SuzukiSavage.com - rode a 2014 Yamaha Bolt today

Steampowered Boy

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rode a 2014 Yamaha Bolt today
05/04/13 at 18:24:50

so, one of the dealerships near my house was having a Yamaha sponsored ride for the Bolt today; figured I would give it a shot considering I'm looking to buying a midsize bike like that in the next year.

I didn't even get a block before realizing I didn't want one; the seat was really low but a long way from the bars so I was leaning forward half sport bike style to reach them and I have fairly long arms. The clutch has about a millimeter friction zone: there is nearly three inches of travel until it engages then it's fulled meshed with no ability to "slip" the clutch. Yamaha is really proud of this clutch apparently but it it always seems like it was "all the way on" or "all the way off" with no in between resulting in a lot of "rough shifts"

The part that turned me off it right away was that the airbox and plastic overs for the cylinder head stuck out so far on both sides that i had to dig my knees into them on both sides and go "pidgeon toed" to be able to reach the shifter or the rear brake. It was just uncomfortable all around.

On the upside, it's really light and uses the same engine as the Star 950 so it's really strong on the low end torque and I could get to 60 very quickly.

I feel like they may be targeting the younger 20s-mid 30s crowd who are more concerned with having a "unique looking" bike then a well planned one. I live right outside the Los Feliz, Eagle Rock, and Atwater Village sections of Los Angeles and there are a lot of "hipster" types that would buy this bike just to ride down to the local "bar du jour" for a Pabst just so they could be seen on it. If I had to ride one more than 50 miles, I would probably just have it towed back home and take a bus.

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« Last Edit: 05/05/13 at 20:48:14 by Steampowered Boy »

How other people treat you is their dharma; how you react is yours.

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28663 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: rode a 2014 Suzuki Bolt today Reply #1 - 05/04/13 at 18:43:20 You'z got'z yer' Suzi's n' yer' Yammer's cross-threaded... ... That's understandable,.. I heard Suzi's answer the the "Bolt" will be called the "Nut"... ...
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ZAR Serious Thumper Offline Rock this town! Rock it inside out! Posts: 961 Kentucky, USA Gender:	Re: rode a 2014 Suzuki Bolt today Reply #2 - 05/04/13 at 20:00:50 Serowbot wrote on 05/04/13 at 18:43:20: You'z got'z yer' Suzi's n' yer' Yammer's cross-threaded... ... That's understandable,.. I heard Suzi's answer the the "Bolt" will be called the "Nut"... ... Methinks the "nut" is also known as a little fuzzie critter aka "Sero"
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Paladin.

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Re: rode a 2014 Suzuki Bolt today
Reply #3 - 05/05/13 at 08:31:57

Steampowered Boy wrote on 05/04/13 at 18:24:50:

... I feel like they may be targeting the younger 20s-mid 30s crowd who are more concerned with having a "unique looking" bike then a well planned one....

Yamaha states is built as competition with the Harley Davidson 883 Iron, and has a video to prove it is better -- more displacement, more power, 20 pounds less weight, and a full $9 less than one of them thar over priced Harleys.

It is for Metric owners that hate the Harley Davidson Sportster.

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28663 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: rode a 2014 Suzuki Bolt today Reply #4 - 05/05/13 at 09:05:33 Paladin. wrote on 05/05/13 at 08:31:57: It is for Metric owners that hate the Harley Davidson Sportster. I don't hate them that much... I'd pay the extra $9.00... ...
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WD Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Professional "scooter trash". Posts: 5207 Rosemark TN Gender:	Re: rode a 2014 Suzuki Bolt today Reply #5 - 05/05/13 at 11:46:02 The baby HD is a bit more user friendly. Sat on the Bolt at the local Yammerscammer shop, they can keep it. If Yamaha wants any of my money, they need to bring back the XS650.
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Steampowered Boy

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Re: rode a 2014 Yamaha Bolt today
Reply #6 - 05/06/13 at 07:12:08

There was a film crew there and they wanted to interview me about it. I told them that they probably don't want to talk to me because I don't want one. On the survey, they asked "Before the test ride, how likely were you to purchase a Star Bolt?" and I put "considering it" and where it said "And after the test ride?" I put "would not buy it". The funny part was the guide leading the test ride wasn't riding one; he was on a Road Star 1600.

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Pine Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1694 Mississippi, USA Gender:	Re: rode a 2014 Suzuki Bolt today Reply #7 - 05/06/13 at 10:11:39 WD wrote on 05/05/13 at 11:46:02: The baby HD is a bit more user friendly. Sat on the Bolt at the local Yammerscammer shop, they can keep it. If Yamaha wants any of my money, they need to bring back the XS650. bah soooo close WD Yammer XJ550 Maxim or seca Those were Bikes for ridding!
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WD Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Professional "scooter trash". Posts: 5207 Rosemark TN Gender:	Re: rode a 2014 Yamaha Bolt today Reply #8 - 05/06/13 at 10:19:37 Nice, your typo just proves it, the XJs are good for RIDDING (yourself of)... Don't feel too bad, I can't stand the bigger XS series either, 750/850/1100. Don't like shaft drive bikes.
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MMRanch

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Re: rode a 2014 Yamaha Bolt today
Reply #9 - 06/23/13 at 00:24:59

The baby HD is a bit more user friendly. Sat on the Bolt at the local Yammerscammer shop, they can keep it. If Yamaha wants any of my money, they need to bring back the XS650.

I had a 1971 modle XS-650

Love the handleing and gearing ... it would run second gear up to allmost 80 mph. I believe the redline was 7500 . I wound-it-out on the interstate one time .... nose between the handle bars and feet rapped around the tail light. Well .... the speedometer was waveing between 130 and 140 and really had me puzzled why not hold steady .???? Then it dawned on me !!!!!
The front wheel would float up - speedometer slow to 130 .... then front wheel would touch down again speedometer jump up to 140 again Huh

The one and only time I let it go that fast ! Tongue

The alternator (rotor) burned out on it ... it was a brush type running on a verticle plate . So if Yhama does bring it back I hope they run a permant magnet type in it this time , I'd buy one again it handled great , nice useable tork , and I just like verticle twins !

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Jiggyfly

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Re: rode a 2014 Yamaha Bolt today
Reply #10 - 06/24/13 at 08:56:22

MMRanch wrote on 06/23/13 at 00:24:59:

[highlight]

Love the handleing and gearing ... it would run second gear up to allmost 80 mph. I believe the redline was 7500 . I wound-it-out on the interstate one time .... nose between the handle bars and feet rapped around the tail light. Well .... the speedometer was waveing between 130 and 140 and really had me puzzled why not hold steady .???? Then it dawned on me !!!!!
The front wheel would float up - speedometer slow to 130 .... then front wheel would touch down again speedometer jump up to 140 again Huh

The one and only time I let it go that fast ! Tongue

I'm sorry, I've read some outlandish speed statements.....& that's right up there!
For comparisons sake, I'm a track day instructor, & I rode a 135hp Yamaha R6 that has qualified for AMA pro events. Somewhere in the 400 lbs, wet weight range. It floated the front tire at 115mph, banging 4th gear.

An XS650 makes about 50-60 hp, so not even close to 100hp. And weighs probably 500lbs, wet.

Your speedo fluttering was probably because it was loose, & I'm guessing about 25% optimistic.
Wink

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B.J. and Jo

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Re: rode a 2014 Suzuki Bolt today
Reply #11 - 06/25/13 at 08:47:14

WD wrote on 05/05/13 at 11:46:02:

The baby HD is a bit more user friendly. Sat on the Bolt at the local Yammerscammer shop, they can keep it. If Yamaha wants any of my money, they need to bring back the XS650.

I'd second that, we put 80,000 double up miles on a 83 XS650SK and yes the bike had some big time vibes but I LOVED Cool

That machine. Mine was a "leftover", bought it brand new in the crate for $1,500 dollars out the door!

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