Excellent Addition to the family

If you are looking for a performance cruiser then the Raider is a excellent choice. It has tons of torque to roll on in any gear. The gentle thumping of 2 huge pistons as well as the great exhaust note that goes along with it makes for a fantastic ride. It does not handle as good as my FZ1 but does... handle better than any other cruiser I have ridden, allowing not only the straight aways but also the turns to be enjoyed at any near legal speeds. I would highly recommend this bike. Read Full Review

Awesome Ride - AB

I'll admit, I was a little intimidated when I first sat on this bike. Pegs forward, "fists-in-the-wind", the overall length, and massive engine. As my first street motorcycle, I wasn't sure if it would be too much for me to handle. Now, having ridden the bike for several months I can say t...hat this bike is very confidence inspiring. Handling is outstanding. It has a solid feel and a very powerful engine. And the bike is beautiful to boot. And with aftermarket exhaust, the sound is rivaled by no other. I made the right choice. If you like motorcycles, you'll love the Raider. Yamaha nailed the formula. Read Full Review

Hang on tight!

Yamaha did it right with this bike. The power is absolutely phenomenol, you'd better be paying attention when you grab a handful of this bike. The overall driveability and comfort is terrific even though it takes a bit more effort to turn with the skinny front and wide rear tires. Even with a two-up... load on mine, it gave a 95 V-Max a strong run for its money. The Max will outhandle it, but in a straight line, it's about a dead heat (at least with an older version of Mad Max!). The styling is right on and draws attention where ever it goes. Great bike. Read Full Review

2008 Yamaha Raider S, Review

I have been riding for over forty years both road & dirt. This is one of the best balanced bikes I have ever ridden. The power curve is perfect, power in any gear with out lugging the bike. Even with the front end rake & the fat tire you wouldn't even know they were there.



This was one gr...eat bike that Yamaha came out with. A great Chopper style bike at less than half the price. Read Full Review

Raider review

I owned the 2008 Star Raider.



This bike could run straight up a wall if you could only balance it on it's rear tire long enough.



What a powerhouse.



Gas mileage was 32-38 at best.



Takes high octane 90 or better and is a great rider but not for traveling only for bar hopping or runs to wor...k and back.

If you want a throttle bike that will make you smile as you power up and if you put aftermarket exhaust on it listen to the growling sound you will love it.

Pricey and getting more costly to own, I would consider the Roadliner for a road trip bike especially with a passenger and the Harley or Victory line up for comparables. If you want a chopper looking bike go with this Raider or the new Honda Fury or the Harley. Read Full Review