Hey everyone, it’s your boy back at it again! Today, I wanna talk about something a little different – my experience messing around with a Yamaha Bolt R-Spec. Now, I’m no professional mechanic, but I do love tinkering with bikes, and this one caught my eye.

First off, this thing’s got a 942cc V-twin engine. Not the biggest out there, but it’s got some pep. I started by just taking it for a few spins around town. It felt smooth, handled well, and had enough power to make city riding fun. You know, enough to zip around without feeling like you’re gonna lose control.
Next, I got curious about the differences between the regular Bolt and the R-Spec. Turns out, the R-Spec’s got these fancy rear reservoir shock absorbers and an Anti-Lock Braking System. Also, those 12-spoke cast alloy wheels on the R-Spec look pretty sweet compared to the wire-spoke ones on the regular Bolt. So, I decided to focus on the R-Spec.
Digging Deeper
- Engine: Like I said, 942cc, air-cooled, V-twin. It’s got this satisfying rumble, especially at lower speeds.
- Power: It says around 47 HP, which might not seem like a lot, but it’s more than enough for cruising and even a bit of spirited riding.
- Torque: This is where it shines. It’s got decent torque, especially in the low and mid-range. Makes it easy to pull away from stops and pass cars without downshifting all the time.
I read somewhere that the top speed is around 106 mph. Honestly, I didn’t even get close to that. Way too fast for me, and probably not what this bike is really about anyway.
Price-wise, I saw that the Bolt R-Spec starts at around $8,899. Not cheap, but not crazy expensive either. Yamaha’s known for being reliable, so that’s a plus.
Taking It Further
I spent some time riding it on different roads, in different conditions. I even took it on a longer trip, just to see how it handled. It’s no touring bike, but it was comfortable enough for a few hours on the road.

I tried to push it a bit, just to see what it could do. Acceleration is decent. It won’t blow your socks off, but it’s got enough get-up-and-go to be fun. I played around with going from 0 to 60, and it felt pretty responsive. I didn’t time it or anything, but it felt good.
I also noticed that it was pretty easy to maneuver at low speeds, which is great for city riding. You can weave through traffic pretty easily, and it’s not too heavy to handle at stoplights.
Honestly, I had a blast with this bike. It’s not the fastest or the most powerful, but it’s a solid, fun ride. It’s got that classic cruiser look, but it’s got enough modern tech to make it a good daily rider. If you’re looking for something that’s easy to ride, looks cool, and won’t break the bank, the Yamaha Bolt R-Spec is definitely worth checking out.
That’s it for my little adventure with the Bolt R-Spec. Hope you guys enjoyed it. Catch you in the next one!