I am a big (6 foot) fan of cruiser bikes and had owned an XV535 Virago for the 10 years or so since passing my test until the carbs started playing up and I felt it was time to trade it in for something a little larger. I hadn't done a lot of research on the XVS950A Midnight Star, but saw it in a dealer's showroom and instantly liked it. It looked huge by comparison to my little Virago. Wide, cow-horn handlebars, massive fuel tank, wide seats (for the pillion as well, which was important as I do a lot of 2-up riding), the wife and I both sat on it and liked it even more. We left it for a week to have a think about it, then went back and arranged the swap. I'm not good at bargaining and think I got diddled on the trade-in value of my old bike, but as it was just about a non-runner and needed a serious looking at, I wasn't too bothered, it would have been difficult to sell privately. I was nervous about riding something so big, never having done so before, so had it delivered and just pushed it into the garage for starters, then one nice day plucked up courage to take it out. Checked no cars parked nearby, no neighbours watching... fired it up... started first time, clunked easily into gear, and smoothly pulled off. It took a few minutes to get used to the different handlebars and lack of windscreen, but actually, I really liked it like this, and still do. That was two years ago. Since then, I've put more miles on it than I did in my entire 10 years on the Virago. This is so much nicer to ride, mainly because it doesn't keep stalling or leaving me stranded in the middle of nowhere with a long walk to find help, unlike my old bike. The engine is so smooth and powerful, I really have to hang on to the handlebars if I give it full throttle. I can't understand people who think they need to fit aftermarket air kits and exhausts - it's just fine as it is! Amazingly, it does more miles to the gallon too (I'm getting about 65 on average, and that's mostly with two people, though I do tend to ride very carefully and stick to speed limits - this is a cruiser after all, and I like to cruise, not thrash the thing). I've got my confidence back and am enjoying riding again. There are a couple of minor niggles with it, I wouldn't class them as faults really. Firstly, I thought I was getting lots of chrome, but on closer inspection, much of it is shiny plastic and not metal at all, and the metal bits are mainly stainless steel. However, this isn't such a bad thing, it keeps the weight down and looks pretty much the same. Takes less cleaning actually (and I do like the black wheels in this respect too!). Secondly, the gear shift from first to second has a tendency to miss and end up in neutral if you don't push the lever firmly enough. All the other shifts are fine, it's just this one which has let me down on numerous occasions. I've been practicing using the heel shift to go up the gears and toe to come down, and this has just about resolved this one. You can give it a good stamp on the heel peg to go up to second and this seems to work better than nudging the toe end of the lever up. I'm doing this more or less automatically now and haven't had nearly so many problems with the shift, only when my legs are getting tired near the end of a ride and I miss the lever, but that's more to do with me than the bike. Finally, luggage space - there isn't any. No room for anything under the seat other than the supplied toolkit. For some people this might not be a problem, but I like to take a few bits with me and had a nice tubular steel sissy bar on the Virago (proper Yamaha one) with a little rack on the back to fasten a few things to. They don't make a similar one for the Star, and I don't like the look of the quick release square section ones available (quick release = easy to steal), so ended up making my own - took some doing, but I like the end result and am happy that I really do have a custom bike now! A pair of throw-over Highway Hawk saddlebags fastened under the seat and a huge Yamaha engine bar completes my additions. Oh, and some of that blue reflective tape on the wheel rims - this is a dark bike and I want to be seen from the side at night! I don't think I need forward pegs or controls, the standard footboards are fine where they are for me, but then I'm used to riding the Virago with my knees on my chin (well, not literally, but it wasn't as comfortable as the Star). Would I recommend it to others? Definitely. I did look at other bikes for a similar price, and had toyed with the idea of a Suzuki or Harley Davidson, but am glad I went for the Yamaha. Just looking forward to next year when I finish my monthly payments for the beast and can really say it's all mine!