Yamaha V Star 1100 Silverado

[BikerAce]

Has anyone ridden this bike and what type of comparisons can you make to the M50. Starting to look for a little bit bigger bike was considering this and the Kawasaki 900 LT which I know little of too, although I sat on a new 900 this weekend but they didn't have the key right then and I'm not too crazy about spokes even though everthing else seems good.

[tlwisner]

If you want a bigger bike, you'll find that the VStar 1100 is actually smaller than the M50 and C50, and it is no faster either. I'd go for the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 way before the VStar 1100. The M50 is a nice ride, and the new C50c with cast wheels and tubeless tires is another option.

What do you want that your Marauder isn't giving you? That's a good place to start. List the things you want, like Fuel Injection, shaft or belt drive, roominess, 5 headlights, whatever. Is riding 2 up a factor? What's your normal ride and what is your idea of a long ride?

Nahhh, I have several buddies with VStar 1100s and they do nothing for me. The Stratoliner is a sharp beastie though!

[hammersfan]

Can't say that I speak from experience but from what I have read on these forums the V-Star 1100 is not really much up on the M50. If you want to go bigger you might as well go for the C90 or one of the bigger bikes from the other manufactures. To make a differnece I would suggest going to at least 1300-1600 cc's

[BikerAce]

Originally Posted by tlwisner

If you want a bigger bike, you'll find that the VStar 1100 is actually smaller than the M50 and C50, and it is no faster either. I'd go for the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 way before the VStar 1100. The M50 is a nice ride, and the new C50c with cast wheels and tubeless tires is another option.

What do you want that your Marauder isn't giving you? That's a good place to start. List the things you want, like Fuel Injection, shaft or belt drive, roominess, 5 headlights, whatever. Is riding 2 up a factor? What's your normal ride and what is your idea of a long ride?

Nahhh, I have several buddies with VStar 1100s and they do nothing for me. The Stratoliner is a sharp beastie though!

To be honest with you I love the looks of the Yamaha espically the tan, and hope it would have more power for two up. Hard to believe that it's not FI or WC. I've seen and heard nothing on the Kaw 900 LT. I could be wrong here but shouldn't a bike that weighs around 600 lbs be better handling on the hiway espically in wind?

[gtcjohn]

I think C50T or Kaw 900 LT is good enough. Kaw LT is better than C50T in terms of value of Dual Disk Front/ Disk Rear, Belt Driven, Auto neutral finder and larger engine etc. But I've chosen C50T because of the style- more classical look. Any other opinion?

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by gtcjohn

I think C50T or Kaw 900 LT is good enough. Kaw LT is better than C50T in terms of value of Dual Disk Front/ Disk Rear, Belt Driven, Auto neutral finder and larger engine etc. But I've chosen C50T because of the style- more classical look. Any other opinion?

Yeah, I didn't consider the Vulcan 900 only because it didn't exist back when I bought my C50. I do think the C50s fenders are a bit much with the flares on the bottom.

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by BikerAce

I could be wrong here but shouldn't a bike that weighs around 600 lbs be better handling on the hiway espically in wind?

I too like the way the VStar 1100 looks, it is a good looking bike. It's 571 pounds dry versus a C50 at 542 pounds dry. Not really much difference. The C50 has a slightly longer wheelbase than the VStar 1100, which adds to straight line stability and roominess for rider and passenger. I'm not going to say that the VStar is a bad bike, that would be BS. There are just several reasons I chose the C50 over it. Roominess and comfort, fuel injection, liquid cooling, price. The VStar is in need of some updating.

[drgibson]

This looks like a keeper.

[MYC50T]

I can't remember where, but I have read a couple of times that the Kawi Vulcan 900 Classic LT hasn't really upped the C50T, it weighs 28.4 more pounds, haven't found any HP figures but it does put out a little more torque, which is good, with the increase in weight it requires more torque to get it moving, I'd be willing to put my C50T up against the 900 Classic LT

If you look at pictures side by side of the C50T & 900 Classic LT, the Suzi has a more finished refined look to it, the Kawi actually shows more frame and rough edges, it has no neck cover, however Kawi does do one thing that really makes their liquid cooled bike look air-cooled, they stick the radiator in between the frame so from the side you don't see it, but personally I'm not looking for a bike that looks like an air-cooled "Harley" and from what I can tell, Suzi's rear drum brake may be older technology but I haven't seen any hard numbers proving it's not adequately effective as a brake, and I like the fenders on the C50T better, the ones on the Kawi are rather plain and non-descript, there is however one thing about the 900 Classic Lt I really like, that integrated reflector in the fork tubes, that looks sweet, IMHO

[MYC50T]

Originally Posted by gtcjohn

I think C50T or Kaw 900 LT is good enough. Kaw LT is better than C50T in terms of value of Dual Disk Front/ Disk Rear, Belt Driven, Auto neutral finder and larger engine etc. But I've chosen C50T because of the style- more classical look. Any other opinion?

Actually the 900 LT has a single front disc also, no dual disc on the 900 LT

[gtcjohn]

MYC50T,
Yes, you are right. LT has a single front disc. Thanks for the correction.

[BikerAce]

Look at the Yamaha 1100 Silverado in black yesterday, also look at the Kawasaki 900 LT but it's hard to come up with any HP or torque figures. One thing for sure they are both heavier than my 04. Looking at Motorcycle Cruiser on line today I see the the 03 800 Maurader is quicker thur the 1/4 than either M/C 50 or 1100 Yamaha, so I'm not sure what mine gives up to either M/C 50 or 1100 Yamaha and the 900 LT there's no test done yet.

[keylo4life]

Long Live the Suzuki Boulevards!

[Swick]

I have the M50 Black and absolutely love it. But, I was in a yamaha dealer friday and saw a v-star 1100 custom in the Black on black. WOW, it blew me away! I hope I can stay true to my M, but it is going to be hard...

[mateohly]

My father-in-law has a vstar 1100 (04 or 05) and I have an 06 C50. His is definitely heavier and, while it did appear to have a tiny bit more punch to it when I rode it, it wasn't much and I never have a problem keeping up or leading on our rides. There are probably a lot of variables that could affect the following but in general the one thing that stood out the most to me was in the turns. His vstar is very stiff feeling in the turns. He has riden my bike as well and was blown away at it's smoothness in the turns. You really have to make it lean and it clearly makes him slightly uncomfortable when he comes to a turn or corner. The C50 seems to greet the turns and smoothly rolls in and out of them with a very natural feeling to it. If that is typical of all vstar's then that alone could sway me. The C50 is very well balanced in just about every aspect of riding that I can think of. My 2 cents.

[MYC50T]

Originally Posted by mateohly

The C50 seems to greet the turns and smoothly rolls in and out of them with a very natural feeling to it.

I totally agree, my C50T handles very well considering it's a "Cruiser" and
keylo4life, ditto, Long Live the Suzuki Boulevards!

I think you would be hard pressed to find any better performing, better handling, better, better, better for the money