[VSAdmin]

if you can share a few things about your ownership of the 2017+ Yamaha SCR950 Scrambler, what would it be? The most liked or hated, share them with every one I am sure you won't be the only one.

 

[srinath]

Favorite part - the handlebar. Least favorite - the high, hard and ridiculously painful seat. As well as the overall weight and location - high and far from the center of gravity - of said weight.
I'd also nominate Yamaha as the world's best bracket maker on the sheer ingenuity shown on this bike. The side panels, the tail light and turn signals, the seat holding contraption - Yamaha could have eliminated that by putting a longer tongue on the seat and bolting it to the Bolt's seat bolt … woweeee - Bolt it to the bolt's seat bolt - LOL
I am yet to get the battery out BTW, so I am sure more colorful descriptions follow.
Muffler is getting hacked off next, so lets see - they make a unique part that will land in the trash can on day 1 or 12 …

 

[fastersons]

I never had a bike without a sixth gear before 😞

 

[harleyy_rider22]

Positives:

Very Economic price, Simple Design, Easy Maintenance, no fairing
Big powerful engine with loads of torque, Drive Belt (No Chain lubrication needed), Air Cooled (no radiator flush needed)
Can easily be converted to a Bolt


Negatives that can be fixed: (from easier to harder)

Seat => Corbin or Seat Concepts
Luggage => Fehling Rack, custom mounted saddle bags / top box
Shocks (Specially Rear ones) => can be replaced with other options

Negatives: (that are almost impossible to change)

Small gas tank, no center stand, stock tires with Tube (pain to fix)
wheels with sprockets (nice looking but not practical)

Over All, I would buy it again...

 

[eddie]

Pros:
Relatively inexpensive, even without the now common discounts on leftover bikes.
Decent engine with character and usable power. Not too little. Not too much.
Simple to maintain. Screw and locknut valve adjustment. Creative sorts can synchronize the
throttle body with aquarium tubing, ATF, zip ties and a yard stick.
Unique. I have yet to see another on the road in two years of ownership. Take that HD owners! LOL
It gets attention from riders and non riders alike. Most want to know what year model it is and are surprised it's new/modern.
Belt drive. Set and forget adjustment between tire changes.


Cons:
The ridiculously bad seat. Corbin, Seat Concepts or custom seem to be the best ways to avoid the pain.
Awkward turn signal switch position. They "fixed" something that didn't need fixing. I have to think about moving my hand and getting my thumb on the button every single time.
The mirror vibration. It only goes away when you turn the bike off or spend $$$ on new bars, mirrors, etc.
It's a one year wonder. Thankfully, most of the hard parts are shared with the Bolt 950 going back to 2014.
The stock tires contribute to the vibes on par with the V twin engine. Roll a SCR950 on smooth pavement and you can feel the tire tread: thud-thud-thud-thud...

I'm okay with the spoked wheels. They look great and are more forgiving than cast wheels - an important detail on a bike this small & this heavy come pothole time.

 

[ScroogeMcChuck]

Pros: the price is right; I didn't want to put this first, but if you go to the dealer for a brand new bike what do you compare this with? A Suzuki TU250? Maybe a Rebel 300? Seems like a fine bike, but I'll take the 950 every time. Torque; low rev power is fun off the line, easy to pass, always available. Unique; you're not going to run into a whole lot of people on this thing, I imagine it would be a pretty happy occasion if you did. Cons: the seat is hot garbage; it's just bad, we all know it. Customization; most of the changes I see on this forum are done with left over parts from other bikes, it's fun to solve a puzzle if you're mechanically inclined, but we don't even have an out of the box fender eliminater kit for this thing. I bet they could sell one kit for every two bikes that rolled off the floor and it's a shame that the kit for the bolt just doesn't match up. That's just one example, I've been looking for a derby cover...nope, how about a...nope they don't have that either, whatever it is.

 

[Schu]

Cons:
It's a one year wonder. Thankfully, most of the hard parts are shared with the Bolt 950 going back to 2014.

Single year production should be listed under the Pros Eddie.
Especially for those who plan to keep them in a reasonably stock form. I see them as becoming collectors items one day.

 

[srinath]

BTW is this thing direct injection or some crap like that. My throttle response is very very abrupt.

And no **** engine braking - the GS500's have a lot of that and better yet, all of mine had clip on's and I would tuck into em like a GP racer and sit up like a sail when I wanna slow and boom it was like hitting the brakes. This is like coasting when I do that.

I also am wondering if a c spec handle bar position would let me hide below the wind and then raise myself into the wind.

 

[srinath]

Oh BTW how the bloddy **** do you check the oil in this thing without having a helper ???
They should have a marking on the dipstick where it should be on the kick stand on level ground …. grrrr I'll make one I guess.

 

[Redblock]

The Tires - they begin to howl at 60 MPH and only get louder the faster you go.

 

[eddie]

The Tires - they begin to howl at 60 MPH and only get louder the faster you go.

It only gets worse with mileage as the front knobs start to deform and wear from braking forces.
I was SO glad I switched to more street oriented rubber (Michelin Anakee III). :smile2:

 

[eddie]

Oh BTW how the bloddy **** do you check the oil in this thing without having a helper ???
They should have a marking on the dipstick where it should be on the kick stand on level ground …. grrrr I'll make one I guess.

That mark's accuracy might be in question with as little as ground angle, front fork rotation, etc... Straight up and down per the manual isn't easy, but it is likely more accurate and repeatable.
Things could be worse.
Honda, in it's infinite wisdom, decided we Americans liked to check oil with a dipstick. So, in 1991 (the year I bought my first new motorcycle) introduced the CB750 Nighthawk with a dipstick in the right side engine cover. The domestic CBX750 they borrowed the mill from came with not only a sight glass, it also had a dipstick on the left side because it had a center stand to hold the bike up. One had two choices for measuring the oil level!
On the CB750, they deleted the convenient sight glass, capped off the dipstick hole with a plastic cap marked DON'T OPEN and also made the center stand an option. Checking the oil on my shiny new bike was a real challenge. I had to hold the bike upright from the side opposite from the kick stand with one hand & remove, clean, replace and remove again the dipstick with the other hand. I finally got a center stand before I ended up dropping the thing.

 

[Mellowrider]

Greetings.
Good things first.
Price!... Its alot of bike for six grand out the door. Its dependable. It looks great. People ask about it comment on its looks.

Now for the not so good on my opinion. I am six 3 and a bit arthritic in the hips. The peg placement for me is too wide number 1 and too far back.
Its very uncomfortable. The foot controls should be moved forward (For me). Its also too heavy and does not corner well. And it seems like it has a wide turning radius?
Its got a lot of power... but then again its doesnt at the same time....
I really think that my old 1977 KZ 750 has more power if it was tuned up and running right.
I come from 5 years riding the 1977 KZ which has a lot of problems..
So I really like how the scr starts right up and runs good (No kick start)
But it could use a center stand and not just a side stand.
The scr is great when Im not in pain from the old hips... and its actually not too bad when my joints loosen up after 5-10 min.
So maybe it has to do more with my broken down body than the design but....
Why put pegs back to enable rider to stand on them like a scrambler when in fact it should not be driven off road????
Makes no dam sense to me.
Il say it for the 10th time.... In the owners manual on 2-2 at the bottom it states
The vehicle is not designed for off road use and should not be driven off road.
The whole concept of making a scrambler that really isnt and designing pegs for off road use when it shouldnt be driven off road is ridiculous... Stupid even. False advertising to boot.
Its not comfortable. Foot pegs too wide. Not a natural position with the legs splayed out.
Its okay but Id rather have my old KZ fixed up and runnning over this.
Gas tank too small and no storage space anywhere

 

[Schu]

Greetings.
Good things first.
Price!... Its alot of bike for six grand out the door. Its dependable. It looks great. People ask about it comment on its looks.

Now for the not so good on my opinion. I am six 3 and a bit arthritic in the hips. The peg placement for me is too wide number 1 and too far back.
Its very uncomfortable. The foot controls should be moved forward (For me). Its also too heavy and does not corner well. And it seems like it has a wide turning radius?
Its got a lot of power... but then again its doesnt at the same time....
I really think that my old 1977 KZ 750 has more power if it was tuned up and running right.
I come from 5 years riding the 1977 KZ which has a lot of problems..
So I really like how the scr starts right up and runs good (No kick start)
But it could use a center stand and not just a side stand.
The scr is great when Im not in pain from the old hips... and its actually not too bad when my joints loosen up after 5-10 min.
So maybe it has to do more with my broken down body than the design but....
Why put pegs back to enable rider to stand on them like a scrambler when in fact it should not be driven off road????
Makes no dam sense to me.
Il say it for the 10th time.... In the owners manual on 2-2 at the bottom it states
The vehicle is not designed for off road use and should not be driven off road.
The whole concept of making a scrambler that really isnt and designing pegs for off road use when it shouldnt be driven off road is ridiculous... Stupid even. False advertising to boot.
Its not comfortable. Foot pegs too wide. Not a natural position with the legs splayed out.
Its okay but Id rather have my old KZ fixed up and runnning over this.
Gas tank too small and no storage space anywhere

Can't argue any of what you said Mellow. It comes down to one of two reasons that we are drawn to the SCR.
1. You simply cannot pass up the retro style that Mr Yamaha captured for such a reasonable price.
2. You simply cannot find a better, inexpensive starting platform in a new bike to customize and make it your own.

I really enjoy seeing the photos of what so many members are doing with their SCRs.

 

[Mellowrider]

Well, having knocked it a bit I must say that I do still almost own it and I'm not getting rid of it. I'l ride it
as long as practical and then I will hang onto it.
lol... I've still got my 41 year old KZ. Its a decent bike and if I was younger and not broken down... It would prob be that much better for me to ride. Just those dam pegs!! Someday maybe I can move the controls forward.
I am not.. repeat not sorry I bought it.
It is unique!

 

[Burke]

old age

It might be easier to fix the hips. need to replace ??? Shame. #metoo (knee):frown2:

 

[Mellowrider]

Yup

It might be easier to fix the hips. need to replace ??? Shame. #metoo (knee):frown2:

Yea, I dont know Burke. After having health insurance for 32 years, I was laid off 5 years ago and have not had health insurance since. Freelancing since 2013. The scr cost 100.00 a month. Health insurance is well over 400 for the cheapest plan. So, it would probably be easier to just move the pegs forward.
Might needs those hips someday but dont like the whole idea. And cant afford it anyway. Hope the knee dont bug ya too much.
Man, after I turned 50..... The old gray mare just aint what he used to be. lol lol... Thats another reason I bought the SCR. Figured I'd have fun before I got to the point where I wouldnt be able to anymore.
I've really deep down been enjoying the **** out of my SCR.
Have fun while you can. When I was married and raising my 4 kids, I couldnt have a bike.
:smile2:

 

[kingsizexx]

I dont think its worth tbh..

 

[Cwdrifter]

Oh BTW how the bloddy **** do you check the oil in this thing without having a helper ???
They should have a marking on the dipstick where it should be on the kick stand on level ground …. grrrr I'll make one I guess.

On my 1985 Suzuki SP600 (grand dad of DR650) it only had sight glass and side stand, Like all DR650s....
I sat on bike, got it level and used a mirror to look at sight glass...problem solved. Or I put on Lift that centers it...doubt my manual foot lift will lift 500+ lb bike though. Suzuki was only 350 or so...sadly just sold Suzuki after 36 years of running like a top...so SCR hits all my buttons...literally...button start. (at 67 got too tired to kick the big single over).
air cooled, fuel injected, BELT drive...flat tracker/scrambler style...perfect bike (save the saddle)...

 

[Brian B]

Hey guys, just recently bought my scr. Only 240 miles and I got it used. I've had various bikes, dirt and street and don't have many complaints about my scr. Pegs feel natural while riding, corners great, just chased my friend down Ortega Highway around 75 to 80mph, he was on 2020 aprilia rsv4.
I have built custom bikes before and have had more people stop and ask about the SCR than any other bike. I got the SCR because it's yamaha, fuel injected and looks awesome.
My shins complain every time I move the bike backwards and the mid wide pegs bash them. I did add a tiny flyscreen and it makes a huge difference at freeway speed.