Star

Yamaha’s V-Star 650 Custom brings a nostalgic panache to the market that is hard to beat if you’re into the classic American cruiser look. A 40 cubic-inch V-twin powers the V-Star with 37.6 pounds o’ grunt on tap and a configuration that accentuates the vibe that the designers were going for. The factory goes for broke with laced wheels and a faux-rigid frame to go with a truly antiquated rear drum brake. There are plenty of these rides out there with the hardtail-look, so let’s take a gander at Yamaha’s little mid-size cruiser.

Continue reading for my review of the Yamaha V-Star 650 Custom.

Touted as the only casual (almost) full-dress touring bike in the mid-displacement class, the V-Star 1300 Deluxe from Yamaha’s Star cruiser stable hit the streets with a majority of its technology and style from the V-Star 1300 and V-Star 1300 Tourer. Equipped with a 1,304 cc engine, some nice little pieces of tech, and styling that clearly aims it at the American sector, the V-Star 1300 Deluxe is a strong contender in the mid-range bagger market.

Continue reading for my review of the Yamaha V-Star 1300 Deluxe.

The Raider from the Star cruiser line — now folded back into the Yamaha stable — and its chromed-out sibling, the Raider S, haven’t changed much spec-wise since 2008 (though the "S" didn’t appear for 2016). Red or black was the choice — the 2015 Raider in Liquid Graphite, the 2015 "S" in Crimson Red or the 2016 Raider in Candy Red — choices I like better than the Galaxy Blue offered in 2014. For 2017, we have basic black. With a 39-degree rake, low seat height, a fat rear tire and a tall front tire, it has just enough stretch to give that bad-boy chopper look that gets attention. It takes more than looks to impress buyers, though.

Continue reading for my review of the Yamaha Raider.

It certainly seems that if you wait long enough, just about everything comes back in fashion after about 25 years or so. An anecdotal case in point would be tie-dye t-shirts. I could have puked when they came back into fashion sometime around ’05, and my mother told me how many hundreds of shirts she had thrown away, thinking they would never come back. So it seems also with the chopper look that was so popular in the ’60s and ’70s. The difference now is that manufacturers are producing showroom choppers with rake values that come close to some of the radical rides from that era. I haven’t seen any genuine stretch in the downtubes yet, but there’s always next year I suppose. Star — now folded back under the Yamaha umbrella— introduced the Stryker back in 2011 to take advantage of the resurgent popularity of the chopped look, and here we are in 2017. The “showroom chopper” race is definitely heating up with more manufacturers looking to break into the niche, so let’s take a look at the Star contender in the form of the Stryker.

Continue reading for my review of the Yamaha Stryker.

Introduced in 2007, Star — now folded back under the Yamaha umbrella — has been offering essentially the same bike spec-wise since 2012, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The V Star 1300 Tourer is a mid-size touring bike — not a full dresser — but with plenty of storage. It’s not a small bike, but the V Star 1300 Tourer is small enough that you don’t have to wrestle with it. A low seat height and low center of gravity makes it easy to handle, and the 80-cubic-inch engine is big enough to be respectable but not so big it intimidates.

Continue reading for my review of the V Star 1300 Tourer.

Overview
The Perfect Blend of Looks, Performance & Handling
Featuring a torquey, forward mounted, fuel injected V-Twin, low 26.5" seat and the longest wheelbase in its class, the 2015 Yamaha V-Star 950 offers tons of sport cruiser performance, style and value. Lightweight, highly responsive handling for commuting through the urban maze, taming the back roads and cruising the freeways. Welcome to the head of the 950 class. 2015 Star Motorcycles V Star 950 Key Features:
• V Star 950 is (...)

Overview
The Benchmark In The Entry Cruiser Touring Class.
The 2015 V-Star 950 Tourer offers serious middleweight performance and style in a confidence inspiring ride. Lightweight, easy handling and a low seat appeal to new riders, while veterans appreciate the windshield, big locking saddlebags and passenger backrest. Perfect for commuting, exploring back roads and overnight venturing. 2015 Star Motorcycles V Star 950 Tourer Key Features:
• The V Star 950 Tourer rolls out with a (...)

The factory custom-retro cruiser look is hot right now, and nearly every major cruiser manufacturer has a hand in the game. You see a lot of bikes that just hint or suggest at this or that era or subculture, many just presenting a veneer that runs only skin deep.

The 2016 Raider shows Star wasn’t afraid to commit to its chosen look, and far from merely making suggestions, this sled virtually screams old-school chop-job. Built to compete in the domestic market, it certainly has a slew of design features that should appeal to the American crowd, and I expect it to appeal to a slightly younger crowd than the average cruiser. As you know, Star is Yamaha’s Made-in-U.S.A. brand, and this ride is a gambit to capture some of the “showroom custom” market.

Continue reading for my review of the 2016 Star Motorcycles Raider.

The base model of Star’s 80-cubic-inch (1,304 cc) V Star lineup, the 2015 V Star 1300, is a mid-size cruiser with classic features such as the two-into-one exhaust and modern retro look typical of Star Motorcycles. Introduced in 2007, the V Star 1300 is just as suitable for an entry-level rider as it is for folks experienced on two wheels.

The V Star 1300 falls into the category of a light-heavyweight touring cruiser and with the option of adding bags, fairing and windshield, you can flesh that out as you like. Don’t let "cruiser" put you off. With a surprisingly deep lean angle, cornering is still in your game if you like to get after it once in a while.

Continue reading for my review of the 2015 V Star 1300.

Essentially the same bike spec-wise since it was reintroduced in 2013, the 2015 V Star Custom gives a gutsy performance in a put-together package. The only bike in the 2015 Star lineup in this "tween" cc range, the V Star Custom fills a niche that manufacturers are waking up to: put a smaller, less intimidating engine in a big bike. The long wheelbase and big, narrow front hoop makes this a comfortable, custom-looking cruiser for around town, and the respectable fuel economy makes it a nice commuter ride for folks that want a big bike, but not the big-bike price tag. The V Star Custom has enough chrome to be classy without being ostentatious, and enough brawn to be taken seriously without looking like a thug — yes, even in black.

Continue reading for my review of the 2015 Star V Star Custom.

Star Motorcycles is giving its fans a chance to win a brand new 2015 Bolt C-Spec roadster as part of a new competition - the “My Bolt Style” video contest - that calls on owners and fans of the company to share their experiences with the Bolt.

Fans don’t even have to own an actual Bolt motorcycle, or purchase one, to be eligible for the competition. All they have to do is submit a two-and-a-half-minute-or-less video that captures their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with the motorcycle. Whether it’s their own Bolt, a friend’s Bolt, or even Bolts from their local authorized Star leaderships, the competition is all about creating a voice that captures everything that makes the Star Motorcycles Bolt roadster such an appealing bike for motorcycle enthusiasts.

Should you decide to enter the competition, the creation and submission of the aforementioned videos is the first step of the competition. Once you’ve accomplished those things, you’re highly encouraged to vote and also invite your friends to vote for a chance to win weekly prizes. You’ll also need to share your video with your friends and to your social channels to ensure that your entry gets as much exposure as it can get.

Remember, entries will be voted on by the fans, which means that the more exposure your video gets, the more votes it can receive. Sounds pretty simple, right?

Star Motorcycles will accept entries until August 3, 2015 before announcing the winner at a date that’s still to be determined. Those who miss out on the brand new Bolt C-Spec - aka second- and third-place winners - will still receive prizes of their own in the form of $500 and $250 in credit toward Star apparel or accessories, respectively.

Continue reading to read more about Star Motorcycles’ “My Bolt Style” video contest.

New for 2015, Star Motorcycles brings us the Stryker Bullet Cowl. Spec-wise, it’s the same Stryker mid-displacement cruiser they’ve offered since 2011, but with the addition of the outlaw-esque bullet cowl — hence the clever name "Stryker Bullet Cowl." With a 40-degree rake, low seat height, a fat rear tire, a tall front tire and that bullet cowl, it has an unmistakable bad-boy chopper look that gets attention even when parked. We don’t buy a bike to look at it, though. It has to have more than looks if we’re going to part with our money and take it home.

Continue reading for my review on the 2015 Stryker Bullet Cowl.

With its imposing style, big displacement engine and mean attitude, the Star Motorcycles Stryker demands instant respect. Its bad boy attitude is mixed with plenty of smart technologies, so apart from looking good, the bike has also all it needs to reward you with superior ride and handling abilities.

The motorcycle is built around a liquid cooled, V-twin; SOHC, 4 valves/cylinder engine with a displacement of 1304cc which is kept in leash by a 5-speed transmission with multiplate wet clutch.

The Star Motorcycles Stryker rides on a pair of 5-spoke cast aluminum wheels which are wrapped in front 120/70-21M/C 62H and rear 210/40R18M/C 73H tires.

The Star Motorcycles Stryker is offered with a choice of two colors (Candy Red and Matte Silver) and it can be yours for no less than Price $11,690.

Hit the jump for more information on the Star Motorcycles Stryker.

With its classy style, upright riding position and roaring engine, the Star Motorcycles Bolt C-Spec is the best representation of a modern café racer.

It minimalist design is combined with a strong 942 cc, air-cooled 4-stroke, V-twin, SOHC, 4-valve, fuel injected engine which is mated on a 5-speed transmission with multiplate wet clutch. The engine is linked to a 3.2 Gal fuel tank and delivers a fuel consumption of 51 Mpg.

The motorcycle’s backbone is represented by a double-cradle frame which uses the engine as a stressed member with a rigid mount system.

You’ll also like the sporty clip on handlebars, footpegs set, the LED rear taillight and the slim solo seat.

The Star Motorcycle Bolt C-Spec is available in two colors namely Deep Green and Simple Silver and it can be yours for no less than $8,690.

Hit the jump for more information on the Star Motorcycles Bolt C-Spec.

The Star Motorcycles Raider Bullet Cowl is an attractive cruiser designed with speed and agility in mind. It features a tough look with a 6 degree yoke angle, a 22 degree rake and custom 4 spoke wheels wrapped in 120/70-21-inch bias tire up front, and a wide, 210/40-18 radial out back.

What makes this version of the Raider different than its siblings is its new aerodynamic cowl which eliminates wind fatigue while riding at high speeds.

The Star Motorcycles Raider Bullet Cowl is built around a 13 cubic-inch (1854 cc), air cooled, OHV engine with 4 valves per cylinder, pushrod 48-degree V-twin which cranks out max torque at just 2500 rpm and max power at 4500 rpm.

The Star Motorcycles Raider Bullet Cowl is offered with a base price of $15,390.

Hit the jump for more information on the Star Motorcycles Raider Bullet Cowl.

With its low slung stature, black accents and smart features, the Star Motorcycles Raider is an attractive cruiser that is ready to reward you with a unique riding experience each time you jump on its saddle.

At the heart of the motorcycle sits a 113-Cubic-Inch (1854cc), air-cooled V-twin OHV, engine with 4 valves per cylinder. The engine’s power is kept under control by a 5-speed, multiplate transmission with wet clutch.

The motorcycle’s backbone is represented by a light all-aluminum cast frame which is paired with a light, Controlled-Fill, aluminum swingarm.

The Star Motorcycles Raider rides on custom 5-spoke wheels which are complemented by 120/70-21-inch bias tire up front, and a wide, 210/40-18 radial out back.

As far as prices are concerned, the 2015 Star Motorcycles Raider can be yours for no less than $14,990 (Available From October 2014).

Hit the jump for more information on the Star Motorcycles Raider.

Badass to the core, the 2015 Star Motorcycle VMAX demands instant respect. With its bad boy attitude, aggressive air intakes, roaring engine and refined details, the VMAX has the potential to break a lot of hearts.

At its heart sits a liquid-cooled 65° V-4, DOHC, 4 Valves/Cylinder engine with a displacement of 102-Cubic-Inch (1679cc). The engine transfers its power to the ground by means of a five speed transmission with multiplate slipper clutch. As far as efficiency is concerned, the engine delivers a fuel consumption of 27 Mpg.

The motorcycle’s speed is kept under control by dual 320 mm and rear 298 mm wave-type discs.

As far as wheels are concerned, the motorcycle rides on Bridgestone Radial 120/70-R18 59V front and Bridgestone Radial 200/50-R18 76V rear tires.

The 2015 model year is offered with a starting price of $17,990.

Hit the jump for more information on the 2015 Star Motorcycles VMAX.