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I had just returned from my first long trip in May of '07 -- on my 4-speed '93 Vulcan (1470cc). 'Rode 2500 miles down to the 'Tail of the Dragon' and Blue Ridge Parkway and back. 'Ran fine through the 'Tail -- just left it in either 2nd or 3rd, nearly never had to even tap the brakes. But those 2000+ miles of Interstate highway riding in-between riding venues were just awful. I was literally BUZZING and exhausted from all the 'WAAAAAAAAAAAAA' racket and vibration from such high RPMs at highway speed.
By the middle of the trip, I knew what kind of bike I wanted, and the very moment I returned, I set out to get it. The Vulcan could eat up virtually any cruiser from stop light to stop light, but that kind of fun isn't for me. I wanted a bike that could handle the 'Tail, but one that would be better-applied for the much greater amount of the highway riding.
The Gold Wing was not a consideration. It's 6-cylinder boxer engine configuration just isn't conducive to stretching out for someone my size (6'4" 300 lbs.), and besides, I just like the Harley Road King / Electraglide layout -- only, I didn't have any faith in H-D's just-introduced 96 CID engine/drivetrain (and as it turned out, rightly so).
Even Yamaha's Stratoliner / Road Star lineup didn't do it for me; I felt too low to the ground and not really coddled like I wanted.
But all I had to do was just sit on the RSMTD, and that was it. 'Didn't even test-ride it. I'd already been attracted to its far-superior DOHC water-cooled V-4 powertrain, smooth-shifting tranny, and shaft-drive, and realized that it's a bonafide highway touring bike that has the looks and comfort of a Harley Electraglide -- only bigger, far more powerful, with more standard features (most notably, cruise control), made with far better quality, and priced far lower. In short, better.
I was initially turned off that the RSMTD is not F/I'd. FOUR carbs? I thought that's kinda antiquated, but then I realized that Yamaha has been producing this drivetrain since '83 -- it's virtually perfected, and they put their money where their collective mouth is by bestowing a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty upon her. I figured that if Yamaha believes in her THAT much, then why shouldn't I?
She starts from cold-choked quickly, stumbles for a couple seconds, quickly smoothes out, fast-idles, and is ready for pushing in the choke anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute later, depending on the weather. A little hesitant for the first minute more on the road, then it's as though she were F/I'd.
What I immediately noticed is that although the RSMTD will capably ease through traffic at low rpms, she kinda wallows if you try to accelerate characteristic of making a quick move to change lanes in an urban setting. That is, until the rpms pass 3000, when the torque curve goes vertical. Then, it's as though The Great Magic Switch has been thrown, and you'd better hold on for dear life.
This baby LOVES to rev, and it shows up most spectacularly in the top-end. When accelerating past 70 mph in 4th gear, she just keeps pulling hard. Shift to 5th at 80 mph, and there's that same strong pull that seems limitless. It's scary. Max hp occurs at 6600 rpm, and I don't even know where's the red line. But she's turning only 3500 rpms at 80 mph in 5th. It's really best to use 4th when you want to just tool along at 45-60 mph.
I expected the handling to be like that of a B-52 -- tracking straight and resisting control inputs like my Vulcan tended to do. But she has a low center-of-gravity, and pushes left/right VERY easily. Yet she's wonderfully stable in proximity to 18-wheelers on the Interstate. There've been complaints that she doesn't low-speed handle too well, but that's only because the handlebars require some wingspan to manage. With 37" sleeves, it's ideal for me. Also, you need to be tall and have good leg strength to back this 855 lbs. baby out. I have no problem, but riders under 5'10" are hard-pressed to plant their feet onto the pavement with enough force to move her. Their feet simply slip out from beneath them, and they risk dropping the bike. All that reaching can create some back strain, though. I was getting a twinge between my shoulder blades. 'Remedied that with a Bakup driver seatback. 'No more twinge, and more comfortable besides.
I've been around enough loud bikes to know that I didn't want one. The RSMTD has a nice purr, but it won't turn heads until you load the engine at higher rpm. THEN -- like the acceleration -- she satisfies. Still, 'nothing like a big Harley V-Twin tricked out with Bub/V&H 'pipes, and that's the way I like it. 'Virtually silent on the flat at 80 mph in 5th. Besides, exhaust system changes on a bike with four carbs is a daunting process that might not come out right. The carbs typically need to be re-jetted, and I've read MANY accounts of owners who lament ever having taken the 'loud-pipes' plunge due to all the rideability problems that followed -- mostly hard-starting and backfiring. Me, I figured Yamaha knows what they're doing; 'no way I was going to second-guess them.
The brakes are one facet that I don't particularly like, though I've gotten used to them. The front brake requires much more effort than it should. I'm up to the task, but it just doesn't seem right. Meanwhile, the back brake requires practically NO effort. Get yourself in a panic stop, and try to 'horse' one brake while feathering the other to keep things balanced. It's easy to screw up ... and I have, nearly to the point of a rack-up. But like I said, I'm getting the hang of it now.
Even though I'm disproportionately tall in the torso, the windscreen is too tall for me. I had to have it cut down nearly 4 inches so that I could see over it twenty feet ahead. There's a little buffeting along the top of my helmet -- not too bad. But there's a noisy groan at highway speed when I push into a turn. Something in the windscreen is singing with the wind, and it's distracting. I'll eventually get a Clearview screen, which is 4" wider, has an upturned top edge, and has a vent -- not to create a draft, but to equalize pressure and hopefully create more of a still-air, quieter pocket to ride in (Cone of Silence?).
I really do like the lower cowlings -- 'keeps the wind off my legs. Yes -- under load, I do typically feel some heat bleeding off the radiator. It's never uncomfortable -- even in summertime. I love riding in cold weather, long after everyone else puts their bikes away for the winter. That's when that heat coming off the rad is most welcome.
Cruise control? What can I say? 'Works about the same as the one in your car. 'Wonderful comfort tool -- easy to use, too. I must say that I get a kick out of the reaction I get from people when I pass 'em and wave with my right hand.
Harley purists rank on the speedo -- it's just under the windscreen -- where it SHOULD be, instead of down-low on the tank. 'Has two trip odometers and an on-demand clock display, too. When the tank goes to its last eighth, the display automatically changes to a mileage count-up from zero -- 'good wake-up call. The primary tank kicks 10-11 miles later, then you've got 35-45 miles left on reserve. The speedo's easy to read, though I concede that there's something in a good pair of sunglasses' polarization that does somewhat obscure the speedo's clarity.
My RSMTD had the all-too-familiar chirping sound due to square-cut gears, but Yamaha changed out the clutch basket (free-of-charge) that sort of 'moved' the chirping to an RPM range that I only transition through, so the chirping is no longer disconcerting like it initially was. 'Only reason I could even hear the chirping in the first place is because the bike is so quiet.
I obviously wasn't all that concerned with gas mileage. In my opinion, a bike's wind resistance factor matters as much or more than its drivetrain. Unlike with a car, my worst mileage is at highway speed -- about 35-38 mpg at 70+ mph; that windscreen makes for a lotta wind resistance. I do better at 50-60 mph, but I rarely ride that slowly for an extended period. Figure 40 mpg average. Pull off the windscreen and keep her around 60 mph, and you'll probably get 45 mpg.
'No need for premium gasoline. 87 octane works perfectly, and the Dealer Service Manager even admonished me NEVER to use premium. The oil requirement is API SM, and I change the oil and filter myself, using Mobil 1 15w50 (without the 'Energy Conserving' / 'For Gasoline Engines' starburst logo's) and a Yamaha oil filter. Easy.
I've tricked her out with highway lamps, Baron's seven-color LED-backlit bullet tach, a Bakup driver seatback, a single-arm billet shifter (after accidentally tripping the standard heel/toe shifter with my heel twice), a chrome front fender rail, chrome rear luggage rack, chrome aircan covers (with K&N air filters), chrome choke lever, front toolbag, carry bags for the saddlebag interiors, LED brake-light rapid-flasher, tank bib with a 12 volt auxiliary power outlet in one pouch, and the piece de resistance, (12) seven-color Kuryakyn Lizard Lights that make the bike look like an extraterrestrial close encounter from dusk to dawn. The Harley guys REALLY look down their collective nose at me, I'm so ashamed ... really. No ... REALLY.
'Needless to further elaborate at how pleased I am with my two-year old acquisition. 'All the bike I'll ever want. 'Amazing to me that Yamaha doesn't manage to sell more of these.
'Regards to all,
David Cox
Trumbull, CT
