Buy naked or dressed?

[Bain Dramage]

Hi all:

I am looking at the V-Star 1300. I will use it 98% of the time to commute to work (80 miles round-trip), with some weekend and multi-day trips one-up.

I need windshield and bags. That said, what are your thoughts on buying the bike naked and adding windshield, lowers, and bags, or just buying the Tourer and adding the lowers?

Thanks in advance.

[CheapBike]

I don't know much about that bike but couple thing to think about.

Do you need those accessories?

With 80 mile commute every day, I'd probably want a windshield for comfort.

Do you have to have saddle bags now? You planning any trips?

Personally if I was riding 80 miles a day for work I'd get both but for the most part for cruising around town I'd rather neither a windshield or saddle bags be on the bike.

Look into quick release items for both if you think the same.

Consider if you finance the extra's you're paying interest on them over the course of the loan. If you have enough cash available you might be able to personalize those accessories with something a little more suited to your needs.

So to summarize, if the stock extra's don't raise the price more than you can get the items for aftermarket and you like the stock extra's, go for it.

Personally i'd probably buy it naked and get aftermarket.

[robertc729]

I'd get it dressed already, you'll save quite a bit of money vs. paying for each item separately.

[Bain Dramage]

Thanks for the replies.

I need to carry a laptop, gym bag (I work out during lunch every day), and a place to stuff the cold weather gear transitioning from morning (cold or cool) to afternoon (warm or hot). Hence the bags.

Most of the 80 miles (about 68 of them) is on a 6-lane Interstate. I will be riding very little in-town mileage. I will likely put 12,000 - 15,000 miles per year on the bike.

I do plan on occasional weekend trips.

I actually considered a sport-tourer for this, but the 1300 was comfortable for me and I think it is economical enough to make sense as well.

[DaveAlvarado]

If you need the shield and bags and like the ones that come on the stock tourer, buy dressed. If you think you'd want different accessories than what come with it, buy naked.

Also check that you'll actually be able to carry all the stuff you want to carry. Cold weather gear + gym bag + laptop is a lot of stuff for saddlebags.

[ColoJeeper]

I am in a similar situation and bought the full touring package with mine. I like it and have no regrets. My laptop is in a backpack and ends up strapped to the rear seat rest, and bags are adequate for the rest I regularly want to carry. So far I haven't felt the need to pick up the lowers for my bike.
I priced mine both ways and decided that it was considerably cheaper to buy it as a package deal, rather than to put the same thing together in stages. Would rather save the money for extra chrome.

[ShonR]

I would say shop around first! look at styles of everything that you may like to have installed. I got a deal on a naked c50, got aftermarket parts to dress it up, and I'm about $200 below sticker of a c50t. So take that for what its worth. I could have aimed for a c50t and tried for a deal that way... But I got to choose my style, not settle for the factory setup. Thats what I based my decision on.

[Gadget142]

I'd go with the fully dressed. Everything is put on to their specs. Factory bags and windshield usually fit and look better.

[Bain Dramage]

WOW - thanks again for all the replies.

I really like the Black Cherry for '08, but the dealer will get rid of a Black '07 for $9,499 out the door (Tax, lic, setup, doc, etc). Another dealer said $9,199 OTD, but I have to fly 400 miles to get it. $10,700 was the best I could find on the '08 model. All are the V-Star 1300 Tourer.

I think I'm about to own the '07

[cycloptic1dr]

i would buy dressed the dealer looked at me funny when i walked in nekkid.




o you meant the bike. i would get it dressed then there cannot be any quams about warranty around the parts that attach to the bike.

[Bain Dramage]

Actually, I walked in with a BIG swing of confidence - and bought the 2007 tourer model.


Thanks all!

[blackie1491]

Congrats!!!

[hammersfan]

Originally Posted by robertc729

I'd get it dressed already, you'll save quite a bit of money vs. paying for each item separately.