[annubissl]

OK this might be a bit of a retard question. but looking at all the love the Stryker is getting, and hearing a lot of people refer to it as a more manageable baby sibling to the raider. Does anyone think that the 950 will receive a makeover in the future?

If we look at the star lineup history, the Raider was a chopperesque version of the Roadliner, and the Stryker a chopper of the V star 1300....I'm guessing in a few years the 950 may get the same treatment of a bad ass long lost chopper style twin. What do you guys think?

 

[MY LIFE]

No question is Retarded. But on your question, I wouldn't hold my breath. My reasoning for this is, if you read this forum you hear of present riders trying to get more power out of their Stryker. Some even say that they may move up to the Raider. I have yet to hear one owner saying "Gee I love this bike, but I wish it had less power". ;D I would bet that Yamaha knows this and even did a **** load of research to see how low in HP they could go , before the customer would turn away from the bike. My guess is that 1300 was the low limit. Finally I don't think Yamaha would have room in their line up for 3 chopper style bikes. But then again my wife did say I was wrong once before.

 

[strykenshane]

Yeah, I don't see it either, the current lineup of Japanese choppers are really being referred to as muscle cruisers and although 950 cc's is plenty for a smaller person(****, my big ass used to ride a 750) it's not really going to fall into that category, although I must admit, I love the classic lines of the 950

 

[toby]

Yes Although the Stryker is a smaller version of the Raider with a more raked out and better looking bike in my opinion than the raider and a souped up v star 1300 motor, unlike some of us that won't more power out of our toys there are some out there with more economical desires in mind including insurance. As I stated before my wife loves the Stryker style but likes the fact the the 950 gets much better gas mileage and it's air cooled and a bit lighter. I even told the Yamaha guys that if they cam out with a Stryker style 950 they would find a hole new market group. It would probably start with a sale price around $9,000.00. and the 950 would have a similar up grade like the Stryker added higher cam lift roller rockers different fuel mapping and so on. It would also make a nice platform for mod starters. Just look how many V star classic, custom, Silverado exe, with the 650 motors have been sold and and made into some awesome looking choppers and full dressed cruisers. Just my opinion.

 

[strykenshane]

I totally agree but as cool as most of those bikes look they're not really setup to be ridden any kind of distances

 

[toby]

I totally agree but as cool as most of those bikes look they're not really setup to be ridden any kind of distances

Ya that's why I insisted to my wife that even though that newer 650 might have just a bit more power than the old carberated 750 she been riding that we really needed more bike for the kind of riding we do. If you put the kind of load and ride mountains like we do your ganna lose gas mileage from lack of hp. Yes and those guys buy them smaller bikes for building looks that they like and probably don't care for long hauls or fast riding and ride mostly in town.

 

[KenMcCoy]

I think Star would do better by going the bobber route with a new "custom" style 950.

 

[BryanP]

Personally I think that in the current enonomic climate the fellows in the land of the rising sun and else where for that matter will be not too keen to spend big money for new type projects, so seing they already have a base line 950 and a new style Stryker 1300 they may just decide to take what they have and morph the know how into a new style 950 which could save a lot on costs while picking up a new market share as well. But who can tell. If we could we would all be rich and famous. To add to some comments, I think they pretty much got things right with the stryker. I am very happy with mine and have absolutely no desire for more power. I like the bike as it is standard and have no desire to change anything, the two issues I do have are firstly I'm short and at a stretch, arms and legs. So floorboards solved the leg stretch. The arms are not too bad but I may just look into moving the bars back a touch. The second issue is I want a little packing space for the rainsuit, puncture kit etc. This I will hopefully sort out with the sissybar/luggage rack on order, other than that I love the power it has, the handling and everything about the bike. I did own a M50 Boulevard and while I enjoyed the bike a lot I did feel a need for more power hence the Stryker. The Stryker is a nice balance for me at my age between the size and mass and power just like after having ridden the big superbikes I have found my balance in the GSX R750 as well and am happy there too. Anyway thats my story and I'm sticking to it. Regards from Durban RSA.

 

[toby]

Personally I think that in the current enonomic climate the fellows in the land of the rising sun and else where for that matter will be not too keen to spend big money for new type projects, so seing they already have a base line 950 and a new style Stryker 1300 they may just decide to take what they have and morph the know how into a new style 950 which could save a lot on costs while picking up a new market share as well. But who can tell. If we could we would all be rich and famous. To add to some comments, I think they pretty much got things right with the stryker. I am very happy with mine and have absolutely no desire for more power. I like the bike as it is standard and have no desire to change anything, the two issues I do have are firstly I'm short and at a stretch, arms and legs. So floorboards solved the leg stretch. The arms are not too bad but I may just look into moving the bars back a touch. The second issue is I want a little packing space for the rainsuit, puncture kit etc. This I will hopefully sort out with the sissybar/luggage rack on order, other than that I love the power it has, the handling and everything about the bike. I did own a M50 Boulevard and while I enjoyed the bike a lot I did feel a need for more power hence the Stryker. The Stryker is a nice balance for me at my age between the size and mass and power just like after having ridden the big superbikes I have found my balance in the GSX R750 as well and am happy there too. Anyway thats my story and I'm sticking to it. Regards from Durban RSA.

Sounds like you are just as happy with the Stryker as I'm. But I still have a little bit of that young man stuff in me that says more power but really the Stryker has plenty to spare. I'd be more interested in a mode to get better gas mileage even if it lost a little hp. I put saddle bags on mine because it is a must to have cold weather and rain gear with you at all times up here. And I plan to get sissy bar pack to. My wife hangs an old army Alice back pack on her 950. That's cool cause it has slots for 2 canteens. Oh ya and the dog carrier too.

 

[MY LIFE]

Hey Toby. You keep talking about better gas mileage. If your that concern with gas mileage you bought the wrong bike. Cruizers were never made and designed for gas mileage. They were created for riders who want to go out on the open road and ride. The fact that they get the mileage they do you should count your blessings. Any company that is designing the chopper style knows that the vast majority of its market wants good gas mileage but it is not in the top 5 buyers wishes. If you really are that concern about gas mileage I would suggest you may want to look at another bike. BMW may be more to your liking.

As for what this post was in the first place, I still don't believe that Yamaha will try and turn their 950 into a chopper style. The 950 is a great seller for them as it stands and its targeted to a specific market. If a 950 rider likes the Stryker or Raider , then Yamaha would say "Buy One"

 

[toby]

Ya MyLife you got a good point. My wife still cringes a bit when I mention putting her on the Stryker. She is still not totally comfortable with the 950 yet. But give her time. She has only about 3,000 miles riding experience her self. I teas her and say wheres your balls and she points down at mine so I guess that's cool. lol. Anyway as for the mpg thing it's only these mountain roads up here that suck gas up cause I can't get out of 2nd gear. 3 gallons to go 70 miles that sucks when it takes her less than half that. But I get great mpg on open hwy. In fact the day after her wreck we did a 400 mile weekend ride and I averaged 50 mpg riding behind her. So It's all in how you ride. And I actually love my Stryker. And the 950 has a nice style of it's own. If you put the two next to each other the Stryker looks like a chopped 950. And believe me it's no slouch in the power department. But i'ts top end is a bit weak. The speedo says 130 but I got it up to 110 and don't think it could do much more without a strong wind behind it. But hey who needs to go that fast any way. Some more facts and opinions from me. : Oh and I guess I could jump on the old Virago to run up and down this hill if I wonted to. :-X

 

[annubissl]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I see your point in that if someone wanted a stryker they would get one. Had a chance to try out the 950 a couple days ago, one of the only 2 in my country. its a pretty nice bike but i'm just not to keen on dragging the floorboards. Maybe my complete lack of experience has a lot to do with it, but i also tried the vstar 1100 on the same run and never touched the pegs (yeah i know the seat on the 1100 is a lil higher though. i do like the 950 engine it is surprisingly peppy and did fine on the highway, but i wouldn't mind having pegs instead of floorboards. i think for some beginners a chopper version would be preferred. if it was an option i might choose that over the stryker. Still got a year before its time to make up my mind who knows what might pop up in that time. Hmmm heres to hoping Yamaha might try it anyway.

 

[toby]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I see your point in that if someone wanted a stryker they would get one. Had a chance to try out the 950 a couple days ago, one of the only 2 in my country. its a pretty nice bike but i'm just not to keen on dragging the floorboards. Maybe my complete lack of experience has a lot to do with it, but i also tried the vstar 1100 on the same run and never touched the pegs (yeah i know the seat on the 1100 is a lil higher though. i do like the 950 engine it is surprisingly peppy and did fine on the highway, but i wouldn't mind having pegs instead of floorboards. i think for some beginners a chopper version would be preferred. if it was an option i might choose that over the stryker. Still got a year before its time to make up my mind who knows what might pop up in that time. Hmmm heres to hoping Yamaha might try it anyway.

Sounds like you are having fun. Hope you get a chance to try a Stryker.

 

[KenMcCoy]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I see your point in that if someone wanted a stryker they would get one. Had a chance to try out the 950 a couple days ago, one of the only 2 in my country. its a pretty nice bike but i'm just not to keen on dragging the floorboards. Maybe my complete lack of experience has a lot to do with it, but i also tried the vstar 1100 on the same run and never touched the pegs (yeah i know the seat on the 1100 is a lil higher though. i do like the 950 engine it is surprisingly peppy and did fine on the highway, but i wouldn't mind having pegs instead of floorboards. i think for some beginners a chopper version would be preferred. if it was an option i might choose that over the stryker. Still got a year before its time to make up my mind who knows what might pop up in that time. Hmmm heres to hoping Yamaha might try it anyway.

If it's the floorboards you ar worried about on the 950, that is a problem that could be easily rectified. A set of kuryakyn pegs would swap out very easily.

 

[toby]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I see your point in that if someone wanted a stryker they would get one. Had a chance to try out the 950 a couple days ago, one of the only 2 in my country. its a pretty nice bike but i'm just not to keen on dragging the floorboards. Maybe my complete lack of experience has a lot to do with it, but i also tried the vstar 1100 on the same run and never touched the pegs (yeah i know the seat on the 1100 is a lil higher though. i do like the 950 engine it is surprisingly peppy and did fine on the highway, but i wouldn't mind having pegs instead of floorboards. i think for some beginners a chopper version would be preferred. if it was an option i might choose that over the stryker. Still got a year before its time to make up my mind who knows what might pop up in that time. Hmmm heres to hoping Yamaha might try it anyway.

If it's the floorboards you ar worried about on the 950, that is a problem that could be easily rectified. A set of kuryakyn pegs would swap out very easily.

Got any pics of the Kuryakyn swap or do you know if that changes the actual position of the mount because that's part of the problem? Not just the boards. The boards float but the mounts gouge pavement. Thinking of putting the Kuryakyn Swing Wings on both the bikes. One being the 950. already know they will work on the Stryker. Any input will be welcome. Thanks. Really the best solution to this problem is to ride this bike with the style of riding it was designed for. You can't ride it like our muscle choppers or a sport bike. It's really a very nice cruiser.

 

[strykenshane]

Toby, check out my gallery to see what the swingwings look like, I also have the PCS 3" extensions, rides like a Lazy boy now, angle adjustable as well

 

[toby]

Toby, check out my gallery to see what the swingwings look like, I also have the PCS 3" extensions, rides like a Lazy boy now, angle adjustable as well

Yes very nice. You say the Kuryakyns angle adjust? l Love the mini Boulevard seems to fit The Stryker just right. Would love to mount my plate on the fender but think it might get covered up when I pack for long rides. Like the mirrors but got my eye on the diamond flames. Just looked at a sight that had a pair of staggered straight drag pipes black on the Blue Stryker like mine I thought looked pretty good. I think the big chrome stock ones take your eye from the rest of the bike. But what I was really asking who ever that was that mentioned the peg swap on the 950 had any info or examples? Your bike looks awesome. Love the skull work.

 

[KenMcCoy]

Here you go Toby... It's not Kuryakyn but it replaces the board/mounts...

http://www.starbikeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22124&postcount=40

 

[toby]

Here you go Toby... It's not Kuryakyn but it replaces the board/mounts...

http://www.starbikeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22124&postcount=40

Excellent Thanks I'll check it out.

 

[toby]

Here you go Toby... It's not Kuryakyn but it replaces the board/mounts...

http://www.starbikeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22124&postcount=40

Excellent Thanks I'll check it out.

Wow they look great a bit costly but probably worth every penny.