2014 Yamaha Bolt

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.

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 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.

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

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