Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Saw a Roadliner

I saw the new Star( Yamaha) Roadliner Saturday. Killing some time, we stopped in a giant Japanese dealer. I read the road tests and saw the pictures, but they do not convey what an actual siting does. Yamaha has gone in a slightly different direction on the retro styling that is so popular. The are not making an old Harley or Indian styled retro cruiser. This thing looks more like a Deusenberg. Art Deco everywhere. Is it over the top? To some I'm sure it is. I confess, I really like it. It certainly is different. 113 cubic inches helps as well. I have a few years till my 5 year plan allows me to purchase another new bike, but this thing hooked me. Let's see if I wriggle off the hook in 2-1/2 years.
Mike Sr.

Over the top? The whole Star thing is over the top and a parody of Harley. It's vulgar, tasteless, and the perfect fit for WalMart shoppers.

Normally I'm not biased against any particular brand of motorcycle, but Yamaha sure is pushing it with their seperation of Star from the Yamaha label. To me it just reeks of Harley wannabe posing. From the STAR club with the back patches ala HOG, to their marketing campaign using vintage Indian board track footage, Yamaha/Star is just offensive. Just what lineage does an Indian board track racer have with a Japanese made Star motorcycle?

And even their prices are Harley-like at $14,000 for one of those Roadliners. So now that they've got the Harley look down, the Harley pricing, and the STAR riding club cloning of the HOG chapters, they've decided to go for the Full Monty by eliminating that Japanese identifying Yamaha logo off the tanks and putting on the ambiguous "Star" badge. Next thing you know there's going to be TV commercials saying "real Americans ride Star!" with America The Beautiful playing in the background.

I could care less what anybody else thinks of what I ride. After all, I'm on a Triumph which I hardly ever see, so I'm not one to be part of the "lifestyle" herd of fitting in. But if you see me on a Star cruiser, just put a bullet in me. It's one thing to be a poser, but posing to be a poser is just too much.

Found that new Yam

Or do you mean this one and here too ?

Aside from the money issue, if anyone is thinking of a Jap cruiser it has to be this!!
Stoopid, big and brash but I love 'em for it!!

Jeez, Derek! Sorry I brought it up . Didn't mean to fire you up. I just thought that Yamaha did something that was not in the clone catagory. It is glitzy, brash and in your face styling. And at least Yamaha is doing some marketing, whether we like it or not. I'm sure they have brighter minds than me in that department because they seem to do quite well.
And lighten up on the Japanese. They don't sell to Walmart cuz they can't compete with China.
I love my Triumphs (98 TBS, 03 Speedmaster and a 76 Bonneville bobber project). But I have an open mind for something that may come from another brand name. We are living in a time when it is difficult to buy a truly bad motorcycle. Enjoy the many choices we have.
And the biggest reason I will not own a Harley is because my dopey brother-in-law has one. He feels that HD is the only way to go (like some feel about thier Triumphs?). That's too bad: I kinda like some of them also.
Have some eggnog and "Lighten up Francis" .
Mike Sr.

Geez Mike, I didn't want you to take my criticism of Star as an affront to your choice. You just gave me an opening to bash on the Star marketing and lifestyle that I couldn't resist. I'm sure the Star motorcycles are fine bikes mechanically, but I just can't get past their Harley/HOG way of trying to sell them.

FWIW, I think I'm fairly open-minded about bikes compared to most people I run into. Sure I poke a little fun at Harleys, but I would never rule them out as a bike I'd never own. Same goes for for just about any other motorcycle manufacturer. I even ride with a bunch of VTXs who have their own little model specific riding club, but let anybody in no matter what brand they ride. We have eveything from Gold Wings to Harleys riding in our group. Heck, I'm even seriously thinking about a V-Strom for a 2nd bike, and a bike doesn't get much uglier than that to most people.

But you won't see me riding a Star motorcycle. To me their whole ad campaign is a Harley clone. You ever been around a STAR club gathering? I have. It's all I can do to keep from laughing at those HOG Chapter posers. Both groups are just a bunch pseudo 1%er snobs. I get more of a welcome from real patch holders than those elitists.

I have to vote with Derek on this one, though perhaps with slightly less vehemence (I wouldn't have wanted anyone to "put a bullet on me" yesterday, when I sat on a Roadliner in the showroom).

I was in my local HonYam dealer yesterday to buy a pair of gloves, and they had a new Roadliner. My impression was that Yam's design department had gone berserk. Art deco is one thing; but this monstrosity was encrusted with every design element ever invented. Any part that could be fussed with was — to the max.

About the Star identity: The history of japanese products in the U.S. is that first they're ignored; then they're laughed at; then they're despised; then they're accepted; and finally, they're lauded. The first Hondas in the US went through that, as did the first Subarus and Nissans. Last I heard, they were doing quite well.

I think the same thing will happen with the Star brand, for the Japanese are nothing if not persistent.

And just as today there are those who would rather drive the worst European or American car than the best Japanese car, there will always be those who won't drive a Japanese bike. But their intrinsic quality and value will win over a huge chunk of American bike buyers, and guess what? The Japanese won't care one bit about the others. They know no one who rides a H-D will ever ride a HonYam, but so what? And as for HonYams charging H-D prices...they're not quite there yet, but when they are, they'll do it because they can. They did the same thing with their cars, when they brought out the Lexus brand and priced it right up there with Mercedes and BMW.

For myself, I'll stick with the American and European brands. But the Star brand is a genius move on their part, and like it or not, it will succeed, and in a big way.

I don't know, Hondas and Stars are getting up there in price. I was at a Honda dealer a month or so ago, and they had a VTX 1800 on the showroom floor with a sticker price of over $17,000. It was decked out with bags and sissybar, plus a few other accesories which added to the price, but that's definitely getting up there to Harley pricing.

Same with a Royal Star Venture. Just looked at their website and they want around $17,000 for that bike, which looks a lot like a Harley Ultra Classic that sells for about 20 grand.

A new Star Warrior runs about $12,500 list, while a 2006 Superglide costs you about the same.

And it isn't like you have to pay the Harley tax of over MSRP like days gone by. In my area it's fairly easy to get a Harley for list price without having to buy a bunch of extras with it.

I guess I'll jump in with Mike on this one - no offense anyone! I think the Roadliner is one impressive lookin bike, at least in the pics (none in Bonners Ferry yet)...

But own one? Uh, I already did the 700 pound bike thing (Goldwing, Voyager, etc). No thanks. I live on a mountain road, I like riding it fast. Big bikes just don't get it. They don't like curves, dirt, parking lots, tight places, and they ain't no fun to pick up just in case you drop it (ever do that?).

And then there's the price.

Hmm. Sorry Mike, Guess I'm sounding like Derek! But Lordy the new Yams are cool lookin!!

they are pricey, still cheaper then harley and i feel you get much more function and preformance for your money. just dont get the name. but i would buy a warrior before a superglide anyday. but again its all personal tast.

Frank

Wow! Some good thoughts on this one. And I think there's been good arguments presented here to make a case for either side.

My thoughts....well, you have to admit that it IS a bit "over the top retro". In fact, I've been thinking that Yamaha...er...excuse me...STAR, has sort of mis-named this bike.

Considering the HEFT and style of it, my choice would'a been..."The Twentieth Century Limited with daily service from Grand Central Station to Chicago...All aboard".

But I guess all of that would'a been kind'a hard to fit on a side cover, huh?!!

Dwight
(how's THAT for a left-handed compliment?)

I think this is what they wanted it to be, http://www.moto-deal.com/encyclopedie-moto/picture.php?cat=143&image_id=230
or maybe this, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1952-PANH...7QQcmdZViewItem

but they couldn't afford to buy one to copy.

Hi Mike,

Yeah, I kinda don't like it either but it's OK with me if you do!

Here's a pic that I found that turned me off:



Couple of things...

The tailpipe looks like a suppository (not that I know what they look like!)
The headlight nacelle looks like..., well, it just looks fugly

I do like the rear turn signals though!!

Well, just for the record I wasn't trying to "build a case" for anything. Mike's post just opened an opportunity for me to go off on a rant about Star and they way they're marketed. I don't have anything against the bikes on their own.

Perhaps in hindsight I should have put my rant in the Lounge with all the other posts of this ilk. I just thought the timing of it might somehow make Mike think I was backstabbing his tastes in bikes if I did start a new thread in the Lounge. Nope, no sense in giving the impression I was kind of/sort of talking behind his back.

ps. Speaking of trains...Doesn't Amtrak have a run along the Pacific they call the Coast Starliner?

I am speechless. Oh no I'm not..EGADS!!!! That YamaHarleyStar is an abomination. What is it? A Yamaha or Star? Or a V-Star? Does Yamaha really think they can re-invent themselves with a re-badging? And to think the Long Beach Motorcycle show will be filled with Harley copy cat bikes like that from YamaHarleyStar,Suzuki,Honda,Kawaski..all in Black. They all look the same. They all sound the same. A guy down the road rides this VTX. Holy crap. What a monstrocity. The head light is the size of a cruise ships' fog horn. Give me my stripped down America that handles great, sounds great, looks great, and has a rich history...thats GREAT!! Sorry gang for the rant..I've been up for 36 hours.

I was going to input my opinon, but I'm scared you guys might burn my house down.....:)....Angelis

A couple of steam whistles, a flagploe, & a hanger for your teddy bear, & they've got a winner (or maybe weiner)!!

You know why bassboats are metalflaked? Week minds are attracted to shiny stuff. My mind is in that catagory I guess. I'll take the flack. I still like it. Would it be my only bike? No. If I could only have one it would probably be a standard Bonneville. Dag nab it, I'm 55 years old and I will own as many as I can. Screw retirement funds. I'm enjoying my golden years now while I can still walk and ride.
I truly enjoy cranking my Harley friends by riding the Triumph. I would also enjoy cranking my Triumph friends by riding a Yamaha. Then I could make new Yamaha friend to crank by riding something else. I'm just a pain in the arse, ain't I?
Mike Sr.

Its funnys, Its actually a pretty nice bike. If the only complaints are rear turn signals, exhaust can and the nacelle, I think thats pretty darn good. 2 of the 3 are easily replaced. Hell we have more complaints about our bikes with the turn signals, the crappy plastic tank cover, the rear peg brackets and the sprocket cover to say the least. I think it has to do more with the brand than the bike. Heck most of you get your panties in a bunch when Harley guys don't validate your feelings about your Triumph but you'll be the first in bashing other brands. Just take it for what it is, pretty nice bike. Is it a Harley clone, yes it is. But Harley clones sell.


Fryguy

Quote:

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Found that new yam

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I'm with Adey on this one I think the "cruiser" is meant to be in the list on the LHS "custom Vehicles"
Still think the R3 out "bold and brash" es the Rune and the R3 easily RIDES way better than a Rune.
The best runes were the ones on the fourth Led Zepp album!!!
Cheers Mike

OK, your kid's 3 years older than you....
It will take me awhile to decipher that one...

As to the bike, I don't like it because it has no soul. It looks like every other cookie-cutter Jap copy of every other bike they have copied. I don't care if the technology is better, or if it is the next best thing since sliced bread. It just looks like a Jap copy. But it ain't my world anymore... Nothing drives that home more than Led Zep shilling for Cadillac...

So let the kids buy what they want. I still love a vertical twin.....