By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Retro Classic
Yamaha XSR900 (RN43) vs XSR900 (RN80)
2016 Yamaha XSR900 vs 2022 Yamaha XSR900: which one to buy once you're past the looks.
On a tight bend, the 2016 Yamaha XSR900 tips in off its wide bar, and it's playful about flicking from side to side. The 2022 Yamaha XSR900 tucks you into a slight crouch over that bar. It doesn't fuss as the bends open up.
So which one do you buy?
The 2022 XSR900 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Narrow edge: 2022 XSR900
On the way to work, the 2022 XSR900 asks a little less of you. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
What makes each one tick
2016 XSR900
From low revs up, the 2016 XSR900's crossplane triple pulls hard and still begs for the redline. Corner entry doesn't ask much of the bar, and the neutral geometry lets the front settle onto its line at the first push. Rough pavement jars through the seat. Past the apex, the intake's howling again.
Nils rode the 2016 XSR900 in Styria in 2018 (NastyNils Testride).
2022 XSR900
Out of a mountain hairpin or halfway through a highway pass, the 2022 XSR900's triple pulls hard. There's no hunting for gears. On roads you don't know, in mixed weather, the brake lever brings the bike to a halt while its cornering ABS works out of sight. At highway speed, the front tracks straight into a headwind.
Nils rode the 2022 XSR900 in Austria and Montenegro in 2024 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 2022 XSR900 has the lower seat: 31.9 in (810 mm) vs 32.7 in (830 mm).
- The 2022 XSR900 makes more peak torque: 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) vs 65 lb-ft (88 Nm).
- Cruise Control: standard on the 2022 XSR900, not offered on the 2016 XSR900.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Look elsewhere
Big miles aren't where either one shines. You'll be watching for the next rest stop.
Look at character, twisty roads, and running costs and you'll find two bikes doing the same job equally well. Fit is what breaks the tie.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
2016 XSR900
What owners say
Strengths
- Addictive CP3 engine character
- Neo-retro styling with premium materials
- Excellent value for money
Trade-offs
- Suspension is budget-oriented and can be harsh
- Indicator switch placement is awkward
- Mirrors offer poor rearward visibility
2022 XSR900
Strengths
- Triple pulls from anywhere
- Real sport rubber underneath
- One posture for both jobs
- Quickshifter you actually use
- Rider aids stay out of sight
Trade-offs
- Firm seat, firm chassis
- Rear tire goes off early
- Header heat on your right leg
- Early bikes idled badly
- Snatchy low-rpm fuelling in Sport mode
Known problems to check before you buy
2016 XSR900
- Handlebar holder bolt recall Recall 17V221000 On 2016-2017 models, the lower handlebar holders may not have had sufficient thread-locking agent due to improper painting, allowing bolts to loosen and potentially cause loss of control.
- Cam chain tensioner rattle on cold start The automatic cam chain tensioner on the CP3 triple uses a spring and ratchet plunger with no oil-pressure actuation. Its ratchet can fail to hold the plunger in position and back off. The cam chain then runs slack and slaps its guides, which shows up as a ticking or rattling noise from the cam chain area that is loudest on cold starts. At first it may die down once the engine warms up, but it can get worse until it is constant. If ignored, the slack chain speeds up wear on the chain guides and sliders.
2022 XSR900
- Premature rear tire wear Owners frequently report the original-equipment Bridgestone rear tire wearing out well before the mileage they expect, the soft factory sport compound squaring off and reaching the wear bars early under normal road use; a running-cost annoyance rather than a mechanical failure.
- Stalling and rough idle linked to ECU mapping Some early MY2022 and MY2023 bikes exhibit stalling at low rpm during clutch-out from stops and rough idle when warm; addressed by dealer ECU reflash under Yamaha service campaigns in several markets.
- Heat from exhaust header onto right leg Pre-cat header routing transmits noticeable heat to the rider's right thigh in slow traffic and at standstill, especially in warm weather.
- Side-stand switch fault preventing start Reports of intermittent side-stand interlock switch failures causing no-start conditions; usually resolved by switch replacement under warranty.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Peak power at
- 10,000 rpm
- Fuel capacity
- 3.7 US gal (14 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front brake
- 298 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| 2016 XSR900 | 2022 XSR900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.7 in (830 mm) | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 430 lb (195 kg) | 425 lb (193 kg) |
| 2016 XSR900 | 2022 XSR900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 847 cc | 890 cc |
| Power | 115 hp (85 kW) | 119 hp (88 kW) |
| Torque | 65 lb-ft (88 Nm) | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,500 rpm | 7,000 rpm |
| 2016 XSR900 | 2022 XSR900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 56.7 in (1440 mm) | 58.9 in (1495 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2016 XSR900 | 2022 XSR900 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
| LED Headlight | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
