Keep reaching for the Stars
Yamaha
2018 Line up
I don't think any of the Japanese manufacturers have been nearly as aggressive with its
entries to the American cruiser market as Yamaha has been. They actually went the extra
mile and launched independently branded bikes under the Star Motorcycle banner in
1994. I singled out the American market because outside of the United States, they were
sold under the Yamaha brand.
"Were" being the operative term here. Star Motorcycle was so much its own animal
that in 2006 it became an independent company, with Yamaha still handling pro-
duction and distribution. That lasted until 2016 when it was announced that the Star
title was going away and the bikes would be sold under the Yamaha brand moving
forward. Some models still carry "Star" in their names, however.
If you think that change diminished the company's commitment to cruiserdom, I beg to
differ. Count up the number of motorcycle entries for each company in this here guide and
you'll find that Yamaha has more bikes in it than any of the foreign manufacturers; only
Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle feature more.
For 2018, Yamaha offers up most of its familiar models. The mid-size Bolt was originally
billed as Yamaha's entry-level cruiser motorcycle but since its launch in 2013 it's distin-
guished itself as popular for customizers, garnering plenty of aftermarket support. It's been
chopped, bobbed, and scrambled all kinds of ways since it hit the market.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. If you're looking for small, there's the nimble V Star 250.
The well-known Raider and larger V Star cruiser staples are here also, but so is the hard-
charging hot rod that is the mighty V-Max muscle cruiser.
Yamaha also carries a touring version of the V Star 1300 but if you want a dedicated
bagger with sport tour pedigree, then the Star Eluder may be right up your alley.
CYCLE NEWS CRUISER BUYERS GUIDE
