Touring Motorcycle Review of the Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe

The Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe is one of those rare touring motorcycles that presents itself as a compromise. Most cruiser riders look at touring motorcycles such as the Honda Goldwing, or even Yamaha's own Royal Star Venture as potentially something that they might get when they get older, a "retirement motorcycle" so to speak. The Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe addresses these riders and asks "Why not now?" Offering many of the refinements available on a full-dress touring motorcycle, the Yamaha Tour Deluxe gives you the ability to have the best of both worlds.

Powered by the same 1294cc v-four engine as can be found on the Royal Star Venture, the Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe weighs slightly less, and has a slightly lower seat height. The Yamaha Tour Deluxe can be expected to get similar fuel economy to the Venture, due to it's underpinnings being largely similar, utilizing a five-speed transmission and shaft final drive on both the Venture and the Royal Star Tour Deluxe. Although a smaller engine, the Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe is no slouch, putting 97 horsepower and 89 foot-pounds of torque to the rear to get your fat butt off the line in a hurry. This power is found in the Yamaha Tour Deluxe and Venture thanks to those fine engineers that brought us the Warrior and V-Max.