It's just intersting to see what the competition comes up with, there are things on this bike I like better than the sportster and things I dont,

http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/...dvantages.aspx

http://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2...yker-100618863

 

I've seen and sat on it. It is FUGLY. The raider is fugly, and this is even worse.

Go check it out. On paper it appears bad ***, but I can't get past the looks.

IMO - The best bike Yamaha makes in the cruiser line is the Roadstar. Out of the box, not so much, but I've seen some tricked out ones.

 

Not knocking Yamaha since I had a 1100 V-Star Custom and I was amazed for the dollar what you got. If they could have put Harley Davidson on the tank they could have doubled the price. Honda probably had a lot of influence in making Harley strive to do better. However if you looked at my V-Star and the bike you are revering to they are now trying to copy Harley. However they can't have Harley's name and it is important to some who want one thing that says made in the USA more then any vehicle out there.

 

That bike is faster and handles better than a sportie. And is a 1300. They are nice bikes. I have an 1100 v-star and for the price it was on helluva bike. I still bought a street bob though. The raider is an animal

 

The Raider is a beast. but the looks, man, I just can't get past it.

 

compete with a sportster? not even the same class/displacement as a sporty and it's ugly as ****. i agree blackpharoah, seen some sick roadstars out there. this bike reminds me of the honda fury. weak.....

 

I think the HD name carries a lot more weight than the made in USA. My VTX was made entrirely in the USA, in fact, right here in Marysville, OH. The frames were bent + welded, engines cast + assembled, even the Shoei suspension plant was across the street. End result, couldn't give em away. Bottom line, when the MSRP is in the high teens for a MC, if it don't say HD on the tank, it ain't gonna fly here in any quantity. Blow the doors off any HD tourer, but lacks the fit + finish.

 

looks fat and bloated compared to a sportster , which (to me) has always been the essence of a stripped down , lean , mean motorcycle . the yamaha is probably a great bike , but i think it compares more to a softail than the sporty

 

like I said, there are things i like and things i dont

I dont like,
1. it needs more chrome,
2. It's heavier than a sportster
3. I like air cooled rather than Liquid but I guess that's needed with the higher performance engine, probably adds all the weight too.
4. I would put an after market air Filter cover on,
5. Less MPG than Sportster, (I dont understand why they say the stryker only gets 40 mpg, they even list the much bigger raider at 42 mpg.
6. it looks like the foot pegs are really close to the ground and easy to scrape

Things I do like
1. the wheels & wider rear tire
2. the bigger, higher performance motor
3. the paint

 

I don't like it. Last nice Yamaha was the Virago 1100.