If you’ve ever wondered what the FZ-09 would look like as a café racer, the Yamaha XSR900 is it. Fresh off its EICMA debut, the 2016 Yamaha XSR900 is the Japanese brand’s attempt to build out its “sport-heritage” line. That is to say, it’s Yamaha’s attempt to appeal to the skinny jean and beard crowd.
That’s about all the hate we can muster for the Yamaha XSR900 though – probably because we used it all up earlier on the Yamaha MT-10 – but truthfully, Yamaha’s appeal to the “heritage demographic” feels a lot more genuine than say, a certain Italian brand that also debuted a hipster bike today.
The styling of the Yamaha XSR900 has been tastefully crafted by Roland Sands Design, and Yamaha has left enough technology in the XSR900 to keep it relevant in the modern conversation, but the Japanese brand has also left enough technology out in order to appeal to riders who want a more “simple” machine in their garage.
As such, the 2016 Yamaha XSR900 comes with traction control, ABS, and adjustable suspension; though it’s feature list is better itemized by the XSR900’s design elements, which play into Yamaha’s “Faster Sons” theme of motorcycle.
The chassis is straight off the Yamaha MT-09/FZ-09 motorcycle, with the three-cyllinder engine gaining a little volume for an even 850cc in cylinder displacement.
It might not be a motorcycle we would want to purchase, but it is certainly one we’d like to ride. Expect to see the 2016 Yamaha XSR900 coming to a dealership in the USA near you, with pricing to be announced in February 2016.
Source: Yamaha Motor Europe
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