Yamaha Road Star vs Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline (2013)
Side-by-side spec comparison, pricing, and a plain-English breakdown of how the Yamaha Road Starstacks up against the Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline. Numbers pulled from manufacturer spec sheets — click either bike for the full review.
Spec comparison
| Spec | Yamaha Road Star | Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline |
|---|---|---|
| Model year | 2012 | 2013 |
| Price | $12,390 | $15,599 |
| Engine | 1672 cc | 1688 cc |
| Torque | — | 134 Nm |
| Weight | — | 294 kg |
| Seat height | 28 mm | 24 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 4.7 L | 5.0 L |
| Fuel type | petrol | petrol |
| Transmission | 5-speed | 6-speed |
| Front brakes | Double disc | Single disc. 4-piston |
| Rear brakes | Single disc | Single disc. 2-piston |
| Tires | 130/90-16 / 150/80-16 | MH90-21 / 200/55-R17 |
Yamaha Road Star vs Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline — which should you buy?
Picking between the Yamaha Road Star and the Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Yamaha Road Star brings its published horsepower, while the Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline counters with its own power figure at 294 kg. On price, the Yamaha Road Star 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: