Yamaha V-Star 950 Test Drive

2010 Yamaha V-Star 950 Red Color

The V-Star 950 comes in two configurations: the standard ($7890 in black, $8090 in blue or red), and the Tourer ($8990 in black or black cherry, and $9090 for silver.) The Tourer adds a windscreen, passenger backrest and saddlebags with 11 gal of storage capacity. The $1000 premium for the Tourer package is considerably less than the individual costs of the accessories.

The V-Star 950's elongated proportions are held together with a new double-cradle frame. The 950's seat height is only 26.6 in.—so it will accommodate even the most vertically challenged riders. A 942 cc, air-cooled, 60-degree V-twin is rigid-mounted to the frame. The fuel-injected engine features ceramic composite plated cylinders and forged aluminum pistons, with exhaust routed through two-into-one pipes. The twin produces 58 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm, but you'll have to guess engine speed since there's no tachometer. A five-speed transmission with straight-cut gears transfers power to the rear wheel, and because Yamaha's market research revealed that cruiser riders don't dig shaft drive (which is found in the smaller V-Star 650), the V-Star 950's 16-in. rear wheel is driven by a belt drive. We like that.

Up front, a 41 mm KYB fork offers 5.3 in. of travel, and a link-type rear suspension has 4.3 in. of movement with nine-way preload adjustability using a small tool stored underneath the seat. Stopping power comes from a 320 mm single-disc two-piston setup at the head, and a 298 mm single-disc one-piston arrangement out back. Key to any bike's maneuverability is its curb weight, and the V-Star 950 tips the scales at a reasonable 613 pounds for the standard bike and 657 pounds for the Tourer.

2010 Yamaha V-Star 950 Picture

2010 Yamaha V-Star 950