Yamaha Road Star S vs Harley-Davidson FLD Dyna Switchback (2016)

Side-by-side spec comparison, pricing, and a plain-English breakdown of how the Yamaha Road Star Sstacks up against the Harley-Davidson FLD Dyna Switchback. Numbers pulled from manufacturer spec sheets — click either bike for the full review.

Spec comparison

SpecYamaha Road Star SHarley-Davidson FLD Dyna Switchback
Model year20162012
Price$12,990$15,999
Engine1674 cc1688 cc
Torque136 Nm
Weight316 kg
Seat height28 mm26 mm
Fuel capacity4.8 L4.7 L
Fuel typepetrolpetrol
Transmission5-speed6-speed
Front brakesDouble disc. Hydraulic. Single disc. 4-piston fixed. Optional ABS.
Rear brakesSingle disc. Hydraulic. Single disc. 2-piston torque-free floating. Optional ABS.
Tires130/90-M16 / 150/80-B16 130/70-B18 / 160/70-B17

Yamaha Road Star S vs Harley-Davidson FLD Dyna Switchback — which should you buy?

Picking between the Yamaha Road Star S and the Harley-Davidson FLD Dyna Switchback usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Yamaha Road Star S brings its published horsepower, while the Harley-Davidson FLD Dyna Switchback counters with its own power figure at 316 kg. On price, the Yamaha Road Star S has the lower MSRP.

Our spec tables above highlight the winning number on each line. For the full rider-focused reviews including real-world fuel economy, service costs and available colors, click into either bike: