As soon as someone says "it's not a true scrambler" I can almost discount their comment. A scrambler is just a ROAD bike slightly modified to ride it off road. Maybe some knobbies, maybe some suspension or exhaust mods, but that's it really. Scramblers are not GS bikes or dirt bikes with loads of suspension. This bike is more a true scrambler than the Ducati (which I owned, fun bike, great in the twisties, terrible off road) or the Triumph, which was designed specifically for on/off road use. This is the Bolt, with a flat seat, knobby tires, bigger wheel up front, moto bars, and that's it really. They took a road bike and replaced a few things, and now you can go off road a bit. That's all scramblers do. If you need real gnarly off road capability get a Dual Sport or GS bike, if you want to ride roads and occasionally venture off road and "Scramble", this bike works. It is a bit heavy, I'll give you that
If you watch FortNine's review, Ryan more or less says the scr950 is the only one that fits the bill of being a scrambler; a Road bike that's been repurposed
I've had mine for about two months now and have about 1,700 miles on it. I ride mostly county back roads with the occasional dirt or gravel road. With a few mods, this bike is super fun and is the perfect daily driver for me. My current mods are: cobra intake, emgo shorty muffler, Ivan's ecu reflash, skid plate, MX pegs, Renthal cr high bars, bar risers, solid bar mounts, single folding mirror, rear stinger delete, licence plate relocation bracket, and front reflector delete. I've got my tire pressures set at 30psi and it makes for a smoother ride and better traction on dirt and gravel roads. If you go with around 36psi in the rear, it makes for a really fun bike to power slide. My favorite thing to do when riding on gravel is to have the back tire spinning all of the time. Not sure on top speed, but my current high score is 112mph. The bike gets tons of looks and compliments at the gas station. I can't park it anywhere without someone giving it the walk around. Overall, I'm really happy with the bike.
Glad to see a highly modified one. I would like your feedback after ivan's flash on power/cooling/vibration/feeling. I'm debating between that and a ower comander. Hope you can help me, many thanks!
Did you experience a lot of vibration at higher speeds like 75 80 mph? How easily do the pegs scrape? Sounds like you put a couple thousand more dollars into it easy. How much are all those upgrades costing you?
I'm considering this bike. Its a home run for me, nice retro look, inexpensive, good for taller riders, a nice sized V twin and the reliability of Yamaha.
I had the XV950R for four years and did over 12000 trouble free miles. As TMF says the 950 V-twin engine is the outstanding feature. I sold my XV950R early this year and am regretting it. Looking at the SCR, there's a nice black one for sale, now I just have to justify having two motorbikes again....... 🤔 6months later I've bought a red SCR, loving it 😁
This strikes me as a Yammie rival to the Harley Sportster. In much the same way the bike needs you to accept it for what it is and enjoy its attributes rather than worry about what it isn't or what it can't do. I own a Harley Sportster 48 and love riding it around the lanes near where we live. It's a genuine feel-good bike, especially on a nice sunny day. If you don't try and expect it to be like other bikes then you enjoy it a whole lot more. Viva la difference!
Interesting to see your assessment of this one. Initially it appealed to me as a comfy cruiser style bike without the naff cruiser looks and associated bling … box ticked . Then I read the specs and realised Yamaha had avoided spending anything on development by re-using an archaic air cooled motor housed in a frame that looked like it had been designed on the back of an envelope ( those downtubes ! ) … not so good . Then I saw it in the flesh ! .. so big , so wide , so heavy , … the scrambler aesthetic just jars with the sheer bulk ! I'm 29" inside leg and its like sitting on a horse ! .. At the end of the day its a "parts-bin special " and it shows .. some will no doubt like it but it will never sell like Triumph or Ducati's efforts PS ...new updated Triumph scrambler out .. waiting for your test ride !
John Garrison ..Yes , I agree it does have a really interesting look ,which is why I was interested originally. In the flesh though the compromises are more obvious and as I said as a smaller person the sheer bulk is too much. Would be ideal for a big guy after this style of bike though.
I echo John, the thrown together look I also love, I do have an attraction to the big simple lump of an engine. However the lack of clearance is a bit unforgivable, even a full inch onto the ground clearance over the bolt would've been nice, but instead they just add empty space into the subframe.
I only paid $5500 for mine, and coming from someone who had a heavily modified DR650 that I built myself, or my two HD models I've had amongst the array of Jap bikes and even a "Trumpet" I will say for what I paid and for what I use it for, the bike is a blast. It's smooth, not sure why he is complaining about vibes, my 1200S was terrible, and my FXBB was worse than the SCR....anyways for a smooth, fairly comfortable cruiser that'll do 75+ all day long while still getting 55+ mpg...it's not half bad! *side note* Like he said, don't even think about riding this thing off-road...
Great review. I owned an XVS950 from which this bike originated and I seriously considered buying one of these (before eventually going for a Honda CB1100RS). I agree with almost all off the observations made, except that I actually think it looks fantastic. Having done quite a few miles in the XVS version, I agree that the engine is the best thing about the bike, the brakes and suspension are just about good enough... and the 1980's Casio style speedometer is pretty crap. As a few people have said, it's a bit of "parts bin" bike but it's none the worse for that, especially when you consider that quite a few unexpectedly great bikes in the past have arrived by the same route.
Cruisers carry their weight different than what you're used to. When you want to stop a cruiser, you must use both brakes together. When used like that, you may find they provide the "eye popping stalks" that you expect.
Only a small percentage of riders really scramble or off road adventure tour regularly anyway. So, can't blame them for going for the look and making it street oriented with belt drive etc. Cheers! Oh yes, when you going to mix it up and test a big touring HD?
Just have the new copy of BIKE and there is a Yamaha dealer offering a saving of £3148 on this bike, bringing it down to £5999, so i had to look at it. I love the outline because it is reminiscent of the XT500 that I adore. If I had a spare few grand I would seriously consider it, although nowhere to hide it from the missus 😆 The other Yamaha you may have been thinking of was likely the XSR750/900 which I test rode a couple of years back. Ian Back on Two Wheels
I think this bike was born of a task set by yamaha to some new junior designers who were asked to come up with a scrambler style bike but could only use the old excess parts bucket unfortunately.
@MrChoochoo he's right on one thing it's cheaper , and much much nastier.. just another Harley clone . It's no scrambler either . Yamaha need to get there shit together
Ive owned it for a year & i love it more everyday its a do everything bike like they used to be. Too heavy to be a trailbike, but powerful enough for semi long distance, great for around town, & good for mild dirt roads. Simply air cooled vtwin with yamaha reliability. Definitely not a SCRAMBLER but its fun for me & yeah i understand why people could dislike it cause the XSR700 could be a more proper SCRAMBLER if you wanted to but i let it rip on this one like a 400cc & load it up for camping on the weekends. Its fun & simple & to me thats what riding is all about. I’ll leave performance to the bikes that are supposed to meet those standards. I’ll keep having fun on mine!
Good review as always. Quite like the overall look of it, although not that clock which looks to me like a cheap digital watch, and the price....too high.
Reminds me a bit of the TR1 1000 from the early eighties and the XV 550 of the same peiod. Neither of those bikes were liked by the press, but we're still cherished by the owners I'm sure.
I just bought a new Bolt C spec which is the cafe version of this bike. Great fun without getting you into too much trouble. Good build quality as well but a heavy beast for not a huge bike.
I have one . I had it painted completely black. And added a skid plate and headlamp and small tinted wind deflector . Gonna add a better seat cover tomorrow and next a new exhaust. The bike is looking awesome 👌 it's a great reliable bike and I got a great deal on it
Nice review again TMF. I genuinely think I'd have the Sinnis Scrambler over this mixed up bag of spare parts and confusion. I think the designer needs a holiday. Thanks again.
I enjoyed your review. I really like the looks of this bike - it certainly harks back to the XT500 (which was a proper trail bike). I realise looks are a personal thing though. It's definitely more style over substance and little else really, though somehow I'm still drawn to it. There are bargains to be had and you certainly shouldn't be paying list price.
Not a fan of twins as I am more of an inline 4 person and will give this pass most probably. But the bike looks sweet. And the review is spot on as always.
I really love this introduction of different bikes you are trying and giving a specification talk about them.💭 As I have said before, love your videos and can't wait to see and hear from you. Best regards The Danish Viking.
It was a scrambler back in the '70s because they didn't have dirt bikes lol. I would never take this in the dirt, and I was there in the 70s. That's why they created new dirt bikes. I'm going to have to test drive one. I don't like the idea of too much vibration in the hands or the pegs. I don't like that it sits so low in terms of scraping on turns apparently. But I don't know what the angle is either. The 950 motor should be killer. I wonder how it compares to the xsr 900, the motor that is. I think I wrote in another comment, I would take handling and that feeling of being part of the bike over power I would say every time. Hence the goal to find the bike that handles awesome and you feel like you're really part of it, as well as the motor. That's why I'm leaning towards the XSR900. I like the idea of flipping a switch, going from a mid-range standard setting, to a sport where you're doing wheelies, or apparently going to the mush setting where you turn the throttle and also use your feet like The Flintstones LOL. Also the extremely short rear shock makes me wonder if I would actually enjoy riding this thing. Sucks when you weigh 250 lb. That's about 10 Stone in English isn't it LOL
I’m a big/tall person and have made a few mods as you have suggested. Did a kids video if of interest. A great bike as an allrounder and as a first big bike 👍🏻👍🏻
@@BikesVansandThings hi thanks for the reply. My attitude is softer now towards this bike, mainly because of cost. The kz900rs is what I really want, but definitely more expensive. I actually like the look of the scr950. In america, I wonder why they are so much cheaper. I'm going to have to start asking sellers why they are selling them.
You can pick these up for £500 more than the the royal interceptor. I know which I would have for reliability Yammi all the way it looks gorgeous and for resale it would hold value much better. Each to there own though 😉
Parts bin special me thinks, good size rear brake and nice red colour but not much else of particular note. Daily uploads ? You're on fire this week TMF, cheers !
Just getting rid of some "old stock" SB - glad you appreciate it - not everyone does it transpires!! :0) All the best and thanks for your continued support and encouragement...
Great review TMF. I don't see anything that would turn my sights off of the Triumphs, Ducati, or the Beemers. Yamaha makes great products but I think you're right in that this is more of a styling exercise than anything.....
This is more for 50 miles at 60 mph, and not many tight corners. The similar Bolt is more for shorter riders. V-twins have a good sound when engine braking at about 20 mph. The Yamaha Tracer 900 is more for long trips at 75 mph and some tight corners. Dave Moss recently rode one many miles in New Zealand.
Nice to see you review this bike which I really want to like but ultimately don't. It's obviously not a proper scrambler but I like the fact that it's gone for a 70s look instead of the Triumph 60s look. The detailing also seems better than a Triumph. When you did the walk round the bike you didn't mention the seamless tank. Compare with the hideous seams on Triumph tanks such as the Thruxton and Bobber and give Yamaha some credit for taking the trouble to make the tank a thing of beauty. Big concern with this bike is the rear suspension. You say that Yam have raised the ride height by jacking up the suspension but not so. This bike has the same shocks as the lowrider, but some frame tubes have been added. Would have liked more info on how it handled bumps. Looks like a nice bike if you're not too demanding but hard to ignore the high weight and low power. How does it compare with a T100?
Who would you say this bike is aimed at? Doesn't seem ideal for road or off road use and they seem to have skimped in every area they could. Good review as usual though!
TMF Great review as always. The belt drive would not slip off-road because it has toothed pulleys. But belt drives are bad news off-road if they pick up a small stone. The belts are tensioned quite tight and a small stone on the pulley can punch a hole thru’ the belt when it rotates wrecking the belt. Not cheap to replace.
I'm starting to realise that I'm much more a cruise along rider rather than a knee down rider. Considering more cruiser style chit my next bike but don't like the limited clearance. Does this have a bit more clearance than cruisers?
ryan f9 changed my mind about this bike ,,, but when i was young scramblers were motocross bikes , but other views are that poorer people that could not afford [or want]purpose built offroad bikes would modify. and this is where this bike sits = its rough and ready basic in a modern reliable way with abs ..
It's a Heavy Beast but would handle dirt roads well .. Does not look like it would adapt well to luggage.. the ones I looked at had Enduro type ties.. What is the MPG on an air cooled bike like that ?
Exactly why today I have launched my new merch on my new website - which does 100% ship to the US! Check themissendenflyer.com for details - sorry for the trouble with TeeSpring....
There is a place in the world for old style and limited equipment style bikes. I have some mates that live 200 kms from the nearest dealer/repair garage and ride their bikes in some remote areas of Australia. My RT/LC has all the bells and whistles and I love it. But if I am in the west of NSW/QLD or some of the north Western Australia areas and one of the gadgets goes off line it would be a major pain to get the thing fixed. KISS (Keep it simple stupid) is the way to go sometimes. That Yammy V engine is bullet proof and you can always carry a spare drive belt. Nice addition to the Yamaha stable - but I will keep the RT under my bum.
I test rode this & found myself constantly wacking my knee against the air filter,it had a ackrapovic exhaust which made it sound like a monster, I did like the wide handle bars and the seat height,but I didnt share your enthusiasm for the engine it was sluggish.Not sure who would want one,though to look at theres worse out there
I like it a lot. Back to basics. Essential and should be fun to take it to its limits. As an essential bike it's well finished. Tidy. The XT comparison fits. 250 kg does not worry me. I have ridden 270-340 kg bikes. I have a ktm freeride, with 90 kg, it brings the average weight of my bikes way down. I could see myself exploiting this machine to the limits, looking good and not naff. They have a new 2019 model at my dealership, it's looking at me! Didn't expect to fall in love. Even the defects are endearing. Love the fact there's no ugly radiator... that's what spoils the Triumph for me, the fake air cooled cylinder... naff.
When I first thought about getting back into motorcycles, this was a bike that really caught my attention because I felt the power delivery would be great for some like me who had been away from bikes for many years. I never did ride this model, but I did ride the Bolt cruiser. The big V-Twin is a really great engine for urban and suburban riding here in America where there are few twisty roads and quickness between stoplights is the main concern.
Kind Sir TMF, you're most likely already aware of this, but I would like to point something out. I believe you could greatly improve your video production quality if you would steer away from using your particular smartphone for filming the walkaround. The image quality is kind of shuddery and it seems to be trying to focus constantly. The resulting video is quite distracting because of this. It might be a good idea to invest in a compact pocket camera you can get good ones for sub 100£ or if times comes in an other smartphone with better camera technology. This aside cheers for making another stellar review. Love seeing more of your video's in the future. Keep it up! Greetings Matta.
It should be OK on trails because of the ergonomics in a proper retro way. As in the early seventies when we had the original ducati scrambler. This reminds me of the original ducati scrambler. It would be cool with higher handlebars.
Huge void below the seat, get a tank made, relocate the fuel pump to the bottom tank? MT07/XSR700 fork lower fit on,Cognito Moto make hubs, twin discs,4 piston calipers for not much cash?
Thanks so much for the review, TMF. Did you notice that you didn't get stuck behind any white vans? Destiny calling, hey? I would really love to have a ride on that bike. It seems like everything a Harley Davidson should be but isn't; sane comfortable riding position and footpegs, thrumpy high torque low revving engine, ideal for just cruising around, belt drive but with Yamaha reliability. To combat the bar vibrations I would simply put on a pair of your old Grip Puppies. They work wonders on my two very viby bikes.
Hey Missenden, watch fortnine review on this bike, as he says, its probably the most scramblerish bike of all, all the others are bespoke built , but this SCR does it old school mate, i fear you have fallen for the hype!!
@£9170-00 it was never going to be on every street, but with the advent of Euro 5 and subsequent 33% reduction in price a premium quality Japanese 1000cc bike becomes a whole lot more appealing. Well rude not to help dealers move stock at that price. I'm enjoying mine!
Wow, not much praise from the viewers here! But I agree that something just doesn't work.... and for me it's that petrol tank. Looks like it should be on a custom/chopper or something, not a scrambler. Maybe re-used the frame dictates the shape.
Marketing this bike as a scrambler was just weird thinking. Yamy should used a bigger fuel tank, . street tires and called a Standard, ie Bonneville,CB1100 etc. That being said, if you want one of these ( and can get past the awful speedo), there should be plenty of left overs about. That might save you a couple grand.
Blimey, think I lost a few fillings from the vibrations just watching the review.....l have to say the competition looks a lot more appealing and a lot lighter! Ducati scrambler 1100, r nine t, upcoming Triumph 1200 scrambler? Another great and honest review TMF, thanks again. 👍
The type of bike that can only be defined by what it isn’t. It’s not light, not cheap, not fast, not a scrambler, not beautiful, not comfortable, etc...Nobody really knows what it is, except maybe Yamaha’s marketing department... But nice review, as usual !
So Mr TMF tests a cruiser based scrambler bike, having previously not having been a cruiser fan ( thank you Triumph for showing him the light ) or enthralled with Ducati's Scrambler, what could possibly go wrong? Oh yes it was Hey Folks!! :-)
Hmmm, not my cup of tea, I'm afraid, but thanks for the review anyway. I'm loving my new S1000R sport.... Any thoughts on the new R1250GS? Pretty much the same as last year's R1200GS but with "VTEC" or "VVTI-L".... Interesting how something that they've been doing in cars since the 90's is proclaimed as an amazing new thing for a motorcycle in 2018/19...
I also don´t get this bike´s market fitment, it´s a scrambler, that can´t scramble, looks like poor Ducati, it´s heavy, weak and just kinda oridinary. But one thing gets me, you can buy here i CZ a brand new 2016 model for 30% less than the 2018. That´s the price of 2018 400cc Ducati Scrambler :) Nice review though (as always), but the video on the phone is somehow lagging or what..
Fast forward 3yrs...for £5500 you can pick up a pre-reg'd one with under 10(TEN) miles on the clock...if you've even seen the Yamaha 'Copper Bolt' build by 'Low & Mean' on here,a very cheap starting point for a winter project, especially when the seat/rear m'guard unit is only a few hundred Quid? Plenty the accessories to turn it back to a cruiser cheaply,and still far more reliable than a Harley 883
How is this not a "true" scrambler? When you look at the original scramblers from way back when, they were nothing but stripped street bikes with a bit more ride height and knobbly tires on them. Heck, even the spiritual ancestor of this one (XT500) wasn't all that off-road-capable by today's standards (if we're honest). If you want to do serious off-roading in 2019 ... buy an enduro / adventure bike. BTW: I'm pretty sure they achieved the elevated seating position by adding a new sub-frame to mount the seat to. Ground clearance is only 15mm increased over the XV 950 and rear suspension travel is identical at 110mm. In this category, I think it would come down to the Triumph or the Yamaha for me. Both have the looks and the credentials (love that XT500-looking tank on the SCR). Both are half-way affordable and will probably be as reliable as a wood burning stove.
Wouldn't buy it, but perhaps wait a few years till they hit the secondhand market. It looks like it might be quite a good platform. Pull off the less than scratch design cues, and with that v-twin, as customisation project, I think it might work pretty well. As it is though, it's a fail.
As soon as someone says "it's not a true scrambler" I can almost discount their comment. A scrambler is just a ROAD bike slightly modified to ride it off road. Maybe some knobbies, maybe some suspension or exhaust mods, but that's it really. Scramblers are not GS bikes or dirt bikes with loads of suspension. This bike is more a true scrambler than the Ducati (which I owned, fun bike, great in the twisties, terrible off road) or the Triumph, which was designed specifically for on/off road use. This is the Bolt, with a flat seat, knobby tires, bigger wheel up front, moto bars, and that's it really. They took a road bike and replaced a few things, and now you can go off road a bit. That's all scramblers do. If you need real gnarly off road capability get a Dual Sport or GS bike, if you want to ride roads and occasionally venture off road and "Scramble", this bike works.
It is a bit heavy, I'll give you that
If you watch FortNine's review, Ryan more or less says the scr950 is the only one that fits the bill of being a scrambler; a Road bike that's been repurposed
Well said. I agree with RyanF9, the truest scrambler available
I agree with all this. It’s been a great scrambler for me 👍🏻👍🏻
I've had mine for about two months now and have about 1,700 miles on it. I ride mostly county back roads with the occasional dirt or gravel road. With a few mods, this bike is super fun and is the perfect daily driver for me.
My current mods are: cobra intake, emgo shorty muffler, Ivan's ecu reflash, skid plate, MX pegs, Renthal cr high bars, bar risers, solid bar mounts, single folding mirror, rear stinger delete, licence plate relocation bracket, and front reflector delete.
I've got my tire pressures set at 30psi and it makes for a smoother ride and better traction on dirt and gravel roads. If you go with around 36psi in the rear, it makes for a really fun bike to power slide. My favorite thing to do when riding on gravel is to have the back tire spinning all of the time.
Not sure on top speed, but my current high score is 112mph.
The bike gets tons of looks and compliments at the gas station. I can't park it anywhere without someone giving it the walk around. Overall, I'm really happy with the bike.
Great stuff - thanks for the real world feedback!
Glad to see a highly modified one. I would like your feedback after ivan's flash on power/cooling/vibration/feeling. I'm debating between that and a ower comander. Hope you can help me, many thanks!
Did you experience a lot of vibration at higher speeds like 75 80 mph? How easily do the pegs scrape? Sounds like you put a couple thousand more dollars into it easy. How much are all those upgrades costing you?
How bad are the vibes?
I'm considering this bike. Its a home run for me, nice retro look, inexpensive, good for taller riders, a nice sized V twin and the reliability of Yamaha.
I had the XV950R for four years and did over 12000 trouble free miles. As TMF says the 950 V-twin engine is the outstanding feature. I sold my XV950R early this year and am regretting it. Looking at the SCR, there's a nice black one for sale, now I just have to justify having two motorbikes again....... 🤔
6months later I've bought a red SCR, loving it 😁
@@dragoclarke9497Only 2...there's 4 in my kitchen alone 😂
This strikes me as a Yammie rival to the Harley Sportster. In much the same way the bike needs you to accept it for what it is and enjoy its attributes rather than worry about what it isn't or what it can't do.
I own a Harley Sportster 48 and love riding it around the lanes near where we live. It's a genuine feel-good bike, especially on a nice sunny day. If you don't try and expect it to be like other bikes then you enjoy it a whole lot more. Viva la difference!
Interesting to see your assessment of this one. Initially it appealed to me as a comfy cruiser style bike without the naff
cruiser looks and associated bling … box ticked .
Then I read the specs and realised Yamaha had avoided spending anything on development
by re-using an archaic air cooled motor housed in a frame that looked like it had been designed on the back of an
envelope ( those downtubes ! ) … not so good .
Then I saw it in the flesh ! .. so big , so wide , so heavy , … the scrambler aesthetic just jars with the sheer bulk !
I'm 29" inside leg and its like sitting on a horse ! ..
At the end of the day its a "parts-bin special " and it shows .. some will no doubt like it but it will never sell like
Triumph or Ducati's efforts
PS ...new updated Triumph scrambler out .. waiting for your test ride !
I frankly LIKE the thrown together look.........
John Garrison ..Yes , I agree it does have a really interesting look ,which is why I was interested originally. In the flesh though the compromises are more obvious and as I said as a smaller person the sheer bulk is too much. Would be ideal for a big guy after this style of bike though.
I echo John, the thrown together look I also love, I do have an attraction to the big simple lump of an engine.
However the lack of clearance is a bit unforgivable, even a full inch onto the ground clearance over the bolt would've been nice, but instead they just add empty space into the subframe.
@@jonnycando That's the whole essence of the scambler scene. An unsuitable bike, made offroadable
This bike is beautiful looking
It looks rock and roll
I only paid $5500 for mine, and coming from someone who had a heavily modified DR650 that I built myself, or my two HD models I've had amongst the array of Jap bikes and even a "Trumpet" I will say for what I paid and for what I use it for, the bike is a blast. It's smooth, not sure why he is complaining about vibes, my 1200S was terrible, and my FXBB was worse than the SCR....anyways for a smooth, fairly comfortable cruiser that'll do 75+ all day long while still getting 55+ mpg...it's not half bad!
*side note* Like he said, don't even think about riding this thing off-road...
At least he’s right on that!
Great review. I owned an XVS950 from which this bike originated and I seriously considered buying one of these (before eventually going for a Honda CB1100RS). I agree with almost all off the observations made, except that I actually think it looks fantastic. Having done quite a few miles in the XVS version, I agree that the engine is the best thing about the bike, the brakes and suspension are just about good enough... and the 1980's Casio style speedometer is pretty crap. As a few people have said, it's a bit of "parts bin" bike but it's none the worse for that, especially when you consider that quite a few unexpectedly great bikes in the past have arrived by the same route.
I'm sure you've had it requested, but if not, I'd love to see you cover the Vitpilen 701.
After the first ten seconds of looking at the worlds cheapest and ugliest speedo I wasn’t even sure it was a Yamaha....
Yeah the Speedo isn’t that attractive but it’s been very functional
Koso do a plug in and play with a needle rev counter...£240 in the UK...first thing i'd change(gear indicator too).
Cruisers carry their weight different than what you're used to. When you want to stop a cruiser, you must use both brakes together. When used like that, you may find they provide the "eye popping stalks" that you expect.
This gives me the feeling of a "not quite good enough" bike. Thanks for the review once again Mr. Flyer!
Thanks for watching as ever Rutger....
Only a small percentage of riders really scramble or off road adventure tour regularly anyway. So, can't blame them for going for the look and making it street oriented with belt drive etc. Cheers! Oh yes, when you going to mix it up and test a big touring HD?
Just have the new copy of BIKE and there is a Yamaha dealer offering a saving of £3148 on this bike, bringing it down to £5999, so i had to look at it. I love the outline because it is reminiscent of the XT500 that I adore.
If I had a spare few grand I would seriously consider it, although nowhere to hide it from the missus 😆
The other Yamaha you may have been thinking of was likely the XSR750/900 which I test rode a couple of years back.
Ian
Back on Two Wheels
I think this bike was born of a task set by yamaha to some new junior designers who were asked to come up with a scrambler style bike but could only use the old excess parts bucket unfortunately.
it's a styling exercise that appears to be a scrambler but isn't. i like it, looks interesting for those who want something a bit different.
It is def a true scrambler which is the only time I’ve disagreed with the TMF. Always great videos.
Yammie went after the Harley Sportster market, it's a Japanese sportster which isn't a bad idea I bet it's more reliable 😀
@MrChoochoo he's right on one thing it's cheaper , and much much nastier.. just another Harley clone . It's no scrambler either . Yamaha need to get there shit together
Sunshine State Lover , the Bolt is the real Yamaha Sportster, and it is quite a good bike if you want a liter size sportster clone.
Ive owned it for a year & i love it more everyday its a do everything bike like they used to be. Too heavy to be a trailbike, but powerful enough for semi long distance, great for around town, & good for mild dirt roads. Simply air cooled vtwin with yamaha reliability. Definitely not a SCRAMBLER but its fun for me & yeah i understand why people could dislike it cause the XSR700 could be a more proper SCRAMBLER if you wanted to but i let it rip on this one like a 400cc & load it up for camping on the weekends. Its fun & simple & to me thats what riding is all about. I’ll leave performance to the bikes that are supposed to meet those standards. I’ll keep having fun on mine!
I agree. The more you get used to it, the better it feels.
Funkedelic84 Yeah except the pegs, those things are evil. Her bitchy side i suppose!
It’s been brilliant for me and made a number of mods to get it looking right for me 👍🏻👍🏻👊🏼👊🏼
Watch fortnine review on this...you'll learn what an original scrambler is
Good review as always. Quite like the overall look of it, although not that clock which looks to me like a cheap digital watch, and the price....too high.
I've not ridden one but think they look great. Can't remember seeing one on the road so don't imagine they sell that many.
Indeed....
They didn’t and stopped selling BUT I’ve loved mine and a great first big bike for talker riders
Getting this bike shortly :)
It’s been a great bike for me 👍🏻👍🏻
Reminds me a bit of the TR1 1000 from the early eighties and the XV 550 of the same peiod. Neither of those bikes were liked by the press, but we're still cherished by the owners I'm sure.
Seems that way,after watching about 20+ reviews...sort of cheap gem that most ignore?
Wonder if the same Yamaha executive sighed this off that also thought the Niken was a good idea? (Actually the Niken rides quite nice)
I just bought a new Bolt C spec which is the cafe version of this bike. Great fun without getting you into too much trouble. Good build quality as well but a heavy beast for not a huge bike.
Yes she is a bit of a heavy old girl isn't she....
I have one . I had it painted completely black. And added a skid plate and headlamp and small tinted wind deflector . Gonna add a better seat cover tomorrow and next a new exhaust. The bike is looking awesome 👌 it's a great reliable bike and I got a great deal on it
Nice review again TMF. I genuinely think I'd have the Sinnis Scrambler over this mixed up bag of spare parts and confusion. I think the designer needs a holiday. Thanks again.
Yeah, not really my cup of tea this one either I must say....hats off to Yamaha for trying something different though...
You having a giraffe?...f*ckin sinnis over this?......f*ck me!!!!
I enjoyed your review. I really like the looks of this bike - it certainly harks back to the XT500 (which was a proper trail bike). I realise looks are a personal thing though. It's definitely more style over substance and little else really, though somehow I'm still drawn to it. There are bargains to be had and you certainly shouldn't be paying list price.
Not a fan of twins as I am more of an inline 4 person and will give this pass most probably. But the bike looks sweet. And the review is spot on as always.
can you actually buy in-line four bikes? Do you mean a transverse four?
You killed me when you didn't stop at the planes! Mirrors look very moped like. Great review as per usual!
I really love this introduction of different bikes you are trying and giving a specification talk about them.💭
As I have said before, love your videos and can't wait to see and hear from you.
Best regards
The Danish Viking.
Glad you like 'em - cheers....
It was a scrambler back in the '70s because they didn't have dirt bikes lol. I would never take this in the dirt, and I was there in the 70s. That's why they created new dirt bikes.
I'm going to have to test drive one. I don't like the idea of too much vibration in the hands or the pegs. I don't like that it sits so low in terms of scraping on turns apparently. But I don't know what the angle is either. The 950 motor should be killer. I wonder how it compares to the xsr 900, the motor that is. I think I wrote in another comment, I would take handling and that feeling of being part of the bike over power I would say every time. Hence the goal to find the bike that handles awesome and you feel like you're really part of it, as well as the motor. That's why I'm leaning towards the XSR900. I like the idea of flipping a switch, going from a mid-range standard setting, to a sport where you're doing wheelies, or apparently going to the mush setting where you turn the throttle and also use your feet like The Flintstones LOL.
Also the extremely short rear shock makes me wonder if I would actually enjoy riding this thing. Sucks when you weigh 250 lb. That's about 10 Stone in English isn't it LOL
I’m a big/tall person and have made a few mods as you have suggested. Did a kids video if of interest. A great bike as an allrounder and as a first big bike 👍🏻👍🏻
@@BikesVansandThings hi thanks for the reply. My attitude is softer now towards this bike, mainly because of cost. The kz900rs is what I really want, but definitely more expensive.
I actually like the look of the scr950. In america, I wonder why they are so much cheaper. I'm going to have to start asking sellers why they are selling them.
You can pick these up for £500 more than the the royal interceptor. I know which I would have for reliability Yammi all the way it looks gorgeous and for resale it would hold value much better. Each to there own though 😉
Fair enough - I’d have the Royal Enfield over this if it was £500 more!!
Yamaha Sportster especially with that engine and key placement. Wonder how much Aussie dollars.
Parts bin special me thinks, good size rear brake and nice red colour but not much else of particular note. Daily uploads ? You're on fire this week TMF, cheers !
Just getting rid of some "old stock" SB - glad you appreciate it - not everyone does it transpires!! :0) All the best and thanks for your continued support and encouragement...
@@TheMissendenFlyer Keep it up TMF, good way to push towards 100k subs, not far now :-)
Great review TMF. I don't see anything that would turn my sights off of the Triumphs, Ducati, or the Beemers. Yamaha makes great products but I think you're right in that this is more of a styling exercise than anything.....
Which could be ok, if it was a GOOD styling exercise...
Sometimes good or bad is subjective though.
The dealer will sell shed loads of yamaha's but this one will gather dust in the corner😟cheers from dave
Yep, there is some decent deals to be had on these at the moment. Buy one sharpish before they are discontinued
Do you do a review of the xv950 cafe?
Not yet....
@@TheMissendenFlyer sort it!!! 😁
Looks like they’ve tried to recreate the XT500. I’d go for the XT500!
More flat tracker than scrambler. Needs twin high level cans though to finish it off.
This is more for 50 miles at 60 mph, and not many tight corners. The similar Bolt is more for shorter riders. V-twins have a good sound when engine braking at about 20 mph. The Yamaha Tracer 900 is more for long trips at 75 mph and some tight corners. Dave Moss recently rode one many miles in New Zealand.
Will you be doing Alaska next year with the wife on the back? belt drive great for touring.
The SCR is Yamaha's entry in to the world of flat track racing
Nice to see you review this bike which I really want to like but ultimately don't. It's obviously not a proper scrambler but I like the fact that it's gone for a 70s look instead of the Triumph 60s look. The detailing also seems better than a Triumph. When you did the walk round the bike you didn't mention the seamless tank. Compare with the hideous seams on Triumph tanks such as the Thruxton and Bobber and give Yamaha some credit for taking the trouble to make the tank a thing of beauty. Big concern with this bike is the rear suspension. You say that Yam have raised the ride height by jacking up the suspension but not so. This bike has the same shocks as the lowrider, but some frame tubes have been added. Would have liked more info on how it handled bumps. Looks like a nice bike if you're not too demanding but hard to ignore the high weight and low power. How does it compare with a T100?
Not very well in my opinion - give me a t100 any day!
Who would you say this bike is aimed at? Doesn't seem ideal for road or off road use and they seem to have skimped in every area they could. Good review as usual though!
I dunno, not me that's for sure!
Hipsters will probably but it, it's got that sort of look.
New riders interested in Harley Davidson. I don't get it either.
I want one. A perfect companion for my DS. In black.
I’ve loved mine. Been a great ride
TMF Great review as always.
The belt drive would not slip off-road because it has toothed pulleys.
But belt drives are bad news off-road if they pick up a small stone.
The belts are tensioned quite tight and a small stone on the pulley can punch a hole thru’ the belt when it rotates wrecking the belt.
Not cheap to replace.
Chain drive conversions are available, put that little extra power down, at the expense of vibrations
I'm starting to realise that I'm much more a cruise along rider rather than a knee down rider. Considering more cruiser style chit my next bike but don't like the limited clearance. Does this have a bit more clearance than cruisers?
No not really, still quite a low bike (especially for one badged as a "scrambler")
ryan f9 changed my mind about this bike ,,, but when i was young scramblers were motocross bikes , but other views are that poorer people that could not afford [or want]purpose built offroad bikes would modify. and this is where this bike sits = its rough and ready basic in a modern reliable way with abs ..
Will there be a Niken review?
As soon as I'm able to get my hands on one yes!
That would be awesome! ü
With the changes to the 2019 Ducati desert sled , will you be inclined to do a review ?
If I'm able to get my hands on one - yes!
Are those GoldTop gloves? I've been considering a summer pair i.e. viceroy or bobber
Yes they are - and they're very good too!
@@TheMissendenFlyer I have a pair of the merino wool lined cruiser gloves. Very nice. Great people to work with
i wish you showed the instrument cluster and start up sequence in your reviews
well this isn't in their 2019 line up so i guess that are reworking it or it didn't sell?
Well spotted!
It's a Heavy Beast but would handle dirt roads well .. Does not look like it would adapt well to luggage.. the ones I looked at had Enduro type ties.. What is the MPG on an air cooled bike like that ?
It is very wide to sit on and I think the air cleaner hits your knee..
The main selling point is the bench seat on a light cruiser. 40 hp does not compete with a 900 Bonnie though.
50 something,but 80nm of torque at only 3000rpm,that's about 7-8 less than a Tracer/MT09 at a 1/3 of the revs! Stump puller!
Just an FYI. I tried purchasing one of your hoodies and the website won’t allow USA as an option. Bummer
Exactly why today I have launched my new merch on my new website - which does 100% ship to the US! Check themissendenflyer.com for details - sorry for the trouble with TeeSpring....
There is a place in the world for old style and limited equipment style bikes. I have some mates that live 200 kms from the nearest dealer/repair garage and ride their bikes in some remote areas of Australia. My RT/LC has all the bells and whistles and I love it. But if I am in the west of NSW/QLD or some of the north Western Australia areas and one of the gadgets goes off line it would be a major pain to get the thing fixed. KISS (Keep it simple stupid) is the way to go sometimes. That Yammy V engine is bullet proof and you can always carry a spare drive belt. Nice addition to the Yamaha stable - but I will keep the RT under my bum.
I test rode this & found myself constantly wacking my knee against the air filter,it had a ackrapovic exhaust which made it sound like a monster, I did like the wide handle bars and the seat height,but I didnt share your enthusiasm for the engine it was sluggish.Not sure who would want one,though to look at theres worse out there
Just get an xsr900
@@1990-t1j agreed, its not a relevant comment
I like it a lot. Back to basics. Essential and should be fun to take it to its limits. As an essential bike it's well finished. Tidy. The XT comparison fits. 250 kg does not worry me. I have ridden 270-340 kg bikes. I have a ktm freeride, with 90 kg, it brings the average weight of my bikes way down. I could see myself exploiting this machine to the limits, looking good and not naff. They have a new 2019 model at my dealership, it's looking at me! Didn't expect to fall in love. Even the defects are endearing. Love the fact there's no ugly radiator... that's what spoils the Triumph for me, the fake air cooled cylinder... naff.
Looks nice bike but as you say why have a belt drive if it's a scrambler type bike
Looks a good bike for London use ..i like look of it as well.
When I first thought about getting back into motorcycles, this was a bike that really caught my attention because I felt the power delivery would be great for some like me who had been away from bikes for many years. I never did ride this model, but I did ride the Bolt cruiser. The big V-Twin is a really great engine for urban and suburban riding here in America where there are few twisty roads and quickness between stoplights is the main concern.
Echoing sentiment.
Cool vid matey, vibration! Can`t wait to see you on a Sportster
Me too!
Costs more than an XSR900 and about the same as an MT09 SP. How can they justify that price for what it comes with?
Excellent as usual TMF, please review the 2018 MT 07.
If I can get access to one I certainly will!
TheMissendenFlyer Thanks TMF 😎👍
The new Indian FTR1200 / S carries off the concept far more capably. Hope you can get your hands on one of those.
Yeah I agree - and so do I!
TheMissendenFlyer : Are you on Indian’s press bike list?
Hi TMF, as you pointed out definitely not a scrambler, looks okay and I do love a twin, but won’t be adding this to my wish list.
Ive got one and love looks good and does it go 🤩
Kind Sir TMF, you're most likely already aware of this, but I would like to point something out. I believe you could greatly improve your video production quality if you would steer away from using your particular smartphone for filming the walkaround. The image quality is kind of shuddery and it seems to be trying to focus constantly. The resulting video is quite distracting because of this. It might be a good idea to invest in a compact pocket camera you can get good ones for sub 100£ or if times comes in an other smartphone with better camera technology. This aside cheers for making another stellar review. Love seeing more of your video's in the future. Keep it up! Greetings Matta.
Thanks for the tip - I just got delivery of a GoPro 7Black with super stabilisation - maybe I'll use that in future....
Scrambler/Cruiser mix? Is that a "screwsyer?" especially for £9k! Not my cup of tea but hey - each to his own!
It should be OK on trails because of the ergonomics in a proper retro way. As in the early seventies when we had the original ducati scrambler. This reminds me of the original ducati scrambler. It would be cool with higher handlebars.
This bike is based on the bolt that I asked you to test.
A mate who works in a yamaha dealers,said they can't give these away,even when heavily discounted,they still can't shift them.
I wonder why!
Absolute love the engine on this bike! I just wish it had a bigger tank and better brakes
Huge void below the seat, get a tank made, relocate the fuel pump to the bottom tank? MT07/XSR700 fork lower fit on,Cognito Moto make hubs, twin discs,4 piston calipers for not much cash?
@@williamrae9954 Yeah you're not wrong! It would be an awesome project.
Thanks so much for the review, TMF. Did you notice that you didn't get stuck behind any white vans? Destiny calling, hey? I would really love to have a ride on that bike. It seems like everything a Harley Davidson should be but isn't; sane comfortable riding position and footpegs, thrumpy high torque low revving engine, ideal for just cruising around, belt drive but with Yamaha reliability. To combat the bar vibrations I would simply put on a pair of your old Grip Puppies. They work wonders on my two very viby bikes.
Belt drive?
Can't remember - don't think so....
Hey Missenden, watch fortnine review on this bike, as he says, its probably the most scramblerish bike of all, all the others are bespoke built , but this SCR does it old school mate, i fear you have fallen for the hype!!
@£9170-00 it was never going to be on every street, but with the advent of Euro 5 and subsequent 33% reduction in price a premium quality Japanese 1000cc bike becomes a whole lot more appealing. Well rude not to help dealers move stock at that price.
I'm enjoying mine!
About £2000-2500 if you buy one in the US,if you shop around....that's a cheap road trip ,then ship it home after?
The instrument panel is great but no fuel gauge? ... tut!
Wow, not much praise from the viewers here! But I agree that something just doesn't work.... and for me it's that petrol tank. Looks like it should be on a custom/chopper or something, not a scrambler. Maybe re-used the frame dictates the shape.
It’s def a grower and agree which is why I resprayed the tank 👊🏻👍🏻
Marketing this bike as a scrambler was just weird thinking. Yamy should used a bigger fuel tank, . street tires and called a Standard, ie Bonneville,CB1100 etc. That being said, if you want one of these ( and can get past the awful speedo), there should be plenty of left overs about. That might save you a couple grand.
Blimey, think I lost a few fillings from the vibrations just watching the review.....l have to say the competition looks a lot more appealing and a lot lighter! Ducati scrambler 1100, r nine t, upcoming Triumph 1200 scrambler? Another great and honest review TMF, thanks again. 👍
The type of bike that can only be defined by what it isn’t. It’s not light, not cheap, not fast, not a scrambler, not beautiful, not comfortable, etc...Nobody really knows what it is, except maybe Yamaha’s marketing department... But nice review, as usual !
Yeah it is a bit of an odd one this isn't it - thanks for watching anyway!
Good review as ever. Many thanks. I was down your way a few days back. I see what you mean about the traffic. It is a bit better down Basingstoke way.
Now there’s a combination of words you don’t see very often! 😉
Quite like the styling, don't like that silly looking clock though.
Fair enough!
So Mr TMF tests a cruiser based scrambler bike, having previously not having been a cruiser fan ( thank you Triumph for showing him the light ) or enthralled with Ducati's Scrambler, what could possibly go wrong? Oh yes it was Hey Folks!! :-)
There’s something of the Harley Davidson Sportster about it.
Agreed...
1990 I didn’t mean identical but this report mentions the sportster look.
www.bikeexif.com/2017-yamaha-scr950-scrambler-motorcycle-review
1990 You’re allowed to think that. We can agree to disagree. 👍
Mark Stewart The roadster?
The bolt is the cruiser version of this bike and it's really close to a Sportster. Its a great bike
Hmmm, not my cup of tea, I'm afraid, but thanks for the review anyway. I'm loving my new S1000R sport.... Any thoughts on the new R1250GS? Pretty much the same as last year's R1200GS but with "VTEC" or "VVTI-L".... Interesting how something that they've been doing in cars since the 90's is proclaimed as an amazing new thing for a motorcycle in 2018/19...
Personally I would have hoped it to look a tad more cruiserish since scrambles look odd to me but an interesting bike none the less
Thanks for watching!
Quite a simple looking but stylish bike, but very heavy (1.5X the weight of a Ducati Scrambler and less power). Resembles the 1970's DT400's.
Really enjoyed mine. So much fun and a great allrounder
I also don´t get this bike´s market fitment, it´s a scrambler, that can´t scramble, looks like poor Ducati, it´s heavy, weak and just kinda oridinary. But one thing gets me, you can buy here i CZ a brand new 2016 model for 30% less than the 2018. That´s the price of 2018 400cc Ducati Scrambler :) Nice review though (as always), but the video on the phone is somehow lagging or what..
It's a gravel road power sliding machine.
i like the look of the bike but i think they should have used smaller engine platform, mt-07 scrambler or xsr700 scrambler.
Fast forward 3yrs...for £5500 you can pick up a pre-reg'd one with under 10(TEN) miles on the clock...if you've even seen the Yamaha 'Copper Bolt' build by 'Low & Mean' on here,a very cheap starting point for a winter project, especially when the seat/rear m'guard unit is only a few hundred Quid? Plenty the accessories to turn it back to a cruiser cheaply,and still far more reliable than a Harley 883
How is this not a "true" scrambler?
When you look at the original scramblers from way back when, they were nothing but stripped street bikes with a bit more ride height and knobbly tires on them. Heck, even the spiritual ancestor of this one (XT500) wasn't all that off-road-capable by today's standards (if we're honest).
If you want to do serious off-roading in 2019 ... buy an enduro / adventure bike.
BTW: I'm pretty sure they achieved the elevated seating position by adding a new sub-frame to mount the seat to. Ground clearance is only 15mm increased over the XV 950 and rear suspension travel is identical at 110mm.
In this category, I think it would come down to the Triumph or the Yamaha for me. Both have the looks and the credentials (love that XT500-looking tank on the SCR). Both are half-way affordable and will probably be as reliable as a wood burning stove.
That is disturbing thinking about driving on the left side of the road..
I was thinking the opposite.
Wouldn't buy it, but perhaps wait a few years till they hit the secondhand market. It looks like it might be quite a good platform. Pull off the less than scratch design cues, and with that v-twin, as customisation project, I think it might work pretty well. As it is though, it's a fail.
If you think that’s a little vibey you should ride my Guzzi Griso😂😂
yeah i've test rode a moto guzzi v7 before, dam that was so vibey!
XSR900 rear light? From some angles looks very '70s. Good review as usual!
Thank you Iain...
Great review as always, this bike wouldn't appeal to me at all, can't see a much of a market for it.