Yamaha XSR900 Abarth

16th January 2017

847cc | Liquid-cooled triple | Review | Specs

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Yamaha has launched a limited-edition 847cc XSR900 Abarth which, by the time you read this, will be on sale in the UK. The bike, a joint collaboration between Yamaha and Italian car maker Abarth, was first announced in November 2016 at the Milan Show, Italy.

The idea was to replace the very worthy Yamaha XJ1300 muscle bike with a scrawnier, but more emissions friendly, liquid-cooled retro CP3 triple.

To consolidate its grip, or foothold, upon whatever sector this "First factory-built café racer special" is really aimed at, Yamaha will be offering this limited-edition variant boasting a carbon front cowl, a carbon fibre front mudguard, a carbon tailpiece, an Akrapovič exhaust and ... wait for it ... a VIP tour of the Abarth factory in Turin including a few joyrides around a test track on the latest or significant Abarth models. "Inside every rider," says Yamaha, "is the burning desire to own and ride the kind of bike that will always make you feel good inside. And this is it." The factory adds:

"Yamaha and Abarth have created the XSR900 Abarth - a lightweight high-performance retro special whose authentic café racer design reflects the true spirit of the 1960s."

Hmm.

Other features include clip-on style "swallow" handlebars, traction control, a slipper-assist clutch and a suede sports seat with red-stitching. Yes. Red stitching. Apparently that's really featuresome or ... well, something.

Anyway, the price is "from" £9,999, which means you're more or less obliged to dig deep and stump up even more cash for all the extras that you're simply going to have to add if you want to ever show your face again down at the local tea hut.

Talk to your Yam dealer for more details.

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