Oates,
Do not buy the Yamaha V Star 650.
It is underpowered with that engine and you have to make valve adjustments every 4000 miles. There's a good reason as to why they are discounting them. In my months of research (and I was pretty keen on Yamaha for a while...just not the 650), I saw a common thread that people would buy that particular bike cheap and then realize it's underpowered for anything more than cruising a few streets around town. It is not suitable for really cruising along at highway speeds.
I am also a new biker. I am extremely pleased with my America. I took it for a 180 mile ride up to Mount Rainier the other day and had no serious problems. The bike is very tolerant of my inexperience and it was a very comfortable ride all day (another issue about the the Vstars, the stock seat is not good for riding more than an hour or so).
Yes, I have laid the bike down twice. Once on the right and on the left. These were low speed laydowns and completely due to my newbie-ness. It seems the only damage, besides public humiliation and a small scape on the elbow, was to the stock exhaust pipes. They now have "beauty marks". But these will be replaced with Bubs at the 600 mile service. For a fellow newbiw, I would strongly recommend waiting on changing the pipes until then. Get your practice in. I am improving. The only thing really kicking my butt is starting off on an uphill and that just needs practice and coordinating some new muscles.
One thing that is great, and I am really enjoying it, is how people always come by to look at my bike. I don't like being the center of attention, in my time off, but I do like how people are drawn to my beautiful bike.
Sure, you will pay more for the Triumph, but I am very pleased with the bike so far
and am very glad I did not go with the Yamaha.
Conwy
