2013–2021 · Cruiser · Buyer's Guide
Pure Bobber, Honest Price
The XV 950 is built around stance first. A 942 cc air-cooled 60° V-twin sits out in plain sight, fed by belt final drive and wrapped in about as little bodywork as a cruiser can carry. Peak output is 52 hp, but the number that actually shapes this bike is 59 lb-ft arriving at 3,000 rpm. A 19-inch front wheel and a fat 16-inch rear set the bobber silhouette, and the 27.2 in seat drops you down between the wheels instead of perching you on top of them. At 545 lb wet, it carries its metal honestly.
It rides unhurried and pulls hard off idle, which is exactly the point at a two-lane pace. Air cooling, a five-speed box and a belt keep the service list short, and running costs stay genuinely low over years of ownership. This is the cruiser for a rider who wants the look and the mechanical beat without a heavyweight to wrestle in a parking lot. The honest caveat is range: 3.2 gal at 39 mpg means planning around 125 miles between fills. ABS was an option rather than standard kit, so check the specific bike in front of you.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 52 hp (38 kW) @ 5,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 59 lb-ft (80 Nm) @ 3,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 942 cc |
| Engine | 60° V-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 298 mm |
| Front tire | 100/90-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/80-16 |
| Seat height | 27.2 in (690 mm) |
| Wet weight | 545 lb (247 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.2 gal (12 L) |
| Top speed | 110 mph (177 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 39 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
Belt/pulley spline wear from overtightening
Some owners report premature wear of the transmission output splines and front pulley, believed to be caused by excessive belt tension set at the factory or during service. Symptoms include red or silver dust around the front pulley and abnormal belt wear. Loosening the belt can prevent or remedy the issue.
Where this Yamaha XV 950 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the XV 950 is actually built for.
You get the stance, the metal and the V-twin beat that the rally scene runs on, and it holds 70 mph on the interstate without drama. Just plan fuel stops early, because 3.2 gal goes fast in a group.
Made for Black Hills / Sturgis Rally Hub · A1A — Florida Atlantic Coast · Daytona Main Street / Bike Week
This is the closest fit on the list. Small-town two-lanes, an easy rhythm, real mechanical character, and low enough running costs that a long weekend costs almost nothing.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Honest answer: not your bike. A 3.2 gal tank, no cruise control and a five-speed geared for low-rpm cruising make big interstate days, loaded and two-up, harder work than they need to be.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
The Yamaha XV 950 also comes in these variants, models and special editions. Each has its own page covering only what differs from the standard XV 950 — equipment, electronics, specs and used price.
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Yamaha XV 950. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
