2017 Yamaha Scr950
2017 YAMAHA SCR950
IGNITION
FIRST RIDE
A strange all-’rounder that emphasizes fun
Blake Conner
Yamaha's product plan has been pretty impressive over the past five years. The tuning-fork company has done a great job creating new platforms and then building variations on them that appeal to a wide variety of buyers. Take the brand-new SCR950, for instance. This Bolt-based scrambler adopts an entirely new personality despite sharing much of that cruiser’s core components.
The SCR is one of those bikes you simply have to look past the spec sheet and just go ride, because on paper there’s little to suggest that it’s as fun as it actually is. Let’s start with the
engine: The Bolt-derived 942CC air-cooled twin has solutions borrowed from other models in Yamaha’s stable, like ceramiccomposite plated cylinders, roller rockers actuating four valves per cylinder, and twin-bore fuel injection. And while the mill won’t pull your shoulders out of their sockets, it has a broad spread of power, clean fueling, and intuitive throttle response that makes sliding the bike through corners in the dirt completely entertaining. On road, it’s enjoyable to just thrum along without rowing through the gears much. But if you really need to leap past another vehicle
in the passing lane, a quick downshift will make it happen without much fanfare.
The chassis is designed to offer light handling and competent around-town performance and actually did much better off highway than expected. No,
the SCR doesn’t have brakes or suspension to rival the Ducati Scrambler’s, but then again, the intention was all-around fun at an affordable price, not knockout performance.
On road, I was able to ride at an enjoyable clip, with the real limiting factors being the dual-purpose tires and basic suspension. The nonadjustable 41mm fork offers 4.7 inches of travel, while the preloadadjustable shocks provide just 2.8 inches. The ride was generally pretty good, but the combination of limited rear travel and firm saddle meant the damping quality was harsh when cruising lessthan-billiard-smooth roads. Off road, line choice was important to keep the suspension from bottoming out too nastily. But at a modest pace, it was enjoyable on gravel, aided quite a bit by predictable and stable handling manners thanks to relaxed frame geometry.
Like the suspension, the twinpiston pin-slide front brake caliper and 298mm wave rotor do the job but are a bit short on feel and power. Yet the positive spin on that is, on the dirt, the brake isn’t too grabby and allows you to manage front-wheel traction surprisingly well.
I immediately clicked with the riding position. The midmount foot controls and tall offroad-style handlebar put me in a comfortable and neutral riding position. My only complaints are the aforementioned seat, sometimes difficult-to-read instrument cluster, and the right-side air-filter housing that was in almost constant contact with the inside of my knee and managed to leave a bruise by the end of our aggressive riding day. An added bonus, the handlebar height of the SCR made standing off road easy
and comfortable.
There is no question that Yamaha nailed the classic scrambler styling despite the fact that the bike began as a cruiser. It even went the extra mile, fitting the SCR950 with steel fenders, number plates, and tank, which brings a material satisfaction to the bike
that is totally palpable.
Does the SCR950 live up to recent Yamaha hits like the FZ-09, FZ-07, and XSR900?
For its intended mission of delivering good all-around fun, yes. It’s one heck of a cool bike and the price makes it accessible to more riders. And we simply can’t argue against that.
2017 YAMAHA SCR950
Air-cooled, SOHC V-twin
DISPLACEMENT 942CC
32.7 in.
FUEL CAPACITY 3.2 gal.
547 lb.
$8699
