[drizztbob]

I was just taking advantage of my new saddlebags in the grocery store when a guy in his late 60's-early 70's approached me in the parking lot. Fully tattoo's and denimed out, he asks me what year/model Harley I have because it's beautiful. He said he waited in the parking lot just so he could ask me about it since he's never seen one like it. I told him it was the new Yamaha Stryker and his jaw dropped. He told me he was a long time HD rider and that this was one of the best looking bikes he'd seen in the last 30 years. "I love the lines, nothing on the road like it".

I told him thanks, I kind of dig it too...

 

[schimbo stryker]

Wow that's awesome !

 

[dutchs]

That is awesome!!! I have had people mistake my bike for a HD before too. It is a shame though that everyone thinks that if it looks good, it is an HD. The metric market is only going to get hotter, get ready!

 

[crazy8ight]

great story! i gotta say, hearing stuff like this and turning heads when i park or ride by.. just makes it all worth purchasing.

 

[StrykEd]

Great story and thanks for sharing. HD is a well known brand but bikes like ours is opening a lot of eyes out there. A guy in his truck today (HD rider I am sure) was peeking at my bike but he was trying to be covert about it. I am pretty sure that he knew it was not a Harley but he couldnt resist it.

 

[UrbanRage]

Thanks for sharing. It's great to hear people getting comments on their bikes.

 

[miamigijs]

Love it!!! Hihi

Got the Yamaha 'logo' on dust cover removed w Bondo, decals removed, only thing is the Star logo on speedo face. Lotta peeps think it's a Harley. Dontvget me wrong I'm a proud Star rider. I just like it clean.

 

[drizztbob]

Yup, pretty cool! Just thought I would share!

 

[goodwell163]

I had one of the guys that lives here whom is an old timer biker looking over my bike and said that it looked like a HD but it had Yamaha stickers lol.... but he did go on and say that the motor on our bike is the V-Twin that Harley used... Harley lost the Patent on those engines so he said that is what makes it really look like a HD to all the old school guys...

 

[tremorous]

cool story. I was at a gas station when a guy asked me what kind of bike I had. I told him he yamaha stryker and he said its not a harley but that is a nice bike! He asked how much I told him I paid, 11,000 out the door, he said **** Im in debt over 20,000 in his harley Night train. I was like nice that the stryker, my bike, is getting some respect.

 

[richard3]

I like when people are honest, to say anything other than this is a beautiful bike would be a lie !

 

[the(B)inbang]

I told him thanks, I kind of dig it too...

lol

 

[the(B)inbang]

I had one of the guys that lives here whom is an old timer biker looking over my bike and said that it looked like a HD but it had Yamaha stickers lol.... but he did go on and say that the motor on our bike is the V-Twin that Harley used... Harley lost the Patent on those engines so he said that is what makes it really look like a HD to all the old school guys...

I just wished it would chop like one...didn't they patent that sound or something?

 

[straightjacket]

cool story. I was at a gas station when a guy asked me what kind of bike I had. I told him he yamaha stryker and he said its not a harley but that is a nice bike! He asked how much I told him I paid, 11,000 out the door, he said **** Im in debt over 20,000 in his harley Night train. I was like nice that the stryker, my bike, is getting some respect.

After seeing my bike a buddy of mine went out and picked up a 2005 Night Train. It's the HD version of our bike. Low miles, extra seat,backrest,pipes,air cleaner,power comander,even came with new tires! For the low, low price of,,,wait, exactly what we paid for ours? 05 vrs 11? Side, by side there's no comparison its the Stryker all the way! When I asked him why he came up with some lame excuse about parts availability in the next ten years? I told him that he(and I) don't keep anything for ten years,,, and I wont need parts!

 

[claytonandson]

as a long time harley owner myself, i am very impressed with my 2011 stryker, aside from some unnecessary plastic(which i am ditching piece by piece). for the value and bang for the buck it has what i was looking for after debating it with a HD V Rod. main thing i wanted was liquid cooling. just like my H-D's, i plan on personalizing.

 

[phaedrus]

Does anyone get people hauling ass up to them and getting up side by side to you then slowing down?
I commute to work on this thing and I get this a lot. Makes me worried.

Also I get the guys that finally let me pass then just cause they want to get a closer look. lol

Yeah I gotta say.. I get a different amount of respect on this bike in comparison to other bikes when on the road, but with my MC's they always give me a hard time for my "rice eatting" bike. I tell ya.. I totally enjoy rice and I'm gladly putting my bike to the test against theirs
and it's their ass slowing the group down when we keep having to stop and do bike maint.

Yamaha +1
Stryker +11111111

-Phaed

 

[bivboys3]

My career has been in manufacting for over 20 years now, so of course I am all about buying American if it is possible. I have always owned GM and Ford brand cars and my wife went from a Toyota to a Saturn (which has been the best car that she has ever owned). And I do realize that nothing is 100% American anymore, however, I still try to buy from an american owned company(s). Of course quality is one of the most important attributes to any product , so one of the only problems that I have with some HD owners is that they disrepect you because you do not own/ride a HD. The fact is that most of the parts, wiring and suspension on a HD is made by other countries. Everything that is successfull in this world economy is mostly because of marketing and HD has excelled in this area. However, almost every aftermarket part that has their logo on it is NOT manufactured in the USA. I find this hypocritical to some point. The fact is that I care about quality, value and I know where I stand. So, do not impose artifical judgements on me without recognising shortcomings in your own product. We are all out there trying to enjoy the open road and we all have our crosses to bare. So, please just accept the fact that I cannnot afford a HD, however I do love the freedom that I get from being on my Yamaha Stryker!!! ;D

 

[kcl-labrat]

Just because its more expensive doesn't mean its better, just better marketed. aftermarket makes every bike individual and there isn't one harley owner I know that kept his bike stock or didnt put on out of country accessories.

 

[the(B)inbang]

Just because its more expensive doesn't mean its better, just better marketed. aftermarket makes every bike individual and there isn't one harley owner I know that kept his bike stock or didnt put on out of country accessories.

Very well said.

 

[straightjacket]

I just had this rough lookin dude holler out in the hardware store whos bike is that out front? I told him, mine he sneered a little and said is that one of those crossbones, and added sure is a nice lookin bike. I laughed and told him no its a metric, he got all buddy buddy and friendly and told me it was a Really nice bike! That was wierd, but cool at the same time! Turns out he rides metric also.

"My career has been in manufacting for over 20 years now, so of course I am all about buying American if it is possible."

Not only do I think it's important to support American made products, I believe in supporting the local community. If you are buying a foriegn product you still support your community if you buy from a local dealer! I try to buy from stores that I know people at, not only do you get better treatment, but your keeping them employed.