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Yamaha Reviews

2019 Yamaha Tracer 900 and Tracer 900 GT | First Look Review

The FJ-09 is dead, long live the Tracer 900. According to Yamaha, “While European-spec Yamaha motorcycles have used the ‘Tracer’ model name since the...

Yamaha Announces 2018 Niken: ‘Leaning Multi-Wheeler (LMW)’

At the 45th Tokyo Motor Show, Yamaha unveiled the Niken, what they are calling a "Leaning Multi-Wheeler," or LMW. Details are sparse, with Yamaha...

2018 Yamaha XMAX Scooter | First Look Review

Along with its new-for-2018 XSR700, at the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) in Columbus, Ohio, Yamaha unveiled the new XMAX scooter, which is powered...

2018 Yamaha XSR700 | First Look Review

On the opening day of the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) in Columbus, Ohio, Yamaha announced a new addition to its 2018 Sport Heritage...

Rider’s Guide to New/Updated Street Motorcycles for 2018

This handy guide includes all new or significantly updated street-legal motorcycles for the 2018 model year (we snuck in a few early-release 2019 models...

2018 Yamaha Star Eluder | First Look Review

Last June, at the Americade Rally in Lake George, New York, Yamaha unveiled the 2018 Star Venture, calling it “the ultimate trans-continental touring motorcycle.”...

Yamaha Announces Production Delay for 2018 Star Venture

Yamaha has announced a production delay for the 2018 Star Venture transcontinental touring motorcycle. This delay will result in delivery of the new model...

Yamaha to Announce New 2018 Touring Model on September 6

Yamaha has released a new “Journey Further” video (see below) which highlights riding experience testimony from Yamaha motorcycle owners and announces the introduction of...

2018 Yamaha Star Venture | Road Test Review

Today’s luxury touring motorcycle market is a much different kettle of fish than it was in the 1980s and ’90s, when sophisticated German and...

2017 Yamaha FZ-10 | Tour Test Review

Right after I tumbled into my forties in 2000, I began to develop an intolerance for low clip-on handlebars and high rearset footpegs on...

2017 Kawasaki Z900 vs. 2017 Yamaha FZ-09 | Comparison Review

Fans of “naked” or standard sportbikes are currently spoiled for choice. The Japanese Big Four, as well as European brands like Triumph and Ducati,...

2018 Yamaha Star Venture | First Look Review

Today, at the Rider magazine-sponsored Opening Celebration to kick off the 35th annual Americade Rally in upstate New York, the public got its first look...

2017 Yamaha FZ-09 | First Ride Review

When the FZ-09 first hit the market in October 2013 (as a 2014 model), it was universally lauded as one of the best “bang-for-the-buck”...

2016 Yamaha YZF-R3 | Rider Tour Test

From cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean to the salty mist near the water’s edge, California’s Route 1 along the Big Sur coast seduces...

Rider’s Guide to New/Updated Street Motorcycles for 2017

Talk about an embarrassment of riches! More than 100 street motorcycles are all-new or significantly updated for the 2017 model year. This bumper crop...

Long-Term Rides: 2016 Yamaha FJR1300ES

10,525 miles, MSRP $17,990 Since its U.S. introduction for 2003, Yamaha’s FJR1300 has become a sport-touring icon. With its big, 1,298cc in-line four smoothly generating more than...

Comparison Review: 2016 Kawasaki Ninja 650 ABS vs. 2017 Suzuki SV650 vs. 2016 Yamaha FZ-07

Fun Size Rides You learn a lot about yourself, as a motorcyclist, working at a magazine like Rider. It has something to do with the...

2017 Yamaha FZ-09 | First Look Review

Yamaha unveiled two new 2017 models at the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) in Orlando, Florida—an update to its popular FZ-09 and an all-new...

2017 Yamaha YZF-R6 | First Look Review (VIDEO)

After teasing a new supersport model reveal with two “R World” videos, Yamaha’s global unveil of its all-new 2017 YZF-R6 took place at the...

VIDEO: Yamaha “R World” Teaser for October 13 Reveal

Yamaha has released another "R World" teaser video for a yet-to-be-announced sportbike model, which will be revealed on October 13 at the American International...

Rider Comparo – 2016 Honda VFR1200X vs. 2016 Triumph Tiger Explorer XRt vs. 2016 Yamaha Super Ténéré

Over the past decade, adventure tourers have matured into a diverse segment of the motorcycle market. These days you can buy one or more...

Yamaha Releases Teaser “R World” Video for New Model

Yamaha has released a teaser video for a yet-to-be-announced new model. The 30-second video is titled "R World," and seems to be alluding to...

2017 Yamaha SCR950 – First Ride Review

Americans use their motorcycles mostly for recreation, not primary transportation. Sure, there’s a dedicated minority who use their motorcycles for commuting and grocery getting,...

1993 Yamaha GTS1000 Review: A Brave New World

Note: This article was originally published in the April 1993 issue of Rider. Let a man proclaim a new principle. Public sentiment will surely be on the...

The 39 Best New Bikes for Smaller Riders (and Budgets)

UPDATE (3/13/2018): Our list of best new bikes for smaller riders and budgets continues to grow. We're way beyond 39 now, but like we...

2017 Yamaha FZ-10 | First Ride Review

I just finished riding the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee, officially known as U.S. Route 129, for the first time and I’m told...

2016 Yamaha FJR1300ES | Road Test Review

What do a state park, an international border crossing, a dirt road and a coastal highway have in common? Together they make up the...

1986 Yamaha FZX700S Fazer – Road Test Review

(Note: This article was originally published in the June, 1986 issue of Rider magazine.) Given the task of developing a completely new genre for the 1986...

2017 Yamaha FZ-10 – First Look Review

  When the original FZ-1 was introduced back in 2001, it offered most of the ground-breaking YZF-R1’s liter-class sportbike performance in a more comfortable, less...

2017 Yamaha SCR950 | First Look Review

When Yamaha introduced the “neo-retro” XSR900 for 2016, which combines old-school styling with the modern, crossplane triple of the FZ-09, it launched the XSR...

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