2014 Yamaha Bolt

Defect. Yamaha Motor Company (Yamaha) is recalling certain model year 2014 XVS950CU (Bolt) motorcycles manufactured March 2013 through June 2013. Slack or sag in the wiring harness may allow it to contact the exhaust manifold causing the wires to melt, and possibly short circuit.

Risk. If the wires short circuit, the fuses will blow which may cause the engine to stall. An engine stall while riding, increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Yamaha will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness and secure it away from the exhaust. If the wiring harness is damaged, it will first be replaced. The recall began on August 2, 2013. Owners may contact Yamaha at 1-800-962-7926.

VEHICLE METER IS DANGEROUSLY DIM. NOT VISIBLE DURING DAYLIGHT DUE TO GLARE. ONLY 2014 YAMAHA BOLT MODELS ENCOUNTER THIS ISSUE. THE SPEED CAN NOT BE DETERMINED WHILE RIDING NOR ANY OTHER INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON THE METER.

DEATH WOBBLE- STEERING INSTABILITY AT 35-45 MPH. THIS COULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER BY USING TAPERED STEERING BEARINGS

SPEEDOMETER CAN'T BE SEEN WHEN TRAVELING INTO THE SUN OR ANY TIME THE SUN IS AT THE WRONG ANGLE THAT IT CREATES A NON READABLE DISPLAY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ALMOST ANY TIME THE SUN IS OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT BEING ABLE TO READ YOUR SPEED AS WELL AS POSSIBLY CAUSING SPEEDING TICKETS. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURE WITH A RECALL. SERIOUSLY ISSUE.

SPEEDOMETER CAN'T BE SEEN WHEN TRAVELING INTO THE SUN OR ANY TIME THE SUN IS AT THE WRONG ANGLE THAT IT CREATES A NON READABLE DISPLAY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ALMOST ANY TIME THE SUN IS OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT BEING ABLE TO READ YOUR SPEED AS WELL AS POSSIBLY CAUSING SPEEDING TICKETS.

MY CONCERN IS THE DEATH WOBBLE THE BIKE HAS WHEN AT SPEEDS AROUND 45 MPH.

DURING THE DAY OR WHEN THE SUN IS BRIGHT I CAN NOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER READING. ITS DIGITAL AND THERE ISN'T MUCH CONTRAST SO I CANT SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS CAN CAUSE ME TO CHECK MY SPEED FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME AND CAN CAUSE A SPEEDING VIOLATION OR ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION OR STATIONARY, ITS TOO DIM.

BIKE SPEEDOMETER HAS AN ISSUE WHERE THE SPEED DISPLAY IS WAY TOO DIM TO SEE IN SUNLIGHT. IN THE RIGHT SUNLIGHT POSITION, IT IS COMPLETELY BLACK AND IMPOSSIBLE TO READ WITHOUT LITERALLY PUTTING YOUR HEAD INCHES FROM IT AND LOOKING AT IT FAR TOO LONG TO TRY TO MAKE ANYTHING OUT. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHILE IN MOTION FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. THIS HAPPENS ON EVERY RIDE FOR ME AT MULTIPLE POINTS DEPENDING ON WHERE THE SUN IS. EVEN WHEN I CAN SEE THE NUMBERS, IT'S STILL TOO DIM FOR JUST A QUICK GLANCE. THERE MUST BE SOME BADLY ENGINEERED POLARIZED LENS IN THERE. THIS IS POOR DESIGN AND A SAFETY HAZARD JUST TO GET A "BLACKED OUT" LOOK. BY 2015 YAMAHA KNOWS THIS WHICH IS WHY IT'S FIXED FROM 2015 MODELS ON. SOME GUYS ARE EVEN BUYING 2015 SPEEDOMETERS TO INSTALL ON THE 2014 BIKE TO FIX THIS. A SPEEDING TICKET IS THE LEAST OF MY WORRIES, THIS IS MY LIFE AND A GAMBLE EVERY TIME I RIDE.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2014 YAMAHA BOLT R SPEC, THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE AT NIGHT AND IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ DURING SUNNY DAYLIGHT HOURS. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO TAKE HIS OR HER EYES OFF OF THE ROAD FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN ATTEMPT TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER TO REMAIN AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. THIS INCREASES THE CHANCES OF A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHICH COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. THE NEWER MODEL BOLT (2015-PRESENT) HAS FIXED THIS ISSUE HOWEVER YAMAHA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR REACHED OUT TO THE 2014 BOLT OWNERS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPLACE THE POOR MANUFACTURED SPEEDOMETER.

WHEN RIDING THE YAMAHA BOLT TOWARDS THE SUN, THE SPEEDOMETER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. BECAUSE OF THE POSITIONING OF THE SPEEDOMETER, AND THE GRAPHIC INTERFACE THAT IS USED, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. THIS HAS CAUSED ME GREAT DIFFICULTY WHILE RIDING. IF I CANNOT READ MY SPEED ACCURATELY, I HAVE NO IDEA OF MY RATE OF TRAVEL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND POSES RISK TO MYSELF, MY PROPERTY, AND THOSE SURROUNDING ME. THIS SPECIFICALLY HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION, RIDING TOWARDS THE SUN.

AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY THE SPEEDOMETER IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO READ TO TO THE SUN SHINING ON TO IT . IT TAKES YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD AND YOU SOMETIMES HAVE TO USE YOUR HAND TO COVER THE SPEEDOMETER TO SEE THE NUMBERS WITH IN ITSELF IS UNSAFE WHEN RIDING A MOTORCYCLE WHICH COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT.

DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. I HOPE NHTSA WILL REQUIRE YAMAHA TO REPLACE ALL AFFECTED SPEEDOMETERS AS IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW. IT IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM, THE MOTORCYCLE ARRIVED IN THIS CONDITION. I HAVE TALKED TO YAMAHA AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE CONDITION (MANY COMPLAINTS) BUT THEY ARE CHOOSING NOT TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT, I CAN NOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. IT IS A BLACK CIRCLE. DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHETHER THE SUN IS IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME. THIS IS A HAZARD AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. THIS WILL CAUSE ME TO GET A SPEEDING TICKET OR, WORSE, GET INTO A CRASH BECAUSE I CAN NOT JUDGE MY SPEED.

CANNOT SEE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, DIGITAL DISPLAY DISAPPEARS. FAILURE TO SEE TRAVEL SPEED. WAS PULLED OVER FOR 68MPH IN A 60MPH IN THE AFTERNOON SUN. ONLY A WARNING... BUT NEXT TIME MAYBE NOT SO LUCKY....

THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT VISABLE AT ALL WHILE RIDING INTO THE SUN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 YAMAHA BOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIGITAL ODOMETER WAS NOT VIEWABLE DURING THE DAYLIGHT DUE TO A GLARE. AS A RESULT, THE SPEED WAS NOT MONITORED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ODOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO PROVIDE CURRENT SPEED IN DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS AND CREATES AN INABILITY TO KNOW YOUR CURRENT SPEED.

WHEN RIDING IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT IT WAS HARD TO SEE MY DRIVING SPEED. I WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE ONE HAND FROM HANDLEBARS TO SHADE THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE ABLE TO SEE, GIVING ME LESS CONTROL. IT CAUSED ME TO BE UNABLE TO TELL HOW FAST I WAS GOING AND IF I WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH POSTED SPEED LIMITS. UPDATED 09/17/15*LJ

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY MOTORCYCLE I NOTICED THAT WHEN IT IS BRIGHT OUTSIDE I CAN NOT READ MY SPEEDOMETER. THERE IS A BIG BLACK CIRCLE WITH NO WAY FOR ME TO SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO LEAN FORWARD, CHANGE BODY POSITIONS AND COVER THE SPEEDOMETER WITH MY HAND TO SEE IT AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE EVEN FROM A FEW INCHES AWAY FROM IT. THIS POSES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. TO MY KNOWLEDGE ALL VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A WORKING SPEEDOMETER AND THIS MOTORCYCLE'S SPEEDOMETER ONLY WORKS PART OF THE TIME. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE RIDING IN THE HILLS WHEN IT'S A BRIGHT DAY AS THERE ARE NUMEROUS CURVES THAT REQUIRE YOU TO SLOW DOWN FROM 45 OR 50 MPH TO LESS THAN 30 MPH TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THE CURVES. IT IS EXTREMELY EASY TO MISJUDGE YOUR SPEED FOR THESE CURVES BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. I HAVE CAME CLOSE TO CRASHING A COUPLE TIMES AND OTHER TIMES I ABOUT GOT RAN OVER BECAUSE I SLOWED DOWN TO MUCH. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

THE SPEEDOMETER SCREEN IS UNREADABLE AND IS A HAZARD.

WHILE RIDING THE YAMAHA BOLT DURING THE DAYTIME IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER DUE TO GLARE. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS DUE TO THE GLASS OVER THE LCD ITSELF, BUT UNLESS I TAKE MY EYES OFF OF THE ROAD AND COVER THE GLASS WITH MY HAND I CANNOT GET AN ACCURATE VIEW OF MY SPEED. THIS LEAVES ME VULNERABLE TO ACCIDENTS, SPEEDING TICKETS AND MANY OTHER SITUATIONS THAT ARE DUE TO THIS DISTRACTION. I HOPE YAMAHA WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE IN MOST DAYLIGHT SITUATIONS. THE GLASS PLATE OVER THE DIGITAL READOUT IS TOO DARK AND REFLECTIVE. ALL ONE CAN SEE DURING MOST DAY RIDING IS GLARE OR A BLACK PANE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHAT SPEED THE MOTORCYCLE IS GOING SINCE THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE. ONE CANNOT JUDGE IF THEY HAVE SLOWED TO REQUIRED SPEEDS IN MARKED "REDUCED SPEED" AREAS SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION AND DANGEROUS CURVES. ONE CANNOT KNOW IF THEY ARE ENTERING TRAFFIC AT A SAFE SPEED OR EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMITS POSTED. TURN SIGNAL FLASHER IS NOT VISIBLE IN DAYLIGHT, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVE TO KNOW IF HIS TURN SIGNAL IS ON OR OFF. WARNING LIGHTS ARE NOT VISIBLE IN DAYLIGHT, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO RESPOND TO ANY POTENTIAL MECHANICAL EMERGENCY SHOWN BY LIGHTS.

DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF THE DAY THE POSITION OF THE SUN THE SPEEDOMETER BECOMES UNREADABLE. WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO DRIVE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. ALSO I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO HAVE GOTTEN ARRESTED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT OFTEN I HAVE FOUND MYSELF SPEEDING EXCESSIVELY WHEN I COULDN'T SEE MY SPEEDOMETER DUE TO SUNLIGHT. I ONLY REALIZED MY SPEED WHEN THE SUNLIGHT WAS BLOCKED. MOVING MY HEAD AND SHIFTING MY STANCE DOES NOT HELP THE SITUATION ONE BIT. THE PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE AND YAMAHA KEEPS PUTTING IT OUT. CONSUMERS ARE BUYING THE PRODUCT BECAUSE THEY ARE NON THE WISER. PLEASE HELP STOP THE PRODUCTION OF THIS SPEEDOMETER BEFORE THERE IS REAL INJURY.

2014 YAMAHA BOLT R-SPEC (XV950R). THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER VISIBILITY IS EXTREMELY POOR DURING THE DAYTIME IN ALMOST ALL BUT PERFECT CONDITIONS AND MAKES DETERMINING SPEED A MAJOR ISSUE. AT NIGHT IT IS VISIBLE DUE TO IT'S BACK LIGHT AND REALLY IS THE ONLY TIME IT CAN BE SEEN AT ALL ANGLES ALL THE TIME.

SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE WHEN THE SUN IS AT CERTAIN ANGLES. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO READ WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING ON IT AT CERTAIN ANGLES, MAKING IT UNCLEAR TO THE RIDER WHAT SPEED THE BIKE IS CURRENTLY GOING. THIS IS A DANGER TO ROAD SAFETY, A POSSIBILITY OF GETTING A TICKET, AND A NUISANCE. YAMAHA HAS BEEN UNHELPFUL AND UNCOOPERATIVE WHEN APPROACHED VIA EMAIL AND TELEPHONE. THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WAS ALSO AN UNSUCCESSFUL AVENUE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *TR

INSTRUMENTATION SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, TRIP METER AND INFORMATION LIGHTS I.E. TURN SIGNAL, HIGH BEAM INDICATOR, FUEL LEVEL ETC. VERY DIFFICULT AND DISTRACTING TO READ WHILE RIDING. OCCURS IN ALL LIGHT CONDITIONS. DUE TO DARK INSTRUMENT FACE, IT POSES A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF ADDED TIME TO FOCUS ON SPEEDOMETER TO GATHER INFORMATION. *TR

IN ANY CONDITION OTHER THAN NIGHTTIME OR EXTREMELY OVERCAST I CANNOT SEE THE SPEED OR ANY OF THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ON MY YAMAHA BOLT 2014 SPEEDOMETER. *TR

CAN NOT VIEW SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY IN MOST DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS. THIS CREATES A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION REQUIRING THE RIDER TO AVERT EYES FROM THE ROAD AND FOCUS ON SPEEDOMETER FOR 3-5 SECONDS. IN SOME CONDITIONS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ SPEEDOMETER AT ALL (POLARIZED LENSES ON SUNGLASSES). *TR

LCD SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER IS NOT VISIBLE (DARK) WHEN DRIVING TOWARD THE SUN. UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SPEED AND OTHER LCD READINGS. THIS CAUSES A DISTRACTION WHEN TRYING TO READ THE METER. THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER IS ONLY VISIBLE WHEN SUN IS BEHIND THE RIDER OR AT NIGHT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YAMAHA CHANGED THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ON THE 2015 MODEL MAKING IT MORE VISIBLE. *TR

UNDER NORMAL DAYLIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE LCD SPEEDOMETER WILL BLACK OUT COMPLETELY WHEN THE SUN SHINES AT ANY ANGLE OTHER THAN DIRECTLY ON THE CLUSTER. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN IN 3 ACCIDENTS NOW BECAUSE MY ATTENTION HAS BEEN FOCUSED (MORE THAN A MOMENTARY GLANCE) ON FIGURING OUT HOW FAST I AM GOING. THE SPEEDOMETER IS SO DARK, IN FACT, I HAVE GIVEN UP WORRYING ABOUT HOW FAST I'M GOING MOST TIMES, WHICH IS STILL UNSAFE. *TR

IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE 2014 MODEL BECAUSE YAMAHA TINTED THE GLASS ON THE LENS TOO MUCH. IT CAN ONLY BE READ IF THE SUN IS OUT AND DIRECTLY BEHIND YOU, OR AT NIGHT WHEN THE BACKLIGHT CAN BE SEEN. THIS CREATES AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE RIDING SITUATION. YAMAHA CORRECTED THE LENS ON THE 2015 MODEL, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE ON THE 2014 MODELS. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY CANNOT BE SEEN UNLESS IT IS DARK OR SUN IS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE BIKE. IF SUN IS OVER, TO SIDE OR BEHIND, THE GLASS IS BLACK AND VITAL INFORMATION CANNOT BE SEEN. *TR

UNLESS THE SUN IS DIRECTLY BEHIND RIDER OR NIGHT TIME, SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE. *TR

WITH THE SUN SHINING THE SPEEDOMETER TURNS COMPLETELY BLACK MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ YOUR SPEED! *TR

THE YAMAHA STAR BOLT SPEEDOMETER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS. THAT IS, WITH A BRIGHT SUN OVERHEAD. THE POLARIZED GLASS IN THE LCD READOUT BECOMES BLACK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH SCHOOL ZONES. AT TIMES, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE DISPLAY AND CAN CAUSE ME TO DRIVE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ENCROACHING ON THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN. OTHER TIMES, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER, RESULTING IN A TAILGATING SITUATION WITH OTHER AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS WHO THINK I'M GOING SLOW ON PURPOSE WHEN IN REALITY, I'M TRYING TO SAFELY NEGOTIATE THE ROAD AT THE CORRECT POSTED SPEED LIMIT AND HAVING TO USE MY 'GUT' FEELING RATHER THAN A CALIBRATED, USEFUL INSTRUMENT (THE SPEEDOMETER). YAMAHA, FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED OVER IT. RECALL, NOT AN UPGRADE AS YOU'VE INDICATED THROUGH THE STAR MOTORCYCLES HOTLINE (800.656.7695). YOU'RE HIDING BEHIND WORDS. I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE CALLED YOU AND THAT WAS YOUR EXPLANATION. *TR

THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER ON THE 2014 BOLT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ UNDER CERTAIN LIGHT. I CONTACTED YAMAHA TO ASK ABOUT THIS AFTER READING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS AND SEEING THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE 2015 MODEL AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE 2014 SPEEDOMETER, THEY KNOW IT CAN BE HARD TO READ IN CERTAIN LIGHT BUT THEY DON'T CONSIDER THAT A SAFETY HAZARD OR DEFECT. I BELIEVE NOT BEING ABLE TO TELL MY CURRENT SPEED IS A DEFECT CONSIDERING THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT A SPEEDOMETER IS DESIGNED TO DO. ALSO, IT CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT LEAVES YOU LOOKING DOWN AT YOUR SPEEDOMETER LONGER INSTEAD OF WATCHING WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU. *TR

DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO READ, ESPECIALLY WHEN USING BRIGHT HIGH VISIBILITY HELMETS. SPEEDOMETER CAN BE IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN BRIGHT LIGHT FROM GLARE AND REFLECTION. HAZARD IS DANGEROUS TO RIDER AS YOU WOULD NEED TO COVER IT WITH YOUR HAND TO SEE, MEANING STEERING WITH ONLY 1 HAND. I HAVE BOUGHT THE SHADE ACCESSORY YAMAHA MAKES FOR THIS MODEL AND IT DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS FOR A NEW RIDER SUCH AS MYSELF BUT THIS DEFECT PUTS ALL RIDERS LIVES AT RISK AS THEY CANNOT CLEARLY SEE THEIR SPEED OF TRAVEL. I HAVE MISJUDGED MY SPEED ON THE FREEWAY, IN TURNS, IN BUSY BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. *TR

SPEEDOMETER IS VERY HARD TO READ IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENT OR SPEED VIOLATIONS. NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. ALSO, YAMAHA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE ON THE 2015 MODELS A SELLING POINT IS "NEW SPEEDOMETER TO CORRECT 2014 GLARE ISSUES." WHY WOULD THEY NEED TO FIX IT IF THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *TR

THE OEM SPEEDOMETER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN DAYLIGHT. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE BIKE GOES BLACK IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND YOU CANNOT READ IT AT ALL. *TR

THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER ON THIS MOTORCYCLE IS UNREADABLE UNDER CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS. ANGLED SUNLIGHT (MORNING, EVENING WHEN LIGHT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE) CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER READOUT IS UNREADABLE. THE ONLY METHOD OF MEASURING SPEED IS BY SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MOTORCYCLE DRIVERS, ESPECIALLY ON EXPRESSWAYS AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT CHANGES BY LOCATION. *JS

THE DIGITAL LCD SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK YOUR SPEED OR ODOMETER READING. EXCESSIVE OR IMPROPER SPEEDS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO MONITOR SAFELY ENDANGERING THE RIDER, THE OTHER DRIVERS THAT MAY BE INVOLVED IN ANY SPEED RELATED ACCIDENTS, AND THE PATROL OFFICERS ISSUING THE TICKET THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. YAMAHA HAS INDIRECTLY ADMITTED THE DEFAULT BY REPLACING THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE 2015 MODELS WITH A READABLE ONE. MY GREATEST CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT THIS A ENTRY LEVEL, AFFORDABLE MOTORCYCLE THAT MANY INEXPERIENCED RIDERS HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED. AN INEXPERIENCED RIDER OFTEN HAS DIFFICULTY GAUGING THE PROPER SPEEDS FOR CURVES AND WET CONDITIONS UNTIL THEY GAIN THE PROPER EXPERIENCE. THEY TEND TO RELY ON THE SPEEDOMETER BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT YET DEVELOPED A FEEL FOR RIDING. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE FAULTY SPEEDOMETER IS GOING TO COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. *TR

THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT PERFORM AS NEEDED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO OPERATOR. ILLUMINATION OF SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY IS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH DURING TIMES OF DAY WHERE SUNLIGHT IS BRIGHT. THE SPEEDOMETER IS A DIGITAL DISPLAY BEHIND GLASS THAT APPEARS TO BE TINTED. NO METHOD FOR OPERATOR TO ADJUST OR ANY AUTOMATIC MEANS OF ADJUSTMENT OF READOUT FOR CONDITIONS EXISTS. OPERATORS ARE AT RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READOUT CANNOT BE READ TO ADJUST THEIR SPEED TO RECOMMENDED SPEEDS POSTED TO SAFELY NAVIGATE DANGEROUS ROADS, RAMPS, CURVES, ROUGH ROAD AND OTHER CONDITIONS. MANY OTHER CONDITIONS EXIST WHERE THE IMPORTANCE FOR OPERATORS TO TRAVEL AT SAFE POSTED SPEEDS IS PARAMOUNT FOR THE OPERATOR'S AND OR THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH AND SAFETY. BECAUSE THIS SPEEDOMETER CANNOT BE READ IT PUTS THE OPERATOR AND THE PUBLIC AT RISK. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN SUNLIGHT. I SAW A POLICE OFFICER LOOKING FOR PEOPLE SPEEDING AND I COULDN'T TELL WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING!! I HAD TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL NOW!!! *TR

YAMAHA DESIGN FLAW IN SPEEDOMETER. CANNOT BE SEEN IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. CAN PUT RIDER IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS TRYING TO SEE WHAT SPEED THAT ARE TRAVELING. YAMAHA HAS UPGRADED THE METER FOR THE 2015 MODELS BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE 2014 MODEL OWNERS. *TR

COULD NOT SEE SPEEDO, SUN LIGHT GLARE ON SPEEDO LENS, UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING.. NOT SO MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE BUT COME IN HANDY WHEN FOLLOWING STATE LAWS. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY ON THIS BIKE COMPLETELY WASHES OUT IN THE BRIGHT SUN MAKING IT HARD TO SEE THE SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING. WITH ADDITION IN NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER YOU HAVE ISSUES SEEING ANY INDICATOR LIGHT (BLINKER, FUEL LIGHT ETC..) THIS COMPLAINT COMES FROM ALL YAMAHA BOLT OWNERS. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY ON THIS BIKE COMPLETELY WASHES OUT IN THE BRIGHT SUN MAKING IT HARD TO SEE THE SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING. WITH ADDITION IN NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER YOU HAVE ISSUES SEEING ANY INDICATOR LIGHT (BLINKER, FUEL LIGHT ETC..) THIS COMPLAINT COMES FROM ALL YAMAHA BOLT OWNERS. *TR

SPEEDOMETER IS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ. REQUIRES TILTING MY HEAD UP OR DOWN AND/OR LEANING FORWARD OR BACK TO BE ABLE TO READ EVERY TIME, REGARDLESS OF SUN ORIENTATION. TURN SIGNALS AND THE ODOMETER HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS ISSUE REQUIRES THAT I TAKE MY EYES AND CONCENTRATION OFF OF DRIVING TO BE ABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER. THE ISSUE IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES AS I ALWAYS DO WHEN RIDING. THIS IS MADE EVEN WORSE BY MY HELMET'S BUILT IN VISOR WHICH I USE OCCASIONALLY. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER IS DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT TO SEE IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THE READ OUT ON THE SPEEDOMETER IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN RIDING WITH THE SUN BEHIND ME. IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ WITH THE SUN IN FRONT OF ME. THESE ARE AFTERNOON AND MORNING ISSUES. IT'S NOT BAD AT MID-DAY. ALSO, THE REFLECTION FROM THE SPEEDOMETER BEZEL TEMPORARILY "BLINDED" ME ONE DAY. BASICALLY I HAD STARED INTO THE SUN WHILE RIDING A MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. WHOEVER DESIGNED THIS THING SHOULD BE FIRED FROM YAMAHA. YAMAHA SHOULD CORRECT THESE FLAWS AND ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS BLINDED AND CRASHES. I'M NOT ASKING FOR A FANCY UPGRADE. JUST A SPEEDOMETER I CAN READ WHILE RIDING WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT BEING BLINDED. GUESS I'LL JUST KEEPING RIDING BY FEEL FOR NOW. *TR