For reasons that still elude me, certain people have been expecting some sort of an ultimate anniversary bike derived from the Faster Sons custom project. A machine that would encompass six decades of Yamaha bike-building and racing heritage, if you want. Honestly, I am thrilled to see that the XSR700, the first production motorcycle inspired by the Faster Sons is not the casual retro bike.
Though Yamaha states that XSR700 is also homage to the old XS650, seeing Iwata not following the recipe Ducati used for the new Scrambler is a rather cool thing. After all, the XSR700 was never supposed to revive the XS650 nostalgia, but introduce a new take on mixing old-school DNA and modern technology.
The lines of the XSR700 remained edgy as the MT-07 is was built on, but strayed from Shinya Kimura's one-off creation. Slightly neo-retro, yet letting plenty of modern character shine through, the XSR700 is a casual bike for everyday use. Still, it doesn't seem to lack character.
Aluminium details and a nimble feel
With a dry weight of 164 kg (362 lb), the XSR700 is not the lightest bike we saw, but it looks like the riding position provides a very nimble feel. Machined aluminium parts add a very cool, techy vibe to this machine. The tank and the seat are maybe a matter of love or hate for some riders, but we sort of like them.
The XSR700 is not Yamaha's contender at the position Ducati Scrambler so rapidly conquered, so comparing the two is futile. It doesn't want to replicate the old feeling, as some said. Simply using a round headlight doesn't automatically make it a retro-wannabe. The XSR700 is more of a statement that older bikes can still influence modern ones, and if you want, a very stylish alternative to the stock MT-07.
On the tech side, the XSR700 is almost unchanged from the base MT-07, with the only differences being the 5mm (0.5") shorter wheelbase, slightly taller seat and narrower profile.. We are delving for the XSR700 price, so stay tuned.
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