Yamaha Stryker

Befitting a bike of the custom cruiser genre, the Stryker boasts raked out front forks with a large 21-inch front wheel, a chunky 210-section rear wheel, and the fuel tank features flame decals to add to its take-no-prisoners attitude. Low bars, minimalist fenders and a low-slung one-piece seat also contribute to the custom chopper look.

The dual exhaust pipes have been thoughtfully bent to improve aesthetics and the front and rear wheel guards are made from steel.

The 2011 Yamaha Stryker's rear brake light is comprised of LEDs and it's possible that the design may have more appeal than the Honda Fury with its plastic rocker covers. Colours include Impact blue, Reddish copper and Raven black.

• 1304cc (80 cubic inch), liquid-cooled, short stroke, SOHC, 4-valve per cylinder, fuel injected, 60° V-twin powerplant pumps out impressive power and torque for excellent cruising performance.

• Uneven firing interval, bore & stroke dimensions and special ignition & injection mapping all contribute to excellent torque output and that classic V-twin pulse feeling

• Liquid-cooling not only allows for higher state of tune because it maintains more stable operating temperatures, but also reduces mechanical noise for a quieter engine.

• In an effort to maintain the classic air-cooled appearance of the engine, cooling fins have been added as a styling highlight.

• The short stroke engine design reduces the “height” of the engine, while the 60 degree “V” makes the engine more compact thereby centralizing mass and lowering the center of gravity for lighter, more responsive handling.

• One-piece cylinder heads feature 4-valves per cylinder to provide optimum breathing efficiency for maximum power output.

• Stylish chromed cylinder head covers.

• The SOHC valve train features 36mm intake and 32mm exhaust valves with special single coil springs for great power and torque. Valves angles are set at 20 degrees from centre.

• Specially designed roller rockers activate the valves. The rocker system allows a greater amount of valve lift without causing excessive camshaft wear and friction. The slipper portion of the rocker arm features a needle bearing which reduces wear and slide resistance (friction). The camshafts have been specially designed for use with roller rockers.

• Mikuni dual bore, 40mm throttle body fuel injection system with TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) and ISC (Idle Speed Control). This is a “closed loop” system that utilizes an oxygen sensor in the exhaust. The sensor “sniffs” the spent exhaust gases and feeds back info to the ECU which in turn adjusts the fuel/air mixture for maximum power with minimum emissions. The oxygen sensor is located before the mufflers, so the use of slip-on mufflers will not affect this system. Each injector features 12 holes and a dual spray pattern for better fuel atomization and more complete combustion chamber filling. There is one injector per cylinder. Fuel injection benefits include improved fuel economy; choke less operation, reduced emissions, and smoother running.

• High pressure fuel pump is located in a separate sub tank below the seat.

• 2 into 1 into 2 exhaust system features dual slash cut mufflers which provide a specially developed exhaust note that accentuates the V-Twin rumble. The engineers call it the “sound of acceleration”.

• A 3-way honeycomb catalyzer is located at the entry point to the mufflers. The catalyzer reduces harmful exhaust emissions.

• Smooth-shifting, 5-speed transmission with 5th gear o