Jardine are the first major manufacturer to make available what I feel to be an essential accessory for the V-Star 1100. The reason it is "necessary" is that to change the oil filter on the 1100 is a complete joke! What drugs were Yamaha on when they designed this set-up is beyond me...

Now we all know we really should change the oil in our bikes more regularly than once every 6000Kms... But I don't blame anyone that doesn't with the stock setup!

The standard procedure to change the oil filter is:
1) Remove the exhaust pipe mufflers. (No, that is not a typo!)
2) Remove the front exhaust pipe header. (Yep, it gets worse!)
3) Loosen the right floorboard. (Drugs, I'm telling ya!)
4) Then undo a few steel bolts that you need to do up again at the end, which by the way go into a cast alloy engine block. How many times do you think those aluminium threads are going to put up with that?
5) Scrape knuckles, juggle tools, curse loudly and then reverse the procedure and hope you don't strip any threads inside your engine case!!!
6) Or let your dealer do all the above at a cost of 2 hours labour!

Of course "there has to be a better way" and it was actually an ISRA member by the name of Brado that came up with a solution first to much acclaim and appreciation by his peers. Jardine has now taken up the cause for some months and a third company, Motorcycle Enhancements, is producing their own version as well now. (See the News in this issue.)

With any one of these Oil Filter Relocation kits installed, oil changes are down to 15 minutes with a simple twist off of the old oil filter. So your engine will get better looked after by you. They also improve oil cooling (the oil and air are the only things keeping our bikes from overheating) and increase the oil capacity by a smidgen.

Jardine does good!

Jardine's product is packaged really well, perfect for displaying on the shelves in a dealership, allowing the shopper to take a good look at what they are getting and what is involved. Personally, if the dealer can't sell you on the benefits of one of these babies on your 1100, including the reduced servicing costs as time goes buy, then they must have rocks in their heads! It retails for under US$250 and cheaper if you shop around.

Nice packaging. If you see one of these, you can't help but buy it!

Installation

Well if you have ever had to go through the trauma of changing the stock oil filter once, then putting this puppy on is a walk in the park, because you KNOW you wont ever have to do it again! ;-) The instructions that come with it are well laid out, complete with pictures where required, and well worded English. All parts are easy to identify and everything comes together neatly.

Keep careful track of which bolts come out of where!

The only slightly confusing part is that you have to reuse some of the stock parts, including a few bolts (which initially all looked the same to me ;-) and some o-rings, but it all makes sense in the end.

The o-rings from the stock filter retainer are re-used!

You start by removing the front exhaust pipe and loosening the floorboard as per the service manual instructions, and then remove the beauty cover (which is not re-used) and then the oil filter retainer. Be prepared to mop up some oil when you do this part, even though you have drained the sump already.

Floorboard loosened, exhaust pipe removed and stock filter extracted. (Notice the GABE set-up... Sweeeet ;-)

Using the stock o-rings and a few of the stock bolts, you install the Jardine branded side cover that acts as the exit and re-entry points for the oil in the system, out to the remote filter.

I have heard some people complain about it being branded... But I think it look good.

The actual filter holder is attached to the small cross-bar that joins the two frame downtubes. There are two oil lines that come out of this carrier that are attached to the side cover. Presto, that hard part is done. The carrier takes a very common form of spin on oil filter, namely the one that suits the RoadStars and about 20 other different sports bikes and cruisers, so you wont have any problems getting your hands on one at any time. A filter is of course supplied with the kit.

Two bolts hold the filter carrier in place. Use some Loctite!

Once a filter is in place, the Jardine kit comes with a chromed billet aluminium filter cover that is pretty easy to install. Just do up one of the the three grub screws till it is flush and put that screw to the back of the filter (where you can't reach) and then do up the other two you can reach. I again used a little Loctite to be sure.

Now I have heard of a number of people complain about this set-up, including one person piercing their oil filter with the grub screws! (Take it easy, man! ;-) But I figure there are benefits to having a cover including, better protection to the filter from any road debris, cheaper filters (no need to buy chrome ones) and it looks nice and substantial.

Installed with filter cover in place. Use a little Loctite on the grub screws, but take it easy on them!

Re-install the exhaust pipe, tighten the floorboard and away you go. As you can see below, it's a very tidy solution to a very ugly problem and is beneficial to your motor to boot!

All done! Never remove your exhaust pipe again to change your oil!!!

You should be able to get this product from any dealer and they really should be more than happy to supply it to you, since not only do they make money on the initial sale, but subsequent services are going to be a lot easier for them, too.

My personal rating on this item is a hearty 10 / 10... I really can't recommend it enough. Go for it!