YAMAHA'S RETRO XSR900 GP REVEALED

After a long wait, Yamaha’s retro XSR900 GP has been revealed in a nod to the company’s rich racing history, with colour schemes that hark back to the GP racers of the 1980s and 1990s.

Based on the latest iteration of the XSR900, the XSR900 GP is powered by Yamaha’s torque-rich 890cc CP3 engine housed in a Delta-box -style frame and featuring an R1-derived six-axis IMU allowing for the incorporation of lean-sensitive rider aids.

It is distinguished from the base model by an upper cowling that takes design cues from the 1980s YZR GP bikes, as well as FZR and TZR production sports machines of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The cowling is even mounted in a way that mimics bikes from the past, with a tubed structure connecting the it to the frame.

Unlike the naked XSR, the XSR900 GP is fitted with clip-ons for a sportier riding position, but Yamaha says it’s not so focused that it’s uncomfortable for road riding.

The KYB USD fork is fully adjustable for Preload and compression damping as well as rebound damping, while the link-style mono shock features remote preload adjustment. There’s a Brembo brake package with radial front master cylinder.

The XSR900 GP runs Yamaha Ride Control (YRC) with three preset ride modes – Sport, Street and Rain – and two Custom settings, which can be set using a smartphone via the MyRide app. A five-inch colour TFT screen sits in the otherwise retro-style cockpit.

The XSR900 GP is available in what Yamaha describes as a heritage livery (read Marlboro red and white), inspired by the machines ridden by riders such as Wayne Rainey to multiple 500cc Grand Prix World Championships in the 1980s and early 1990s, with yellow number boards on both front and rear cowlings. This colour scheme is officially called Legend Red, and the XSR900 GP will also be available in Power Grey.

The Deltabox-style chassis and swing arm are finished in silver to better evoke the era of the 1980s prototypes and emphasise the character of the Deltabox style frame itself.

Australian pricing and availability is yet to be confirmed.

Tech highlights