What do you guys think about this bike? I am looking at one, local dealer has a 06 Stratoliner Brand New
left over that never sold, it is a Beautiful Deep Brown Color dressed with Bags and Windshield for $12,500.00. I am thinking of trading my Roadstar for this bike, I would like a nice Highway Bike, I love my Roadstar but I noticed when Riding on the Highway at 70mph it seems that the engine is winding out and needs another gear. I love the Yamaha Star Bikes and will stay with them. Have any of you get to ride the Roadliner or Stratoliner? I know the 1900 is awesome because my Dad bought the new Raider, He never let me ride his bike yet. I have not talked to the dealer yet about it and besides my Roadstar is paid for.

2005 Roadstar 1700 Maroon

Can't help with the bike review but if your Roadie sounds like it needs another gear at 70 something ain't right. It's just rollin along at that speed.

I'd have to agree with Musky on this one. I try and hit the rev limiter at least once everytime I ride and thats usually in 4th as I'm getting on a long ramp. I've hit 70, or at least right at it, in 4th frequently and the rpm's sound like they drop by almost half when I hit 5th???

I rode the Roadliner. Awesome machine with a lot of power. I didn't like the ergonomics near as much as my R*. Right away I would have needed 4-6" pullbacks, which means new cables. The seat is horrible. Besides, I gota go with Musky on this. I'm just considering kicking it into 5th at 70, and when I do it's just loping along.

I've not riden either but sat on a statoliner and thought it was an awsome bike.Didn't like the seat either,but it sounded good idleing.
But i'm like the others my road* cruise's at 75mph and still has
more.It sounds like you may have something not quite right.
But if your set on the strat go for it if that is what you really
want.In the end you are the one that has to be happy with what you ride

I do not have any problems with my bike, it just seems like it needs another gear at times or maybe it it is just me, I am shifting into 5th gear at 50-55mph, the bike runs great, maybe I am worrying about this for nothing, I have looked at the Stratoliner and I love it, I would have to go back and look it over some more and sit on it and check everything out such as the handlebar controls, gear shifter and foot rests and how much reach I have, I am not saying I am buying it but I have considered it, I know it is a lot more bike and some people say it is too much bike.

I can relate to the "itch" for some new wheels. We probably all think about it sometime. In fact, when Bike Week comes to town I usually head over to the mfr's tents to test ride something. Problem is, if you ride something new, sometimes your current ride feels like a jalopy afterward.

That is part of what drove me to my R*. I had my eye on one for a long time, rode a few at Bike Week, and found my Honda Shadow ACE 1100 felt like a toy/antique when I mounted up to move on. I couldn't wait to get my Star.

Now that I have my "dream bike" from those days, I hesitate to go ride the new 'Liner models. The last thing I need is to start longing for the next big thing, especially since I can't justify a second bike, financially or time-wise. That is not to say my R* will feel like a jalopy, comparatively.

Anyway, to make a long story longer, I really dig my R* and plan to stick with it for a good while. Hope you find what is right for you.

PS: I find my R* just purrs at 65-70 mph; just hitting its stride.

Was on a lonely stretch of freeway one day had it at a little over 90. Thought I might as well take it over a 100 while I was up there anyway. Had it up to 102+ for several miles and felt the whole time like there was a lot more there if I wanted to try for it. I've been told 130 is do-able.

70-75 is at the low end of 5th gear IMO. It's comfortable at that speed and you probably get your best gas mileage. If you could stand going that slow (65-70)on a freeway roadtrip I bet you'd average 45+ MPG.

The R* at 70 mph is banging at 2500 rpm according to my tach and that means ya got another 2500 to go if you have a dyna 3000 like I do or if you have your revs set at 5500 the ya got another 3000. I have my dyna set at 5500 but never go above 5000. I just don't like it shutting off on me is all. Stock you shouldn't run above 5000.

I have a customer with a Stratoliner and I am not impressed! The engine is higher compression so that it has to have hightest gas. That means about $.25 more per gallon cost to operate. The available fuel is slightly less and with the bigger (thirstier) engine the range will be less.
The headlight has 2 separate bulbs for high & low beam, 1 is H7 I don't remember the other. Those bulbs are a little less readily available than the H4.
The turn signals have odd european bulbs that are not readily available (at least not here). The rear bulbs at first look like an 1156 but the pins are not 180 degrees apart. The front bulbs look lile an 1157 but they have 3 pins instead of 2.
The battery is smaller to start a bigger higher compression engine.
One feature I do like is the head light does not come on until after you start the engine; Should the battery be weak its full power is trying to turn the starter; and is not diminished by the headlight.

Clifford