Yamaha has increased the span of their lineup with a slew of new and revised machines for the 2018 riding season.
Winter doldrums bring dreams of spring and new bikes for the coming riding season.
Yamaha has increased the span of their lineup with a slew of new and revised machines for the 2018 riding season including:
Star Venture TC 2018:
The new-from-the-ground-up Star Venture TC (transcontinental tourer) offers classic long-haul utility envisioned in a fresh, modern style. The bike starts with a rigid double-cradle steel frame that mounts a burly 1,854 cc V-Twin engine with a traditional power pulse pumping out 126 lb/ft of torque via YCC-T ride-by-wire throttle application and a six-speed transmission with overdrive.
Comfort is key on cross-county treks, so engineers focused on ergonomics with a spacious cockpit, heated rider and passenger seats, an electronically-adjusted windshield, and a total of 144 litres of storage space in saddlebags, top case and passenger storage compartments.
A Sure-Park system’s electric motor allows for low-speed forward or backward parking maneuvers. And a factory-installed 7-inch LCD display system comes complete with audio, navigation, communication, vehicle status monitoring and equipment controls operated via touch-screen, five-way D-pad on the handlebars, or voice-recognition commands.
The 2018 Star Venture TC starting price is $31,099
Star Eluder 2018:
The new Star Eluder was designed to “blur the line between luxury touring utility and cruiser coolness” to paraphrase Yamaha’s promotional bumpf.
This stripped-down bagger version of the Star Venture TC loses the top case and replaces the windscreen with a “shorty” version to “accentuate the bagger vibe”, as they put it.
Shedding some of the Venture TC equipment makes for a 40 kg (90 lb) weight loss which can only emphasize low centre of gravity handling in the twisty bits.
But even with the weight-trimming efforts, the Star Eluder maintains a level of features that include 70 litres of hardbag storage, cruise control and the same up-to-date infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen operated via handlebar controls and/or voice control, a stereo system, Bluetooth and a full range of vehicle data.
GPS nav and SiriusXM satellite options are available. The rider and passenger will take comfort in the heated, one-piece seat, a full-coverage vented fairing marked with four LED headlights, five-position hand levers and height adjustable floorboards.
The Star Eluder, like the Star Venture TC, also comes with traction control, ABS and UBS (unified braking system).
The 2018 Star Eluder starting price is $27,099.
XSR700 2018:
Following on the heels of popular sales in Europe, the XSR700 brings retro sport design to Canada, harnessing contemporary FZ-07 performance and technology.
Designed for enthusiasts with a taste for traditional styling, the XSR700 features a vintage-inspired exposed round headlight, a sculpted aluminum-shrouded gas tank with classic striping, a two-texture leather seat and perforated side covers, contrasted by a modern LCD gauge display.
The 689 cc inline-twin engine delivers 50 lb/ft of torque, more than enough to power this middleweight (186 kg, 410 lb) street bike through twists, turns and or urban strafing runs. A larger XSR900 ($11,099) is also available.
The 2018 XSR700 starting price is $9,599.
Tracer 900 2018:
The revised Tracer 900 sport tourer, previously known as the FJ-09, features updates that include new body styling, a bigger windscreen that’s easier to adjust, a longer swingarm for better road-feel, a new rear frame, new handlebars, integrated side-case mounts, and, for the passenger, new grips and repositioned foot pegs.
Power is supplied by its sporty 847 cc three-cylinder engine and the Tracer 900 also comes equipped with standard ABS, traction control and D-mode drive selections.
The 2018 Tracer 900 starting price is $11,999.
MT-07 2018:
The rebadged MT series, replacing the FZ family, starts with a revised MT-07.
This entry-level naked roadster blends sport performance with open, upright seating. For 2018, the MT-07 updates the bodywork, adds a new 60/55-watt headlight and a new LED taillight. Suspension changes include new front fork settings and a new rear shock with rebound damping and spring pre-load adjustments.
This econo street bike offers 689 cc inline-twin power and is a great fit for novice riders but the MT lineup also offer bigger siblings – the MT-O9 with an 847 cc inline-three cylinder ($9,999) and the MT-10 powered by an R1-derived 998 cc inline-four sport bike engine (16,199).
The 2018 MT-07 starting price is $8,299.
Keyword: New Yamaha Bikes for a New Season