| Shorthair's got a new TOY! (ahem, I mean it's a Sanity-Facilitating Vehicular Escape Module...) |  |
| So I decided after 20 years to return to a two wheeled world. In April of 2004, I took a ride with a friend at work who loaned me a bike, and I was hooked once again. I wanted something at least 1100 cc's, but not much larger so I could grow into it without being intimidated. I settled on a 2004 Yamaha VStar 1100 Custom. The reviews I read about the bike were all favorable, and while I considered a Honda VTX 1300 I couldn't get any of the lousy dealers here to talk honestly to me. This is the bike I rode home from K&W Cycle in Shelby Township, MI. Hey, who's that handsome guy out back???? |  |
| This is the bike I had 20 years ago, a Yamaha RD250. It was a two stroke banshee that would try to run out from under you up to about 30, and could make all of about 55 MPH as a top-end. I spent a year in Southern Califonia riding it around when I wasn't playing Jarhead. My fellow Jarheads called it "The Weave-mobile". "Rrrring!Dinga!Ding!Ding!Dinga!!!!" |  |
| I got used to the comfort and low-end power of the 1100 real quick, but wasn't terribly happy with its freeway performance. It just seemed to run out of steam at 65 MPH. Knowing that a beast lurked within the engine, I decided the quickest, safest and most efficient way to wake it up was to let it breathe better. I ran the bike stock for 1000 miles, and ordered open exhaust and a Maxair Predator kit, which replaced the restrictive aircleaner assembly with open K&N filters. Now this bike runs easily at speeds in excess of 65 MPH, has a mean growl when the throttle gets twisted, and still gets excellent mileage. |  |
| Of course, it looks good now... Getting the performance out of the engine meant a pretty serious tear-down during the summer. However, its not the only time the bike has been in pieces. In order to change the oil on this bike one has to remove the exhaust (!). This is one of the most boneheaded engineering features of the bike, fortunately the aftermarket has responded with a remote oil filter relocation kit. I chose one from Phat Performance.No leaks, and no more teardown to change the stupid oil.... |  |
| Of course, the bike has a new look with the new exhaust and intake. I've had to make some parts for it, the original air cleaner was no longer necessary, so I hammered out out this diamondplate carb cover, polished it, made a bracket and mounted it. |  |
| Another area that needed attention was the rear end - both the bike's and my own. The stock seat is horribly designed, but the aftermarket was up to the task. I ordered a Yamaha Boulevard Solo Seat made by Corbin and have been happy ever since. 30 mile rides used to be very uncomfortable, now 100+ mile rides are no longer a pain in the ... The bike has a huge mudflap type assembly holding the reflector set and license plate, I cut about 5 inches off the bottom and repositioned the plate. A chrome plate frame is backed with more polished diamond plate, the lollipop turn signals replaced with smaller, yet brighter Vizor lights. |  |
| The cockpit view is simple, uncluttered. Just a speedo, with some blinky lights for turn signals, brights, etc. Not too much to distract from the view down the road.... |  |
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