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Star Motorcycles recently hosted the Motorcycle
Press in Austin, Texas to evaluate the all-new
Stryker. As reviews roll in, we'll keep you posted
with excerpts from the press.
Excerpts used by
permission of the publications and websites.
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Roadbike Magazine Cover Story from
January/February 2011 - Love
Struck, Baby –Star’s New Midsized Custom Strokes
The Right Chord  “Kudos to Star designers
and engineers for really paying attention to what
custom builders have been doing to high-end custom
cruisers for years. For a fraction of the price,
Star’s gone further than most one-off customs you
see parked at the local watering hole. The new
Stryker is a real-world, factory custom motorcycle
for real riders.”
“The Stryker’s tank is
sculpted in a slight arch, with a new instrument
dash located in the center of the handlebar. The
bike works the custom styling with chopped metal
fenders that fit as tightly as possible to
low-profile tires, and showcases a riding position
that has the rider sitting “in” the bike, with feet
forward and arms out in front, at one with the
motorcycle. Stying details focus on muscular,
machined and sharp features, which give the bike a
modern look and feel.”
“The raked-out look is
achieved with 41mm fork tubes and newly designed
raked triple clamps and 6 degree yoke. Slow speed
maneuvers are surprisingly easy, and I was
particularly impressed with the extreme degree of
the fork’s turning radius, which definitely make
tight U-turns quick and simple.” “Star gets
two thumbs up for including a “select” switch on
the right handgrip control. The switch toggles the
LCD readout between an odometer, two tripometers,
clock and fuel gauge, so you don’t have to take
your hands off the grips.” “But the Stryker’s
strong suit is surely the bike’s ability to deliver
an easy, relaxed ride. Most of our press ride was
spent rolling through Texas’ desolate ranch country
on long, slow sweepers. The Stryker was right at
home here and cruising to the mesmerizing V-twin
pulse reminded me why cruisers are still the most
popular motorcycles out there.”
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Rider Magazine, Cover Story January 2011
- Stryke Force “While Star’s
independent GKDI styling group worked to give the
Stryker its own character, many of the Raider’s
dimensions are carried over because they work.”
“Like the Raider, the Stryker’s rider sits down
low in the bike, with “fists punching the wind”
gripping the tall handlebar. Rider footpegs are
well forward, hand grips and levers beefy. Six-gun
revolver style slits dress up the chrome instrument
pod on the handlebar, chrome tank nacelle and rear
fender support, and the radiator is tucked between
the front downtubes to make it disappear in
profile.” “Not so the liquid cooled, 1304 cc
60 degree V twin from the V Star 1300, which sits
low but prominently in the Stryker’s tubular-steel
double-cradle frame. Its cooling lines are routed
internally and oil filter tucked underneath to keep
the look clean and uncluttered. For a good pulse
feel and sound the forged connecting rods ride on a
single crankpin, but the rigid-mounted engine has
dual gear-driven counterbalancers to keep the vibes
to a minimum. In the top end, roller rocker arms
riding on single overhead cams actuate four valves
per cylinder with lengthy 16,000-mile adjustment
intervals.”
“You can swing either leg
over the Stryker’s low rear fender and passenger
seat from either side and settle down onto its
ground hugging 26.4-inch-high, wide and fairly
comfortable seat. With my 29-inch inseam I fit the
bike about perfectly, arms hung straight out but
relaxed on the grips and legs bent at the knee, my
back resting comfortably against the generous
lumbar support on the seat. Taller riders should
find the bike a good fit, too.” “As with most
Star motorcycles, the Stryker invites customization
with features like sculptable steel fenders, belt
final drive that allows easy wheel changes and
single-disc brakes that show off more of the wheels
(and some gorgeous billet hoops are two of the more
than 60 accessories styled by the same U.S. –based
team that designed the Stryker.)” “The
Stryker is pretty easy on the eyes-everywhere you
ride the bike it garners admiring looks, and living
with it on a daily basis is pretty easy, too.”
“I liked being able to see the analog speedo at
a glance in its elevated position on the handlebar,
and scrolling and resetting the digital display on
it with fuel gauge, two tripmeters, clock and
odometer readouts is easily done with buttons on
the right bar.” “Star Motorcycles says that
among midsize cruisers, “custom” models with
chopped fenders, low-profile wheels and tires and a
sit-in riding position are the highest sellers. The
Stryker fills that niche in Star’s lineup with a
well-made, nicely finished, solid performing bike
with beautiful styling.”
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"Looks are what it's all about in this class,
and the Stryker comes through with a Yamaha-quality
level of paint, fit, finish and a lack of
plasticity that few other manufacturers can match."
"Decent cornering clearance and reasonable
brakes mean hustling the Stryker through curvy
roads and around town is fun as well as
fashionable."
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 motorcycle-usa.com,
October 2010
"The way the seat scoops down low is cool, too. Its
stock cast wheels look more custom than factory and
it has metal fenders, which may be a trivial fact,
but it adds worlds to the Stryker's fit and finish,
especially considering its $11,240 MSRP."
"The Stryker is planted as we hit a series of
sweepers and 35 mph turns. Star made a smart choice
in only going 210mm-wide on the rear. It gives the
bike the custom look Star was hoping for without
totally sacrificing handling."
"Acceleration is snappy for a 1300 and the bike
overall feels lighter than is claimed 646-pound
running-order. Gearing is fairly tall and power
delivery is even throughout the powerband."
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". . .the Stryker
should otherwise turn heads with a base MSRP $2K
cheaper than the 2010 Fury. . ."
"Lending greatly to the Stryker's pleasant ride is
a well-balanced suspension package that offered
better-than-expected damping from both the shock
and fork."
"Along with perceived higher
quality offered from the metal fenders, I also
appreciated the LCD selector and reset button
located in one spot."
". . .Star has a
well-heeled, sufficiently powered, all-around good
performer in the new Stryker."
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"First gear is nice and
low, allowing for whatever slow speed needs you
have, and second is also low enough that it can
pull away from a stop without so much as slipping
the clutch."
"In a straight line, the
long wheelbase and raked front end feel perfect.
There is no hint of wandering or instability. Take
it up to 100 mph and the Stryker still feels
confident."
"Corners are stable, with
the Stryker having a nice, predictable turn-in."
"Transitions in switchbacks are predictably
relaxed, and ground clearance is good. Your boot
heels will be the first to touch down."
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"The 80 cubic inch twin
really has a more than adequate amount of power,
with a decent low end and a strong mid that opens
with a kick to the power delivery curve that
extends well into the top. It really revs out quite
nicely for a cruiser. Applying a healthy dose of
throttle was a satisfying experience on every
occasion.”
"The Stryker offers metal
fenders, a low maintenance shaft drive, a more
muscular appearance, and a base msrp of
$11,000--that's $2,000 less than the Fury. And it's
that tiny detail at the end there that will
probably make a big difference."
"All in
all, the bike handles very well, and is a blast to
ride."
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"With a seat height of
26.4 inches--the lowest in the Star lineup--Stryker
doesn't feel intimidating to swing a leg over. . ."
"The light clutch lever works
progressively. . .gear changes are positive with an
easy-to-find neutral."
"Star's Stryker
is a solid performer and a great value. . ."
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ultimatemotorcycling.com,
October 2010