Hey Alex, Glad to see someone finally pushing for the Bolt. I bought mine back in Feb /20 and have put 5,750 miles on it so far... Had a Virago before that., Mine is exactly the same as the one in the Vid, except I also have the Pillion seat and passenger foot pegs. Uhmmm. Some key points for those wanting one. For being so called middle of the scale..... these bikes go like Stink , Really! Full torque of 59.3 foot lbs is reached at only 3,000 rpm and they Will Pull all the way through up to 5,780 rpm where the rev-limiter kicks in... Giving you a top end of around 108 mph , (174 kph for us Canadians :) ). The Engine is 58 cubic inches of total fun, (942 CC 4 valves per cylinder).The Bolt is Fuel injected. ! Fuel Economy: This is a tough one, Yamaha's website says 61 mpg ( imp gal) that's ~ 73 mpg us gal, I've never gotten over 60, Usually I pan out at about 57 mpg. So I think they meant USG not Imperial gallons there.( yes, I ride the bike usually on the highway at around 65~70 mph, so.... ) Rake is 29 degrees, so they are very Flickable, and surprisingly "very stable and well behaved at low low speeds" ( think of the rush- hour crawl of 4 mph... Not a problem) Gas tank is 13 litres, (3.43 us gal ), with a 2.8 litre reserve (when the fuel warning light comes on).... which equates to about 35 miles till the bike becomes a door- stop because the gas tank is empty...The Trip meter will change to kilometres gone since reserve...., a Bonus if you think about it... lol. Speaking of the Speedometer, you have the Odometer, Trips 1 & 2, and Clock on the main display, which you can toggle through here on the right grip console... No gear indicator....you have; fuel warning, engine light, turn signals, Hi beam and Neutral indication. 27 inch seat height. The Stock seat is very comfortable, one can easily ride 100 miles without a tail-bone issue... 547 lbs wet weight, 70% of the weight is... Down between your ankles, where it should be. Kudos to the V star Engineers for that. 35 degree left and right lean angle. ( no peg dragging fears here.) 5 speed sequential gearbox... 4 up 1 down, as is typical. Clutch is soft pull, Front and back brakes are set typical 70 /30 % with two cylinders on the front disk, and one cylinder on back. Ohhh, and a word of Warning here.... the Front brake can stop the bike quick with a one or two finger pull depending on your hand strength, so DO NOT get into the habit of grabbing a Fist-full of front Brake.....And, ALSO, the back brake can Skid the rear tire if you get feisty and press down too firmly and you will scare the crap out of people with the tire-skid squeal . So Beware new owners of this on the beast. Mid Pegs.... Sport rider converts will love this ! Yes you can Stand-Up on the Bolt easily if you need too. All Said and done, The Bolt is an awesome ride and will be all the bike you need to do hi-way rides, fast or slow, and as it is a cruiser V-twin, you will never feel out of place parking next to other Bikes. Stay Safe W
Enjoyed your read up, one point re the brakes. In the UK, Allnew motorcycles above and including 125 must legally be fitted with ABS. Best regards James Patterson (Softail Streetbob owner)
@@lucahb6629 Hi Lucah, Ummm You really need to ride one and see if you feel Scrunched up. As I mentioned, it has a 27 inch seat height, and I have a 31 inch inseam, which puts the tops of my knees even with the mid-line of the fuel tank while riding, and I can flat foot the bike quite easily at a stop while my knees are still bent. So Yeah... You really need to ride one and see if it fits you. Stay Safe.
Reliable, comfortable, simple and clean looks, nice 900 v-twin rumble. I bought my R spec on sale 5 years ago, and haven't changed a thing, I love it. Had to ride my bro in laws Sportster 48 to the shop for warranty work, and it was nice too... however, I kept thinking my Yamaha had a better ride and was much more comfortable. The Bolt is incredible value.
I got my 2020 bolt about 3 weeks ago and love it. Easy to handle, not as heavy as some other bikes I was looking into. It was down to the bolt and the Harley 883 sportster. Seeing how the bolt had more CCs, wasn't as heavy and was a lot cheaper, it ended up edging out the sportster. Already got over 200 miles on her and still loving it!
i’m a sixteen year old who is looking to enter the motorcycle scene,what are some good beginner bikes you’d recommend? I already have experience riding dirt bikes at speeds of 50 mph in the desert
You can start with this video and watch the series I made:ruclips.net/video/wPxhHo8-HAo/видео.html AND I have a huge playlist of tips for that here: ruclips.net/p/PLeGzEYtWH3SDUvOtb62ULO8z8MqgjN7NE
Ok Heidi. The 883 torque is 68 Nm = 50.1 ft lbs, Rpm = 4750 rpms . As you know , HP = 2 x Pi x rpm's x torque / 33,000. A draft horse selected by James Watt saw that it could lift 550 pounds 1 foot in 1 second , (aka 1 horse power, ). So 550 foot pound seconds = 33,000 ft lbs per minute . Soooo .. HP = torque ,T, x rpm's,N, / 33, 0000 and as we use rev's per minute not per second. We use 2 Pi as we are doing a rotation through 360 degrees, Ya?..... so the formula is HP= 2 Pi N T / 33,000..... Dividing through by 2 Pi we get NT/ 5252.113. but for generalities we round off to 5252..... Ok, so here's where it gets interesting.... Take the Bolts Torque of 59.3 foot pounds at 3000 rpm and stays steady up to 5252 rpm .... This happens...,, HP= NT /5252.... BUT if N =5252 , we have 5252 x 59,3 / 5252= HP meaning .. HP= Torque as the 5252 part cancels out. That gives ~ 59 to 65 HP , rpm dependant - losses at top end of about 61 HP The 1200 at 71 ft-lbs at 3500, (HD's Dyno rpm rating) = 47 hp The 883, based on their spec, is 50.1 ft-lbs x 4750 rpm = 45 hp So My response to your query, From me, another Bolt rider is: Yes the Bolt is faster, stronger, and if ridden properly, will smoke an HD 883 and definitely shame the 1200 if not kick its butt every time . As Yamaha said:.... Faster Sons Sorry for the math lesson, not sure if you wanted/ needed it , but now you have it... no one can blow smoke at you. Stay Safe W
I bought a new SCR950 as a gift for my brother. It's basically a scrambler version of the Bolt. I rode the bike from Florida to Texas to give it to him. What a TORQUE monster. The motor is superb. It will cruise at 75 MPH all day long. It's an awesome motor.
I bought a 2019 R-Spec bolt about a month ago after watching and googling so many reviews and opinions on it, including your old review. I have to say as a new rider it feels and handles amazing. Although it is my first bike I don't think I could have made a better choice. It has just the right amount of power and handling and style that I can't see myself letting it go any time soon in the future. It might just end up a heritage bike for my family down the line.
So happy to hear that you are enjoying it! Awesome choice, and definitely can be a forever bike if taken care of! Enjoy the ride and keep the rubber side down!
I sold my r1 for my Bolt and it was the best decision I've made. Completely in love with my bike mostly because I've customized it to fit my style and needs.
Do you miss the speed or excitement you got from a supersport ? I’ve been watching a bolt for a while now but I feel like I’m going to miss the power that my sport bike has. How was that transition for you ?
@@urbanstyle20 no. I realized that there is no need to go over 100 mph on the road. It's just going to get you into trouble. The bolt has enough torque to zip in and out of traffic and can hold 100mph pretty good if I need to but I got it for cruising, not to race the bike. You got to think about what you want. If you want to go over 135 mph on the freeway, race on the canyon (not the place to do so but I used to), or go to the track, keep the sport bike. If your not interested in the speed anymore and just want something more comfortable and something to customize, get the bolt. Those were my reasons
I have a 2015 Star Bolt, I love it, low rev, high torque, great acceleration, great road handling,. My question is one I don't see others bring up. At very slow speed, it feels top heavy, like up in the Gas tank area. Comparatively, I had a Harly 74. semi chopped, kick starter, bored to 1500 cc. A beast yet it handled rather easily with no sense of being top-heavy. I rode it all over the Pacific Northwest, up hills forest roads, and of course freeways. The Bolt serves my needs, however, I feel like it is Top Heavy, at low turning speed. I never had this 'sense' on my other bikes. Including a modified 750 Guzzi with peanut hank and moderately swept-back handlebars. (unusual to see but it was great) Also a Norton 750 commando. The Harley and the Bolt look so similar, yet I never had the sensation of my other bikes being top-heavy. Only at low speeds,.. can you shed some light on this?
been riding over 12 years now, I have to say the bolt is a fun bike. I got an 18 bolt. Had it over a year now. No problems after 10,000 miles. Paid $7,600 at the Honda dealer, came with bags, passenger kit, and only 40 miles. The bike was made for a 5’9, young fit guy like me.
I have this identical bike: same year, color, and model. I'm ~280#, and my wife is ~210#, and we have racked up over 4000 2 up miles without an issue. With a sissy bar and hwy pegs, its very comfortable. Once you learn how to sync the throttle bodies, you're golden. Badass bike, I have no reason to trade it in on any other bike. (I paid cash for mine, so could have afforded a different brand, but WHY!?) 🍻
This second vid definitely has me set to get one! I have an 89’ sportster but I just want something of the same layout, but newer and reliable, AND THE BOLT IS IT.
Like, that's just your opinion dude. But, seriously, that was an excellent presentation in content and style. I really got a lot out of it - you covered everything I was wondering about. I have a '67 FLH that's been a basket case for quite a few years (wife), I'm 73 now and thinking about get back on a basic bike or maxi-scooter(widower). You have delivered a great "data point" for me. Thanks. I"ll be checking out you channel.
Thanks for this review. I have been looking for a good review on the Bolt for a while, and then given up, right before you uploaded it. Anyway. Thank you for this. I love how you explained it all in such a way that a complete lehman like myself can fully understand what the Bolt does.
I have a V Star 950 which I call the most underrated cruise under 1100cc ever produced. Yamaha stopped making it in 2017 along with the v Star 1300. The Bolt uses the same 950cc engine that the V Star had. Most people don’t even know what my bike is. I see the popularity of the Bolt as verification of my opinion.
Hi Alex. I'm a big fan of the Yam Bolt, and I would have really enjoyed seeing more of the bike. Maybe you could tie your left hand behind your back next time. Great bike, what I saw of it.
Sweet bike, I personally wanted to get a C-Spec (Yamaha XV 950 Racer in Europe) but the prices were terrible, cheapest I found was 8,000 euros, then I found a Triumph Street Twin for 7,000 Euros, Triumph > Yamaha, it was like finding a BMW for cheaper than a Toyota, plus the Street Twin was the more powerful bike of the two and has a significantly higher customization load out, it was pretty much a no brainer after that, then I went back to the dealer to give them one last chance to give me the Yamaha for 7,000, they didn't budge so I bought the Triumph, no rAgrets, and when the winter passes I'll ride by their shop hehe.
If or when I downsize from my Softail Street Bob. I will definitely be looking at getting a Yamaha Bolt. That last chap who messaged you is mistaken the Bolt is available in G.B.
I'm a committed Harley Davidson owner (my 3rd) from Liverpool UK. Now Harley are dropping the Iron and Sportster range in the UK. My current bike is a Softail Streetbob. If in the near future I think about downsizing the bike I would definitely look at trading the Harley in for the YAMAHA BOLT.
Interesting that they are dropping the Sportster line in the UK, I would think over there it would be more popular just due to the different nature of riding there vs. here! Thanks James!
I’ve had my bolt since 2016, have over 50k miles, no major issues, just routine maintenance stuff, love it, great all around. Cruise 80mph all day long.
Hmm.. My 650 CC Vulcan S produces 61 horses and 63 NM with Liquid cooling & ABS and it’s less expensive ! To my eyes, it looks better than Bolt.. Your Review ( the first one I’ve seen in Bolt) made me proud and happy for having chosen a Vulcan 😊
Yes the Vulcan S is an AWESOME motorcycle and actually I think under rated by a lot of the motorcycle world, Kawasaki was GENIUS for putting the Ninja 650 power plant on it!
Ive rode a 2014 Bolt for 2 years now. I love it, the only other bike I’d consider is an MT series (7, 09, or 10). The Bolt is very torque-y lol and has a great center of gravity compared to a Harley Sportster. It has quick low RPM get up. If you want to go 105+, look elsewhere tho
Outside of in town riding it could use a 6th gear and larger tank. Other than that, I love mine. Cobra intake and exhaust with brass accents and a bobber spring seat and it gets a lot of compliments
I'm happy with mine. It runs as it should and was quite a bit cheaper than a Harley 833 considering I didn't have to pay extra for the pillion seat and so on.
I have an SCR 950 basically avparts bin special Bolt. Its simply ultra reliable, a pleasure to ride and so simple to maintain. I had the seat upgraded with extra padding and its my daily driver. I have covered 55000 trouble free miles riding year round in all kinds of weather in the UK. Its great badically a 1980's bike. Its a keeper.
Might also mention, if you google "best motorcycle brand," Yamaha and Honda pop up as #1 and #2. People say, "Wow, I want #1." Then they look at the Yamaha website and pick out the model they like. It's no wonder the Bolt sells so well. It has the Yamaha name on it. For many, that's evidence enough.
Right out of the crate, The Bolt has reliability and styling. It's also a truly great platform for customization. I'm a fan of air/oil cooled engines. I also like chrome engine covers. Race Tech, Progressive Suspension and All Balls make components to improve handling and ride quality. I'm glad Yamaha got rid of the flange/seam on the gas tank. The new gas tanks look so much cleaner.
Why is it so popular? Because it's a yamaha. Its hassle free and reliable. I had a bike that was constantly in the shop. Not naming names, and you know the saying "if it's in the garage your not riding".
A couple things. A buddy of mine has a bolt and I've ridden it more times than I can count. This bike did have more power than my 883 sporty but once I put the 1200 jugs on it those days were over and it can't keep up with my stock 48 either. And I drag the foot pegs just about every time I get on it which is no change from either sportster and in fact it's slightly better but not by much. The riding position is a little better than the sporty and the stock seat is much more comfortable. You have a little more leg room and the bars are higher on the bolt where as you're leaning more forward on a stock sporty. And I have no doubt that if yamaha put a 1200.v-twin on a bolt it would more than likely eat any stock sportster and possibly harley big twin ever built. Put bassani sweepers on it and it sounds friggen great but while this is subjective I believe the evo sportster is the best sounding bike on planet earth with the right pipes and especially a carbed sporty with a nice high flow air cleaner. Bolts are nice bikes but the looks I have to say go to the harley too. Just some long winded rambling from a bike geek.
A 1200 v twin bolt is something needed ! With like +- 65HP and around 70-75 ft. Lb torque, just take my money at that point. What a dream bike that would be !
I noticed that Yamaha has cheapened the basic model Bolt, in the worse possible way. They put wire spoke wheels and tube type tires on it. And it has no centerstand. So WHEN (not if) you have a flat tire, and I've had over a dozen of them over my past 46 years of riding, there is simply no way to fix it. You have to call a tow truck. You will also need to be in range of cell phone service, and you will need a roadside assistance plan. And even then, most roadside assistance plans have very limited towing range. So you better hope you are within range of some place that can fix the tire. The last time I had a flat on a bike with tube type tires, I was lucky enough to be within range of a motorcycle dealer. BUT. It was Sunday morning. They were closed. And they were also closed on Monday. So I had the tow truck guy drop me and the bike off at a motel about a mile down the road from the dealer. I got a room and waited it out. Tuesday morning I called the dealer, about 2 hours later they showed up and picked up the bike. I waited at the dealer almost all day. They told me once that it might be the NEXT day before they could get to it, but I got lucky, they finished it late Tuesday. The whole thing including the motel, fast food, having the dealer pick up the bike and fix the flat tire cost me over $350. I missed 2 days of work. What if I had been out in the middle of nowhere? Think about that long and hard before you buy a bike with tube type tires. The Bolt is a decent looking bike, but it is just too smooth and quiet for me. I'm riding a 2006 (carbureted) Sportster 1200 right now and love it. If I were going to buy a new or used bike, and it had to be the Bolt or an 883 Sportster, the Sportster would win hands down. The Bolt is all looks and no substance. It does not shake like a Sportster, and it certainly doesn't sound like a Sportster. Sadly both have belt drives. I don't know why Yamaha didn't use the shaft drive system from the V Star 650. Belt drive is a nightmare. It is almost impossible for one person to both adjust the belt and keep the wheel aligned. It took me three days to do it on the Sportster. I called a local independent Harley shop, and they said you have to use TWO people, one to tension the belt and one to keep the wheel aligned. Belt drives are not tolerant of even a slight misalignment between the front and rear pulleys. Fortunately you can get a chain drive conversion kit for most Sportsters. But not for the Bolt. Adjusting the valves is another nightmare on the Bolt. You have to remove a BUNCH of parts just to get to them, then put all those parts back. The Sportster has hydraulic valves, so you never have to deal with them. As for customizing, there are 100 times more aftermarket parts for a Sportster than the Bolt. In fact, if you have a good Sportster frame, the aftermarket has enough parts to finish building a complete Sportster, engine and all. You can also get aftermarket hardtail frames for them if that is your thing, I have a bad back, so that's not for me. And while a new Sportster 883 is slightly more expensive than a Bolt, at 3-4 years old, they are about the same. The Bolt keeps on depreciating, while the Sportster depreciation slows down considerably, unless you cut it up or do some really stupid mods to it. And NO Japanese bike is ever going to give you the riding experience of a Sportster.
I just came across this video and really enjoyed it. I don’t ride bikes and I have a 2014 Yamaha Bolt that I need to sell- in good shape but hasn’t been ridden for about five months- what is your thoughts on selling this….for a very good price-
I have a 2016 and live in Medellin Colombia. This bike is a huge head turner! Good things about bike is it's quichk as the devil off the line. Have gone up against big crotch rockets and kill them for a couple blocks and then they pass me like I'm sitting still. So it's quick but doesn't have great top end speed. But I live in a BIG SMALL city and if you do this is perfect bike. I added a hines exsust to it so people would know I was there. Driving here is crazy and crazy fun too. Anything goes! Bad thing is the standard bags that Yamaha puts out are tiny. I looked for after market ones when I was back in US and couldnt find any because I have a queen seat. This bike gets so much atttnetion it's crazy!
@@davidospinamarquez9068 great on flats and curvy highways and hills. But in barrio narrow streets its a bit hard to turn around in the middle of steep steep hill. I avoid when possible. But I really love it here. I put Hines pipes on it so all the other small bikes and cars know I'm there it was a safety item I added on.
The reason its so popular is because its an old school Bike you can work on yourself. Its uncomplicated, I own an SCR and its now up to 50k miles and I have self serviced since new. Ok I am 57 and owned bikes since 16 so been around them a bit, but all I have replaced on this thing are consumables and conducted a standard service and settings. Its as simple as ! The engine is basically bombproof as is the belt drive. Lots of happy miles on the SCR ...... Did have to upgrade the seat though but that's it, but that probably age !
The first two things I noticed were the Talking Hand which reminded me of the Addams Family and the digital speedometer. Both are silly. I like the bike but wish I could have seen more of it, but the hand was blocking my view.
Hi Alex, love your content. I was wondering if you could do a segment on commuter bikes that are reliable and produce good gas economy. The problem i keep having is I find a bike with good gas economy but little tanks, why is that?
Nice octane hat, I just lost my octane a month ago, guy turned in front of me and insurance is writing it off, not sure if I’m going to ride again, but I like the bolt
Thanks Jordan, I am a huge Octane fan and very sorry to hear about yours! I have lost a couple of beloved bikes to idiots over the years...I always got back on and rode again, I just can't give it up. Keep your chin up and be safe my friend, and if the spirit to ride moves you then ride whatever sparks your fancy!
Looked at one of these as replacement for my vstar 1100 Bobber. Very nice mc but very sportster esq. The Harley boys here would snear at it. But. Despite the sportster foibles, this is a better bike for sure. If you're into this style I'd get a sportster. Heard they handle like a ujm rather than a custom. So would go for more traditional styling. God job👍
It popular at the moment because Harley dropped the sportster and they are under cutting Indian at the moment to sell. However, Yamaha have also removed them from the 2022 line up in Asia Pacific
For the people who already have the bolt. How do you think this would feel for someone whos 6ft tall? I like the bike and I cant find it in my town or surrounding towns to have a feel of it and sit.
Hi John.... A short answer is No..... the long truth about the wobble is that the tires are out of balance with the rim of the bike,'s front assembly. So considering that the Triple-clamp is sound and the bearings in the triple-clamp are not sloppy..... look at your tire on the front. There is a dot , usually white, on the side of the tire. That is the OEM's Low-Weight marker. It should be below the Valve-stem of the rim for proper balancing.from the factory. So .... say you are sauntering about at 30 mph with say 5 psi lower than suggested on the front tire, and you are doing heavy front braking...... That dot will start to work it's way away from the valve stem area, to say a point maybe 6 or 7 inches away from the valve stem.... Yes, the tire will slip very gradually on the rim..... Then ....you get on the Highway one day. and as you go over 40 or 50 mph, you notice a shimmy in the front end.......Check your tire pressure and check the location of that dot proximal to the rim's Air valve...... Usually on Any Bike . that is the culprit. It can happen to all MC's (Edit:.... I said above when I meant Below the Valve stem)..... Stay Safe
I ride a street glide. I sit straight up as well... a bolt is about 500# if I remember... to me that is too light for a road bike. I was ridding a triumph scrambler at about 500#. the wind blew me up out of the 'lean' going around a curve on the Hwy lol. my rocket 3 weighs in at 700#. I can feel the wind pushing the bike around BUT not up out of a 'lean'. the street glide weighs in around 900#. I feel the wind however the bike doesn't move around that much.
@@AlexSimmons11c for some reason it's currently not on RUclips, the fact that it's only three years old really shouldn't matter. www.ispot.tv/ad/w_bN/progressive-motorcycle-insurance-motormouth
I've been thinking about getting a smaller cruiser to take on long road trips, I was torn between the Bolt and a Honda Shadow 750 Phantom and I thought I had settled on the Shadow but now I'm not so sure, again! Any thoughts? Also, what about seat height, I'm only 5'8" with kinda short legs, would this be a potential issue?
Both bikes are good for shorter legged riders, so that should not be an issue! You are very close to my height, and I fit on both very well! I will do a VS video on the topic soon, but I think personally the Bolt is the better choice unless you just fit better on the shadow. It will produce a little more power, and I think has more character, but they just feel different so you need to try both before you buy!
@@AlexSimmons11c that's good to know and very appreciated, I would love to see that. I've sat on a Shadow and while it is comfortable the forward controls are strange since I'm used to a TU250X. Still need to find a bolt to try out though it looks much closer to what I'm familiar with.
I am wondering how come since you installed a strip why not remove the lollipop lights as a whole? I only ask cause im thinking of doing a strip like this and getting rid of everything else. Also what is the cover you us to cover up the hole left by the laser beam head?
Not entirely sure I understand the question haha. This video was shot with a stock bike, if I installed an aftermarket light strip that included blinkers I would definitely remove the stock signals if that's what you mean.
hi this is a great bike i just bought this as my first bike and i am 59 this will be all the power that you need , and believe me when i tell you this bike has get up and go, it wants to move so be careful and ride safe
@@ericmcmahan3907 you are very welcome and if you do buy this bike i promise you that you will love it i would also ride around a parking lot until you feel comfortable riding in traffic also watch ride like a pro on you tube mc rider you will learn a lot and never ride out of your comfort level ,, be safe out there ,,,
Sorry for the delay Eric, I have been gone! It's a great first bike if you want something with a little more engine. I usually recommend staying under 500-650cc for a first one...but the Bolt is so good I think it's still a great option!
I know it will probably depend a lot on the bike, but is it worth upgrading from a 650cc to a 950cc, or should you might as well just go bigger. I currently have a 650 and don't want to also outgrow a 950 to then need to get a 3rd bike.
same engine as in the old virago...these things have been around for 40 years at least....bullet proof engine and now they have ceramic cylinder plating... you can ride this until you die of old age
Is this bike friendly for someone that's 5 foot 8? My genetics suck so I have slightly shorter legs. Would it be okay for a bit while I save to modify it? Looking to use mainly to get to work and back. Nothing crazy.
I'm 4'11 and bought a 2016 R spec. All I did to make it where I could get a foot down was put lowering brackets on it. Its a great bike and I highly recommend it for short legged riders.
As far as all of the Bolts I have dealt with the Base model comes with spokes (presumably for the lower cost and classic look), and the R-spec comes with cast mags.
From personal experience and overall versatility over time I believe I would yes. I have had amazing luck with Bolts, and they are an extremely versatile platform. But in the end it depends which one you like better and are more comfortable on!
Hey Alex, Glad to see someone finally pushing for the Bolt. I bought mine back in Feb /20 and have put 5,750 miles on it so far... Had a Virago before that., Mine is exactly the same as the one in the Vid, except I also have the Pillion seat and passenger foot pegs.
Uhmmm. Some key points for those wanting one. For being so called middle of the scale..... these bikes go like Stink , Really!
Full torque of 59.3 foot lbs is reached at only 3,000 rpm and they Will Pull all the way through up to 5,780 rpm where the rev-limiter kicks in... Giving you a top end of around 108 mph , (174 kph for us Canadians :) ).
The Engine is 58 cubic inches of total fun, (942 CC 4 valves per cylinder).The Bolt is Fuel injected. !
Fuel Economy:
This is a tough one, Yamaha's website says 61 mpg ( imp gal) that's ~ 73 mpg us gal, I've never gotten over 60,
Usually I pan out at about 57 mpg. So I think they meant USG not Imperial gallons there.( yes, I ride the bike
usually on the highway at around 65~70 mph, so.... )
Rake is 29 degrees, so they are very Flickable, and surprisingly "very stable and well behaved at low low speeds" ( think of the rush- hour crawl of 4 mph... Not a problem)
Gas tank is 13 litres, (3.43 us gal ), with a 2.8 litre reserve (when the fuel warning light comes on).... which equates to about 35 miles till the bike becomes a door- stop because the gas tank is empty...The Trip meter will change to kilometres gone since reserve...., a Bonus if you think about it... lol.
Speaking of the Speedometer, you have the Odometer, Trips 1 & 2, and Clock on the main display, which you can toggle through here on the right grip console... No gear indicator....you have; fuel warning, engine light, turn signals, Hi beam and Neutral indication.
27 inch seat height. The Stock seat is very comfortable, one can easily ride 100 miles without a tail-bone issue...
547 lbs wet weight, 70% of the weight is... Down between your ankles, where it should be. Kudos to the V star Engineers for that.
35 degree left and right lean angle. ( no peg dragging fears here.)
5 speed sequential gearbox... 4 up 1 down, as is typical.
Clutch is soft pull,
Front and back brakes are set typical 70 /30 % with two cylinders on the front disk, and one cylinder on back.
Ohhh, and a word of Warning here.... the Front brake can stop the bike quick with a one or two finger pull depending on your hand strength, so DO NOT get into the habit of grabbing a Fist-full of front Brake.....And, ALSO, the back brake can Skid the rear tire if you get feisty and press down too firmly and you will scare the crap out of people with the tire-skid squeal . So Beware new owners of this on the beast.
Mid Pegs.... Sport rider converts will love this ! Yes you can Stand-Up on the Bolt easily if you need too.
All Said and done, The Bolt is an awesome ride and will be all the bike you need to do hi-way rides, fast or slow, and as it is a cruiser V-twin, you will never feel out of place parking next to other Bikes.
Stay Safe
W
Thanks for adding so much, excellent points!
Enjoyed your read up, one point re the brakes. In the UK, Allnew motorcycles above and including 125 must legally be fitted with ABS.
Best regards James Patterson (Softail Streetbob owner)
Thanks for the info!!! Hey I am 6 foot I kinda wanted to compare if you think this would be to small of a bike? I am looking to get one next week
@@lucahb6629 Hi Lucah, Ummm You really need to ride one and see if you feel Scrunched up. As I mentioned, it has a 27 inch seat height, and I have a 31 inch inseam, which puts the tops of my knees even with the mid-line of the fuel tank while riding, and I can flat foot the bike quite easily at a stop while my knees are still bent. So Yeah... You really need to ride one and see if it fits you. Stay Safe.
Sounds good! I will be test driving it before so it should be okay! Thanks for the video
Reliable, comfortable, simple and clean looks, nice 900 v-twin rumble. I bought my R spec on sale 5 years ago, and haven't changed a thing, I love it. Had to ride my bro in laws Sportster 48 to the shop for warranty work, and it was nice too... however, I kept thinking my Yamaha had a better ride and was much more comfortable. The Bolt is incredible value.
It really is a killer value, 48 is cool too but a different animal. Thanks!
I got my 2020 bolt about 3 weeks ago and love it. Easy to handle, not as heavy as some other bikes I was looking into. It was down to the bolt and the Harley 883 sportster. Seeing how the bolt had more CCs, wasn't as heavy and was a lot cheaper, it ended up edging out the sportster. Already got over 200 miles on her and still loving it!
i’m a sixteen year old who is looking to enter the motorcycle scene,what are some good beginner bikes you’d recommend? I already have experience riding dirt bikes at speeds of 50 mph in the desert
Awesome Heidi! Enjoy and keep safe!
You can start with this video and watch the series I made:ruclips.net/video/wPxhHo8-HAo/видео.html
AND I have a huge playlist of tips for that here: ruclips.net/p/PLeGzEYtWH3SDUvOtb62ULO8z8MqgjN7NE
Ok Heidi. The 883 torque is 68 Nm = 50.1 ft lbs, Rpm = 4750 rpms . As you know , HP = 2 x Pi x rpm's x torque / 33,000. A draft horse selected by James Watt saw that it could lift 550 pounds 1 foot in 1 second , (aka 1 horse power, ). So 550 foot pound seconds = 33,000 ft lbs per minute . Soooo .. HP = torque ,T, x rpm's,N, / 33, 0000 and as we use rev's per minute not per second. We use 2 Pi as we are doing a rotation through 360 degrees, Ya?..... so the formula is HP= 2 Pi N T / 33,000..... Dividing through by 2 Pi we get NT/ 5252.113. but for generalities we round off to 5252.....
Ok, so here's where it gets interesting.... Take the Bolts Torque of 59.3 foot pounds at 3000 rpm and stays steady up to 5252 rpm .... This happens...,, HP= NT /5252.... BUT if N =5252 , we have 5252 x 59,3 / 5252= HP meaning .. HP= Torque as the 5252 part cancels out.
That gives ~ 59 to 65 HP , rpm dependant - losses at top end of about 61 HP
The 1200 at 71 ft-lbs at 3500, (HD's Dyno rpm rating) = 47 hp
The 883, based on their spec, is 50.1 ft-lbs x 4750 rpm = 45 hp
So My response to your query, From me, another Bolt rider is:
Yes the Bolt is faster, stronger, and if ridden properly, will smoke an HD 883 and definitely shame the 1200
if not kick its butt every time .
As Yamaha said:.... Faster Sons
Sorry for the math lesson, not sure if you wanted/ needed it , but now you have it... no one can blow smoke at you.
Stay Safe
W
@@Yamahog oof did yall not know about the Triumph bobber black??? better in every way including looks. Blows both these bikes out the water
they took the style of the sportster but made it lighter and cheaper
Basically yes haha
Tyr Finney I don’t get why everyone says that, it’s bigger than the 883
Physically bigger
@@MrDickhead47 its still lighter
@@MrDickhead47 its bigger but lighter it weighs 30 pounds less
I bought a new SCR950 as a gift for my brother. It's basically a scrambler version of the Bolt. I rode the bike from Florida to Texas to give it to him. What a TORQUE monster. The motor is superb. It will cruise at 75 MPH all day long. It's an awesome motor.
Absolutely!
I bought a 2019 R-Spec bolt about a month ago after watching and googling so many reviews and opinions on it, including your old review. I have to say as a new rider it feels and handles amazing. Although it is my first bike I don't think I could have made a better choice. It has just the right amount of power and handling and style that I can't see myself letting it go any time soon in the future. It might just end up a heritage bike for my family down the line.
So happy to hear that you are enjoying it! Awesome choice, and definitely can be a forever bike if taken care of! Enjoy the ride and keep the rubber side down!
I bought a r spec as well and it’s great I love it! I got exhaust fuel pack and everything done to it and I get 65 miles to the gallon.
I sold my r1 for my Bolt and it was the best decision I've made. Completely in love with my bike mostly because I've customized it to fit my style and needs.
Same! Had an R6 before. Got tired of the power, got the Bolt to commute and cruise.
Do you miss the speed or excitement you got from a supersport ? I’ve been watching a bolt for a while now but I feel like I’m going to miss the power that my sport bike has. How was that transition for you ?
@@urbanstyle20 no. I realized that there is no need to go over 100 mph on the road. It's just going to get you into trouble. The bolt has enough torque to zip in and out of traffic and can hold 100mph pretty good if I need to but I got it for cruising, not to race the bike. You got to think about what you want. If you want to go over 135 mph on the freeway, race on the canyon (not the place to do so but I used to), or go to the track, keep the sport bike. If your not interested in the speed anymore and just want something more comfortable and something to customize, get the bolt. Those were my reasons
I have a 2015 Star Bolt, I love it, low rev, high torque, great acceleration, great road handling,. My question is one I don't see others bring up. At very slow speed, it feels top heavy, like up in the Gas tank area. Comparatively, I had a Harly 74. semi chopped, kick starter, bored to 1500 cc. A beast yet it handled rather easily with no sense of being top-heavy. I rode it all over the Pacific Northwest, up hills forest roads, and of course freeways. The Bolt serves my needs, however, I feel like it is Top Heavy, at low turning speed. I never had this 'sense' on my other bikes. Including a modified 750 Guzzi with peanut hank and moderately swept-back handlebars. (unusual to see but it was great) Also a Norton 750 commando. The Harley and the Bolt look so similar, yet I never had the sensation of my other bikes being top-heavy. Only at low speeds,.. can you shed some light on this?
been riding over 12 years now, I have to say the bolt is a fun bike. I got an 18 bolt. Had it over a year now. No problems after 10,000 miles. Paid $7,600 at the Honda dealer, came with bags, passenger kit, and only 40 miles. The bike was made for a 5’9, young fit guy like me.
Awesome to hear it Bobby, I think it’s a killer all around package in a sturdy mid size personally!
Newer rider here, switched from an older Sportster to a 2014 Bolt this spring and it was a great decision. Love the Bolt so so much.
I have this identical bike: same year, color, and model. I'm ~280#, and my wife is ~210#, and we have racked up over 4000 2 up miles without an issue. With a sissy bar and hwy pegs, its very comfortable. Once you learn how to sync the throttle bodies, you're golden. Badass bike, I have no reason to trade it in on any other bike. (I paid cash for mine, so could have afforded a different brand, but WHY!?) 🍻
Awesome hahaha I didn't even realize this was the year and color you had when I made the video! Bonus haha
I always wondered how it rides with two people on it you don’t hear that so often so that’s great to read your opinion about that !!
This second vid definitely has me set to get one! I have an 89’ sportster but I just want something of the same layout, but newer and reliable, AND THE BOLT IS IT.
Sounds like you're exactly the rider this is aimed at hahaha, sorry for the delay, and thanks for watching!
Like, that's just your opinion dude.
But, seriously, that was an excellent presentation in content and style. I really got a lot out of it - you covered everything I was wondering about. I have a '67 FLH that's been a basket case for quite a few years (wife), I'm 73 now and thinking about get back on a basic bike or maxi-scooter(widower). You have delivered a great "data point" for me. Thanks. I"ll be checking out you channel.
Thanks for this review. I have been looking for a good review on the Bolt for a while, and then given up, right before you uploaded it. Anyway. Thank you for this. I love how you explained it all in such a way that a complete lehman like myself can fully understand what the Bolt does.
Drove 18 hours to pick up an r spec 2017 salvage title with 14k miles for $3200.
I have a V Star 950 which I call the most underrated cruise under 1100cc ever produced. Yamaha stopped making it in 2017 along with the v Star 1300. The Bolt uses the same 950cc engine that the V Star had. Most people don’t even know what my bike is. I see the popularity of the Bolt as verification of my opinion.
Finally a good review. Thanks dude!
Thinking about this for my second bike, first being tiger 900. Looks good. Cheers
Hi Alex. I'm a big fan of the Yam Bolt, and I would have really enjoyed seeing more of the bike. Maybe you could tie your left hand behind your back next time. Great bike, what I saw of it.
Sweet bike, I personally wanted to get a C-Spec (Yamaha XV 950 Racer in Europe) but the prices were terrible, cheapest I found was 8,000 euros, then I found a Triumph Street Twin for 7,000 Euros, Triumph > Yamaha, it was like finding a BMW for cheaper than a Toyota, plus the Street Twin was the more powerful bike of the two and has a significantly higher customization load out, it was pretty much a no brainer after that, then I went back to the dealer to give them one last chance to give me the Yamaha for 7,000, they didn't budge so I bought the Triumph, no rAgrets, and when the winter passes I'll ride by their shop hehe.
Is it very middle of the road?
If or when I downsize from my Softail Street Bob. I will definitely be looking at getting a Yamaha Bolt. That last chap who messaged you is mistaken the Bolt is available in G.B.
Awesome James!
Yamaha sells you the bike, the feeling and creating a legendary route is up to you !!
I love mine. A great first bike. Fun as hell to ride.
Seems to be how most people feel when they get one!
Same here. First bike, modded to hell...great to ride
Same here, I feel like finally I have a real friend Lol
I bought one of these a couple months ago as my first ever motorcycle... It's pretty nice.
I'm a committed Harley Davidson owner (my 3rd) from Liverpool UK. Now Harley are dropping the Iron and Sportster range in the UK. My current bike is a Softail Streetbob. If in the near future I think about downsizing the bike I would definitely look at trading the Harley in for the YAMAHA BOLT.
Interesting that they are dropping the Sportster line in the UK, I would think over there it would be more popular just due to the different nature of riding there vs. here! Thanks James!
Take a drink every time he says "very, very".
Or middle of the road :D
You would be drunk very (very, very) quickly. :-)
Well...it is....hahaha. ;-)
Shot!!
I got alcohol poisoning. Thanks.
I’ve had my bolt since 2016, have over 50k miles, no major issues, just routine maintenance stuff, love it, great all around. Cruise 80mph all day long.
Hi, could you please advise when the belt must be replaced as per manual? Or may ride until it brakes?
Hmm.. My 650 CC Vulcan S produces 61 horses and 63 NM with Liquid cooling & ABS and it’s less expensive ! To my eyes, it looks better than Bolt..
Your Review ( the first one I’ve seen in Bolt) made me proud and happy for having chosen a Vulcan 😊
Sathish Rao Vulcan is plastic Bolt is metal. And the number of horsepower - you can always get a speeding tickets on both bikes 😎
Bike Freak : I do see a few plastic parts on Vulcan that I’m not happy about, but I still think ‘Vulcan is plastic ’ is an overstatement !!
Sathish Rao well. It's a matter of taste. But they both have two wheels, and that's all that matters 👍Ps. The Vulcan is a nice looking bike too.
Yes the Vulcan S is an AWESOME motorcycle and actually I think under rated by a lot of the motorcycle world, Kawasaki was GENIUS for putting the Ninja 650 power plant on it!
Alex Simmons Not sure how underrated it is - All I see are Vulcans ever since I subscribed to a dozen channels hosted by Vulcan S owners 😉
Ive rode a 2014 Bolt for 2 years now. I love it, the only other bike I’d consider is an MT series (7, 09, or 10). The Bolt is very torque-y lol and has a great center of gravity compared to a Harley Sportster. It has quick low RPM get up. If you want to go 105+, look elsewhere tho
Outside of in town riding it could use a 6th gear and larger tank. Other than that, I love mine. Cobra intake and exhaust with brass accents and a bobber spring seat and it gets a lot of compliments
I'm happy with mine. It runs as it should and was quite a bit cheaper than a Harley 833 considering I didn't have to pay extra for the pillion seat and so on.
Awesome to hear it! Sorry for the comment delay, I was away a couple weeks haha
I have an SCR 950 basically avparts bin special Bolt. Its simply ultra reliable, a pleasure to ride and so simple to maintain. I had the seat upgraded with extra padding and its my daily driver. I have covered 55000 trouble free miles riding year round in all kinds of weather in the UK. Its great badically a 1980's bike. Its a keeper.
Might also mention, if you google "best motorcycle brand," Yamaha and Honda pop up as #1 and #2. People say, "Wow, I want #1." Then they look at the Yamaha website and pick out the model they like. It's no wonder the Bolt sells so well. It has the Yamaha name on it. For many, that's evidence enough.
Right out of the crate, The Bolt has reliability and styling. It's also a truly great platform for customization. I'm a fan of air/oil cooled engines. I also like chrome engine covers. Race Tech, Progressive Suspension and All Balls make components to improve handling and ride quality. I'm glad Yamaha got rid of the flange/seam on the gas tank. The new gas tanks look so much cleaner.
do you mean the pinch weld?
@@MarshallSmith27 Yes.
Why is it so popular? Because it's a yamaha. Its hassle free and reliable. I had a bike that was constantly in the shop. Not naming names, and you know the saying "if it's in the garage your not riding".
Very true, very true!
2022 honda rebel 1100 takes the prize. I would like to see yamaha updrade bolt to compete with rebel 1100.
My former bike. I miss it now and then 👍🇩🇰
I think we all have at least one we miss!
Enjoying Bolt reviews while owning one of these beauties..
i thought about buying this just to cruise around when im bored of my sportbike, how comfortable is it?
A couple things. A buddy of mine has a bolt and I've ridden it more times than I can count. This bike did have more power than my 883 sporty but once I put the 1200 jugs on it those days were over and it can't keep up with my stock 48 either. And I drag the foot pegs just about every time I get on it which is no change from either sportster and in fact it's slightly better but not by much. The riding position is a little better than the sporty and the stock seat is much more comfortable. You have a little more leg room and the bars are higher on the bolt where as you're leaning more forward on a stock sporty. And I have no doubt that if yamaha put a 1200.v-twin on a bolt it would more than likely eat any stock sportster and possibly harley big twin ever built. Put bassani sweepers on it and it sounds friggen great but while this is subjective I believe the evo sportster is the best sounding bike on planet earth with the right pipes and especially a carbed sporty with a nice high flow air cleaner. Bolts are nice bikes but the looks I have to say go to the harley too. Just some long winded rambling from a bike geek.
Hey, thanks for the long winded rambling for sure Vinnie! Always love to hear the opinion and perspective, thanks a bunch!
A 1200 v twin bolt is something needed ! With like +- 65HP and around 70-75 ft. Lb torque, just take my money at that point. What a dream bike that would be !
We here at Viking Bags really appreciate your content! Great video! Keep up the good work!
I noticed that Yamaha has cheapened the basic model Bolt, in the worse possible way. They put wire spoke wheels and tube type tires on it. And it has no centerstand. So WHEN (not if) you have a flat tire, and I've had over a dozen of them over my past 46 years of riding, there is simply no way to fix it. You have to call a tow truck. You will also need to be in range of cell phone service, and you will need a roadside assistance plan. And even then, most roadside assistance plans have very limited towing range. So you better hope you are within range of some place that can fix the tire. The last time I had a flat on a bike with tube type tires, I was lucky enough to be within range of a motorcycle dealer. BUT. It was Sunday morning. They were closed. And they were also closed on Monday. So I had the tow truck guy drop me and the bike off at a motel about a mile down the road from the dealer. I got a room and waited it out. Tuesday morning I called the dealer, about 2 hours later they showed up and picked up the bike. I waited at the dealer almost all day. They told me once that it might be the NEXT day before they could get to it, but I got lucky, they finished it late Tuesday. The whole thing including the motel, fast food, having the dealer pick up the bike and fix the flat tire cost me over $350. I missed 2 days of work. What if I had been out in the middle of nowhere? Think about that long and hard before you buy a bike with tube type tires.
The Bolt is a decent looking bike, but it is just too smooth and quiet for me. I'm riding a 2006 (carbureted) Sportster 1200 right now and love it. If I were going to buy a new or used bike, and it had to be the Bolt or an 883 Sportster, the Sportster would win hands down. The Bolt is all looks and no substance. It does not shake like a Sportster, and it certainly doesn't sound like a Sportster. Sadly both have belt drives. I don't know why Yamaha didn't use the shaft drive system from the V Star 650. Belt drive is a nightmare. It is almost impossible for one person to both adjust the belt and keep the wheel aligned. It took me three days to do it on the Sportster. I called a local independent Harley shop, and they said you have to use TWO people, one to tension the belt and one to keep the wheel aligned. Belt drives are not tolerant of even a slight misalignment between the front and rear pulleys. Fortunately you can get a chain drive conversion kit for most Sportsters. But not for the Bolt.
Adjusting the valves is another nightmare on the Bolt. You have to remove a BUNCH of parts just to get to them, then put all those parts back. The Sportster has hydraulic valves, so you never have to deal with them. As for customizing, there are 100 times more aftermarket parts for a Sportster than the Bolt. In fact, if you have a good Sportster frame, the aftermarket has enough parts to finish building a complete Sportster, engine and all. You can also get aftermarket hardtail frames for them if that is your thing, I have a bad back, so that's not for me. And while a new Sportster 883 is slightly more expensive than a Bolt, at 3-4 years old, they are about the same. The Bolt keeps on depreciating, while the Sportster depreciation slows down considerably, unless you cut it up or do some really stupid mods to it. And NO Japanese bike is ever going to give you the riding experience of a Sportster.
The style is excellent with traditional design and many components that look modern.
I may have to get one. Love the foot peg position.
I just came across this video and really enjoyed it. I don’t ride bikes and I have a 2014 Yamaha Bolt that I need to sell- in good shape but hasn’t been ridden for about five months- what is your thoughts on selling this….for a very good price-
I have a 2016 and live in Medellin Colombia. This bike is a huge head turner! Good things about bike is it's quichk as the devil off the line. Have gone up against big crotch rockets and kill them for a couple blocks and then they pass me like I'm sitting still. So it's quick but doesn't have great top end speed. But I live in a BIG SMALL city and if you do this is perfect bike. I added a hines exsust to it so people would know I was there. Driving here is crazy and crazy fun too. Anything goes! Bad thing is the standard bags that Yamaha puts out are tiny. I looked for after market ones when I was back in US and couldnt find any because I have a queen seat. This bike gets so much atttnetion it's crazy!
Hahaha awesome!
Man. How does this bike handle in colombian roads? Is it good at turning?
@@davidospinamarquez9068 great on flats and curvy highways and hills. But in barrio narrow streets its a bit hard to turn around in the middle of steep steep hill. I avoid when possible. But I really love it here. I put Hines pipes on it so all the other small bikes and cars know I'm there it was a safety item I added on.
Nice review! What model Scorpion jacket is that? Looks cool.
Take a drink whenever he says "middle of the road"
The reason its so popular is because its an old school Bike you can work on yourself. Its uncomplicated, I own an SCR and its now up to 50k miles and I have self serviced since new. Ok I am 57 and owned bikes since 16 so been around them a bit, but all I have replaced on this thing are consumables and conducted a standard service and settings. Its as simple as ! The engine is basically bombproof as is the belt drive. Lots of happy miles on the SCR ...... Did have to upgrade the seat though but that's it, but that probably age !
Alex, thanks for the great review.
Thanks for watching eagleforce!
I have the 2015 C-Spec in British racing green never getting rid of it
PS you can modify it anyway you want it's great
Awesome to hear it Gene, great bike all the way around!
The first two things I noticed were the Talking Hand which reminded me of the Addams Family and the digital speedometer. Both are silly. I like the bike but wish I could have seen more of it, but the hand was blocking my view.
It's affordable, it's stylish, it's customizable, and it makes Sportster 1200 power, for thousands of dollars less, and..... Yamaha reliability.
Everybody talking shit on my guys hand just listen and enjoy the review lol. Good stuff man keep it up
Great review Alex...
I love it..
Thanks
Thanks so much for watching Carlo!
Great review man! Deciding this or the Suzuki Blvd S40.
Hi Alex, love your content. I was wondering if you could do a segment on commuter bikes that are reliable and produce good gas economy. The problem i keep having is I find a bike with good gas economy but little tanks, why is that?
Nice octane hat, I just lost my octane a month ago, guy turned in front of me and insurance is writing it off, not sure if I’m going to ride again, but I like the bolt
Thanks Jordan, I am a huge Octane fan and very sorry to hear about yours! I have lost a couple of beloved bikes to idiots over the years...I always got back on and rode again, I just can't give it up. Keep your chin up and be safe my friend, and if the spirit to ride moves you then ride whatever sparks your fancy!
Very helpful video and lots of details. Thank you
Thanks for watching Lloyd!
Looked at one of these as replacement for my vstar 1100 Bobber. Very nice mc but very sportster esq. The Harley boys here would snear at it. But. Despite the sportster foibles, this is a better bike for sure. If you're into this style I'd get a sportster. Heard they handle like a ujm rather than a custom. So would go for more traditional styling. God job👍
Thanks Pike, rock on!
Thank you, thank you for not saying "foot pounds of torque"
Good solid review on a really fun BIke.
It popular at the moment because Harley dropped the sportster and they are under cutting Indian at the moment to sell. However, Yamaha have also removed them from the 2022 line up in Asia Pacific
For the people who already have the bolt. How do you think this would feel for someone whos 6ft tall? I like the bike and I cant find it in my town or surrounding towns to have a feel of it and sit.
I am not a 'biker; but love looking at this bike. I keep hearing here on RUclips about that 'wobble' at higher speeds. Is that a concern?
Never happen to me but it will to any motorcycle when not a proper maintenance have been done.
Hi John.... A short answer is No..... the long truth about the wobble is that the tires are out of balance with the rim of the bike,'s front assembly. So considering that the Triple-clamp is sound and the bearings in the triple-clamp are not sloppy..... look at your tire on the front. There is a dot , usually white, on the side of the tire. That is the OEM's Low-Weight marker. It should be below the Valve-stem of the rim for proper balancing.from the factory. So .... say you are sauntering about at 30 mph with say 5 psi lower than suggested on the front tire, and you are doing heavy front braking...... That dot will start to work it's way away from the valve stem area, to say a point maybe 6 or 7 inches away from the valve stem.... Yes, the tire will slip very gradually on the rim..... Then ....you get on the Highway one day. and as you go over 40 or 50 mph, you notice a shimmy in the front end.......Check your tire pressure and check the location of that dot proximal to the rim's Air valve...... Usually on Any Bike . that is the culprit. It can happen to all MC's
(Edit:.... I said above when I meant Below the Valve stem).....
Stay Safe
I ride a street glide. I sit straight up as well... a bolt is about 500# if I remember... to me that is too light for a road bike. I was ridding a triumph scrambler at about 500#. the wind blew me up out of the 'lean' going around a curve on the Hwy lol. my rocket 3 weighs in at 700#. I can feel the wind pushing the bike around BUT not up out of a 'lean'. the street glide weighs in around 900#. I feel the wind however the bike doesn't move around that much.
Most people don't even realize that a matte black Bolt is in a Progressive commercial that's an homage to Lassie.
Hahaha :-)
@@AlexSimmons11c for some reason it's currently not on RUclips, the fact that it's only three years old really shouldn't matter.
www.ispot.tv/ad/w_bN/progressive-motorcycle-insurance-motormouth
Hi Alex, I'm a first time rider and short at 5 feet 5 inches height. Would this be more difficult to handle than a Honda Shadow Phantom?
I've been thinking about getting a smaller cruiser to take on long road trips, I was torn between the Bolt and a Honda Shadow 750 Phantom and I thought I had settled on the Shadow but now I'm not so sure, again! Any thoughts? Also, what about seat height, I'm only 5'8" with kinda short legs, would this be a potential issue?
Both bikes are good for shorter legged riders, so that should not be an issue! You are very close to my height, and I fit on both very well! I will do a VS video on the topic soon, but I think personally the Bolt is the better choice unless you just fit better on the shadow. It will produce a little more power, and I think has more character, but they just feel different so you need to try both before you buy!
@@AlexSimmons11c that's good to know and very appreciated, I would love to see that. I've sat on a Shadow and while it is comfortable the forward controls are strange since I'm used to a TU250X. Still need to find a bolt to try out though it looks much closer to what I'm familiar with.
I have the shadow 750 and am now moving to the bolt. The 750 is nice but gutless.
Very, very nice review. 😊
Would you say it has good handling . I'm between this and honda rebel 500
what's the fuel range ? how far can you go with a full tank ?
Yamaha really needs to address this gauge... it's the only thing that kills the bike....
speedo is ugly as shit, total deal breaker for me......I cannot deal with cosmetic issues on a Cruiser....just unacceptable.
I saw two today brand new 9000$ and 10.000$ I'm 6.4 220 lbs they fit me great👌✌👍
Dude, have you seen Kyle's bolt? You can find it on the Shadetree Surgeon RUclips channel.
I have not, I'll go check it out! I know the Street Tracker build we did when they came out was sick!
what do you think about the Yamaha Stryker
I am wondering how come since you installed a strip why not remove the lollipop lights as a whole? I only ask cause im thinking of doing a strip like this and getting rid of everything else. Also what is the cover you us to cover up the hole left by the laser beam head?
Not entirely sure I understand the question haha. This video was shot with a stock bike, if I installed an aftermarket light strip that included blinkers I would definitely remove the stock signals if that's what you mean.
Was looking at one of these today do you think it's a good first bike?
hi this is a great bike i just bought this as my first bike and i am 59 this will be all the power that you need , and believe me when i tell you this bike has get up and go, it wants to move so be careful and ride safe
@@michaelcalico5509 thank you for letting me know
@@ericmcmahan3907 you are very welcome and if you do buy this bike i promise you that you will love it i would also ride around a parking lot until you feel comfortable riding in traffic also watch ride like a pro on you tube mc rider you will learn a lot and never ride out of your comfort level ,, be safe out there ,,,
@@michaelcalico5509 I very much appreciate it and will do
Sorry for the delay Eric, I have been gone! It's a great first bike if you want something with a little more engine. I usually recommend staying under 500-650cc for a first one...but the Bolt is so good I think it's still a great option!
Would this be okay for someone 5’1”?! I’m looking to buy my first bike! Love how it looks and sounds!
You’ll definitely feel comfortable I think
Alex, What about dead wobble people been talking about? 2015 model c spec?
Man I finally got one and all that custom stuff you speak of is mostly discontinued and hard to find.
I know it will probably depend a lot on the bike, but is it worth upgrading from a 650cc to a 950cc, or should you might as well just go bigger. I currently have a 650 and don't want to also outgrow a 950 to then need to get a 3rd bike.
that's riding.......you're going to own Tons of bikes, there's NO such thing as a "perfect" bike, they all have Ups and Downs and a purpose.
That's just me spiking the numbers I'm a week away from being able to get one.
Hahaha rock on
Same here 😂
same engine as in the old virago...these things have been around for 40 years at least....bullet proof engine and now they have ceramic cylinder plating... you can ride this until you die of old age
Truth
Yes, Yes , and Yes.
Work on your shifting timing and it won't click so loud like that.
I have this bike this review was right on this bike is very easy to ride and gaves good gas mileage
Hahaha awesome to hear, thanks Hexhead!
Is this bike friendly for someone that's 5 foot 8? My genetics suck so I have slightly shorter legs. Would it be okay for a bit while I save to modify it? Looking to use mainly to get to work and back. Nothing crazy.
I'm 4'11 and bought a 2016 R spec. All I did to make it where I could get a foot down was put lowering brackets on it. Its a great bike and I highly recommend it for short legged riders.
I’m 5’11” and have a decent bend in my knee while sitting on mine. I have NO DOUBT you’ll be able to flat foot it.
Why has it got spoke wheels? I thought they had cast ones. Shite clock, ugly frame, but overall I like it.
Excellent review.
As far as all of the Bolts I have dealt with the Base model comes with spokes (presumably for the lower cost and classic look), and the R-spec comes with cast mags.
@@AlexSimmons11c Thanks, Alex.
tldw; it is a middle of the road bike. Loved the review
The gap between the tank and seat... Can't unsee lol but overall, a sweet ride
Hahaha fair enough
Yamaha went from making crotch rockets to crotch warmers with this bike
Hahaha well it's not for everyone certainly
Yamaha made bikes more like this before they ever made a crotch rocket. Look up 1981 Yamaha XS650 special
I am between 5:10 and 6ft.....would it be right for me ?
What’s with the hand? Maybe he used to work on the muppet show 😂😂
Does highway pegs help comfort for taller riders
I'd consider one if they'd do something with that display. I'd like a larger tank too.
is overheating ever a cause for concern since this is air cooled?
Saw a bolt with Bassani pipes, badass!
I got mine with Cobra exhaust. I think sounds better and they are 50% cheaper it is 2-1 though
Would you pick the bolt over a rebel 500?
From personal experience and overall versatility over time I believe I would yes. I have had amazing luck with Bolts, and they are an extremely versatile platform. But in the end it depends which one you like better and are more comfortable on!
I did
My wife has a 2012
Yamaha 950 V star with 96k on it. Still runs good.
I would have liked to have heard how it sounds
There was a startup and exhaust sound clip at 30 seconds in as well as some ride footage with sound.