Yamaha XVS1300A Midnight Star 2010 — Specifications

Yamaha is it finally deciding to bury the myth of the Dragstar to enter the modern era of cruisers? With this 2010 XVS1300A Midnight Star, the brand with the tuning forks is attempting a risky gamble: marrying the retro aesthetics of a large custom with resolutely contemporary mechanics. The days of air-cooled engines and outdated lines are over, making way for a 1304 cm3 V-twin liquid-cooled engine, carefully dressed to resemble an old mill, but packed with technology. The announced 73 horsepower and 105.9 Nm of torque promise a relaxed yet sufficiently muscular feel to avoid being ridiculed on a national road.

The heart of this machine is this 60° four-valve-per-cylinder V-twin. Yamaha has done everything to make it behave like a good old large twin while filtering out parasitic vibrations thanks to a double balancer. The result? A supple engine that delivers its punch from low revs, perfect for long straight roads and stress-free overtaking. The five-speed gearbox is precise, and the belt drive offers an appreciable level of quietness. But let's admit it, with only 73 horsepower to move more than 300 kg fully fueled, we are far from the surge. The top speed approaching 180 km/h is more a theoretical argument than a driving reality. This Yamaha XVS1300A Midnight Star is made to ride with style, not to show off at the stopwatch.

And style, just so, is its true playground. The "Streamline" design is a success, taking up the elegant codes of its big sister, the 1900. The headlight, the uncluttered dashboard without a tachometer, and the work to hide the radiators give an impression of cleanliness and coherence. It asserts its presence with a low seat at 71.5 cm and this 19-liter tank that gives it a long and low silhouette. Faced with a Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom of the time, more raw and vibrant, the Midnight Star plays the card of sophistication and serenity. It is a custom for the elegant globetrotter, who prefers the comfort of correct suspension and the safety of a triple disc brake to a hard attitude.

Who is this beast ridden for? Clearly for yourself. The pleasure is more in the feeling of piloting a well-finished object, stable on its road, than in the thrills of acceleration. The target audience is experienced motorcyclists who want a modern, reliable custom, without the mechanical hassles of an authentic one, and who appreciate the comfort of electronic injection and a less temperamental engine. At a price that flirted with 10,000 euros new, it positioned itself as a serious and less ostentatious alternative to American productions.

Ultimately, the Yamaha XVS1300A Midnight Star is a transitional machine. It marks the end of an era for Yamaha and a timid entry into the world of technological cruisers. It will not bite into the territory of purists, too sanitized to their taste, but it offers a credible proposition for those seeking a large custom with a calmed character, a refined look and a surprising mechanical feel. A motorcycle to swallow the kilometers with a certain distinction, without ever seeking a fight.