The Yamaha Road Star Warrior Forum

Has anyone raced a Raider? I almost bought one instead of the Warrior but I came from sportbikes and wasn't quite ready to go full cruiser yet.

The Raider is faster in a straight line.  The Warrior will walk away in the twisties.

yeah i raced one the other day. it was a long light to light straightaway. i pulled him hard from the line through third, just when it looked like he was going to catch me........a Harley passed us both.

INJEKTER:

yeah i raced one the other day. it was a long light to light straightaway. i pulled him hard from the line through third, just when it looked like he was going to catch me........a Harley passed us both.

It was either a V-Rod or your full of sh*t!

 Raider is more traditional cruiser-chopper, laid back, with plenty of power.  The Warrior, well you all know already. I personally haven't ridden the Raider yet, but definitely has the ridding position I preffer, as I do very long rides, and the Warrior is not as confortable.  However, comming from the laidback chopper type ride past, I can assure you I feel alot more confident on the Warrior, but like the looks of the Raider better. On the Warrior I have lots more control of the ride dynamics and road conditions, plus it has plenty of go go go power.  Specially in South Florida you need to get up and go on green lights, people will run you over, for real. Here a twisty is a 90 degree turn, all straight roads, I heard up in Central Fl, there are some neat roads, but I have not tested my Warrior on them yet.  On 90 degree turns, I bet anyone the Warrior will kick their but cleanly, on straights, it depends what you have.

OldMan:

The Raider is faster in a straight line.  The Warrior will walk away in the twisties.

 Actually several riders here have attested to been taken by a sup-up Harley, I heard with a 120 or 112 cu conversion, I'm not a Harley litterate, so I don't know if they exist. I still think that not even a V-rod can really take a mildly customized Warrior with a very experienced drag racer. I still learning my bike, but once I do, I'll let you all know.

OldMan:

The Raider is faster in a straight line.  The Warrior will walk away in the twisties.

IMO, the difference is not dramatic at all. Either bike can only be ridden moderately quickly in twisties due to lack of ground clearance and the laid back riding position.  Both do superb job by cruiser standards.

Raider felt every bit as fast as my mildly hopped up Warrior, but I'd have to flip a coin to guess which was faster by a seat of the pants comparison.

Raider is WAY more comfortable and sounds perfect stock.  Warrior looks better to me...at least once the bazooka exhaust is removed and hidden from public view.

They do make these conversion for Harley, but if you put a 5000 dollar motor in your Warrior....well no contest! I have ridden several V-Rods and I hate to say it but they would leave my Warrior crying. BUT my Warrior looks better and will last a HELL of alot longer.

lee03:

They do make these conversion for Harley, but if you put a 5000 dollar motor in your Warrior....well no contest! I have ridden several V-Rods and I hate to say it but they would leave my Warrior crying. BUT my Warrior looks better and will last a HELL of alot longer.

Man thanks for the headsup, I never though a bike as hideous as the Vrod could do serious damage, interesting...

 I look at it this way, In terms of price 2x Warrior = 1x VRod. So IF the vrod was as afforadable as the Warrior then yea it would be worth my time. But for the price of a Vrod I can make a Warrior that will do anything a Vrod can. Plus have you tried digging into the heart of a Vrod?  That thing is built like a tank, you cant get in or out of it without some sort of military training...(its a joke, dont jump down my throat)

To get back to the original post, I have a buddy with the Raider. I have ridden the Raider/ raced him while he was on the Raider. We have both let a different guy ride our bikes and ALL three of us are in agreement that the Warrior with some engine mods would wreck the Raider just due to the fact that it acts like a sail @ +80mph, the big turned tank at the angle its at  takes so much of the potential power and eats it. Currently the Raider takes it but not by much. Plus I like my (little brother Warrior) as my friend with the Raider calls it. He has no idea whats coming next winter... 

I can beat a raider is Crusty is riding it...

I ride with a guy and he pulls away in 5th with his Raider.  And contrary to belief, he bombs into turns without a problem and it can be work to keep up with him.

That Harley must have been being towed by something fast!

Zak