Yamaha 2000 classic 1100 Oil filter blues

We have been working on my friends classic 1100. Every year he comes over and we change oil. I have to say this bike has the most stupid design I have ever seen for changing the doggone oil filter. Then to make things worse the Yamaha shop gets like 300.00 for a kit to relocate the filter.
For those of you that have not had the pleasure of removing the front pipe on one of these bikes, you should try it once. The nuts come off of the exhaust studs ok but the pipe you have to get in just the right position to move it out of the way. Then you do the filter and then you get to reverse the pipe procedure , oh what fun.
My advise is stay with our XJ's and stay away from the big v-twin bikes.

Rant over

 

The V-Star is essentially a Virago engine. Problem is they ran the front exhaust over the filter instead of under the engine. I've never had much trouble with them but I do work on a lift where it's all at chest level.

The V-Star 920 has a spin on oil filter that isn't behind anything. Much nicer design.

 

Try it with a 2-1 lol, I have a spin filter on mine now. Toys=$$$$$