2022 Yamaha XSR900 First Ride Review | Ultimate Motorcycling

We ride the heavily updated 2022 Yamaha XSR900! Part of the Sport Heritage lineup from Yamaha, the XSR series of motorcycles adds style to proven naked sportbike platforms, combining actual performance with great looks.
The stylish XSR900 is coming out swinging with more than dapper duds for 2022 and enjoys all of the benefits from the recently updated MT-09 platform. To that end, the new XSR features an updated 890cc CP3 triple-cylinder, a stiffer frame, and YZF-R1-derived electronic rider aids. Even more, there are several model-specific features to give the XSR900 its own personality.
Freshly updated and ready to roar, the triple-cylinder 890cc CP3 engine hasn't lost its fighting spirit while becoming a more well-rounded engine. Featuring more overall torque than before, the new powerplant is smoother, boasting mighty midrange grunt and top-end thrills.
The stiffer frame is augmented by the Tracer 9 GT's longer swingarm, which adds a noticeable amount of stability to the XSR900's handling characteristics without sacrificing agility.
Other model-specific changes to the 2022 Yamaha XSR900 include a racier riding position, creating a rider triangle that matches this retro-racer styling without becoming uncomfortable.
Senior Editor Nic de Sena spent some time with the 2022 Yamaha XSR900 to share his riding impressions.
Check out our full review and spec sheet for the 2022 Yamaha XSR900: ultimatemotorcycling.com/2022...
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[@neonix01]

Thanks! The most informative review of all of them. With my 6ft height I'm not sure if the XSR900 or MT-09 SP would be the better choice for comfort and ergonomics. I wish the XSR900 offered a comfort seat option like the MT-09. With the comfort seat, the MT-09 offers an ability to easily gobble up long distances. The MT-09 also offers a plethora of luggage and windscreen options, so it can actually be adapted for touring very easily. The XSR900 only offers soft side bags, no comfort seat, and a tiny designer headlight cowl. But it is more stable at higher speeds, which is good! What to choose...

[@CrazyWyatt263]

With how popular this bike is already, I'm sure there will be a lot of aftermarket options including seats and windshields. Also, I'm not sure if it was mentioned in the video, but this bike also has cruise control standard which is pretty helpful for long distance riding.

[@neonix01]

@@CrazyWyatt263 No doubt, but there is one thing the XSR900 can't do that the MT-09 can, and that is attach a bracket for rear top luggage options. The MT-09 has two attachment points in the frame for this (easily seen on pictures), and the XSR900 totally lacks these attachment points due to the seat design. Those attachment points on the MT-09 are in the frame of the bike - so changing the seat on the XSR900 will never provide those rear attachment points, which means it'll likely never be able to have has many luggage options. I have a XSR900 reserved for delivery on june 7th, and a MT-09 SP reserved for a delivery on june 15th, and trying to decide on which one to actually go for. Also, the seat width is very narrow on the XSR900, and a aftermarket or comfort seat can't fix that. The MT-09's seat width is far wider, which with comparable seat and comfort quality, will always result in a comfier seat simply due to the width.

[@e.l.9589]

A Miata sounds like what you're describing.

[@ultimatemotorcycling]

@@neonix01 Hey Borge, XSR900 or MT-09 SP? 🤔 That's a tough decision! My take is that the SP has an extra sniff of sporting potential with the suspension upgrades, which truly shined when riding aggressively. The MT-09 chassis is more lively than the XSR, but the up-spec suspension helps keep it in shape better than the base model bits and settings. The XSR strikes a nice functional balance between the by playing with the suspension settings and lengthening the chassis, but as you noted, luggage options aren't as prolific at this time and may not be because of the subframe design. The only real knock with the XSR is outright seat comfort after a few hours and the aftermarket may solve that in the future. The MT's are comfy right out of the gate. My take: There isn't a wrong choice between those two bikes, as they're quite relative. If luggage options are crucial to you, then the SP it is. If you can pack light and dig the looks, go for the XSR. Take care! - Nic

[@neonix01]

@@ultimatemotorcycling Thanks!! Yep! I was down at the dealership and looked at a black and blue XSR they received today. They look so much better in real life. The blue paint was nice, but I didnt like the poorly color matched gold forks and wheels... And the overall package of the bright blue and mismatched gold wheels and forks was just a bit too "screamy" for me. The mismatched gold colors really stood out to me, as the tone of the gold is totally different. So I decided on the black one, and at the next tire change, I will have the wheels painted gold or bronze. Black bike and gold wheels/fork is one of my favorite combinations. I compared it side by side with a MT-09, and even though the MT-09's seat was a bit softer, I actually felt it was a bit too wide for me, it kinda dug into the inside of my thighs. I did grow up in the 80's though, and the XSR just looks like how a bike should look like for me. The MT-09 was simply not an option after seeing the XSR in real life. Picking it up in a week :D Stoked!

[@e.l.9589]

Look at that, KZbin finally provided a solid recommendation. 👍

[@robertschulz6660]

Ordered mine in black without test ride before.

[@gcSpec13]

great review nic!

[@ultimatemotorcycling]

Thanks! Take care! - Nic

[@goldmonk1979]

Great review. How would you compare xsr900 with Aprilia Tuono 660? Thanks.

[@ultimatemotorcycling]

Hey William, I'd say the most noticable differences between the Tuono 660 and XSR900 will be the engine characteristics (parallel twin vs. triple) and size. It's been a minute since we had a Tuono 660 on test, so I'll do my best to give you a rough comparison. The Tuono has tighter geometry that reflects it's fully-faired sportbike DNA and when recalling how that bike handled, I'd say it is most likely more agile than the XSR900, which is physically larger and is able to leverage loads of stability with it's longer wheelbase. On the engine front, the XSR900 has greater power and a broader spread of it, while the Tuono's parallel-twin engine is perhaps more feisty in character. Seating position wise, they're in the same realm for sure. Rider aids are also on par when you spring for the optional IMU on the Tuono. Though, you do have additional adjustment parameters on the Tuono that might be useful at the racetrack. I'd say the Tuono 660 probably speaks to a rider that has traditional sporting intentions, but knows they'll be riding on the street more often than the track. The XSR900 offers much of the same and a good amount more in terms of power and size. Hope this helps, - Nic

[@goldmonk1979]

@@ultimatemotorcycling Thank you Nic, much appreciated.

[@mason_nyc]

How much does the Mode 3 cut the low/mid range down? If someone has a lot of dirt bike/car experience and was looking at starting on a 600/650, does it seem reasonable to get this instead and start in Mode 3? I like the idea of growing into this bike and owning it for 5+ years, versus going 600/650 and needing to buy a new bike in a year.

[@ultimatemotorcycling]

Hey BKLYN, I'll try to answer things separately to keep it less complicated. Starting your street riding career on an MT-09/XSR900 or equivalently powered motorcycle isn't something I'd typically encourage. Now, that doesn't mean you aren't capable of "growing" into a bike; it's just far easier to learn and develop your riding skills on lower displacement machines. No one starts their MX careers on 450s. Bikes in this class have a fair amount of power (Roughly 115 peak horsepower), and a rider newer to the street side might feel uncomfortable with the weight and power of a bike like this while developing their skills. Someone off-road experience is going to have the fundamentals of riding down. They'll also understand grip quite well. Yet, there is still a lot to learn about road riding as they are different disciplines and require different techniques. Mode 3 tames the MT-09 probably 30/40%, although you're still dealing with a full-sized bike and all the weight that comes along with that. That and I think we'd all be tempted to experiment with the full-power modes pretty quickly. I'd look at something like the MT-07 or equivalent and bump up from there after a few years. Learning those basics on something that's smaller, lighter, less powerful, and, most importantly for new riders, more affordable is crucial. Hope this helps! - Nic

[@mason_nyc]

@@ultimatemotorcycling hey Nic! Thanks for the detailed reply. I think you’re right about the weight, and I think that would be my primarily learning gap. I do also ride a modified electric “supermoto” dirt bike that’s around 350-400cc equivalent on a 160lb setup (big power to weight ratio) that I’ve been riding in the streets of NYC for the last two years. So I’m pretty comfortable riding a very throttle sensitive (full electric, no gears) bike in heavy traffic/obstacles, leaning the bike into corners etc. I would just need to get used to more than doubling the weight. The XSR900 is already a pretty light bike, so I think if mode 3 dials it down 30/40%, it sounds like it would be sitting roughly equivalent to a 550/600cc bike with the option to unlock it later. I definitely respect the power of these bikes and would be extra careful about not overestimating my “skills” and jumping ahead of myself. Also looking at smaller bikes they generally all lose the new “technology”. I think the 2022 XSR900 having ABS, wheelie control settings, traction control, quick shifting, might actually make this a more forgiving bike in some ways than something like an MT-07 or XSR700. Thoughts?

[@ultimatemotorcycling]

@@mason_nyc Hey BKLYN, This is all great information and a perfect example of how subjective selecting a motorcycle can be. At the end of the day, it's about choosing the bike right for your and your needs. It seems you have a more experience than mentioned prior (especially considering NYC traffic 😲). Still, I always tend to ere on the side of caution and suggest that riders carefully consider climbing the "displacement ladder." Building skills on a physically smaller motorcycle with less power is a benefit for riders that land anywhere on the spectrum, simply because they're easier to manage in every capacity. Seemingly basic things like wide steering sweeps that motorcycle like the MT-07 are equipped with, make navigating urban traffic far easier than larger and/or sportier motorcycles. You're quite correct that lower-displacement and middleweight machines often lack advanced rider aids, although the MT-07 and its contemporaries are available with standard ABS. The lower peak performance can help mitigate the need for traction control or wheelie control, but they're helpful in any capacity. Models such as the Aprilia Tuono 660 can be equipped with an equally competent electronics package as the MT-09. The advanced rider aids on a bike such as the MT-09/SP/XSR900 can help tame it. Although, we still need to consider that engine configurations and displacement make power in different ways. The CP3 powerplant is a well-rounded engine but quite spirited when you begin to rev it out. By comparison, a parallel-twin or V-twin engine often offers more immediate power that newer riders can lean on comfortably. With all of those things in mind, you wouldn't be the first person to state rt riding street on a larger displacement and your experience is relevant. Yet, I always have to default to the "displacement ladder," as that is the safest way to build skills and encourage a long and happy riding career. I think the best approach here is to go back to finding the right bike for you. That could mean a trip down to the dealer and simply sitting on an MT-07 or an XSR900 and seeing which bike fits you better. If you're able to test-ride them, that would genuinely help the selection process and outline how each bike makes its power, how they handle at low speeds, how aggressive the brakes are, etc. Use your best judgment, and be honest with yourself about your skill level. I'd genuinely encourage you to visit a dealer in person to help you choose the right bike for you. Hope this helps! - Nic

[@mason_nyc]

@@ultimatemotorcycling thanks for the additional follow up, Nic! I’ll keep all this in mind. I think the reason I’m so adamant about the 2022 XSR900 is because I watched a million bike videos/rides/reviews and as soon as I saw that bike is just felt like THE bike for me. Everything about how it rides, the power band, sitting position, tech, looks. But I’m trying to be responsible and get multiple peoples opinions instead of just mindlessly diving in. Unfortunately, nobody has it in stock near me, even the dealers that show on Yamaha’s site don’t actually have one. I’m just going to wait it out until I can see it in person and sit on it and see if it still feels like there is no substitute. In the meantime I’ll check out some other bikes and do the same and see how things feel. Thanks again!

[@yogeshwargoyal]

How does it compete with speed triple RS in low and mid range. I know they are 2 different categorie bikes, still out of curiosity. Whillie on tap, roll on gears, Off the line which one be the quicker?

[@ultimatemotorcycling]

Hi Yogeshwar, Those are the kinds of questions that I'd want to answer during a direct comparison test. I have ridden the Speed Triple RR/RS, so I can comment broadly, but I'd want to ride them back-to-back before making any definitive comments. The Triumph ST RR and RS have a decent amount of displacement against the Yamaha, which gives it additional power across the board. So, the Triumph bikes make a little more low, mid, and top-end power. From memory, the extra top-end stands out the most when I think about each bike. Hope this helps, - Nic

[@yogeshwargoyal]

@@ultimatemotorcycling thanks for the reply. Just want to know which bike is more prone to unintentional wheelie , bc that's what I like 😊

[@ultimatemotorcycling]

@@yogeshwargoyal Ha! Well, in that case, you don't have to worry about the wheeling capabilities of any of these bikes. They're all willing and able.

[@wedie2soon]

Does this bike have a solid top-end hit, or does it make all of its power down low and in the mid-range?

[@ultimatemotorcycling]

Hey Wedie2soon, The 890cc CP3 engine is quite tractable and user-friendly, so there aren't any major hits of power anywhere in the revs. There's definitely low-end power, but around the 5,500 mark is when it really hits its stride, building into that lovely mid-range and through to the top-end rush. Hope this helps! - Nic

[@wedie2soon]

@@ultimatemotorcycling thanks for the quick response. Much appreciated.

[@EZBlast]

I'll stick with my 2019 MT09😆

[@hommuside]

So palpable bro.