YAMAHA
Drag Star 400
Yamaha Drag Star 400
- Manufacturer
- YAMAHA
- Model
- Drag Star 400
- Year
- 1996
- Type
- Cruiser
- Origin
- Japan
01 — Overview
A 400 cc cruiser introduced in 1996 as the successor to the Virago 400. A chrome-plated, air-cooled 399 cm³ V-twin sat in a chassis inspired by drag racing, with a low seat and long wheelbase. Gear ratios favoured the mid-speed range for city riding, and final drive was by shaft.
02 — Historical Context
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
According to Yamaha, it became the company's representative cruiser model.
1990s — Replicas matured, naked bikes rose, and a new idea of the lightweight superbike took shape.
03 — Engine
ENGINE
V-Twin
Two cylinders in a V — slim, with a distinctive pulse; used in cruisers and sports machines alike. Intake, compression, power, exhaust — the cycle behind today's combustion motorcycles.General description of the layout
| Engine layout | V-Twin[1] |
|---|---|
| Cycle | Four-stroke[1] |
| Displacement | 399 cc[1] |
| Cooling | Air-cooled[1] |
| Valvetrain | SOHC, 2-valve[1] |
| Max. power | 24.3 kW / 7,500 rpm[1] |
| Max. power | 33 PS / 7,500 rpm[1] |
| Max. torque | 32.4 N·m / 6,000 rpm[1] |
| Max. torque | 3.3 kgf·m / 6,000 rpm[1] |
| Final drive | shaft[1] |
04 — Specifications
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Every figure is sourced. Unverified values are not published.
05 — Generations
GENERATION HISTORY
Drag Star 400XVS4001996–
Generations, model years and market variants (Model → Generation → Variant) are added as they are verified.
06 — Cultural Context
CULTURAL CONTEXT
07 — Gallery
GALLERY
RELATED MOTORCYCLES
08
09 — Sources
SOURCES
- [1]1996 DragStar (XVS400) - Communication Plaza CollectionYamaha Motor Co., Ltd. · museum · accessed 2026-09-26
- [2]Yamaha Motor History - Product History (Motorcycles / Commuter Vehicles)Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. · manufacturer · accessed 2026-09-26
10 — Image Credits
PHOTO CREDITS
- Creator
- Ярослав2017
- License
- CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Ярослав2017, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons