In 2006, alongside the base model, the Japanese motorcycle maker launched the Yamaha Road Star Midnight Warrior, a cruiser motorcycle that packed the same technical and performance modifications as the standard model but with a blacked-out trim.
Very few bits and pieces escaped the black treatment, but its sober appearance was characterized by blacked-out components, such as the headlight housing, front fork, fenders, frame, fuel tank, wheels, exhaust system, engine, and engine casings.
Besides its black-finished components, the cruiser had the same standard features as the base model, including a single headlight unit, a wide, pulled-back handlebar, a teardrop-shaped fuel tank, a two-piece dual seat, a two-into-one exhaust system with an oversized muffler mounted on the right side, and five-spoke alloy wheels.
Underneath its stylish fuel tank, the 2006 Yamaha Road Star Midnight Warrior had installed a 1,670cc four-stroke air-cooled V-twin engine, managed by a fuel injection system, delivering 84 hp with maximum strength at 4,400 rpm and 99 Nm (135 lb-ft) torque at 3,750 rpm.
All the power generated by the massive engine was transferred to a five-speed manual gearbox with a wet multi-plate clutch and sent to the rear wheel through a low-maintenance final belt drive.
The bike was tamed by two 298 mm brake discs tied to four-piston calipers on the 18-inch front wheel and a 282 mm disc coupled to a single-piston caliper on the 17-inch rear wheel.