After spending a week blazing a trail about the Okanagan Valley riding the 2022 Yamaha XSR900, I was reluctant to return it. What an easy-operating, fun ride! You know you’re enjoying the bike when you actually consider where you could fit one in your garage.
Aside from annual colour scheme changes, the 2022 Yamaha XSR900 is packing several improvements and still turning heads. This year’s colour scheme includes the Yamaha signature legend blue (as shown here) and Raven – a hip reference to black.
Noticeable visual changes include the XSR insignia carved metal plate mounted centre below the modern-day digital dash. Rear view mirrors perched at the end of the handlebars need to be tweaked during riding from initial stationary adjustment as visibility changes 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. Rather cool detail. Rounding out the café racer style is a carved-out leather seat with baseball stitching. The higher back seat can take a passenger if necessary (but you won’t want to).
The digital 3.5″ full colour dash boasts the usual speed, gears, a bar style tach complete with color changes as RPM increases and more. Scrolling through the dash is as simple as pushing the forward switch.
The dash is completely customizable to deliver the information a rider wants on one screen. Controls are mounted on the left handlebar, as well as horn, signals and flash to pass. The XSR offers rider aids developed from the YZF-R1. Options for drive modes, three options for traction control, front wheel lift and brake control as well as slide control. Another handy tool while riding is the up and down quick shift system.
An indicator appears on the dash when you can up or downshift without the clutch. 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 becomes the bike. There is no better feeling on a motorcycle.
“I bet that’s fun ’cause it’s short”
Random Driver in Traffic
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 wheelbase. A short wheelbase offers easy maneuvering and agile handling. The wheelbase of the XSR is just shy of 59″. It isn’t only the wheelbase contributing to the agility. The 2022 has shed 1.5 lbs, increased its horsepower by 4 to 117 and has a 7% increase in maximum torque at lower RPM. It’s noticeable.
Despite having no windshield, I didn’t really feel wind resistance or speed. Normally, you can get a pretty good idea of your speed without having to check the speedo. When I checked the digital dash, I was surprised to be cruising about 20 km over my anticipated number. The usual triggers, like gears and power, that make you think a handling change is necessary, do not present themselves.
For example, the output sound or power delivery will prompt a rider 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 in the straights.
The three-cylinder engine offers a new intake and Euro 5 complaint exhaust meaning 5 catalytic converters in the exhaust for cleaner emissions. Based on the sporty and rather popular Yamaha MT-09, the 2022 XSR is a liquid cooled 889 cc, 3-cylinder but with that added lower RPM torque you best be ready to hang on if you don’t know what to expect. It packs a punch but you can work your way up to that raw open throttle fun. Riders can adjust power output through engine modes, traction control and slide control. Increase the intervention for the newer rider, take it to the next level or open it up as you develop your skill. A fun bike that grows with you.
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 and back down to Mode 2 I went.
Dual exhaust is beneath the rider as opposed to rear output. When downshifting, a rather cool rumble is produced, like a backfire, or a growl with attitude. The exhaust, is low to the ground, straight down to the pavement flush with the rider foot-pegs or feet when at a standstill. After my first few outings on the bike, my feet were noticeably warmer than I am used to. Nice in the Spring and Fall, not so much in the heat of the summer.
For the ultimate research, I took part in a memorial ride with the Yamaha XSR900. Nothing like a few hundred riders wandering around looking at bikes to really get an idea of what the community thinks.
“I bought my MT-09 in February but I should have waited
Random group rider
a couple more months for the XSR!”
Chatting with another rider with similar exhaust, they concurred with the heated feet being a product of exhaust output. An MT-09 rider came over to admire the XSR and expressed disappointment for not waiting those extra few months.
The 2022 Yamaha 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 or if you are looking for one bike that has it all – the roughly $13K investment will provide many years of pleasure.