After two years of research, test driving different bikes (primarily the Road King and several Softails...about 5k miles put on rented Harleys) and considering the price (a factor but not a deciding factor) I had to ask myself...what do I want in a motorcycle:

a. had to be a classic cruiser (in my mind only the R* and the Softail fit the bill; these two just look like what a cruiser was meant to look like)
b. had to be dependable (Roadstar wins as my one and only HD was not...granted it was many moons ago)
c. had to be big enough to take me and the Mrs. two up cross country and "sporty" enough for me to "toss around" day to day. (Softail and R* tied)
d. had to be a good value (R* price was better, Softail probably better resale value) SO R* wins this as I tend to keep my bikes...my 1982 GS1100E is sitting in the garage under restoration.

What it all boiled down to for me was that the R* had the look I wanted, the reliability I demanded and the price I could afford with a kid still in college...bottom line, we call it a no brainer in this neck of the woods

Regards, Ted<br><br>Post edited by: TMK, at: 2007/05/22 20:50

Well, I walked into the Showroom to look at a Honda VTX 1300. I had my mine set on buying nothing but that Bike. A Saleslady took my Wife and I over to look at one. It was a very pretty bike but it looked a little &quot;small&quot; after looking at a &quot;Big Beautiful Bike&quot; at the doorway!!

So I ask the salesLady &quot;What Bike is that at the front Door&quot; she says &quot;Oh that is a Brand new 05 &quot;Yamaha Roadstar Midnight&quot; and it's alot more expensive than the Honda VTX 1300... That was it I had to have it

So, I look at my wife and says &quot;Which do you like the Best&quot;?? She is like me ...The Honda compared to the &quot;Roadstar&quot; is like comparing A Mercedes to a VW.... It was one of the most Beautiful Bikes I have ever seen...There are a lot more things I got to buy for it windshield,sissy bar,exhaust, and etc. just have to get over this initial cost...I will still go out to the Garage and stare at it ...LOL Even though I am &quot;Still in Training&quot; (only has 97 miles)
I love it!!

With all the help I get here, on this &quot;Great Forum&quot;...I will be an &quot;Ace&quot; rider before you know it!!

Thanks to Everyone,

Frank from Bama

<br><br>Post edited by: Frankallen, at: 2007/05/22 20:33

I had ridden dirt bikes for years as a youth. Mostly Yamahas and a few hondas.
I got the street bike bug after raising my son and now it was time for dad to enjoy his mid life crisis. I researched for about a year before making the mistake of comparing engine size of dirt bikes and street bikes not realizing what kind of riding I really would enjoy. I bought a 2005 650 silverado, but soon learned it wasn't what I wanted. Seen the Roadstar and started looking into it. That is how I found this site. I lost a few hundred on trade in but I have never regretted it. I rode my 650 from Dalton to Just north of Atlanta on I-75 70-75 MPH. I was a nervous wreck for that hour and 15 minutes the wind really beats you up on the smaller bikes. After signing the papers and getting on the Road* on the way back I was cruising at 75-80 and I thought I was running 50. Its like going in a Chevette and coming back in a cadiliac.. The 650 wasn't a bad bike but just wasn't for me. I feel for the price, quality and the ability to customize the Road* its the best bike you can have.

I did absolutely no research. I visited the dealer interested in moving up from a 650 to an 1100 or possibly a used Royal Star. I saw the Roadstar and went weak in the knees. Took it for a ride and went weak in the heart. Went back to the dealer and couldn't sign the papers fast enough.
The look, the quality, the handling, but most of all, the way I feel with my butt on the seat and my hand on the throttle.
Brought it home March 15th of 2007, it set in the garage for 3 weeks while we finished up our winter, and it now has a little over 3000 miles on it. I can't leave it alone.

I started a post about 6 months ago titled &quot;what bikes have you owned&quot; or something close to it. I have had a bunch of bikes from standards to sport standards to cruisers to cafe racers. I was READY for a bike that the aftermarket really catered to that was not a Harley. It was really a simple choice. Great looks, good &quot;foundation&quot;, fair price, and pick up any parts Distributors catalogs (J&amp;P, Dennis Kirk,Etc..) and your #1 bike non-US built but well supported by the aftermarket was the Roadstar. The VTX was probably 2nd. But, as retarded as this is going to sound, I didn't want a fuel injected bike as I enjoy tinkering enough that carb(s) were not an issue. Besides IMHO the VTX might be faster, but it comes in a distant 2nd in the looks department (would you rather take the good looking track star to the prom or the really hot cheerleader?). Also for me, it was time to ride a bike that &quot;fit&quot; my largeness. The Roadie fits. Many more reasons, that just covers a couple.BB

My answer is simple...

8 years ago I owned a fantastic little V-Star 650 Classic. It was my starter bike and I just fell in love with the entire line of Star bikes. I quickly wanted a larger version of the V-star and the Road Star fit the bill.

Besides, I love the classic feel and simplicity of an air cooled V-twin bike. Also, I live in an area of the country where anyone who rides a full size bike rides a Harley. I kind of like being different. When I go on rides with my Harley buddies I'm the only one on a Metric. I like that!

Plus, my history with Japanese bikes has been a positive experience and the cost savings over a Harley was substantial.

My Roadie is a 2003, that I bought new in 2004. The very first bike I ever rode was my V-Star 650. I loved the &quot;big bike look&quot; of it. Well, one day I told my wife I was headed to the bike dealer to get a new pair of goggles. While there, I saw this Roadstar, and I fell in love. Made a deal, came home to tell my lovely wife about the purchase. Never looked back.

Hmmm ....

I like to chop my vehicles so I was looking for something that I could cut up. I had taken my last bike (Shadow 1100) about as far as possible without putting serious money into it and even with the money input, I would still not have had the look I wanted.

I had considered a softail but could not bring myself to pay the dollars for a new or used one (cheap at heart ). But the HD softail look is what I was looking for - no rear shocks to break up the A-frame and no radiator.

I walked into the dealer intending to buy a V-Star 1100. It had the right looks but the shaft drive bothered me (not a fan ). Right next to it was a R* with all the features I wanted .... and the rest is history.

Doc

Just wanted to return to the simple air cooled V-Twin bike. Had just owned a Royal Star, Drifter, Wing......Wanted to get back to the &quot;feel&quot;. Although these new twins are not the old cantankerous beasts they used to be. Yamaha did a good job of leaving some of the feel in the engine. I was going to buy the VTX, but I rode one and all I could think while riding was &quot;this bike feels pussy&quot;. No feel at all.
Plus I have had many Yami's and always had a good experiance. Plus the cost. The fit and finish seemed superior to all others.

As for me, I've owned a trail bike, a Katana and I have a 78 Yamaha SR500 as well as my 05 R*. Initially I went to look at a bike for long distance riding but not necessarily a cruiser. Actually it was my wife (bless her heart) that pointed me to the R*. I sat on the Roadie and it felt like it was made for me. The 1100 V* felt too light and not as balanced to me. So the rest is history.

I love the power of the R* and know the bike will do the job of carrying my butt anywhere I want to go.

Thanks for all of your comments.


NIBS