I absolutely love the look of this bike, especially the blue colour scheme! Glad to hear the long swing arm makes this ride easier It’s a shame about the comfort on the seat, because I’m (in the minority here) a fan of how it looks!
I'm on that minority too 😅 I like the seat, but i think it would look better with a blue cover on the passenger seat. To make it look even more like the 80s sportbikes .
Blue and gold has always been a favorite color combo of mine. It's rare to see it on a vehicle, whether car or bike. I love the yellow gold front bars and champagne gold wheels. The gas tank frame and headlight are just enough retro for me. Looks clean without looking too old-timey for a younger rider. Just needs an exhaust!!!
Another point to mention, is how much lighter the XSR900 is than the competition: 20 kilos less than both the Z900 and Speed Twin and a whooping 30 kilos lighter than the BMW R nineT…
Well the XSR900/MT09 compete with the z900 and the Speed Triple, not the RS and the Speed Twin. The XSR is not retro... it's a naked version of another naked bike.
I got the magical text from the dealer (who has had my deposit for about 5months) saying the unboxing is this week and to come in.😀 If I’m 100% honest I’m not sure on the seat but the rest is pure joy. I’m upgrading from the XSR 700 so anyway I look at it it’ll be big step up and a whole lot of fun!
That seat! Everyone is talking about it, and I can understand why. Someone out there is definitely going to design an alternative aftermarket solution and lots of people are going to purchase it. As for it being retro, I don't really think so, I was around with the original xsr models (Yamaha xsr 250!) Just because it's not particularly modern looking doesn't really mean it's retro, it's just different. I own the previous model xsr 900 by the way.
There's nothing "retro" about this bike. Looks like a modern street fighter with an aftermarket headlight. I am not sure what people are seeing in this thing?
I have a 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS which Ive loved dearly the past 4 years. I looked hard at the 2018 XSR back then but felt it was lacking compared to the Z900rs and passed it over. However, if the 2022 XSR had been around in 2018 I might have chosen it over the Z900RS...or at least it would have been a much harder decision. The new XSR is a beautiful bike that really performs!
I've been dying to see this thing drop, finally! I'm planning on trading in my trusty Tracer 900 for something a little smaller/lighter. This and the MT are top of my list! I prefer the looks and longer swingarm of the XSR, but would definitely look to get a taller seat. Can't wait to get a demo ride! As always, great video!
I prefer the looks of the XSR over the MT-09, but it isn’t a great looker compared to the competition. And the reason to buy a retro is mainly the looks so it misses the mark I’m afraid.
They call speed triple rr retro. Just because it has a round light. This is way more retro than that and 40 years back (80's) it's a decent period of time.
I now feel wholly justified in ordering one back in March. Still a little wait until the July/August delivery dates, but I'm so glad videos like this are now emerging. Fantastic content and videography as always @motobob
i ordered mine in february. My dealer told me it would have been here for late may/june, but seeing how cars and bikes market state is...i'm not too sure it's gonna be on time lol
As always, excellent, objective review. I was glad to see you address the seat's comfortability because most other reviews simply dismiss it as fugly. Of all the metric bikes on the market, this is my favorite; I'm just a shaft or belt-driven loyalist and so won't buy. Keep up the great work! Happy for you that you're invited to all these sponsored events, and mad respect to you because you still keep things honest.
I'm not feeling your enthusiasm about this bike. Maybe it is that tractor size exhaust or huge delta box frame. The blue is great but it has too much junk in the trunk.
I don't get the MT exhaust. A "retro" remake without proper exhaust cans (1 on each side will be even better) is a big miss for me. The seat, I can see where they got the inspiration from.
They hopefully were able to keep the cost lower by keeping the exhaust the same as the mt09. I'd rather save money up front and buy my own exhaust setup
I have looked/listed to dozens of reviews on this bike, and I must say Bob, this has been the most through and comprehensive in just 9 minutes. Great job. The XSR900 will be my choice, I absolutely love this bike as an overall package. My minor complaints would be the shape of the instrument panel. O would have loved if they retained a circular format. The other bit would be the looks. It is a lovely bike but not quite as retro as it could have been. Certainly best bang for you buck and hopefully will maintain the Yamaha reliability reputation. I'm Certainly on board. Oh, a comfort seat option would have been nice. Ride safe peeps
Maaaan! I love how you're adding the b-roll and music to the videos, it makes it so much comfortable to watch! this is by far my favorutie motorcycle media brand!
I certainly prefer the styling of the Speed Twin, but the new XSR looks to me to be overall head & shoulders above the competition. And no one except Honda even comes close to Yamaha’s legendary reliability 😎.
I feel like they are targeting a different time on the "retro" timeline. While the majority of cafe racers are looking at the 50s/60s, this bike has a 80s design language imo. Definitely a unique style. Great review as always. Best moto channel on YT.
Personally I love the seat, the lines mimicking the sportbikes of the mid to late 80's that were out when I was falling in love with motorcycling. I'm excited to see what the aftermarket does with respect to a seat cowl to really amplify that classic FZR look.
This bike has lots of potential in the aftermarket. When deciding on the three choices at the time, the MT09 SP, Street Triple RS and finely settling for the Duke 890 R, if this model was out back then it would’ve been even a harder choice because I couldn’t stand the cyclops MT09 headlight! Then again people have a lot to say about the mantis looking 890😂
In my humble opinion it takes three modifications to make it a more marketable bike: an Acrapovic exhaust, a flat bench plus a half fairing as can be seen with the Kawa Z900RS Café.
That's a bikini fairing on the Kawa not a half fairing. But I get your point and totally agree. with those mods you mentioned it would look a whole lot better.
The back seat 'hump' would have made more sense to me if it integrated storage under the pillion seat - like a lot of bikes did from the 80's and 90's. No one does storage anymore!
Great video Coming from the 2014 Mt09 I was waiting for this one but recently purchased the 2022 z900rs café and I didn’t regret my purchase even with the lack of tech. This one is a little disappointment with the styling feels like they didn’t go far enough with the design and quality but sure it’ll be a blast on the road. Hopefully they’ll provide seat cowl like the R nine t. 👍🏽
In the same predicament here. Like this bike for tech and paint scheme. The paint also matches exactly with my blue car with gold wheels haha. But I can't find one near me and there's a dealer close by that's selling the 22' Z900RS Cafe for the same price as this. Probably going to pull the trigger this weekend. Are there any upgrades that you made to your bike?
It doesn't have to to look like too much retro tbh. Brands can took liberty to become creative even with so called retro looking bikes. It is still beautiful looking bike with retro touch and with great price. You can go with other bikes like triumph and kawasaki but because they stay with much more retro looks don't mean that everyone should do the same.
Its definitely an interesting addition to the market. I doubt a speed twin buyer will be looking at it nor probably a z900rs buyer either. Sits nearer the BMW on the design scale for me and leaning towards the neo cafe of the big Honda. I've saw another video where the guy took the seat off, there is nothing underneath it so should open up the possibilities for a totally new design. Personally I really like it, there has been quite a few new bikes that I have initially balked at but eventually liking and this another. Well done Yamaha for pushing the boat out a bit👍
Had the 2016 xsr traded it in for the 2022 xsr and couldn't be happier just love all the upgrades but wish they had done something about the fuel capacity and that's my only complaint just love it
@@eskemeldgaardkrogh4145 hey mate I'm getting around 240 but if I push a bit it drops dramatically and I push a lot so I'm getting around the 140 km range somtimes lol
@@geoffreypickup7545 Thank you for getting back to me. For commuting and touring, the range does seem a bit limiting. Personally, I’d prefer somewhere around 300 km when touring (that’s what I’ve seen from my bikes over the years). However, for fun and games, the range is really a non-issue… even at 140!
Needs a nice full Titanium exhaust pipe. 👍🏼 Seat can be changed. And I know I’ve said it before but damn can we get a XSR1000 already!? Love the styling on these bikes. CP4 + XSR = perfection.
I believe they hid all their electronics in there. So you can't really change it without completely reworking that, which is quite challenging. I think they wanted it to look clean but at what cost?
No there is another video of a guy with a black one where he removes the seat - it is completely flat underneath.... the seat has a large molded plastic hump that is hollow. Yamaha could do it , and have specifically decided not to.
Certainly prefer the looks of this bike compared to the MT09. As the owner of the previous model I still think that model looks better. Mine has the Velocity moto LC900 conversion. I'm guessing Velocity moto will need to develop a new styling kit for this bike. The CP3 engine is awesome
I've done about 2000 miles on mine so far. The seat seems to "bed in" somewhat, or perhaps you just get used to it. It was a literal pain in the ass at first, but recently I've done multiple 4h+ rides with no problems. Other than that, I'm still as impressed with the handling as I was on day 1. I added half a turn of rebound to the shock and now it's basically perfect for me. My only complaint is that the low-speed handling is pretty bad due to the long wheelbase, terrible steering lock and rough throttle resposponse below 2000. You get used to it, but it's definitely a challenge at times. Oh, also the ignition lock is just terrible on mine, constantly binding up and sticking. Might need to warranty that.
Not sure why this is a retro. Naked (and fugly) sure. But retro? I'd rather pootle along on a Honda CB1100 which seems to get forgotten in retro vids. It's gorgeous...and I'm pretty sure I'd love its silky vibes. Retros are for cruising after all.
I definitely agree that retro’s are about looks and cruising first, xsr900 is function over form- this bike will perform better when pushed- not everyone pushes, especially when they specifically bought a bike for style
Completely off topic, but man, that place brings back some fantastic Assassin's Creed vibes. I swear that was Monteriggioni at the beginning. It is in Tuscany, after all. Bike is OK, seat is fugly. Triumph and Kawasaki aren't losing any sleep over this.
I hope they release a XSR700 version. I really like the styling (and the seat height) of the new one but Im not sure if I can handle the power of it as first higher CC bike 🫣
I started on a Yamaha XJ600 back in the day and I'm certainly happy I didn't start on anything smaller. You can get into trouble on a 50 cc moped if you try hard enough - it's really all about how disciplined you are as a rider.
Great to hear your thoughts on it! Couldn't be happier with the engine myself aswell! Coming from the old Cp3 on my own bike, it was certainly impressive seeing how much of an improvement they managed give it especailly in the mid range power and torque band! I don't mind the seat to look at, but if i were to buy the bike, it would probably also be something that I'd look at getting changed or modifed in some way too.
i too hate the seat. heard the same from many other reviews on this bike. my favorite looking bike b/w the 4 retros mentioned is a tie b/w the kawasaki and triumph. i like the bmw but sat one once at the dealer and for me, feels awkward, like i am riding on top of a log. the last triumph felt a little too small for my 6'3" body while the kawasaki felt the best. have not driven any of these bikes and not seen the yamaha in person yet.
I give Yamaha credit for a bold redesign but for my money I’d go with the Triumph which gives you a lot for the money in regards to styling, quality and performance. Great video.
The Speed Twin is a rather small, as in short, bike. The Z900RS is a better fit for taller riders. What is outstanding on the Yamaha though is its engine and reliability.
I find Kawasaki Z900 RS perfectly blends the restro styling with the current day specs (I mean what goes into making a good engine, I don't care about the riding modes etc. that other bikes offer). I have been watching your review video of that bike like a kid inside a candy store.
Kawasaki looks really nice but I really don't get why is it a retro. It looks just like a normal Japanese budget bike. Nothing special. I would consider buying it though just because it's not showing off.
For young generation , it’s retro and there is nothing wrong to call it retro imo. Old folks only consider 70s and before retro. But time moves on…80s and 90s even early 2000s design can be retro…
It's just not a retro, you can't take that frame, bolt on some bits to fit around it in a vaguely "retro" style and call it retro. That frame should never be on show, it should be covered in modern plastics or behind a fairing. I've no doubt it's a cracking bike to ride as most Yamaha's are and it'll never break down but for me it's a major eyesore.
If you know your bikes ,you'd know it was a retro...a retro of a TZR250 3M-A Reverse Cylinder and the following 1990's model...33yrs ago, that's retro to me!
@@williamrae9954 I had a TZR 250 in 1992 in white and red and the tzr was a faired bike, I suppose if you'd ripped the fairing off and exposed all the shite underneath it would look vaguely similar...
Maybe we should stop thinking about this bike as a “retro” anything. Yamaha styled themselves right out of that game. I think of the new XRS as a really nice, reasonably priced UJM.
Honestly one of the few factory exhausts I’d leave. Love the sound of a triple. Would have to be careful looks like a front tire tread saver when you think no one’s looking
It looks good. Looks wise I prefer it to the MT-09 . Because I'm so fricking old ( early 50s !) maybe my definition of retro is more like the Speed Twin , of which my one is now 3 years old ! However I do love a good 120 degree triple (none of the T plane crank "vibro" crap for me) , and I'd like maybe Triumph to put a 1 litre ish triple , knocking out around 120 BHP, into something that looks like a Speed Twin. I would prefer a mono shock like the Z900RS. Then I'd probably swap in my Speed Twin and Speed Triple for just 1 bike ! ahh, and good review !
I love the seat reminds me of some of the best 80s racers . I f I buy one I’ll fabricate a fibreglass cowling to paint match to the tank and cover the pillion pad. Also swap out for a 7 inch round headlight or bikini fairing. Great base for further mods.
Great bike with a magnificent motor, but the only thing I could find that looked 'retro' on this bike is the front brake fluid reservoir. How about at least one of these, Yamaha: 3 into 2 (or 1) exhaust, twin round speedo and tach dials, dual shocks, a less chopped 'diagonal' gas tank, a flatter seat, and maybe a rear grab bar. Love that triple, though!
The seat is cool and different makes the bike look special overall, I wouldn’t change it. It’s the best one out the bunch a little retro a bike not to mess with aggressive looking not a granddaddy thingy like some others 😀
Could be my first bike just for the looks. Either this, a black MT-03, or a black R7. It'll be a daily driver for 5-10 minute small-town commutes to work and the gym.
Sure is something I like in either color although not a big fan of gold wheels on my bikes. Those passenger pegs are gonna snap not everyone’s missus is light in the saddle.
lovely bike still not sure about the looks though,being a a guy who's had gs 400's z 550's and sr 500's i'm used to the retro styling,at the moment for me,although it isn't bristling with tech i still like the moto guzzi v7/850
Personally I think it looks pretty good but pretty good doesn't cut it in the retro sport market. It looks a little to much like an amalgamation of several bikes and a little too modern to be truly retro. It's more in line with retro ispired bikes like the Z900 and CB1000. As a retro it doesn't stand up with the Beemer and the Triumph and as a retro inspired modern sport bike it can't stand with the Kawasaki or Honda CB1000 on looks. As something to actually ride though? if it's anything like its stable mate then I believe it's in a class of it's own.
Anything 80's should stay in the 80's, this bike's design included - and this comes from a lover of the XSR 900 since it came out, having had one for 6 years.
I've ordered mine in black sold my Ducati v4 Street fighter being an old git just wanted something more real world remember having a two four seat just like that back in the day of my Honda 400four 👍
I'm not a fan of the 2022 style (I own a 2017 XSR900) but the upgrades and the bike itself are fantastic. If I ever trade in my XSR900 it will be for a newer XSR900.
I currently own a 2016 Motto Guzzi V7II, 2015 Harley Super Low 1200T, 2020 Ktm 790 Adventure S and 2020 Harley Low Rider S. I am trying to sell my 2016 MG V7II and am trying to decide between the 2023/24 Ducati Scambler Icon or the Yamaha XSR900 to replace it. The thing I like about the Ducati is it's simplicity and its improvements. I like what I see of the Yamaha, but it is liquid cooled and not as retro looking as the Ducati.I like the light weight of both, for it would be my city bike. Both the Ducati and Yamaha have their pluses and negatives for my wants and needs. Decisions .... SIGH ........................................................... .
I think Yamaha miss a lot of design cues with this gen. I will always appreciate modern retro bikes, but this seems a little... off? I'm not a fan of how mixed the shapes are, so the tail light being a strip, the dash being a rectangle and the headlight being round. I think they should have just updated the dash from the XSR and kept that round shape. Obviously the seat is a sticking point and a bench seat would look a lot better, but the pillion pegs are probably some of the worst designed I have seen. They could have taken a leaf from Triumph's book with the Rocket's pillion pegs. I loved the review, your content is always amazing, but the bike doesn't match what I would expect
Love you content. Really enjoy your presenting style. Still having the same request, if you can review the F75pGS at some point, that would be amazing. On another note, among the retro segment or rather modern retro, which do you recon is most comfortable for two up?
Great video. I really like the bike. I'm with you on the seat. A separate single seat and rear section in the bike colour could work well here. BUT is it me (and i know its not just this bike) whether its retro or not why do we get still get the sticky up urine sample pots that come as brake reservoirs. Watch the on board footage and you're just drawn to it. Its worse than many others and spoils what would otherwise be a really clean bar setup. Why can't we just have an all-in-one unit. With sticky up mirrors you kind of get away with it but not with bar-ends, which makes me wonder if this originally was to have sticky up mirrors as there are blanked holes already.
A flat seat would look better. Visually, I like the old one better, but I don't doubt this bike is an improvement. I'd rather have the new MT-09. The footpegs on this XSR are very similar to the ones on my MT-01. Younger viewers will have to google it.
I said the same on another review of the XSR but it strikes me as Yamaha trying to pay a kinda modern homage to the RD350LC. Yes, about double the power but when you factor in the weight and modern standards of what is classed as sports level power, I'd say it's relative. However, with that deltabox frame it strikes me more like an FZR600 (with different engine config) with the fairing taken off and aftermarket seat unit / headlight. Tempting as a commuter / B-Road fun bike.
Biggest issue with after comparing it with my 17' XSR900... - The looks, like holy shit look at the tank and frame, it looks like a sportbike without the fairings, the seams on the tank make it look cheap unlike the previous XSR's faux tank which looks great. Its looks really bad, the seat looks good though, but I just cant unsee that it looks likr a faired bike with no fairings, least add like something on the sides like the neo retro CB650R and CB10000R Also that stock exhaust, holy shit its hideous.
I, on the other hand, love the nods to the sportsbikes of my youth... I'm just really hoping for some sort of a fairing and a seat cowl, to take it all the way there...
I absolutely love the look of this bike, especially the blue colour scheme!
Glad to hear the long swing arm makes this ride easier
It’s a shame about the comfort on the seat, because I’m (in the minority here) a fan of how it looks!
I'm on that minority too 😅
I like the seat, but i think it would look better with a blue cover on the passenger seat. To make it look even more like the 80s sportbikes .
In my view it will become a design classic, most people just dont realise this yet but they will given time.
I love it! Waiting for it to be delivered at the dealership
I think it looks great too
Blue and gold has always been a favorite color combo of mine. It's rare to see it on a vehicle, whether car or bike. I love the yellow gold front bars and champagne gold wheels. The gas tank frame and headlight are just enough retro for me. Looks clean without looking too old-timey for a younger rider. Just needs an exhaust!!!
Another point to mention, is how much lighter the XSR900 is than the competition: 20 kilos less than both the Z900 and Speed Twin and a whooping 30 kilos lighter than the BMW R nineT…
The xsr900 is for the wicked and tarnished.
The XSR 900 is for me--the Elden Lord.
Well the XSR900/MT09 compete with the z900 and the Speed Triple, not the RS and the Speed Twin. The XSR is not retro... it's a naked version of another naked bike.
I believe this bike with all the features at this price is a game changer!
I got the magical text from the dealer (who has had my deposit for about 5months) saying the unboxing is this week and to come in.😀
If I’m 100% honest I’m not sure on the seat but the rest is pure joy. I’m upgrading from the XSR 700 so anyway I look at it it’ll be big step up and a whole lot of fun!
That seat! Everyone is talking about it, and I can understand why. Someone out there is definitely going to design an alternative aftermarket solution and lots of people are going to purchase it. As for it being retro, I don't really think so, I was around with the original xsr models (Yamaha xsr 250!) Just because it's not particularly modern looking doesn't really mean it's retro, it's just different. I own the previous model xsr 900 by the way.
But there isn’t a replacement yet ..... why Yamaha?
There's nothing "retro" about this bike. Looks like a modern street fighter with an aftermarket headlight. I am not sure what people are seeing in this thing?
Z900RS still the best in fact it's so good am on my second one.
Looks, maybe.... but features & price? Not close
I have a 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS which Ive loved dearly the past 4 years. I looked hard at the 2018 XSR back then but felt it was lacking compared to the Z900rs and passed it over. However, if the 2022 XSR had been around in 2018 I might have chosen it over the Z900RS...or at least it would have been a much harder decision. The new XSR is a beautiful bike that really performs!
5:20 That yellow colour on the XSR looks gorgeous! Hope they release that solid yellow colour in the future
Yeah I thought that looks pretty great too
I've been dying to see this thing drop, finally! I'm planning on trading in my trusty Tracer 900 for something a little smaller/lighter. This and the MT are top of my list! I prefer the looks and longer swingarm of the XSR, but would definitely look to get a taller seat. Can't wait to get a demo ride! As always, great video!
As an owner of 2 small displacement Yamahas, I've got to say that I like this bike A LOT. Brilliant review my brother. 😉
The number one mod people do to their bikes is either fender eliminator or exhaust, with the 22 XSR is gonna be the seat 😂. Love this bike I want one
I prefer the looks of the XSR over the MT-09, but it isn’t a great looker compared to the competition. And the reason to buy a retro is mainly the looks so it misses the mark I’m afraid.
EXACTLY! this thing isnt retro. it is a good bike all by itself but i really wouldnt call it retro. not even close.
Absolutely
They call speed triple rr retro. Just because it has a round light. This is way more retro than that and 40 years back (80's) it's a decent period of time.
I love the look of the XSR900, except the seat ofc. Not retro BUT Neo Retro for sure.
True, not a retro at all. But way better looking than the MT-09. Still not a beauty though.
I now feel wholly justified in ordering one back in March. Still a little wait until the July/August delivery dates, but I'm so glad videos like this are now emerging. Fantastic content and videography as always @motobob
Enjoyyy mate! I’m very jealous
i ordered mine in february. My dealer told me it would have been here for late may/june, but seeing how cars and bikes market state is...i'm not too sure it's gonna be on time lol
Yamaha and BMW R9T, only have a retro style. Technically they are quite modern. Classic retro is Speed Twin or even T120.
R nineT is air/oil cooled at least
@@motobob Yes and that is all. R18 is more retro then R9T, but it is another class.
As always, excellent, objective review. I was glad to see you address the seat's comfortability because most other reviews simply dismiss it as fugly. Of all the metric bikes on the market, this is my favorite; I'm just a shaft or belt-driven loyalist and so won't buy. Keep up the great work! Happy for you that you're invited to all these sponsored events, and mad respect to you because you still keep things honest.
What's a "metric" bike? 😜
You mean anything but a Harley Davidson?
Those yellow rims are just 🤢🤮🤮🤮
This seat and lack of a flat seat available is pushing me to mt-09 when I buy something at the end of summer.
I love the way the seat looks
I'm not feeling your enthusiasm about this bike. Maybe it is that tractor size exhaust or huge delta box frame. The blue is great but it has too much junk in the trunk.
Its cuz of that weird ass pillion seat
I don't get the MT exhaust. A "retro" remake without proper exhaust cans (1 on each side will be even better) is a big miss for me. The seat, I can see where they got the inspiration from.
They hopefully were able to keep the cost lower by keeping the exhaust the same as the mt09. I'd rather save money up front and buy my own exhaust setup
The previous xsr looked really good but this looks like it needs a fairing to cover it up
I have looked/listed to dozens of reviews on this bike, and I must say Bob, this has been the most through and comprehensive in just 9 minutes. Great job. The XSR900 will be my choice, I absolutely love this bike as an overall package. My minor complaints would be the shape of the instrument panel. O would have loved if they retained a circular format. The other bit would be the looks. It is a lovely bike but not quite as retro as it could have been. Certainly best bang for you buck and hopefully will maintain the Yamaha reliability reputation. I'm Certainly on board. Oh, a comfort seat option would have been nice. Ride safe peeps
Maaaan! I love how you're adding the b-roll and music to the videos, it makes it so much comfortable to watch! this is by far my favorutie motorcycle media brand!
80s is becoming the new retro! Great review!
I certainly prefer the styling of the Speed Twin, but the new XSR looks to me to be overall head & shoulders above the competition. And no one except Honda even comes close to Yamaha’s legendary reliability 😎.
I would argue Kawasaki and Suzuki are generally just as reliable.
@@fyorbane And I'd argue Triumph were just the same ...Ive done almost 150,000 miles on Triumphs
over the past decade and never had a problem .
Would absolutely jump on a speed twin if it had a few extras (even as paid options) such as a quickshifter and cruise control
I love the look. The seat looks awesome with a tail tidy
I feel like they are targeting a different time on the "retro" timeline. While the majority of cafe racers are looking at the 50s/60s, this bike has a 80s design language imo. Definitely a unique style. Great review as always. Best moto channel on YT.
Personally I love the seat, the lines mimicking the sportbikes of the mid to late 80's that were out when I was falling in love with motorcycling. I'm excited to see what the aftermarket does with respect to a seat cowl to really amplify that classic FZR look.
Amazing review as usual Motobob. #1 channel on TH-cam without a doubt. The bulbus underslung exhaust and. tail end is super weird lol... why ...
This bike has lots of potential in the aftermarket. When deciding on the three choices at the time, the MT09 SP, Street Triple RS and finely settling for the Duke 890 R, if this model was out back then it would’ve been even a harder choice because I couldn’t stand the cyclops MT09 headlight! Then again people have a lot to say about the mantis looking 890😂
In my humble opinion it takes three modifications to make it a more marketable bike: an Acrapovic exhaust, a flat bench plus a half fairing as can be seen with the Kawa Z900RS Café.
That's a bikini fairing on the Kawa not a half fairing. But I get your point and totally agree. with those mods you mentioned it would look a whole lot better.
Been waiting for this review. In my mind this is the ultimate "retro" roadster. That motor pulls hard.
This one would look fantastic with one of those retro fairings
FINALLY… I’ve been waiting for this review!
The back seat 'hump' would have made more sense to me if it integrated storage under the pillion seat - like a lot of bikes did from the 80's and 90's. No one does storage anymore!
Great video
Coming from the 2014 Mt09 I was waiting for this one but recently purchased the 2022 z900rs café and I didn’t regret my purchase even with the lack of tech. This one is a little disappointment with the styling feels like they didn’t go far enough with the design and quality but sure it’ll be a blast on the road.
Hopefully they’ll provide seat cowl like the R nine t. 👍🏽
In the same predicament here. Like this bike for tech and paint scheme. The paint also matches exactly with my blue car with gold wheels haha.
But I can't find one near me and there's a dealer close by that's selling the 22' Z900RS Cafe for the same price as this. Probably going to pull the trigger this weekend. Are there any upgrades that you made to your bike?
It doesn't have to to look like too much retro tbh. Brands can took liberty to become creative even with so called retro looking bikes. It is still beautiful looking bike with retro touch and with great price. You can go with other bikes like triumph and kawasaki but because they stay with much more retro looks don't mean that everyone should do the same.
Well said
Can’t wait for this engine to be on the R9!
Thx mate finally a good bike performance. and all around review. Not just talking about looks.
Its definitely an interesting addition to the market. I doubt a speed twin buyer will be looking at it nor probably a z900rs buyer either. Sits nearer the BMW on the design scale for me and leaning towards the neo cafe of the big Honda. I've saw another video where the guy took the seat off, there is nothing underneath it so should open up the possibilities for a totally new design. Personally I really like it, there has been quite a few new bikes that I have initially balked at but eventually liking and this another. Well done Yamaha for pushing the boat out a bit👍
Had the 2016 xsr traded it in for the 2022 xsr and couldn't be happier just love all the upgrades but wish they had done something about the fuel capacity and that's my only complaint just love it
I agree, the 14 litre tank seems awfully small... What kind of range are you getting?
@@eskemeldgaardkrogh4145 hey mate I'm getting around 240 but if I push a bit it drops dramatically and I push a lot so I'm getting around the 140 km range somtimes lol
@@geoffreypickup7545 Thank you for getting back to me. For commuting and touring, the range does seem a bit limiting. Personally, I’d prefer somewhere around 300 km when touring (that’s what I’ve seen from my bikes over the years). However, for fun and games, the range is really a non-issue… even at 140!
Needs a nice full Titanium exhaust pipe. 👍🏼
Seat can be changed. And I know I’ve said it before but damn can we get a XSR1000 already!? Love the styling on these bikes. CP4 + XSR = perfection.
Can’t change that seat yet - can’t find anything.
I believe they hid all their electronics in there. So you can't really change it without completely reworking that, which is quite challenging.
I think they wanted it to look clean but at what cost?
No there is another video of a guy with a black one where he removes the seat - it is completely flat underneath.... the seat has a large molded plastic hump that is hollow. Yamaha could do it , and have specifically decided not to.
Certainly prefer the looks of this bike compared to the MT09. As the owner of the previous model I still think that model looks better. Mine has the Velocity moto LC900 conversion. I'm guessing Velocity moto will need to develop a new styling kit for this bike.
The CP3 engine is awesome
I wanted an MT-09 so bad and the looks slowly grew on me (but never fully). This is the option I'm going with. Looks so much better than 09
I've done about 2000 miles on mine so far. The seat seems to "bed in" somewhat, or perhaps you just get used to it. It was a literal pain in the ass at first, but recently I've done multiple 4h+ rides with no problems. Other than that, I'm still as impressed with the handling as I was on day 1. I added half a turn of rebound to the shock and now it's basically perfect for me. My only complaint is that the low-speed handling is pretty bad due to the long wheelbase, terrible steering lock and rough throttle resposponse below 2000. You get used to it, but it's definitely a challenge at times. Oh, also the ignition lock is just terrible on mine, constantly binding up and sticking. Might need to warranty that.
This review just got the XSR on my short list of future bikes
I bought one. Great bike around an epic engine. Find the suspension harsh, still working on setting it up.
I’m going for the xsr, waiting for the blue to be delivered at the dealership.
Not sure why this is a retro. Naked (and fugly) sure. But retro? I'd rather pootle along on a Honda CB1100 which seems to get forgotten in retro vids. It's gorgeous...and I'm pretty sure I'd love its silky vibes. Retros are for cruising after all.
Cb1100 looks cool but it’s a Honda so it’s automatically boring and less interesting (half kidding)
Well you can't buy them anymore in the UK, and I focus on new bikes. So that's why I miss them out! But I agree they're super cool :)
I definitely agree that retro’s are about looks and cruising first, xsr900 is function over form- this bike will perform better when pushed- not everyone pushes, especially when they specifically bought a bike for style
Completely off topic, but man, that place brings back some fantastic Assassin's Creed vibes. I swear that was Monteriggioni at the beginning. It is in Tuscany, after all.
Bike is OK, seat is fugly. Triumph and Kawasaki aren't losing any sleep over this.
I hope they release a XSR700 version. I really like the styling (and the seat height) of the new one but Im not sure if I can handle the power of it as first higher CC bike 🫣
I started on a Yamaha XJ600 back in the day and I'm certainly happy I didn't start on anything smaller. You can get into trouble on a 50 cc moped if you try hard enough - it's really all about how disciplined you are as a rider.
Great to hear your thoughts on it!
Couldn't be happier with the engine myself aswell! Coming from the old Cp3 on my own bike, it was certainly impressive seeing how much of an improvement they managed give it especailly in the mid range power and torque band!
I don't mind the seat to look at, but if i were to buy the bike, it would probably also be something that I'd look at getting changed or modifed in some way too.
The XSR 900 needs a plastic seat 💺 cowl same color blue as the gas tank, and it will look awesome 👌
i too hate the seat. heard the same from many other reviews on this bike. my favorite looking bike b/w the 4 retros mentioned is a tie b/w the kawasaki and triumph. i like the bmw but sat one once at the dealer and for me, feels awkward, like i am riding on top of a log. the last triumph felt a little too small for my 6'3" body while the kawasaki felt the best. have not driven any of these bikes and not seen the yamaha in person yet.
Just waiting for these to come to a dealership around me! Can't wait!
I give Yamaha credit for a bold redesign but for my money I’d go with the Triumph which gives you a lot for the money in regards to styling, quality and performance. Great video.
Did the same went with a T120 gold line, absolutely love it.
The Speed Twin is a rather small, as in short, bike. The Z900RS is a better fit for taller riders.
What is outstanding on the Yamaha though is its engine and reliability.
I find Kawasaki Z900 RS perfectly blends the restro styling with the current day specs (I mean what goes into making a good engine, I don't care about the riding modes etc. that other bikes offer). I have been watching your review video of that bike like a kid inside a candy store.
Kawasaki looks really nice but I really don't get why is it a retro. It looks just like a normal Japanese budget bike. Nothing special. I would consider buying it though just because it's not showing off.
Sold! Always been a Yamaha fan, and wanted a triple.......
For young generation , it’s retro and there is nothing wrong to call it retro imo. Old folks only consider 70s and before retro. But time moves on…80s and 90s even early 2000s design can be retro…
I’m on z900rs now but I would love black XSR900… whenever it ever come available here where I live.
If I were buying first thing is a tail tidy and swingarm plate mount then a solo seat. I'll keep my R9T but still nice and decent value for money.
It's just not a retro, you can't take that frame, bolt on some bits to fit around it in a vaguely "retro" style and call it retro. That frame should never be on show, it should be covered in modern plastics or behind a fairing. I've no doubt it's a cracking bike to ride as most Yamaha's are and it'll never break down but for me it's a major eyesore.
If you know your bikes ,you'd know it was a retro...a retro of a TZR250 3M-A Reverse Cylinder and the following 1990's model...33yrs ago, that's retro to me!
@@williamrae9954 I had a TZR 250 in 1992 in white and red and the tzr was a faired bike, I suppose if you'd ripped the fairing off and exposed all the shite underneath it would look vaguely similar...
@@twinwheels4717 Like a RD350N?
I guess it's Mom loves it
If they made a xsr1000 I'd trade in my mt10 in an instant
Maybe we should stop thinking about this bike as a “retro” anything. Yamaha styled themselves right out of that game. I think of the new XRS as a really nice, reasonably priced UJM.
A seat cowl would do a world of good to the new XSR… a half fairing would make it virtually irresistable!
Oof yes - that’d be awesome
Oof yes - that’d be awesome
Honestly one of the few factory exhausts I’d leave. Love the sound of a triple. Would have to be careful looks like a front tire tread saver when you think no one’s looking
Needs a rear seat cowel option
It looks good. Looks wise I prefer it to the MT-09 . Because I'm so fricking old ( early 50s !) maybe my definition of retro is more like the Speed Twin , of which my one is now 3 years old !
However I do love a good 120 degree triple (none of the T plane crank "vibro" crap for me) , and I'd like maybe Triumph to put a 1 litre ish triple , knocking out around 120 BHP, into something that looks like a Speed Twin. I would prefer a mono shock like the Z900RS. Then I'd probably swap in my Speed Twin and Speed Triple for just 1 bike !
ahh, and good review !
I love the seat reminds me of some of the best 80s racers . I f I buy one I’ll fabricate a fibreglass cowling to paint match to the tank and cover the pillion pad. Also swap out for a 7 inch round headlight or bikini fairing. Great base for further mods.
Great bike with a magnificent motor, but the only thing I could find that looked 'retro' on this bike is the front brake fluid reservoir. How about at least one of these, Yamaha: 3 into 2 (or 1) exhaust, twin round speedo and tach dials, dual shocks, a less chopped 'diagonal' gas tank, a flatter seat, and maybe a rear grab bar. Love that triple, though!
Agree that the seat spoils it completely, would def have to get rid of that, old model didn't have this!
The seat is cool and different makes the bike look special overall, I wouldn’t change it.
It’s the best one out the bunch a little retro a bike not to mess with aggressive looking not a granddaddy thingy like some others 😀
Still prefer z900RS
Looks maybe....but the XRS blows it away on just about everything else!
Not really in the same price range either
Could be my first bike just for the looks. Either this, a black MT-03, or a black R7. It'll be a daily driver for 5-10 minute small-town commutes to work and the gym.
Sure is something I like in either color although not a big fan of gold wheels on my bikes. Those passenger pegs are gonna snap not everyone’s missus is light in the saddle.
Hate the seat, looks like it's up to the aftermarket to fix that. Otherwise sounds like basically the perfect bike, I'm almost certainly getting one.
It's gawd awful looking
lovely bike still not sure about the looks though,being a a guy who's had gs 400's z 550's and sr 500's i'm used to the retro styling,at the moment for me,although it isn't bristling with tech i still like the moto guzzi v7/850
Fair and honest review! Question - If you could have only one bike, would you take this over the new Street Triple or keep the XSR?
Personally I think it looks pretty good but pretty good doesn't cut it in the retro sport market. It looks a little to much like an amalgamation of several bikes and a little too modern to be truly retro. It's more in line with retro ispired bikes like the Z900 and CB1000. As a retro it doesn't stand up with the Beemer and the Triumph and as a retro inspired modern sport bike it can't stand with the Kawasaki or Honda CB1000 on looks. As something to actually ride though? if it's anything like its stable mate then I believe it's in a class of it's own.
Anything 80's should stay in the 80's, this bike's design included - and this comes from a lover of the XSR 900 since it came out, having had one for 6 years.
I had the original 2016 in steel grey. The styling of the first models looked lovely. I do not like the look of this new model.
Me too
Great overview, thanks!!
That XSR 900 (in black please) 👍
Though in this market the Z900 RS is the one Id drop my cash on. 👍👍
Love the look of this bike it pushes the retro boundaries. Don’t love all the tech. I’ll be purchasing 2022 XSR700 with an Akrapovic exhaust.
Looking forward to the Tenere 900.
@MOTOBOB which one of them do you think is actually bearable for some two up small trip? z900rs? speed twin? bonnivile? or this one?
T120 is pretty comfortable two up, and decent power/torque
I've ordered mine in black sold my Ducati v4 Street fighter being an old git just wanted something more real world remember having a two four seat just like that back in the day of my Honda 400four 👍
I Love my BMW 2021 R850R. Dont mis the modern motors.
Agreed the seat is a styling error, when you compare with the perfect seat on the previous model.....
Yeh, the seat is the only thing putting me off from buying this. I live the style elsewhere and in black with gold wheels ❤️
That awkward seat throws me off!
Apparently it can be fitted with an after market flat bench seat much like the XSR700 has or even flatter!
I'm not a fan of the 2022 style (I own a 2017 XSR900) but the upgrades and the bike itself are fantastic. If I ever trade in my XSR900 it will be for a newer XSR900.
I currently own a 2016 Motto Guzzi V7II, 2015 Harley Super Low 1200T, 2020 Ktm 790 Adventure S and 2020 Harley Low Rider S. I am trying to sell my 2016 MG V7II and am trying to decide between the 2023/24 Ducati Scambler Icon or the Yamaha XSR900 to replace it. The thing I like about the Ducati is it's simplicity and its improvements. I like what I see of the Yamaha, but it is liquid cooled and not as retro looking as the Ducati.I like the light weight of both, for it would be my city bike. Both the Ducati and Yamaha have their pluses and negatives for my wants and needs. Decisions .... SIGH
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Nice review
I think Yamaha miss a lot of design cues with this gen. I will always appreciate modern retro bikes, but this seems a little... off? I'm not a fan of how mixed the shapes are, so the tail light being a strip, the dash being a rectangle and the headlight being round. I think they should have just updated the dash from the XSR and kept that round shape. Obviously the seat is a sticking point and a bench seat would look a lot better, but the pillion pegs are probably some of the worst designed I have seen. They could have taken a leaf from Triumph's book with the Rocket's pillion pegs. I loved the review, your content is always amazing, but the bike doesn't match what I would expect
Agree 100%
Very well explained what a design kerfuffle the XSR has always been. This bike won't age well regarding its looks.
i don’t like the way this bike looks but i love the way it sounds
You can change to an aftermarket seat, it is just a seat, with no wires or devices.
Love you content. Really enjoy your presenting style. Still having the same request, if you can review the F75pGS at some point, that would be amazing.
On another note, among the retro segment or rather modern retro, which do you recon is most comfortable for two up?
Great video. I really like the bike. I'm with you on the seat. A separate single seat and rear section in the bike colour could work well here. BUT is it me (and i know its not just this bike) whether its retro or not why do we get still get the sticky up urine sample pots that come as brake reservoirs. Watch the on board footage and you're just drawn to it. Its worse than many others and spoils what would otherwise be a really clean bar setup. Why can't we just have an all-in-one unit. With sticky up mirrors you kind of get away with it but not with bar-ends, which makes me wonder if this originally was to have sticky up mirrors as there are blanked holes already.
A flat seat would look better. Visually, I like the old one better, but I don't doubt this bike is an improvement. I'd rather have the new MT-09. The footpegs on this XSR are very similar to the ones on my MT-01. Younger viewers will have to google it.
I said the same on another review of the XSR but it strikes me as Yamaha trying to pay a kinda modern homage to the RD350LC. Yes, about double the power but when you factor in the weight and modern standards of what is classed as sports level power, I'd say it's relative. However, with that deltabox frame it strikes me more like an FZR600 (with different engine config) with the fairing taken off and aftermarket seat unit / headlight. Tempting as a commuter / B-Road fun bike.
Biggest issue with after comparing it with my 17' XSR900...
- The looks, like holy shit look at the tank and frame, it looks like a sportbike without the fairings, the seams on the tank make it look cheap unlike the previous XSR's faux tank which looks great.
Its looks really bad, the seat looks good though, but I just cant unsee that it looks likr a faired bike with no fairings, least add like something on the sides like the neo retro CB650R and CB10000R
Also that stock exhaust, holy shit its hideous.
I, on the other hand, love the nods to the sportsbikes of my youth... I'm just really hoping for some sort of a fairing and a seat cowl, to take it all the way there...
For me it would be between XSR900 or the Z900RS. I’d probably go with the Yamaha
Side by side, the kawie looks better...but loses to the xsr in almost every other category.