Yamaha calls their latest motorcycle, the 2016 Yamaha XSR900, a combination of modern engineering and neo-retro styling. And we’re not entirely sure where to categorize it. We’re leaning towards café racer with a little flat track bike thrown in. Whatever the case, this naked motorcycle just looks absolutely stunning.
Built on the popular FZ-09 naked sport bike platform, it gets the same 847cc three-cylinder engine that the company claims gives the bike an exciting, quick-revving, and torque-heavy character. It gets the full 115 horsepower, too, which should give the erstwhile fun-focused ride some serious racing capabilities.
The 2016 Yamaha XSR900 draws its styling from classic XS-series motorcycles, adapting a retro-influenced look that includes a hand-buffed aluminum fuel tank cover, teardrop-shaped mirrors, a large round headlight, exposed aluminum covers on the radiators, and aluminum stays on the front fender. It pairs the styling with sporty, all-purpose ergonomics that enables you to ride it upright around city traffic and hunkered down while speeding across a highway. The aluminum frame and swingarm on the FZ-09 reprise their roles here, with adjustable suspension both front (41mm fork) and rear (single shock) for an easily customizable ride.
Features include a six-speed transmission, adjustable traction control, adjustable throttle response, sportbike-spec brakes with ABS, and lightweight 10-spoke cast aluminum wheels. For instrumentation, it combines everything in a round instrument panel (seriously, everything from the tachometer to the D-Mode indicators to the range of trip computer functions) to keep all the information in a single accessible place. It weighs 430 pounds with a full tank of gas.
No pricing yet, but the 2016 Yamaha XSR900 will be available in February next year.