YAMAHA BOLT REVIEW | How it performed on a 10k mile road trip around the United States 

This may be my favorite motorcycle review. You come across as a human with practical needs and not someone whose entire identity is around being “a motorcycle guy” to whom gear ratios, horsepower, torque, etc are all that matters. You hit the truly salient points for a man who just wants to get out there, ride, and have real adventures. Also, your trip sounds dope; and seems like it must have been from all those stickers you collected. 🤙

Thank you for showing me a review of a bike you have personal experience with. I hate when people have them for 30 minutes and talk about everything they don't like when they aren't used to the bike and don't understand it

Phenomenal review! What I love about your video is that you don't base your review on popping wheelies or going around the block for 20 minutes, you actually rode this machine, traveled great distances on it which is what motorcycling is to me. I watched many reviews of the Yamaha Bolt over the past few weeks with a prospect of getting one. But it's after watching your video that the deal got sealed for me. I just bought a brand new 2020 Bolt R-Spec a last week and it's bloody amazing. Thanks for your awesome review and thoughtful input. Ride safe!

10k mile trip😳dude that sounds awesome...

Those 950 engines are bulletproof.

This is all sooo great to hear because I just bought a 2014 bolt with 9500 miles on it for a pretty good deal. I'm really glad to hear that they are this dependable and well built. I always knew that they were supposed to be good bikes, that's why I sought one out, but to hear that it withstood a 10,000 mile trip so well and with no issues is very comforting. Now I really feel like I made a good decision in buying one.

I had a Kawasaki er6n 2013 and when from Quebec to P-E-I, then Maine it held very well and last week I bought the Yamaha bolt r-spec 2021, and I saw your video couldn’t be more happy to hear that !

Bike looks incredibly good man. You're more than welcome in Canada once these strange times are over.

I’m most impressed by you being able to drive that much on the factory seat

Been always interested in motorcycles, went to a dealership to look at them for the first time ever last week. Saw the Yamaha bolt and absolutely loved the look and style, after this review I’m definitely gonna make this my first bike

Great job dude! I did a 20k mile review and found very similar points. Keep up the videos!

thanks for the review man! im 90% gonna buy a Bolt now!

Nice video! You're the main reason ill be getting this bike... Nothing beats riding in faith and reliability.

It's super encouraging to see you sitting comfortably with the seat height and foot controls where they are. I love this bike but at 6'4" I've been nervous about it being too squishy. Thanks for sharing.

Belts can go an easy 100K miles. I love the Bolt, currently have 2HD's, one with 106K miles, the other 75K miles, no problems.

Dude this was such a good review. Very informative. Definitely going to test this bike out.

Great review. I only recently heard about the Bolt and it looks like a great bike! The guy whose Harley sputtered going through CO must have had a carbureted bike. I rode my fuel-injected Dyna from SoCal to Sturgis and it never coughed, wheezed, sputtered or nothing from the desert to the Rockies, and across the Plains.. That was my first fuel injected bike and it gave me a ton of confidence in the system.

We here at Viking Bags really appreciate your content! Great video! Keep up the good work!

Hey this was great! I always wondered how an air cooled bike would perform on long trips. Good insight 👍

Thanks man. Good review

So good to see a review of someone my height that just did what I'm planning to do to this bike. Exactly what I wanted to see.

A great review... one of the best accolades for the bike since you just did that 10k trip. I think I have finally found my next bike for next spring (Germany). Thanks man!

Great review,which has convinced me to get one .Thank you.

awesome man! love the yamaha bolt. would love to do a trip like this

Dude. I love how you "uglied" this thing up. It looks bad ass. I'm quite envious of your 10,000 mile trip. I rode out to California once. It was sweet. I also got a kick out of you flat out admitting that you abused your bike and that you have a turn signal out. Bravo! Hell yeah!

Thanks for the review I’m going to pickup a 2023 model tomorrow

Thanks for the honest review. Looks like you ran it hard and it held up. I'm in Oregon and planning a trip to southern California and was wondering how it would do..... now I know. THANKS!!

Yup, Yamahas are Bullet proof. Had a virago for 3 yrs, ( Honda for 8 yrs before that)....now the Bolt. Awesome bike .60 HP, pulls like a jet taking off , through all of the gears, Brakes are awesome. Weight distribution is awesome, the C of G is between your ankles , not between your knees, so the weight is low slung. 35 Degree lean L&R . not a peg scraper. Awesome bike. Would prefer analogue speedo though on this one.. Virago had analogue, I miss it. 29 degree rake makes it very flickable and easy to avoid issues at 65 ~70 mph. Also makes it easy to do the "Slow-traffic" crawl when needed without doing a Duck-walk for whatever miles....pick up your feet and,,,, well ...crawl along. Being air cooled means no coolant issues.or bugs and rad issues either.Just start and ride....Just a remark on the Vid.... looks like you took the peanut tank from an HD 48 and stuck it on the bike and then crimped the sides inward..... I hope that's an illusion and not an intentional insult to the ride.. lol . Stay Safe W

I got a 2016, got it brand new and it did come with a backseat and foot pegs. In case that's a deal breaker for anyone... Also, I've done two 5k-7k km trips so far and I'll do another soon.i really like it. Not your typical touring bike that's for sure, but I'm not looking for that. One thing that was important to me was changing the seat. On my first trip my ass was sore after every day. Got a Corbin seat and on the next trip did 600-700km a day with no problems. Also worth noting is that you'll have to stop for fuel about every 1.5- 2 hours depending how fast you drive. I don't mind since I wanna stretch the legs after that time anyways, but some people might...

Good review man. I'm looking to get my first bike, and I'm torn between a few different bikes, but a Yamaha Bolt is definitely something I'm considering. I really like those Indian Scout Bobbers too.

You definitely have a new subscriber

Great real life real world review of ACTUAL use.

Very cool video. I have the same exact bike. Same color, rear seat pad, sissy bar, and rear pegs. Vance and Hines pipes and Vance and Hines air intake tho. Would like to put some bags on it and a windscreen and do some long rides on it. Your video inspired me.

Awesome vid bro

Loved Your video and the review. Got My used 2016 Yamaha 950 this year, and i am loving it big time. My wife drives a 2006 883 spoorster and i have being riding it a few times. Not for my. It´s My second bike. Greetings from Denmark

Love my 14 r spec my wifes always on back we do 100 no problem and great handling even 2 up awesome bike if you don't like it you haven't rode one

I've been looking at this and the Vulcan S. The mere fact this has a parallel twin and SOUNDS AMAZING, makes me want this one more.

I am so glad to see a Sportster style metric bike that has mid-controls. It seems so many of them want to go for the forward-control cruiser look. At least Sportster offers both. In my case, my bad back will not allow me to ride with forward controls without sending me to the ER. I can ride all day on my standard Sportster but I can't ride 15 minutes on my buddy's Sportster Custom with forwards. I'm not brand loyal and although I love my Sportster, this looks like it may be moving into my garage with my Sportster.

this helped me decide to buy my Bolt glad i have it

This is awesome! I'd love to see what parts you got for the fender, just got my bolt and plan on some cross country tripping myself :)

I bought a 2018 off the showroom floor cause of this guy and I love my bike all I did was throw a straight pipe shorty on it sounds awesome and super reliable

Love Yamahas, my Vstar 650 is an 03 with 31k miles on it and still tickin, rode hard and put away wet, revved cold, left in the snow. Clutch slips when cold a bit but maybe bc I haven’t changed the oil this season 😝 things are dang honeybadgers

I found the Bolt to be a little small for me, and I don't really care for EFI. I have used my 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan 750, which is physically larger than the Bolt, and has shaft drive, for an adventure touring bike for almost 20 years. I have ridden it on dirt and gravel roads, through mud, rain, sleet, snow, and it has held up fine. It now has 119,000 miles on it and still runs like new. Out of almost 50 bikes I've owned during the past 46 years, the Vulcan 750 is the most comfortable. I'm on my second one. My first one, a 1993 model, got run over and destroyed by a truck in a parking lot, with over 90,000 miles on it. If they still made them I'd be buying another new one.

Great vid - you need to do one from the trip if you have footage. I have a 2014 Bolt Raven. Some of the same mods as you - Shorty exhaust, Memphis Shades El Paso shield, engine guards, luggage rack, naked air cleaner, fuel pack, fork bag and that’s it. 18k miles and no probs - first 4 years I had it, had to run a 2 mile gravel road to get in and out of my place. Plenty of power, smooth clutch and positive shifting. Runs good on the highway - very solid and grounded. I’m 5’9 and 250 lbs and it fits me perfect. You should def get engine guards and hwy pegs - you will love them.

Great review on the Yamaha Bolt. I'll be getting one in the December. I love the mirrors and would like to know where did you get them from? You should list your upgrades and where viewers can purchase them.

I just got the exact Bolt as my first bike. I have to eventually get a windscreen for long rides. I got mine with the rear seat and rest, passenger pegs, crash guards and phone mount already on. I got a good deal.

Nice review brother. I am going to buy one motorcycle in December, I am still undecided between a sportster, bolt, nightster, or even a Vulcan. I really like the bolt, but I have heard that those bikes don't keep their value, I don't want to loose it a lot when I want to sell it. Still have to think that, but they are nice looking bikes.

Good bike and awesome trip, looks like you had it loaded down like the Beverly Hillbilly's.

I recently sold my 2015 bolt.......it was a great first bike for me. Hopefully will get a bigger one down the road.

I've finally saved up enough for an Indian Scout Bobber and all I keep seeing are reviews saying the Bolt is a better deal and just as fun to ride. Guys like you are not making my life easier...but maybe making it better.

In for the Pats shirt!

I took mine 2000 miles around Spain and it was a joy to ride. I made my own rack out of two pillion seat brackets and the seat from an old garden chair.

Brother: Cuts out half the bike and you but shows his bike fully all the time

Good video. I’m looking to transition from a Honda CB 919 to this

Hi,I'm from California USA, what a great video. Who did your pre trip inspection?

Yamaha is my best friend 👍

great comments, I'm feeling the same thing.. I'm in grand juncrion, co, I've lived in leadville,co & it seems you've been there too. 2 questions: 1. what yr bolt you got? you never mentioned it. & when you say you got it used, doesn't help me guess. 2. it'd be nice to see the traveling add.ons you've connected to the bike. ie. side & rear sections. thanx again, great job!!

Great video. I’ve been looking for this type of bike for a while. I’ m not a cruiser person but the slighter lower (not too low) seat and neutral peg position (not keen on the forward style pegs) and arelatively lightweight bike looks good. I have a Suzuki Bandit and a GSXF 1000 F. I’m now 79 and 5.9” and looking for something with a bit more comfort in my old age time to part with the "Bandit". I’ve looked at lots of U Tube videos on the Bolt but this one of yours is really good and informative. Its what I’m looking for! Although not ridden one yet . Thanks again. Graham, Bundaberg, Australia..

"I kind of uglied it up" No bruh. The moment you stop caring about the looks, the more it would grow on you.

Have you ever driven a Harley Davidson 883? I'd like to see you make a comparison video between them. You made some good points on the Bolt.

I have an XSR 700 and I think I will get a Bolt as second bike when I have the chance..

This bike is rock solid man! I have one myself lol! Great content by the way, and oh yeah where did you buy your fork rubber boots? Would you mind giving me the link ? Thanks bro! Ride Safe!!

i'm sold, gotta find one now

Thanks for the video! Where did you get the racks for storage? I just bought a 2014 bolt and am trying to outfit it for hauling some camping gear.

I love my Bolt too! Built to be modified. Also, if you buy it new, (at least in the UK) it does come with the rear seat and pegs as standard. the previous owner lied to you... Great Video though

Hey man! Great review! Do you have a video about the route you took during your trip? Or a map you could share? I am planning a road trip around the states as well.

very nice review, I'm looking to buy one?

The cat was a paid actor when the BMW bike was mentioned lol

I have a 2014 Yamaha bolt that I Commute in ever condition I don’t own a car and this bike plows through it all

This looks fairly comfortable. I've tried a Rebel 500 and felt like my knees were being pushed up too high

What kind of engine oil have you been using, and how often do you change it...thank you

Just installed forward controls literally yesterday and it was a BITCH but it’s so much more comfortable, feels like a different bike. I’m 6 foot as well. The kit is from ss customs. Also have the baron h bars. And the combination of the two makes a huge difference for guys our height

Hey man, I just got this bike and I’ve been kind of getting mixed responses so I figured I’d ask since you have had such extensive experience with it, but I take around an hour commute Every day and I’ve been keeping it around 80 mph since my commute is almost entirely freeway. It seems to get pretty high in the RPMs just based off of sound and I just wanted to know your experience with how fast you were able to go for how long

man i have a yamaha bolt, if u do a trip like this again id love to come with you, I'm in California , brother I even I have the same bar bag, lemme come I've been in quarantine for 6 months I am over it.

Nice review! Did you find the offset of the rear cylinder or the air box sticking out made the seating position unbalanced or uncomfortable at all? I love the look of this bike but at a glance it doesn't look hugely symmetrical.

Did you put some sort of cruise control since you were traveling so far?

Sold on the Bolt. I'm currently in the market for a used one.

Really wish it had a bigger tank as its to smal for what I like. Love everything else about it :)

Having had yamaha dirtbikes for over 20 years. There is no where I wouldn't take them without a concern of it breaking down . Pretty reliable bikes. Not sure about the comfort on such short suspension of a cruiser . It won't die...thats for sure.

Hi I love how you have your bolt set up. I was just wondering if you could send a link or a name of the things you use to hold your things on your bike ( all the bags and luggage boxes)

trying to decide if i should get a bolt or the new rebel 1100!

Just watched this again. I am your size. It will fit me. That belt life impresses me.

the cat liked the bmw more :P

Thank you for sharing your review. I am a Honda Rebel owner and looking to upgrade so your honest review on the Bolt was helpful. As a professional shooter guy myself, could I make a recommendation to some of your future video reviews? Did you mention that your brother is your film guy in this video? When you're standing next to your bike doing your piece on camera like you are in this video (with the awesome BMW in the background of course), could I suggest that you set up your frame/shot up on a tripod? If your brother prefers to handhold the camera, could I recommend that you get a gimbal or stabiliser (something like a Zhiyun Crane or Ronin S). You move and sway and step forward and backwards and all of that is totally fine. When your brother makes similar movements while holding a camera that obviously has little to no internal camera stabilisation, it creates this jerky movement around the frame that you're in. When you combine your movements together with his, some say that it can create a motion sickness feeling or that the jerkiness is a distraction to your videos. Watch 15 seconds from 8:38 as an example (look at the quick, jerks and bumps at the edges of the frame/screen). Just thought I would offer this advice as you may not have noticed it before. You have a really engaging persona so keep creating this type of content! 😎 P.S. Very nice bike too by the way!

appreciate

I have a like new 2016 and live in Medellin Colombia. Thinking about moving to Buneos Aires. think of a coast to coast ride. How do you think it would do?

These videos I keep seeing about the Bolt want me to trade in my bike and get one. What was the most amount of miles did you on one day? Also would you comfortability was good? Plus sorry we did not let you in to Canada you should back another time.

What's that windshield? I got the Puig naked touring and I get crazy buffeting.

When i bought my Bolt it had the back pegs on brand new.

Thanks

Got a couple of questions. What year is this? Is it an r spec? What is the top speed of one of these? And is there a certain speed where the bike starts shaking and acting up? Any answers would be appreciated

Lol@ the cat on the bike. Made me laugh for some reason.

I enjoyed that. Tenuously interested in a Bolt. I've subscribed. Old Nick. Edit: And I've just re-subscribed after unsubscribing by accident. I thought your were someone else. Sorry.

gotta change the rear suspension bro for more comfy and you can install a forward controls

Where did you get the saddlebags?

Do more videos about your yamaha bolt please

that belt of yamaha is really a badass durability what you expect from yamaha😉

How many miles before the reserve light comes up? And how many on the reserve after? Did you carry extra fuel? Cheers

Good day sir! Watching from Philippines, can you classified between HONDA REBEL ang BOLT? and which one is the most? Thanks in advance..

I live in big bear CA (ski town), and I notice my bolt is WAY faster at the bottom of the hill.