Well, no matter wahat anyone, or me, says, the choice is up to you!

At any rate, I bought a 2004 yamaha Vstar 1100 classic out the door for $8,150, + tax to state, in US funds.  I've put 24k trouble free miles on it, and another 5k on the savage since, though right now the savage is getting more street time.  The bike looks great, runs great, and sounds great.  It handles pretty well, though not quite as well as the savage.  The stock seat height is 28" and I lowered it 2.25", but you can go as low as 5" (which makes it a hardtail) without modifying the frame.  If you do lower it, you really need to put a stiffer spring on there.  Stock seats suck.  Great brakes.  Good stock riding position.  Great riding position after I put some risers on it.  Also, these bikes are air cooled, and can handle it as they have ceramic coated cylinders.  I expect to get at least 100K miles from it.  It has plenty of kick in all gears.  5th gear doesn't have much power until 80 mph, then it goes, so highways are no problem whatsoever.  It is darn near as fast as the 1700 cc Roadstar too (I should say I have a pod air kit and pipes).  It will knock down any 1100 or smaller honda cruiser around (that is not too hopped up), as well as a kawasaki mean streak.  I've ridden my old man's R* and it is quite nice a nice bike too, just a little heavy.  The V* 1100 is about 650 lbs dry, compared to about 750.   Lot's of aftermarket parts and online help, much like the great savage forum here!       There are some known problems with it, though.  Youi have to remove the front pipe to change the oil (though there are relocation kits), and it is really easy to screw up the starter motor if you can't follow directions.

Now, you mentioned the VTX 1300.  My take:  never ridden one, but I think they, and its brother the 1800, have no soul, just torque (now if there is a bike that has soul [and torque] everyone on this forum owns one! ).  There is a lot of plastic on it and it is liquid cooled. Bleh.    but that is really just a "looks" type of thing.  

Again, but what you like!  And congrats on getting a new ride or pimping out the savage!

So in a shameless attempt to see more V* 1100s on the road, I will finish with a pic of my 1100.  It still looks mroe or less like this...

WD,

I've got to agree with you 100%.    Though I must say a pal of mine has a Volusia 800 and is quite happy with it.  It seems to be pretty quick, but I do not like the looks.

Oh,  I'd also like to add that when I bought my V*,  I was thinking about trading it in, and they offered me 3k for it.  Well, I still have my savage and I'm soooo glad I did not trade it in, though it is now for sale for $20,000.  If soemone will pay that much for it, they can have it (maybe)!  And I'll go buy a new savage and a triumph speed triple!

Get the vtx 1300. It's a fantastic bike. It has a single pin crank so it sounds a bit like a Harley. It is super reliable with it's watercooling and Honda build quality. While a 750 would be a bit better than the LS650 on the highway, the difference isn't that great. I ride both, so I speak from experience. Go with the VTX and I can assure you you will be very happy if you spend much time on the superslab.

I love the LS650 and riding one around town is awesome. For traveling and taking trips, the VTX is hard to beat.

A bike for every day of the week is just about right... I bought my 800 used, out the door (tax, title, license, and around $1K USD worth of accessories) for $4650. I've put a hair over 700 miles on it in 3 weeks, mostly commuting. I've got a friend with a brand new C-50, with nearly $2500 in accessories, who wants to straight trade. I'm keeping the Vulcan.

I've got someone locally who can stretch a Savage frame, no problem. Hardtail or functional suspension, same price.  Lifetime guarantee on his welds and added tubing.

Test sit every bike you can over the winter. I'd bet money (if I had any), that you'll have a Vulcan, V-Star 1100, or your Savage come spring. You'd be amazed what a simple bar swap and recovered seat will do for the Savage.
-WD

If you decide to go used,  I would go to a bike specific site and ask folks about known problems to look for.  For example, V*s are known to have starter issues, and if the biek has twisted starter bolts, you probably want to avoid that particular one...

BTW, at 6' tall, the V* 1100 in stock form may be a hair small for you.  But  you can get floorboard of footpeg extensions cheap.  Risers and/or new bars...  But at $8k USD, new,  you still have cash left over for goodies...  I bet you can get one for $6k used, or maybe a little cheaper if you're patient...

At any rate,  off season and at the end of the month is a good time to get a deal on a motorcyle from a dealership...

I got to ride my friend's moto guzzi cruiser.  I think it is the california.  ???  Anyway,  a very tall bike,  lots of power, and  comfortable for the 20 minute ride I took.  Sounded like it was falling apart, though.  She said "that's how it's supposed to sound."  Me: "You need pipes."  Her: "Up yours." us: "hahaha"  You can really lean this bike in the twisties, too.  Not a lot of aftermarket parts (at least to my knowledge), but that's not a problem for us savage owners!  Not many folks who will work on them, either, for those of us not inclined to do our own work.

Quote:

problem is I can't afford to buy all the bikes I want to ride, so need to narrow the choices down just a wee bit, have been checking out the 800 Vulcan,like the lines, That bike I have looked at a lot in the last couple years, but kinda have a Kawasaki issue, did not like them as I grew up (not that I have grown up , just aged a weebit). so maybe time to reconsider my out of date opinions on some things.

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:


i'de bob that baby in a minute. yeah...