I like the Bolt for its possibilities in regard to customization. In early Summer 2021, I checked out a Bolt that had the NorCal chopper styling of the early 1970s. The stock gas tank was heavily modified and frisco mounted. All the wiring etc. under the gas tank was cleaned up. The bike's owner said that he wanted to see if 41 mm fork tubes from the last year H-Ds that ran 41 mm fork tubes would work on the Bolt. He didn't want to use screw in fork extenders ("slugs"). All of the engine covers were chromed, as were many other parts on the machine. He had a custom cobra seat/tuck n roll pattern stitched up. The bike was painted red/orange candy. That Bolt was incredible.
My only real gripe on this bike is they put a small square inside of a large circle for the gauge. They didn't even utilize the excess space for anything cool like a gear indicator or something.
I love my Bolt and I love Harleys. To me what makes the Bolt so awesome is that it is the best looking non American cruiser ever made. Over the years out of all the other various non American cruisers like other Star cruisers, Honda Shadows, and whatever Kawasaki tried to pull off, the Bolt is the closest and best looking one to ever pull off the classic Harley look. Don't ever repeat that I admitted this because I'll deny the poop out of it, but I even like the shape and look of the Bolt tank over the Sportster tank. Well and even a few other Harley tanks. I also like that it has the air cooled V-twin instead of water cooled like 95% of the other Japanese cruisers. Overall it's just simply the closest and best thing to the look, feel, and sound of a Harley that has ever been made by a non American company. Except it doesn't come with the huge Harley price tag, rides smoother than the Sportster, and has Japanese reliability. It's just flat out a great and noble steed! At least in my opinion I guess.
All great points and your secret is safe with me 😬 even though you publicly stated it on the internet haha. But I agree on all counts! The look / ride quality / reliability all much better overall than the HD brothers. That being said can't deny the awesome feeling of HD Rumble! Ride safe brother!
I agree with the power band - it’s great and very usable. I came from an R6 so that things power band was an on off switch and by the time you got there you’re already at the speed limit in 1st gear
I've always thought this is a phenomenal bike for the money it's a great size with a great look and a good sound with the right exhaust of course. I think people have lost what used to make motorcycles cool and that's having fun and enjoying it. You don't have to spend $20,000 or more to really enjoy a good motorcycle.
@@UrbanMoto I have had a lot of different motorcycles but I have gone back to having two, more reasonable motorcycles that were somewhat affordable and the money I did not spend on the bigger crazier bikes I was able to put into the bikes and customize the way I wanted without feeling like I was drowning in debt doing it. Which is the number one way to really enjoy your bike is to look around find a nice quality reasonably priced bike fix It up the way you want and you will like it a lot more than a super expensive one that you dread making the payment on every month.
I started riding this year. Bought a 2014 R-Spec. I just love it. I really want a 2023 R-Spec. I was told it is too big for a beginner. I've had no such issues learning on it and she gives me plenty of power and speed to keep up with my riding buddies. My only gripe is the lean angle. I scrape the pegs a lot.
I'm strongly considering a Bolt as my next bike. I live in Australia and for the first 2 years of having a bike licence you're restricted in what level of power you're allowed. I just sold my HD Street 500 and this feels like a natural upgrade nearly twice the displacement, bigger physical size and like you said even here in Aus the second hand market means that a good one is much cheaper than an 883 or 1200. And I've done the Harley thing I'm ready to try something else. Cool video mate! Heaps of food for thought!
Just found this a few months late, but great review dude! Not only are they a great value for the money new (though I will never buy a new bike again, period), you can find REALLY good deals on them used. I just bought a 2020 Bolt R-Spec with 85 (!!) miles on the odo, WITH Vance and Hines pipes for $6000. Dude just wanted to pay off his loan and move on.
I just got a 2018 with 4700 miles for 4500.... it had some damage from being laid over once but it runs great. The damage is just 2 dents on the tank, a scraped up exhaust, and a snapped brake lever. Shouldnt be too bad to fix apart from the fuel tank. Going to swap out the exhaust soon.
going to look at one next week but wondering how this will feel. i'm 6'3" and am currently riding a MT10. i feel like its going to sit really low for me
@@UrbanMoto Man that intro was sick it so fast🤣Lmao 🤣🤣 I sit on it both iron 883 and bolt it's like i like the bolt but i feel something is missing like the way it looks to me is weird and the iron it feels like what if i have my gf do we look we're cramped🤣🤣 wtf. Like literally i don't know what to think 🤣
@@uvwevwevweonyetenyeubemuge4036 haha yea intro sped up (just a tad lol) I dunno man. You may want to consider something a little bigger? Indian Scout or Chief if you can swing the $. All the small CC cruisers are gonna be cramped a little. You could also look at Suzuki C90 or M109 as they could be bigger for you. Just a thought.
Absolutely agree with ure opinion in ure video man ! I bought my 2015 XV 950 CU in the end of 2021. Its the Café-Racer-Version of the Bolt I fell in love with. Cant wait for 2022 bike season to beginn !
Hey man, can you recommend any good adjustable brake and clutch levers for a 2017 yamaha bolt? I just bought one and the levers it come with are extra large my hands are small. Feels awful.
If you are willing to spend money on some quality levers I would recommend CRG levers. They have crazy adjustability and are pretty comfy! I have ASV levers are on MT09 and they are very similar.
Hey dude where did your yamaha bolt ended up ??? I was looking at one that looks exactly like that in Texas. Forgot the mileage but i ended up choosing the stock one over the other one i saw. The one i got only has 7xx miles on it now
Honestly… I’m not exactly sure where it ended. I sold it to a friend of mine who sold it to someone else. This particular bike is owned by another friend of mine and it actually for sale!
welllllll... Sorta? I mean I wouldn't drive through a torrential downpour but I also wouldn't not ride in the rain regular. So I most use cases it's fine!
I really love the Bolt, but I'm a taller person (6'2) so I'm kinda looking more towards the Harley Sportster 48 simply because of the forward controls. I've heard from other reviews that the ergos on the Bolt are quite cramped with the mid controls and the knee bend angle is not great if you're taller. You have kits that bring the controls forward by about 4" on the Bolt but that's still not really forward controls imo...
@@danceudavid4015 man you might be a little cramped... If you do. I would get a taller seat and add forward controls to be able to stretch out your legs a little.
Ummm... Harley Evo 883 1200 are unbelievably reliable. They also have big bore kits, cams and heads that will get a sportster up to 120hp. The bolt does not have the aftermarket like the sportster. I like the bolt don't get me wrong but just spend a little less and buy a used sportster. The market is flooded with them for cheap.
What do you love most about the Yamaha Bolt?
Sound & Acceleration
I like the Bolt for its possibilities in regard to customization. In early Summer 2021, I checked out a Bolt that had the NorCal chopper styling of the early 1970s. The stock gas tank was heavily modified and frisco mounted. All the wiring etc. under the gas tank was cleaned up. The bike's owner said that he wanted to see if 41 mm fork tubes from the last year H-Ds that ran 41 mm fork tubes would work on the Bolt. He didn't want to use screw in fork extenders ("slugs"). All of the engine covers were chromed, as were many other parts on the machine. He had a custom cobra seat/tuck n roll pattern stitched up. The bike was painted red/orange candy. That Bolt was incredible.
My only real gripe on this bike is they put a small square inside of a large circle for the gauge. They didn't even utilize the excess space for anything cool like a gear indicator or something.
I love my Bolt and I love Harleys. To me what makes the Bolt so awesome is that it is the best looking non American cruiser ever made. Over the years out of all the other various non American cruisers like other Star cruisers, Honda Shadows, and whatever Kawasaki tried to pull off, the Bolt is the closest and best looking one to ever pull off the classic Harley look. Don't ever repeat that I admitted this because I'll deny the poop out of it, but I even like the shape and look of the Bolt tank over the Sportster tank. Well and even a few other Harley tanks. I also like that it has the air cooled V-twin instead of water cooled like 95% of the other Japanese cruisers. Overall it's just simply the closest and best thing to the look, feel, and sound of a Harley that has ever been made by a non American company. Except it doesn't come with the huge Harley price tag, rides smoother than the Sportster, and has Japanese reliability. It's just flat out a great and noble steed! At least in my opinion I guess.
All great points and your secret is safe with me 😬 even though you publicly stated it on the internet haha. But I agree on all counts! The look / ride quality / reliability all much better overall than the HD brothers. That being said can't deny the awesome feeling of HD Rumble! Ride safe brother!
feel the same way!
Has peg kit to ,mov pegs forward 6-9". Has tpms, temps, quick shifter, cruise controll?? . Like most other, that are cheaper ?
The one thing that's bothering me is the death wobble I keep reading about it kind of puts you off a bit ?
The Most Harley looking non american Cruiser is the Yamaha Roadster/Wildstar 1600/1700. The bolt has its own style
Love that beginning stage of death wobble at :06
Death wobble is real!
I agree with the power band - it’s great and very usable. I came from an R6 so that things power band was an on off switch and by the time you got there you’re already at the speed limit in 1st gear
I've always thought this is a phenomenal bike for the money it's a great size with a great look and a good sound with the right exhaust of course. I think people have lost what used to make motorcycles cool and that's having fun and enjoying it. You don't have to spend $20,000 or more to really enjoy a good motorcycle.
Very well said! I agree on all points, 20k vs 7k you can have the same amount of fun!
@@UrbanMoto I have had a lot of different motorcycles but I have gone back to having two, more reasonable motorcycles that were somewhat affordable and the money I did not spend on the bigger crazier bikes I was able to put into the bikes and customize the way I wanted without feeling like I was drowning in debt doing it. Which is the number one way to really enjoy your bike is to look around find a nice quality reasonably priced bike fix It up the way you want and you will like it a lot more than a super expensive one that you dread making the payment on every month.
@@UrbanMoto you got yours for 7k? The dealership is trying to see me one for $11,400.
@@Jabb8055 No this was a friends of mine bike. I have seen them locally for 7 though and you can get used around me for about 4500-5500 all day long.
I have 33k miles on my Yamaha Bolt .... She's a daily driver & she's still running strong 🙌🏽👌🏽
Awesome! Any death wobble?
@@UrbanMoto Nah never! I feel it coming if I let go of the handle bar at 60+mph but I haven't tested it haha
I'm picking up a 2022 bolt this Saturday and excited as hell to move up from a 135cc to a 900cc.
Congrats man! Enjoy!
Congratulations bro !be safe been wanting to get bolt in future! 👍
I started riding this year. Bought a 2014 R-Spec. I just love it. I really want a 2023 R-Spec. I was told it is too big for a beginner. I've had no such issues learning on it and she gives me plenty of power and speed to keep up with my riding buddies. My only gripe is the lean angle. I scrape the pegs a lot.
I'm strongly considering a Bolt as my next bike. I live in Australia and for the first 2 years of having a bike licence you're restricted in what level of power you're allowed. I just sold my HD Street 500 and this feels like a natural upgrade nearly twice the displacement, bigger physical size and like you said even here in Aus the second hand market means that a good one is much cheaper than an 883 or 1200. And I've done the Harley thing I'm ready to try something else. Cool video mate! Heaps of food for thought!
Hey mate, did you end up getting one ?
Also considering it as an upgrade from my street.
I love my Bolt as well!
I was going to go for the Yamaha V star or Suzuki c50 but now I am really looking at this Bolt. Ahh the choices we have to make !
I owned a v star 650. It's extremely slow. You start looking for a non-existent 6th gear about 55 mph. Maybe the 1100 v-star is a little better.
Just found this a few months late, but great review dude! Not only are they a great value for the money new (though I will never buy a new bike again, period), you can find REALLY good deals on them used. I just bought a 2020 Bolt R-Spec with 85 (!!) miles on the odo, WITH Vance and Hines pipes for $6000. Dude just wanted to pay off his loan and move on.
I've had my bolt for a year now and she's be really good to me! I have no issues keeping up with any of my friends or family
👍👍👍👍 you make me wanna buy it even more. Thanks for the clear information! Ride safely! ✌️
I just got a 2018 with 4700 miles for 4500.... it had some damage from being laid over once but it runs great. The damage is just 2 dents on the tank, a scraped up exhaust, and a snapped brake lever. Shouldnt be too bad to fix apart from the fuel tank. Going to swap out the exhaust soon.
Congrats on the bike! You'll love it! New exhaust = really opens up that 950!
I blacked out the shiny bits on my bolt. And added army green camo ammo boxes as paniers. From that day on I no longer get tailgated. 👍
going to look at one next week but wondering how this will feel. i'm 6'3" and am currently riding a MT10. i feel like its going to sit really low for me
It's going to be really small for you...
Going to take my MSF soon and I keep coming back to the Bolt. I hope I can find one for around 5k. It's the Bolt or a Rebel 500..I think.
They are out there! And the prices are starting to creep down. It’s a great bike!
I'd say out of those two definitely get the Bolt, it seems like a much more characterful bike than the Honda with that rolly-polly parallel 2...
armored riding pants . what do you wear?
we have the same height im confuse if what will i buy a used sporterc883 or yamaha bolt 😵💫
Yamaha bolt all day long and never look back!
@@UrbanMoto Man that intro was sick it so fast🤣Lmao 🤣🤣 I sit on it both iron 883 and bolt it's like i like the bolt but i feel something is missing like the way it looks to me is weird and the iron it feels like what if i have my gf do we look we're cramped🤣🤣 wtf. Like literally i don't know what to think 🤣
@@uvwevwevweonyetenyeubemuge4036 haha yea intro sped up (just a tad lol) I dunno man. You may want to consider something a little bigger? Indian Scout or Chief if you can swing the $. All the small CC cruisers are gonna be cramped a little. You could also look at Suzuki C90 or M109 as they could be bigger for you. Just a thought.
Absolutely agree with ure opinion in ure video man ! I bought my 2015 XV 950 CU in the end of 2021. Its the Café-Racer-Version of the Bolt I fell in love with. Cant wait for 2022 bike season to beginn !
Yea man enjoy the season!!
Hey man, can you recommend any good adjustable brake and clutch levers for a 2017 yamaha bolt? I just bought one and the levers it come with are extra large my hands are small. Feels awful.
If you are willing to spend money on some quality levers I would recommend CRG levers. They have crazy adjustability and are pretty comfy! I have ASV levers are on MT09 and they are very similar.
Considering this for my first bike instead of the 883. Thoughts?
Hey dude where did your yamaha bolt ended up ??? I was looking at one that looks exactly like that in Texas. Forgot the mileage but i ended up choosing the stock one over the other one i saw. The one i got only has 7xx miles on it now
Honestly… I’m not exactly sure where it ended. I sold it to a friend of mine who sold it to someone else. This particular bike is owned by another friend of mine and it actually for sale!
@@UrbanMoto what year was the bolt you had? 14?
@@simplybuilt_1708 Yes this one is a 15.
I wanted to love the bolt but the engine encroachment on my right leg is so irritating I couldn’t get comfortable on it
Yea man that air filter is in a crappy spot for sure. I even put an aftermarket and it still sucked.
When its all stock, do the pegs scrape often from being low? and is it a pretty bumpy ride?
Pegs do scrape but not often but the ride is bumpy.
Is there a way to increase the seat height to make it a bit parallel to the handle bars just like in the case of royal Enfield?
The CSPEC has a seat that is level with the bottom of the fuel tank
I've seen it for that price at moto sport... They had a lot of those for $8,500. I even brought it down a few hundred dollars
bro can you make an honest review of Honda rebel and the bolt.... I'm torn between the both.....
If I could get my hands on a Rebel I totally would!
Help me decide between this one and the vmax1200 .
2 VERY different bikes. I think it depends on your riding style. Vmax I would say overall a better bike though.
Good review! Thank you. Yes, Yamaha is a good brand. Not a Harley... You said it.
Is that air intake safe to drive while it rains?
welllllll... Sorta? I mean I wouldn't drive through a torrential downpour but I also wouldn't not ride in the rain regular. So I most use cases it's fine!
What year did they make red?
2015!
I really love the Bolt, but I'm a taller person (6'2) so I'm kinda looking more towards the Harley Sportster 48 simply because of the forward controls. I've heard from other reviews that the ergos on the Bolt are quite cramped with the mid controls and the knee bend angle is not great if you're taller. You have kits that bring the controls forward by about 4" on the Bolt but that's still not really forward controls imo...
How about the death-wobble.
How tall are you?
5’8”
@@UrbanMoto Would you recommend this motorcycle for a 6'3"?
@@danceudavid4015 man you might be a little cramped... If you do. I would get a taller seat and add forward controls to be able to stretch out your legs a little.
Ummm... Harley Evo 883 1200 are unbelievably reliable. They also have big bore kits, cams and heads that will get a sportster up to 120hp. The bolt does not have the aftermarket like the sportster. I like the bolt don't get me wrong but just spend a little less and buy a used sportster. The market is flooded with them for cheap.
nice bike
Thanks man!
It's best sound.
The Bolt is quick enough without speeding up the intro
Not NEARLY as visually entertaining 🤔😂
Yamaha has the best mechanical rating of all motorcycle manufacturers.
It’s so good! Never had any problems with mine or my buddy!
Good review but the waving gloves became annoying after about 10 seconds
The air filter hits me in the middle of my leg just like a Harley....lame. I think you gotta be a fat guy to ride cruisers.
Looks like a Honda rebel
Nothing like it
Why do all these POV UA-camrs have the exact same hand gestures. Do you go to school for that or what? It’s annoying and distracting.
We do go to a school for it and it’s very expensive so if you could like the video that would be awesome! 👏