Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/728976
2017 YAMAHA SCR950 FIRST RIDE P80 initial touch of the lever makes for an easier time on dirt, especially for the more inexperienced riders out there. One thing I didn't care for was the seat padding. After 45 min- utes my ass had gone to sleep and I spent more time on the pegs and riding it like a dirt bike than I think would be legal. It's great for short trips but if I was going to be doing some weekend rides with luggage I'd be going for a custom seat, stat. Aesthetically the Yamaha hits the scrambler nail on the head pretty well. There are nice touches like the LED rear taillight and side number plates, plus the red and black color scheme looks pretty rad in the metal and I love the old-school fork gaiters. The SCR950 is a pretty good value, as well. Priced at $8699, it's right in the ballpark of the Ducati Scrambler Icon ($8895), $2400 under the Moto Guzzi V7 II Scrambler at $10,990 and a whopping $4301 less than the BMW R nineT Scrambler ($13,000), due out for release later this year. Yamaha has created a few ac- cessories that will hopefully get your customizing juices flowing if you're not handy with a welder— or know how to stitch your own leather saddlebags. Yamaha's done a good job with the SCR950. It's one of those bikes that won't age horribly over time because it was born old—it's almost like the Benjamin Button of motorcycles. The sheer lack of electronics, simple styling and the carefree nature the SCR950 exudes is pretty intoxicating, as is the ride itself. CN 2 0 1 7 Y A M A H A S C R 9 5 0 ENGINE: ........Air-cooled, SOHC, 4-stroke V-twin, 8 valves DISPLACEMENT: ............................. 942cc BORE X STROKE: .................. 85 x 83mm HORSEPOWER: .................................... N/A TORQUE: .............................................. N/A COMPRESSION RATIO: ......................9.0:1 CLUTCH: ...........................Wet multi-plate TRANSMISSION: ..................... Five-speed CHASSIS: .................Tubular steel cradle FRONT SUSPENSION: ......................41mm conventional, non-adjustable REAR SUSPENSION: .............. Twin shock absorbers, non-adjustable FRONT BRAKE: ......Single 298mm discs, twin-piston calipers REAR BRAKE: ..........Single 298mm disc, single-piston caliper FRONT TIRE: ............................ 100/90-19 REAR TIRE: ............................. 140/80R17 RAKE: ................................................28.4° TRAIL: ............................................... 5.1 in. WHEELBASE: .................................... 62 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ............................... 32.7 in. OVERALL WIDTH: ..........................35.2 in. OVERALL LENGTH: ........................88.6 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ........................... 3.2 gal. WEIGHT: ............547 lbs. (wet, claimed). COLOR: ......Charcoal Silver and Rapid Red MSRP: ............................................ $8699 S P E C I F I C A T I O N S Optioned up with a picnic to go to! Yamaha's made a nice little accessory catalog for the SCR.