2002 Yamaha reviews

After several trips to dealers who wanted to put me on bigger bikes because of my size I finally told them that I need to start small to improve my skill level. I was intrested in a cruiser style with the intention of getting a bigger m/c as my novice skill improved. The Yamaha Virago 250 met all my requirements. It is big enough for my height and weight. The engine has taken me up to 75mph on the interstate. The down sides include the seat, no tach, and a serious need for a 6th gear. Pluses include power, style(everyone thinks its a bigger bike), handling and fuel economy (71mpg average). Show less

Best all around motorcycle I have ever owned and I have owned a lot of motorcycles even larger. With 69,000 miles it still runs like the day it was new and as smooth as can be and I cruise the highways two up at 85 MPH plus. Except for general maintenance and regular tune-ups I have not had to replace anything and this honey starts with the touch of button and awesome to ride anywhere. This is one of the most under rated motorcycles to most people and I wouldn't be shocked if this motorcycle gets 200,000 plus miles. It might not be the fastest quarter mile bike but very reliable and the babes love it, I call it the babe magnet without question and great on gas 55 MPG Plus. Very light weight at 484 LBS. dry, very easy to handle and a pleasure to drive 500 plus mile per days with the Mustang seat. You can never go wrong buying one of these Yamaha V Star Customs they are built to last and a complete joy to drive anywhere, pure fun and joy that I will treasure always, thanks Yamaha! Show less

This bike is my first bike and I love it! It is very fast for its size, and even kept up with my friends kawasaki 750 brute force v twin! It has so much power that it even does a wheelie in third gear.... Show less

From the first time I tested this bike I loved it. The major minus was the seat and foot pegs. I put on drag bars from Yamaha, A cobra FI module, D&D pipes, forward controls, Corbin seat and the Yamaha breather. All in all this is a real fun bike to ride. Big or small you'll love riding this bike. I take short trips because I am lucky enough that this is my second bike, my first is a Wing. I had the transmission upgrade and that (other than normal oil changes etc) are all I have done with this bike. It's quick and I get between 34 and 40+ MPG. Less if you start smoking em'. If I were to do it over again I'd most likely get the power commander rather than the Cobra system. It's reliable, fast, relatively comfortable and fun ... did I say smiles too? Show less

This is a great bike, it's my first four stroke and the way it's going, probably one of my last, it never brakes except from my own fault. I am a true Yamaha person now, after trying Kawasaki and Honda, I'm sticking to Yamaha! Best bike I've ridden, great power and reliability, yet easy to ride also. Show less

Early this summer, I picked up the bike bug again after 10 years or so and bought my buddy's Silverado. I tell you what; this bike has more than doubled its miles since I picked it up 5 months ago. It is so easy to ride, smooth and forgiving that you look for excuses to ride. My one and only regret about getting this bike is I didn't do it sooner. I plan to move up next year, to either an 1100 or a Roadstar only because I have been putting on a lot of highway miles and the 650, though very dependable, does not have enough power for me on the open road. I will be keeping mine though for in and around town. I highly recommend this bike to all. Show less

I have 20 years experience as a motorcycle rider and I must say that this bike is the one I enjoyed the most. Got it used in spring 2005. Reliability has been excellent. Only problem with this bike is starting it in cold condition but can be cured with some work on the carburetor. Performance is good, you have to recall that it is still only a 225cc engine, it's not a 650cc. Comfort is okay for a dual purpose bike, but on the long runs, your butt will hurt. Quality overall of the bike is excellent. Maintenance is very easy to do also. For me it is one of the best "bang for the buck" bikes out there. Very fun to drive, either on the streets or dirt. Life is all about compromise and the XT225 is one of the best in this department. Show less

I purchased my red/tan Road Star in May 2004. It has unbelievable power as well as is stikingly good looking. I constantly get compliments and inquiries on this big cruiser bruiser. I have since added a set of Silverado bags and a set of Hard Chrome pipes as it sounds and looks great. I would have to highly recommend this bike to any serious cruisers. My wife and I take day trips and bike rallies in Myrtle Beach regularly. Show less

I've had a 2001 GXR 750, a 2002 600CBR F4i, and a '99 carburated CBR 600. AND all I can tell you is this bike beats them all overall... It is fast, does not get thrown around by the wind like the others, comfortable, and you feel very stable at top speeds compared to these other bikes. If you have the muscle to throw around its weight the road is yours on this bike!!! Show less

I owned a 1973 Suzuki TS100 and a 1976 Suzuki RM125, and then went almost 25 years without a bike. I purchased my XT225 new in 2002. If you just want a light, fun to ride, reliable, and capable trail and dual sport bike, it is hard to do better. To me, this bike is the modern day version of the early seventies Japanese enduros (TS, DT, XL, etc.) except with better suspension. I ride on side streets in southeast Michigan, and have also had my bike in the trails of northern Michigan. I have climbed some pretty steep hills, and there was no drama involved--just sit a bit forward and twist the gas. The bike just scampered right up the hills. It is not a motocross bike and is not made for jumping or riding at speed through whoops, but for trail riding and dual sport riding, it is excellent. If you search the used bike ads, you will not find many XT225s for sale, and there is a reason that people tend to hold on to them. I have had many compliments on the appearance of my stock XT225, and the craftsmanship on the XT225 is excellent. The one upgrade that I am considering is a change to Pirelli MT21 tires, since northern Michigan is mostly sand. If you do a search on the Internet by typing "250 Serow", you will find that Yamaha has just updated the XT225 for the Japanese market. Not sure how long it will take for this new version to reach the U.S. market, but it will definitely have some big shoes to fill. Good luck in choosing a bike. Show less