2008 Yamaha V Star 1100 Custom Cruiser reviews

I do love this bike. True the factory starter motor is not great. The overall build quality is good. The ride and handling are also good. I have had many street bikes from many manufactures and this one is my favorite thus far. Good all around cruise...kudos to the Yamaha project team. Ryan Florida Show less

I did my research looking for the perfect bike. It's my first bike and hopefully a good enough machine to be my last bike. I must say that I am completely satisfied so far. It has a smooth ride, great handling and great looks. I haven't had to do anything to it mechanically in 4400 miles, as I purchased the maintenance package. I get great service with no problems or complaints. The bike starts every time; just gas her up and go! I have to be honest; the only downfall to the factory bike is the exhaust - it's too quiet in my opinion. LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES! That is going to be the first upgrade. I had a couple of friends who rides other bikes make fun of me until they rode it. They shut right up! The only thing they said it needed was real pipes. Show less

I bought my brand spankin' new V-Star 1100 Custom right after it was prepped. It had a single mile on the odometer from the factory. From the first time I let the clutch out and took off from the dealership, I knew I had made a good choice. Within a mile from the dealership, I was smilin' like crazy! Now with over 2,000 miles on her (in only 3 1/2 months) I am thrilled with my choice! She handles like a dream and rides better than all the other motorcycles I have had in the past. No problems at all and the service from the dealer is excellent! Show less

If you are looking for a wonderful, smooth bike, this is it! They look great and ride perfectly. My previous bike was a 1981 Yamaha 1100 Special. I couldn't put my feet down well at stops but loved the ride and power. The new 1100 Custom lets my feet rest flat on the ground. And it has great handling and power. I've been riding for over 20 years and have ridden most bikes available and would not trade anyone even just up the road. The only downside as always is keeping the wheel spokes clean from road debris. Also, the 1100 still comes with the shaft drive; that I won't do without ever. Show less

I bought this bike in July of '08. I was very impressed with the low center of gravity of this bike and the fact that it handled extremely well at low and high speeds. The quality of construction is great. I love the fact that they used large amounts of chrome all over the bike. In the past I have owned mostly Hondas, but when it came time to buy a new bike this time, the V Star 1100 Custom was a no-brainer choice for me. I have added Yamaha studded leather saddle bags and a Yamaha windshield as well as a sissy bar and crash bars. My only concern with the aftermarket Yamaha products are the fasteners. After three weeks on the bike the chrome bolts on the crash bars and the sissy bar started to rust. I removed them and swapped them with high grade stainless fasteners. All in all I love this bike and look forward to many miles of riding. Show less

The V-Star 1100 Custom is my second bike. I had been riding a VERY old Honda 750. The V-Star is much more comfortable, powerful and reliable. The quality of the bike is apparent upon first view, and becomes more obvious as you get used to riding it. I'm not very tall (short, really), and have no problem sitting with both feet flat on the ground. The bike cruises well at highway speeds, and is still very maneuverable at low speeds, in tight areas. My only suggestions for improvement would be to add a 6th gear for highway riding, and to relocate the oil filter so that oil changes would be easier for the owner to perform. Show less