Yamaha, the Japanese manufacturer, began producing motorcycles in 1955, starting with small-displacement bikes and then a developing a strong line of powerful competition bikes. In 1994, Yamaha established the Star brand, a line of cruisers, specifically for the U.S. market. The Royal Star cruisers, like other Star bikes, are designed in the United States. In 2007, Yamaha produced the Royal Star Tour Deluxe and its all-black twin, the Midnight Tour Deluxe, and the larger and heavier Venture and Venture Midnight, all design carryovers.
Powered by liquid-cooled, 1294cc, 70-degree V-4 engines with a double overhead cam and four valves per cylinder, the Royal Star models have four Mikuni downdraft-style carburetors. Ignition is electric. The five-speed manual transmission, with overdrive, has wide-ratio gearing and a sturdy shaft final drive. A heel-toe shifter is standard. An air-adjustable telescopic fork with rebound damping and 5.5 inches of travel provides the front suspension for all Royal Star models; the rear suspension is a twin-sided swing arm and an air-adjustable spring preload shock and rebound damping. The front brake is an 11.7-inch dual disc; the rear brake is a 12.6-inch disc.
These are substantial cruisers. The Tour Deluxe weighs 787 pounds; the Venture is 807 pounds. The bikes are about eight and a half feet long, with a turning radius of 11 feet. The two-piece seat on all four models is a low 29 inches (the Venture’s seat is 29.5 inches), with the upright rider position typical of cruisers. The instrumentation could be described as lavish: speedometer, odometer, dual trip meters, clock, fuel gauge, and indicators for overdrive, cruise control, high beam, temperature, and oil level. The fact that the bikes come with cruise control tells you that they really are meant for the open road, not just city commuting. Yamaha doesn’t provide an estimate of gas mileage; the tank holds 5.3 gallons.
The Royal Star cruisers come with lockable under-seat storage, but a wide variety of saddlebags and tank bags are available, along with a huge selection of accessories to customize the bike and add bling.
Yamahas are well known for being reliable, durable machines and the Royal Star offers retro cruiser style, the latest technology, and a smooth ride as well.