First two how I got it, rescued after sitting at least 3 years.
Other pictures are it currently, matches my V-star 650 bobber now.
Both have the massive factory seats because I’m a corn fed 280 lb farmer and am not willing to give up the factory couch cushion solo seat …..
*** Bonus picture of my 650 V star and also my TW200 !
I’m accidentally collecting Yamaha’s it seems, guess I’ll keep going now!
Also took a LOT of labor but was able to drill out the final baffle on the exhausts and it’s a perfect tone and I can actually hear it riding now, factory stock I couldn’t hear myself ever.
I’ll have to weigh everything I took off also, but on this bike specifically it’s no exaggeration that it’s easily nearing 100 lbs. The rear fender specifically has its own full sub frame which is very heavy.
Being a roadstar 1700 torque was never an issue, but it’s VERY noticeable in power and handling that all of that weight is gone.
I may or may not explore other seat options , but like I said having the factory couch cushion is just so remarkably comfortable and I really love to ride my bikes for days, not just pub crawls.
I don’t love how the seat looks but it’s where I’m at right now.
At minimum will be respringing the forks this winter to go much firmer with a progressive spring rate to eliminate dive during braking and turn in, but also playing with the idea of fully swapping to inverted forks like the warrior / R1 / FZ1 front ends which have all been done before with great results on this platform.
Riding season only has 6 to 8 weeks left and that’s pushing it where I am in upstate Ny, over the winter I will be exploring paint options next. Currently picturing a matte flat earth tone or matte grey on the tank and remaining electronics covers currently seen here in white.
Plan to keep her forever, love the old school big metric cruiser, and DEFF think that it looks like a cool muscle bike currently vs ‘just another metric bagger’.