This Yamaha nameplate was introduced for the 2007 model year as an all-new North American cruiser, arriving as a larger successor to the company’s earlier V Star 1100 family. Yamaha positioned it as a modern middleweight-to-large cruiser built around a newly developed liquid-cooled V-twin and a more contemporary chassis, aimed at riders who wanted long-distance comfort and easy manners without moving all the way up to a full-size heavyweight touring bike. The model launched in standard form and also appeared in touring-oriented versions, with factory luggage and wind protection available depending on market and year.
Within Yamaha’s cruiser lineup, the 1300 filled an important role as a refined, approachable shaft-drive road bike with a more substantial feel than the 950 and 1100 models, but without the bulk of the company’s larger-displacement cruisers. Over its run, it became known as one of the core Star-era cruisers in the U.S. market and was sold in several closely related configurations, including Tourer and Deluxe editions. The nameplate remained on sale for the 2017 model year, after which it disappeared from Yamaha’s lineup in North America. There is no evidence of a separate earlier-and-later production revival for this exact nameplate.