[toby]

I chose the Stryker for these reasons reasons.
#1, The looks I liked better with the more of a raked chopped look.
#2, The price deference.
#3, The size and weight of Raider like the V Star 1300 I though would be too big for riding the mountains where I live.
#4, The size of the engine would be too much power for these mountains thinking it would get away from me. Only to find out the Striker is almost as fast. But it's lighter and has a lower center of gravity and is a bit more nimble.
#5, Gas mileage. I thought a smaller engine would get better gas mileage. Only to fine out the Raider get the same mpg.
#6, I liked the idea of a liquid cooled engine.

 

[snowman68]

Being my first bike... Only had other one for 3 or 4 weeks.
1) I thought it being smaller than the raider or the worrior it would be a great beginner bike. So motor size is a little intimadating altho it being a smaller motor it has no problem it doesn't have a problem staying neck n neck with bro & bro-in-laws 1600 Kawasakis
As far as looks I like the 3 the same except exhaust on worrior is butt ugly.
2) Price was a deciding too.
3) Not a big fan of the spedo being on the tank, I don't like taking eyes off the road any more than I have to

 

[strykeralan]

Loved the look. Liked the color. Wife said she didn't mind the back seat(thank god) and I didn't really look at the raider. My choice was between the Suzuki boulavard c90 aka Suzuki intruder which is what I have been riding for the last 4 years. But I'm pretty sure the stryker is faster and rides better. Annnd it was different to any bike I have ever drove.

 

[rodekill]

When the raider came out I liked it but couldn't afford one. The stryker came out and I loved it, and after some careful number crunching I found I could swing the payments, insurance, etc.
It was the same story with a few HD's too. I liked a few of them as well, but in the end they were out of reach for this poor country boy. I still have the urge to try to get something flashier,
or larger, but I dont really need it. The grass is always greener and all that ;D

 

[venjurak]

I chose it because of the cons of the Raider:
1) Air cooled in stead of liquid cooled
2) 1900cc engine will suck more gas
3) Sticker said premium fuel only so with a bigger engin sucking the most expensive fuel, I said no.
4) Speedo was on the gas tank (I know this isn't a problem for many people but I don't like taking my eyes off the road to look down to see how fast I am going)

 

[dreadly]

Didn't

Now there is one of each in the garage

 

[osxfreak]

This being my First Bike, sorta (20) years since I last rode, I thought I was going to get a Harley, but after a bunch of ass in the seat sessions, I decided to try a different brand.

I stumbled upon this bike on accident. I loved the look of it, I fit on it nicely, and did not feel cramped and no updates to controls was needed unlike the HD's I was looking at.

I also looked at a Honda 1300 and bad reviews turned me off to that one.

Chip

 

[dliszews]

If the Raider had been offered in a similar style to Raven would have considered it an option.
Do not like the extra bling on the Raider.

Stryker just fits right for what I wanted in a cruiser at this point. Won't be the last near
term purchase, but will stay in the stable with others for quite some time. Next bike is most
likely going to be a Victory.

 

[snowman68]

If the Raider had been offered in a similar style to Raven would have considered it an option.
Do not like the extra bling on the Raider.

Stryker just fits right for what I wanted in a cruiser at this point. Won't be the last near
term purchase, but will stay in the stable with others for quite some time. Next bike is most
likely going to be a Victory.

I'll have to agree with you, I really like the blacked out look I originally wanted a H-D night train, but with the night train I had heard it only fits if you're a certain height and since the only dealer near by never has any on hand so I gave up on that one. I also liked the victory hammer but they are even more expensive than a H-D. As far as theraider and warrior go if they came blacked out that would have made the choice a lot harder.....

 

[middleagecrisis]

Price was the deciding factor. I really wanted the 1800cc but not worth the extra $$. I do like the raked out look of the Stryker more too.

 

[11Stryker]

I decided I wanted a bike, so searched all makes on Internet and knew I wanted the Stryker. Went to local dealer and at first only seen the copper and blue and was a little dissapointed. I had made my mind up on Raven. Owner's Wife asked me if she could help me and I said I did not see a Raven Stryker. She pointed to bike near her and said it's right here. I took one look and said it was mine. Picked a few accessories, sat down and made a deal and picked up bike next day- Dec. 24th 2010. I went back in a few weeks and they had a new 2009 Blacked out Warrior there and I thought- Wow I was glad that was not here the day I bought the Stryker or I would have had a hard time deciding. I do like the Raked out Stryker look more than the Warrior, but would love to have the 1700 Warrior engine. Which brings me to a new mod thought- Find a Warrior engine and controls and fit it to my Stryker- HEHEHe

 

[YSTRYKER]

HMMM? Well I'm a new rider and din't know anything about what motorcycle to buy what brand in that matter but I know I wanted a cruiser. I started looking online, of course the Harley's and noticed their bikes were too expensive and the cheaper line was the sportster which don't find it appealing at all. I was really digging the Victory line up the 8Ball, Hammer, etc. The price tag started at 12500 which was not my budget especially for a first time rider. Funny because when I did start doing my home work many saying to get 600CC for a beginner and o f course not knowing how to ride my mind was fixed........until I saw the Stryker. Looks then I sat on it and was like wow...this is it!! I simply new it!!!! Funny things is the Raider was next to it which was nice but didn't appeal to me ( later after researching I found out what was a Raider) after calling all over Southern California I actually ended up buying it from craigslist, a private seller at a really good deal. Bought the bike before I had even take the MSF course, now i have my L's starting to ride and I have to say 1300CC for a beginner is not bad at all. These notions to buy a 600cc for beginner is misleading. I can truly say I feel very or getting more comfortable every time I ride.

 

[toby]

I chose it because of the cons of the Raider:
1) Air cooled in stead of liquid cooled
2) 1900cc engine will suck more gas
3) Sticker said premium fuel only so with a bigger engin sucking the most expensive fuel, I said no.
4) Speedo was on the gas tank (I know this isn't a problem for many people but I don't like taking my eyes off the road to look down to see how fast I am going)

I wasn't aware the Raider needed "supper fuel" to run on, no pun intended. HeHe. But the specs claim 42 mpg and the Stryker 40 mpg. Had I seen that it would have influanced my decision a bit. I may pass the Strker to my wife som day and get a Raider. But I will have to test ride one first. And I would want to reke it out more.

 

[immortal13]

I always run premium in my stryker

 

[11Stryker]

I always run premium in my stryker

There was a whole discussion on here about that and the Stryker runs better and gets better mileage on 86 or 87 octane. A higher octane will just burn not as efficiently for the compression ratio of our bikes.

 

[canadian stryker]

Being my second bike I didn't want to go up to a 1900. I was really looking at 1100 - 1300, after looking around for quite a while, I realized that to get both fuel injection, and liquid cooled, I had to go to a 1300. Didn't really like how the touring cruisers looked, although the "Star" cruisers did grab my eye more than any other make, I first looked at the Honda Fury. I have always liked the "chopper" look. My first bike was an 83 Honda Shadow that a previous owner had raked out, and I really did like the way it looked, although it was harder to learn on than a stock bike would have been. Test road a Honda Sabre at a local dealer's demo days, and really like the way it handled, especially after riding my old back yard special. Was seriously looking at the Sabre, but didn't like it only coming in black. Playing around on the internet one day, checked out the Yamaha site and seen the Stryker, love at first sight. There has always been something about the Yamaha Star bikes that appeals to me. Sat on a Raven at a local dealer and loved the way it felt. Went to a bike show just to see both the Copper Red, and Blue, as I didn't want a black bike. Seen the blue and decided that was the color for me. I also liked the fact that there was far more accessories offered for the Stryker from Yamaha, than from Honda for the Saber. Then I found the Low & Mean site, and really decided that this was the bike for me, as I could really keep the look, but dress it up to make it mine with the large selection of accessories. Sorry a bit long, but this is really what made me get the Stryker. I also really like the fact that right now it is so unique that most people don't know what it is, and starts some really good discussions.

 

[kingofleon]

Stryker looks much better than the Raider in my opinion. Last year my buddy (Fury rider) and I went to a bike show when the stryker was new and the rep asked us if we were entering the show. We politely declined but ended up have more people coming over to check out our bikes than the ones that were in the show.

 

[dejablu110]

Toby, don't test ride a raider, you will have to have it

 

[ronin]

To me there was just no need for something larger then a 1300, so why pay more for something I don't need-

 

[dejablu110]

unless you have actually rode both bikes, I dont see how handling
is better than either....they both handle very well and I can make
a U turn from inside to inside lanes with my raider. It handles twisties
and switchbacks just fine......gas mileage has reported to be about
the same in both bikes....I have found, especially on days like today, that
having a heavier bike is to an advantage in windy or gusty situations. I
have also seen where a couple people sat on the stryker and picked it up
off its stand and found it heavy.....this turned off a few buyers that I know
of. Raider does not have this problem at all.

The power in the 2....there is NO comparison. I have riden both and found
the power in the stryker disappointing.