2008 Yamaha reviews

I read the previous review on the bike and felt the need to comment. I'm the original owner of an '08 YZ450F and would buy 20 more if I could. The bike has had very little issues outside of normal maintenance. In Arizona we ride year round with winter temps averaging in the 60's to the summer blazing heat of 110. With the extreme conditions the bike has held together great. The only issue that Yamaha could change on their bikes is the plastic sleeve for the compression valves in the forks. Over time they crack and affect the performance. You cannot buy just the sleeve, you have to buy the whole assembly at $250+ per side! I also have several friends that ride the same bike and they have very few issues with theirs as well. Show less

I rented a Raider a few years ago and rode six hours straight from the Finger Lakes Region of New York to my home in Delaware. The only stops I made were for fuel. I have to say I was surprised how comfortable it was. The first thing you'll notice is the torque. If you have a passenger you'd better have a back rest for them or they'll fly off once you hit second gear. On Route 15 in PA I got 50 mpg. with straight highway driving at 75 mph. I found a great deal on an '08 Raider a few weeks ago. It had 12K miles with Cobra pipes, passenger back rest and luggage rack. I'm looking forward to many years of great rides with good friends. Ride safe/Semper Fi. Show less

I bought mine used on 2/11/12 with 2,980 miles on the odometer. This is my first running motorcycle. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful it is after 10 years of renting HD and 35 years of shopping. Yes, it is "Scary Fast" to have a Sportbike with a partial upright sitting position, but is so much more comfortable than laying across an R1. The 1st owner did all the cool upgrades, then traded it in at 141 miles, on a GSXR1000. The 2nd owner rode it 1-2 times a month for four years. For touring I am adding the taller wind shield and soft saddle bags. I just added Shogun frame and swing-arm sliders. Show less

I put 100k on a Suzuki Intruder 1500LC and then got this bike and love it. It has plenty of power and is a very smooth, balanced ride. And yes, this bike excels on the freeway. The only drawback is the stock seat and the low, awkward handle bars. the seat feels like I'm sitting on my tail bone. If I did not see other comments about the seat I would think it was because I'm a tall guy, but many others are having the same issue. I will be replacing the seat A$AP. I love the sound of the Cobra pipes. Show less

I purchased my '08 in August of 2011 new, it was still in the crate. My local dealer had bought it at auction from a dealer that was going out of business. It is a good deal for me, I saved over $4,000 on the bike. I had never ridden anything this big before, but after 30 minutes in the school parking lot and a afternoon getting the feel of the bike around town, I was amazed how easy this bike was to ride. Mind you my previous bike was a KLR 650, so it's a real difference. I just rode 1,200 miles in three days and love everything about the bike, but the seat. It's too soft. Power, gas mileage, storage, easy learning curve, it's all great. I'm not sure why Yamaha just does not reduce the entire line up to just this one model. It's a great looking bike. It pulls hard in the middle gears. I love the easy to remove wind screen and back rest. With an aftermarket seat, I'll ride her until one of us drops. Show less

I just purchaced a new 2009 1300T and it's exceeded all my expectations. There is plenty of power for the mountains and looks that would stop a crazed deer. Tight U-turns are difficult and I have to stretch a little more than I like for the handlebars. That can be corrected. Overall, she is a looker with features that make her best in class for the dollar. Show less

I owned a 2008 Warrior, owned because it was recently totaled due to an accident (still upset to this day). This is an awesome bike, amazing power, amazing control, amazing stability. I have ridden three different Harleys and none of them come close to the feel and comfort of the Yamaha Warrior. Due to my personal feelings about the Yami, I am sticking with them for my next bike - either the Stryker or the Raider. There is a vast difference in power, I know, but price is the issue. But I'll never forget the Warrior. Show less

This bike is far and away the best mid size cruiser for the money. I still haven't figured out how they can call it mid size. It looks and runs like a heavy-weight. I get thumbs-up on the looks by the cagers all the time. It handles like a dream, even at lower, parking lot speeds. I would definitely ditch the stock Dunlops for Metzeler Marathons (much better ride and tread life). I bought this bike new in March, 2008 (last one in Houston) and have put about 15,000 trouble-free miles on it, to date. The stock seat was the first thing to go, after about an hour in the saddle, kinda got the numb bum ya know? I got a Mustang 3 piece with rider back rest and Voila! no more numb bum! V&H 2 into 1 Cobra FI2000 K&N Air filter Cobra Fatty Hiway Bars Kuryakyn pegs Star passenger floorboards and Star luggage rack round out the accessories (so far!) Fuel economy on road trips is knockin on 51 mpg. around town it's about 44 mpg. I'm not kidding quit thinking about it and head down to the dealership with your checkbook you will not be disappointed! Show less

I bought this bike to be an in-town commuter. Even though this may not have been Yamaha's primary intention for this bike, I have been very impressed with how well it performs on-road. The bike's strengths: light weight/compact design, maneuverability, and fuel economy are what made me choose it initially. However, I did not count on how fun this bike is to ride! There is plenty of power for in-town and even highway traffic. The fantastic ground clearance and dirt bike design mean you can find parking spaces literally anywhere. If I have one complaint it is the stock tires are truly terrible, which is why I took away a star for performance and comfort. I recently upgraded to more street-oriented enduro tires, so hopefully will be giving those stars back soon enough! Show less

It doesn't get much better than this - 12-13 second 1/4 mile + handling + good lucks + low seat height and comfortable riding position. You need to get a windshield and a backrest for any freeway or distance driving with a passenger. Show less