A Yamaha XSR900-Based Sport Bike Is On The Horizon

Last year, Yamaha created a few headlines when it filed a trademark for the name ‘XSR-GP’. The moniker hinted at a new sport bike based on its globally renowned XSR900. Fast forward to 2023, and the project seems ever closer to production now. Why, you ask? Well, because Team Blue has subtly added fuel to the fire with an XSR900 prototype shod with a retro fairing. That’s a pretty clear hint at what’s coming if you ask us.

The Yamaha XSR900 DB40 Prototype Pays Homage To The Deltabox Chassis

Yamaha has created the DB40 prototype to celebrate 40 years of its iconic Deltabox chassis design. Team Blue first used it in 1982 under the race-spec bodywork of the YZR500 GP bike, followed by its production debut on the TZR250. Since then, this chassis has been the holy grail of several popular Team Blue offerings, including the flagship YZF-R1. And this legacy is exactly what Yamaha aims to exploit with the XSR-GP.

The Yamaha XSR-GP Will Take Design Inspiration From The TZR250

So the upcoming XSR will be identical to the DB40 prototype, which, in turn, takes inspiration from the OG 1985 TZR250. It’s made evident by the squarish fairing that has protrusions on each side of the rectangular air intake. These, along with the square windscreen, look exactly like the TZR’s front. Rounding off the retro touch is a chunky tail cowl (from its accessory catalog) and an Akrapovic exhaust (shaped like the TZR’s two-stroke pipes).

Another crucial element here is the new ergonomics. A ‘GP’ tag usually equates to a sporty motorcycle and the standard XSR doesn’t fit the bill too well. So Yamaha will probably bin the bike’s stock handlebar and slap on a set of clip-on units housed under the triple-tree, just like we see on the DB40. Now, it won’t make give you the front-end feel of a full-blown sport bike, but it’ll certainly be a step up from the standard bike.

The XSR-GP Will Borrow Its Mechanicals From The XSR900

All this while, the XSR-GP will retain the XSR900’s mechanicals. The crown jewel will be Yamaha’s 890cc, CP3 engine that produces 118 horsepower and 68.5 pound-feet via a six-speed transmission. It sits inside a Deltabox chassis (duh!), suspended on fully adjustable upside-down forks and monoshock. You also get 17-inch spin forged wheels and Brembo brakes.

Similarly, the TFT instrument cluster is expected to remain as it is. And it’ll give you access to a plethora of rider aids (wheelie control, traction control, quickshifter, ride modes, slide control). The TFT can be seen on the DB40 too.

The Yamaha XSR-GP Could Debut This Year

If the DB40 is any hint, it’s clear Yamaha has picked an approach for the XSR-GP. Bring in the CP3’s already Euro-5-compliant nature, and it’s a no-brainer the motorcycle could very well debut this year itself. We expect it to break cover alongside the 2024 XSR900, likely in the latter months of 2023. Let’s just hope Yamaha USA brings it to the States, unlike the updated Tenere 700.