An Ode To The Marlboro Days: The Yamaha XSR900 GP

Nostalgia always sells because it manages to touch certain emotions and the moments we associate with it. And Yamaha has now knocked it out of the park with the XSR900 GP, a tribute to Team Blue’s iconic racing machines from the 80s and 90s and it is based on the XSR900 naked bike. 

The neo-retro sports bike draws heavy inspiration from the red and white Marlboro livery of yesteryear and the way the angle of the red graphics on the half-fairing and the side panels match the angle of the USD fork is attention to detail of the highest level. 

The bike gets yellow boxes on the boxy rear panels and the front cowl where the numbers are usually painted on race bikes. The Deltabox frame, rear subframe and swingarm get a glorious silver finish.  

As mentioned above, the XSR900 GP is based on its naked sibling and is powered by an 890cc, three-cylinder, liquid-cooled CP3 engine producing 119PS at 10,000rpm and 93Nm at 7,000rpm. It gets a 6-speed gearbox with a quickshifter and slip and assist clutch. 

Braking duties are taken care of by dual 298mm front disc brakes and a 245mm rear disc brake while it comes equipped with a fully adjustable KYB USD fork and a monoshock (link-type) suspension setup. It gets clip-on handlebars and adjustable footpegs. 

Features-wise, the Yamaha XSR900 GP gets a 5-inch TFT instrument console; rider aids such as lean-sensitive traction control, ABS, Slide Control and front wheel lift control system; three riding modes: Sport, Street and Rain; and a small square LED headlight. 

The Yamaha XSR900 GP is available in two colour schemes: Legend Red and Power Grey. While pricing and availability details have not been revealed by Yamaha yet, this nero-retro sports bike is not coming to India anytime soon.