2017 Yamaha/Star Bolt and Bolt R-Spec – First Look Review

The 2017 Yamaha/Star Bolt, which gets new spoked wheels, will be available in Raven (black) for $7,999.
The 2017 Yamaha/Star Bolt, which gets new spoked wheels, will be available in Raven (black) for $7,999.

Introduced as “performance bobbers” for 2014, the Bolt and Bolt R-Spec became best-sellers in Yamaha’s Star cruiser line. (Quick note: Yamaha and Star Motorcycles were treated as separate brands from 2005-2016, but Star is now considered one of several lines under the Yamaha umbrella, which includes Supersport, Supersport Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring/Dual Sport, Cruiser/Touring and Sport Heritage.)

Read our review of the 2014 Star Bolt

The 2017 Yamaha/Star Bolt R-Spec will be available in Crimson Red (above) or Silver Shadow (below) for $8,399.
The 2017 Yamaha/Star Bolt R-Spec will be available in Crimson Red (above) or Silver Shadow (below) for $8,399.

Offered at an entry-level price point and ripe for customization with metal fenders and dozens of dedicated accessories, the Bolt and Bolt R-Spec are powered by an air-cooled, 60-degree, 942cc V-twin borrowed from the V Star 950, which is good for about 47 horsepower and 56 lb-ft of torque at the belt-driven rear wheel. The bikes are compact, relatively light (claimed wet weight for both models is 542 lbs.) and have a low 27.2-inch seat height. Footpegs are mounted amidships, single front and rear brake rotors are wave-type and the tires are narrow (100/90-19 front, 150/80-16 rear).

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For an extra $300, the Bolt R-Spec adds remote-reservoir rear shocks, a suede-type seat with colored stitching and special paint and graphics.

The 2017 Yamaha/Star Bolt and Bolt R-Spec get new flangeless, 3.4-gallon gas tanks and restyled wire guides. The R-Spec retains cast aluminum wheels for a sporty look.
The 2017 Yamaha/Star Bolt and Bolt R-Spec get new flangeless, 3.4-gallon gas tanks and restyled wire guides. The R-Spec retains cast aluminum wheels for a sporty look.

Both models return for 2017, with the Bolt getting new spoked wheels to emphasize its “timeless” style while the “sporty” Bolt R-Spec sticks with cast hoops. Both models get a new flangeless fuel tank that increases capacity by 0.32 gallon to 3.4 gallons as well as restyled wire guides.

Check out Yamaha’s Bolt-based scrambler, the 2017 SCR950

The really good news is that the 2017 Yamaha Bolt has an MSRP of $7,999—just $9 more than when the bike was introduced three years ago—and will be available in Raven (black) in August 2016. The 2017 Yamaha Bolt R-Spec is priced at $8,399 and will be available in Crimson Red or Silver Shadow in August 2016.

Read our review of the 2015 Star Bolt C-Spec

 

 

 

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