Yamaha XVS1300 Custom: Review

Chopper, bobber, cruiser or cafe racer? PH2 is confused, though impressed with Yamaha's XVS

Personally, I find the whole custom bike scene rather confusing. I'm not even going to begin trying to unravel Harley-Davidson's alphabetti spaghetti model designations but even the generic terms leave me confused. From what I can work out, a chopper is a bike with a raked out front end, a bobber is more stripped down and agile, a bagger has panniers and a screen and a performance cruiser is long, low and generally pretty fast. So, using this as my base, I have determined that Yamaha's new XVS1300 Custom is a chopper. I think...

US style, translated into Japanese, snapped by A1

Chops away
Although it has been launched in America for a few months under the name Stryker, the XVS1300 Custom has just landed in the UK. With its stretched out forks, 21-inch front wheel and fairly chunky 210-section rear, the Custom is a good looking bike. I like the fact it is generally devoid of chrome, instead favouring matt black with very few contrasting shiny bits, and the bodywork and wheels are nicely styled.

It's a bit sad that the only Yamaha branding is a very small logo on the motor, but that's the price you pay for being in a fashion-led market. And speaking of engines, the Yamaha also strays away slightly from the traditional with its choice of motor. OK, the V-twin is nothing new, but water-cooling isn't the normal, although you would be hard pushed to notice the Yamaha has a water jacket as they have done a great job of hiding the associated pipes and radiator.

Jon risks his foot pegs on a twisty road...

Road rider
Part of the whole chopper feel is the bike's riding position, and with the XVS you sit 'in' the bike with the bars quite high and forward. The Yamaha's seat is nicely sculpted, which adds to the feeling of being in the bike, and I like the view ahead. Yamaha have kept the clutter to a minimum and all you get a single speedo with a digital trip/fuel gauge attached to the wide bars. Nice, simple and traditional.

On the go the V-twin engine has bags of character without being irritating. The gearbox is pleasingly clunky and each change gives the impression huge cogs are mating together. On a sportsbike you would be slating it, but on a cruiser it feels right. However it was the engine's character and performance that really impressed me. With twin balancer shafts, the XVS V-twin is super smooth on a constant throttle with virtually no vibrations. However, open the gas and the two huge pistons cause a satisfying pulse and shake as the bike accelerates. It's not a vibration, it's the feeling of two pistons slapping up and down and I like it. The throttle response is excellent and even the stock pipes are quite fruity in their output. But this isn't the only sound you hear when riding the XVS.

XVS has a cruisey nature and won't be rushed

Gouge away
In typical cruiser fashion, the Yamaha has naff-all ground clearance. Like absolutely none. At the first sign of a bend the pegs go down and it isn't long until a metal bracket follows suit. I know cruisers are about going in a straight line, but if I owned this bike the sound of scraping metal would equate to my cash being ground away. The XVS's handling can certainly take a few more degrees of angle, but unless you want to pay for new pegs every week, this is a bike to take it easy on. Which is good as I felt the brakes were a bit weak. A single front disc with a two-piston sliding caliper for a bike that weighs 293kg? Cruiser riders will tell you to use both brakes, but I'm still stuck in front brake only sports bike mode I'm afraid...

Although purists, or those just wanting a cruiser as a fashion accessory, will inevitably sway towards a Harley, the XVS1300 Custom is a great alternative. There was a time when the Japanese just attempted to produce cheap Harley clones but this period has long passed. Where a Harley is more tradition and chrome, the Japanese cruisers are mean, moody and matt, something that gives them a bit of a dark edge. It is this edge that may well appeal to potential owners.

Classic, simple and actually rather appealing

The market for the XV1300 in the UK is never going to be huge, but with a price tag of £8,999 it is a few quid cheaper than the Harley Sportster 1200 and a damn sight more modern feeling to ride. The range of accessories Yamaha has launched alongside the XVS is fairly comprehensive and with a bit of exhaust wrap, loud pipe and possibly a funky set of wheels, you could start to get quite excited about customising the bike. It's certainly no Harley, but in my book that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

2014 YAMAHA XVS1300 CUSTOM
Engine: 1,304cc V-twin
Power: 72hp@5,500rpm
Torque: 76lbft@3,000rpm
Top speed: 115mph (est)
Weight: 293kg (wet)
MPG: 56mpg (est)
Price: £8,999