Retro Speed: Yamaha XSR900 GP Hits Europe

[advrider]

Yamaha has once again morphed its CP3 engine (the big brother to the CP2 of the Tenere 700) into an interesting new model—and once again, it’s not for North America. Not yet, anyway.

Last week, Yamaha unveiled its new XSR900 GP streetbike in Europe. It’s an interesting mash-up of modern tech with retro styling, although you could perhaps argue about just how retro the styling is. Or rather, which decade it’s from.

This is supposed to be reminiscent of two-stroke factory racers of the 1980s and 1990s, says Yamaha:

With a look reminiscent of the YZR500 ridden to victory by iconic Yamaha racers in the ’80s and ’90s, the XSR900 GP is a celebration of Yamaha’s racing pedigree like never seen before. The YZR Grand Prix racer inspired front fairing and seat hump evoke memories of the Golden Era of Grand Prix racing – a true tribute to some of the most iconic race bikes of Yamaha’s past.

If that’s the case, where is the lower fairing bodywork? The half-fairing looks a bit more like something you’d find on a Seca II. Or at least, that’s my take…

Whatever the case, it’s a change in direction for Yamaha, which has basically ignored the retro angle in favor of the insectoid-shaped “Dark Side Of Japan”machines of the past decade.

Mechanically speaking, this has the same 117 hp at 10,000 rpm and 68 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm that you get from the XSR900. The GP also comes with a quickshifter and slip/assist clutch. Cruise control is standard. Of course you will get ABS and traction control and other safety gadgetry which is managed by a six-axis IMU. A 5.1-inch TFT gauge is standard. Yamaha’s spin-forged wheels come standard, along with high-mount clip-on bars, adjustable footpegs and fully-adjustable fork and shock from KYB. The rear subframe is different from the standard XSR900 as well. Wet weight is 440 lb. For 2024, Euro buyers have their choice of red or gray paint.

But at this point? American customers will just have to sit and wait for the model to be confirmed on this side of the Atlantic.

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