2000 Yamaha V Star Custom Cruiser reviews

Bought used in early 2005 and now over a year later I still love my 650 Custom. Whether it's the great looks, the extra chrome and Cobra pipes or the 4.2 gal tank, I often get comments about it being a Harley or something bigger than a 650. Only improvements could possibly be the stock seat or another gear for interstate speeds. The wife and I (over 360 lbs together) ride comfortably at highway speeds on weekend cruises. I ride in town to work alot and consistantly get 50 to 55 MPG! GREAT BIKE FOR THE BUCK! Show less

Bought mine used last wed., learned to ride on Saturday, and put 180 miles on it in 2 days. From limited experience (and a very sore rear end) I really like the bike. I have a 10% grade hill going up to my house, and this bike will haul major rear uphill in 5th at 45 MPH. A lot more than I was expecting from a little 650. The styling on the custom is excellent. The seat hurts wider-reared people after only 20 min. But that can be solved with a new seat. Show less

This is my first bike and I could not have asked for a better fist bike. I rode every day this summer, rain or shine, and this bike was perfect for teaching me how to ride. I have footpetals and cobra pipes and the pipes are so loud that when I ride down the street people put their fingers in their ears and it makes me feel great. The foot petals saved a whole lot of money when a dog jumped out in front of me. When I got up there was only a little dent and some scraping on the tank as the foot petals took the brunt of the slide (I got a slick paintjob out of the deal too). Shaft drive is great, bike is super slick looking and riding. The only problem in my mind is the seat, it sucks. I am ready for a larger bike possibly a BMW r1150r or a 1100 V-star Classic. I cannot say enough about how great this bike was to start out on. For a new rider these 650's are the best bike on the planet. Show less

This is without any question the best buy you can get for your money. Yamaha did a good job to keep it simple. With all the articles on how to customize, you can transform this into a super custom as you can see. Show less

This is my first bike and I LOVE it!!! I just had Cobra pipes put on, K&N air filter and the carb jetted. Quite a bit of performance now. I plan on keeping this bike for a while. It has plenty of power for around town and the highway. I personally don't beleive it's that important to go over the speed limit. On another side, I completed the MSF course one month ago and it has saved my butt many times already. If you haven't taken this corse, do so. Show less

In July of 2001 I was at a dealer looking for my first motorcycle. The dealer recommended a 2000 VStar 650 Custom. It was considered "used" because it had 1200 miles on it, so the price was right. I was told that the bike was light enough to learn on, would have enough power to handle nearly any type of ride, and would simply run without problems. HE WAS RIGHT! 8 months later, and there have not been any problems mechanically. The bike just runs flawlessly. For a bike that looks this cool (and it does look sharp) the ride is comfortable, and has a light and well-balanced feel. This helped me to learn to ride with ease and confidence. As far as power goes... for a 650 this bike has plenty of power. I have never wished for anything more while riding in town. Getting off the light, passing a car or merely pushing the speed limit, has never been difficult. Now the highway is something different. While the bike is strong enough to stay up with traffic at 80MPH, passing is a chore, and a bit nerve racking, but can be done. SUMMARY - If your looking for a first bike, you won't go wrong. If your looking for a bike and intend to spend most of your time riding around in town. I say get the 650. You will be completely satisfied. And with the money you will save can be used to customize the bike. If you want to hit the highways, you will probably want a bigger engine. But for me... nothing beats the Vstar 650 Custom for overall performance and looks. Did I mention that the bike looks sharp? Show less

I have 26,000 miles on this machine and runs like a top! It's easy to ride and very forgiving for new riders. The bike is great for around town, cheap on gas, easy to park and looks damn sharp. Only real problem is power for cruisin' on the highway. At 70mph there isn't much "umph" left to overtake that semi. The light weight is a blessing in the parking lot, but a hassle on the highway. All in all, it's a great bike for the money. Show less

I am a new female rider. Grandmother in fact. I completed the MSF course 2 weeks ago and immediately started riding my V Star. The seat height and size is perfect since I am only 5'3" tall. In fact it is the only decent sized bike I could find that my feet would touch the ground firmly. I love it. The only item I would like to see changed is the location of the gauges. When wearing a full faced helmet it is hard to see the gauges. But I will probably quit looking at the speedometer once I get more experience. I highly recommend this bike for women riders and new riders that want a cruiser style. Show less

I'm 5'7" and weigh 155 lbs. This bike is perfect for me...not too heavy. The low profile makes the weight easier for me to balance and manage. This is MY first bike and I have no regrets and no desire to "upgrade" anytime soon. I like the fact that it shifts so smoothly even when cruising at slower speeds. I read where someone wrote that it shakes at high speeds... I haven't been over 65 mph so I can't comment on that. (65 mph on a bike is fast enough for me). I just went to Daytona last weekend and even the HD-riders gave me second looks. I was proud to have a bike that looked as good as theirs without spending as much money!! Show less

Well I bought this 2001 V star about a month ago now.. I can't get off of it. It is so stylish and rides nice. I get many stares while riding this bike. All around you are not going to find a bike that is better than this one. The shaft drive is really nice too. Finding parts is easy too. Well this is a good starter bike or just an all around low, long, slung out cruiser without the big price. You will just have to try one!!!! Show less