Retro laws of attraction
YAMAHA COMES UP WITH THE GOODS FOR NEW RIDERS
MATHIEU DAY
It’s no secret that Yamaha’s European arm loves custom motorcycles. It has had a hand in creating many a retro inspired one- off over the past couple of years but now the public can get in on the action with the new MT07 and MT- 09- based XSR range of motorcycles.
The XSR700 takes its frame and heart from the popular learner approved spec MT- 07, but with so many changes it’s all but unrecognisable. Everything from the headlight to the subframe has been changed to resemble a bike from Yamaha’s Yard Built customs series, in the hunt for a different demographic buyer than the MT07 could attract.
As a result, the bold lines of the 07 are out and retro- inspired smooth surfaces are in.
Starting out front, the front headlight has been switched to a large round headlight that harks back to the heritage bikes of days gone by. The same can be said for the big brother triple- cylinder XSR900 as well.
Perched atop the handlebar is a new round dash unit with all the information you could ask for on display. With a nice big speedo and gear position indicator front and centre it's a cool little unit. Unlike similar LCD dash units I’ve come across, the XSR’s is easy to read at a glance in most situations. It’s incredibly simple to use, too, with just two big buttons needed to cycle through everything from the two trip meters to current fuel economy readings. It’s a surprising level of functionality behind what at first glance looks like a minimalist dash.
The switchgear comes straight from the MT- 07, and although the sliding starter switch is very cool, I found I couldn’t gel with the vague- feeling indicator switch.
There just wasn’t enough feedback through the switch to let me know I’d activated the blinkers without having to look at the dash to check. Meanwhile the switch position is so close to the horn I often sounded the horn unintentionally when signalling a right turn.
The fuel tank has been smoothed and comes in two colour options, the ultra cool brushed aluminium finished Garage Metal, and the stunning