Yamaha is one of the most high-tech motorcycle manufacturers, being a pioneer in 5-valves-per-cylinder heads as well as an erstwhile participant in the elite Formula 1 car racing series. So what's it doing loading the Warrior with an air-cooled, 2-valve, pushrod engine for the performance cruiser battle?
Despite the greater focus on performance in this bourgeoning hot-rod cruiser class, perhaps nothing is as important as how the bikes stack up when profiling.
The Warrior, in its purple Indigo color, attracts considerable attention. I was surprised when a pleasant 50-something lady complimented me on my choice of bikes and that she loved the color, something that on a sportbike is as rare as a pet brontosaurus, Fred and Wilma aside. And after showing it to my chiropractor, he hightailed it down to a Yamaha dealer (finder's fee, please, Yamaha).
There are plenty of visual clues that tell even casual viewers that the Warrior is a special machine. If the imposing size of the blacked-out cylinders and the giant muffler aren't obvious enough, more subtle touches such as the attractive instruments and lovely handlebar clamps will. At night, the gauges glow a beautiful blue, and if the sweeping bar graph tach is difficult to read at a glance, it's a small flaw because the baritone-voiced 48-degree V-Twin communicates its speed clearly. LED tailights add some modern flash, while beefy hand controls and a chromed sidestand and stylish mirrors add retro flash.
Functionally speaking, we liked that Yamaha didn't go overboard on trying to get the lowest seat height possible. Coming in at a still-low 28.5 inches, a lower seat (like the 26.0-inch V-Rod) would effectively raise the footpeg height, which is already on the high side. The huge-looking fuel tank is actually fairly small, as its underside is filled with airbox plumbing. Just 3.0 gallons fit in the main tank, but it's supplemented by a linked, remote 1.0-gallon tank under the seat. And just like some of Yamaha's sportbikes, the Warrior is equipped with the handy count-up odometer that logs the number of miles traveled on reserve, something we wish all bikes should have.
But the Warrior's strong visual appeal is no match for the over-the-top V-Rod. This is the bike you need if you suffer from an inferiority complex. Never have we ridden a bike that attracts so much attention. From its anodized aluminum bodywork and shiny aluminum swingarm to the solid wheels that make the V-Rod look like it's moving even when parked, this is a way-out Hog that never fails to be an eye-magnet for both the young and old. A BMW Z3 driver followed me into a shopping plaza to ask about the bike even though he had no idea what kind of bike it was. And four-year-old kids walking by who couldn't hope to spell Harley-Davidson even say it's "cool."
While many of the aforementioned features look like they belong on a show bike, such as the jewel-like instruments, the V-Rod also has several detail shortcomings. Pathetic, ugly welds on the muffler end-caps, hideous Pep Boys-grade muffler clamps and crude looking foot controls seem particularly out of place, especially compared to their high-tech surroundings.
