Stratoliner

This nameplate appeared in the 2006 model year as part of Yamaha’s Star cruiser push in North America, pairing the company’s new big-bore V-twin cruiser platform with a more touring-oriented presentation than the base roadster sibling. Yamaha’s official launch materials for the 2006 North American cruiser line place the model family’s debut in 2006, and Yamaha’s own U.S. parts and accessories references show the nameplate continuing through the 2014 model year. Over that span, the bike was positioned as a premium long-distance cruiser with a substantial road presence, added comfort equipment, and a more dressed-up character than the stripped-back performance cruiser versions in the same family. In Yamaha’s Star lineup, it occupied the middle ground between custom-styled showpiece and practical touring mount, appealing to riders who wanted big-bike cruising style without moving all the way to a full touring rig. The nameplate also spawned later variations, including a Deluxe version, but it remained part of one continuous production run rather than disappearing and returning later. By the mid-2010s, its role in the lineup had been superseded as Yamaha’s cruiser range evolved toward newer touring and bagger models, and the nameplate ended after the 2014 model year.