Eicma 2018: Yamaha XSR700 XTribute launched

Yamaha give the XSR700 a blast from the past makeover with the XTribute

Harking back to the now legendary 1981 XT500 trail bike, the new XTribute is an XSR700-based reimagining of the 80s do-it-all. While it’s a long way from being a true descendant (the new Ténéré 700 is much closer), the new retro does at least boast some concessions to getting the wheels dirty.

The rider gets a nice fat tapered handlebar to hold on to, as well as chunky off-road style footpegs for some added grip. The 10-spoke cast wheels also get Pirelli MT60RS rubber (120/70 R17 front and 180/505 R17 rear), and the fork gets old-school rubber gaiters and fork caps.

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There’s a lot of blacking-out too, with the engine, frame and forks leading the way, backed up by the new bars, special black-faced clock unit (now mounted off-set), frame and radiator guards, levers and clock bracket. And if you want the full scrambler look, there’s also a black high-level Akrapovic exhaust as an official accessory, which does transform the look of the bike.

But this is very much a styling exercise. While it’ll be a lot of fun on a dry greenlane or forest fire track, this is no XT replica. If you want the peppy fun engine and genuine off-road ability, grab the new Ténéré 700. If you want a masculine street scrambler for commuting and weekend giggles, the XTribute fits the bill. No word on price, but it’ll be in dealers in April ’19.

• Engine – 689cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin
• Performance – 74bhp / 50ftlb
• Weight – 186kg (kerb)
• Seat height – TBCmm
• Price – £TBC

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