Faults:

The motor turns once and stops when the button is pressed. This happens because the starter motor's internal magnets come loose due to heat or use.

On roads with potholes or uneven pavement, the rear end can feel harsh or bouncy due to the monoshock setup.

Final toothed belt requires periodic inspection to prevent skipped teeth or premature breakage caused by stones or misalignment.

The bike stalls when the choke is closed or loses power upon sudden acceleration; this is usually due to clogged jets or a stuck carburetor float.

General Comments:

The Road Star Silverado is no ordinary cruiser.

With just 2,000 rpm showing on the LCD tachometer, an arc of blocks moving along an analog-style scale, the bike pulls with solid force that builds relentlessly as the revs climb.

The exhaust note is deep, powerful, and vastly different from the bland sound of most other V-twin engines, resembling instead the sound of a well-tuned Harley, even though the massive muffler keeps noise emissions within legal limits.

Throttle response is delightfully smooth and precise, and, most importantly, torque builds rapidly rather than dropping off, as is often the case with most cruiser engines. At 3,000 rpm, acceleration surges again, so much so that you have to double-check the small speedometer atop the fuel tank: 80 mph is reached quickly before the power begins to taper off, and even then, the bike remains quite fast.

Frankly, this engine is one of the most enjoyable I have had the privilege of riding. At idle, the bike vibrates with metronomic regularity, yet the vibration across the rev range is always powerful and evocative, never annoying or unpleasant. It only reaches 5,000 rpm, but that is part of the machine's charm: power delivery that is smooth yet tremendously potent. At 80 mph, the engine is turning over at around 3,000 rpm beneath you, and you can drop it down to roughly 1,000 rpm and it still pulls forward with delightful force.

The sensations produced by the engine are enhanced by the inverted toothed belt final drive, which operates with exceptional smoothness.

It also handles well, and the quality of the components is unbeatable, featuring elements like the fork and brakes from an R1. The riding position is unmistakably that of a cruiser, with footpegs set well forward and an extremely low seat positioned behind wide, swept-back handlebars, an arrangement that proves quite comfortable.

Passengers will likely appreciate this less: rear seating space is minimal, just a small pad atop the widened rear fender, and the footpegs are positioned so high that even a very short person would find it cramped. Then again, those who travel fast travel alone... For the rider, however, the comfort level is sufficient to consider long-distance trips.

I never would have considered owning a cruiser boat before, but I’m having a wonderful time with this Yamaha, the kind of fun I haven't had in a long time.