Night freaks out a little on a Star Stratoliner S Test Ride - Part 1
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Yes, it's a big bike. Yes, I'm a big guy. But not height-wise, only width-wise! This is a really, really nice bike. I loved it. As long as I didn't have to stop or anything. My thanks go to C&E Yamaha in Foxboro, MA for allowing test rides and being one of the best dealerships I've worked with. I didn't end up with this bike, but I highly recommend their dealership.
I couldn't take more than 2:43 seconds of this video. I own a 2013 Stratoliner S. Bought it new. The Strat sits lower than my Suzuki B C90T. The Strat has a much longer wheelbase but is so comfortable for long trips and is predictable at high speeds. Great bike. I like it more than my Kaw 2000LT or my Honda VTX1800. Each bike is good at something, Strat is good at all of it.
I feel like the video really comes alive after 3 seconds. You missed the best part!
@@NightcruiserMA
No it doesn’t. You’re a WHINER
Get this guy a moped
I would have settled for one after that ride.. lol.. something about the width of that seat made me tippy-toe that thing the whole time. Thanks for watching :)
Wow seriously? That's the same kind of bike i ride. Dude I'm a woman and it's a piece of cake to ride this bike. Put on your big boy pants and ride it like you stole it.
I hear you! I wasn't ready. To think my last two bikes have been bigger than the Strat... lol
Too much soy in the water these days lmao.
He must be a fresh beginner if he is needs to stay off that bike
@@mikebrown5648 ya thats what I was saying too...I have an 07 with somw goodies on it. Its making 120 at the back tire and I think its still pretty mild...but my other bike makes a little over 200 so the roadliner dont feel bad compared to my vmax
I'm 5'7" and very comfortable on my 2006 Roadliner (same bike, no windshield, bags, etc.) My feet hit the pavement just fine when saddled up and we have a great time cruising. Size matters, but not as much as controlled confidence.
That power and snappy throttle was definitely a bit of a worry the first few times I pulled out, but I hadn't ridden any bike without pedals for about 25 years before the day I bought it, so an 80cc would have probably had me a little shook, too. I stalled it twice in front of the bike shop guys, who were all young enough to be my illegitimate children (and may very well have been, since I slayed a few less than virtuous ladies back in the day) and they were kind enough to hide their laughter. After successfully pulling out and giving them a thumbs-up, I began my ride home and promptly laid it over at my first stop sign, partly due to an overlooked chunk of mud on the road, but mostly because of a major case of nerves. Fortunately, I was raised to get back up and rub some dirt in it, and to ignore the tiny scrathes I'd just put in my saddlebag. Sticking to back roads seemed like the best plan until I realized that the local suburbs were absolutely polluted with street sweepers, garbage trucks and school busses on Tuesday afternoons. So, what would have been a 25 minute straight shot through the city turned into a 2 hour comedy of low-speed errors around the outskirts of town. I was so nervous that I was afraid to lean and ended up taking a left turn from pull out on an incline a bit too wide and almost got hung up on the curb. After that, something just switched on in my brain and all of the years (age 7 to 20) riding dirtbikes, mini-bikes, scooters, mopeds, and anything else with handlebars clicked in and I felt like I was home again. It all came back to me, just like, well, riding a bike!
Ring rust gone and confidence high, I stopped by my parents house to show it off. Then immediately laid it over again while trying to make a U-turn in their front yard.
Now that my ego was back in check and my head was securely out of my backside, I safely made my way home and got ready to work the midnight shift without a nap. (That's right, I live dangerously, people!) This bike was made for me, I swear. I felt it the moment I saw it, and it seems to be true.
Btw, It took about a week for the heel shifter to grow on me and I now love that my boots don't get scuffed as much.
Is this what all Prius owners act like on a motorcycle?
lol, I do wish I owned a Prius. Would save me a lot of gas. But yeah, not my proudest moment, but out there for people to learn from.
Dude chicks can hear you!
Lol, I know. I did not do the male (or female) world proud that day.
I came off a Suzuki C50 800 straight to this bike also. I was cocky because I had become very accustomed to the 800's power and never been on anything more powerful.
The first time I took it out, I was at the stop sign, pulled out and was 'accustomed' to giving it plenty of gas to pick me back up out of the lean... heh... not this monster. I sling shotted straight towards the ditch and almost kissed the dirt. I know how you felt that first time.
Like a wise man once told me, the first time you disrespect it, it will disrespect you. I get it now.
The video takes me back to the thoughts going through my head the first time out except you got to share them with your wife/girlfriend and the rest of the world. Guys like you make good riders because you respect the ride and I commend you for that.
I also agree that the heel shift is AWFUL.
Keep up the great videos and enjoy your ride! Hope she got her platforms and enjoyed it too. lol
Oh, what headset are you using to talk to her?
Spence, you are so right. Going from an 800 cc bike to a 1900 cc bike was just too much, at least with something that big. I hope to never get cocky, although I admit I'm feeling very comfortable with my Chieftain. You always have to respect a motorcycle. Some people don't get that. This is my third season and I'm still a rookie - learning every day, improving every day.
That heel shift... ugh! I have been tempted to get the Aeromach heel shifter for my Indian, but I have really become accustomed to the toe shifter.
Thanks for the kind words, My friend never tried the Strat but she has indeed ridden my Chieftain a little bit here and there. She loves it, but is a bit nervous on it. She has less than 4,000 miles under her belt.
The headsets we're using at the Sena Bluetooth SMH10's. :)
I'm 5'8" and very comfortable with my roadliner
i have a2009 stratoliner and im 5' 7". i love my bike. Its a gorgeous machine and i get a lot of questions about it. Yes its big and heavy but super easy to control and im pretty much flat footed. Not sure why you were so nervous. i do agree on the heel shifter.
Love my 2014 Stratoliner. I'm 6' and this bike is perfect and fast.
Man this was a long time and many miles ago. I absolutely love the sound of these Yamaha big V Twins. One of my favorite tunes. But officer, you don't understand...speed is y friend.
I’m on a 1600 Nomad, which a very heavy bike. A few years ago I test rode a Roadliner. What struck me at first was how low and balanced it was. Compared to my Nomad I felt like I was sitting on the ground, and it didn’t want to fall over! It was amazing how such a big bike could feel so light and nimble. And after riding it for only 10 minutes, I felt confident to make U turn in a space that I would not have tried in my Nomad. I don’t know what this guy’s problem was. It definitely wasn’t the bike, for this bike nearly handles itself. Anyway, I brought it out on the freeway and was surprised to find it’s RPMs at 70 and 75 mph were slightly higher than on my Nomad. My Nomad is a five speed and loves to cruise at 75 to 80 mph, and I’m never looking for a 6th gear. On the Roadliner I really wanted a 6th gear, and I was shocked when it didn’t have one. This for me was a deal breaker, that and the cost of adding windshield. It was insane, like close to $1000 for the mounts and shield. I think if it had had a windshield I probably would have bought it, so the missing 6th gear was something i think I would have gotten use to. I still have that Nomad, and at this very moment I’m looking at a ‘12 Stratoliner. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I have a smaller bike, an FJR Sport Turing Yahama, and when I first started riding it, the terminology I used to describe it was "Ponderous", and it only weighs in at 650 lbs. That Stratoliner probably weighs in at around 900 Lbs. After a year of riding it and putting on 5500 miles I have leaned to love it, and you're right about balance. Yamaha makes a great bike.
The best Cruiser Motorcycle I have ever ridden, the power and torque along with the smoothest shifting transmission I have ever experienced puts this bike far above anything out there. Sure wish I had bought one when I had the chance. "Damn it Jim!"
I’m 5’6 and i can just about flatfoot my roadliner s. Definitely built for someone much larger but i can handle it without an issue. Just takes a bit to get used to
You know, I have ridden since I was 19, uh, 46 years ago, lol. In 2008 the new wife decided she wanted to ride with me on some long trips. Sooooo, test rode a friend's Harley. It was nice and fast and loud and cramped. She was right up against me, her seat back was in the small of her back, and all she had for her feet were pegs. So one day stopped in at the Yamaha dealer in Kalispell, Mt. Test rode a couple bikes. After the Harley and my old scoot, the sounded and felt like sewing machines. The salesman said well here, try this. And pointed out his 2007 Strat. It was a really big, nice-looking bike. But I told him yeah, that's too expensive. He looks at me and says, "you gotta try this."
Sooooo, fired it up, liked the sound, did a few slow turns in the parking lot, pulled onto the highway, twisted on the throttle, and never looked back. The seat back will let my wife fall asleep without falling off. I got her some floorboards. And we got a hitch and trailer. The wife no longer rides. But we got a couple rides to Tucson and San Diego, as well as a ride down the California coast under our belts. Lots of rides to Vancouver, BC. and a great ride around Montana. Over 50K miles later and the bike is still going strong. I ride to work when the weather allows way too fast. Maybe I'll get some headers for it and a power commander, lol. Gotta learn how to drift it now. I'm 6'1" and 250 by the way. I wont stop riding till I die or the bike does. Keep the shiny side up and the wind in your hair brother.
i can tell you what this video feels like, torture
I have had one since 2008, just replaced it with a new Stratoliner over all the other good choices now days. I'm 5' 4"). and only have trouble backing up in loose gravel.
i love my heel shifter
what do you ride a Honda 250 grow some man really
Im nearly 70 and 5 ' 8" and i just traded a wing for a 1900 yammy. its real easy to ride. ive had a lot of big bikes andvthis is so easy to ride i coukdnt believe it was a 1900. i had the 1999 roadstar 1600 and this 1900 is fantastic. also easier than my 1500 Nomad. Tge f6b wing was too awkward for me.
The Stratoliner was a little too much for my 28" inseam and few months of riding experience on a 250 at the time. Since then, just about every bike I've had has been around the same size as the Stratoliner. They're great bikes.
Those are really beautiful big bikes. And the price is not bad on them. I like the Art Deco look. I thought about buying one too. I love the heel shifters.
Yes, they really are beautiful. I wish the seat weren't as wide - would have made me a little more flat-footed (which just said fat-footed before I fixed it.) I love heel shifters as well, just not the particular one on the Strat :/
Thanks. I didn't end up getting this bike, but I do love it. I'd love it more if my inseam were maybe 1" longer... lol. Part 2 of this test ride will be up tomorrow morning :)
Why bother, get a moped with a white basket you can put your purse in.
I didn't. If you watch my "My First Vlog - Part 1 - Victory Judge" video, you'll see the bike (can you guess what it is by the title? lol) that I ended up getting. It's a little smaller and a little closer to the ground for my apparently really, really short legs :)
Absolutely! That bike was big! :)
I ride a Roadking i have rode a Stratoliner has alot of power and is a nice bike
Interesting that you ended up on an Indian. I am 6'4" and 320 pounds. I had a 2007 Strat that I bought in 2010 with 3K miles for $9K. Put 40K miles on it and in 2018 sold it for $4600 to buy a 2014 Indian Vintage. Loved the look and sound of the Indian, everything else was a disappointment. Power was nowhere close to my Strat, neither was the handling. Plus everything on an Indian cost a bloody fortune. I had it less than a year, dumped it, lost almost $4K getting rid of it and was still happy to dump it! Found another Strat, in fact the exact model you test rode, 2013 Strat S blue. I bought it last summer with 3800 miles from the original owner for $7500 cash!! It was all stock. I did the pipes with freedom true duals, mustang seat, crash bars, got the ECU reflashed by Ivan and this thing screws!! Not sure if this link will work but if it does here is a pic
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Best of luck, keep ridin and smilin
DOC
I'm 5'3" and ride a Yamaha Raider. Same family as the Roadliner and Stratoliner.
I'm as tall as you and I have an '06 Stratoliner S... I take my wife everywhere on it. We put 2,000 miles on it in the past 6 months up here in Northern California...
I have scraped once or twice but I ride low n slow,you will loose cornering clearance when you lower a bike but I like the look.
whatever must they have been thinking in the dealership while watching you, lol.
They're probably asking... did anybody check his insurance card?
Good for you Night. Confidence is "Key". 2nd absolutely no "overconfidence".
The 'Liners are deceptively big and deceptively "tame", but you'd find that over time you start to understand that this bike is a bit different than other cruisers. It's big but well balanced, and the power isn't in your face, but it's there when you really get on the throttle.
It's certainly not everyone's cup of tea. Glad you found a bike that you enjoy! Happy riding!
It's a beautiful bike. I think my main issue was that, coming from an 800 cc cruiser, this felt enormous, and also the seat is a bit wider than most bikes, which means my feet were not remotely close to the ground. I think I could handle it without as much of an issue nowadays, but I was definitely scared back then!
my first v-max I road white knuckled to dmv
I wasn't like this when I rode a bike with a V8 Chevrolet engine in it.
I have confidence, I don't have height! That's pretty much me right there man!
Why are you loading this on UA-cam ?????????
I've tried watching this 3 times. Just can't do it, sorry.
Put him on a Valkyrie. 🐝
Woos
so Nightcruiser......now that you have had your indian for awhile.....which rides nicer ? stratoliner or chieftain... which had more power ? which sounded better ? stratoliner was how much less money than the chieftain ? thx...your imput to these would help me out alot....
MySpankster Good questions, MySpankster. So, with the disclaimer that I only rode the Strat this one time and I've been riding an Indian for over 8,000 miles, here are my thoughts: 1) Ride: I think the Indian wins here. Slightly more suspension travel. I can see myself saying on the Strat that some sections of road were more jarring than I anticipated. I've never felt that on the Indian. Some of that may be the suspension, some of it may be the seat, but the Chieftain (and its Roadmaster counterpart) win that one. 2) Power: I think the Strat, having a couple of cubic inches more displacement and being a little lighter than the Chieftain, wins this one. I think the Indian might win 0-30 but I think 0-60, the Stratoliner would be ahead. 3) Sound: If comparing the stock Stratoliner pipes to the stock Indian pipes, the Indian wins. If comparing the Indian Stage 1 pipes to the Stratoliner stock pipes, the Indian wins by more. But, I've not heard (in person) any upgraded or aftermarket pipes on a Strat, so I would be hesitant to really give a firm answer. But I'm really happy with the Indian's sound. 4) Price: Well, the Strat wins hands down here - I think a Stratoliner is in the $17k to $18k range if I'm not mistaken? And a Chieftain will run you about $23k. Overall, I think Yamaha (Star) makes some awesomely reliable bikes, and of course the Indian brand under Polaris is new. But Indians are over-engineered, in my opinion, and that's a good thing. Things just work. I don't see how you could really go wrong with either bike. I think you just have to ride both and pick the one most comfortable to you, and know that no matter what you decide, you'll have a great bike.
NightcruiserMA thx a bunch
ya here in canada the stratoliner is 18,999 and the chieftain starts at 27,999 and the stuff i wanna put on the indian would make it around 31,000.......i have been told that vance and hinds turn down slip ons sound awesome on the indian.....have heard the stratoliner with 3 inch hard chrome...very loud
NightcruiserMA wow seems the stratoliner is about the same price.....but the indian is way more up here....mmmm wonder why one is and one isn't
I hope all that timity was a act
lol... 1) She's a friend 2) I did say that 3) Almost any bike is better than almost any sex 4) You're correct about the power, but it *does* move really well, and seeing that I was riding an 800 cc at the time, this thing felt like a Saturn V rocket. :)
I see that you were on Rt1. I bought
my ninja at MOM South.
Nice! I have bought 3 bikes there.. lol.. my first bike (Hyosung GV250,) second bike (Suzuki Boulevard C50T,) and current bike (Victory Judge.) I claim them as a dependent on my tax return.. ;)
Hahaha. The guys there were good to me.
Did you end up getting it?
Lol. I bought one of these for my first bike.... man up
Just put on some AC/DC Back in Black and hit it.
Valkyrie waxes that slow horse
really guy??
i love the chieftain..29,000 dollars plus tax here in calgary...roadmaster...33,500 plus tax...Harley road glide special.30,000 plus tax....street glide special...30,000 plus tax....the stratoliner deluxe with hard faring is only 17,999 right now..........thoughts anyone ? pros and cons are welcome
She's a damn good woman.
And a great friend to put up with all of my misadventures.. lol
Lmao
im 5' 2" 155 pounds and i ride a road liner and a road star both are lowered 1 3/4"
Very nice! They have slightly narrower seats, too, which helps a little. I was not even close to being flat footed and it felt huge to me. I could have lowered it, but was afraid losing some cornering clearance. Do you find that you scrape pegs with your bikes being lowered?
This is an old video, so I hope you learned how to ride by now. People should learn to ride before they test ride bikes.
Poor guy
This guy sounds like he's only been riding for a week. The size of the engine doesn't matter unless you plan on being irresponsible and once you're moving, the weight is a non factor.
Oh heck no, at that point I'd been riding for about a whole 4 months :)
You're going to go so slow, you're going to fall down.
Don't go near a Triumph Rocket dude. You will have meltdown.
LOL... true! I only had a few months of riding under my belt at time. My Triumph Rocket III video is here somewhere from two or three years ago. Fun bike!
He killing me he's killing me if you get the bike take the hill shifter off that's what I did with mine I like this bike but the way you talkin you don't need that bike stay on something smaller be safe
lol, well, this was 7 years ago. Lots of bigger bikes since then, and now I can't live without heel shifters!
This was hard to watch
No doubt! lol
GAY ?
Brother, a timi😢😢d person should just stick to a Toyota Prius. Scared riders are a menice to everyone else.😢
Better than sex?? She’s gonna leaveeeee uuuuuu.
Right so you're cautious which is really smart, and then you get shit in the comments.. Guess this is the internet for you.
Lol I'm 5'6 and that is the easiest bike I've ridden so far
bbhdrtuvjg Yep! I was pretty new to riding at that point 😊
Please get a Vespa and stop complaining😜
Ur gonna lose ur woman. They don’t respect that 😎☕️
Sounds like a Biden employee. Jake Sullivan. 😂
Oh my gosh grow a set and become a man just because it has tons of power doesn't mean you have to use it.
A 600cc R6 has more balls than that thing..
I'm gonna try part 2, But is you are still whining in front of a woman .no less, I'm out.
LOL.... bad news :) I was still whining. Gosh, I'd forgotten how long ago this was...