My buddy's responces are in caps.
Quote:Compared to the Savage, the thing is a tank. It weighs almost 200lbs more than the Savage making it hard to hold up in a slow speed turn.
ITS NOT BAD SIZEWISE- I WILL SAY THIS, ON THE FREEWAY, I WISH THE BIKE WAS A LITTLE MORE HEAVIER AS ID LIKE THE ADDED WEIGHT TO HELP AGAINST THE WIND AND OTHER CARS. YOU GET USE TO THE BIKE AND IT HELPS W/ MANUVERABILITY.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to move up any kind of an incline without dismounting.
IVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM AT ALL. I WENT FROM A HONDA 650 TO A V STAR 650 AND THOUGH THE WEIGHT WAS DIFFERENCE, IN TIME YOU GET USE TO IT. IM 5'9 225 LBS....
The riding position is stretched out and very comfortable. The stock saddle is wide and supportive. But thats about all the bright spots.......
I LIKE THE STOCK POSITION, I FEEL COMFORTABLE. MODS THAT IVE WANTED TO DO OR DONE...SHAVED THE SEAT DOWN SO IM LOWER IN THE BIKE INSTEAD OF ON TOP OF IT...AND THERE IS AN EXTENTION KIT YOU CAN BUY FOR ABOUT $135 THAT GIVES YOU ABOUT 4 MORE INCHES FORWARD. I KINDA WANT THAT, BUT I FEEL MORE SAFE NOW...IF I WERE TO DO LONGER RIDES, YEAH ID BUY IT, BUT FOR THE KINDA RIDING I DO, STOCK WORKS FINE....MY WIFE SAT ON THE BIKE AND SHES 5'5 AND WAS ABLE TO FLAT FOOT IT NO PROBLEM AND NOT HAD TO REACH FOR ANYTHING
Once I got it on the road, I kept asking myself "Where's the power????" I had the throttle pegged and it was barely accelerating. It accelerated slowly and without fanfare.
VSTAR 650S ARE KNOWN TO BE HIGHER REVING BIKES...TYHE ENGINE WILL HANDLE THE HIGHER REVS AND FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW, THATS WERE THE POWER IS....BY THE TIME I HIT 5TH GEAR, I'M DOING 60 MPH...MAYBE PEOPLE SHIFT AT 45 AND THERE NO POWER....SO HIGHER REVING ENGINES WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO FEEL THE POWER THEY NEED. IT WONT RIP YOUR HEAD OFF, BUT ITS ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET UP TO 75 MPH ON THE STOCK SET UP W/ NO PROB...DID 65 W/ A PASSENGER W NO PROB EITHER...DONT FORGET, ITS A 650....THE POWER EXCHANGE, YOU GET 48-54 MPG
I got to a stoplight and tried to shift down through the gears. The transmission is so vague, I had no idea if I was in gear or not.
NEVER HAD A PROBLEM W THE GEARS...ITS YOUR BASIC SET UP....1` DOWN, n AND 4 UP...YOU DONT HEAR A BIG CLUNK LIKE HARLIES....ITSD A QUIET TRANSMISSION..
Once I got on the freeway, I really began to regret my choice. It was ALLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTT smoother at 60mph than my Savage, but it took about 15 seconds to accelerate up to it.
ONCE AGAIN- REV HIGHER AND THE BIKE WILL MOVE. LOTS OF PEOPLE ON THE V STAR 650 FORUM WILL DO SOME MODS ON THE BIKE THAT ARE FREE...USUALLY HELP INCREASE THE POWER OF THE BIKE..
Once I was up to speed, it was quiet (the engine was only turning about 2500 rpm) but when I cracked the throttle to try to pass a slow semi, all the bike did was get louder. It would not accelerate up hill!
DOWNSHIFT AND ITLL GIVE YOU THE POWER THAT YOU NEED....ONCE AGAIN..ITS NOT A BIG CC ENGINE...