Yamaha V Star 1100 Custom

Advantages: handling, looks, size, weight, power
Disadvantages: not a Harley-Davidson

...Here we are three years later, and I have put 15,000 km on my 2004 V-Star 1100 Classic, bought new in '05. I have also spent about $6,000 CDN on bling - 4" risers, crash bars, hiway pegs, custom exhaust, windscreen, K&N filter, visors, passing lamps, Kuryakyn grips. It is, without question, a looker. It also sounds great. Even my H-D-owning neighbours thought I bought a Softail. But as it has been said, it's only fault is that is is not a Harley. Harley's have the single crank-pin potato-potato sound that gives great feedback to the throb of the Big Twin. But the custom-exhaust V-Star is close, oh so close. In some ways it is outright remarkable: I had it track day and the brakes never faded over five hard-run laps of ther 2.5 mile (former F-1) track at Mosport International Receway in Ontario, Canada. Cornering is limited... Read review

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Advantages: looks, comfort, reliability
Disadvantages: Its just not a Harley

...Bought this new as a change from a Blackbird and was shocked by the seeming lack of power (62BHP) after a sports bike, but a few miles of laid back country roads and I started to remember why I enjoyed riding a bike so much. With so much low down torque you dont need to rev the bike or change gear that frequently it just pulls deeply from around 1500 rpm and keeps going. Sit back on the ample seat, hands on the big handlebars ( larger tubing on the classic), with a subtle rumble from the V twin and a stupid grin on your face. It only gets used for pleasure and so I left it for a month over winter and had to charge the battery to get it started, so I now have it on an optimate permanently. The chrome shows no sign of tarnishing and there are plenty of aftermarket goodies, as well as a very active owners club. Its only fault... Read review

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Advantages: handling, performance, functionality
Disadvantages: Price, BMW dealerships being too busy at the moment!

...So the new 1150 RT is out, with many similarities but some big differences to the 1100. I've got a 2000 RT and have tested the 1150 and confess to being impressed, but not overly. Not enough to warrant a trade in for sure! The 1100 is a great bike and should not be under-estimated. It certainly keeps up well enough with the sporty 600s upto 110mph and is guaranteed to leave you feeling less ruffled, dryer, warmer and a lot more smug than the sports bike riders. Personally, I prefer the looks and characters of the BMW brigade, so the Honda Pan European wasn't an option. If it was, that would be a difficult choice! So what about the 1150? Waiting lists are long and dealerships are really busy at the moment - is it worth the wait? I have to say no! Sure the new linked brakes offer fantastic stopping power (touch the rear brake... Read review

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