At Yamaha, they envisioned the new Bulldog as a simplistic setter with a desire to amaze and impress with his naked appearance. Showcasing the muscle of the house's twin-cylinder unit mounted in a tubular steel frame further fuels the theory of (imagined) aggressiveness. The Bulldog is a kind of hybrid machine, the alchemical result of mixing already known ideas and techniques, so its pedigree is not entirely purebred.
Pedigree
The main culprits behind the Bulldog's birth are in Belgrade, Yamaha's Italian subsidiary, where the idea came from, so it's no surprise that they were modeled after the iconic Ducati Monster. The design composition, which sells very well, has been perfected by the creative Japanese with their proven techniques.
The proven 75-degree V-twin design with a displacement of 1063 cubic centimeters and 48 kW (65 hp) was borrowed from the sister custom model Drag Star 1100. Its technical solutions are two valves in the head, with gasoline vapors , powered by Mikuni steam carburetors) and performance isn't quite the pinnacle of twin-cylinder enginery, as it comes from a family of custom motorcycles.
But either way, it's designed to be a lazy cruiser that mostly boasts plenty of torque.
If you look at it analytically, the Bulldog is put together like a fun puzzle: let's say the front brake kit is standard from the house of Yamaha and their rocket, the super sporty R1 model, which when you press the brake lever shows complete confidence.
Also worth mentioning is the innovatively designed minimalist instrument panel, hidden behind a small windshield. The seal gives it a large analogue speedometer, which houses a compressed miniature tachometer in the lower right corner. It is complemented by poorly visible main warning lamps and a digital display (check) of the trip computer. The pair of exhaust pipes and aluminum rear end smell like Ducati.
On a walk
When I first see the Bulldog in person, I find his contours more pleasing than in photographs. There he looks (too) short and (too) tall, but in reality he is shorter and longer. When I sit on it, I have the feeling that in the deep interesting saddle-shaped seat I am drowning there under the unusually shaped fuel tank. At the same time, the seat cover, which likes to fold out, deserves criticism, so that when folded it can be torn along with the shoes.
