New Yamaha XSR900 for 2021
By Ben Purvis
Has written for dozens of magazines and websites, including most of the world’s biggest bike titles, as well as dabbling in car and technology journalism.
25.12.2020
We might have seen most of Yamaha’s new 2021 models already but there are a handful of machines that have yet to receive the updates they’re due for the new year – and among them is the XSR900.
The fact that a new XSR900 is on the way shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, the existing model is basically an MT-09 triple clad in 1970s-inspired bodywork, and with the MT-09 getting a complete overhaul it’s inevitable that the same updates will be handed down to the XSR900.
As a reminder, the 2021 MT-09 gains a new Deltabox aluminium beam frame for 2021, plus a longer-stroke, 889cc triple to replace the old 847cc unit. The same engine will be going into the XSR900, and it’s also likely that the retro model will inherit the MT-09’s new chassis, offering improved rigidity and less weight than the old design. The MT-09’s new swingarm and cast alloy seat subframe are also likely to be carried over to the XSR900.
The 2021 MT-09 is 4kg lighter than its predecessor, so something similar is likely to apply to the XSR, bringing the weight down to around 191kg including a tank of fuel. Power will also inevitably rise to the same 117.4hp (119PS) as the MT-09, up from 113.4hp (115PS), and the MT-09’s up/down quickshifter is also likely to carry across to the retro model.
At the moment it’s not clear when Yamaha will unveil the next-gen XSR900, but the current model is one of the firm’s few machines not to conform to Euro 5 emissions rules. After 1st January 2021, it will still be possible for the old Euro 4-spec machines to be sold as brand new bikes under ‘derogation’ rules, which allow limited number of non-conforming models to be sold for up to 2 years after the introduction of the latest Euro 5 regulations, but Yamaha isn’t expected to wait that long before launching the next-gen XSR900.
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