Yamaha XVS 950 V-Star Bolt

The Faster Sons Design Philosophy
Yamaha’s Sport Heritage motorcycle models draw inspiration from in-depth experience spanning seven decades of design and manufacture of famous and iconic motorcycles. During this time, the world of motorcycling has continually evolved, yet the unique emotions and intense excitement experienced when riding on two wheels have always stayed the same. The Faster Sons design philosophy fuses iconic style with modern technology to create enjoyable and exciting motorcycles that recall the past while featuring the performance of today.

The Bolt and Bolt R-Spec are designed to offer the ultimate in urban riding fun and feature a 942cc air-cooled 60-degree V-twin engine for excellent power and low-end torque. Their stripped-down design epitomizes the “Urban Performance Bobber” look while a compact, stable chassis delivers light maneuverability with an upright riding position and low seat height.

The Bolt R-Spec takes performance and style to the next level, with twin piggyback rear shocks tuned for great comfort and handling, and 12-spoke cast alloy wheels for added strength and toughness.

The Bolt will be available in Raven for an MSRP of $7,999, and the 2020 Bolt R-Spec will be available in Matte Silver for an MSRP of $8,399. Both models will begin arriving at authorized Yamaha dealers in September (October delivery for California dealers).

Engine

• Blacked out, 942cc, air-cooled, SOHC, 4-valve per cylinder, fuel injected, 60° V-twin power plant pumps out impressive power & torque. Maximum torque is reached at 3,000 rpms, for relaxed cruising performance.
• SOHC, pent-roof, 4-valve cylinder heads.
  • 4-valve design optimizes breathing efficiency & overall engine performance at all rpms
  • 5 mm intake & 28 mm exhaust valves use friction reducing single valve springs
  • compact pent roof combustion chamber design & optimized squish area forces the fuel / air mixture toward the centre of the combustion chamber for more complete combustion & excellent power with reduced emissions
  • 25,000 km valve adjustment intervals
• Specially designed roller rockers activate the valves.
  • Y shaped roller rocker arms allows a greater amount of valve lift without causing excessive camshaft wear & friction
  • slipper portion of the rocker arm utilizes a needle bearing for reduced camshaft wear & reduced sliding resistance (friction)
• No fuss, traditional air-cooled engine design.
  • cylinders have a tapered “V” appearance to highlight the V-twin engine design
  • cooling fins have been optimized for reliable cooling even in stop & go traffic

  

• Automatic cam chain tensioners reduce mechanical noise & simplify maintenance.
• “Liner-less”, ceramic composite-plated cylinder bores.
  • ceramic coating sprayed directly on the aluminum blocks, eliminating the liners & reducing weight
  • excellent heat dissipation for consistent power delivery
  • ceramic coating enhances the thin film of oil between the cylinder & piston, reducing friction & increasing power
  • extended cylinder service life
• Flat top, lightweight forged aluminum pistons.
  • less reciprocating mass for fast engine response
  • reduced mechanical vibration for excellent reliability
• Single pin style crankshaft.
  • design accentuates V-twin engine character, pulse feel & sound
• Wet sump lubrication system with easy access, spin on oil filter & drain plug for easy oil changes.
• Classic side mounted 2.3 litre air box houses an easy access, a high-flow viscous paper-type filter.
• “Closed loop”, dual bore, 35 mm throttle body fuel injection system with linear throttle response for easy riding.
  • system uses throttle position sensor (TPS) to help optimize intake air flow & power
  • ISC or idle speed controller ensures a steady idle
  • 4 – hole injectors optimize fuel atomization & feature a dual spray pattern for more complete combustion chamber filling
  • “closed loop system” uses an oxygen sensor to “sniff” spent exhaust & automatically adjust the fuel / air ratio for reduced emissions
  • oxygen sensor is located before the mufflers, so the use of aftermarket “slip-on” mufflers will not affect the closed loop system
  • fuel injection benefits include; excellent throttle response, choke-free starting, steady idling during warm up, excellent fuel economy & reduced emissions

  

• Smooth-shifting, 5-speed transmission.
  • optimized gear ratios match engine power for strong acceleration
  • 5th gear offers reduced engine rpms at highway speeds
  • clutch is an “outer pull” design for light, easy lever effort
• Special narrow design belt drive final drive.
  • narrow 21 mm wide belt design
  • cleaner & quieter than chain drive… no messy chain splatter
  • low maintenance… no regular adjustments or lubrication required
  • belt drive system simplifies customization
• Maintenance-free transistor controlled ignition (TCI).
  • produces a strong spark for fast starts
  • provides precise ignition timing / mapping for optimum engine performance at all rpms
• 2 into 1 exhaust system.
  • large diameter header pipes for maximum flow
  • dual stage muffler produces a low, throaty V-Twin growl
  • heat shields protect rider & passenger from hot components
  • 3-way honeycomb catalyzer reduces harmful exhaust emissions
• Air Injection System injects fresh air into exhaust ports to fully burn any unburnt fuel, further reducing exhaust emissions.

Chassis

• Tube type, double cradle steel frame.
  • provides a natural riding position & roomy ergonomics combined with a low 690 mm (27.2″) seat height
  • frame utilizes a rigid engine mounting system optimizing the overall chassis rigidity balance for superior handling
  • engine mounting position provides a low center of gravity for light, easy handling

  

• Tube-type, steel, swingarm compliments the frame & features a dual shock rear suspension system.
• Compact 1570mm (61.8″) wheelbase provides light, agile handling, for a fun riding experience.
• 41mm KYB front fork offers 120 mm (4.7″) of wheel travel.
  • good ride comfort & compliance
  • chip guards help prevent fork tube “nicks” & protect fork seals
• Adjustable, dual shock rear suspension. Rear wheel travel is 70mm (2.8″).
  • 5 – positions of spring preload adjustability to suit load and / or rider preferences
• Single, 298mm front disc brake features a floating, wave-style disc squeezed by a twin piston caliper.
  • strong, confidence-inspiring stopping power
  • wave-style disc offers more surface area than a conventional round disc for excellent heat dissipation
• 298 mm rear wave-style disc brake is squeezed by single piston caliper.
  • caliper mounted to the underside of the swingarm, reducing the centre of gravity for light handling
  • location also hides the caliper for a clean, custom look
• Classic spoke wheels.
  • front wheel size is 2.50 x 19; tire size is 100/90 x 19
  • rear wheel size is MT3.50 x 16; tire size is 150/80 x 16
  • tube-type tires
• Short design, front & rear steel fenders for easy painting or customization.
• 13 litre, slim design flangeless fuel tank.
  • 8 litre reserve capacity (low fuel light illuminates)
  • high capacity electric fuel pump
• Separate rider & passenger seats.
  • good comfort & support
  • seat height is 690 mm or 27.2″ off the ground, enhancing rider confidence
  • narrow design through seat-fuel tank junction makes it easier to get both feet on the ground
  • passenger seat can be easily removed if desired
• Foot pegs are positioned more rearward than on a traditional cruiser for a more natural & upright riding position.
• Conventional low handlebar offers an upright riding position.
  • excellent rider comfort
  • bar can be changed to a different “bend” for easy customization or personal preferences
• Triple clamp mounted LCD digital meter / instrument.
  • functions include; speedometer, odometer, dual trip meters, fuel reserve trip meter (counts kilometers since low fuel light activated), clock & range of warning lights
  • self-diagnostic function
  • instrument functions can be “tabbed” through & reset using the RHS handlebar switch gear, allowing the operator to change instrument functions without taking hands off the bars.
• 60/55 watt high intensity halogen headlight with chromed bezel.
• “Vintage design” LED tail light.
• The Bolt is designed to be compact & slim, featuring clean, simple styling with the ability to easily personalize / customize the bike with a wide range of Genuine Star accessories.

Details

• Industry-leading Star family fit & finish
• Upper & lower belt drive cover helps prevent debris from entering the belt and pulley areas
• Fork mounted steering lock
• Self-cancelling turn signals
• Passing switch (flashes high beam)
• Traditional dipstick to check oil level
• Yamaha diagnostic service tool coupler
• Low-maintenance, sealed battery (battery should be charged during winter storage)