SPECIFICATIONS:
year: 2015
price: $ 13790
Engine: Liquid-cooled V-twin; SOHC, 4 valves/cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed
Energy: Fuel Injection
Displacement: 1304 cc
Top Speed: 124 mph (Est.)
Touted as the only casual full-dress touring bike in the mid-displacement class, the 2015 V Star 1300 Deluxe from Star Motorcycles hits the streets with a majority of its technology and style already present in the V Star 1300 and V Star 1300 Tourer. No surprise there. Just as I was wondering what "casual full dress" meant, I found an explanation by Yamaha’s Senior Product Planner, Aaron Bast, that it’s a phrase to describe trunkless touring cruisers with fork-mounted fairings and are generally lighter in weight and with fewer amenities than their fully full-dressed brethren. So, it’s a lighter tour bike with less storage, fewer bells and whistles and a smaller engine? Yeah, that’s what I got out of it, too. Spec-wise, it’s the same bike since 2013, though you could get it in Charcoal Silver in 2014 or Deep Blue in 2013.
Design
There are really two versions of the 2015 V Star 1300 Deluxe. The Rapid Red version has blacked-out components, a short, lightly smoked windscreen and red accent stitching on the seat. The Raven version is not blacked-out, has a tall, clear windscreen and no fancy accent stitching. Both have a low 27.2-inch seat height and long 66.5-inch wheelbase, giving the V Star 1300 Deluxe a long, low retro profile. The fork-mounted bat-wing fairing sits in front of a fully integrated dash and audio system, which comes equipped with a removable waterproof Garmin® Zumo® 665 GPS. That’s a nice feature for a mid-displacement tourer. Color-matched, hard, lockable bags give you 15.2 gallons of storage; that’s 5.2 gallons more than the V Star 1300 Tourer. Since this is touted as a tourer, you would expect ample passenger accommodations; but the pillion, as it comes from the factory, is inadequate. The seat is wide enough, but quite short, offering what I would consider a precarious perch. If ever there was a bike that I’d feel capable of driving out from under me, this is it. To accommodate a passenger that you want to stay on good terms with, you’ll have to shell out more bucks for a more complete touring saddle setup including the scooped touring seat and backrest, and passenger floorboards. All in all, there isn’t much in the way of roominess unless your passenger is an undernourished waif and you are average height or smaller and pretty lean. A plus, though, are the real steel fenders. If you are looking for a base to start a customization project, steel fenders are right up your alley.
Chassis
Front suspension rides on KYB 41 mm telescopic front forks with large-diameter brushed-finished covers. Front wheel travel is 5.3 inches. The braced steel swingarm and rear wheel are controlled by a nine-position preload-adjustable, single rear shock vertically mounted behind the engine and tucked out of sight. Rear wheel travel is 4.3 inches. The 298 mm brakes discs — dual in front with twin-piston calipers and single in the rear with a single-piston caliper — provide ample stopping power. I like that the rear caliper is mounted to the underside of the swingarm, This not only makes the caliper less in-your-face, but it helps reduce the center of gravity, which in turns makes for better handling. All this rides on 16-inch seven-spoke cast aluminum wheels.
Drivetrain
The steel cradle frame has four solid engine mounts holding the liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-twin 1304 cc engine. You can find the radiator tucked between the front-frame down tubes to make it as unobtrusive as possible. Even the radiator hoses are hidden to keep that air-cooled look.
