Back In The Saddle

After a somewhat extended search to find a replacement for my Kawasaki Classic 1500 I found a beauty at Cycle Springs in Clearwater. I really wanted another Kawasaki since I had been pleased by their ride and durability, and, well, I just considered myself a Kawi guy. I rode a Honda VTX 1800 and liked it well enough but the pipe configuration burned my leg. I had a champagne colored Kawasaki 1600 in my sights at West Coast Powersports, but they sold it over the weekend.

After doing my due diligence I settled on a 2006 Yamaha Stratoliner Midnight 1900.

The Midnight refers to the many black powder coated parts of the bike that are usually chromed out.  The taillights are modeled after the early Corvette. 

From the side there is no way to tell what kind of bike this is.  There are no name plates or brand logos.  The Art Deco stripes are the only way to determine that this is a Stratoliner. 

The bike features quick detach windshield and passenger back rest.  Since I don't have ant passengers i took off the backrest and seat.  I have never had a light bar until now.

It has a 113 ci, 1859 cc engine.  It is 101 inches long and I am not sure of many cruising bikes longer.   

Hard bags with locks are easy to use and easy to remove, if need be.  It also has Kuryakin grips and cruise control. 

Things I like that I've never had on a bike before:

1. Light bar

2. fuel-injection (perhaps the best thing, starts every time without choking)

3.  tach (although I don't know what to do with it)

4. digital cluster

5.  cast wheels (no spokes)

6.  quick detach windshield

7. strobe LED brake light

8.  Kuryakin hand grips

9. self-cancelling turn signals

It has a hidden ignition atop the headlight.  There is a metal bars that closes when the key is out.  I'm not really sure what this is all about, though.  Rain?

Strange keying system.  The thing comes with 6 keys:

1. ignition and gas cap

2. Windshield detach

3.  right bag

4.  left bag

5.  seat

6.  passenger backrest detach

You'd think they could have been uniform for all locks.

Art deco instrument cluster.  Has tach, and several digital settings, such as trip odometer, clock, mileage and others.  Resets are on handlebars, so it can be done while driving.

The cluster at night has a definite retro look.  Not many bikes have a tach, but this one does.   

The bike also has self-cancelling turn signals that will be a relief to Tim, Rick and others who have had to follow my lead on some past rides.

Integrated taillight.  Braking system has a 3 second strobe then stays bright red whenever brakes are applied.

The bike is big and fits me pretty well.  I'm getting used to the clunky shifting that reminds me a little of Tim's Harley.  The old Kawi was generally real quiet.  The huge and somewhat flat instrument gauges tends to reflect in the windshield at night.  And some have complained about the lack of room in the sidebags.  I, however, am quite pleased so far and will give updates as necessary.  I'm planning on hooking up with The Bayside Riders Club and get some miles on this beast.  They are planning runs up to Homosassa and Lake Wales in the next week or so.  That will give me a good chance to try this baby on normal road conditions, instead of the start-and-go St. Pete riding experience.   

The Stratoliner, according to Yamaha, was designed with the 1939 Delahaye (above) in mind.  I don't know about that, but so far I have enjoyed the ride, the power, and the newer refinements in technology.  What I don't enjoy is the return to monthly payments.

Planned Mods:

1.  H21 Risers 

2.  Lindby all-black Engine guard

3.  lay down license plate

4.  when funds are available Mustang seat

SPECS:

Engine and Transmission

• The Stratoliner Deluxe centers around a 1854cc, 48-degree V-twin engine. The air-cooled engine has four valves per cylinder, with a 3.93-inch bore and a 4.64-inch stroke for a compression ratio of 9.48:1. The engine utilizes electronic fuel injection and a transistor-controlled ignition. The transmission is a five-speed model with a multiplate wet clutch and a belt-based final-drive system.

Dimensions and Capacity

• The gas tank holds 4.5 gallons. The bike is 101.6 inches long, 43.3 inches wide and 59.6 inches tall. The wheelbase stands at 67.5 inches. The seat sits 27.8 inches off of the ground and has a ground clearance of 6.1 inches. The overall wet weight --- what the bike weighs when the fuel tank is full --- of the bike is 794 lb.

Wheels, Brakes and Tires

• The bike comes with 12-spoke cast wheels. The front tires are 130/70-18 tires, while the back tires are 190/60-17. Both front and rear brakes utilize hydraulic discs. The front brakes use a dual disc, while the back brakes have only a single disc.

Frame and Suspension

• The Stratoliner's frame is made of aluminum. The front suspension sits on a 1.81-inch telescopic fork. The rear suspension is a single shock. Front suspension travel is 5.1 inches, while rear suspension travel is 4.3 inches.

REVIEW FROM MOTORCYCLEUSA

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Like its Roadliner sibling, the Stratoliner is based around a 113 cubic-inch V-Twin with four valves (and dual plugs) per cylinder. Fuel makes its way via 43mm Mikuni throttle bodies and is squeezed at a relatively high 9.5:1 compression ratio (as compared to the 8.3:1 in the Warrior), requiring 91-octane fuel.

The Road Star has been a successful line for Yamaha/Star, but it wasn't as reliant on technology like the Roadliner/Stratoliner brothers. One area that's clearly evident is the chassis. While the Road Star's frame was made up from no less than 64 steel pieces, the Roadliner/Stratoliner's frame consists of just 8 aluminum parts. The result is a 40% reduction in the frame's weight, now at 37 lbs instead of 62.It's a similar story with the bike's swingarm. Yamaha's controlled-fill casting process reduces the aluminum swingarm's component count from 23 to five, with the new piece weighing a whopping 54.6% lighter than the steel 26-pounder on the Road Star. Yamaha claims the Roadliner is 50 lbs lighter than its competition (Vulcan 2000, VTX 1800).

First off, the Stratoliner makes for a fine piece of curbside jewelry. Yamaha's attention to detail with the 'Liners is superb, and no longer do metric cruisers deserve a second-class citizen tag. This is a machine that draws in eyes, and lingering glances are rewarded with lovely components from stem to stern. Shapely fenders imply motion, instruments look like a high-fashion wristwatch, and the paint quality is impeccable. The days of Japanese cruisers being seen as low-rent Harley knock-offs is over.

Picking up the Stratoliner from its sidestand takes less effort than you might imagine, and the view from the cockpit is every bit as good as it is from the curb. A fat 1.25-inch handlebar sweeps back to comfortably reach the rider who can't help but be impressed with the smooth and curvaceous brake and clutch master cylinders unique to the 'Liner brothers. Its switchgear wiring is neatly routed inside the handlebar, although the exposed brake lines and throttle cables spoil the clean look, and its slinky levers are nicer than most.Once in motion, the Stratoliner delights with a healthy bottom-end pull and a delicious V-Twin exhaust note. It's uncannily smooth for a solid-mount Big Twin, especially at 3000 rpm and below, thanks to its dual counterbalancers, which means the motor can be mounted rigidly in the frame to yield a stiffer chassis. Enough muted vibes are fed back to the rider so that it's not forgotten this is a pulsing mechanical horse. The effort required from the hydraulic clutch isn't light, but its modulation would make a Shriner wet his fez.With 101 horsepower claimed at the crankshaft, the 'Liners lay down about 86 ponies at the rear wheel, a number that exceeds all the players in ourPerformance Cruiser shootout except for the Harley Street Rod, though it's just barely above Honda's liquid-cooled VTX1800. We expect rear-wheel torque to edge just over the 100 lb-ft mark, once again nipping the VTX and handily stomping the rest of that group.

Helping make for a flat torque curve is the addition of an exhaust powervalve for the first time on a cruiser. Yamaha's EXUP system increases backpressure at lower revs before opening up after 2500 rpm. Once past this point, the rumble from the exhaust increases to a point where I don't think I'd bother fitting an aftermarket system. Those who do will be happy that a slip-on canister can be mounted without disturbing the EXUP valve, which is "a big benefit," according to a Yamaha rep.

The Stratoliner's broad seat is shared with the Roadliner, which is fine because it proves to be comfy and supportive during long stints. In fact, there are very few differences between the Road and Strato Liners. Mechanically, the only change is an increase in the rear shock's preload to better accommodate passengers and luggage.Functionally, the Stratoliner's perks include a windshield, leather-covered hard-shell saddlebags and a backrest. The Strato comes equipped with a 21-inch shield as standard, a decent compromise that fits the average male well. The eyes in my 5'-8" body were able to barely peek over the top of the stock windscreen, allowing me to crouch down for shelter or sit tall for a clearer view forward. Star offers 17- and 24-inchers as options. We're impressed with the shield's clever quick-detach design, as it can be removed in mere seconds for those rides that don't require protection from the elements. It's also lockable so that it gets detached only by its owner.

Dynamically, the Stratoliner is far more adept than you might expect from a big-inch cruiser. The aluminum chassis is not only light but also strong. It cranks into corners with no delay, unlike some other more flexible cruisers that feel as if the rear wheel lags out of line with the front during sharp steering inputs. It handles sweepers nicely, but in aircraft terms, it's more a B-29 than P-51. Although some bikes with a fork-mount fairing are susceptible to crosswinds, we're happy to report that 40-mph desert gusts did little to upset the Stratoliner's chassis.

A nice thrum oozes from the engine at relaxed cruising speeds. An indicated 70 mph equals about 2800 rpm, which is information provided by a cruiser rarity: a tachometer. Although its small size is difficult to read at a glance, the rev counter is a welcome addition. Dial up around 3300 rpm and you'll be seeing 85 mph on the very attractive speedo face, at which point the 'Liner's engine remains relatively silky.

Also on the plus side of the ledger are strong brakes, convenient self-canceling turnsignals, and dual horns with different frequencies for extra volume and a punchier tone. We also like its swoopy and streamlined handlebar clamp, flush-mount clear-lens taillight and its groovy turnsignals lens shape, kinda like that wacky bra Madonna once famously wore.

The Stratoliner is such a stellar and well-engineered package that it was difficult to find things to complain about. Still, we always dig for nits. Its suspension, while a nice compromise that provides a comfortable ride, lacks adjustments except for rear preload. I'd wished for a bit more rebound damping at the rear under my trivial load.While we're griping, we should note how the chrome-rimmed instruments reflect into the windshield after dark. Finally, we'd like to whinge about the sound of the 'Liners' wheezy starter motor. Although it performed mechanically trouble-free, it's difficult to feel like a bad-ass biker when the first thing by-standers hear invokes memories of your Aunt Thelma's 20-year-old cat coughing up a hairball.

In case you haven't been paying attention (or you cheated yourself by skipping to the end), we're mightily impressed with the latest offering from Star Motorcycles. It's got buckets of style, irreproachable attention to detail, and the versatility to tackle a variety of roads with sure-footed aplomb. It also has the cojones to run with the junkyard dogs of the performance-cruiser class.

During the presentation for the Stratoliner, Yamaha's media relations manager, Brad Banister, said, "We think we have a home run with this product." I initially wrote that off as just another dose of PR babble.The fact of the matter is the Stratoliner/Roadliner platform has not only raised the metric cruiser bar, it's moved the goal posts for cruisers of any origin.