Yamaha Stratoliner reviews

Style, muscle, smooth, and stable. With 3000 miles on it, the only thing that kept this motorcycle from being great was the seat. After 1.5 to 2 hrs. riding my tailbone was crying for relief. My wife was good for about an hour. A Mustang seat fixed that and now there is no limit to saddle time. The result is one truly awesome motorcycle. Show less

I've ridden a lot of bikes...a lot of very nice bikes and nothing has compared overall to this bike. When I finally decided to upgrade, I was trying to decide between the Strato and the Road Star. I hadn't riden a Strato until hours before I was heading to the shop to purchase a bike. I took my buddies for a quick ride and immediately knew this was the one. It is the most well balanced bike I've ever ridden and the power is amazing throughout. I went on a 1500 mile ride two weeks after I got it and it was very comfortable without a minutes trouble. As a few others have mentioned, I would like a light showing I'm in 5th gear and the glare from the instruments is annoying but I can live with both. I can't thank my wife enough for making me wait. Now I have the perfect bike. Thanks Babe. Show less

I was leaning toward a Harley, but I was in the market for a bike in May and the Harley I wanted wasn't going to be in until August-that's the whole summer! I saw the Stratoliner/Roadliner in several MC magazines and the retro styling blew me away. The bike was constantly the Cruiser of the Year. I sat on one at the MC show and was hooked. A salesman tried to convince me that I needed a Honda VTX, maybe in an 1100 for my first bike (they were trying to move the floorplanned ones off the showroom floor) but I held fast and went to another dealer. The dealer I went to answered my questions and concerns, bending over backward to ensure I was happy with my purchase (Thank you, Cayle!). I have 2600 miles on it and enjoy the reliability-it seems to be built tight! Some minor cons however: 1. Checking and topping off the air in the tires is a chore! My big hand barely fits in there. I wind up laying on the ground with the air hose in my hand and hope that the 3 minutes of air doesn't run out! Those valve stems need to be easier to get to. 2. The easy off/on feature of the saddlebags is also its weakest point. The three pins that hold each saddlebag on wear out QUICKLY. My latest fix was pipethreading tape around the shaft of each pin to keep them on tight. 3. I agree with some others who complain about the location of the speedo. There IS some glare at night, it makes a tank bag out of the question and moves your eyes off the road too much to see the gauges. 4. Some high speed wind buffeting is observed when at highway speeds. Takes some getting used to. I also agree that a 6th gear would be nice, as I constantly try to shift up to no avail (oh, I WAS in 5th already-damn!). I see that there is an aftermarket tranny for metric bikes with a 6th gear-wonder if it would be worth the money. It's still a great looking machine and I am proud to ride it. Harley might have the name but metric bikes have the quality. Show less

I love this bike! I haven't ridden in quite some time and being a tall individual this bike delivers with comfort and power. The chrome on this bike is in abundance! I don't care for the pointy rear lights and might modify those in the future. Overall a great bike and I would highly recommend for a rider over 6'2. Show less

This bike is awesome, bottom line....the only draw back is I'm too short and my feet just barely set level on the ground. This bike is just a hair higher than my previous V-Star 1100. However not a problem. I love everything about this bike. Power, looks, performance, and features. I give this bike a 5 star and then some. This bike will take you where you want to go and give you the power to enter the highway on time everytime. Show less

I traded in my V-Star 1100 Classic for the Stratoliner in July 2006. The V-Star just felt too small, although it was a great bike. First thought when I test drove the Stratoliner was, HOLY SMOKES!! I have driven other bikes and none compare to this bike. Ultra smooth ride and exceptional power, and don't forget lots of factory CHROME!! SWEET!! I would recommend this bike to anyone. Show less

This is a really nice bike, bought it in February and have been enjoying it since. This is my first street bike much of my time has been spent on off road bikes. I wanted something that would allow me to cruise the moutains and look good in the city and of course crusing the 101 and the 66. I've got all that and much more. The passenger seat could be a liitle more comfortable (I probably will change that and the pegs). Other than that I highly recommend this bike. Show less

I rode several motors prior to switching from my Honda VTX 1300C to the Stratoliner. Only issue was the comfort for the passenger. After I installed the Mustang seats, it's an easy weekend or longer ride two-up. Totally a comfortable ride. Worth every penny. The Strat. is a great bike, I love more every mile. My Harley friends just stand and stare at it. Show less

I am 65 years young and enjoy my new toy. I do a lot of highway driving and this bike handles great and is not bothered by crosswinds or sudden wind shifts. I also drive in the city because this bike, for it's size, is very nimble. I get many compliments on it's looks, mostly from Harley drivers. Show less

I believe that this bike may just be the best cruiser on the market today. It is easy to handle in tight spots and with a passenger. I have 10000 miles on mine and feel now that it is fully broken in. I would highly recommend this bike to anyone looking for a cruiser. Show less