Yamaha XVS1300AT

The midship Star tourer gets a dress-up -- screen, hard lugage and back rest -- while the base model gets a price drop

If you’re looking for a cruiser-styled ‘sicle, the might of Harley’s 110 years of production is hard to ignore. But what if you want a Japanese take on the American dream?

Yamaha has added another model to its cruiser line-up. The snappily named XVS1300AT is basically the smaller Star tourer (alongside the air-cooled 1900) and this “new” model is the base 1300A with fitted screen, hard luggage and backrest. And if this looks like your next ride, the news gets better as a model repricing means that the 1300AT costs the same as the base model did -- $14,999. Happy days, eh?

So, you’d expect a cruiser from Japan, the leader in two-wheeled technology, to be full of electronic gadgets and improved handling and performance, right? Well, calm down and stay seated.

The $18,299 1300AT is an out-and-out cruiser. There’s no moving the genre on here and if you’ve ridden any cruiser in the last couple of decades you’ll already know what this bike offers.

So let’s start with the good. It’s an impressive looking machine. As long as a footy field, shinier than a full moon and comfier than sex with the ex. If the value of a motorcycle is in proportion to its weight, I’ll take two.

And the bad? It’s as long as a footy field, heavier than crippling debt and scapes the road more often than a 10-year-old skateboarder’s knees.

Although not unique to this cruiser, its 300kg-plus weight is felt as soon as you haul it off the sidestand. You’ll need a firm grip on the pulled-back handlebars if a pillion’s getting on – especially as the hard panniers mean they can’t just swing a leg over the back. They have to scramble over like a kid on a climbing frame. As you’d expect, the weight dissipates as the speed builds but at traffic crawl, it takes good balance to overcome the bulk and the fatness of the tyres, especially the 130/90 16-inch front.

Luckily then, the engine and final drive are on your side. Unlike big bro’s air-cooled V-twin lump, the 1300 bathes in water. This makes for smoother running and combined with the belt drive to the rear, makes clutch-out action slick and predictable. The slightly notchy gearbox feels at home with the engine’s lazy, strong power output. It’d be a hindrance on any other style of bike but here it adds character. Go figure. To be honest, the XVS1300AT looks, feels and rides like a typical cruiser.

And that feeling continues with the brakes. Two-pot callipers upfront feel like they’re fighting fires at anything over medium pace, not helped by the fact that the front lever has no span adjustment and the rear pedal sits high off the running board.

If there’s a type of bike that would benefit from the addition of ABS, I can’t think of any better than cruisers like this. The extra weight of the braking system wouldn’t be noticed and would make the rear brake much more of a potent force. As it is, be too keen on the pedal and you’ll lock the rear without it giving you a heap of feedback. I’m not talking about making it ride like a superbike here; just easier to control in normal circumstances.

The extras on the 1300AT help both rider and pillion. Although the screen has a fixed height, it keeps the outside world off your torso and creates a vacuum-like environment for the rider, while the backrest makes the rear of the bike feel like your favourite armchair.

With metal fenders (they’re too big to be called mudguards), pin striping and fat handlebar grips, the bike doesn’t deviate from the cruiser mould. Depending on your point of view, it’s either hit the design brief’s bullseye or just become an exercise in unimaginative, lazy engineering. It’s a statement in understatement.

Visit the Yamaha XVS1300AT in Bike Showroom

SPECS: YAMAHA XVS1300AT
ENGINE

Type: Liquid-cooled, OHC V-twin
Capacity: 1304cc
Bore x stroke: 100mm x 83mm
Compression ratio: 9.5:1
Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: Not given
Claimed maximum torque: Not given

TRANSMISSION
Type: Five speed
Final drive: Belt
Clutch: Wet

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame type: Double cradle
Front suspension: Telescopic fork, 135mm travel
Rear suspension: Swingarm, 110mm travel
Front brakes: Twin 298mm discs
Rear brake: 320mm disc
Tyres: Front 130/90-16, rear 170/70-16

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 309kg
Seat height: 715mm
Wheelbase: 1690mm
Fuel capacity: 18.5 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $18,299
Colour: Raven
Test bike supplied by: Triumph Australia, www.yamaha-motor.com.au
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited kilometres

Yamaha XVS1300AT

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