Launch: 2014 Yamaha Bolt

Is being fresh and affordable to best way to revive flagging sales? Yamaha, like Honda, seems to think so, and the newly released pair of Bolt bobbers is a case-in-point – eschewing the traditional, classically styled chrome-led bells and whistles of a traditional cruiser for a much cleaner, ‘younger’ look to appeal to its target audience of 19 to 34-year-olds where handling and performance are key factors.

The back-to-basics, less is more strategy from Yamaha has one particular bike in its sights – the Harley-Davidson 883, which has long been a beacon in the entry-level cruiser stakes, as well as capturing large chunks of the female dollar. The current version of that bike is the Iron 883.

Based on a nuts and, err, bolts analysis, Yamaha has certainly come out swinging, not only with a beefier, more tractable engine (it’s the power pack from the XVS950 cruiser) than the 883, but the Bolt also has longer travel suspension, sturdier brakes and  more ground clearance. But as we all now, a Harley-Davidson is as much about buying the dream as the hardware itself, so how can Yamaha beat that?

Branding is one strategy, and that’s where the Yamaha ‘Star’ logo comes in (with a sexy tattoo script, of course), as the company attempts to appeal to that younger demographic with lower capacity, sportier models  – and with the assumption they’ll graduate to the more classic cruisers in their advancing years.

But that branding is basically meaningless without getting the styling right – and the balance between modern and old-school is just about spot on with the Bolt. There’s the 12.2-litre teardrop fuel tank (although it looks like it could hold a lot more), steel fenders and twin rear shocks, and modern-day appointments include the 12-spoke black, cast wheels, LCD digital instrumentation under a smoked lens, and LED tail light and 298mm wave discs front and rear.

The Bolt R distinguishes itself from the standard Bolt with gold-anodised piggyback shocks, an upgraded saddle with contrast stitching, black mirrors and upgraded paint and graphics.

But why the Bolt moniker? There’s no history or mystique behind it like the Suzuki Hayabusa -- instead Yamaha is enamoured by the word’s ‘bluntness’ as well as playing on the ‘Bolt-on’ concept. And funnily enough, with a large bespoke accessories catalogue, that’s what can be done. More on that later.

All Yamaha Star models come with a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, with the Bolt priced at $11,999 plus on-road costs, and the Bolt R $12,499 plus on-road costs -- both available from September, 2013. The Iron 883 costs $14,250 rideaway.

The Bolt is not meant to be a mile-muncher in a traditional multiple-hours-in-one-sitting sense, but that only tells part of the story.  Yamaha says that a typical 883 owner pumps out a fair chunk of kilometres annually, mostly in a commuter guise, and Yamaha is also making the same sales pitch with the Bolt. The facts are laid bare: an upright, neutral seating position, flat bars, comfortable, saddle-type seat, simple switchgear and torquey engine. And the press launch through the Brisbane urban fringe and hinterland only confirmed that Yamaha has got it right – as it will have to with plans to sell 500 units annually. To put that into perspective, in the first half of 2013 Harley-Davidson sold 217 883 Irons in Australia, so Yamaha is aiming high – partly by differentiating its bike as “high-tech” compared to the “low-tech” opposition.

The 60-degree, 942cc, air-cooled V-twin – complete with uneven firing interval -- is mounted to the frame as a stressed member, with the rigid mount delivering a few vibes through the bars – just enough to remind the rider of the explosions happening underneath, but nothing too obtrusive.

Vibration is also claimed to be minimised by lightweight forged pistons and connecting rods, and it doesn’t increase as the rpm rises. To that end, the absence of a balance shaft doesn’t make a huge difference – in fact it’s a bonus as there’s less weight and inertia to deal with, and the power train is whisper quiet, especially combined with the low-maintenance final belt drive, which is constructed from 21mm carbon fibre.

Yamaha claims 52.7hp (38.3kW) at 5500rpm for the Bolt, and 76.8Nm at 3000rpm – six percent more power and 11 per cent more torque than the Iron 883. Yamaha claims aside, the Bolt is definitely gutsier from the bottom than the Harley, and doesn’t have to be revved as hard to maximise enjoyment.

With such ballsy low to mid-range torque, the engine is married to a wide-ratio five-speed gearbox. First gear is quite tall, so you’ll find yourself with a bit of clutch work in slow-moving traffic – but Yamaha has taken that into consideration by fitting a rubber damper to the clutch to reduce fatigue in constant engagement/disengagement.

The 60-degree bank on the cylinders fills out the double cradle frame in the Bolt nicely, which really does make the engine a real centrepiece. And the attention to detail on the donk is first-class, down to the buff and shape of the fins, the tidy stainless-steel bolts, and the black header pipes morphing into the two-in-one exhaust system. Overall, it's a high quality and authentic look – yet simple.

The Bolt’s waist and tank are skinny, which means the rider’s legs practically hug the top of the cylinders – slightly more on the left-hand side. Toasting isn’t an issue though, as Yamaha has fitted a plastic cylinder cover which takes most of the heat out of the equation.

We’ve already touched on one part of the chassis – the straightforward double cradle frame. Other parts of the equation include 19 (front) and 16-inch rubber, 298mm wave discs, KYB suspension (including 411mm forks) and mid-mounted footrests. The low-slung look is complemented by the 690mm seat height, which makes it so easy to manoeuvre the 245kg (wet) Bolt around when it’s at a standstill. The brakes get the job done, and there’s no ABS offered.

As expected, the Bolt – officially called the XVS950CU -- conveys to the rider when it’s reached its cornering and handling threshold, whether that’s reaching maximum ground clearance or getting a little understeer through corners. Ground clearance is 130mm, while the bike’s skinny Bridgestone Exedra tyres -- for a cruiser -- and 1570mm wheelbase combine to keep things lively enough. Best corner practice is preparing early for a turn and the settling in for the grind, but that’s nothing new in cruiser land – and this is not a bike which is designed to eat the open plains alive.

The non-adjustable 41mm forks provide a beautifully plush ride, and with 119mm of travel only the biggest tarmac imperfections will be of any concern. The travel on the rear is 71mm, but that part of the landscape is also helping to keep alive the Bolt’s low-slung profile. The piggyback shocks on the R-model Bolt definitely handle the bigger shunts with more poise, but other than that the difference between the two models is really down to aesthetics.  
Pillion accommodation is sparse – and the Americans aren’t even pretending it’s a factor by ditching the pillion seat as a standard item. Yamaha Motor Australia is being more benevolent, and I like the way the pillion footpegs blend into the bike when they are flicked up – others stand out like a sore thumb.

Accessories for the Bolt include brass and leather fittings, a spring seat, passenger backrest and lowering kits.

Yamaha Motor Australia is also offering two accessory packs: the ‘Hell for Leather’ with brass accents, mesh air cleaner, spring saddle, leather bags and rack; and the ‘Paint it Black’ with  midnight cowl, mesh air cleaner and black engine covers.

The Bolt does have a bright and fresh feel about, and that’s something that Yamaha can maximise alongside the less is more narrative. The Bolt is fun, easy-to-ride, comfortable, competent and certainly won’t slip under the radar – for its name alone. There’s a bit of buzz around this bike, and for good reason – it’s got some real spunk. And if Yamaha has gauged the prevailing cruiser winds, it will be a success.

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 52.7hp (38.3kW) at 5500rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 76.8Nm at 3000rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Five speed
Final drive: Belt
Clutch: Wet with mechanical drive

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed wet weight: 245kg
Seat height: 690mm
Ground clearance: 130mm
Wheelbase: 1570mm
Fuel capacity: 12.2 litres

OTHER STUFF
Price: $11,999 (R: $12,499)
Availability: from September, 2013
Test bike supplied by: Yamaha Motor Australia
Warranty: Five years, unlimited kilometres