Repair 7

Yamaha introduced the Road Star to compete for cruiser market share with Harley-Davidson. Harley discovered long ago that the biggest profits in the business were in accessories, after sales. Saddlebags are so basic to motorcycling that it might be reasonable to make them standard equipment on most cruisers, yet they are not standard on most Harleys. Yamaha modeled their after-sale marketing on Harleys, so people who buy a Road Stars also have to buy bags. Road Star owners can get the same style bags that Harley owners can. The bags are not interchangeable between the two brands, but the installation is basically the same between Road Stars and Harley Softails.

Instructions

1

Identify the fender trim on both sides of your rear fender. Put your hand inside the rear fender and feel for rear fender trim nuts. Not all Road Stars have nuts.

2

Lay out and inspect all the parts and hardware that came with your saddlebags. Read the instructions. Some saddlebags come with frames that you bolt to the fenders. You bolt the bags to these frames. Some bags come with brackets that replace the fender trim. Other bags bolt directly to the rear fender.

3

Working on one side at a time, unbolt the rear fender trim with a ratchet or box wrench and remove it. If the trim is attached with both bolts and nuts, use a box wrench to immobilize the nut inside the fender. Most Road Stars use hex-head bolts to attach the fender trim, so use a hex wrench to remove this bolt. Replace the fender trim with any frames or brackets included with the saddlebags. All motorcycles vibrate, so be sure to use maximum strength thread locker on all of the bolts.

4

Bolt, clip or fasten the saddlebag to the fender, frame or mounting bracket. Repeat on the other side.

The first performance modification that many people make to their Yamaha V Star 650 is to change out the exhaust system for a better sound and more horsepower. As an added bonus, this isnt a difficult modification to do and can be done by almost anyone at home in their garage with just a few tools. But before the new exhaust goes on, the old muffler has to come off.

Instructions

1

Park the motorcycle on a level surface with plenty of room to work. You want to make sure that your bike wont roll anywhere needlessly and damage anything.

2

Unbolt the frame cover that goes around the exhaust using a 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Place it to the side so that it doesnt get damaged.

3

Unbolt the clamp that connects the inlet of the lower muffler on the exhaust to the muffler using an open-end wrench.

4

Unbolt the clamp that secures the mufflers to the muffler bracket using a 3/8-inch ratchet and socket and an open-end wrench. You can find the clamp between the two mufflers on the exhaust.

5

Slide the mufflers off of the exhaust, making sure to work them around the frame so you dont damage anything.

Yamaha provides a limited warranty for its motorcycles sold by authorized dealers. Buyers should receive an explanation and copy of warranty information from the dealer at the time of purchase.

Time Frame

The full warranty -- covering all manufacturer parts and defects -- lasts for one year, with no mileage limitation from date of purchase. The warranty covers some parts, such as the engine, for up to five years or until the motorcycle reaches a specific mileage.

Repair

The warranty covers repairs, free of charge, by a licensed Yamaha dealer during the warranty period. Repaired parts remain covered for the duration of the warranty.

Exclusions

Certain circumstances void the warranty and require the owner to cover the cost of repairs and parts during the warranty period, including damage done by racing, improper transit of motorcycle, and abnormal strain or abuse of the motorcycle. The warranty also will not cover repairs done by someone other than the dealership or if the owner installs non-manufacturer parts during the warranty period.