Yamaha XSR700 XTribute 2022 — Specifications

It's a tribute offered by the XSR to a memory. Which doesn't stop it from considering making a few purchases in the workshop. The 700 clan gains confidence with larger brake discs and revised fork settings. A little makeover translates to a speedometer displacement, an engine revised to meet standards, as well as a new LED front optical unit and a smaller rear light. The definition of this motorcycle is not altered in any way, and its place is always justified by the call of history.

I’ve been soliciting 'Google Translate' for a long time, and the poor thing doesn't know anything. Is it really that complicated to translate 'neo-retro motorcycle version Faster Sons from the Sport Heritage, Scrambler trend'? Moreover, it could be worse. There's 'Neo Sport Café', 'Old School Rider', 'Nespresso Café Racer'. You could blow a fuse with these marketing terms.

Fortunately, the XSR 700 Xtribute can cling to something concrete to express its conception. A base of MT-07 dressed in a moderno-classic trim, retouched with a nod to the mythical XT 500.

Now I understand better; Gougl' still can't do it. Yamaha wanted more or less to transform its XSR into a scrambler. A trendy concept still absent from its range. A challenge when you know that the firm is a historic player in off-road, and that only the 950 Scrambler attempted to create an illusion. The Xtribute wants to fix all that, by borrowing part of the philosophy of the XT of yesteryear. Apart from in the color scheme and the calligraphy on the tank, you don't really see where... Very nice decoration though, nostalgic to the core with its gold rims, its black and silver tank with red trim, complemented by a white fender.

Keeping 17-inch spoked rims may seem inappropriate; and why keep a 180 at the rear, far too wide whatever roads are taken? But who really respects the codes of the scrambler these days? Except Triumph with its 1200, perhaps. On the other hand, the Pirelli MT60RS mixed tire fit already widens the scope of investigations. The presence of fork gaiters, off-road footrests and a high handlebar with reinforcing bar feel the need to go scrambling where the earth is more present than the asphalt. A flat seat, orange turn signals and a reduced rear light want to strengthen the search for identity. Once on the road, the engine will have no trouble brightening up every outing. The CP2 perfectly delivers its 73 horsepower, in a character that is nothing like a 1981 single – its thing is the sparkling, the ease for novices and the pugnacity for the confirmed. Thus, the engine and chassis are taken from the XSR 700 std without modification.

The XSR 700 Xtribute was not designed to go and do the goat on African trails (although... our departmental roads are starting to look like it) but rather to take on a look, in the style of an XT. This is truly affirmed only with the raised Akra exhaust pipe as an option – standard would have been more appropriate. Those who were waiting for a resurrection of the 500 XT will be disappointed. The more targeted clientele by its appearance on a fun machine will have reason to rejoice in its dynamism.

M.B - Constructeur photos