2008 Yamaha Star Raider Motorcycle Review

When Yamaha marketed the 2008 Star Raider as a "chopper-inspired," "performance-based custom," I was curious to see how they would pull off this oxymoron. When motorcyclists think of "choppers", "performance" is not the first thing that comes to mind. A bike with a tricked-out rake, raised handlebars and a hunkin' front wheel do. Star borrowed cues from this gene pool of classic styling for the 2008 Raider, but that is where the resemblance to a chopper ends. The Raider is no "Captain America." This thing would blow the socks off Peter Fonda's iconic scoot. Read the full test at www.motorcycle-usa.com

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• yamaha
• star
• raider
• motorcycle
• test
• cruiser
• motorcycles
• review

[jbailey618]

For all you claiming that the Japanese are making "fake Harleys" or copying HD, you might want to learn some history when HD was making singles and copied Indian's V Twin design. Everyone copies everyone, it's marketing 101. Harley is no more original than Star, Honda, Victory etc...

[ArtworkzDesign]

fire this guy. worst review i've ever seen. Was he stoned when he was talking?

[AmonBlack]

i'm sick of people worshiping Harleys...

[DarkSideReptiles]

*added* I did say the americans... not just harley davidson

[DarkSideReptiles]

dunno, but the vtwins should be left to the americans... japanese are excellent at 4 cylinders

[bountyhunter5656]

cool bike!

[RosieKR]

@blacksupersport The VMax has been a cruiser since 1985. And the ole' v65 magna that honda built would smoke any factory harley bike today. Not to mention Kawasaki's Eliminators.

[ArtemisAG06]

@busuncle23 I love the bike, no problems, great riding bike. All I want to change is the pipes, cant decide on the set I want.

[Luchito316]

nice job

[hcoll]

He said sweet like 17 times...

[MarkSamurai5]

@jbailey618 Exactly, Also, Harley Davidson DID NOT invent the motorcycle and the Cruiser Design. There were other companies before Harley Davidson that had the Cruiser Design. The Metz Company with the Orient-Aster built in 1898 and Indian which was founded in 1901 are 2 examples.