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2017–2018 · Retro Classic · Buyer's Guide
Italian Suit, Triple Soul
The XSR900 Abarth was a limited run, the product of Yamaha handing its Sport Heritage café racer to Abarth and letting the scorpion badges land where they wanted. Underneath sits the 847cc CP3 triple, 115 hp at 10,000 rpm and 65 lb-ft at 8,500, in a chassis adapted from the MT-09 and finished with an Akrapovič system, a USD fork, and a low, forward riding position that no ordinary retro roadster asks of you. Ride modes, traction control and ABS are all standard, plus a slipper clutch and suspension you can adjust at both ends. Modern hardware, old-school theater.
This is a retro that never asks you to forgive it for being retro. The triple has a genuine voice, the 430 lb wet weight carries low once you're rolling, and lean clearance is generous enough that ground clearance simply never enters the conversation. Build quality holds up when you look closely, which is the entire point in this class. It suits the rider who wants a beautiful object that also rewards a good road. The honest caveat: a 3.7 gal tank, no cruise control, and that forward posture mean a full day of interstate is work, not pleasure. The 32.7 in seat also asks for some leg.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 115 hp (85 kW) @ 10,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 65 lb-ft (88 Nm) @ 8,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 847 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 298 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.7 in (1440 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.7 in (830 mm) |
| Wet weight | 430 lb (195 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 gal (14 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
Handlebar clamp bolt recall
Lower handlebar holders may have improper paint causing bolt loosening; recall issued to replace holders (NHTSA campaign 17V221000).
Check engine light illumination without fault
Some owners report the check engine light coming on intermittently for no apparent reason, resolved by dealer software update or restart.
Loud clunk when engaging first gear
A noticeable clunk from the transmission is reported by many owners, considered characteristic but can be startling.
Where this Yamaha XSR900 Abarth pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the XSR900 Abarth is actually built for.
The look and the build quality are exactly what you're after, and small-town two-lanes suit it. Just know the forward posture and 3.7 gal tank keep your days short and your stops frequent.
Made for Acadia National Park · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show · Blue Ridge Parkway
Built for this kind of Saturday. The triple's character and the easy handling match the Hill Country rhythm, and you'll want to stop about as often as the bike wants fuel.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Texas Hill Country BDR-X · Twisted Sisters
Real feedback through the chassis and lean angle to spare let you work on your lines instead of just surviving them. The Dragon suits it far better than the ride home on the interstate does.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
