2011 Yamaha V Star 650 Review
Yamaha has always strived on making simplified and purpose-built motorcycles. Most of its products have been built around the rider, focusing on comfort and practicality. Japanese motorcycle manufacturers are thus, the most sought-after ones when it comes to entry-level motorcycling.
Generally, entry-level motorcycles are touted to be naked, with a shorter wheelbase, and a seat height catering to a wider range of riders. This helps newbies get along quite well with the most common layout of motorcycles. But when cruisers are an emotional touch in the US, it would be pleasing to get one that has a beginner character.
The Yamaha V-Star 650 is a go-to beginner motorcycle if you are deeply in love with cruisers. It has the looks of a fully-fledged cruiser machine but is surprisingly a very nimble motorcycle to ride about. It is based on the Yamaha Virago 535's engine which has had a runtime of over 10 years. This gives you the surety of Yamaha's bullet-proof reliability as well. With a well-stacked package, the Yamaha V-Star 650 also stands out from its Japanese counterparts like Kawasaki and Suzuki as well.
We tell you of all the bits and features that make the Yamaha V-Star 650, a good and cheap-to-maintain beginner bike.
Yamaha V-Star 650 Gets A Chunky V-Twin With Loads Of Low and Mid-Range Torque
Experience always has its perks in any given matter. The V-Stars 70-degree V-Twin engine fares highly on this as it is the same unit from the Virago 535 which had proved its mettle. Yamaha did increase the stroke and added a new bore to bump up the displacement to 649cc.
But its key value of providing chunky loads of torque at any given rev-range still remains the forte. The V-Star 650 is rated at 40 hp and 37 lb-ft. These figures are not tire-smoking worthy but are the perfect vessel to start off into the cruising world with the V-Star's mellow and linear power delivery. It is coupled to a 5-Speed gearbox that sends power to the rear wheel via a shaft drive.
Peak power and torque come in very early in the mid-range, and it is mostly because of its Mikuni carburetors. It even puts out a throaty exhaust note like the Harleys, thanks to its mild compression ratio of 9.0:1. Tractable performance with a linear yet meaty and fun-packed power graph gives the Yamaha V-Star 650 all the ingredients of a capable entry-level motorcycle.
Yamaha V-Star 650 Looks Big But Gives The Confidence Of A Nimble Naked
Cruisers are not generally known for their easy rideability but the V-Star 650 has an alter ego that makes things very much comfortable for entry-level bikers. Its lower center of gravity provides for a stern riding experience. Yamaha got it right with the V-Star as they studied what customers wanted from a middleweight cruiser and incorporated it well.
The large-diameter double-cradle frame balances out between making the bike look big all the while maintaining a nimble foot. Couple that with a long wheelbase of 64-inches, you get a motorcycle that can roll without breaking a sweat for miles. Its stretched rake angle is supported with beefy 41mm front forks that offer 5.5-in of wheel travel. It is coupled by a 7-Step spring pre-load adjustable mono-shock at the rear with a travel of 3.9-in.
It gets 298 mm dual discs up front which doesn't quite provide instant bite, exactly what we need from an entry-level motorcycle. With a curb weight of 545 pounds, it sure is a heft to carry around, and so a linear braking setup helps in getting used to the momentum it carries. So, no matter the type of terrain you ride on, the V-Star 650 can be tweaked considerably.
Yamaha V-Star 650 Has A Comfortable Seating, Anyone Could Ride On It For Miles
Seating is another crucial aspect that decides on a cruiser's credibility and it's safe to say that the Yamaha V-Star passes with flying colors. Its rider and pillion seats are plush, padded well, and widely laid out. It provides for an elongated saddle time without a sore bottom. The spot-on seat height helps riders of a wider wavelength be comfortable, be it a 6-footer or shorter folks.
A typical cruiser seating layout follows with the legs positioned forward and the torso upright. And being underpowered has its perks in reducing riding fatigue as you won't have enough speed to tire things off. The retro handlebars are high and wide which brings about minimal stress for the arms and shoulders. All of these features come together to form a compatible beginner-friendly motorcycling experience.
Being A Yamaha, the V-Star 650 Is A Loyal And Reliable Motorcycle
Being a precision Japanese machine, Yamaha's reliability is something that you should be least worried about. Morover, most of the tweaks that Yamaha did bring about in the tried-and-tested engine of the Virago 535 like an increase in oil-pump capacity by 50 percent and tweaking of the cam profile for a wider power curve.
All of this coupled with the 10 years of on-road experience of this air-cooled V-twin gives you a solid reliability factor. The shaft drive in this Yamaha is also a rarity which adds to the reliable factor and doesn't need frequent check-ups and adjustments like the chain drives.
You Can Get A Low-Mileage Yamaha V-Star 650 For Just under $5,000
It's very rare to get a cheap-to-maintain cruiser for this less. But surprisingly the Yamaha V-Star 650 has many interesting and low-mileage examples selling for even under $5,000. So, getting one as your ticket to the cruising community makes complete sense. Well yes, there are a few compromises with safety as it doesn't get ABS nor any riding aids. But then again, for a motorcycle from of the era, it was expected. But that doesn't outweigh its impressive value-for-money factor and flexible characteristics.
Sources: Wikipedia.org, totalmotorcycle.com, Motorcyclecruiser.com, Cycletrader.com, Bikereview.com.au
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About The Author 
Tijo Tenson (406 Articles Published)
Tijo is an engineer, mechanic, gamer, and an avid content creator. He is a grease-monkey who loves tinkering with automobiles every now and then, when not busy penning down his passion for them. He has always had a soft spot for JDM and is keen on diving deep in for anything that involves wheels and engines.
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