Yamaha’s latest Sport Heritage model, the XSR900 Abarth, will soon reach customers in Europe and reviews are beginning to sprout up in the European press. The limited edition Abarth (only 695 will be available) is based on Yamaha’s relationship with the FIAT “Abarth” performance division, a brand reference largely unknown in the United States. The United States is not getting the XSR900 Abarth.
This limited edition model has a Café racer style. Featuring a carbon fiber nose cowling, rear seat cowling, low handle bars and full titanium Akropovic exhaust system, the XSR900 Abarth also gets a unique suede seat, paint and Abarth logos.
What do you think of the XSR900 Abarth styling?
See more of MD’s great photography:
It is an encouraging direction, perhaps the big 4 are not all completely out of touch. I would like mine with a color other than gray or black, to much of that on that road for me right now on 2 and 4 wheels. It happens every 10-15 years.
That triple is a wonderful engine
Jeez guys. Every single bike cannot exactly match our own personal tastes, and it might do for many other people. Reminds me of the wise words of a Mexican co-worker, during a heated argument about cars or something, while shrugging his shoulders: ‘You no like, you no buy”.
Well, the article did ask what we thought of the bike’s styling. Several comments were actually mentioned rather favorably. Of course no new or retro bike is going to get all high 5’s. Style trends do change along with the potential buyers & critics. For some older folks the newer styles are just hard to get used to. Same goes with the newer cars compared to earlier ‘smoother looking’ classic styles.
At least its not a not another anime beak transformer power ranger clone.
I think it looks great! like that fairing
Honestly I won’t miss it in the US.. The little fairing is cool, but the Akro pipe and clip-on bars – I’ll pass on those upgrades. The standard bike with a little fly screen would suit me better
looks about like the yellow 60th anniversary edition of the XSR900 reviewed elsewhere by Dirck, only this one isn’t yellow. And the muffler is a little more clever, and the cowling is carbon fiber. Otherwise, why bother with it in the US?
Is there a good reason why the tail end of the seat sits up so high? Seems a lower more horizontal seat alignment would at least look much better (?). Surely the bike can’t have that much space required for the rear suspension’s travel range (?). Isn’t it better for the seat height to be relatively lower to improve cornering? Maybe this particular bike was never intended for 2 up riding (?). Overall it sure looks better to me than many of the new styled robotic / beaked bikes that some seem to favor.
I wish Suzuki would bring back a 2017 version of the GSX 1400. Traditional looks, bullet proof motor etc., with ABs and better suspension it would be a winner.
This is one beautiful motorcycle. It is amazing how many can sit on ice cream and tell you the flavor. Life is Beautiful behind bars.
Some improvement here. Looks like the udder is gone, the fairing is nice and the rear tail light assembly is not bad. The tank still looks like it and the seat belong on another bike and the cigarette cases bolted to the frame look like gak.
Looks like a bunch of parts that kind of fit slapped together and called a motorcycle. Sure it works well but Yamaha has some interesting sense of style these days.
Agreed!
Give me a standard height handlebar kit and I’m in.
Great looking bike.
Reminds me of the Seca 900.
Café racer style is a legitimate market segment. Why it’s being ignored here in the U.S. by the big 4 Japanese Co.’s is a mystery to me.
First impression was it reminds me of an RZ 350, and that’s not bad. Imagine that in Kenny Roberts yellow.
I like the fairing. I don’t like those electrical boxes showing on the frame. Ugh.
I’d like the exhaust for my FZ.
I’m with bart, that round headlight gives the bike a great look.
I want one.
As current styling goes, I’ve seen worse.
re: “As current styling goes, I’ve seen worse.”
unbeknownst, Bob admits to having recently visited Motorcycle Daily…
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2017/03/2017-yamaha-fz-10-long-term-review-introduction/
I like the styling better than most new bikes lately. Even if the BIKE is not coming to America, maybe we can order the fairing and headlight as parts, and get them shipped here to make our American Japanese bikes to be less ugly??!!
Though it was mentioned it is carbon fiber, so not cheap!
Too bad Craig Vetter hasn’t jumped back into the fairing business!!
Abarth “was” a big name here in the States back in the 1960’s-70’s. They supplied very nice aftermarket exhaust systems to many different cars. Their shop/store was in Daytona……and they had a Kool Catalog to make an inspiring “SOLO II Driver” drool over. They are not new to performance……..
I had Abarth exhaust systems on my MG’s in the early 70’s. I loved their mellow tone, authoritative without being a nuisance to those around me.
needs a third muffler?…looks fun to ride short distances
It has a round headlight and no beak!
I think it looks like a lot of fun!
It’s kind of a contradictory mish-mash with some overly fiddly details, but compared to tranformers etc it’s pretty good.
Of course, compared to this….
http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/-/media/Images/MCC/Editorial/Articles/Magazine-Articles/2012/03-01/The-Last-Ducati-900SS-Was-the-Best/MCC-MA12-ducati-1.jpg
re: “It’s kind of a contradictory mish-mash with some overly fiddly details”
fullstop.
Yo, Fix It Again Tony. I had to.
I think it looks sharp.
Excuse me while I baaaarrrrfffff! Glad it won’t be seen in America!
… says a guy called VStrom Pilot. LOL!
LOL. I thought the same thing Scott.
LOL that’s good +1
Wait minute boys. The VStrom is not that bad looking. That’s a bum-rap.
Really? You probably find Lady Gaga attractive.
I am a Vstrom lover. I also love all Ducati’s that Pierre designed (except the Supermono). I love the TLR1000R rear swingarm and shock. I love the look of all the Ural’s too. I also just love the seat and tail on the above turd. Too bad I am too big for it!! Haha
James, doin’ a lot of lovin’! 🙂
Except the Supermono??? That was the best!
I wonder who decides which bikes come to America and which ones don’t?
Q: who decides which bikes come to America and which ones don’t?
A: coin toss (by Anton Chigurh).
People that ride cruisers. They spend money.
The Sturgis Consortium.
It looks like something cobbled together in a dark basement. All it needs is duct tape…
Just get rid of those gruesome frame mounted boxes and you’d have a cool bike!
The funny thing about those boxes is that while they definitely are an eyesore, even if you removed them it wouldn’t improve the look all that much. That FZ-09/FJ-09/XSR900 frame junction simply isn’t very handsome, and this is coming from someone who owns an XSR900.
As for the Abarth mods, they’re decent enough. The thing is, those lower bars completely change the riding position, transforming the XSR from an upright standard to a bikini-faired sportbike.
VLJ those “brackets” below the seat with the 3 holes. Do they do anything? I’d have to remove them or powder coat them black. Eyesore to me.
Other than balancing the look of the matching pair of brackets by the headlight, nope, they don’t do anything.
interesting. Thanks
I’d also powder coat the ends of the radiator and those silver arms up at the front wheel (fender brace?)
Funny how I like what Japan makes for Europe more than I like what Japan makes for America.
US Market only desires Art Deco 1930’s inspired Star Cruisers, (only in Black, with overly soft suspension).
R6 & R1’s were misdirected from Canada in the shipping.
How does motorcycldaily know? I can operate a paint gun. I have masking tape. I have a sewing machine. I can lay up fiberglass.
Akropovic will sell me an exhaust system. Done, done, done and done.
Then observers will make fun of my handiwork.
Now that is an attractive motorcycle!
I’ve seen this in the metal (at a show in the UK) and thought it was an ugly little beast. Then again, the basic version is no beauty either. Quite how Yamaha is connected with the car-tuning firm is a mystery.
No great loss if it doesn’t appear in the US and I doubt it will be popular on this side of The Pond.
I thought Yamaha’s involvement with Fiat interesting too. Remember though that Fiat owns Alpha Romeo and Marchionne has been striving for a revival of the brand in the US. Could be that Yamaha has been brought in to help with engine design and/or manufacture?
Nice job of disguising the tank shape with the paint scheme.
I like it; it’s better that almost everything else recently coming from Yamaha.
My Roadstar looks pretty nice. Wanted something lighter and faster, but I was an adult before The Transformers got popular.
Not available in the U.S.? That would be fine with me. This looks better than most if not all the “custom” bikes that have shown up on MD lately, but that’s a look I can do without. The nose fairing looks like it’s off an old BMW or maybe Moto Guzzi bike. No thanks, no interest to me, but I’m sure someone will love it.
Now we’re getting somewhere……! But it just looks like somebody threw some carbon fibre bits on. How about a nice yellow/black(carbon fibre) KR theme? Still lust for a old Suzuki GS1000s Wes Cooley edition!