First Ride: 2008 Star Raider Motorcycle Review

[Cfar2go]

After owning this motorcylce for a year, traveling Seattle, Moab, LA and back, and over 13,000 miles I gotta say its a fun, fun ride! Thanks for being able to put a 240 on the rear without changing rims, handles like a dream. 113cu. in., That's right Baby! My power can kick your power anyday...bring it! More Chrome is on my shopping list this season. See ya on the road!!

[MrGhandy07]

what band was that playing thanks

[tojocat]

I saw this bike in person and it looks way cooler when its in front of you then in videos and photos.

[Naughtorios]

Great performing bike BUT uglier than a pail of worms...

[Dano0319]

Best bike in the class. Can pick up a used one for under 10K. A few mods later, you gotta a sweet ride. 113cu on an aluminum frame!

[jgs115]

What qualifies as a "custom" bike? Is this not a production bike. In my opinion, custom means "built for one person, not production." Correct me if I'm wrong, but this whole "custom production bike" is just a gimmick.

[StarRaider113ci]

@jgs115 . I own a 2009 Raider S. I customized it the way I wanted it very easily myself. Looks unbelievable and also performs way better than any real custom could ever even think of in power and cornering. I'll take you on any day against your REAL custom cruiser. This bike was designed right and you should think of buying one. Maybe you'll even save 10 or 15 thousand dollars.

[StarRaider113ci]

@jgs115 

[recarga]

Hermosa!!!!

[700mudpro]

Dang nice bike. I looked at the bike in person and loved it.

[sdry]

screw all these belt driven things. Cardan is the only way for proper cruiser

[scear999]

very nice bike

[matrox]

What is this Star crap?...Its a Yamaha, are they ashamed of the name?

[KarloT7]

@matrox

yamaha-star, kawasaki- vulcan, suzuki-boulevard

it;s a sub mark for bike series you idiot.

so dont have to say " can i see that yamaha XVSP003.5SQX 650". when u can say "can i see that V-Star 650" which makes it's very easy for people to look for a bike!!!

[matrox]

Actually, I think your mom was the idiot...when she had you. Star is not a Sub name its a series name for the Yamaha Cruisers.

[krogshede]

@KarloT7 >> In 1994 Yamaha announced the creation of Star Motorcycles, a new standalone brand name for its cruiser series of motorcycles in the American market. So it`s a separate brand,- and NOT a sub mark ..

So who`s the idiot now ? :-))

[KarloT7]

@krogshede

you my friend :)

becuz Yamaha is on the top of it and the fore it is a sub mark of yamaha .

you say separate brand? quvote from ur post "Yamaha announced the creation of Star Motorcycles"

[cooltexan1]

I never did understand the "Star" part either...they are YAMAHA's and should be named that.

[radioguy67]

fst69man, I just bought a Yamaha Roadliner. WOW this bike is GREAT. I think everyone should won one. Now I see why the Harley guys are going over to this bike. POWER, THE RIDE, just GREAT.

[rickbar123]

never happen

HD FOREVER

[radioguy67]

rickbar123, go for a ride on the Roadliner you will like it. By the way 43% of the parts on the HD's are from over sea's. Safe riding,,

[ivarthurvi]

Did you get the midnight? I'm looking to pick up a midnight roadliner next summer. Been reading all about it. I'm actually kind of caught between the 1300 and the roadliner because i don't think i'd ever need 1854cc lol

[radioguy67]

ivarthurvi, My Roadliner ride's like a car except you are on a bike instead of being in a car. It is so much better then my 1100 Classic. It is nice and day. You can't even compare my 1100 Classic with the Roadliner. I always tell people buy what you want but all I can say is the Roadliner is unreal ride, Good riding,,

[matrox]

Who wants a bike that rides like a car?

[thekevinallan]

What harley guys are switching over? I've never heard that, personaly I think its one of the uglyest bikes ive ever seen

[vstar6969]

I have to say that this bike looks real good in pictures but in person you find out that in typical fashion there is a lot of plastic used on this scoot, including the headlight bucket which I think is just wrong...

[runningchance]

When I first saw one from a distance, I was impressed but like you I noticed that up close, it just looks cheap.

[NoSweatOffMySack]

they are cheap, you get what you pay for

[HarleyDavidsonDaBest]

Google - yamaha raider bad lifters.

[NoSweatOffMySack]

Lol!

[radioguy67]

I have a Yamaha VStar 1100 Classic and I am wondering why they don't start using liquid cool more in there bike's. It seems like most are going to it now. Then again maybe I don't no what I am talking about.lol I just love to ride but I am afraid of over heating thats all. Yamaha has some BIG engine's and most don't have liquid cooling but yet the other company's do. Maybe I'll just call head quarter's and see what is going on. I am thinking of buying a bigger bike.

[runningchance]

The main reason is that air cooled is perfectly fine for V-Twins and the liquid cooled is just a add on you don't need.

[gst69man]

air cooled is fine and should not overheat as the fins dispurse heat effectively. Some motorcycle designs utilize water cooling to meet epa standards as they run leaner witch means they need to more effectively dispursr heat. Unless you like changing the coolant, stick with air cooled. PS, I own a vstar classic also and really like it especially since its air cooled.

Ferd

[roylastar1]

hardly stupid riders hate this bike because its a better copy and because they think HD has the patent on V-TWINS, SHHHHH dont tell em!!!! HD copied INDIAN. Ya no, maybe them HD's should hold there value,Ya need to recoup all that $ you put in to em to keep em go en, and to bring it up to the paformance of the imports

[rollandkirby]

ha and you have to put a ton of 4 into Jap crap to keep it from sounding like a fart can on Maylox. This one is waaaaay too quiet for my tastes.

I do agree about the Indian thing though, they are definitely the best cruiser money can buy, but they are so expensive they make Harley's look like trailer trash. Believe me, I have a Harley and I definitely respect Indian riders. However, HD has never copied Indian, do your research.

[rollandkirby]

And anyone with half a brain would know they dont hold the patent on Vtwins. Shit, they put them on anything.

[19bikerbabe53]

I have a 2008 Raider S. When the Harleys aren't in the repair shop, they're choking on my dust.

[j03rombot]

I love this bike..

I'm buying the Red one tommorow, cant wait...  :O

[ITbiker2020]

why cant these guys talk without a retarded speech pattern? like they have special needs or something.

[Ratridez]

It's a beautiful ride , just gotta fix that overheating problem.....

[1903HarleyDavidson]

Yes they do over heat and at over $13,000 plus extra $ for pipes to make it sound a little like a Harley make this bike a zero.

[johnnydinla]

I don't know of one Raider that's had an overheating problem and I know a whole group of guys all over the country and not one reported issue.

[Ratridez]

I guess you don't get out much . I pushed 3 Yamahas of main street in Sturgis from overheating . You should know that because pushrod engines got better cooling because the cylinder is unrestricted .

[johnnydinla]

feel free to describe the overheating symptoms because the Raider is air cooled. I ride out in LA and in the deserts and I have no issues, not does anyone else I know out here who ride in high heat.

[Ratridez]

I know the Raider is air cooled ( Thank tipster ) I've been building engines since I was 14 . The problem is idling in very hot traffic , the fuel vaporizes causing it to flood thus thinning out the engine oil leading to a stall .

[saxophonerules12]

dude, u have no idea what ur talking about, fuel vaporizing does not cause engine oil to thin out, those are two completely different entities. Also, fuel vaporozing does not cause flooding, it causes fuel starvation.

[Uncle5cary]

vapourization pressurizes the fuel tank , big problems for carbureted bikes. This is the result of alcohol fuels, which vapourize more quickly.

[kclc4evr]

my man is gonna get one someday...13,000 he quit smoking just to get one....he's what you call true scooter trash and someone like that has to have a bike.....bless his heart

[saliormoony]

ive got an 08 yamaha raider s blue almost 100hp and faster than any stock low rider as far as im concerned. i raite this bike an a double plus.

[JACKSONAXER]

I Purchased The Raider S Today & fuckin-eh\m/, Look ouT 2009 Iam backnblackkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk;p

[geonlansis]

the guy said the rear wheel can accommodate bigger tires without any modifications, the stock is 210mm, can it fit 240mm or 2800mm without any modifications? btw, amazing bike from Star Motors.

[hongkongsucksballs]

i love this bike, its almost 100hp and is a awesome ground pounder.

[AlwaysWishing1983]

I love the look of this. It's sexy. But I'd love a louder exhausts. I'm a "4 mile rumble" girl which means you can hear it coming 4 miles away and when it gets close your walls vibrate.

I love that red. It's like candy.

[aufifob]

hope no-one ever raids my star with one of these!!!