The 2017 Yamaha SCR950- Here's the First Ride Preview

Vintage Scrambler Desires – Satisfied

When it comes to the scrambler platform, riders have been wanting to get more utility from their bikes. The 2017 Yamaha SCR950 is a retro style bike that is designed for the future. Yamaha had to look back at its roots in coming up with this model. The bike manufacturer was one of the pioneers of the unique scrambler style back in the 1960s. Today, the style is being adopted by various other brands.

Despite being one of the latest motorcycles, the SCR950 evokes a classic feel with components such as wire-spoke wheels. Also, the fenders and colorways are designed to pay homage to the company’s hearty foundation.

Yamaha representatives point out that the SCR950 was a concept that was always a step away from production. The bike was developed by Yamaha USA’s R&D facility. As the Yamaha Star Bolt was released in three flavors, the staff at Yamaha got the encouragement to proceed to develop the SCR950.

This new model is based on the Bolt C-Spec cruiser, with most of its critical components being borrowed from the latter including the engine, suspension, and chassis. The differences between the two are merely aesthetic.

The design of the SCR950 is geared towards simplicity and ease of use. The bike is designed for everyone with a light clutch, good riding position, and a very small learning curve. The bike is quite spacious making for a comfortable ride every time. The crossbar-type handlebar is quite comfortable and significantly improves the handling of the bike.

The 2017 Yamaha SCR950 is powered by a 942cc SOHC V-Twin engine which delivers a nearly flat torque curve. The powerplant is sufficient to keep the bike cruising at freeway speeds. The engine is one of the best success stories in the scrambler market.

The 41mm forks are non-adjustable and the spring-preload adjustable shocks are a bit firm, as the bike is designed to handle some light off-roading. On-road, the SCR950 is more than capable of handling abused paved roads. The main difference between the SCR950 and C-Spec’s suspension is the damping. The SCR950 features slower rebound resulting in a non-bouncy ride.

The front suspension has 4.7 inches of travel with the rear having only 2.8 inches. This means that the SCR950 was designed to handle only light off-roading. Also, the bike has only 5.5 inches of ground clearance. It is, therefore, important to choose off-road excursions wisely.

The SCR950 features a belt-drive system. Even though it requires much less maintenance than a chain, belts generally deteriorate at a higher rate when exposed to dirt and mud. This will limit the number of off-road rides.

The SCR950 weighs 547 lbs. and is, therefore, a light bike. When it comes to stopping power, the SCR950 features 298mm wave rotors on both wheels. However, the bike lacks important features such as traction control and ABS. These are important, especially for novice riders.