Hey all, my friend is buying a Yamaha roadstar 1700, it is a 2005 with 3800 miles on it.
Does anyone here have any experience with them? Knowing my buddy I may end up with this bike. I currently have a Vulcan 800 and would love to have a bigger cruiser!
I had a 1999 Yamaha Roadstar Siverado. Loved it! It handled very well and was very dependable. It had the stock seat on it, I would recommend a Mustang seat. It only got about 35-38 MPG; that was a carb and yours will have fuel injection. It is a very good choice for a bike. I would buy another one in a heartbeat!
Looking arc the specs it says the 2005 is still carbed.
Thank you for your input! This site is awesome, just a wealth of knowledge.
I could only imagine the posts on a Harley site if you asked about another brand bike. LMAO
"Damn, buying a Yamaha, but I am going to have to go commando with my drawers because Yamaha doesn't make underwear"
Reply, "you are buying a Yamaha? What are you nuts, with your Harley you get to pay more, bullshit with all the guys in the service shop twice a week and you can buy all of your clothes for ridiculously high prices while your waiting. Best of all you get to vibrate your nuts off on every ride you take in between service shop visits....."
I rode a 1700 Roadstar once. It was a comfortable bike with plenty of power, but it seemed like a slow handling bike. To be fair, I suspect the tires were a bit underinflated. The only other thing was that it vibrated more than I thought it would. Still, I thought it was a pretty cool bike. Just wasn't my cup of tea.
Now, that Stratoliner is a whole 'nother thing. I like that bike, and I once came very close to picking one up, but it just didn't make sense having a bike with that big an engine and only a 4.3 gallon gas tank. I guess it would have been a never-pass-any-gas station experience.
__________________
"Don't sweat the small stuff---it's all small stuff"
'09 650 VStrom
Sharing my wife's '09 Classic LT
Last edited by Strompilot; 11-29-2012 at 09:42 AM.
I rode / helped build a severely modified 1700 road star. (Tons of chrome, everything that could be relocated WAS so that only the cylinders and air cleaner were visible, 16" apes, 300 rear tire, etc.)
But it was a sweet ride! Lots of power, the motor sounds absolutely FANTASTIC with the right pipes. One of the better sounding V-Twins out there, IMO. They also look good with lots of chrome!
__________________
"8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
2006 Vulcan 900 Classic LT "Couch-a-Saki/Mini-Bagger" Fire and Steel Highway Bars w/ pegs, Mustang seat, Harley-Davidson King TourPak, Shark 600W stereo, Rick's Stator, and more to come!
2011 Honda Shadow Aero 750 (Wife's) Memphis shades windshield, and one happy new rider!
Member of the Christian Motorcyclist Association
VROC: 34661
Patriot Guard Rider
I rode / helped build a severely modified 1700 road star. (Tons of chrome, everything that could be relocated WAS so that only the cylinders and air cleaner were visible, 16" apes, 300 rear tire, etc.)
But it was a sweet ride! Lots of power, the motor sounds absolutely FANTASTIC with the right pipes. One of the better sounding V-Twins out there, IMO. They also look good with lots of chrome!
Yup, the Roadstar is one good-looking motorcycle. The owner of the one I rode (he was my insurance agent) had had his custom painted and loaded with chrome. Sure was pretty. I guess to sum up my riding impression of the bike, I would have to say I felt that I would be very tired after riding it all day. It's a big heavy bike, and it reminds you of that all the time. I had the same riding impression of my buddy's VTX1800, too. Loved the bike, but it was just a little too much work to ride it. At least the way I like to ride, anyway. That's what I like about the Vulcan, it's light and very easy to ride. Even the Nomad 1700 was easy to ride compared to the VTX and the Roadstar.
__________________
"Don't sweat the small stuff---it's all small stuff"
Yup, the Roadstar is one good-looking motorcycle. The owner of the one I rode (he was my insurance agent) had had his custom painted and loaded with chrome. Sure was pretty. I guess to sum up my riding impression of the bike, I would have to say I felt that I would be very tired after riding it all day. It's a big heavy bike, and it reminds you of that all the time. I had the same riding impression of my buddy's VTX1800, too. Loved the bike, but it was just a little too much work to ride it. At least the way I like to ride, anyway. That's what I like about the Vulcan, it's light and very easy to ride. Even the Nomad 1700 was easy to ride compared to the VTX and the Roadstar.
Have a 2000 Roadstar & have put 208,000 trouble free kilometres on it.
It is a great bike & love it, but have gone for a 1700 Nomad now, as it is more comfortable for the wife.
Also, I agree that the Nomad does feel a lot lighter up top, than the Roadstar.
Still have Star, but may have to sell??
Have a 2000 Roadstar & have put 208,000 trouble free kilometres on it.
It is a great bike & love it, but have gone for a 1700 Nomad now, as it is more comfortable for the wife.
Also, I agree that the Nomad does feel a lot lighter up top, than the Roadstar.
Still have Star, but may have to sell??
When I had my 1700 Nomad, my wife, who is a staunch "I-don't-want-to-ride-in-the-the-backseat" person, because she rides her own bike, even said that the passenger seat was pretty comfortable.
I think the basic difference between the Nomad and the Roadstar is that you are more stretched out on the Roadstar, and that can get uncomfortable fairly quickly, as all you weight is straight down on your tailbone and "sit" bones. I don't think you'll regret going to the Nomad.
__________________
"Don't sweat the small stuff---it's all small stuff"
Yamaha road star 1700
My niece calls it El Chingon (Spanish for Bad Ass)
Linear Mode
