Yamaha installed from factory a speedometer that is blatantly unreadable during daytime hours. The speedometer is simply too dim to contrast with the sun and poses a hazard when trying to read your current speed. As this bike is a daily driver for myself, I'm needing to look to the aftermarket to keep myself and others safe. Yamaha knows this is an issue given the 2015 model's new version. All 2014 bolts continue to suffer from this issue.
The worst 2014 Yamaha XVS950 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Electrical4
- Acceleration3
- Engine2
- Steering1
- Transmission1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical4
- Acceleration3
- Engine2
- Steering1
- Transmission1
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Technical service bulletins for the 2014 Yamaha XVS950 1
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
What 2014 Yamaha XVS950 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 yamaha xvs950. While driving 40-45 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the transmission was destroyed due to a design flaw. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 15,000. The VIN was invalid. *bf*jb consumer stated transmission failed suddenly, completely.
My concern is the death wobble the bike has when at speeds around 45 MPH.
The speedometer on my 2014 yamaha bolt motorcycle is almost indecipherable. It is difficult to see at night and totally washes out during the daytime. The engineers covered a low contrast black and gray digital display with a dark tint. This was an unnecessary addition and contributes to creating a dangerous situation for riders.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 yamaha xvs950. While driving approximately 40 MPH, a loud grinding noise was heard near the rear of the motorcycle. The contact pulled over and inspected the motorcycle and found that the drive belt pulley deteriorated on both sides of the motorcycle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was determined that the repairs were not covered. The contact, a certified mechanic, noticed that the drive axle and drive belt pulley needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000. Updated 01/25/17*lj carfax: VIN provided has no displayable records. Updated 7/5/18
The glass covering the speedometer is tinted and is so dark that reading the speed or other data is impossible while riding into, or tangentially, to the sun.
When riding into bright sunlight it is not possible to read the speedometer or odometer.
Speedometer cannot be read in sunlight, it is blacked out. It is dangerous as speed cannot be determined.
Purchased motorcycle on 12.6.13, on the drive home realized that the speedometer was unreadable. It was daylight, mid-day. Sun was bright. I was unable to read my speed. It's a digital indicator, with smoked lens. When researching reviews, the only complaint registered was the inability to see the speedometer readings. The company has to be aware of this, and should be required to make the necessary recall adjustments. Otherwise, this safety issue might not be corrected.
When driving during daylight hours the speedometer can become difficult, if not impossible to read. The added effort needed to get a speed reading distracts from operating a 2 wheeled vehicle creating a dangerous situation.
Compare the 2014 Yamaha XVS950
Other model years
Questions about the 2014 Yamaha XVS950
Is the 2014 Yamaha XVS950 reliable?
Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2014 Yamaha XVS950, 5.0 times a typical XVS950 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2014 Yamaha XVS950?
Electrical system, with 4 complaints, typically around 8 miles. Next is acceleration (3).
How many recalls does the 2014 Yamaha XVS950 have?
No recalls on record.
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