Yamaha targets Harley with a budget-priced, old-school cruiser motorcycle

[FJRider]

I like it.

http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2013/03/star-motorcycle-bolt-yamaha-targets-harley-with-a-budget-priced-old-school-cruiser-motorcycle.html

[Sport-Touring]

[gritsngravy]

Not my style of bike but I applaud the effort to make interesting new bikes affordable.  

[Mr.Black]

I like it.

[falconati]

I like it....

....and I also like the Sportster.  I think they'll sell.  Honestly though, I don't think there's an astronomical savings over the HD model.  I'd love to see the fit/finish next to the HD, because that's where HD usually runs away with it.

[veefer800canuck]

Whoah, that's a page from the old school book.

Notice it's devoid of any badging or identifying marks that say it's NOT a Harley?

[JReazor]

Can't say I'm crazy about the bias plys or the tiny fuel tank. Otherwise, it looks pretty good to me. I'd like to see an ABS option.

[Cobalt]

I continue to fail to understand the ongoing use of bias ply tires. Having said that, I used a few different ones on my Sportster that would give any ST tire a run for its money in grip. The Dunlop 501/502 continues to be one of the best feeling tires I ever used, and that's saying something given my general disdain for all things Dunlop.

I like this bike, but as noted, it's not a huge price savings over the Sportster. I'd have to see if this engine is *that* much better than the Harley mill. Star has experience here, though... the Stratoliner engine is far and away a better mill than the Big Twin by EVERY measure. That engine is pure love.  

[Mac]

Yeah those rotaries are awesome with the low down torque.

[greench440]

But does it have that authentic potato potato sound?

[nevinfs327]

I like minimalist machines like this, but would be hard to buy over the Iron 883 Sportster (which appears the most direct competitor) when the savings is only $9.  Wonder if the single muffler improves cornering clearance?  That's the big deterrent for me with the Sportster line up.

[Cobalt]

I like minimalist machines like this, but would be hard to buy over the Iron 883 Sportster (which appears the most direct competitor) when the savings is only $9.  Wonder if the single muffler improves cornering clearance?  That's the big deterrent for me with the Sportster line up.

Put the normal height shocks back on the Sportster and it corners just fine. The kickstand hits long, long before anything "hard" on the Sportsters (again, when you put the missing 2" back in the rear suspension). Every current Sportster is lowered, now.  

[nevinfs327]

Put the normal height shocks back on the Sportster and it corners just fine. The kickstand hits long, long before anything "hard" on the Sportsters (again, when you put the missing 2" back in the rear suspension). Every current Sportster is lowered, now.  

Fair point - I put a few hundred miles on a 2012 883 last year which was very low, and have demo'd the Nightster and 48 in the past couple of years, both of which are also very low and hit pegs or exhaust far too easily.  

[Cobalt]

Fair point - I put a few hundred miles on a 2012 883 last year which was very low, and have demo'd the Nightster and 48 in the past couple of years, both of which are also very low and hit pegs or exhaust far too easily.  

When I went to test ride the new sporties (before I bought my 2008 base model), I tried a Nightster first. I did a circle in the parking lot and carved a big circle with the foot peg. Pulled it right back into the parking spot and had them get the keys to the base model (which I bought) that wasn't lowered. I also saved a bunch of coin doing it, too.

I really LOL about the lowering of them all. it's silly.

[NuckaMan]

Not my cup of tea but I give them props for offering a lower-priced, and cheap to insure motorcycle.

It probably won't be a hit with the hipster's like they are aiming for, but should draw in alot of women and newer riders.

In 2015, I do expect to see a glut of used ones and tough sell for dealers.

[Cricket1]

When I went to test ride the new sporties (before I bought my 2008 base model), I tried a Nightster first. I did a circle in the parking lot and carved a big circle with the foot peg. Pulled it right back into the parking spot and had them get the keys to the base model (which I bought) that wasn't lowered. I also saved a bunch of coin doing it, too.

I really LOL about the lowering of them all. it's silly.

Chris-  You are correct, it's silly that they lower them so much.  But, since Harley knows marketing and how to sell bikes it is obvious the vast majority of their customers could give a rats petunia about handling... it's all about the look.

[sfalexi]

Petty cool.  Now people who want a budget cruiser and might prefer what they perceive as "reliability" that comes from going with a Japanese bike have a good option.  Not my cup of tea, but nice to see another entry level bike come it with a good price.  I've seen too many prices going WAAAAY north as of late.

Alexi

[HipGnosis]

I just heard a bit on talk radio about the dollar-yen ratio trend.
One guy said that with the d-y ratio going the way it is, "Japanese" (their term) cars will get a substantial advantage over US and Euro cars being sold in the US.
The other guy threw mud on his point when he asked about the "Japanese" cars that are built in the US...
I wonder if the Bolt is built to be a budget bike or the dollar-yen is the substantial factor.

[falcofred]

 I'd like to see an ABS option.

The typical Harley (cruiser) rider doesn't even use the front brake, ABS is probably not needed here.

[squeezer]

Yammie's going to give one away.

https://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/feedback/yamaha_giveaway2.aspx?ev=14Star

[Rincewind]

Nice looking bike for $7990.  Looks better than the current offerings of HD Sporties, IMO.

More pics at - http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news-new-bikes/yamaha-bolt-revealed/22467.html