Yamaha Dragstar

YAMAHA DRAGSTAR

CW RIDING IMPRESSION

Royal Starlet

So, WHAT’S THE BEST-SELLING BIKE in Japan’s hotly contested 400cc cruiser class? You’re looking at it: the Yamaha Dragstar.

Designed by the same team of U.S. and Japanese stylists who penned the 1300cc Royal Star, the Dragstar was

introduced to the Japanese market in January to rave reviews. Yamaha’s Ed Burke, the man who brought the Royal Star to fruition, was involved with the Dragstar project from day one. “For the domestic market, I think they achieved exactly what

they were looking for,” he says.

In spite of its name and head-turning looks, the Dragstar is no hot-rod. Its air-cooled, 399cc, sohc V-Twin booms out a meager 33 claimed horsepower at 7500 rpm. While it shares many internal pieces with the current Virago 535, the Dragstar’s cylinders, heads and engine cases are all new, restyled to give the motor a bigbike look. To this end, Yamaha endowed the 400 with chromed valve covers and blacked-out sidecovers that emulate a Harley-Davidson’s primary drive case-knock on these parts, though, and you discover that they’re made of plastic.

From its low, low (25-inch) saddle, the Dragstar continues its big-bike impersonation.

The fuel tank looks huge from above, the simple instrument pod is well-shaped and a minimalist headlight leads the way. With 64 inches between its axles, 35 degrees of rake

and 6 inches of trail, the Dragstar handles confidently on its simple fork and single rear shock. A lone 12-inch disc up front and a drum in the rear are enough to haul the claimed 449pound machine down from speed.

Other niceties: A fork lock is built into the ignition switch; the left sidecover is easily removed to reveal a small storage compartment; the choke knob, mounted above the rear cylinder, is simple to reach; and a goodlooking, functional windscreen is available as an option.

Because the bike’s diminutive powerplant makes little power just above idle, the Dragstar rider has to perform major gymnastics while leaving stoplights to keep from being run over by four-wheeled vehicles. Once underway, though, life is less harried, as the smooth engine picks up revs quickly through its wellspaced five-speed gearbox.

U.S. buyers won’t have to concern themselves with any power deficiencies, however, because the Dragstar won’t come here as a 400. Says Burke, “The engine has a range larger than 400cc-probably more than the current 535cc. We are considering the Dragstar for the future. We would like to see a model like this one in the

next couple of years.”

With a boost in displacement, it’s safe to say there’s a Dragstar on its way to the USA. Eric Putter