2014–2017 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Dark Style, Belt-Drive Soul
The XVS 1300 CFD is Yamaha's blacked-out take on the big cruiser, and it plays the part properly. A 1304 cc liquid-cooled 60° V-twin sits deep in a long, low frame. It makes 73 hp and a stout 78 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm, which is exactly where a cruiser should keep its muscle. Fuel injection and a belt final drive keep things clean and low-fuss. The dark finish and cast aluminum wheels give it a muscular custom look straight from the crate. Yamaha also fits a luggage system and an adjustable rear shock as standard, so this is a cruiser meant to go somewhere, not just sit outside the diner.
On the open highway it stays composed and planted even as speeds climb, and that calm is a big part of its appeal. Ownership is where it really earns its keep. The engine has proven durable, the belt spares you chain chores, and running costs stay low. It suits the rider who wants genuine cruiser stance and heft without layers of electronics. The caveats are plain. There is no ABS. The factory fuel mapping runs lean and makes it surge in 1st and 2nd at low rpm, which an O2 sensor bypass or ECU reflash sorts out. The muffler baffles can also break loose and rattle, so check that on any used bike.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 73 hp (54 kW) @ 5,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 78 lb-ft (106 Nm) @ 4,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1304 cc |
| Engine | 60° V-twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Front tire | 130/90-16 |
| Rear tire | 170/70-16 |
| Wheelbase | 66.5 in (1690 mm) |
| Seat height | 27.2 in (690 mm) |
| Wet weight | 668 lb (303 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.9 gal (18.5 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Comfort
Muffler baffle failure
Internal baffles in the exhaust can break loose, causing a rattling noise and potential overheating.
Low-RPM engine jerkiness
Lean fuel mapping from the factory causes hesitation and surging at low RPM, particularly in 1st and 2nd gear. Fixed with an O2 sensor bypass or ECU reflash.
Where this Yamaha XVS 1300 CFD pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the XVS 1300 CFD is actually built for.
If rolling into bike week on something long, low and dark is the point, this fits. It has real stance and presence, and it will get you there and back without drama.
Made for Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
For slow miles through small towns and historic routes, it fits nicely: relaxed, low and steady. Just know it's a full cruiser, heavy and feet-forward, not a light classic roadster.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Standard luggage and highway calm help, but a 4.9 gal tank, no cruise control and no ABS mean long park-to-park days take more stops and effort than a dedicated tourer.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Yamaha XVS 1300 CFD. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
