Yamaha’s big news for the 2022 model year is New MT-10, but the Japanese company has not forgotten about the rest of its range of activities. It also revealed a new version of the XSR900 with a more powerful three-cylinder engine, updated electronics and heritage design.
Like most motorcycle in the Yamaha lineup, the XSR900 is shaped by a unique philosophy; This company, called Faster Sons, aims to combine iconic style with modern technology. Its design is not as classic as the way Volkswagen New Beetle yes, but look closely and you’ll find some styling cues that resemble some grand opening racing motorcycles of the 1980s. The aluminum frame is exposed, and elements such as the shape of the fuel tank and the overall shape are a tribute to older models.
However, it is not old school. It notably receives LED lighting at both ends and a full-color 3.5-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) display that replaces the instrument cluster. Fork cover drill, forging brake pedals and hidden passenger latch add a finishing touch to the design.
Power comes from a 3-cylinder 890 cc engine known internally as CP3. Shared with the MT-09, this trio develops 117 horsepower and 69 pound-feet of torque. Yamaha notes that nearly every part of the engine has been redesigned, including the pistons and crankshaft, to help it spin more freely. Ride-by-wire technology is standard, as is a quickshifter that allows clutchless up and down gearshifts. And, because sound is such a part of the motorcycling experience, engineers fine-tuned both the intake and exhaust notes.
Riders can count on the same basic six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) fitted to the MT-10 to stay as safe as possible. On longer journeys, they can relax thanks to cruise control, now standard on the XSR900. However, not every driver aid needs to be electronic: Yamaha explains that it relies on die-casting techniques to make the aluminum frame extremely thin without compromising its rigidity. Some parts of the XSR900’s frame are only 1.7 mm thin. In turn, the weight savings improve the bike’s straight-line stability.
Yamaha authorized dealer will start receiving the 2022 XSR900 in April 2022. Buyers will have two colour Combinations to choose from: Legend Blue with gold wheels and gold forks and Raven with black wheels and black forks. Prices start at $9,999 pre-destination.
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