc inline 4 cylinder sportbike.

What type or size bike your ride has nothing to do with being a wimp.....and the size of the bike has little to do with performance (as noted above). You may find a wimp on a smaller bike might put you to shame.....its more about skill then what you ride. Dragging knee on a Ninja 250 will impress me more than full throttle straight line blasts on a liter rocket.

skooter Bum · 04-04-2009, 06:45 AM

First off,......the 1100 is rated between 48 and 54.7 horsepower. And I think that power rating is at the rear wheel, not the crankshaft, which would give you a high horsepower rating. With a little work, you can get a pretty good increase in horse power. But the 1100 is a good solid bike! All the reports I've read on it, they all say the same thing, for the bucks you can't beat it. I have one and I love it.

Steve Young · 04-06-2009, 03:28 AM

Hey, skooter bum, love your moniker.

This was no way my first bike
http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/pia...n_500_2007.php

but it's been 15 years since I actually owned a bike, although I have ridden occasionally during that time. (This particular scoot doesn't appear to be available in the States, but there are similar ones from other makers.)

Anyway, no intention to hijack this thread, so I'd just like to say that the small wheels and low c of g make the scoot a bit jittery, so the 1100 would probably feel better in the corners, soapy. Be careful and have fun.

skooter Bum · 04-06-2009, 11:17 AM

Thanks Steve!

FlyBy · 04-06-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodsfall

One thing that can be learned with some years of riding is that there is a lot more to motorcycling than going really fast in a straight line.

golden words there dodsfall.. so very true.

03-27-2009, 10:59 AM	#1
Soapstreet Motorcyclist Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 7	First Bike: 2004 Yamaha V-Star 1100 Just got my first ever street bike about 1 month ago. I am enjoying it soooo much! When people hear me say I chose an 1100 as my first bike, they say "that's a lot fo bike for a first time rider". This is bull. Maybe for a wimp. I'm kinda short, but the bike is perfect for me. Thoughts?

03-27-2009, 11:02 AM	#2
Dodsfall Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 15,955	The size of bike someone buys doesn't have anything to do with how manly they are. A good rider becomes that way through practice and gaining the skills needed to ride safely. Ride safe! __________________ 2008 XL1200R To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-27-2009, 11:25 AM	#5
Dodsfall Administrator Join Date: May 2008 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 15,955	I know a lot of the guys on the 250-500CC bikes could ride circles around me in the twisties. There's no way to match the agility of those bikes with a skilled rider. Different sized bikes have different abilities. What one model may be perfect for, another would be inadequate. One thing that can be learned with some years of riding is that there is a lot more to motorcycling than going really fast in a straight line. __________________ 2008 XL1200R To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-29-2009, 09:58 PM	#6
Firediver222 Verified Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Orange, Texas Posts: 33	It's only to big if you can't handle it! Soapstreet, it's had been 30yrs since I last rode and bought a V-Star 1300 back in February and love it. Hope you enjoy your ride as much as I do mine. Don't let anyone make you doubt your choice, as long as its what you wanted; thats all that matters. I didn't worry to much about the engine size(CC's) as I did overall weight. To me thats where I was concerned, could I handle it. And there ain't much difference between the 950 & 1300; 60 pounds and the 1100's in the middle. Where it does matter is how one rides their bike; speed, riding safe, using common sense and not taking chances. Enjoy your ride it's your!!

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03-27-2009, 11:12 AM	#3
Soapstreet Motorcyclist Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 7	I agree man. I guess they are just jealous that their first bike was a 250. He he!!

03-27-2009, 11:23 AM	#4
wutzcrack3n Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,046	the only jealous people would be the ones stuck in a cage, not getting to enjoy the open road. a 250 is a great starter bike, i know some folks who would perfer riding a 250 compared to a bigger cc bike.

04-03-2009, 10:47 PM	#7
skooter Bum Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Warren, Michigan Posts: 1,280	I have a 08 V1100 Custom and love it. It's my first bike in 40 years. I'm going to get a little more power out of it in a few months.

04-04-2009, 06:45 AM	#9
skooter Bum Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Warren, Michigan Posts: 1,280	First off,......the 1100 is rated between 48 and 54.7 horsepower. And I think that power rating is at the rear wheel, not the crankshaft, which would give you a high horsepower rating. With a little work, you can get a pretty good increase in horse power. But the 1100 is a good solid bike! All the reports I've read on it, they all say the same thing, for the bucks you can't beat it. I have one and I love it.

04-06-2009, 03:28 AM	#10
Steve Young Master At Arms Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hamilton, New Zealand Posts: 130	Hey, skooter bum, love your moniker. This was no way my first bike http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/pia...n_500_2007.php but it's been 15 years since I actually owned a bike, although I have ridden occasionally during that time. (This particular scoot doesn't appear to be available in the States, but there are similar ones from other makers.) Anyway, no intention to hijack this thread, so I'd just like to say that the small wheels and low c of g make the scoot a bit jittery, so the 1100 would probably feel better in the corners, soapy. Be careful and have fun.

04-06-2009, 11:17 AM	#11
skooter Bum Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Warren, Michigan Posts: 1,280	Thanks Steve!