Yamaha Roadstar Warrior XV 1700 - Japanese cruiser with a sporty character

Japanese motorcyclesYamaha motorcycles

The struggle for consumers among motorcycle manufacturers is no worse than among automakers.

Japanese companies have long been one of the leading positions in the ranking of motorcycle manufacturers, and each of them is trying to interest buyers as much as possible.

The Japanese go to great lengths in their quest to be first. Proof of this is the rather interesting model of the Yamaha Warrior XV 1700 motorcycle.

Officially, the Warrior 1700 belongs to the “cruiser” class.

But in appearance he doesn’t really fit into this class. And in some characteristics it is not inferior to sportbikes .

As a result, the Yamaha Warrior is a sort of sportbike in the guise of a cruiser.

Appearance

The Yamaha XV 1700 Warrior looks the way a bike of this class should probably look. Gloss black frame, matte black seat, chrome tail light, mirrors and exhaust. The latter is the first to catch your eye due to its size and impressive style.

The wheels here are alloy and do not stand out from the general background. As a cruiser should ideally be, the working parts are somewhat visible, but not too much: a little more than on road motorcycles, much more than on a sportbike or cross-country motorcycle, but not as much as on a retro classic. Almost all visible parts of the “filling” are chrome-plated.

Photo gallery

When you see the handsome Road Star Warrior 1700 for the first time, it’s hard to remain indifferent to its appearance. A flying silhouette, a powerful and beautiful engine in every detail, cast three-spoke wheels and much more interesting things. However, look at it yourself, thanks to our photo selection you have this opportunity.

Comfort

This is a convenient vehicle for two people, but not the safest. Firstly, there is no backrest behind the passenger seat to protect against falling. Secondly, there is no protection on the sides (but this is not practiced on cruisers in principle).

Due to the fact that the car is large, there is not much difference between driving alone and with a passenger. The bike is inconvenient for maneuvering in a narrow space, for example, in a yard. The element of this motorcycle is a smooth country highway and average speed. It is under such operating conditions that the bike will please the owner the most.

Motorcycle design

To lighten the weight of the motorcycle, all its components are mounted on an aluminum duplex frame , but so that it does not stand out from the general concept of the motorcycle, it is painted black.
The tank is drop-shaped, quite wide, but its capacity is not very large.

The transition from tank to seat is made smooth.

The driver's seat is quite large with good anatomical shape , but the passenger gets a narrow, short seat that clearly cannot be called comfortable.

Under the tank is a V-shaped air-cooled power unit. The motorcycle's power supply system is installed in the cylinder camber; air filters are installed on the sides between the cylinders.

The entire structure of the power unit turned out to be knocked down, without the visibility of any elements that do not fit into the design.

The exhaust gas exhaust system is one-sided and located on the right. One elbow comes out of each cylinder, then they are combined into one dimensional pipe.

The gearbox is 5-speed, manual and with foot shift , but the creators made the drive to the drive wheel V-belt.

Initially, the motorcycle was equipped with three-spoke wheels, but later they were replaced with five-spoke wheels. The brake system for the Yamaha Warrior XV 1700 was borrowed from the YZF-R1 sports bike.

The suspension of the Yamaha Warrior consists of an inverted telescopic front fork. A monoshock absorber, familiar to motorcycles of this class, is installed at the rear.

Dimensions and weight

The dimensions of this car are, of course, impressive, but it is not yet the largest cruiser. However, if a person has never driven such large bikes before, this model will still seem gigantic to him. So this motorcycle is more suitable for those who have previously ridden at least a small representative of the cruiser class.

Yamaha XV 1700 Warrior dimensions are as follows:

• curb weight – 295 kg;
• seat height – 725 mm;
• ground clearance - 157 mm;
• wheelbase – 1665 mm;
• height – 1120 mm;
• width – 955 mm;
• length – 2385 mm;
• tank volume – 15 l.

The wheelbase is impressive, but average for a cruiser. If you compare this bike with other representatives of the class in photos and videos, it will become noticeable that it is not particularly large compared to the largest motorcycles in this category. The tank volume is impressive, but do not forget about the considerable fuel consumption.

Estimated cost

Production of the Yamaha Warrior XV 1700 stopped in 2010, but this motorcycle was remarkable and was eagerly purchased .
it is not rare on , although its cost is not very small.

The price range for the Yamaha Warrior is very wide and mostly depends on the condition of the motorcycle.

So the minimum cost for it starts from the amount of 330,000 rubles. and reaches the mark of 900,000 rubles.

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Specifications

In terms of its parameters, this is a powerful machine. It is capable of reaching speeds that are not at all required for a cruiser. Acceleration here is so fast that it can compare with other modern sports bikes from Kawasaki, Honda or Yamaha.

And therefore you should not use these parameters to their full potential. Unless on the race track, and even then this is a dubious decision. After all, the pleasure of riding a cruiser does not come from speed at all, although it does not occupy the last place.

The car is equipped with good brakes, but even they will have a hard time coping with the large equipment if it accelerates at full power. It's clear from the suspension travel that this bike is designed for the trail and nothing else. The ground clearance speaks no less eloquently about this.

Tire selection

Yamaha didn’t limit itself to an aluminum frame, sportbike brakes and an inverted fork; the Warrior’s wheel sizes are also completely non-chopper. The front is 120/70-18 like the Honda X4, and the rear is 200/50-17 like the Kawasaki ZX12R. Accordingly, you won’t find tires with a classic chopper pattern. With white sidewalls too - no one produces it. Everything suitable will have a modern design with a sports and tourism focus. A set in standard sizes can be supplied from the cruiser Metzeler ME880 Marathon.

If you don’t bother with the 200th wheel, but install a 190/55, which will look thicker due to the fact that it is higher, then the choice expands significantly. Michelin Pilot Road 4, Metzeler Roadtec Z8 and Roadtec 01, Dunlop Roadsmart 3, Pirelli Angel GT and five more models are added, of which I would especially like to mention the Korean Shinko 011. It costs little and surpasses the power and geometric capabilities of Warrior in terms of grip properties. 210/50 fits back without problems, 240/40 can also be pushed in, but it looks like a poisonous mushroom with a bent cap. It is better to abandon the 130/70 setting, as handling is greatly deteriorated.

The Suzuki M109R was the first mass-produced motorcycle with a 240/40-18 rear balloon. Before him, such wheels were used only by customizers in one-piece and small-scale devices. At the time of release there were few offers in this size, now finding something is not difficult. I would recommend the Metzeler ME888, Pirelli Night Dragon, Michelin Commander II and Avon Cobra. You can stretch the tire up to 160/60–18 on the front disc, and 280/35 on the rear disc with the help of a tambourine, but on such wheels the motorcycle stops turning, rides only in a straight line and tries to jump out of the rut sideways on its own. So forward only standard size, back 260/40 maximum. Among the budget options on the market, there are Shinko SE890 forward and 005 backward, but both of these wheels do not hold up very well on wet asphalt, and I can only recommend installing them as a temporary measure to get home.

I would strongly advise against installing a car rear wheel. The motorcycle on it behaves inappropriately on uneven roads and resists turning. The damage can be two orders of magnitude greater than the savings on the tire.

Denis DEAN Panferov www.motorezina.ru

Puncture doctor > August 23, 2022 12:11 Mikhail Pimus

What do the owners say?

Judging by the reviews of the owners, it is not difficult to get a used car, but it is unlikely that you will be able to purchase a new bike. However, given the quality of this model, it will be possible to find a bike in good condition. The main thing is to understand the equipment in order to be able to assess its condition before purchasing.

Parts can still be easily obtained considering how much most parts cost. They say that in small towns this sometimes poses problems, but given delivery, such difficulties can be easily solved. In at least one review, an owner from a remote village reports having no problems maintaining the bike.

The car is bright, dynamic and, as described by many, is capable of performing well on the race track. However, experienced owners advise not to abuse the capabilities of the motorcycle. It's a cruiser, not hard to accelerate, but not so easy to stop or control.

If you use this car correctly, driving will bring you nothing but pleasure. They note that the bike’s seating position is comfortable, at least more comfortable than on many other classmates of this model. At the same time, of course, beginners are not advised to purchase such a bike, because its character is too violent.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the Yamaha XV 1700 Warrior is an excellent bike not only for its era, but also for modern times. So far, the model is not ideologically outdated. This is still one of the most modern cruisers, both in appearance and in technical characteristics. Of course, in thirty years it will already look like a classic from the beginning of the century, but now it is not even close to outdated.

Yamaha Warrior XV1700

The Yamaha XV 1700 cruiser model series appeared in 2002 and began with the Yamaha XV1700 Road Star Warrior model. The model was built on the basis of a new engine, which was based on the engine from the previous version of the Yamaha XV1600, which increased its volume from 1602 to 1670 cm³, received a new cylinder head, an injection power system with two throttle valves and a “sports” exhaust system, which made it possible to issue this engine has up to 84 hp. power and up to 135 Nm of torque.

The Yamaha XV1700 Road Star Warrior model itself positioned itself in the style of a power cruiser and was distinguished by a number of technological solutions: an aluminum tubular frame, an inverted fork, powerful front brakes from the sports R1. Since 2005, a modification of the Yamaha XV1700 Road Star Midnight Warrior was available, which was distinguished by a black color and a minimal amount of chrome parts.

In 2004, the successor to the Yamaha XV1600 was finally introduced - the Yamaha XV1700A Road Star. Visually, the spoked versions of this model were practically no different from the previous XV1600. However, in parallel, versions with alloy wheels and touring modifications of the Silverado were offered, which were distinguished by a touring body kit - a backrest, leather trunks, windshield, etc. Silverado was also available with spoked or alloy wheels.

In 2005, a modification of the Yamaha XV1700 Road Star Midnight Silverado appeared - a version similar to the Silverado with alloy wheels, but in black and with plastic lockable panniers.

The Yamaha XV1700A was based on an engine from a Yamaha Warrior with a different cylinder head, exhaust system and carburetor power system. This engine was in many ways reminiscent of the engine from the previous version of the XV1600. It is noteworthy that Yamaha has not officially stated the maximum characteristics of this engine, so many sources indicate characteristics similar to the Warrior engine. However, it was possible to find American data obtained from a dyno stand, characterizing the power and torque at the rear wheel - 61.1 hp. / 126.2 Nm.

2006 was the last year of production for the alloy-wheel version of the Silverado, while 2007 was the final year for the regular spoked-wheel version of the Road Star.

In 2008, the Yamaha XV1700A receives an injection power system instead of a carburetor. S-modifications of the Road Star also appeared, which were distinguished by a chrome package.

2010 was the last year of production of the Warrior modification and the spoked version of the Silverado.

2015 was the final production year for the classic and touring version (Silverado) Road Star, after which they left the market and were no longer offered.

Appearance

The Yamaha XV 1700 Warrior looks the way a bike of this class should probably look. Gloss black frame, matte black seat, chrome tail light, mirrors and exhaust. The latter is the first to catch your eye due to its size and impressive style.

The wheels here are alloy and do not stand out from the general background. As a cruiser should ideally be, the working parts are somewhat visible, but not too much: a little more than on road motorcycles, much more than on a sportbike or cross-country motorcycle, but not as much as on a retro classic. Almost all visible parts of the “filling” are chrome-plated.

Comfort

This is a convenient vehicle for two people, but not the safest. Firstly, there is no backrest behind the passenger seat to protect against falling. Secondly, there is no protection on the sides (but this is not practiced on cruisers in principle).

Due to the fact that the car is large, there is not much difference between driving alone and with a passenger. The bike is inconvenient for maneuvering in a narrow space, for example, in a yard. The element of this motorcycle is a smooth country highway and average speed. It is under such operating conditions that the bike will please the owner the most.

Dimensions and weight

The dimensions of this car are, of course, impressive, but it is not yet the largest cruiser. However, if a person has never driven such large bikes before, this model will still seem gigantic to him. So this motorcycle is more suitable for those who have previously ridden at least a small representative of the cruiser class.

Yamaha XV 1700 Warrior dimensions are as follows:

curb weight – 295 kg; seat height – 725 mm; ground clearance - 157 mm; wheelbase – 1665 mm; height – 1120 mm; width – 955 mm; length – 2385 mm; tank volume – 15 l.

The wheelbase is impressive, but average for a cruiser. If you compare this bike with other representatives of the class in photos and videos, it will become noticeable that it is not particularly large compared to the largest motorcycles in this category. The tank volume is impressive, but do not forget about the considerable fuel consumption.

Specifications

In terms of its parameters, this is a powerful machine. It is capable of reaching speeds that are not at all required for a cruiser. Acceleration here is so fast that it can compare with other modern sports bikes from Kawasaki, Honda or Yamaha.

And therefore you should not use these parameters to their full potential. Unless on the race track, and even then this is a dubious decision. After all, the pleasure of riding a cruiser does not come from speed at all, although it does not occupy the last place.

The car is equipped with good brakes, but even they will have a hard time coping with the large equipment if it accelerates at full power. It's clear from the suspension travel that this bike is designed for the trail and nothing else. The ground clearance speaks no less eloquently about this.

Production

The Yamaha XV 1700 Warrior was produced from 2002 to 2010. During this time, the bike underwent some changes, but the concept did not fundamentally change.

Many people liked the car, and therefore it was able to stay on the assembly line for a relatively long time. This bike, along with several others released in the early 2000s, started a trend in the class.

Classmates

The main rivals of this bike were the VZ 1600 Marauder from Suzuki, the VN 1700 Vulcan from Kawasaki and the VTX 1800 from Honda. Oddly enough, two of these motorcycles have engine sizes that differ by 100 cc. cm from the Yamaha copy. However, they are so close in characteristics that it is even difficult to say which model is better in this regard.

History of changes

Regarding the entire series, there were only changes in the sense that some versions appeared, while others ceased to be produced. Warrior was stopped produced in 2010, while the last models of this series were made until 2015. During all this time, not even restyling was done. It’s not surprising, because the motorcycle was originally made impeccably in terms of design.

What do the owners say?

Judging by the reviews of the owners, it is not difficult to get a used car, but it is unlikely that you will be able to purchase a new bike. However, given the quality of this model, it will be possible to find a bike in good condition. The main thing is to understand the equipment in order to be able to assess its condition before purchasing.

Parts can still be easily obtained considering how much most parts cost. They say that in small towns this sometimes poses problems, but given delivery, such difficulties can be easily solved. In at least one review, an owner from a remote village reports having no problems maintaining the bike.

The car is bright, dynamic and, as described by many, is capable of performing well on the race track. However, experienced owners advise not to abuse the capabilities of the motorcycle. It's a cruiser, not hard to accelerate, but not so easy to stop or control.

If you use this car correctly, driving will bring you nothing but pleasure. They note that the bike’s seating position is comfortable, at least more comfortable than on many other classmates of this model. At the same time, of course, beginners are not advised to purchase such a bike, because its character is too violent.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the Yamaha XV 1700 Warrior is an excellent bike not only for its era, but also for modern times. So far, the model is not ideologically outdated. This is still one of the most modern cruisers, both in appearance and in technical characteristics. Of course, in thirty years it will already look like a classic from the beginning of the century, but now it is not even close to outdated.

Video

• Test drive of the Yamaha XV1700 Warrior motorcycle.
• A quick look and sound of the Yamaha XV1700A Road Star motorcycle.

Yamaha XV 1700 Road Star

— a Japanese motorcycle in the cruiser class, built according to the canons of the American school of motorcycle building. Actually, it was initially aimed at the American market, like its predecessor - the Yamaha Road Star 1600, and was also developed by the American division - Star Motorcycles. Based on its 1600 cc predecessor, the XV 1700 is, however, quite different from it. As, indeed, from another motorcycle with which it is often confused, and with which it has very little in common - the XV 1700 Warrior.

Having replaced its predecessor on the assembly line in 2005, the new motorcycle received many minor improvements. Thus, the volume of its V-shaped air-cooled twin increased by 100 cubic meters. cm, and power increased to 75 hp. At the same time, the torque also increased, and it is best characterized by the expression “traction, like a locomotive.” The torque on the Yamaha Road Star 1700 is available from the very start, compensating for the lack of top end, so this massive motorcycle does not take up the dynamics. The only thing that is sorely missing is sixth gear in the gearbox - without it, at speeds above 140 km/h, vibrations caused by high speeds begin to annoy.

The XV 1700 Road Star has a top speed of 180 km/h, the same as its predecessor, but at that speed you're unlikely to get much driving pleasure. After reaching approximately 150 km/h, the heavy cruiser begins to handle significantly worse, and even its generally quite good brakes do not add confidence. The optimal speed for him is 120-130 km/h, although, of course, if necessary, he is capable of much more. But is it really pleasant to “twist” a low-speed engine, causing it to strain? It’s unlikely, but it’s very pleasant to ride the Road Star 1700, growling with mufflers.

The first versions of this model were equipped with a carburetor, although it was different from the one installed on the XV 1600, but after a couple of years of production it was replaced with an injector. The rear wheel drive of the motorcycle is belt driven, which greatly contributes to a smooth ride; the frame is steel. One of the features of the Yamaha Road Star 1700 is the absence of balancer shafts in the engine, which creates strong vibrations at idle, just like on a Harley-Davidson. This was done specifically to please the Americans, who like vibrations.

However, once you get going, the vibrations practically disappear, so you don't have to worry about them bothering you during the trip. Heavy and massive, on the move the XV 1700 is quite easy to control, and its enormous weight is not felt. Maneuvers are also easy for him, even rare ones - it all depends on the skills of the motorcyclist piloting him. Soft and energy-intensive suspensions perfectly absorb road irregularities, and work no worse than on any XV 1900 Stratoliner, and forward driving platforms, a wide seat and a steering wheel curved towards the rider provide a comfortable and relaxed fit.

This motorcycle is not without some “childhood ailments”, although they are not very common and not too serious. The first is the rear fender, which sometimes cracks on older motorcycles, and the reason for this is vibration. By the way, the XV 1600 suffers from the same problem. The second is rubber manifolds that supply air to the pipes. They are located behind the rear cylinder, and they are not difficult to find, after which their condition should be inspected. Heavy manifolds, screwed onto steel pipes with clamps, shake mercilessly from engine vibrations, and sometimes they are torn in the place where they are secured by clamps.

Yamaha XV 1700 Road Star is an excellent heavy cruiser for lovers of such equipment. Huge, heavy, comfortable, with monstrous low-end traction, good suspension and good brakes, it is capable of both regularly cruising around the city and taking its owner even to the ends of the earth. The 20-liter gas tank was transferred directly from the XV 1600, and fuel consumption decreased thanks to the injector, so the bike can travel 300-350 kilometers without refueling. And we can safely recommend it to fans of the old school - they will be satisfied.