Yamaha XVS 1300 Custom Stryker 2014 — Specifications

The 2014 Yamaha XVS 1300 Custom Stryker is a proposition that doesn't mince words. It arrives with a clear mission: to shake up the world of Japanese customs with a dose of audacity from the United States. Because that’s where it took its name, Stryker, a term that carries more character than the simple model number. It’s a machine that doesn’t seek discretion.

Its heart is a 60° V-twin engine of 1304 cc, a proven mechanism elsewhere in the Yamaha range. With 72 horsepower at 5500 rpm and a torque of 103 Nm available from 3000 rpm, it doesn’t aim for brute performance. The comparison with a Harley-Davidson Breakout, much more powerful and twice the price, is inevitable but irrelevant. The Stryker plays on a different field. Its mapping has been retouched for more accessible torque, perfect for rides where brisk acceleration is more important than top speed, which peaks around 160 km/h. The 15-liter tank indicates that this motorcycle is made for style and urban or regional journeys, not for long raids.

The true signature of the Stryker is its look. A wheelbase of 1755 mm, a 21-inch front wheel that seems to stretch from the frame, and a massive 210 mm rear tire announce a radical geometry. The rake angle of 34° confirms this pure chopper vocation. On paper, this promises boat-like handling. Yamaha defends good low-speed maneuverability, but with this very wide rear tire, resistance to leaning into corners will be palpable. It’s not a motorcycle for tight turns. It’s made for straight lines and for turning heads. The steel double cradle frame and classic suspension (41 mm fork, lateral shock absorbers) support a wet weight of 293 kg, a reasonable figure in this category. The braking, with a 320 mm disc at the front and a 310 mm disc at the rear, is sufficient for the intended use, without being exceptional.

The target audience is clear: the rider who wants a modern custom, with the character of an American chopper, but without the associated budget or maintenance. It’s a seductive alternative to US productions, with a price that, at the time, positioned itself around 11,000 euros. One can still wonder what the price of a 2015 Yamaha XVS 1300 Custom Stryker is today on the second-hand market, as it represents a good compromise. Its strengths are its aggressive style and reliable mechanics, its weaknesses are limited agility and a very biased ergonomics. It is not suitable for beginners, intimidated by its weight and length, nor for touring riders seeking autonomy. It is the expression of a genre, a provocative cruiser that does its job with panache, without claiming to be the best motorcycle in the world, but undoubtedly one of the most stylish in its Japanese segment.