Short and sweet Yamaha turns heads
It’s been a while since I have reviewed a new model motorcycle. After spending a week with the 2022 Yamaha XSR900, I have stalled to share my thoughts. Motorcycles continually change and I have lost my baseline due to my absence from the industry. However, I am back and ready to be re-educated and invigorated during the experience!
I remember a few years back when Terry Poirier, owner of Kelowna Yamaha & Marine, first pulled up to a moto meetup riding the inaugural 2016 Yamaha XSR900. What is that? The stunning retro Yamaha red, white and black styling immediately garnered the rider’s attention. It was a looker.
Aside from annual colour scheme changes, the 2022 model XSR900 is packing several improvements while still turning heads. This year’s colour scheme is legend blue (as pictured) or Raven (such a cool reference to the many shades of black).
Noticeable visual changes include the XSR insignia carved into the centre handle bar, rear view mirrors perched at the end of the handlebars. I found the mirrors need to be tweaked during riding from initial stationary adjustment as visibility changed during operation. A circular LED front headlight adds to the vintage styling but don’t ask me about visibility after dark. I have no idea as this time of year there are plenty of daylight hours for getting where I want to be, plus I tend to avoid riding after dark. Hidden passenger foot pegs neatly tucked under the seat until you need them mask themselves as a vintage kick-starter. It’s a rather cool detail. Rounding out the café racer style is a carved-out leather seat with gold baseball stitching. The higher back seat can take a passenger if necessary (but you won’t want to).
As I navigated the afternoon rush-hour, more than one motorist pulled up alongside to comment, ask questions or take an extended look at the bike.
“I bet that’s fun ‘cause it’s short,” shouted one man referring to the short wheelbase. A short wheelbase offers easy maneuvering and handling. Riding the XSR, despite having no windshield, you
don’t really feel speed. When I checked the digital dash, I was surprised to see that I was about 20 km/h off my anticipated speed. In fact, you don’t really feel the usual triggers that make you think a handling change is necessary.
For instance, the output sound or power delivery usually triggers riders to up or downshift. It is an operational thought process of pulling in the clutch, rolling off the throttle, shifting the transmission with your feet or simply put, general operation of the bike. The XSR feels so weightless and handles so well that operating the bike is second nature and doesn’t require a lot of thinking – just enjoying. Nimble in the curves and stable at higher speed.
You can up or downshift without the clutch using the new Quick Shift system. During acceleration, there is no momentary loss of power while you change gears – it’s a simple flick of the foot and more power is delivered instantly. Same beautiful handling going into the corners, flick of the foot to downshift, maintain stable operation and dip in. Effortless. The rider is the bike. There is no better feeling on a motorcycle.
“I bought my MT-09 in February,” said one rider, “but I should have waited a couple more months for the XSR!”
Based on the sporty and rather popular MT-09, the 2022 XSR offers a new liquid cooled 889 cc, three-cylinder engine but also the with added lower RPM torque (an overall 6% increase) that will have you hanging on for dear life if you don’t know what to expect from a naked vintage sport offering 117 HP. It packs a punch but you can work your way up to that raw open throttle fun by adjusting the engine modes, traction control and slide control. Dumb it down for the newer rider or open it up as you develop your skill or for the more experienced.
Each time I get on a new bike, I start controlled and discover what it has to offer one adjustment at a time. After starting in drive mode 4 (extremely controlled operation), I was barely two blocks away when I pulled over to make a change to drive mode and traction control 2. Ample power at the twist of the throttle but not so much as to have to hang on too tight. In the following days, I would switch to drive mode 1 for a time but found that the instant torque and power offered was something I wasn’t interested in.
The three-cylinder engine offers a new intake and Euro 5 compliant exhaust, meaning five catalytic converters in the exhaust for cleaner emissions. When downshifting, a rather cool rumble is produced, like a backfire, or a growl with attitude. The exhaust is low to the ground, no pipes, straight down to the pavement even with the rider foot-pegs or the rider’s feet when at a standstill.
After my first few outings on the bike, my feet were noticeably warmer than I am used to. I wear Alpinestars Stella SMX-1 boots – always – so this was an unusual experience.
While discussing it with a rider with a similar exhaust system to the XSR, they offered an answer to my heated feet suggesting the exhaust as the culprit. “It’s a great thing in the cooler temps as it keeps my feet nice and toasty, but in the summer, not so much.”
Without scientific proof, this response seemed logical and made sense.
The digital dash is completely customizable and with the right amount of patience to figure it out, will provide the rider with a plethora of information. I was able to navigate my way through drive modes, traction control, front wheel control and more, but for the life of me, couldn’t find the odometer after trying so I decided I didn’t care.
The XSR900 is the perfect all-round motorcycle offering versatility, exceptional handling, plenty of power and a whole lot of fun. Add it to your secret fleet if you can or if you are looking for one bike that has it all – the roughly $13,000 investment will provide you many years of pleasure.