Each time we assume the motorbike business’s heritage section has reached its zenith, one other main producer cashes in and the cycle continues. This time it’s Yamaha’s flip, with the announcement of the remarkably provocative Yamaha XSR900 GP.
Yamaha doesn’t have as huge a variety of recent classics as, say, Triumph or Royal Enfield. However the Japanese marque has extra pores and skin within the sport than most. Their ‘Yard Constructed’ initiative is likely one of the greatest OEM-led customized construct applications round and has yielded quite a few top-shelf customized Yamahas through the years.
That’s most likely why the Yamaha XSR900 GP appears to be like extra like a high-quality customized construct than an OEM launch. Severely, simply have a look at it. From the fairing and tail bump to the pixel-perfect livery and tiny lights, this is likely one of the slickest—and boldest—manufacturing unit specials we’ve ever seen.
And if the XSR900 GP appears to be like acquainted to you, that’s as a result of Yamaha has proven it off earlier than. It’s basically a production-ready model of the gorgeous ‘DB40’ prototype that they revealed on the Goodwood Pageant of Velocity earlier this 12 months. Besides this one has recent paint, and all of the accouterments to make it street-legal (in most international locations a minimum of).
It’s not exhausting to see the place Yamaha acquired their inspiration. Since bagging its first premier-class motorbike racing title within the 70s with the legendary Giacomo Agostini, the producer went on to embed itself in racing historical past all through the 80s. With a historic roster that features ‘King’ Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, Max Biaggi, and Valentino Rossi, Yamaha’s racing pedigree is among the many finest.
Yamaha’s racing program additionally produced what would change into an indicator of their motorbike design—the long-lasting Yamaha Deltabox chassis. First used within the 1982 YZR500 OW61 Grand Prix race bike, it’s nonetheless used on a number of Yamaha bikes at present—together with the XSR900.
Yamaha’s philosophy when growing trendy classics is all about “respecting the origin, studying from the previous, and creating a greater machine for the modern-day rider.” So the XSR900 GP is extra of a recent homage to Yamaha’s Grand Prix racing heritage than a reproduction.
The XSR900 GP’s bodywork exhibits shades of the long-lasting Yamaha TZR250 and YZR500 OW01, with the identical boxy aesthetic that dominated the 80s and 90s. The eye to element is astounding, with seen fasteners alongside the aspect of the multi-part half-fairing, and a tiny rectangular LED headlight that just about feels unlawful.
Simply as a lot consideration has been given to the cockpit space. The XSR900 sheds its handlebars in favor of racy clip-ons, and its digital show has been relocated to tuck it proper up into the entrance of the fairing. Tubular fairing stays department out from in entrance of the gasoline tank, whereas the higher fairing keep bolts mimic these on the TZ250 and use a beta pin—one thing Yamaha hasn’t accomplished on a manufacturing bike earlier than.
A boxy cowl covers the XSR900’s passenger seat. It incorporates a slim bum cease pad on the entrance, and a pair of slits to disclose the brake mild on the again.
Nevertheless it’s the Yamaha XSR900 GP’s retina-searing livery that actually makes this manufacturing unit particular a knockout. The pink and white come straight from Wayne Rainey’s 1990 YZR500, punctuated by period-correct yellow ‘quantity boards,’ and silver finishes for the chassis and swingarm. Discover how the perimeters of the graphics run parallel to one another after which to the angle of the entrance fork?
Beneath all that luscious bodywork is an everyday XSR900… form of. Yamaha has tweaked the body and bolstered the swingarm, to match the sportier really feel supplied by the clip-ons. The clip-ons have been set increased than a devoted race bike, in order that the driving place isn’t too aggressive, and the bike additionally will get a barely thicker seat and adjustable foot controls.
The XSR900 GP additionally borrows its donor’s adjustable KYB suspension, Brembo entrance brakes, ABS braking, and a full set of digital rider aids. It will get new switchgear and bar-end mirrors although, and its rotary-forged aluminum wheels put on Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 rubber.
Powering the XSR900 GP is identical sensible 889 cc triple-cylinder mill as its stablemate. It’s a peach of a motor, with 117.4 hp and 93 Nm on faucet, and a throttle really feel that encourages spirited driving. Yamaha claims that the XSR900 GP boasts a better prime pace and higher acceleration although, because of the aerodynamic properties of its fairing, whereas the air ducts that flank the fairing serve to assist dissipate warmth from the radiator.
There’s no phrase on precisely when Yamaha will begin rolling the XSR900 GP out to sellers, however we do know just a few issues. You’ll be capable of get it in two colour schemes, ‘Legend Purple’ (pictured right here) and ‘Energy Gray.’ And also you’ll be capable of pay further for decrease fairings, a unique license plate holder, a tinted display screen, and an Akrapovič exhaust system.
It additionally doesn’t seem like a restricted version mannequin, which is sweet information. Nevertheless it hasn’t been introduced for the US but both—and contemplating that its tiny lights absolutely gained’t meet with US laws, we’re unsure if or when it would attain America.
One factor’s for certain—the Yamaha XSR900 GP is extra attractive than a manufacturing motorbike has any enterprise being. And contemplating that the bottom mannequin XSR900 is certainly one of our favourite trendy bikes, this one’s simply shot to the highest of our wishlist.
Supply: Yamaha Motor Europe
