Yamaha Bolt XV950R (2014-present, including R-Spec and C-Spec) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals

This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Yamaha Bolt — Standard, R-Spec, and C-Spec, from 2014 to present. The Bolt is also known as the XVS950, or XVS950C or XVS950CU in the US, and as the XV950R in Europe.

The Yamaha Bolt was initially released in 2014 and continues to be produced today, in 2021. Even when it was released, it was an old-fashioned, back-to-basics motorcycle, intended to be a throwback that’s cheap and easy to customise. It has basic suspension, an air-cooled engine, a belt drive, and doesn’t have ABS standard (and not even as an option in most markets).

The Bolt is based around the same engine as seen in similar displacement Yamaha Star cruiser motorcycles. It’s a 942cc air-cooled SOHC V-twin. Power is put down via a 5-speed transmission and a belt drive.

The Yamaha Bolt comes in these variations:

  • R-Spec: Slightly up-rated piggyback reservoir shocks and cast alloy wheels
  • C-Spec: Clip-on handlebars

They both come in a variety of colours, depending on the year.

This maintenance schedule thus applies equally to the Yamaha Bolt, Yamaha Bolt C-Spec and Yamaha Bolt R-Spec from any year. The engine and drivetrain didn’t change.

In addition, the maintenance schedule has a lot in common with the Yamaha V Star 950. They share the same fundamentals, but have different engine tunes.

Originally published July 28, 2020, but significantly updated since.

This site has links for things like oil and spark plugs from which we earn a commission (which unfortunately nobody can save, not even us). If you appreciate this work, then please use those links. Thanks!

Yamaha Bolt Service Intervals

The Yamaha Bolt has different service intervals depending on the market.

  • US Maintenance Schedule — intervals of 4000 miles / 6000 km or 6 months
  • European/Asian maintenance schedule — service intervals of 10000 km (6000 miles) or 12 months

Some other items have similar intervals, but they’re not quite the same. See here for more information about how the metric and US maintenance schedules for Yamaha motorcycles differ.

Regardless, at every service interval, change the oil and oil filter, and do a series of checks on the engine, looking for leaks, worn components, and parts in need of lubrication.

The major valve clearance service interval comes at either 16000 miles in the US or 20000 km in Europe or elsewhere.

Since the Bolt has an air-cooled engine, there’s no coolant to change. And the belt does require inspection for tension but is relatively low-maintenance compared to a chain.

What you need to service the Yamaha Bolt

If you’re servicing the Yamaha Bolt, you at least need motorcycle maintenance tools — things like an oil catch pan, a paddock stand, and so on. (Though you don’t need anything to maintain the chain… because there isn’t one!)

For the Yamaha Bolt’s engine, the manual recommends the following specific consumables.

PartYamaha 950 engine spec
OilYamalube 10W-40 or Yamalube 10W-50 for high ambient heat ranges (up to 120F/50C). You need 4 L (about a US gallon). Don’t over-torque the bolt (spec is 43 Nm/31 lb-ft for the oil drain bolt per the manual) — use a torque wrench if you don’t have experience with how much torque is enough.
Oil filterNeeds to be changed every time you change the oil. Either get a stock one (part 5GH-13440-50-00, used for many Yamaha products) or the K&N KN-204-1. Torque for the oil filter is 17 Nm/12 lb-ft.
Spark PlugsNGK CPR7EA-9. This is what the manual and mechanics suggest. Make sure it’s gapped correctly to 0.8-0.9mm (get a gapping tool) and torqued to 13 Nm / 10 lb-ft.
Air filterYamaha part number for the OEM air filter is 3D8-14451-00-00. You can also get the K&N equivalent, YA-1307.
Brake padsOEM brake pads are 5S7-W0045-00 for the front and 3D8-25806-00-00 for the rear.

You can also use EBC HH pads for extra life and better brake feel. For front use EBC FA179HH and for rear use EBC FA319/2HH.
Belt tension toolYou use this tool to make sure that the belt has the appropriate tension. The same tool can be used for pretty much every belt-driven motorcycle.
Brake fluidYou need DOT 4 brake fluid to service the brake system.
Oil, filters, coolant, plugs, and brake pads for the V-Star 950 and Bolt

Yamaha Bolt Maintenance Schedule

Below is the maintenance schedule for the Yamaha Bolt. There are two maintenance schedules, one for the US and the one for Europe/Australia/Asia/New Zealand etc.

We’ve separated out the maintenance schedule into two parts:

  1. The recurring service schedule of major items, like oil, spark plugs, and valves, and
  2. The standard “inspection checklist” to do at every service.

Notes

  • For higher mileage, continue this maintenance schedule in the pattern indicated.
  • Don’t clean the air filter with compressed air, to avoid damaging it.

Yamaha Bolt — US Service Schedule

Below is the US maintenance schedule for the Yamaha Bolt with 4000 mile / 6000 km or 6 month intervals

See further below for the Europe schedule in kilometres.

mi x 10000.648121620
km x 10001713192531
Months1612182430Every
Perform standard service checklist (see below)
* Not all items required at break-in
✓*
[Dealers] Perform dynamic inspection using Yamaha diagnostic tool. Check the error codes.
Change engine oil while engine warm (Yamalube 10W-40)
Replace oil filter (HF204RC)
Check spark plug condition. Adjust gap and clean. Replace
Replace the spark plug (CPR7EA-9)
Check and adjust valve clearances✓*16000 mi / 25000 km
* No time interval
Replace air filter (YA-1307)24000 mi / 37000 km, or more often if riding in dust/rain
Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4) and rubber parts of brake master cylinder and calipers.2 years
Replace brake hoses4 years
Check clutch operation. Adjust or replace cable.
Check wheels for damage.
Check wheel bearings for smooth operation.
Check steering bearing assemblies for looseness.
Moderately repack steering bearings with lithium soap-based grease.12000 mi / 19000 km
Check swingarm pivot bearing operation and for excessive play.
Moderately repack swingarm pivot bearing with lithium soap-based grease.32000 mi / 50000 km
Check evap control system for damage. Replace if necessary.
Yamaha Bolt / XV950 — US Service Schedule

Yamaha Bolt (XV950R) — Europe maintenance schedule (kilometres)

Below is the maintenance schedule for the Yamaha Bolt motorcycles from Europe.

Note that the maintenance intervals are every 10000 km or 6000 miles, or annual.

km x 1000110203040
mi x 10000.66121824Every
Perform standard service checklist (see below)
* Not all items required at break-in
✓*Year
[Dealers] Perform dynamic inspection using Yamaha diagnostic tool. Check the error codes.Year
Change engine oil while engine warm (Yamalube 10W-40)Year
Replace oil filter (HF204RC)
Check spark plug condition. Adjust gap and clean.
Replace the spark plug (CPR7EA-9)
Check and adjust valve clearance.
Replace brake hoses4 years
Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4) and rubber parts of brake master cylinder and calipers.2 years
Replace air filter (YA-1307)More often if riding in dust/rain
Check clutch operation. Adjust or replace cable.
Check wheels for damage. Replace if necessary.
Check wheel bearings for smooth operation. Replace if necessary.
Check swingarm pivot bearing operation and for excessive play.
Lubricate swingarm pivot bearing with lithium soap-based grease.50000 km
Check steering bearing assemblies for roughness and looseness.
Lubricate steering bearings with lithium soap-based grease.
Check evap control system for damage. Replace if necessary.
Yamaha Bolt / XV950 Service Schedule

Standard maintenance checklist

Below is the checklist of items to check on the Bolt at every service.

Note that only some of them are required at break-in — marked in the column on the right.

Standard service checklistRequired at break-in?
Adjust fuel injection synchronization
Check engine idle speed.
Check brake hoses for cracks or damage, and for correct routing and clamping.
Check front brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Replace brake pads if necessary (FA179HH)
Check rear brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Replace brake pads if necessary (FA319/2HH).
Check sidestand switch operation.
Check operation of front and rear brake switches.
Lubricate control cables with cable lubricant thoroughly.
Check lights, signals, and switch operation. Adjust headlight beam.
Check exhaust system for leakage. Tighten and/or replace gaskets as necessary.
Check throttle grip operation and free play, and adjust if necessary. Lubricate cable and grip housing.
Throttle free play: 4-6 mm
Check fuel hoses for cracks or damage.
Check tire tread depth and for damage. Check pressure and adjust.
Check all chassis fitting and fasteners for tightness.
Lubricate brake lever pivot shaft with silicone grease lightly.
Lubricate brake pedal, clutch lever, and shift pedal with lithium soap-based grease lightly.
Check sidestand operation. Apply lithium soap-based grease lightly.
Check front fork operation and for rust, damage, or oil leakage.
Check rear shock absorber operation and for rust, damage, or oil leakage.
Check crankcase breather hose for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary.
Yamaha Bolt standard service checklist

Drive belt maintenance

Yamaha recommends that every 2500 miles / 4000 km you service the belt.

  • Check belt condition and replace if it’s damaged.
  • Check belt tension / slack and adjust as necessary.
  • Make sure the rear wheel is aligned.

To check belt condition, check the belt for cracks, missing teeth, or other signs of wear.

To check the drive belt slack, follow the following steps.

  1. Put the vehicle on its side stand.
  2. Look through the belt check hole, and note the current position relative to the notch marks (which are 5mm apart)
  3. Apply 45 N / 10 lb of force with a belt tension tool and note the new position.
  4. Calculate the drive belt slack by subtracting the position of the belt.

Target belt deflection with 10 lb / 45 N of force: 6.0-8.0 mm (about 1.2 to 1.6 notches in the belt check hole)

If the belt tension is out, you need to adjust the belt tension.

To tighten the belt tension, you follow a similar procedure to adjusting drive chain tension on chain-driven motorcycles.

  1. Loosen the belt tension adjuster locknuts on either side of the swingarm at the rear.
  2. Loosen the rear axle bolt (no need to remove it).
  3. Adjust belt tension using the belt tension adjuster bolts. You only need to make small adjustments. Make sure you tighten them by the same amount on both sides, to keep belt alignment.
  4. Tighten the rear axle bolt (108 lb-ft / 146 Nm)
  5. Tighten the belt tension adjuster bolts.

About the Yamaha Bolt

2016 Yamaha Bolt XV950CR Anniversary edition
2016 Anniversary Edition Cafe

The Yamaha Bolt is a middleweight cruiser motorcycle from Yamaha. It’s still sold new in many markets, with a relatively old design that hasn’t been changed since inception.

The Bolt has a semi-modern air-cooled fuel-injected V-twin engine with 942cc of displacement. It has a single overhead cam design with 60 degrees separation and four valves per cylinder.

So the Bolt has some modern elements — fuel injection and four valves per cylinder — but is decidedly old-school with its air cooling!

The general platform of the Yamaha Bolt has powered a number of similar motorcycles from Yamaha, including the V Star 950 and the SCR950, neither of which is sold any more. In fact, Yamaha has mostly culled its cruiser offerings, sadly — the V Star brand once was a massive alternative to the Harley-Davidson brand.

The pistons in the Yamaha Bolt are driven with a very low 9.0:1 compression ratio. So, there’s a lot of room for improvement with different pistons and a hotter cam (and there’s just one cam per cylinder to hot up), though you might have to do some work to keep it cool, e.g., with an aftermarket oil cooler.

The Bolt is a simple but attractive machine (especially in R-Spec or C-Spec form), with a 2-into-1 exhaust pipe layout on the right side of the engine. It is meant to be a competitor to other sporty bobbers out there, like the Harley-Davidson Iron 883 or the Indian Scout.

But the Yamaha Bolt has developed its own aesthetic and isn’t trying too hard to be one of those motorcycles. It has a high degree of customizability — that’s what owners of the Bolt really enjoy, making it their own.

2017 Yamaha Bolt R-Spec- Stock Image
Yamaha Bolt R-Spec

Fundamentally, the equipment on the Bolt is very simple. The front brake is a single disc with a two-piston caliper. The front fork is a conventional (non-inverted) fork with a damping rod design. Neither of these scream performance, but they still are enough for simple urban cruising.

Basically, this isn’t a sport bike, but riders of the Bolt are likely looking for exactly this.

Reference — Manual for the Yamaha Bolt

The above information comes from the owner’s manual for a recent Yamaha Bolt, but with input from earlier maintenance schedules from manuals.

See how the US manual has 4000-mile (or 6000 km) service intervals.

A screenshot from the European maintenance schedule showing the different service intervals is below.

Yamaha Bolt XV950 maintenance schedule (Europe km)
Europe maintenance schedule – 10000 km intervals

You can download the manual from Yamaha’s website here.

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