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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker? /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1481926638 Message started by philthymike on 12/16/16 at 14:17:18 |
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Title: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker? Post by philthymike on 12/16/16 at 14:17:18 I've heard a few good mentions of this bike from people who know people who own one. I was wondering if there might be somebody with some direct experience here to shine some light on it? My reason for wanting to know is that I am considering potential next bikes for myself after riding my S40 for another year or so. It wouldn't be a replacement though, I'll never sell little Thumpy. But I can see a time when I'm going to want to possibly do longer trips and two-up riding or just want to enjoy something more thrilling to ride. I am in process of hot-rodding the engine on my S40 but it's more with the frame of mind that I don't want to be caught in situations where I cannot pass a big rig in time to avoid becoming a SUV sandwich. I've had two scary experiences where I couldn't speed up or slow down fast enough to get out of trouble and somehow managed to come out alive by a hair. So, some more engine and more brakes are in order to meet the demands of my riding environment. Not looking to turn Thumpy into a drag racer. Yet I don't feel ready to take on a heavier bike right now. I have 1000 miles riding Thumpy so far and love the light weight. I think another 2000 miles down the trail I'll consider a heavier and more powerful machine. I've driven a Ninja 1100 and while it's light, very thrilling and surprisingly smooth it's not my thing. A few things have caught my eyes and the Stryker is looking pretty interesting. I'd love to hear more about it from folks who know it. Anybody? |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Oldfeller on 12/16/16 at 15:14:01 https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/cruiser-touring/models/stryker A 650 POUND MOTORCYCLE ??? :P |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by bobert_FSO on 12/16/16 at 16:02:41 With those pipes, front wheel and all the blackout, I think it looks remarkably ugly. I also don't like the pictures of the 2017 S40. Again, too much blackout. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by MMRanch on 12/16/16 at 16:31:29 Mike Looks nice don't it ! 8-) But Let me ask ya about that 650 # thing ? My sportster only weight 560 # and going from it to the Savage is like jumping on a pony after getting off a horse ! ::) Oh yea , the Sportster gets as good or better mpg than the Savage. 8-) Remember : Yahama quits making parts for machines after 10 years ... :-/ , not to wise to buy one of them. ;) |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/17/16 at 08:06:46 1,300 CCs? Why? If it's down, can you get it up and not need a chiropractor? Sub forty MPG, bikes use expensive tires, I was never attracted to physically large bikes, but, that's just me. The stats I've seen showed that the big bike riders fell less often, but the falls were more severe. Is this prof of The bigger they are, the harder they fall? I'd be hunting a physically smaller and lighter bike that will do what you want. I looked, forums exist. All the Buy me pictures None with a passenger. Seat looks like she better be light , because THAT is gonna jack the handling up. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 12/17/16 at 09:03:08 These are all good points and i will think about them. the blackout look is becoming quite the cliche I suppose. I don't see why you can't paint the stuff you don't want chrome on the same color as the bike. I intend to do this with Thumpy. The weight is a concern. I've gone and sat on a Sportster 883 and a 1200 and was shocked by the weight of them. Very top heavy feel but that was standing still. I'm sure it's much different in motion. One reason I'm even considering the Yammy is because my other half has a Vstar 650 that feels lighter than Thumpy even though its actually heavier. The way Yamaha managed to balance the center of gravity is magical on it so I was thinking the Stryker would be a similar feel. A lot of weight you don't immediately notice. It's a bit of a conundrum to pick a bigger bike in light of a souped-up S40. The engine mods will take its performance up to the ballpark of a typical 800 cruiser but with half the weight. SO it seems pointless to me to bother with the 800CC class with it's guaranteed 500~ lbs. the next logical step seems to be the 1000~ CC class. For awhile i was quite taken with the Triumph Bonneville until I spoke with an owner of one who confided to me about the maintenance costs of that brand. Poor guy.... Anyway back to the Stryker, I'm not too concerned with ugly pipes. 1st thing to go ::) As for a physically smaller and lighter bike that will do what I want I have a huge temptation to buy and old 80s UJM. The majority of them are perfectly suited to my needs. I'd especially love to get my mitts on an 83 Yamaha Vision (XZ550). Beautiful bike, awesome engine... But then I'm SOL anytime I need parts. I'll spend more time hunting for replacements than riding. Also regarding weight I think a bit more weight is actually benefit for highway riding. Sure they fall harder but they don't get blown clear across a lane when a big rig passes you. This is my big concern with Thumpy. If I decide to take him for a ride to NYC to visit my dad how much exhaustion will I incur from fighting against pass-blast, wind and keeping the bike from going airborne on very rough highways at 70-75 mph? I find the light weight of the S40 to be fatiguing to ride at length on highways as bad as these on the Eat Coast considering you cannot do less than 70 without a death wish. I love Thumpy around town and especially on the rural backroads I can ride for hours on end. But just my commute to work down 95 for 19 miles tires me out. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by BSTON on 12/19/16 at 06:43:05 5F4746435B47564246444A2F0 wrote:
I'm with you on that one. That's why I ended up with a second bike too. I have almost no experience with cruisers so I don't have much input on the Stryker. Have you looked at Triumphs? In my opinion they have some decent looking cruisers and the new Bobber coming out. I know their motors will be incredibly smooth on the interstate. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 12/19/16 at 07:37:23 I was quite interested in the Triumph Bonneville and Scrambler until a Bonneville owner told me what his regular maintenance cost him. Even worse than for a Harley. But darn they are very attractive rides. Yesterday I put many highway miles on my S40 - half of them in rain too. The new shocks I added have made this much more tolerable for me. And the bike works so much better in the wet now too with some extra weight on the front wheel from the longer shocks. That alone was a night and day difference from before. I dreaded taking it out on wet roads before but no longer. I think things will be more tolerable once my engine mods are done and I've installed the bigger front brake. But I'm still keeping an open mind about a second bike. Also a little curious about the Indian Scout 60 too. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Kenny G on 12/19/16 at 08:16:57 Mike, You might want to take a look at the Yamaha Bolt Scrambler. http://www.cycleworld.com/2017-yamaha-scr950-scrambler-first-look-motorcycle-review It is not the greatest bike ever made, but it may be suitable for those of us looking for a second bike that is a little bigger than the Savage S40. Kenny G :-/ |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by MMRanch on 12/19/16 at 09:11:41 But darn they are very attractive rides. They are perty , I'd be ridding a SpeedMaster if they had Belt drive . ;) Those Chains are always such a DIRTY MESS [smiley=angry.gif] . Really cuts down on the choices , but that dirty chain is a forever mess. [smiley=sad.gif] |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 12/19/16 at 09:13:22 Hi Kenny, I looked at one when I went to pick up the Vstar 650 for my better half. It's really impressive in person. Has some nice qualities. Reading the reviews on it I noticed that in every case there were complaints about lack of lean angle before touchdown and bottoming out rear suspension. Obviously I'd have to ride one to verify this but it is a bit of a turn off. The suspension travel is pretty conservative for a bike that allegedly can be used off road to some degree. 2 inches in back is only adequate for the most tamed fire roads. But it is nice to see Yamaha going out on a limb with such a design. And the reviewers all agreed it is a fun bike to ride so I''ll keep an open mind about it. Maybe when I go to test ride the Stryker I'll see about trying the Scrambler too. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 12/19/16 at 09:15:54 445644565B48474A41090 wrote:
Oh wow I hadn't looked into this one yet! drool... :P Agreed about the chain drives. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Dave on 12/19/16 at 09:33:55 What kind of a bike do you want to ride? Are you looking for new or used? The Stryker is a "chopper" kind of a bike......4 gallon tank, 40 mpg, low seat height, tiny headlight, low ground clearance. Although it will have plenty of power to handle the 19 mile ride on the interstate - you won't find it comfortable. The belt drive is nice. It is an OK bike for taking short rides around town with frequent stops for a resting your back and arms.....with a fuel stop every 120 miles. And the after dark performance of the small headlight is probably not very good, and you might want to be home before dark. The Yamaha Bolt isn't a true Scambler....same thing with their Cafe' version. Yamaha has just moved a few parts around to make it appear less like a Cruiser and more like something else. Maybe the Bolt Scambler/Cafe' appeals to you a bit more than a Cruiser and would suit your needs - but don't expect to buy the Scrambler version and go riding off road......and a Cafe' bike shouldn't be scraping anything when you lean over in the corners. These bikes probably ride just fine, as long as you stay within their limits......they are not purpose built motorcycles - they are adapted from a Cruiser. Motorcycles are very "owner specific", and you really need to be the one who picks out what you want. Do be careful about what you buy - as the Stryker may have a very limited appeal and you may have a very hard time selling it. A local dealer has a BMW F800 ST that they have had for a very long time, and it just won't sell. It is a really nice bike - there just doesn't seem to be any market for it around here......a set of saddlebags for it would be more than $ 1,000! http://hondaofflorence.com/Motorcycles-BMW-F-800-ST-2009-Florence-KY-c5f7b6b8-1a41-4658-bdde-a6a3010a9748 |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 12/19/16 at 10:18:18 I take your point about the Stryker Dave. It may not be practical and that's what I'm trying to learn about it. I'm not in love with but I see them used for very reasonable prices. Mainly I'm looking for used. As for what kind I am open to suggestions. My aim is to have a "highway bike" and a fun little "local bike". I have the local bike. And it's fun. and I can wrench on it as I see fit because it is fairly cheap and easy to do so. I am in process of making it more usable on the highway but it's just too light for me to do longer stretches. at least not on these roads (think surface of the moon). The longer-range highway bike needs to be something with staying power so I can join in rides to distant places - the mountains, beach, neighboring states etc. It should be something usable for commuting in and out of the big city with though so it can't be some big touring land yacht. It should carry a passenger with ease on the highways. I won't be wrenching on it so it has to be a good fit with little modification. I actually toyed with the idea of a Vstrom 1000 but the hideous ugliness of it is very hard to swallow despite it's functional utility bike virtues. I don't want to make everybody on South St. on a Friday night puke all over their gas tanks when I ride by :o It's going to be a year out most likely. I need to save the money, become a more competent rider and most importantly do my homework. That last part is why I'm trolling for ideas now. By the time I'm ready to take the plunge I want to be good and sure about what to buy. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by sjaskow - FSO on 12/19/16 at 10:37:09 Have you considered a Victory Vegas http://www.victorymotorcycles.com/en-us/cruisers/vegas-sunset-red? It's got the same looks as the Stryker and comes with a 4.5 gallon tank. If you're looking at used, a Victory Jackpot is also in the same category. Me personally, I like the Victory Gunner but the fact it's got 2 fat tires might put some people off. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Dave on 12/19/16 at 11:03:35 If you want a bike that can take you on the highway in comfort, is affordable, and you have a 31" inseam....and a bit of weight isn't scary - you should consider a sport touring bike. The Honda ST1100 or ST1300 are great bikes.....although they are a bit heavy and tall for my 170 pound, 30" inseam. The Kawasaki Concours are great bikes..the newer ones are bigger, the older ones lighter. The Yamaha FJR is a good bike. (All of those 1,000+ cc bikes can blow a lot of heat on you if you end up sitting on them while stuck in traffic on a hot summer day). Unfortunately the small sport touring market is not all that well developed - it used to be the handled by the Honda Pacific Coast, and then they made a NT700 and I just bought a used one and I love it....Honda has now replaced that with a feet forward Honda CTX which is a bit too new to be found cheap on the used market. The Kawasaki Vulcan S is also a really good bike - it looks like a Cruiser but has the soul (engine) from a sport bike. Oldfeller just bought a great used Suzuki VS800 Intruder.....we will find out more about it this summer. http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1479149386/0 |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by BSTON on 12/19/16 at 11:09:52 How about something more on the sport-touring side like a Kawasaki Concours? I've seen some crazy low prices on these recently. http://https://images.craigslist.org/00N0N_ekMy6fyW4jZ_600x450.jpg http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/mcy/5925049490.html |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by BSTON on 12/19/16 at 11:12:12 Apparently I should have refreshed before posting. :) |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by BSTON on 12/19/16 at 11:16:04 12292433222E353328202D32410 wrote:
That's because it wasn't worth trying to compete against the VFR. :) I think the adventuring touring segment has replaced sport touring as the go-to recently. Unfortunately most of the small, comfortable, sporty bikes have mostly gone naked...which reduces a lot of the touring options. That said, some of the adventure bike options seem really good if you don't mind how they look. Given that Mike doesn't like the vstrom, I'm assuming that rules out the others in the class. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 12/19/16 at 11:40:07 These are all interesting options. That Gunner sure is a looker if a bit impractical for me. The FJR is pretty interesting. I don't have anything against the adventure touring bikes. In principal they have alot of virtues as per my needs. The Vstrom has that beak though :-/ wtf Suzuki? This is interesting regarding the Concourse Quote:
The VS800 Intruder does look like quite a catch. I was tempted by the Marauder - M50 for awhile because they are so affordable. Then I noticed that pretty much all of the used ones for sale had mileage just short of their 11,000 mile maintenance. But the reviews on them is also a mixed bag. Seems to be one of those love/hate type machines and frankly I'm not sure about a drum brake on a bike so heavy :-/ I think I'll do some homework on the Sport Touring style. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 12/19/16 at 11:47:35 310A0710010D16100B030E11620 wrote:
That's the thing I was admiring a few months back while riding down the highway. It was thick traffic but moving along and I got stuck behind this guy with a bike that looked really neat at the time. I couldn't make out the badges on it. I liked the look and the apparent handling of it observing the person's riding. I was wondering if it was a custom bike but I'm pretty sure it was this Vulcan S now that I'm looking at pictures of one. I was hoping to ride next to the fella to take a better look but I was forced to pass him instead because the lane really got going after I switched into it. Hmmmm... I remember thinking that his bike looked like a great highway machine. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Dave on 12/19/16 at 18:03:45 7F6E6972733D0 wrote:
No problem in providing a second opinion. I was tempted by the Kawasaki Concours. The riders leans a bit forward which was fine with me - but I wanted a bike my wife could ride with me, and the passenger seat just didn't look comfortable for a woman in her 60's. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 12/19/16 at 18:23:54 I'm reading up on the sport adventure bikes now. And they are looking closer to my ideal on the surface. The DL1000 prior to 2013 doesn't have that silly beak on it and it is fairly reasonably priced on the used market. It's less than 500 lbs surprisingly. Other models in the class are very interesting too, especially the KTM. A bit high in price though.... The Triumph isn't too bad price-wise but again I'm concerned with maintenance costs. Hmmmm.... this looks fun too https://powersports.honda.com/africatwin.aspx https://youtu.be/SyIwO_w3FfM |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Dave on 12/20/16 at 03:56:52 As long as you are not in a hurry, and buy smart......you can buy a used motorcycle and ride it for a year to two, and then sell it and get something else. This gives you a great way to ride and experience bikes without it costing very much. You do have to watch for a bargain, and get a bike that does not need expensive repairs, and one that sells well on the used market. There are a lot of motorcycles that have been purchased......and the owners found out that they are not riders - and the bikes don't get ridden and the owners finally decide it will be smart to get rid of it. Since they aren't looking to get another bike they can't trade them in on anything....and often they just want to get rid of it and sell it cheap. Other times the owners need to move, lost their job, are getting a divorce, etc - and they have to sell the bike in a hurry. Craigslist is a good source of used bikes, and you can use the Tempest Search to look of a particular model in areas that are nearby - but not on your local Craigslist. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by pg on 12/20/16 at 04:18:04 786061647C60716561636D080 wrote:
If the height is not an issue, the adv segment is fantastic. If you are looking for something to take primarily on the slab, you will need 1K. Just a couple of other options to consider - Versys 1k, Super Tenere, V Strom 1K, and even the FJ-09. I have a V Strom 650 and it is as good as 650cc can get; however, for exclusive use on the interstate you will probably be better off going bigger. http://i68.tinypic.com/2i7v9xt.jpg Best regards, |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 12/20/16 at 08:07:43 584F49454A5A280 wrote:
If the height is not an issue, the adv segment is fantastic. If you are looking for something to take primarily on the slab, you will need 1K. Just a couple of other options to consider - Versys 1k, Super Tenere, V Strom 1K, and even the FJ-09. I have a V Strom 650 and it is as good as 650cc can get; however, for exclusive use on the interstate you will probably be better off going bigger. http://i68.tinypic.com/2i7v9xt.jpg Best regards, [/quote] I agree with 1000cc or higher. I briefly rode a Ninja 1100 on a secondary road with highway speed limit with a passenger and when it became necessary to pass 9 cages at once I was able to do it with no problems and then duck back into my lane and slow to normal speed with ease. Not that I enjoyed riding the thing but as an example of what is occasionally necessary riding the roads around here. I've taken my better half's Vstar 650 on the highway a few times and it does considerably better than my S40 at those speeds but it definitely cannot do what that Ninja could. It doesn't have the escape speed required to get away from the aggressive road raging kamikaze cagers in these parts. I do search craigslist daily if only to look at pictures of bikes. There's a nice Russian military Ural with sidecar on there now I'd give my left testicle for just for the coolness factor. :D There's also a Vstrom 1K, Honda ST1100, Kawasaki Vulcan S, Kawasaki Concours, several Suzuki M series and a handful of other interesting things. If I can make time for it I might try to go look at a few of these and possibly test ride them. Concerning the Sport Adventure class it does have some appeal in that I started out on dirt bikes. I got my 1st (1982 XR80) when I was 11 years old and kept riding in the dirt until my mid 20s. It might be a good feeling to be able to hit some trails and such once again. Also something that can handle off-road will probably be better on the streets of Philly too. Calling streets in this town paved is going too far. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by BSTON on 12/20/16 at 08:40:39 7364626E6171030 wrote:
I disagree. The motor layout and even manufacturer can make a big difference on speed and smoothness on the interstate. Look at my two bikes. I have a Savage café and a Ninja 650. Both are obviously 650cc. The Ninja can comfortably cruise at 75mph and still have plenty of power to pass. The Savage is struggling at that speed. A lot of that is because of the inherent differences between how power is made with a single vs a parallel twin. The same goes with other twins and parallel layouts. Just test ride as many bikes as you can. I'm surprised how many dealers let you take test rides now vs when I first started riding. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Dave on 12/20/16 at 10:55:17 My Honda NT700 has plenty of power for 2 up riding, and it can comfortably cruise at 70 or 75 mph - beyond that and I begin to feel I am asking a bit much from the little V-twin. It most likely won't pass 9 cars at a time - I am OK with that. At 5'-8" and 170 pounds, I find that the 1,000 cc and up Sport Touring bikes bikes are just a bit too bulky for me to own and ride (same things for Adventure Touring bike). I have no problem on them when my butt is in the seat and my feet are on the pegs...they are a joy to ride. My issue shows up when stopping on uneven ground, gravel and wet pavement when loaded and I have a passenger on the back. That really tests my limits for keeping the bike and gear and passenger upright. I have ridden large V-Twin Cruisers and Sport Bikes - the lower seat heights make them a bit easier to get my feet planted - but they are not the style of bike that I find appealing. (My current obsession is Cafe' and Sport Touring bikes). |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 12/20/16 at 12:22:30 The Honda NT700 is a nice bike. I had a friend who rode one from L.A. to the Philly suburbs one time. I think that says something about its highway usability. I'm 6' 200 lbs and pretty muscular (former Navy) so I don't find the bigger bikes too taxing up to a limit. I'm not sure what that limit is currently so yeah I need to try out more bikes. Just out of curiosity I test drove a Buell Blast 500 a few weeks ago. I just wanted to try another thumper. I was much too big and heavy for it. Fun little thing though for a smaller person. It's true the dealerships seem eager to let people ride stuff now. Every time I go to one they ask if I want to go for a test ride. I suspect it's a ploy to run your credit though. I guess the liter rule isn't carved in stone. Perhaps a HP range is more better? |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by pg on 12/20/16 at 12:34:02 Perhaps this will aid you in your decision. http://www.gearingcommander.com/ http://cycle-ergo.com/ http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/model_eval/2012MayDL650.pdf Subscribe to mcn and you can go back digitally and look at all the data for numerous models like the one I posted. Best regards, |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 12/20/16 at 18:54:51 Everybody here is aiding my decision in a very much appreciated way. All the input and points of view have been valuable so far and I thank you all. I'll look over these links. Thanks! |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by BSTON on 01/23/17 at 08:00:02 Saw this for sale and thought of this thread. https://zzrbikes.com/threads/85367-For-Sale-2005-ZZR1200-(ZX1200C) 2005 Kawasaki ZZR1200. $5250 for a bike that is in absolutely pristine condition from what I can tell. 15k miles is nothing for this bikes. I did about that much the first year that I owned mine. I ended up with almost 50k without doing much more than changing the oil, tires, and the chain (once). |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 01/23/17 at 09:51:48 That looks like a great bike. And not too far away either. thanks for the look out. Last weekend I tried to go test ride a Buell Ulysses but the bike sold before my turn to see it. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Dave on 01/23/17 at 13:24:48 The ZZR1200 is supposed to be the fastest carburated street bike ever made......10 second 1/4 miles time.....YIKES! |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by BSTON on 01/23/17 at 13:49:49 78434E5948445F59424A47582B0 wrote:
By very skilled riders but yes, the bike can do it. :) (I'm not one of those riders) I know that people (especially on here) like to bash the high power bikes a little...why do you need to go so fast...you're only going to kill yourself...I like my 30hp thumper...etc. It's nice to be able to cruise at 80mph for hours when you live in the middle of the great plains and you want to get somewhere fun to ride your motorcycle. The 6.1 gallon gas tank also doesn't hurt. ;D |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 01/23/17 at 14:35:46 All of the mods I have done to my S40 have hugely improved it's highway driving capabilities. The shocks, extra HP, brighter headlight etc. make the experience much better than it was. High winds and pass-blast are still fatiguing on long runs as well as the constant wrangling with other surface uglies like grooves, joints and pavement seams. And the fuel range leaves alot to be desired still. At least now I can commute to work with it just fine. Despite the improvements I don't see myself attempting to ride this bike to my brother's in the Catskills or my cousin's on Long Island from here. I might take it to the beach this summer but there's a definite limit to how far I want to go on the superslab with it still. Around town and on the back roads it kicks butt and takes names. Its great for running errands too. But when I really hit the road for extended trips I want a flying carpet ride. 8-) |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 03/23/17 at 10:12:27 Exciting! I'm going to test drive a 2001 Buell m2 Cyclone this Saturday! It has aftermarket exhaust and air filter, Corbin seat and saddlebags. Custom paint job. 18,000 mi. reasonable price. The more I read about this machine the more I like it. Doesn't have that scrunched-up riding position like the Blast and the XB lineup. Reviewers praise it for it's comfort during long rides too. The Ullyses got onto my radar and I investigated it somewhat. It looked promising but none to be had in my price range nearby so I gave up. Then this Cyclone showed up in a search and I looked into it and I think it looks like a very interesting option per my criteria. I'm happy for the chance to try one out. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 03/26/17 at 09:05:19 So I liked the Buell in every way except the transmission. That and this particular specimen needed work. It was very comfortable to ride but will need a windscreen and there isn't really enough space on the handlebars to mount one. So next on the list is the Ducati Hyperstrada. Trying to setup a test ride for Tuesday or Wednesday. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Dave on 03/29/17 at 06:25:20 This may not be the bike of your dreams - but it is a perfect example of how cheap you can get really nice sport touring bikes. It is not cutting edge - but it likely can provide 100,000 miles of riding for not much money. It is a2005 Kawasaki Concours for $ 2,850. https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2005-Kawasaki-CONCOURS-121457749/?zmc=paa-active-listing |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 03/29/17 at 08:59:43 0D363B2C3D312A2C373F322D5E0 wrote:
The Connie looks like a great bike. Found an excellent review here.. http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=574.0 And there's a few for sale locally that a very reasonable. She's a bit on the heavy side for me at 600+ lbs. After my sand slide incident recently I've decided to limit myself wieght-wise. I want a heavier bike than my LS650 but I don't want one that's too heavy so I am trying to keep my search to a 500 lbs limit now with my ideal being 100 lbs more than the S40. I'm going to test out the Hyperstrada after work today. It has some impressive specs - 450 lbs wet, 5.9" of travel front and rear, 2 large brembos up front, 110 HP with a beautful torque curve, allegedly exceptional handling and a reportedly effective windscreen. I love the saddlebags on it and the option for a rear trunk too. I'm concerned with the riding position. Many reports say there's little room for moving around but since that sort of stuff is highly subjective I need to ride it myself. I'm intrigued by the riding modes feature too. I like that I can limit the bike to 75% of it's max HP in "Urban Mode". That's great for me to start with until I get used to having all of that engine. She's a bit pricey for me but still under the max. And I have 3 Ducati dealerships in my region too so no cross country trip if I need to get it serviced for issues beyond my abilities. And if this bike doesn't work out for me for some reason I'm actually starting to consider the ugly duckling Vstroms. If I put a bag over her head the Vstrom really does add up for me numbers-wise. If I get one of these beakers I will have to learn to ride all over again after poking my eyeballs out ;D |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 03/30/17 at 07:31:13 After work tonight I am going back to the dealership and taking the Ducati home with me. The Hyperstrada seduced me :o |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/30/17 at 08:27:11 Tramp.. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Gary_in_NJ on 03/30/17 at 08:56:56 The Hyperstrada is a great bike - and completely unlike the Yamaha Stryker. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 03/30/17 at 10:13:57 736C6A6D70774676467E6C602B190 wrote:
guilty as charged :-[ |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 03/30/17 at 10:14:43 4B41454F444D49401E181C2C0 wrote:
really? I find them remarkably similar. two wheels, two cylinders... |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 04/03/17 at 07:11:39 Well they haven't started fighting with each other yet. That's a good sign :D The Ducati has all the goods I wanted in a new ride. My only gripe is the smaller handlebar diameter. It hurts my hands squeezing the smaller grip. ....and wow! Brakes that actually work!!!! They work scary good. This will take alot of getting used to. ABS had to kick in and save my fanny a few times when I did my usual brake squeeze I'm used to doing with the Suzuki. It would have been ugly without ABS there to get me back under control again. I feel like I've been working out all weekend. Pushing the extra heft around the driveway and such has me all rubbery feeling. No worries, I'm still riding it in wimp mode (urban mode). At this setting's 75 HP limit I am blown away by the get up and go available. I'm afraid of what this sucker is like in sport mode :o Now for my favorite part. all those bad roads and highways where I get the crap beat out of me by the S40's lack of suspension - smooth as glass now. Most of them anyway. The suspension on this machine eats that junk up like nothing. The bad washboard down the street from me by the highway interchange that used to practically throw me off of my seat. It's just not there anymore! Then the wind protection is very welcome too. And when riding across the wind I'm not getting blown all over my lane anymore. So far I'm pretty happy with the new bike. So is my neighbors daughter :) |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Gary_in_NJ on 04/03/17 at 17:20:12 Happy new bike day. Enjoy. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 04/03/17 at 18:51:08 Thank you! I just rode her down to the storage locker I cleared out to park her in. She won't be sitting in the elements or be an easy target for theft. I'll have to ride Thumpy to storage and trade over when I want to ride her. I've got to come up with a name for her now... |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 05/31/19 at 15:39:08 Dead thread resurrection! I named the Ducati Daisy Duck. And Daisy is languishing in a shop right now going on 3 weeks with no diagnosis. To date I have spent more on maintenance and repairs for Daisy than my LS650 cost to buy. And this newest repair will likely double that in the end. She’s got the Disco Lights of Death. Google it. Essentially a shorted out $44 ignition coil throws a spike that kills the instrument cluster electronics and possibly the ECU too. This equates to $$$$. Since buying Daisy both Ducati dealerships in the Philadelphia area went out of business. Finding service now sucks butt. It involves begging neighbors with trucks to haul her a handful of counties away to leave her in the hands of shady not-Ducati-authorized shops that employ the refugees of the closed Ducati dealerships but have the sheisty mentality of being the only game in town. I’ve got some payments left on Daisy Duck that I’ll be adding extra to in order to hasten the day I can trade her in. Possibly for the Kawasaki Concourse recommendation earlier in this thread. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by batman on 06/03/19 at 12:35:14 You might want to look at the Honda Fury same type of bike as the stryker , and I think it lists cheaper ,The price of these has actually dropped about $3,000 over the years , they show as a solo on the sales floor ,but the passenger seat and chicken bar is available . Honda also allows the dealers to discount bikes at times through out the sales year, saving you even more.l |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by philthymike on 06/03/19 at 19:07:58 Hey Batman I’m not actually looking for a Stryker anymore. It was a couple years back I was curious about it but ended up making an irrational decision to buy a Ducati which I sorely regret now. In future I picture a stable with the following. A cheap dual sport bike My LS650 Some touring/sports touring bike But right now I’m not in a position to focus on anything but further improvements to my LS650. The rest will have to wait. Thanks for the suggestion though. |
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Title: Re: Any experiences/opinions of the Yamaha Stryker Post by Dave on 06/04/19 at 03:00:06 What an absolute bummer about the Ducati. I have several friends with Ducati's and they generally have good luck - however 1 fellow with a Multi Strada has been plagued withe electric issues that somehow revolve around the fuel gauge. He loves the bike and rides the devil out of it and can wear out a set of tires in 5 days when he goes to the mountains - but it just has a problem they don't seem to be able to correct permanently. When I went and bought a BMW - I was concerned about the stories of lemon bikes, expensive parts and dealer service costs. Then.....you hear the stories of the guys who take care of their bikes and go hundreds of thousands of miles with little or no issues - so I am taking a chance to see which type of owner I end up being. |
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