XSR900GP

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I've ridden a KH250, hopefully it's a lot better than that.

[Supermofo]

Everything I've read about the MT-09 (and the SP, even more so) indicates that in terms of riding pleasure it would be right up my cul-de-sac, but I find the looks challenging. The XSR banishes most of those concerns but is a) more expensive (especially the GP version) and b) still has a few niggles in the looks department. I definitely need to get my sorry arse down to the NEC later this year to really crawl over all the CP3 range.

Test ride one first. Might have been the one I rode, but the MT09 just doesn't feel right IMO. I rode Weeksy's XSR and a Tracer and they were fine, but the MT09 just felt...odd. The throttle response wasn't great either. In comparison the GSXS felt a proper sportsbike, just comfortable.

Good call. Nothing compares to actually riding a bike to tell you whether you're going to get on with it long term in real life. I've never ridden a triple, be it British or Japanese, so I certainly need to sort that out before going any further. Having said that I'd never ridden a V-twin before and bought an 851 purely on the basis of lust...

That Yamaha triple is a peach, really nice motor with loads of go exactly where you want it.

But yeah as for riding I rode the MT09 and thought 'hmmm maybe' but to me it felt compromised. The following week I rode the Tracer and GSXS. The Tracer was better handling and better throttle connection than the MT but a bit more dull. But then I jumped on the Suzuki and it was no contest, it handled like it was on rails in comparison to the Yamahas and the engine was easily as fun cos its a monster of a thing with loads of midrange.

Weeksy's XSR handled well though, that was loads of fun. Think it only had a shock handling wise, but also think the XSR had a slightly different set up as standard. I was set in buying a black Mars Bar looking XSR before I tried the GSXS.

[mangocrazy]

Confession time - I've never owned an IL4 and over the years it's almost become a bit of a badge of honour, which is stupid, really. I'm just not that keen on the IL4 exhaust note - it's all a bit too whizzy and one-dimensional. I'm aware that I'm shutting myself off from a lot of excellent bikes by taking that stance, but it's hard to kick the habit after all these years. I've ridden plenty of other people's IL4s, but they've never lit that spark in me. I've owned singles, twins (parallel and V) and V4s, but never a triple or an IL4.

I think I need to get out more...

[Taipan]

Effin loved my MT09. Swore i'd get another and even kept, and still have, a full black widow exhaust system for one. Lovely engine with good linear grunt and a bit of top end rush. Argued with myself many times over which was better out of the MT and the Duc Hyper but I guess in hindsight, I'd have to side with the MT.

[tricol]

The racing pack with lower fairing is a nice option, and does change the looks quite a bit

[Potter]

The racing pack with lower fairing is a nice option, and does change the looks quite a bit

Any pics?

The GP version is really growing on me, it's the TRX thing I think, I was looking at them on the Fowlers website and it's nice.

[Dodgy69]

Still never seen one of these on the roads.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235269233761 ... media=COPY

[weeksy]

Still never seen one of these on the roads.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235269233761 ... media=COPY

Went to Germany with mates from here, one of the boys was on his. I sat on it in car park at Folkestone and later declined my offer of a ride, seemed very very uncomfortable. Cool as heck. But very uncomfortable

[ChrisW]

Still never seen one of these on the roads.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235269233761 ... media=COPY

Went to Germany with mates from here, one of the boys was on his. I sat on it in car park at Folkestone and later declined my offer of a ride, seemed very very uncomfortable. Cool as heck. But very uncomfortable

Love the look of those. Must be fairly easy to put a normal handlebar on what with the funny bicycle bars / top yoke they have - or are the footpegs different too?

[Bustaspoke]

Each to their own,but to me that looks even uglier!
What's going on with that exhaust

[Demannu]

Still never seen one of these on the roads.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/235269233761 ... media=COPY

Went to Germany with mates from here, one of the boys was on his. I sat on it in car park at Folkestone and later declined my offer of a ride, seemed very very uncomfortable. Cool as heck. But very uncomfortable

Love the look of those. Must be fairly easy to put a normal handlebar on what with the funny bicycle bars / top yoke they have - or are the footpegs different too?

That must be the only one left with the standard bars on. Everyone I know fits 'proper' bars to them as the drops just double you up and put too much pressure on the wrists

[tricol]

The racing pack with lower fairing is a nice option, and does change the looks quite a bit

Any pics?

The GP version is really growing on me, it's the TRX thing I think, I was looking at them on the Fowlers website and it's nice.

Unfortunately not, just saw it on thier Instagram page. I really like it overall, but the headlight seems far too small. Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh.

[Potter]

It's growing on me massively, I think it's the TZR250 top fairing with the 'ears' and the 1980s endurance racer look.
Then the more I watch youtube and read about it, the more it makes sense, the triple engine is perfect for the road, the ergonomics look sporty but maybe bearable for an old moaner like me and it looks good with the potential to look very good with a few quid thrown at it.

Lamb Chop seems to love the RD500 styled one and I think it's basically the same bike, except I hope they haven't made it too hard on the back and wrists with this version.

[ChrisW]

The racing pack with lower fairing is a nice option, and does change the looks quite a bit

Any pics?

The GP version is really growing on me, it's the TRX thing I think, I was looking at them on the Fowlers website and it's nice.

Unfortunately not, just saw it on thier Instagram page. I really like it overall, but the headlight seems far too small. Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh.

[ChrisW]

That must be the only one left with the standard bars on. Everyone I know fits 'proper' bars to them as the drops just double you up and put too much pressure on the wrists

No coincidence I suppose that all the ones I see for sale have the standard bars.

[Bustaspoke]

I like the look of that fully faired version

[Potter]

I'm not sure I'm that keen on the fairing lower part and how it mates with the rest, it looks like a lazy aftermarket part, but it's still a massive move in the right direction, back to when bikes looked nice.

[Potter]

Fingers crossed for an SP version with Ohlins.

[ChrisW]

I'm not sure I'm that keen on the fairing lower part

I agree - I was hoping for something a little more like this:

[Potter]

I'm not sure I'm that keen on the fairing lower part

I agree - I was hoping for something a little more like this:

It might not be perfect but I'm struggling to see much that I don't like with that, it's the bike I would have drooled over in the early 90's, except it's almost certainly going to be a better bike than anything available in the early 90's.
I keep looking at TZRs and TZ250s but that time for me has passed by, but this might be the ticket.

I'll be going right past my local Yamaha place later this week, I think I'll call in for a brew and see when they reckon these might appear.
My mate called me last week and said he's very tempted to buy the RD500 looking one ready for spring next year, so if he buys that then I'll have a riding buddy again and he's gearing up for retirement at the same time as me, so in that case I'll be very tempted to put my money down on one of these GPs.

Even if I don't ride it much I'll be just as happy having that as an ornament in our annex as I would riding it.