Star Motorcycle Reviews
Star motorcycle reviews, comparisons and news from Rider magazine. In 1994, Yamaha created Star Motorcycles to brand its cruiser-style motorcycles in the American market. In other markets Star motorcycles are still branded under the Yamaha name.
2012 Star Raider SCL First Ride Review
Greg Drevenstedt
April 26, 2012
Starting in the late ’70s, metric cruisers, such as Yamaha’s 650 Special and Virago 750, Honda’s CB650 Custom and Nighthawk, among others, offered an alternative to American V-twins, with more reliability, higher performance and lower prices than Harley-Davidsons of the time. (Indian had yet to... Read more »
Custom V Star 950 Sweepstakes Bike to be Unveiled at Laughlin River Run
Press Release
April 18, 2012
One lucky person will be the proud owner of a 2012 V Star 950 customized by Chris Hagest and his crew at Low and Mean. The bike will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the Laughlin River Run on April 25, 2012. After that this fully customized V Star can be seen in the Star display at many... Read more »
2012 Star Motorcycles – First Look
Rider Magazine
September 21, 2011
2012 Star Raider SCL is the first model in the Star Custom Line. For 2012, Yamaha’s Star Motorcycles division is launching a factory-custom line, called SCL (Star Custom Line). The first model will be the Raider SCL, featuring chrome wheels and drive belt pulley co-designed by Star and Performance... Read more »
2011 Star Stratoliner Deluxe vs. 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero Road Test
Rider Magazine
June 21, 2011
photography by Rich Cox [This 2011 Star Stratoliner Deluxe vs. 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero Rider Comparison Test was originally published in the July 2011 issue of Rider magazine] Above: A larger fairing and standard fairing lowers give the red Vaquero more wind protection than the Stratoliner Deluxe.... Read more »
2011 Star Stratoliner Deluxe Road Test
Rider Magazine
June 21, 2011
photography by Rich Cox [This 2011 Star Stratoliner Deluxe Rider Test was originally published in the July 2011 issue of Rider magazine] A large chunk of American motorcyclists are beholden to the past. For years the highest percentage of motorcycle sales has been accounted for by cruisers, classically... Read more »
Yamaha Royal Star Venture/Hannigan Trike Conversion Road Test
Rider Contributor
June 14, 2011
story and photography by James Parchman [This Yamaha Royal Star Venture/Hannigan Trike Conversion Ridden & Rated was originally published in the March 2011 issue of Rider magazine] Hannigan’s Venture trike conversion has slick twin-pipe roadster styling but the lockable trunk, topbox and upper... Read more »
2011 Star Stryker 1300 Road Test
Rider Magazine
June 2, 2011
photography by Riles & Nelson [This 2011 Star Stryker 1300 Road Test was originally published in the January 2011 issue of Rider magazine] The Texas Hill Country around Austin is the perfect venue for a leisurely winding cruise aboard Star's latest 1300 custom. Cruisers, baggers and cruiser tourers... Read more »
2009 Star V Star 950 Tourer Road Test
Clement Salvadori
January 12, 2009
photography by Tom Riles and Nigel Kinrade [This 2009 Star V Star 950 Tourer Road Test was originally featured in the February 2009 issue of Rider magazine] Throw a leg over the saddle, lift the bike off the sidestand, settle into the commodious seat, turn the key, push the button-Baroom! Good sound,... Read more »
2009 Yamaha/Star Vmax Road Test
Rider Magazine
October 14, 2008
photography by Riles & Nelson Aha! Now I get it. Just before the unveiling of the 2009 Yamaha/Star Vmax on the deck of the U.S.S. Midway, we listened to a riveting account of how aircraft were launched from the now-decommissioned carrier. A steam-powered catapult helped propel each plane from 0-170... Read more »
2008 Star Road Star Silverado Road Test
Bill Stermer
July 9, 2008
[This review of the 2008 Star Road Star Silverado was originally published in the August 2008 issue of Rider] Since its introduction in 1999, Yamaha’s (now the Star Motorcycles division of Yamaha) air-cooled, big-inch V-twin Road Star has been tremendously popular. Over the years this cruiser has... Read more »
