New 2008 Yamaha XV1900 Raider Custom Cruiser Motorcycle
This is Yamaha’s aggressive new drag-style XV1900 Raider custom cruiser, which will only be available in the USA.
The 1854cc air-cooled v-twin motorcycle engine powering the Yamaha Raider is from the Yamaha Midnight Star - but only the engine is carried across - the chassis and bodywork is all-new and unique to the Raider motorcycle. An aluminium cradle frame and swingarm is used, and a rear monoshock is hidden for a hardtail look. Skinny right-way up forks are raked out and hold a tall, narrow section five spoke alloy front wheel, and the matching rear wheel has a smaller rim diameter but with a fat tyre.
The Raider’s brakes are Yamaha’s four-piston monobloc calipers used on several generations of Yamaha sports motorcycles, but with chromed piston covers in place of the more familiar anodised blue caps used on sportier motorcycles.
The teardrop tank, ducktail mudguard, seat and side panels all follow a line down to the rear tyre – even the silencers tilt down to accentuate the shape of the motorcycle. A pillion seat is fitted – but the small surface, flat top and high pillion pegs mean it’s only meant for urban cruising rather than two-up touring. The riding position isn’t entirely practical either – the wide straight bars, forward set footpegs and relatively thin seat won’t give the levels of comfort seen on the softer Yamaha Midnight Star.
This article was taken from: Motorcycle News
October 9th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Hi, Yet again the americans get all of the best looking bikes, if Yamaha brought a few of these into the UK for around 9k I for one would buy one.
October 20th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
I make a counter-proposal, We’ll give you some cruisers, if you’ll let us get some of those little speedfight and aerox 100cc scooters That we can’t seem to touch without resorting to elaborate smuggling. ;-)
October 20th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Now about the Raider, I love it. For me, I’d have the dealer install, and tune in a set of cobra pipes at purchastime. It would be a challenge to get me off it from there on. The air cooled twin with EFI has ‘me’ written all over it.
January 16th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Just piggy-backing on the pipes. The stock pipes aren’t that bad but for such a gorgeous big bike you’d imagine that they’d be louder. For this agressive bike install the speedstar dual drag exhaust that dealerships carry and you will definitely turn heads!
June 5th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I am in the market for a new bike, Wanted a vic hammer or v. rod but i have changed all that on seeing this beuty!!!! When will they be available in the u.k? I would gladly part with 10 K for one ….