Yamaha Road Star S vs Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline Dark Custom (2016)
Side-by-side spec comparison, pricing, and a plain-English breakdown of how the Yamaha Road Star Sstacks up against the Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline Dark Custom. Numbers pulled from manufacturer spec sheets — click either bike for the full review.
Spec comparison
| Spec | Yamaha Road Star S | Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline Dark Custom |
|---|---|---|
| Model year | 2016 | 2013 |
| Price | $12,990 | $15,599 |
| Engine | 1674 cc | 1688 cc |
| Torque | — | 134 Nm |
| Weight | — | 294 kg |
| Seat height | 28 mm | 24 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 L | 5.0 L |
| Fuel type | petrol | petrol |
| Transmission | 5-speed | 6-speed |
| Front brakes | Double disc. Hydraulic. | Single disc |
| Rear brakes | Single disc. Hydraulic. | Single disc |
| Tires | 130/90-M16 / 150/80-B16 | MH90-21 / 200/55-R17 |
Yamaha Road Star S vs Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline Dark Custom — which should you buy?
Picking between the Yamaha Road Star S and the Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline Dark Custom usually comes down to the numbers you care about most. On paper, the Yamaha Road Star S brings its published horsepower, while the Harley-Davidson Softail Blackline Dark Custom counters with its own power figure at 294 kg. On price, the Yamaha Road Star S 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: