2018 Yamaha V Star 250 Review |
Urban and Canyon Tested
A beginner motorcycle should be welcoming, friendly, and fun—a simple concept that Yamaha figured out 30 years ago and hasn’t let slip away with the 2018 Yamaha V Star 250.
New riders will immediately feel comfortable when they throw a leg over the very-approachable 27-inch saddle. The low seat will allow most people to sit astride the slim 326-pound motorcycle with both feet firmly planted on the ground, and this is one of the best ways to put a beginner at ease.
The grips are within easy reach of the rider as the compact cruiser motorcycle has narrow drag bars and the foot controls are in a relaxed forward position. Surprisingly, Yamaha totally missed the mark on the hand levers. The levers are non-adjustable and the reach, especially to the front brake, is excessive. I have big hands for my size—women’s large gloves—and it was immediately noticeable to me. The only saving grace to this inexplicable oversight is that the clutch pull is light.
The air-cooled V Star still has a single 26mm Mikuni carburetor, so you’ll be flicking the handlebar-mounted choke when you start the motor when it’s cold. The engine warms up quickly and I didn’t find any fueling issues.
With a decidedly undersquare 249cc 60-degree V-twin powering the V Star, the motorcycle has ample low-end torque. Getting underway is easy and, because the acceleration is anything but fast, newer riders with less polished clutch and throttle skills will not get spooked by accidentally grabbing a handful.
You have to be quite deliberate and short shift the five-speed transmission to squeeze the most acceleration out of the engine. However, this is what makes the 2018 Yamaha V Star 250 a winner with beginners. It is a non-intimidating platform with generous room for error, and there’s little chance of overachieving in the speed department.
The five-speed transmission works well, and you will kick up into fourth gear for most of your urban riding, as the gearbox ratios are expectedly short. Fifth is mostly an overdrive for cruising down a fast-paced boulevard.
Handling is intuitive and light—so much, in fact, that it almost feels like riding a bicycle, albeit a motorized one. With the narrow 18-inch wheel up front, I had to back off my input as I found myself initially over-steering because I’m used to riding larger, heavier machines.
When it takes such a light hand, it truly seems like a play bike. Novices will be delighted that they never have to wrestle with the Yamaha V Star 250.
With 5.5 inches of fork travel and nearly four inches from the diagonally mounted twin shocks, the V Star’s suspension manages to soak up most of the road imperfections at relaxed speeds, encouraging unhurried spins through side streets and neighborhoods.
Exploring mountain roads is also a blast, though the combination of narrow front tire, spindly 33mm fork, and the 32-degree rake leaves the V Star feeling less planted. An experienced rider will probably enjoy the light and loose feeling, but a newer rider may find it less secure.
The V Star 250’s brakes are perfectly tuned for newer hands, soft on initial engagement and with enough power to leave a rider confident to twist the throttle. Because the reach to the right hand lever is so far, I found myself using the rear drum brake quite a bit. It has good feel and enough power to do more than simply finesse my stops.
Again, nothing happens overly fast on the 2018 Yamaha V Star 250, and this includes engagement of the brakes. That’s fine, perfectly in line with the intended audience and riding style of the bike.
The roomy seat is comfortable—to a point. I found myself getting fidgety at about the hour mark, and that’s due to the feet forward riding position that leaves my weight firmly on my posterior.
While the 2018 Yamaha V Star 250 is targeting entry-level riders and has a very appealing price tag at $4349, you wouldn’t know it by looking unless you’re an aficionado.
The V Star 250 is well proportioned and appealing with its genuine old school looks. In fact, while at a stoplight alongside Editor Don Williams, astride a Harley-Davidson Street Glide, a young man in a car leaned out his window to comment admiringly on both motorcycles.
The 2018 Yamaha V Star 250 is a seasoned model for good reason. With a non-intimidating engine, comfortable ergonomics, and easy handling, it takes care of the basics without looking like a budget beginner bike. This is the 30th year of production—Yamaha should have issued a special edition—and given that the motorcycle is unchanged, you’re getting an authentic 1980s cruiser fresh from the factory.
Photography by Don Williams
Riding Style
Helmet: HJC RPHA 11
Jacket: Joe Rocket Classic ’92
Gloves: Racer Women’s Guide
Jeans: Dainese Jessville Lady Skinny
Boots: Joe Rocket Heartbreaker
2018 Yamaha V Star 250 Specifications
ENGINE
Type: 60-degree V-twin
Displacement: 249cc
Bore x stroke: 49 x 66mm
Compression ratio: 10.0:1
Valve train: SOHC, 2 vpc
Fueling: Mikuni 26mm carburetor
Cooling: Air
Transmission: 5-speed
Final drive: Chain
CHASSIS
Front suspension; travel: Non-adjustable 33mm fork; 5.5 inches
Rear suspension; travel: Spring-preload adjustable shocks; 3.9 inches
Front tire: 3.00-18; Cheng Shin
Rear tire: 130/90-15; Cheng Shin
Front brake: 282mm disc
Rear brake: 130mm drum
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
Wheelbase: 58.7 inches
Rake: 32 degrees
Trail: 4.7 inches
Seat height: 27.0 inches
Fuel capacity: 2.5 gallons
EPA estimated fuel economy: 78 mpg
Wet weight: 326 pounds
Color: Raven
2018 Yamaha V Star 250 MSRP: $4349
2018 Yamaha V Star 250 Photo Gallery
