Neo retro 2022, Yamaha XSR 900: bruises to the soul

Yesterday Sarron, today Quartararo, Yamaha is experiencing great contemporary sporting success and shows it with the new XSR 900, second generation, which takes up the technical basis of the new MT-09 2021.

For Yamaha, even at the end of the Covid-19 crisis, the period is much more euphoric than the atmosphere described in Françoise Sagan's novel... Yamaha has just won the title of MotoGP world champion which has eluded it since 2016 and Fabio Quartararo becomes the first French driver world champion in GP in the queen category.

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But Yamaha does not forget its glories of the past by highlighting Christian Sarron, world champion in 250 in 1984, on the new XSR 900. Christian largely contributed to the improvement of the Deltabox aluminum frame at Yamaha, according to the press release and people whisper in my ear that he also contributed to the resistance of the fairings during his career, but it's a friendly joke!

2022 therefore marks the renewal for the Yamaha XSR 900, the first model of which dates back to 2016. To simplify, an XSR 900 is an MT-09 reviewed with neo retro sauce or Faster Sons in the language of Iwata.

2022 Yamaha XSR 900: the key points

A revised design compared to the first generation of the XSR 900 from 2016

"Chosen" details and materialsTilted forward riding positionIconic XSR LED lightingRear LED lighting hidden under the seatA historic colorway, Yamaha GP 80s, for a modern style6-axis IMU with piloting aidsTraction control, control of glide and pitch controlVersatile high-torque 889cc EURO 5 CP3 engine (from MT-09)QSS, cruise control and power slipper clutch (A&S)Lightweight, die-cast aluminum Deltabox chassisLightweight SpinForged wheelsPremium suspension fully adjustable Twin 298mm front discs with Brembo master cylinderForged aluminum footpegsXSR900 specific low profile frame buckle, stowable passenger footpegs along the hullIntegral LED gaugesBar end mirrorsCut top yoke 15 liters with filler cap inspired by competition models

Not really classic like a Triumph Thruxton can be, the Yamaha XSR 900 is a neo retro trend with a modern technical base (MT-09)

The 889 cm3 CP3 makes the powder talk, it's tough on the nags and mkg side… A hell of an engine!

What a pleasure this photo of Christian Sarron, with a beautiful Yamaha GP from the 80s in the background! Subdued light and no sepia, beautiful diffused light… It's beautiful!

The on-board environment is modern, performance and buttons are too.

We do not know if it is Christian Sarron under the helmet... If Yamaha has the idea of ​​asking Christian to open the way for us for a press presentation, we will have to have our eyes open, because Mr. Sarron always knows how a motorbike.