AMCN revealed Yamaha was planning a bike called Elude or Eluder nearly two years ago when the firm filed trademark applications for the names.

The Eluder is basically the same as Yamaha’s American-market Star Venture, a Goldwing-rivaling tourer launched earlier this year. But the Eluder has no top-box and a cut-down screen to give it a bagger look. Honda pulled the same trick to convert the ’Wing into the F6B, while Harley’s Street Glide and Road Glide also play in the same corner of the market.

The chassis and engine are pure Star Venture. That means it’s got an 1854cc V-twin with two balancer shafts, ride-by-wire, traction control and multiple riding modes. It pushes 126lb-ft of torque through a six-speed transmission and belt drive to a 200-section rear tyre. A gas-pressurised monoshock suspends that rear end, while a conventional 46mm fork does the job at the front. Infotainment is car-like; a seven-inch touchscreen operates a stereo, Bluetooth communications, on-board computer and an optional sat-nav. 

The base mode is priced at US$22,499 and, like the Venture, is an American-market-only model at this time.

By Ben Purvis