Yamaha XVS 1300 A Tour Classic 2014 — Specifications

It was called the V Star 1300 Tourer on the other side of the Atlantic, and under the name XVS 1300 A Tour Classic, Yamaha delivered its vision of a grand touring custom motorcycle. A motorcycle that poses a simple question: can you be an authentic cruiser, with that low and elongated look, while also claiming to be capable of long journeys? Yamaha’s answer is a bold gamble, halfway between barebone purism and the comfort of an equipped machine. With its V-twin engine of 1304 cm3 developing 73 horsepower, it’s far from the excess of American behemoths. The power is smooth, the torque of 105.9 Nm arrives early and pulls without violence, ideal for effortlessly swallowing straight roads. That is precisely the philosophy of this engine: to offer the essentials without the showiness. It doesn’t roar, it purrs with the assurance of a large-displacement engine, but it won’t glue you to the seat. For a cruiser of this size, this is an intentional choice: the priority is usable torque, not eye-catching figures.

What strikes you about the Tour Classic is its original equipment. The large windscreen, the comfortable sissy bar, and the two rigid leather saddlebags immediately transform the base into a machine ready for the road. Yamaha understood that a customizer doesn’t always want to tinker for entire weekends to go on vacation. These additions come at a price, of course, and not just on the invoice. The weight when fully fueled approaches 323 kg, a mass that is felt in tight turns or during maneuvers at a standstill. The 41 mm fork and the monoshock do a good job of absorbing imperfections, but the motorcycle remains a giant, with limited ground clearance. It is not made for winding roads, but for national highways and motorways, where its 16-inch tread and 19-liter tank give it a royal footing.

Facing the competition, notably Harley-Davidson Street Glides that reign supreme in this segment, Yamaha plays the card of rationality. At nearly €12,000, it costs significantly less than an equivalent Harley, and its air and oil-cooled engine is robustly simple. The belt drive is silent and clean, the 715 mm seat is accessible, and the whole exudes a well-cared-for retro charm. But it lacks the flair, nor the sonic personality, of a Milwaukee-Eight. It is a cruiser for a pragmatic touring rider, who wants the look, the long-distance comfort, and Japanese reliability, without the mechanical hassles or the exorbitant price of an American custom.

So, who is this Tour Classic for? Clearly for the motorcyclist who dreams of road trips on open roads, without wanting to ride a feature-laden barge. It is an excellent entry point into the world of large touring cruisers. It is forgiving, requires little maintenance, and its integrated equipment is truly designed for the purpose. On the other hand, if you are looking for the thrill of a temperamental engine, the status of a brand with an undeniable aura, or aggression in corners, you will need to look elsewhere. The XVS 1300 A Tour Classic is an honest, capable, and surprisingly practical machine, but it openly admits that it was born to go far, not to put on a show.