Everything You Need to Know - 2024 Yamaha XSR900 GP

Yamaha’s new XSR900 GP retro shamelessly evokes memories of the YZR500 V4, the iconic two-stroke that ruled grand prix racing for much of the 1980s and 1990s. From its Marlboro-inspired paint scheme to its yellow “number board” nose and distinctive hand guards, it is a carefully considered tribute to the fiery YZR and the American legends, Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey, who tamed it. If ever a sporting streetbike was designed for the US market, then the XSR900 GP is it.

Yet, sadly, it’s not coming here. At least not yet. Instead we get the standard XSR900 last tested during the 2022 Yamaha XSR900 Second Ride Review. And for those of a certain age, especially those who fell in love with the crisp handling of the YZR-inspired FZ and FZR sportbikes of the era, that seems like a crying shame.

Sceptics might argue that the GP is little more than a dressed-up XSR900, the popular and punchy naked in Yamaha’s Sports Heritage range. But Yamaha’s designers have worked magic to create a heartfelt and effective tribute to the YZR. The fairing is secured with an old-school stay and R-clips, just like a racebike. The gas tank is waisted at the knees and flat on top, just like the YZR’s (not to mention my old FZ600′s!). The boxy single seat oozes GP vibes (a pillion seat is hidden underneath), the Deltabox frame has an authentic period finish, and there are even “SpinForged” wheels which look like they have come fresh from an FZR1000. Add that distinctive cigarette livery and it’s all so close to the famous YZR.

Riding alongside all this nostalgia is a seriously modern Yamaha, one that manages to blend analog and digital, the past and the present, to create a fun and involving streetbike. In its MT-09 SP–derived electronics, the XSR GP has state-of-the art rider aids, and while the half-faired triple may look grand prix-radical, its chassis geometry and riding position are more relaxed than more track-focused Yamahas such as the YZF-R6 and YZF-R7. With Sport mode selected, the throttle is a little aggressive for the street—I preferred Road mode—but the CP3 triple’s blend of 117 bhp and a wide spread of torque is perfect for both the city and the hills, with enough punch for a day on track too.

The riding position leans you gently onto raised clip-ons, with more weight over the front tire than the XSR. The brakes are uprated, so too the KYB suspension, which is now fully adjustable and gives great feedback as your knee slider searches for the apex. Well, the XSR GP may not be a racebike, but its blend of performance, agility, and stability make for a compelling sporting ride. It’s relaxed and easygoing but some days will take you back to Laguna like it’s 1990 all over.

Anyone who admired the heroics of Rainey and Lawson or who cut their sporting teeth on the fast FZ and FZR Yamahas of the 1980s and 1990s will feel pulled toward the XSR900 GP. It is as cool and evocative as any retro on the planet. But even if you ignore the styling, it’s still a great streetbike, combining the simplicity of the base XSR900 with the state-of-the-art sophistication of the MT-09 SP sport naked. The only problem is that while riders in Europe are running to their local showrooms to put down deposits, we can’t! Let’s hope that changes soon.