Motoring
How Yamaha created the ultimate sport heritage motorbike
The Japanese icon has delved into its racing foundations to create the XSR900 GP – a state-of-the-art modern motorbike housed in a retro 1980s-inspired package.
When buying a modern retro motorcycle, riders are generally faced with a choice between functionality and fleeting bursts of fun.
Most releases fall into the former camp, brands designing a bike that looks the part but lacks the soul of the original machine that inspired it; the performance-focused assistance and technology overriding the free spirit of a vintage bike.
It can of course go the other way though – a manufacturer creating a replica so wedded to a primitive, decades-old design that the result is practically unrideable.
Finding that balance between a nostalgic look and feel powered by modern machinery is a fine line to tread. But after eight years of work, Yamaha has managed it with the XSR900 GP.
The Japanese brand’s first fully-faired sport heritage model, it houses a state-of-the-art motorbike in a retro YZR500-inspired package, blending performance and panache like never before.
From Grand Prix-winning foundations to high-end rider assistant features, here’s how the Yamaha XSR900 GP is the ultimate modern retro motorcycle.
Born iconic
The XSR900 is inspired by the YZR500 that won 10 world championships
© Yamaha
Yamaha has a rich racing heritage. The Japanese brand has been a presence in MotoGP and its predecessor – the Grand Prix World Championship – for more than six decades, but it was the late 1970s when the manufacturer’s golden era truly kickstarted.
From Giacomo Agostini’s win in 1975 through to Kenny Roberts’ (1978-1980), Eddie Lawson’s (1984, 1986, 1988), and Wayne Rainey’s (1990-1992) respective hat-tricks of championships, this period was when Yamaha became the dominant force of the premier motorcycle class.
All 10 of these victories have another thing in common though – they were won aboard a Yamaha YZR500.
A pioneering machine that also picked up nine constructors championships between 1973-2002, the bike cemented Yamaha’s reputation as a brand that could compete with the best, and come out on top.
The boxy, colour-matched seat hump can be removed for pillion riding
© Yamaha
So when the Japanese manufacturer was looking to bring its first true modern retro sports bike – the XSR900 GP – to market, the YZR500 was an obvious inspiration.
You only have to look at the XSR900 GP to see its racing foundations. Its Legend Red livery evokes memories of Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey’s rides, with the yellow in homage to the number board requirements of the early 1990s.
It’s not just the livery though. Its upper fairing and separate knuckle guards are evocative of the 1980s machine, while its boxy rear end is completed with a colour-matched seat hump, which can be easily removed for pillion riding with a passenger.
All combine to create a bike that could easily be lining up on the grid beneath one of motorcycle racing’s icons.
Modern machine
The high-torque 890cc CP3 engine's roar will liven up any ride
© Yamaha
Despite its nostalgic looks, beneath the 1980s-inspired semi-fairing is an 890cc machine jammed full of the most pioneering performance features.
At its core is a Deltabox-style chassis – a frame first introduced on the Grand Prix bikes of the ‘80s that has been refined for the 21st century. Intended to provide a sportier ride with a racy on-bike positioning, the aluminium chassis has been tuned to boost turning stability and front-end feedback.
In the centre of the XSR900 GP’s light and agile frame sits the high-torque 890cc CP3 engine. The triple-cylinder design packs an addictive roar with every throttle twist but isn’t just made for track days and open roads. Its low-end torque is great at slow speeds too, allowing you to work your way through traffic with ease before letting rip.
This experience is enhanced courtesy of the latest in Yamaha technology. A third-generation Quick Shift System allows clutchless gear changes when downshifting and upshifting under acceleration; cruise control is fitted as standard; and an Assist and Slipper Clutch means you won’t be thrown out of shape if you select the wrong gear for the speed.
Confidence-inspiring control
The XSR900 GP's assistance, suspension and braking set-up aid control
© Yamaha
All of that raw power needs to be balanced by a suspension, braking system and assistance extras that don’t require world championship-winning credentials to stay in full control.
The high-end specialist KYB is in charge of suspension, pairing fully adjustable upside-down forks and a link-type rear suspension to optimise handling in the XSR900 GP’s sporty riding style.
This is aided by the newly designed clip-on handlebars and handlebar switches, which are fixed above the forks’ top yoke to move the rider further forward when riding – pairing precise handling with road-riding comfort.
Clip-on bars help with feel, while a 5" screen displays mid-ride essentials
© Yamaha
Twin four-piston front calipers boost confidence and control when cornering
© Yamaha
The brakes meanwhile see Brembo’s master cylinders paired with Advics calipers, while electronic assistance includes Lean Sensitive Traction Control and ABS, Slide Control, and front-wheel Lift Control System.
The latter are all controlled by the R1-derived 6-axis IMU, with Yamaha’s signature Ride Control enabling further refinement of the engine’s power characteristics and IMU’s interventions. Three pre-set riding modes – Sport, Street, and Rain – can be cycled through at the start of each ride, and there is a completely manually adjustable Custom setting for those who want to fine-tune and truly recreate a 1980s riding experience.
All can be finessed on the XSR900 GP’s five-inch full-colour TFT display, which is housed discretely within the retro-styled cockpit. When riding, you can opt for four different displays too – including an analogue-inspired tachometer – while smartphone linking via the MyRide app allows you to stay connected when riding and enriches every mile.
Book your Yamaha XSR900 GP test ride at yamaha-motor.eu