125 Dragstar, what do we know?

[Shaft]

So, for some reason, my work colleague's 19 year old son has decided he wants a Dragstar, I mean he's properly enthusiastic about it.

As the firm's resident bike expert, his dad has asked me to do some research and it would appear they are a sensible choice, unless you know different.

Looks like I might get roped into looking at one over the weekend, so is there anything model specific I should be watching out for, or any faults that are endemic to these machines?

Ta

PS his tassle jacket and arseless chaps are on order
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Robby]

A friend of mine had one as his first bike. I think he bought it second hand but newish, very low miles.

He put 30k on it over 18 months or so, with hardly any maintenance. It never failed him. Comfortable to ride, and as fast or slow as every other 125 out there. I think it was quicker than my restricted NS125R.

He crashed it a couple of times. The front mudguard is plastic and can be stuck back together with epoxy.

[_Iain_]

Paddys brother had one.

There's photo's on here of me dragging pegs on it

Riding position is pretty damn weird. Engine was gutless. Brakes pretty poor. Very lazy handling - turn in was slow, low speed control was poor, wouldnt want to filter on it. Gearbox was fucking terrible (although its probbably due to setup) weighed a lot. Steve did manage to get a realy shit wheelie out of it from a standstill.

Didn't go wrong for him however, so can't be all bad if you're into that sort of thing.

Edit; found the photo

https://i.imgur.com/9oZ1YRJ.jpg

I'm 6ft3 so physicly they're quite a large bike.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Shaft]

All good so far, Dad will like the fact it's no sports bike and difficult to wheelie, I like the idea of it being hard to break, because this lad has the mechanical skill of Jivebastard and muggins here will get to fix it.

I have heard the odd tale of oil pump failure, can anyone confirm or deny?
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[azra3l]

Suggest a Suzuki vl125 instead. Imo it's the nicer of the two..

[j.silvs]

Really liked the dragstars when I was younger

The open frame reminds me of a ducati sort of thing

[Old Git Racing]

[quote

The open frame reminds me of a ducati sort of thing[/quote]

You display a singular lack of understanding of anything to do woith bike 'frames'

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[j.silvs]

[_Iain_]

Just so we're clear, we are talking about the same bikes right?

Yamaha Dragstar;

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20C/Yamaha%20V-Star%20250%20Custom%2013.jpg

Ducati Monster;

https://www.speedycom.co.uk/shop/images/P/Monster%20600%2099-01%201.jpg

If so, you sir are totally and utterly insane.
____________________
Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[Shaft]

I look at the bike, I look at the badge and I see something completely different............

[Moxey]

[smegballs]

[Aff]

[_Iain_]

Utterly bizzare little scoot those.

Seem to recall them being quite nippy when mucked about with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BAy-2ae0LM
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[chickenstrip]

Similarities between Dragstar and Ducati:

1. V Twin engine.

2, 3, 4, & 5. See 1. above!

[c_dug]

Would seem silly to me to look purely for a dragstar, in the same way you wouldn't recommend somebody ruled out gixxers or ninja's just because they like the cbr600rr, if you open the field a little more you will get better choice. They all look the same anyway

https://www.autopictu.com/images/suzuki-vl-125-lc-intruder-07.jpg

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/840/images/MVT1220043BA-01.jpg

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20C/Yamaha%20V-Star%20250%20Custom%2013.jpg

https://www.aaamotorcycles.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/HYOSUNG_GV_125_AQUILA_BLACK.jpg

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery/Aprilia%20Classic%20125%2000%20%201.jpg
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Matt94]

[j.silvs]

Woops!

Totally wrong thing lol.

I was talking about the italjet

[chickenstrip]

[Shaft]

[suburban myth]

[Shaft]

So, he did what every kid does, found one, went to view and bought it, no messing about.

Luckily, he seems to have got a good'un, 11 years old, 2 owners and a totally believable 3200 on the clock.

He loves it enough that he went for a two hour ride after picking it up, despite having no waterproofs and it being precipitating down the whole way!

My first impressions are that it's extremely comfortable for a tiddler and the engine is super smooth, a proper little gem.

Lack of a main stand is a pain and I'm not sure about the tank mounted speedo, where you have to take your eye completely off the road to look at it; OK for someone experienced enough to know how fast they're going, not so good for a novice.

Certainly looks solid enough, I hope it proves to be so.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[Motorhate]

They're great bikes for a beginner and are quite good in the fact that they are low set, so forgiving on corners, really comfortable and they don't look like a 125 at all. Super reliable too.

Downsides are, there's lots of chrome so gets dirty pretty quickly in winter, engine lacks power on hills and inclines. Acceleration is slow but its what you'd expect from a cruiser.

Filtering is fine with one of these, you just have to plan carefully and judge gaps to allow for the wider cowhorn handlebars. I don't really have any complaints about mine and am selling it with a view to getting a much larger one (650 or 1100).
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Current - Harley Davidson FXDB Street Bob | Harley Davidson FLTR Road Glide | Harley Davidson Road King
GONE - Honda CB500 Ratbike | Yamaha FZ750 | Yamaha XVS1100 | Kawasaki VN2000 | Kawasaki ER-6 F | Harley Davidson XL883L Sportster

[Rogerborg]