V Stars have always been appreciated for their talent of providing loads of torque from down low with the help of their V-twin engines. The V Star 250 is indeed smaller but still retains this capacity. It was the first thing that I tested once I found myself on one. This makes it excellent for city use, but this bike’s main goal is to be an initiator so it is first user-friendly, reliable and then torque providing.
That 250cc V-twin engine fed through a 26mm Mikuni carburetor offers excellent throttle response and this is a great thing for the beginning rider. Once it’s got his safety course, he will be surely able of riding in style and with confidence. It feels like you had ridden it forever even though you are on your second or third ride on it.
This can also be the effect of that low seat height of only 27 inches. It allows anyone to flatfoot the pavement and this is a pretty important issue when it comes to beginners rides as they have to be able to touch the ground safely in an emergency situation like a bad departure let’s say.
Beginners won’t have any problems because this bike is simply built around the rider’s body, with all the elements at close reach and easy to handle with. Handlebars feature pullback design and the floorboards are front mounted, not to mention the sitting position. So once you are comfortably accommodated, you can concentrate on building up confidence and gaining experience. It is simply THE machine to do that.
I strongly recommend it because it features V-twin engine. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against two-in-line, but this one delivers bigger amounts of torque and imply that cruiser feel much better. After all, you are going to encounter another V-twin on bigger bikes so what’s the point on getting your beginner butt on another type of engine.
I was very happy with the tall gearing also because it leads to great fuel consumption. Shifting is no problem whatsoever and clutch feel is pretty confident and smooth. I didn’t manage to find not even the smallest problem with this bike, but probably because it doesn’t feature any. That Virago heritage clearly says it word and although mechanics haven’t changed that much, bulletproof engineering is what the V star 250 is all about.
You will have to change one or two gears before detaching from city traffic when leaving from stop signs but this is no 1000+cc and I recommend to stick to it a while after buying it because once you are familiar with it, you can really value its power, torque, and riding position which are all more that satisfying.
Handling this Vira…V Star is an absolute dream. The bike turns easily and it is very responsive to any rider indication. I soon found myself leaned over more than it was necessary and the footpegs drawn the alarm. Being light and relatively small, it is easy to be maneuvered by anyone in the parking lot. Even girls won’t have a problem with it if they are into motorcycling (I heard the number of girls on two wheels is growing).
In town I was very satisfied with the braking power that this cruiser provides but I don’t know what to say about that drum brake at the rear. Maybe it should be time to replace it with a small hydraulic disc for better brake efficiency and modern touch.
The suspensions also set it properly on the road and manage to do their job so as the ride will be comfortable in collaboration with the seat which is pretty firm but not hard. Exactly the way it should be.
Out on the open road, the riding feel is transformed. You now have a cruising machine, not just an efficient mean of commuting in town. This is where you can lay back and enjoy the ride, but it is also an occasion to see what the bike can really do. Shifting fifth and give it gas is also the solution when you want to feel if the bike vibrates at top speed. 85mph is this bike’s TopSpeed and I believe it is quite satisfying considering the fact that it doesn’t vibrate enough to bother its rider.
I ended up loving the V Star 250 after just a few hours and the rest of the time was just fun fun fun…I bet you will feel the same and follow the same “graphic” as I did, no matter the levels of experience. After all, this bike is designed to teach you everything about riding cruisers.
Price
The greatest thing about the V Star 250 is the idea that leaded to its creation: make everything look big and make the rider enjoy its user friendly behavior with little money involved. True to its initial idea, the V Star 250 comes with an MSRP of $3,599. Just keep in mind that every big thins begins with small steps.
Conclusion
Cool as chromed steel, cheap as chips. What does a V Star 250 have over many of the other much larger cruisers on the road?
It’s a genuine legend in cruiser folklore, because this V Star 250 has turned more riders on the wonderful world of cruising than almost anything else.
And why wouldn’t it, with its light, easy handling, super-reliable air-cooled, V-twin engine pumping out plenty of roll-on torque, and ample top-end thrust for highway speed limit.
Classic, timeless styling abounds, in the form of dual chrome exhaust pipes, a stylishly sculpted teardrop tank and hot wire spoked wheels. What could you ask more?
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