First riding impressions: new 2017 Yamaha XSR900 Abarth

Yamaha XSR900 Abarth with BikeSocial
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£9999 (and only 50 of the limited edition 695 run remain unsold!)

Yamaha is producing just 695 of its limited-edition Yamaha XSR900 Abarth’s worldwide. The bad news is they’re nearly all sold.

But that didn’t stop us getting a ride on one today over in Sardinia, Italy just in case you're fortunate enough to get hold of one, or one pops up on eBay or even at auction. Don’t thank us, it’s all part of the service.

Abarth is the legendary sports arm of Fiat, the firm with that famous red and yellow scorpion badge that we’re more used to seeing on Fiat’s specced-up top-end cars going way back to the late fourties.

We’re talking cars like the Fiat Abarth 695 in more recent years. Abarth are what AMG is to Mercedes, or the M-series cars are to BMW.

A car firm they may be, but Abarth also used to have a sticker on Rossi and Lorenzo’s factory MotoGP Yamahas, during their Fiat sponsorship days.

And now, Yamaha has collaborated with Abarth to produce this, ultra-limited edition XSR900 Abarth, a factory built cafe racer special complete with clip-on bars, a full titanium Akrapovic exhaust system, carbon seat cowl and front mudguard, LED tail light, single seat with suede seat cover and red stitching, a slipper clutch, traction-control and a limited-edition plaque.

Based on the retro-style, super-cool Yamaha XSR900, the changes make the already great base bike even more stunning.

Most of these will end up with collectors, which is a real shame as they’re brilliant fun and the changes toughen up the mighty 113bhp 850cc-powered triple.

After several miles in the seat, our first impressions are a bike with bags of attitude that hones the XSR even further.

Our man Marc Potter said: “It’s a real shame more people aren’t going to get to ride these Abarths. The XSR900 Abarth is the most extreme XSR yet. It's like a Yamaha Yard Built bike that has been put into production. Which it has, except just 695 will be built. It's hilarious, extreme and has more attitude that I have seen in a Yamaha for years. I love it!"

Much more soon.

Yamaha XSR900 Abarth Technical Specifications

Engine type

3-cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valves

Displacement

847 cm³

Bore x stroke

78.0 mm x 59.1 mm

Compression ratio

11.5 : 1

Maximum power

84.6 kW/115PS/113bhp @ 10,000 rpm

Maximum torque

87.5 Nm/8.9 kg-m/64.5ft-lb @ 8,500 rpm

Lubrication system

Wet sump

Clutch type

Wet, Multiple Disc

Fuel system

Fuel Injection

Ignition system

TCI

Starter system

Electric

Transmission system

Constant Mesh, 6-speed

Final transmission

Chain

Fuel consumption

5.2 l/100km

CO2 emission

120 g/km

Chassis

Frame

Diamond

Front suspension system

Telescopic forks

Front travel

137 mm

Caster angle

25º

Trail

103 mm

Rear suspension system

Swingarm, (Link type suspension)

Rear travel

130 mm

Front brake

Hydraulic dual disc, Ø 298 mm

Rear brake

Hydraulic single disc, Ø 245 mm

Front tyre

120/70ZR17M/C (58W) (Tubeless)

Rear tyre

180/55ZR17M/C (73W) (Tubeless)

Dimensions

Overall length

2,075 mm

Overall width

815 mm

Overall height

1,135 mm

Seat height

830 mm

Wheel base

1,440 mm

Minimum ground clearance

135 mm

Wet weight (including full oil and fuel tank)

195 kg

Fuel tank capacity

14 L

Oil tank capacity

3.4 L

Remark

EU4 compliant

 

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