Yamaha Stratoliner S reviews

I loved the look of the '08 Raider S (Candy Red) and just had to have one. I was a bit concerned about the handling of the raked bike, but it handles very well. Engine has plenty of power (even riding two-up). I have taken the bike on 5 trips of more than 1300 miles and have had a great time. Just got back from a 2400 mile trip to Utah. The only problem I have had with the bike is some valvetrain noise (planning to take to to the dealership next week for a look/see). Star really hit a homerun with this machine! Show less

Great bike, big bike, easy and comfortable to ride and maneuver. Great power all the way through the RPM range. Gas mileage is the same as my ole Shadow 1100 which is the low 40s, not bad for almost twice the CCs. Show less

Since I bought my Roadliner, I cannot count the number of people asking me what kind of bike is that. After I tell them it's a Yahama, I see their jaws drop. Show less

I first sat on a Raider last summer at an open house at a dealership. I wasn't looking for a bike at the time rather I rode my 1980 XS1100 Special there and thought I was happy with that bike. I took a Raider for a test ride and when I returned, my response was, "Where do I sign?" What an unbelievably comfortable ride. Low and well balanced, PLENTY of power, smooth as can be and a great looking bike that turns plenty of heads. The only negative thoughts were the exhaust pipes as I thought they were way too bulky. I immediately replaced them with the Vance & Hines pipes. No issues at all with attempting to get around large trucks on the highway. Just a slight turn on the throttle and you'll go from 60 mph to 80 mph with barely any effort. Riding with a passenger is effortless for the powerful 1854 cc engine. This bike is my absolute favorite. I wouldn't trade it for anything...except maybe the new 2010 Blue Raider. lol Show less

When I decided to get back into riding I bought an 800cc cruiser to get back my motorcycle legs. Then went to every manufacture demo ride that I could find to see what the all the new bikes were like. When I went to the Yamaha demo I like the look of the Raider but thought that it would be too heavy and it would be hard to steer. I was so surprised with the Raider. All of the other bikes I rode from then on I compared to the Raider.. I rode the HD V-Rod and Rocker along with the Suzuki M109R and Victory Vegas but none of them matched up with the power, ride and handling of the Raider. It's got the looks with lots of muscle but it's agile too! It's The Power Cruiser to beat at this point! Show less

Purchased my Roady S new in Aug 09. I really wanted the Raider but could not get comfortable on it and thought the Roady was a little old fashioned. First impressions are not always the best ones, this bike is all that and then some. I love this big boy, what a joy to ride. Show less

Liquid silver color with custom silver, black and white modest pin stripping--absolutely beautiful. This is a large bike and probably not for a beginner, but once it starts to roll it feels perfectly balanced and is very easy to control. Unmatched fit and finish with great attention to detail. I had a Harley Superglide. This bike is head and shoulders over the Harley. Wish the driver saddle was more comfortable and that the bike had cruise control. Other than these two issues, the bike is as near perfect as you can get. Show less

This is one great bike. I recently sold a Kawasaki Nomad because of my back and it hurting after a ride. The center of gravity, weight distrubution, and most important THE LOOKS. This is one mean machine. I spent thousands on my Kawasaki for chrome and this bike seems to have it all. There are some personalization that you will do but not a lot as Yamaha took care of it for you. As for the my back, no more riding pain due to that center of gravity and ease of control of the bike. Show less

I've got over 2,000 miles on my '07 Strat and can confirm that the reviews in this forum are an accurate description of the Star Stratoliner S. Yamaha put a huge amount of research and development into creating the Roadliner/Stratoliner and no significant improvements have been necessary since it's introduction in '06. Even though it's air cooled, the dry sump, oil cooler, and other internal innovations reduce heat so that the huge engine runs much cooler than one might expect. My dealer said you should get over 200,000 miles before needing any major engine work! One concept that hasn't been mentioned is that the Stratoliner could be viewed as two bikes in one. It's got huge amounts of torque for a very satisfying bottom end and that classic cruiser feel...cruising along at 2,000-3,500 rpm is a very relaxed, comfortable experience. However, if you want to hit the throttle, the bike wakes up and becomes a monster...extremely fast and agile for a bike this big/heavy! The adrenalin rush from 2,000 rpm to 5,000 rpm is immediate and significant...more like a high rpm sports bike than a cruiser. There may be faster motorcycles out there, but the Roadliner/Stratoliner has more power/speed than any sane person would ever want. For the rest of us...it's got just what we need! Show less

Great bike. Fit and finish is top notch. Gobs of power. Very well engineered. The seat is pretty darn firm and the reach to the handle bars is pretty long and I have long arms to begin with. Other than the seat and the reach, this is the perfect bike. The removable windshield and back rest come off and go on very easy and stay put when attached. Head light is bright and the chrome and attention to detail is fantastic. The gas mileage is comparable to the other bikes this size which is 33 mpg around town (would be better but I can't stop twisting the throttle wide open) and 42 highway. It would be great if the gas tank was 1 gal bigger so fuel stops would fall in-line with the rest of the pack but it is what it is. The windshield does a great job of blocking most of the wind. If I compare this to other comparable bike and rate on scale of 1 - 10 it would go like this. HD - 6, suzuki boulevard - 7, honda vtx 1800 - 8, victory - 7, Stratoliner - 9, no bike is a 10 so don't get your hopes up to see one listed here. They all have their faults. Show less