Yamaha XV 1600 A Wild Star 2004 — Specifications

We often hear about Harleys as the absolute benchmark for American custom bikes, but who remembers that Yamaha released a real powerhouse of 1600 cm3 to take the wind out of their sails? The 2004 Wild Star is this brute, weighing close to 335 kilograms fully fueled, arriving with a simple message: muscle isn't bought, it's built.

Its soul is a 48° V-twin of 1602 cm3. With a bore and stroke approaching a supercharger square, it produces a monstrous torque of 131.4 Nm from 2250 rpm. The announced power, 63 horsepower, is almost a detail. Here, you don't rev the engine; you simply open the throttle and let yourself be pushed in the back by this incessant wave of traction. The engine is fierce, lively, and its rumble smells of pure custom, without electronic embellishments. Yamaha also proved the solidity of this block by later grafting it into the Road Star Warrior, an even more radical machine.

With such weight and a 71 cm seat height, you’d expect to maneuver a cruise ship. The surprise is pleasant. Once on the move, the Wild Star proves surprisingly docile. Its double cradle frame and studied geometry offer healthy and predictable road handling. It devours straight lines with locomotive stability and negotiates curves with more serenity than you might think. Comfort is present, supported by a relaxed riding position, even if the 20-liter tank tends to spread the knees a little too much.

But not everything is perfect in this world of chrome. The black spot remains the braking. Despite a 320 mm disc at the rear and two calipers, the bite lacks conviction and feedback. It's powerful on paper, but bland in feel. A noticeable defect on a machine that aims for the road. For the rest, the finish is exemplary, with attention to detail that made more than one base Harley-Davidson pale at the time. At a price close to 12,000 euros, it was aimed at the touring rider seeking the authenticity of a large twin, without the folkloric concessions to reliability. It was a credible alternative, a torque beast that preferred substance over form, and which today leaves the memory of an honest and terribly charismatic custom.