2000 Yamaha VStar Classic

Casey's Motorcycle

  • Cobra slash-cut drag pipes (no baffles)
  • Willie & Max saddlebags
  • Memphis Slim windshield
  • 649cc
  • K&N jet kit

I bought my motorcycle in the summer of 2000 after I graduated. When I first starting looking at bikes I fell in love with the 1998 model Vstar, in a wonderful green and pearl combination. In 2000 they only offered purple & red combo, and a black model, so I opted for the black model. I've never thought purple and red match, and putting them on a gas tank together doesn't make them suddenly coordinate.

When I bought the bike (I christened her Loud Love), she was my only transportation besides a pair of rollerblades. It rains a lot in Texas...I got wet a lot. It's also really really freaky to fishtail on two wheels. After that happened twice one morning I started working from home when it rained.

The first things I invested in were drag pipes and a jet kit. She was disgustingly slow, so the jet kit was necessary, and the drag pipes....well, they were just cool. I tried the pipes first with the baffles installed, but it didn't resonate the way I was hoping so I removed them. I haven't been able to hear out of my right ear since. Okay, I'm exaggerating a bit, but not totally. It was really loud. My favorite things to do with the loud pipes were to rev the engine when I was in traffic next to someone on a cell phone, and to go through bank drive throughs and rev when the person next to me was trying to talk to the teller to conduct way more business than they should be doing in the DRIVE THROUGH.

I rode with local clubs and once even rode with a friend up to Palestine and met up with bikers there. After that trip (Palestine is about 3 hours away) I promptly ordered a windshield. The windshield kind of ruined the looks of the bike (even though I bought the nicest looking shield I could find), but it made a huge difference in comfort.

I eventually sold the motorcycle because I'd stopped riding it. I had gotten my Mustang back and I loved driving it, plus it carried friends a little easier than the bike. I sold it to a lawyer in town who is hopefully enjoying it if he still owns it. I also hope he didn't get too many complaints about noise violations from his homeowner's association.