Yamaha XSR 900

The island's test lap was exactly 230 kilometers long, and a brunch at lunch was the first opportunity to share your impressions of this new Yamaha motorcycle. Unlike sleepy and gray winter Europe, the island, which is just a few steps from the West African coast and formally belongs to Spain, was sunny and warm. It blows. But the thought of the XSR 900, Yamaha's new motorcycle, that flashed through my head, didn't go away. Last night, Yamaha introduced us to the new car with Shun Miyazawa, product manager and arrow maker for the Japanese brand's retro motorcycles, the engineers who developed it, and the guys from the GK design house who drew the XSR 900. Brought by Valentino Rossi. to the stage at the Yamaha presentation in Milan. Um, what does this tell you?

Swift sons of their fathers

The XSR 900 is the new member of Yamaha's Faster Sons (Quick Sons) family, which Yamaha gave birth to as a tribute to its fathers. The segment of these retro motorcycles has been called a sporting heritage and combines a colorful range such as the V-Max, XV 950, XJR 1300, XSR 700 and XSR 900. three to multi-cylinder. The XSR 900 is a continuation of the recently introduced two-cylinder XSR 700, modeled after the nostalgic XS 650, and a new larger model based on the 750 three-cylinder XS 850/1976. They started in 2010 in the Yard Built project. So over the years they have collaborated with Deus, Ronald Sands, Sheena Kimura, the Dutch Wrenchmonkees and more. Well, while the predecessor of the XSR 700 collaborated with Japanese custom scene icon Shinho Kimura, American golden boy Roland Sands helped birth the XSR 900. He built the three-cylinder Faster Wasp concept motorcycle during the ideation phase and later, when he confirmed the intended direction of the motorcycle's appearance. Its inspiration came from a yellow 750-cubic-foot Yamaha two-stroke from the '60s that "king" Kenny Roberts invincibly blamed on the tracks. Yellow is also the color of Yamaha's XNUMXth Anniversary this year.

I symbolize

The Faster Wasp was the basis upon which the Japanese design house GK, with whom Yamaha also collaborates, drew the XSR 900 and placed the motor heart with an improved and lighter clutch like the MT-09 in an aluminum frame. Thus, the XSR 900 is exactly what the Faster sons concept really means: a tribute to the past with modern technology. Yeah Al, that sounds pretty crap to me. Looks like BT doesn't suit me either. But be careful, it just reminds me. Thus, the center section of the motorcycle is a die-cast aluminum frame, on which an easily removable 14-liter fuel tank is mounted, and at the bottom of the frame is a three-cylinder unit. The equipment shows attention to detail and, depending on the type of motorcycle, a significant use of aluminium. The seat is of high quality, two-level, in the spirit of a motorcycle, in a classic design, a transparent digital counter with modern technology is hidden. We've heard comments about thinking about using this part now, and now about this part, and Shun laughs in satisfaction and says that the set of accessories, which currently has about 40 pieces, is designed for just such tasks. The motorcycle can be upgraded / changed / assembled according to your desire. So the All Rounder concept offers tool bag-style textile side pouches, a smaller guard, fridge guard, a different exhaust system, and more.

Up, turn, then straight

So the look of this bike is a little misleading. Although this is a classic motorcycle, it is not a classic motorcycle, especially in terms of performance. Yes, performance and a classic look. “The Japanese have a problem with that,” says Shun (see also AM Interview #5). “For a Japanese engineer, a measurable goal is clear, he will try to achieve and overcome it, but when he is faced with the task of looking into the past, he has a problem, because, in his opinion, this means only a step back.” Yamaha is so thorough in bringing new classic retro motorcycles to the market.

When I hop on the XSR and bring it back to life, the 850cc car. Cm, capable of developing 115 "horsepower", emits a high-pitched sound so typical of a three-cylinder engine. Heh, it looks a bit like a two-stroke buzzer (reminiscent of Roberts' car, maybe?), But most of all, like two-stroke cars, it likes to rotate in a larger range. Anyone who sits on the MT-09 is familiar with the environment: the seat is 15 millimeters higher than the ground, and the driver sits five centimeters further due to the longer fuel tank. But still upright enough to feel on a motorcycle. The shape of the quilted seat is different, with several rounded lines. As a rule, they are typical of the entire motorcycle, be it a round headlight, a taillight, a Euro 4 exhaust system and small parts. The headlights and taillights are family-owned, as they are the same as the XSR 700, XV 950 and XJR 1300. He is tempted to walk up to the rider and even ask him something. "

In order for the XSR 900 to react in a specific way, it only takes a short throttle movement. In fast mountain corners, I preferred to ride in fifth gear and therefore at higher revs. However, sufficient torque means it can easily get out of a corner, even in top gear. The four-piston brakes are great, as is the adjustable suspension. On such a road it does not seem an exaggeration, there is an abyss on the right, a mountain on the left. But you know what: when you feel how well the tires are holding, the bike is still in a corner, and when the front wheel constantly rises up as you accelerate out of a corner, you start having fun! And you can really have fun with this bike. The driving position is simple, just right, so that the air waves do not blow too much into the chest and so that the heads shake here and there at a speed of about 170 kilometers per hour.

Yes, XSR I have tech desserts too. Drive wheel slip control is already one of these and can be set to higher or lower sensitivity, or turned off completely. All you have to do is press a switch on the steering wheel, so there is no need to stop and turn off the car. But that's not all: depending on the area where you are, you can also set the operating mode of the unit with the D-mode system. With the switch and program A, the driver can choose a sharper response, if he wants a smoother and less agile operation, he can switch to program B, the compromise is the choice of the standard program.

Modernity with the past

The XSR 900 is a machine of today, based on the ideas of the past. Together with the motorcycle itself, Yamaha launched a real retro story. From clothing, motorcycle accessories to attitudes towards motorsport. There were no ties or three-piece suits at the presentation of the XSR 900. Even the bosses didn't wear them. In the background were beards, caps, jeans, T-shirts with retro motifs and rock music. The XSR 900 is proof that the nostalgic motorcycle scene is even more interesting and exciting, even if it's not about hitting or exceeding cosmic technical targets. With modern technical accessories, this simply means pure pleasure. That's the point, isn't it?!