Yamaha’s large-bore Road Star line was launched in 1999 with the XV1600 as the company’s flagship V-twin cruiser, and the 1700cc version arrived as a revised successor for the North American market in 2003 as a 2004 model-year machine. Yamaha described it as an update of the existing Road Star formula, with a larger engine and fresh styling while preserving the long, low cruiser character that made the nameplate popular. Over time, the 1700cc Road Star family broadened into variants such as the standard Road Star, Road Star Silverado, Midnight and Road Star S, reflecting Yamaha’s push to cover both stripped-down custom style and more touring-oriented cruiser buyers. Official Yamaha parts listings show Road Star 1700 model-year entries as late as 2014, indicating that this version remained in production through that model year before ending its run. It is best understood as the second major era of Yamaha’s flagship big-twin cruiser, following the original 1600cc Road Star and preceding Yamaha’s later cruiser lineup changes.
MODEL HISTORY