I've spent the last six months riding a Yamaha XSR900 GP and these are the best and worst bits

I’ve had the joy of riding the Yamaha XSR900 GP for just shy of six months and I’ve really come to love it. I was worried that its reasonably modest power figures might become dull, the lack of comfort would put me off riding it, and that it may not be sharp enough to keep me entertained.

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Thankfully, the GP shows that you don’t need the sharpest tool in the shed to carve out a good time…

The way it looks – Hit

Yamaha XSR900 GP parked on a city street

In over ten years of testing incredible machinery, I’ve never ridden a bike that garners as much attention as the GP – from bikers and non-bikers alike. Waves, beeps, smiles… and it’s not for my riding, before you ask! The finish is gorgeous and it’s coped well with the winter months too, showing that it is a premium bit of kit. It’s a bike that never gets old to look at, and always brings a smile when the garage door opens.

Stability and confidence – Hit

Yamaha XSR900 GP front suspension adjustment

It’s not all about looks. One of the best things about the XSR900 GP is how stable and confidence inspiring it is to ride at a faster pace – think of it as almost like a slightly sharper sports-tourer in its ability to hold a line and be incredibly sure-footed at lean angle. Nothing is too much drama when you’re mid-corner, and the Yamaha can cope with backroad bumps and rough surfaces well without getting itself out of shape.

Agility is a bit lacking – Miss

Yamaha XSR900 GP rear suspension adjustment

But with that stability, comes a slight lack of agility, especially if you’ve come from a thoroughbred sportsbike. It feels long, runs out of ground clearance and even though the range of suspension action is good, the sheer core of the GP means that it isn’t bred for sharp direction changes or for diving into a corner. The brakes also lack the bite and feel we’ve come to expect from modern sportsbikes. But that will all have to wait for the incoming R9 to address…

It doesn’t fit me – Miss

Yamaha XSR900 GP with seat cushion fitted

This is a big one. I’ve ridden the GP in every style of kit I own, I’ve tried a Wild Ass cushion (which makes a bit of a difference) but frankly, the GP is not made for long distances if you have a small frame. The seat sits low, the tank is long and although the ’bars are set higher, it’s too much of a reach to not stretch my 5ft 7in frame beyond a comfortable limit.

Taller riders will rejoice, but for smaller riders? I’d need to botch the ’bars down and back, alongside adding some seat foam to be truly happy over more than 50 miles in the saddle. 

That engine – Hit

Yamaha XSR900 GP engine

At the back wheel, our GP makes 105.6bhp, and 64.2lb.ft torque. That may sound pedestrian by modern standards, but it’s no slouch: on a runway we measured its 0-60mph in 3.35 seconds, with a top speed of 146mph.

But the best part is how that triple delivers in the real world; it’s torquey and purposeful up to and beyond legal speeds and doesn’t feel outgunned on the road. The track is a different story, but we’ve yet to see too many lapping it up on UK trackdays

Practical? Maybe not… – Miss

Yamaha XSR900 GP tested on the road

Although it’s meant to be that step down from a proper sportsbike in terms of its practically, it isn’t by far. The mirrors aren’t great and are poorly placed on the ’bars, the headlight is weak and I’ve been lucky to get near 150 miles on a tank, when it’s ridden in a spirited manner. Although it does gain a point back for having cruise control…