Yamaha V-star 650
The Yamaha V-star 650 has a top speed of 160 km/h (estimated, note: governed by gearing and aerodynamics), produces 40 hp and weighs 228 kg. Motoryk rates it 7.5/10.
ืืืืื V-Star 650 (ืืืืื ื ืืืจืืืกืืืจ 650 ืืฉืืืงืื ืืกืืืืื) ืืืฆืื ืืฉื ืช 1997 ืืกืืืจืช ืืืืื ืืื ืื ื ืฉื ืืขืื ืืคื ืืช ืืจืืืืื ืืืฉืื ืืืชืจ ืืืืื ืืืืคืฉืื ืกืื ืื V-twin ืงืืืกื ืืืฉืจืืช ืกืืืจืืช ืืืจืืงืืืืช. ืืื ืืืืืฃ ืืช ื- Virago 535 ืืกืืืจืช ืืจืืช ืืื ืืกื ืฉื ืืืืื ืืืคื ืืืืจื ืืคืืคืืืจื ืืืืืช ืืขืืฆืื ืื ืืืฉื, ืืืืื ืืช ืืืืื ืืืืฉื ืื ืืื ืฉืื. ืืื ื ืฉืืจ ืืืืฆืืจ ืขื 2010 ืื ืืฉื ืืืืช ืืกืืืจืืช ืืืชืืืืืช ืืืืืืช ืืืืชืจ ืฉื ืืฆืจื ืื ืคืขื ืืฉื ืืกืคืงืช ืืืื ืืืืงื ืืืืืคืื ืืกืืื ื ืฉืื.
40 hp
ืืื
50 Nm
ืืืื ื
228 kg
ืืฉืงื
160 km/h (estimated, note: governed by gearing and aerodynamics)
ืืืืจืืช ืืจืืืช
3.8 L/100km (approx. 26 km/L typical real-world average)
ืืืง
ืขืืจืื
ืืืฃ
๐ง Service Schedule & Parts
Affiliate ยท we may earn| Service item | Every | Typical cost | Parts |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ข๏ธ Engine oil + oil filter | 4,000 km / 2,500 mi or 6 mo | $40-80 | ๐ข๏ธ Buy โ โ๏ธ Buy โ |
| ๐ฌ๏ธ Air filter | 8,000 km / 5,000 mi | โ | ๐ฌ๏ธ Buy โ |
| โก Spark plugs | 8,000 km / 5,000 mi | โ | โก Buy โ |
| ๐ง Valve clearance check | 16,000 km / 10,000 mi | $150-300 | |
| ๐ Chain & sprockets | 20000-35000 km (replace) | $120-250 | ๐ Buy โ |
| ๐ Brake pads | 15000-25000 km | $30-60 | ๐ Buy โ |
| ๐ง Brake fluid | 24,000 km / 15,000 mi or 2 yr | โ | |
| ๐ Tires | 15000-25000 km | $200-350 | ๐ Buy โ |
| ๐ฉ Major service | 16,000 km / 10,000 mi | $250-500 |
Video Review
ืื ืืงืื ืื ืฆืจืืืื ืืืขืช
Bulletproof Reliability
The V-Star 650 is widely regarded as one of the most reliable beginner cruisers ever made, with many owners reporting 50,000+ miles with minimal issues beyond routine maintenance.
Watch the Carburetor
The CV carburetors are prone to gumming up from ethanol-blended fuel if left sitting โ always inspect for rough idling or hesitation and budget for a carb clean if buying used.
Strong Resale Value
Due to its reputation and popularity as a starter bike, the V-Star 650 holds its value unusually well, making it easy to resell but also meaning you'll rarely find a steal on the used market.
ืืืจืืช ืืืคืจืืื ืืคื ืฉื ื
ืืืจ ืืืื; ืืื ืขืืฆืืืื ืืืืืฉืื ืืืืืื ืืืืจื ืื ืืืืฆืืจ. ืขืืืื ื ืฆืืข ืืงืืกืืืืงื ืงืืื ืืืื.
"ืกืืืจืช ืืืชืืืื ืืืืฉืืืช ืฉืื ืืืืื ืืชืืงืื."
ืจืืืชื ืืืขื 18,000 ืง"ื ืขื V-Star 650 ืืฉื ืช 2003 ืืืืืชื ืืืฉ ืืืื ืืช ืืืืจ ืืื - ืืื ืืืฉื ืืฆืืจื ืืื ื-2,500 ืกื"ื, ื-V-twin ืืฆืจ ืืื ืืฉ ืืืคื ืืืืชื, ืืืืื ืืืืฉื ืฉื 690 ื"ื ืืจื ืืฉืืชืฃ ืฉืื ืืจืืืื ืขื ืจืืืืื ืงืฆืจืืช ืืืชืจ ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืชื ืืื ืืจืื. ืฉืืื ืืืืืฉ ืืืืจ ืืขื 120 ืงื"ืฉ ืืืคื ืืช ืืื ืืข ืืืืื ืจืืื ืฉืืงืื ืืช ืืืืืื ืืืืจ ืฉืขื, ืืืืชืืื ืืืืืจืืื ืืื-ืืื ื ืืืจืื ืงืืจ ืจืื ืืื ืืืจ ืืจืืข ืืืืืฉ ืืคืจื ืืชืืงื. ืฆืืคืื ืคืืืืืืช ืืืงืจืื ืงืจืื ืืื ืืืจื ืืืืชื, ืืคืืืืช ืืืืื ื ืฉืืขืช ืืื ืืืื ืช ืชืคืืจื - ืืื ืกืืืค ืืื ืืื ืืชืงื ืืืช ืืืื. ืชืืืจืช ืืืกืฃ, ืืืฉ ืื ืืฉืืืฉ, ืืชื ืืงืื ืกืืืจืช ืืกืื ืช ืืืืจืื ืืื ืืช, ืืืืืืช ืืืืช ืฉืืืืืช ืืืชื ืืจืืื ืืืงืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืชื.
ืืชืจืื ืืช
ืืกืจืื ืืช
ืกืงืืจืช ืงืื ื ืืฉืืืฉืช
"The most reliable cheap cruiser you can buy used today."
$2,500-$5,000 usedThe V-Star 650 is one of those bikes that quietly earns your respect. It's not flashy, it won't win stoplight drags, but the parallel twin disguised as a V-twin pulls smoothly from idle and rarely causes drama. For used buyers, the good news is these things are practically bulletproof โ find one with regular oil changes and it'll run another 50,000 miles without blinking. Carbureted models from the early 2000s do gum up if left sitting, so always check fuel delivery first. The ergonomics suit smaller to medium riders well โ feet forward, relaxed wrists, manageable 26-inch seat height. Highway cruising above 70mph gets buzzy and the engine feels strained, so it's genuinely a city and backroads machine rather than an interstate tourer. Aftermarket support is enormous, so you can personalize cheaply. Just avoid examples with crash damage to the engine cases; parts are discontinued in some markets.
Top 10 Accessories
Curated picks for the Yamaha V-star 650 โ owned, ridden, recommended.
ืืขืืืช ื ืคืืฆืืช
๐ฅ 1 CRITICALHard start, rough idle, fuel smell in airbox
Oil residue on fork tubes below seals
Test charging voltage, look for melted connector
Spongy feel, excessive lever travel at rear
โ ืจืฉืืืช ืืืืงื ืืคื ื ืืจืืืฉื
Very reliable, simple engine, easy cheap maintenance
Full Specifications
Rivals & Alternatives
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Compare Yamaha V-star 650 Side-by-Side
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Discussion
Frequently Asked Questions
What are common problems with the Yamaha V-star 650? +
Carburetor clogging from ethanol fuel sitting: Hard start, rough idle, fuel smell in airbox (moderate) | Fork seal leaks on higher mileage bikes: Oil residue on fork tubes below seals (moderate) | Rectifier/regulator failure causing battery drain: Test charging voltage, look for melted connector (serious)
Is the Yamaha V-star 650 a good motorcycle? +
The most reliable cheap cruiser you can buy used today. Rating: 7.5/10. Best for: New riders wanting reliable, forgiving cruiser experience. Avoid if: You regularly ride highways above 70mph.
What is the horsepower of the Yamaha V-star 650? +
The Yamaha V-star 650 produces 40 hp @ 7,500 rpm, with 50 Nm @ 5,500 rpm of torque. Top speed: 160 km/h (estimated, note: governed by gearing and aerodynamics).
Is the Yamaha V-star 650 good for beginners? +
Yes โ the Yamaha V-star 650 is a reasonable choice for new riders (40 hp is manageable), weighing 228 kg. New riders wanting reliable, forgiving cruiser experience
Is the Yamaha V-star 650 reliable? +
Owners report 1 critical issue to watch for on the Yamaha V-star 650, notably: Rectifier/regulator failure causing battery drain (Test charging voltage, look for melted connector). Buy with a pre-purchase inspection.
Is the Yamaha V-star 650 good for daily use? +
New riders wanting reliable, forgiving cruiser experience Fuel: 3.8 L/100km (approx. 26 km/L typical real-world average).
How fast is the Yamaha V-star 650? +
The Yamaha V-star 650 reaches a top speed of 160 km/h (estimated, note: governed by gearing and aerodynamics), producing 40 hp at 228 kg curb weight. Real-world performance depends on rider weight, gearing, and road conditions.
What gear should I buy for a Yamaha V-star 650? +
Motoryk has curated a Top 10 gear list specifically for the Yamaha V-star 650, covering engine oil, tires, chain, battery, and brake pads โ see motoryk.com/bikes/yamaha/v-star-650/top10. Each pick is matched to this bike's spec.
