Common Problems With Yamaha V Star 650 And Ways To Solve Them

The Yamaha V Star 650 also known as Yamaha Dragstar 650 is a popular bike model among many riding enthusiasts. These cruiser motorcycles from Yamaha Motor Company are affordable and user-friendly. So, you’ve always admired them and you’re now ready to purchase one and enjoy those fantastic rides.

However, like other motorcycle models, the V Star 650s aren’t perfect. Therefore, it’s good to know the issues you’re likely to experience before you buy. We found out that there are mainly three problems that affect these bikes after thorough research. Let’s take you through them below. 

Common Problems And Ways To Solve Them

1. Engine Bogging

Many Yamaha Dragstar 650 owners report this issue. Bogging is when the bike hesitates while you throttle up to accelerate. Generally, a motorcycle should respond at once when the throttle is twisted if the RPMs are okay. When the bike is having a bogging issue, it will delay before speeding up when you switch gears. 

This problem will also make the bike sputter when you increase the speed. Its power output won’t go up, and the bike won’t move faster. Instead, it will chug along the road. Your riding experience will be very frustrating and even risky.

• What Could Be The Causes?

There could be several causes of bogging. Experts say that it’s a fuel-related issue that may result from an improper fuel-air mixture. A malfunction component in the bike’s fuel system may also cause engine bogging.  

A hole in the air filter can also cause the issue by allowing too much air inside the engine cylinders. That air will mostly come with unwanted debris that could cause severe problems. Dirty spark plugs, leaky intakes, and faulty vacuum lines can also affect efficient combustion. If your bike has a carburetor, debris or dirt can get into it and clog the jets compromising the smooth fuel flow. Consequently, the engine will probably hesitate (bog) under acceleration. 

• Ways To Solve The Problem

It’s easy to resolve this problem. The carburetor and the jets need a simple cleaning, and you’ll be good to go. Also, your V Star 650 can experience bogging issues due to poor carburetor adjustment. In that case, make sure that the carb is tuned right. Don’t try doing this yourself unless you’re trained. We recommend that you leave the carburetor cleaning and readjustment to a professional. 

2. Stalling Problem

Bogging can be very frustrating but wait until your bike stall while on the ride – the experience is more than annoying! We talked to several Yamaha V Star 650 owners, and a few complained about this problem. The bike tends to lose power suddenly, and what follows is bogging or backfiring (loud pop from exhaust pipes). Sometimes, you’ll first experience repeated backfires, and then the bike will stall. 

• What Could Be The Causes?

There are many possible causes for this problem. Stalling can occur if the engine isn’t receiving the sufficient fuel it needs to run. Insufficient fuel implies that combustion isn’t taking place, and what follows is the bike dying. 

Another problem could be an unclean fuel filter as it will cut down fuel supply to the engine. That will certainly cause the bike to stall. Similarly, clogged fuel lines or fuel pumps will also reduce the amount of fuel the engine is receiving leading to the problem. 

Bad fuel can also cause stalling issues. Generally, gasoline doesn’t stay fresh for a long time. Its quality will start reducing after 30 days of non-use. Running your bike on old and poor-quality fuel can cause stalling. 

Gas caps keep dirt and debris away from the gas tank. They also facilitate a properly balanced air-fuel mixture by allowing air into the engine. The engine will get insufficient air for proper combustion when these cups clog. That will cause the engine to stall. Leaking vacuum lines can also cause the problem as they make the engine receive an increased amount of air. 

Last but not least, a malfunctioning throttle position sensor (TPS) can cause the stalling issue. The component controls the ratio of air to the fuel in the engine. If it’s not functioning properly, your engine will experience an improper air-fuel mixture. 

• How To Solve The Problem

You must make sure that you don’t run bad fuel on your bike. Drain the fuel first if you haven’t used your bike for more than a month. Secondly, ensure that nothing is interfering with your bike’s proper air-fuel mixture by checking and cleaning filters regularly. Moreover, inspecting for a leak in the intake manifolds and vacuum lines can also be helpful. 

Seal any holes or cracks you find or better replace the cracked part as quickly as possible. Examine the position of the TPS to ensure it is okay. Make sure that there are no components restricting fuel flow to the engine. Check the fuel lines and the fuel pump.

3. V-Star 650 Fuel Pump Problems

We've seen a lot of Yamaha V-Star owners saying about their fuel pumps problems. So, why do they actually occur?

A lot of owners complain that their fuel pumps in the V-Star 650s don't work properly after the winter. In this case, we can say you should check the battery. In most cases, the battery is not in a good condition after staying for a couple of months in your garage. You should charge it and then see if the problem is still there.

Also, the fuel pump may be clogged or frozen depending on the conditions it was stored in. A clogged pump will try to start and will make some noise, but in the end, it won't supply the engine with the needed fuel pressure to start and idle correctly. In this case, the fuel pump replacement will be the best choice.

Also, carb problems should be considered. You may want to check the fuel lines and all other equipment that is in charge of delivering fuel to the engine. If there is a blockage in the lines or in the carb, the fuel pump will struggle to get the needed amount of gas to the engine. In these cases, the replacement of the pump won't change the behavior of the bike.

We recommend a couple of things to check before replacing anything if you think the fuel pump in your Yamaha V-Star 650 doesn't work:

• Check the fuel pressure. Find the needed pressure for your modification in the manual or in some forums and compare the pressure your bike shows with the needed one.
• Check if the pump turns on. Once you turn on the ignition, the fuel pump should make some noise to show it starts. Then it should go silent again once the fuel pressure is OK for starting.
• Check if the fuel filter is OK. It's a very common problem for bikes that spend winter in dusty places. Their filters may be clogged and this can lead to problems.

4. Yamaha V-Star 650 Ignition Problems

Ignition issues are very common with the Yamaha V-Star as the bike is not new. You will find faulty elements and wiring problems in every second bike because their mileage may be quite high.

The most common issues that cause ignition malfunction in your V-Star 650 are as follows:

• Ignition coils. These parts are in the TOP-5 rating of the most common problems with this vehicle. Checking them is quite hard but you can just replace them to make sure the coils are OK.
• Battery. Again, the problem with ignition may be caused by a bad battery because the motorcycle has electronic ignition. It means that once the battery is low, the ignition module can't send the needed current to the coil and to the plug.
• Wiring. Investigate the bike's wiring thoroughly and check whether there is a free cable or a broken connector. The motorcycle doesn't have a lot of wires, so checking this won't be a problem.
• Plugs. Changing spark plugs every year is a good tradition for any owner of the Yamaha V-Star 650. Once you have the ignition issues, the best decision is to buy new spark plugs and install them.

Ignition is extremely important. Before you set off on a long journey, you should make sure that your Yamaha has proper ignition and no problems with starting. If it shows any problems, make sure you diagnose and repair them.

But you should also know that starting problems don't just come from the ignition, they may have some other reasons.

5. Yamaha V-Star 650 Starting Problems

Several V Star 650 riders complain of experiencing issues with the engine starting up. Some riders report that the bike will start well but die soon before taking off. Others report that their bikes won’t turn on at all or die occasionally and then struggle to start up again. Like the other two issues we’ve discussed above, this too can be very frustrating. 

• What Could Be The Causes?

The battery should always be the first thing to suspect when your bike experiences start failure issues. If your battery is faulty or terminals are loose, then the bike will be underpowered and unable to start up. 

The power problem could be caused by a poor connection between the two terminals. Motorcycle engines vibrate and the vibration can loosen the screws with time. Just open the battery compartment and ensure the connections are tightly screwed before you start again. Take the battery for a voltage output test if the problem persists. Replace the battery if needed. 

Your bike’s battery can also drain the power, especially if you’ve left the bike unused for a long time. That’s because some components always consume some power, and with time they will drain the battery if it’s not getting recharged. Thus, if your bike has been sitting for a long, find a compatible charger to boost the battery. 

A faulty stator or rectifier can also cause power problems. The stator and rectifier are the components responsible for charging the battery. While the stator generates power in AC, the rectifier changes it to DC to charge the battery. It also regulates the power to ensure that the engine isn’t overcharged. If the stator is faulty, then the engine won’t charge the battery. 

Similarly, a malfunctioning rectifier won’t regulate the charging process properly. That likely will cause damages to the battery. Check the status of the stator and rectifier if you realize that the battery is damaged. 

Lastly, bad electrical components can cause starting problems. So, check for faulty starter, dirty spark plugs, faulty side stands kills-witch, the malfunctioning ground connection, and bad ignition coils. 

• How To Solve The Problem

We’ve already explained what to do for each possible cause we’ve mentioned above. In general, we recommend that you utilize a battery tender to keep your V Star 650 always charged and prevent draining. Also, check the condition of your battery regularly and all the components we’ve also stated. 

Final Thought

The Yamaha V Star 650 is a great bike, and nothing should stop you from buying it. It’s powerful, comfortable, and allows excellent control and manoeuvrability. But, there are a few mechanical issues you should prepare to be up against. These include engine bogging, stalling while riding, and starting failure. 

The solutions to these issues are easy, and with proper maintenance, your bike should serve you well for years. Let a mechanic experienced with these motorcycle models help you.