Yamaha XSR700 custom roadster
The MT-07/XS650-based machine will go on sale in Australia in the first quarter of 2016Yamaha Motor Australia has announced that we will be seeing the all-new XSR700 parallel twin Down Under, taking pride of place at the 2015 Sydney Motorcycle Show in November before going on sale in the first quarter of 2016.
As one of the first production motorcycles to come out of Yamaha's new 'Faster Sons' philosophy which blends retro style with modern technology, the XSR700 is based on the old XS650 — "a pure masterpiece of Yamaha simplistic design that still inspires today", according to the Japanese giant — but in a contemporary sense it's a custom version of the marque's extremely successful MT-07.
Los Angeles-based Japanese bike builder Shinya Kimura is behind the design, and the XSR700 comes with a two-texture leather seat unit sitting on a bolt on rear sub-frame, an old-school style headlight, and an aluminium tank. Aluminium is also used on the front fender stay and radiator cover, while there's a short, stubby muffler.
The 700cc in-line twin is already well known in MT-07 guise (review HERE
), and it's a natural choice for a laid-back upright-sitting street bike with its uneven firing interval and 270-degree crank.
The bike has a short 530mm swingarm, and the rear suspension is a link-type Monocross system featuring a horizontal shock mounted directly to the engine’s crankcase. The bike has a wet weight of 186kg.
Faster Sons is about "respecting the iconic styles and designs of Yamaha motorcycles of the past, whilst intending to push the boundaries of motorcycle technology to create amazing bikes with real character that never compromise on riding ability". Bikes in the range already include the XJR1300 Racer and XV950 Racer, but as motorcycle website Visordown has pointed out the XSR700 is the first version based on a contemporary-styled model.
The five-speed XS650 was on sale in Australia from 1971 until 1982, retailing for $2349 in its final year.
The 2015 Sydney Motorcycle Show will be held from November 20-22 at the Sydney Showgrounds. For more information, click HERE.
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