I just bought this bike about a month ago. I love it! Great review and very accurate here about the strengths and weaknesses. I'm coming from a Honda CRF250L and an Iron 883 as my past bikes. This bike feels perfect. More street oriented, lower seat height, stronger engine, maintenance free belt drive, straight seat standard riding position, etc. Although not for everyone, is an excellent overall toolin' around bike. I don't understand all the negative reviews on RUclips. Buy this bike. You'll love it! So much fun and an awesome engine as well!
@@1990-t1j No, it feels great and carries it's weight low on the street. It does feel heavy off-road for sure. Fire roads are about all it can do off-road
I rode this today at a demo ride. Very impressed. My only cons were the crappy grips and the enormous air intake box. The pros? Torque galore. Amazingly a very nice sounding exhaust. The feel of the VTwin is so soothing and powerful at the same time. If I had the money, I'd definitely buy it.
It´s a great looking bike, don´t understand all the hate here. If it´s available in Europe next year, i will for sure give it a try, great minimalistic retro thing, like it!
so you rather pay same $$ that Ducati costs and get less travel,less revy engine and buzzy above 65mph? and in looks Ducati blows this away as well. Just don't understand the rational you want a bike or you want a toy
Better options out there all I am saying but you want vanilla? go for it.Honestly you will get bored from that with no time.I have been riding bikes for 30yrs had VTR1000 VFR800 SV650 and CB750 last 5yrs and can tell you with confidence you will be bored and go into buyer remorse.Cheers
I love this bike. Back in the day, we would install luggage racks on our scramblers and/or dual purpose and used them for everything from touring to cow trailing. It's too bad the position of the tail light on this SCR makes that impossible. Other than that little faux pas, it seems perfect in every way.
Good grief, they're still using that horrible instrument cluster. WTH are they thinking. I can almost guarantee that if they put in a decent cluster that that alone would drastically improve sales. I really like that it has a belt drive though, so there is that.
I think a retro bike should have an analog speedometer and tachometer. The round instrument cluster with rectangular digital display sucks. I think the pipe and air filter cover detract from the retro look, and I don't like where they mounted the tail light and rear signal lights. It looks like Yamaha tried to piece together a scrambler using the least amount of unique parts for this bike as they could.
agreed, hopefully they will change all of the thing you said but i think they wouldn't do much sadly. But if they did fix the majority of problems (its the bikes 1st year of production) i would be happy to buy it! Also better suspension. (not sure if you said that)
Best part about this bike is that you'll be able to buy a 3 or 4 year old one for about $2,500 because it'll hold it's value like all Yamahas, which is to say not at all. Might buy one for the Hell of it, throw some dirt tires on it and have a fun bike to whip around and beat on in the dirt and winter time.
Yes I was wondering that also, if you notice they cut the video out at the top of his helmet, this is like knowing how a magician does his tricks, takes the fun out of it .
I'm thinking they used some sort of camera like the ones used on contest shows such as fear factor. The mount is attached on top of the helmet and the camera is pointing to the contestants. Except this one swings around 360.
Nice review! I was mistakenly under the impression that this used Yamaha's triple, like the FZ-09 and the XSR900 but I guess it's Bolt-based. Still cool, and I agree that it's nice to have standards back!
I like the XT-500 styling, but functionally they're battling against the fact that the bike was initially designed as a "cruiser". They'd have a vastly better motorcycle if it'd been designed as a "standard" from the get go. Then again, I guess both "cruisers" and modern retros are aimed squarely at the form over function crowd.
they should have built a scrambler or dual sport out of the fz07/xsr700. all it really needs is a bash plate and knobbies. maybe some minor asthetic things too.
a cool bike. haters are just bandwagon parrots. bike isnt for hardcore offroad. yamaha didnt intend it to be. comftorable strong running bike u can swing around ur ur buddys yard and truly mild offroad. thats awesome. looks cool too. all that ground clearance crap. wouldnt be all that comftorable if it had a lot of clearance. heavy tall bike. no thanks.
About 80-120 pounds heavier than some other scrambler motorcycles with less travel doesn't make much sense for a design that is mean to be nimble and versatile.
Agreed. Though very informative, writing a review and speaking a review are two different animals. The monotone is like watching the news channel, without the news. Here's an awesome moto review that will never see ink... ruclips.net/video/LOY2iTf2GQ8/видео.html
I remember when that bike came out. Fantastic. I think it opened an entirely new market. I think it even had an electric start. Looks and everything. At125 was a hit.
Why a bike should do only one thing? I would love something that I go to work with everyday so it should be relatively small and nimble, and something that I can take for a long comfortable rides. Some suspension travel will be great as the roads here are terrible. So this one is pretty close to the mark!
Why don't they put a 6th gear in this stupid thing? It was made originally to directly compete against the sportster 883, they refuse to put a 6th gear in the sportster b/c they want to upsell you to a dyna. But what's the reason for not adding one to this!? They shoulda re-did the rear shocks to have more travel, that cspec suspension doesn't work well on a scrambler setup, IMO.
Not really interested in this bike. Needs at LEST 4-5 inches of travel out back with a corresponding increase up front. To me, this is an ALMOST bike. Great idea that Yamaha ALMOST got right.
I agree... At first, I thought this bike looked cool, but then I noticed too many weird things going on that are a turn off, for me at least. Very short suspension (I mean come on, my '01 sportster has 4" front and rear), then there is the stupid looking digital speedo, weird looking tail light and turn signals, just perched up there on top of the rear fender.. looks too strange, and those odd and skinny frame tubes sticking out in front of the engine. Looks incomplete as a bike.. trying to be cool but it just doesn't work for me. And the guy testing the bike complains of needing another gear on the highway.. Why do so many Japanese bikes have low gears like that? I will never figure that out.. I mean, 900cc's is more than enough to pull higher gearing on the highway.
Since I have owned an original early 70s scrambler (71 cl350) as my first bike when I was 16 my oppinion is the same for this bike. A street bike that loooks like it will work off road but does not. Thats pretty much what a scrambler was then and pretty much what they make now lol.
2.8" rear travel? On an off-road/on-road scrambler type bike? That doesn't sound fun. Also.. Seems like too much engine for that type of bike. It is a great looking bike though, I'll give it that.
I like how Yamaha is going different iterations of their bikes, but there is one they miss and that's a "dark custom". Maybe it's time Yamaha hire Dais Nagao from Harley Davidson. After all that Japanese guy is the father of the Iron 883!
I don't like the paint scheme on this bike. I think matte olive green, black or grey will be much better looking. Other than that, I am in love with this bike immediately. The ducati scr looks a little bit childish. Don't compare this bike to r9t scr (' cause it's much more expensive). This bike looks analogue
your telling they made a heavy bike go off road with very low torque in higher rpms?! They couldn't of took the fz07 engine and make it a scrambler Yamaha wtf man! XD
you must be getting paid by yamaha every other review tells it like it is too low not enough travel and that stupid air box is in the road same as the 950 bolt
+Stealth Bobber I confirm, the Ducati Scrambler can go off road easily. It's not a neo retro old school bike. It's a real modern scrambler, and for instance the only one. Maybe the SCR950 will be the 2nd one and Triumph is working on it too. No matter the brand, the scrambler is evolving and I like it
No offense, but it is time to embrace balding and shave your head. I myself have been balding since I was 17 so I've had enough time to accept it. Aside from that nice review. I better quit buying bikes every two years before my wife leaves my bald ass.
It has great looks, but that's about it. No real off road capability, tube type tires with no centerstand, belt drive, witch is worthless off road and a real pain to adjust. This is a lets pretend bike all the way around. Even the Bolt has tubeless tires.
boring parts bin bike that does not excel in any category nor have any looks that I would shell out money and say "it sucks in everything but looks fantastic" nope sucks in looks department as well with that big air box sticking out.If you are close to 6ft you can pretty much guaranteed your knee hitting it and get annoyed. Only 1 rotor at front and lousy suspension travel. The idiots at Yamaha obviously thought Americans are so stupid that we will buy anything that has "scrambler" on it. This is not a bike but a toy in literal sense of the word.Everything about this bike reads "cheap" and uninspired
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
I just bought this bike about a month ago. I love it! Great review and very accurate here about the strengths and weaknesses. I'm coming from a Honda CRF250L and an Iron 883 as my past bikes. This bike feels perfect. More street oriented, lower seat height, stronger engine, maintenance free belt drive, straight seat standard riding position, etc. Although not for everyone, is an excellent overall toolin' around bike. I don't understand all the negative reviews on RUclips. Buy this bike. You'll love it! So much fun and an awesome engine as well!
Philip, does it feel heavy in the city?
@@1990-t1j No, it feels great and carries it's weight low on the street. It does feel heavy off-road for sure. Fire roads are about all it can do off-road
@@philparkerus I bought a very low-mileage 2019 one a couple of years ago. I love it.
I rode this today at a demo ride. Very impressed. My only cons were the crappy grips and the enormous air intake box. The pros? Torque galore. Amazingly a very nice sounding exhaust. The feel of the VTwin is so soothing and powerful at the same time. If I had the money, I'd definitely buy it.
Rick Clines would it be suitable for 2up with a 110lb passenger? Our combined weight would be about 290lbs.
This looks way better than the current xsr 900
It´s a great looking bike, don´t understand all the hate here. If it´s available in Europe next year, i will for sure give it a try, great minimalistic retro thing, like it!
so you rather pay same $$ that Ducati costs and get less travel,less revy engine and buzzy above 65mph?
and in looks Ducati blows this away as well.
Just don't understand the rational you want a bike or you want a toy
you wanna pay 1000 Dollar every 12000km for Ducati Desmo Service? I´m riding 12000km per year, Ducati is no option
Better options out there all I am saying but you want vanilla? go for it.Honestly you will get bored from that with no time.I have been riding bikes for 30yrs had VTR1000 VFR800 SV650 and CB750 last 5yrs and can tell you with confidence you will be bored and go into buyer remorse.Cheers
The Ducati looks like a toy when you stand next to it. And they are unreliable.
Bullshit, Reuben. Who are you to say what I would get bored with? I've probably ridden more miles than you, and I know what I like: torque, not power.
I love this bike. Back in the day, we would install luggage racks on our scramblers and/or dual purpose and used them for everything from touring to cow trailing. It's too bad the position of the tail light on this SCR makes that impossible. Other than that little faux pas, it seems perfect in every way.
I was out cruising in and around Julian that day. Cool to see the media out there having fun!
Good grief, they're still using that horrible instrument cluster. WTH are they thinking. I can almost guarantee that if they put in a decent cluster that that alone would drastically improve sales. I really like that it has a belt drive though, so there is that.
Couldn't agree more. The XSR900's instrument cluster is a million times better.
I couldn't agree more, absolutely hate the cluster on it. I'd take a analog setup with a small lcd below it for modes etc over this lump any day
COMPLETELY agree. Part of the reason I strayed away from the Bolt in the first place was the lack of any sort of readable instrument cluster.
Agree, the XSR is how retro dashboards should be
+Roy Rodriguez +1
I think a retro bike should have an analog speedometer and tachometer. The round instrument cluster with rectangular digital display sucks. I think the pipe and air filter cover detract from the retro look, and I don't like where they mounted the tail light and rear signal lights. It looks like Yamaha tried to piece together a scrambler using the least amount of unique parts for this bike as they could.
agreed, hopefully they will change all of the thing you said but i think they wouldn't do much sadly. But if they did fix the majority of problems (its the bikes 1st year of production) i would be happy to buy it! Also better suspension. (not sure if you said that)
You can blame California emission controls for the exhaust. Here, once you buy the bike, you can change it.
can't wait to get my hands on one of these. People need to realize it's not a dedicated off road motorcycle. It's still a cruiser.
There’s a new left over 2017 locally. Has been gathering dust for 3 years at the dealer. They are asking 6k new.
Best part about this bike is that you'll be able to buy a 3 or 4 year old one for about $2,500 because it'll hold it's value like all Yamahas, which is to say not at all. Might buy one for the Hell of it, throw some dirt tires on it and have a fun bike to whip around and beat on in the dirt and winter time.
Totally perfect little endure... reminds me of my old DT175 from the 70s... and big enough to haul even me around.
great review... and i beleve u guys are the first ones to post your review!
What is the camera you are using to do the 360 spin around you while you are riding?
Helmet swivel mount.
thats what i was too wondering!
Yes I was wondering that also, if you notice they cut the video out at the top of his helmet, this is like knowing how a magician does his tricks, takes the fun out of it .
The Answer is at exactly 2:30. Only the shadow knows.... I gotta get me one of them thar things!
I had the 69, 305 big bear scrambler all black and chrome. Would love to see it retro.
Ah yes, some of the best roads around. I was just out by Julian riding those very same roads yesterday! Nice choice!
3:24 How was that four(?) second shot achieved?
I'm thinking they used some sort of camera like the ones used on contest shows such as fear factor. The mount is attached on top of the helmet and the camera is pointing to the contestants. Except this one swings around 360.
Great review, sir. Honest, no hype, good descriptions. 👍
any chance of a 500cc or 650cc of this but more off road since it looks like the xt500
by the way i like the cb500x more than this cause it can handle some off road
You said it could use a 6th gear . Is it reving too high at 75 mph ? Or do you just want more broad of a power range ?
3:30 how the heck do you record yourself 365 degrees while riding the bike?
Riding that bike off-road totally sets the belt-drive up for early failure. That said, good review.
with less than 3 inches of rear suspension, don't think it will affect it much.
The problem is what happens to the belt if a pebble gets stuck between the teeth.
a nice repair bill round the corner.
Nice review! I was mistakenly under the impression that this used Yamaha's triple, like the FZ-09 and the XSR900 but I guess it's Bolt-based. Still cool, and I agree that it's nice to have standards back!
Had they started with MT-09 platform this wouldn't have end up being such a pig with lipstick.
Great Stuff! How did they do the 360 shot at 3:33. A Drone? Or has he a staff on his helmet attached?
A Drone?? Lol!
he put a camera on his ring above head. he is an angel. dingding
Look at his shadow bro. ^_^ 2:17
this is a top heavy dog. great looking and sounds amazing bit it's heavier than Harley or at least it feels like it.
Please do Moto Guzzi's new V7 II SCRAMBLER!! and compare
I like the XT-500 styling, but functionally they're battling against the fact that the bike was initially designed as a "cruiser". They'd have a vastly better motorcycle if it'd been designed as a "standard" from the get go. Then again, I guess both "cruisers" and modern retros are aimed squarely at the form over function crowd.
Did you scratch scratch the foot peg on the asfalt?
So this bike is discontinued? Was is similar in style and performance to this bike?
What helmet cam did you used to do the 360deg view?
I can't get past the airbox and cylinder on the way of my knees. It's half finished to me. I do the same thing with a balance shafted 660 single.
they should have built a scrambler or dual sport out of the fz07/xsr700. all it really needs is a bash plate and knobbies. maybe some minor asthetic things too.
a cool bike. haters are just bandwagon parrots. bike isnt for hardcore offroad. yamaha didnt intend it to be. comftorable strong running bike u can swing around ur ur buddys yard and truly mild offroad. thats awesome. looks cool too. all that ground clearance crap. wouldnt be all that comftorable if it had a lot of clearance. heavy tall bike. no thanks.
well good review and good to know that this can be scratched off the list ...
Hey Evans, call Lemmy for tips on how to do a review.
About 80-120 pounds heavier than some other scrambler motorcycles with less travel doesn't make much sense for a design that is mean to be nimble and versatile.
Did you stop and get a Julian Apple Pie?
Jacket?
So much hate for this bike. So much undeserved hate. Go ride the damn thing. This reviewer didn't do it justice.
The reviewer is as exciting as a colonoscopy.
Agreed. Though very informative, writing a review and speaking a review are two different animals. The monotone is like watching the news channel, without the news. Here's an awesome moto review that will never see ink... ruclips.net/video/LOY2iTf2GQ8/видео.html
great review but the music!! WHY!!!!!
Please make a lower CC of this with a nicer display.
That, and an inch more travel in the rear.
Wish I had my Yamaha 125 Enduro from the early 1970's.
I remember when that bike came out. Fantastic. I think it opened an entirely new market. I think it even had an electric start. Looks and everything. At125 was a hit.
How much Cc's is it ?
I'm going to take a guess that's it's a 950
+Michael Kennedy i think that its close to that ._.
942cc to be exact
Why a bike should do only one thing? I would love something that I go to work with everyday so it should be relatively small and nimble, and something that I can take for a long comfortable rides. Some suspension travel will be great as the roads here are terrible. So this one is pretty close to the mark!
Tony Borisov than a dualsport is for you!
This vs a triumph scrambler?
This.
2.30 I like camera angle.
I wouldn't take this thing off road, that said seems like a great street bike 👍
Why don't they put a 6th gear in this stupid thing?
It was made originally to directly compete against the sportster 883, they refuse to put a 6th gear in the sportster b/c they want to upsell you to a dyna. But what's the reason for not adding one to this!?
They shoulda re-did the rear shocks to have more travel, that cspec suspension doesn't work well on a scrambler setup, IMO.
that display is pretty dumb
Love the look, but that heavy and less then THREE inches of travel in the rear, their own xsr900 is so much more bike for very similar money.
This or the xsr 700 for price,( im 6'3")
lol like the XRS isn't miles above this bike ..
The cylinder and air cleaner are in the way when I sat on it. That's a huge no no for me.
belt drive and gravel dont mix
LOVE IT !
Not really interested in this bike. Needs at LEST 4-5 inches of travel out back with a corresponding increase up front. To me, this is an ALMOST bike. Great idea that Yamaha ALMOST got right.
yup, why raise the seat and not fit a longer shock?
100% agree. 2.9 inches isn't even enough for the street!
yes it is slightly confused as a motorcycle because its trying to do too much
I agree... At first, I thought this bike looked cool, but then I noticed too many weird things going on that are a turn off, for me at least. Very short suspension (I mean come on, my '01 sportster has 4" front and rear), then there is the stupid looking digital speedo, weird looking tail light and turn signals, just perched up there on top of the rear fender.. looks too strange, and those odd and skinny frame tubes sticking out in front of the engine. Looks incomplete as a bike.. trying to be cool but it just doesn't work for me. And the guy testing the bike complains of needing another gear on the highway.. Why do so many Japanese bikes have low gears like that? I will never figure that out.. I mean, 900cc's is more than enough to pull higher gearing on the highway.
Since I have owned an original early 70s scrambler (71 cl350) as my first bike when I was 16 my oppinion is the same for this bike. A street bike that loooks like it will work off road but does not. Thats pretty much what a scrambler was then and pretty much what they make now lol.
2.8" rear travel?
On an off-road/on-road scrambler type bike? That doesn't sound fun.
Also.. Seems like too much engine for that type of bike.
It is a great looking bike though, I'll give it that.
regalamela!!!
The bolt is a modern bike. Why doesn't it have 6 gears?
I like how Yamaha is going different iterations of their bikes, but there is one they miss and that's a "dark custom". Maybe it's time Yamaha hire Dais Nagao from Harley Davidson. After all that Japanese guy is the father of the Iron 883!
Finally!!
I don't like the paint scheme on this bike. I think matte olive green, black or grey will be much better looking. Other than that, I am in love with this bike immediately. The ducati scr looks a little bit childish. Don't compare this bike to r9t scr (' cause it's much more expensive). This bike looks analogue
Digital speedometer.. NO FUEL GUAGE??? WHAT????
your telling they made a heavy bike go off road with very low torque in higher rpms?! They couldn't of took the fz07 engine and make it a scrambler Yamaha wtf man! XD
I lost all interest when I heard it only was a 5-speed. WTF Yamaha?!
WTF... DO YOU NEED MORE THAN 5 SPEED FOR GRAVEL ROADS ? .... WTF IT'S NOT A TOURING BIKE !
Long stroke, low revving engines only need 5-speed boxes. I have a Buell Ulysses and a Yamaha MT-01, and they both have 5-speed boxes.
My Harley xr1200 is a 5 speed and I’ll never sell it!
5 speed gear is all you need for that kinda bika man WTF , I mean WTF DUDE WTF!!!!
Almost bought one,....almost. Gauge is the worst I have ever seen and three inches of travel at the rear does not make it.
I like it, but a 5spd, what an odd choice.
Sensible choice for the torquey engine.
you must be getting paid by yamaha every other review tells it like it is too low not enough travel and that stupid air box is in the road same as the 950 bolt
Wtf is wrong with companies doing hybrid bikes. They dont do nothing different
What the hell ! why skimp on the gauges. Needs two gauges with a real tac and speedo. My only bitch about this bike.
This is a weird bike that will do only one thing well. Look cool parked
Regnar lmao!!
Bullshit!
That seat doesn't look too comfortable.
Nice SHOEI commercial... lol jk. Great bike but hate the name and the cluster.
Well you can change the name, because why not, and the cluster isn't that hard to change either.
it's a mix of all motorstyles (offroad/adventure/touring/scrambler/...) and resulted in NO style at all - sorry...
No style? It looks old school scramblers, and better than the Ducati imo.
As much as I will badmouth Ducati in general, at least their scrambler can "somewhat" hang off road. This bike is a fucking travesty.
+Stealth Bobber ROTFLMAO 😂👍
+Stealth Bobber I confirm, the Ducati Scrambler can go off road easily. It's not a neo retro old school bike. It's a real modern scrambler, and for instance the only one. Maybe the SCR950 will be the 2nd one and Triumph is working on it too. No matter the brand, the scrambler is evolving and I like it
Dated, No frills boring motorcycle.
I would break this in minutes, not hours.
Belt drive scrambler wut
Very nice bike not horse shit like niken
Is it the worst sounding 950cc bike ever??
Horrible esa motocicleta,lo mio son las super sport,de todas forma para gusto se hicieron los colores y para escoger las moto
Nice bike, nice review, awful music. :-)
way too heavy
Work out more
That bike is SMALL !
No offense, but it is time to embrace balding and shave your head. I myself have been balding since I was 17 so I've had enough time to accept it.
Aside from that nice review.
I better quit buying bikes every two years before my wife leaves my bald ass.
This motorcycle it's the biggest disappointment since the Crucifixion.
What a friggin scam, it's like they(Yamaha) were not even trying.💩👎
It is nothing like the Ducati.
Man that bike looks so cheap
Seamless tanks are not cheap.
yamaha sucks recently, ugly display, heavy, 950cc and 55hp...
Robson Enduro Almost as much hp as Average Harley. My 02 Ultra classic on the dyno. Pulled 65hp and it ran great.
bad Muslim sheet joint.
It has great looks, but that's about it. No real off road capability, tube type tires with no centerstand, belt drive, witch is worthless off road and a real pain to adjust. This is a lets pretend bike all the way around. Even the Bolt has tubeless tires.
display ruined the whole bike
boring parts bin bike that does not excel in any category nor have any looks that I would shell out money and say "it sucks in everything but looks fantastic" nope sucks in looks department as well with that big air box sticking out.If you are close to 6ft you can pretty much guaranteed your knee hitting it and get annoyed. Only 1 rotor at front and lousy suspension travel.
The idiots at Yamaha obviously thought Americans are so stupid that we will buy anything that has "scrambler" on it.
This is not a bike but a toy in literal sense of the word.Everything about this bike reads "cheap" and uninspired
What a bunch of nonsense. Tell us something useful. (i.e. how does it wheelie?)