Yamaha XVS 1300 A Tour Classic 2016 — Specifications

So, what is a modern cruiser? A large engine that shakes the pavement, or a machine that knows how to maintain a certain elegance without sacrificing the pleasure of riding? The Yamaha XVS 1300 A Tour Classic, 2016 version, poses this question with its custom look dressed for travel. It presents itself as a Japanese response to the American ideal: less massive than some 1900 cc V-twins, but substantial enough not to go unnoticed. With its 1304 cm³, this V-twin delivers 73 horsepower at 5500 rpm and a torque of 105.9 Nm from 4000 rpm. Figures that do not seek to break records, but rather a certain nobility of the road.

Compared to its direct competitors, such as certain Harley-Davidson or Indian models, it plays the card of accessibility and restraint. Its price, around 12,000 euros at the time, placed the motorcycle in an interesting niche: it offered the aesthetics and feel of a well-bred custom, without requiring the budget of an American locomotive. The steel double cradle frame, classic suspension, and 298 mm dual disc braking provide a solid base. But the real change comes with the Tour Classic kit. It’s no longer just a cruiser; it’s a machine prepared for adventure.

The large windscreen, the sissy-bar for the passenger, and the rigid leather saddlebags transform the XVS 1300 into a tourer. Approximately 20 kg are added to its already considerable weight of 323 kg fully fueled, but on a motorcycle that already weighs three quintals, this surcharge fundamentally changes nothing about its behavior. What changes is the possibility of going far. The 19-liter tank and belt drive promise stress-free journeys. The seat height of 715 mm remains accessible, even for a rider of average height.

For whom? It’s not the beginner’s motorcycle; its weight and power already require some experience. But for a rider looking for a custom capable of serious travel, without wanting to enter the world of behemoths, it finds its place. Its announced top speed of 170 km/h is more than honorable for this category, and its V-twin, with 4 valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.5:1, ensures smooth and sonorous progression. It doesn’t scream, it purrs with authority.

Finally, its main drawback remains its origin: it is a Japanese custom imitating America. For some purists, this detracts from its credibility. For others, it is precisely its asset. It offers the spirit of motorcycle travel, with the efficiency and reliability of a Yamaha. It does not seek to be the most powerful or the most luxurious, but it wants to be the one that accompanies you without drama, on the highways and the back roads. A cruiser tourer that knows exactly what it is, and that does not pretend to be anything else.