SKWEARpeg wrote:
I still think Yamaha got its inspiration from the Indians of old, not HD. Just my $.02. Once you get into cruisers, they all look pretty much alike to anybody just looking over the fence. Yamaha doesn't offer a bagged or touring version of the Road Star, so you buy what you need to get there, as Kai and Cike mentioned. If you shop wisely, you have money left over for the trip.

Here is an old Indian. That is my Dad on it. He didn't want an HD either.

davej wrote:
SKWEARpeg wrote:
I still think Yamaha got its inspiration from the Indians of old, not HD. Just my $.02. Once you get into cruisers, they all look pretty much alike to anybody just looking over the fence. Yamaha doesn't offer a bagged or touring version of the Road Star, so you buy what you need to get there, as Kai and Cike mentioned. If you shop wisely, you have money left over for the trip.

Here is an old Indian. That is my Dad on it. He didn't want an HD either.


I've tried linking the google page with all the Indian pics a couple of times in the past, and failed miserably. If you see a bunch of them, they have the length and flair to the fenders, that I see in the Roadies. When you merge that with the newer styles of cruiser in general, I think it works(and has worked) in Yamaha's favor from a competitive stand point.

I don't think of it as trying to make our bikes "look" like or imitating the HDs. Hell I test drove a few and couldn't get comfortable on any of them since I'm a bigger guy. I knew I wanted a pushrod motor for the distinct sound, one that was dependable, and one that I could ride for a long distance without being sore or exhausted. The R* checked all of these boxes far better than the HD ever could. But I also wanted a bagger of some sort, and unfortunately Yama-mama doesn't really offer that in anything other than the Venture.

The reason we use HD parts a lot is because there are a TON of them out there. We can pick up a set of HD bags in mint condition for about 1/2 of what Venture bags run usually. The fairings are a dime a dozen these days, especially the inners. I got my inner for FREE, $125 in the outer w/ headlight, bucket, and bezel assembly, and $100 into the mounting brackets. I can't hardly buy one of those cheap eBay fairings for less than $250 now. As for wheels, HD has a much larger market and selection than we do, so it only makes since to buy an HD wheel at a lower price and adapt it to fit vs. spending double for a special order Yamaha specific wheel.

Basically it comes down to a cost vs. style debate. Yes, we have a tendency to style our bikes after HDs in some way (especially us bagger guys), but that's because the parts market is targeting HD guys 90% of the time meaning that is a majority of the parts that are easily sourced at better prices. None of us buy our bike with the sole purpose of "I'm going to build a HD on top of the Yamaha platform" idea. It's just one of those things that tends to happen along the way, and next thing you know you've got about 50% of the body covered in HD parts. I'm probably gonna be in the same boat since I'm about to install my HD fairing (because I want tunes and gauges, and it's the only option), will install a HD FLH front fender (because I like the lines and fit better), and HD hard lowers (because, as stated by Smokescreen, I don't like the TJD lowers). But I plan on running Venture bags and an aftermarket trunk.

Roadstars are a culmination of years of design ideas taken, I believe, from Indian, HD and other predecessor companies.
HD is far from the oldest mc company.
As far as cruiser style bikes looking similar; go to any bike show and you will see the latest styles and/or innovations imitated.
Mod to your hearts content and then ride til you cant ride any longer!

http://www.bikeexif.com/crocker-motorcycle nice classic lines.

Kai & Cike definitely nailed it for me as well. I too was looking at another bike brand when I saw the add for my 2000 R*S. My first thought was "what is wrong with this bike to make it so cheap?"...I had never been on or noticed R*'s before. I had had Yams but jumped brands to a goldwing after my Yam 750. The goldwing was getting too expensive to chase the emerging problems anymore and as I had to sit too upright, my knee was hurting on the longer rides.....I went to view the R* on a Fri night with the intent of trying to negotiate an even better deal and "that was it!"...I basically blurted out...I'll buy it and never looked back.
After I bought it I was acutally looking for the wind protection that I had on my goldwing started with a MS fairing and was very happy with it. Then I wanted tunes,and wanted a tach, Oil P,etc etc.. I researched available fairings and the closest I found that I liked was not a HD brand...but it came it @ $3500 CDN landed here. Sooooooo my HD inner cost $125 & my HD outer $250 and you all know how it goes from there.

Sorry for the lengthly roadtrip here but the main idea I had was to make my bike "me" and I was going for this look...Yes it has alot of similarities to a HD but there are things that are different again. My $.02

btw...I constantly receive compliments on my cool Harley as well...

Amen!

FastR3dn3k wrote:
I don't think of it as trying to make our bikes "look" like or imitating the HDs..................

The reason we use HD parts a lot is because there are a TON of them out there. We can pick up a set of HD bags in mint condition for about 1/2 of what Venture bags run usually. The fairings are a dime a dozen these days, especially the inners. I got my inner for FREE, $125 in the outer w/ headlight, bucket, and bezel assembly, and $100 into the mounting brackets. I can't hardly buy one of those cheap eBay fairings for less than $250 now. As for wheels, HD has a much larger market and selection than we do, so it only makes since to buy an HD wheel at a lower price and adapt it to fit vs. spending double for a special order Yamaha specific wheel.

Basically it comes down to a cost vs. style debate. Yes, we have a tendency to style our bikes after HDs in some way (especially us bagger guys), but that's because the parts market is targeting HD guys 90% of the time meaning that is a majority of the parts that are easily sourced at better prices. None of us buy our bike with the sole purpose of "I'm going to build a HD on top of the Yamaha platform" idea. It's just one of those things that tends to happen along the way, and next thing you know you've got about 50% of the body covered in HD parts.

All of the above....

BigDaddyT wrote:
Ok I'll be the guy that asks a question that may well offend some posters.

Why is it some guys buy a Roadstar and do their best to try and make it look like a HD? They add brackets for fairings and bags then purchase used fairings and bags and mount them up, etc. If they wanted an HD why didn't they just buy one to begin with?
Over the years I've owned just about every brand of bike, some I disliked from the first ride other like my original Chieftan I was sorry later that I sold it. But I never tried to clone a bike ever....I just do not see the logic in it. Enjoy your ride your way I'm not one to preach but to me you're doing an injustice to a Rd*.

I think it is called Personalization!!!!

I noticed that BigDaddyT never came back to respond to this question. Hope he's not just poking the bear...cause he definitely got a response. I wonder if he owns a Roadstar and what it looks like. Cause he's on line...C'mon BigDaddyT, show us your Roadstar!!!