As a manufacturer, Yamaha has a knack for producing motorcycles that are both fun and practical. These two usually mutually exclusive characteristics can be found in pretty much every street bike currently on sale. Simply offering us a different balance in each model, even the R1 has a semblance of pragmatism to it, seeing as though it is pretty reliable. It certainly is not particularly well-rounded, though.
If you are looking for something well-rounded, this balance between fun and practicality needs to be as close to 50/50 as possible. It also needs to be relatively affordable, and it should ideally be easy on the eye. Looks are deeply subjective, but we can all agree that some Yamahas are a little hard to look at.
There Are Some Equally Well-Rounded Bikes From Other Brands
It stands to reason that Yamaha is not the only brand offering well-rounded motorcycles. Kawasaki, for one, offers the Z650RS, which offers a little more for a little more. It adds neat design touches like the old-school dash to the mix, as well as a slipper clutch and traction control. Suzuki still has the SV650, which has been around since approximately the dawn of time, but it is still kicking about for good reason: it is an excellent motorcycle. Its V-twin is a peach, and it has a better chassis than anything else in this space.
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The XSR700 Is The Most Well Rounded Yamaha You Can Buy Today
MSRP: $8,599
Everyone will have a different idea of what a well-rounded motorcycle might look like. Some will want one kind of motorcycle, and others will want another. Some will want more features, and others less. The XSR700 is the “middle ground” of the middle ground. It offers a back-to-basics riding experience, has enough power to be fun, but not so much that it is intimidating. It is just a motorcycle. A fun, practical motorcycle that won’t break the bank.
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Boasts Yamaha’s Bulletproof CP2 Engine
Power: 74 Horsepower
Yamaha struck gold with the CP2 engine. It is the ideal multi-platform lump because it is versatile enough to go into just about any kind of motorcycle. If you want a well-rounded motorcycle, you can very well choose any of the bikes equipped with a CP2, and you can’t really go wrong. It is currently one of the most reliable engines you can find in any motorcycle, and it is also pretty efficient, with a claimed fuel economy of 58 MPG.
This Is The Ultimate Powertrain For The Real World
The CP2 isn’t just about pragmatism, though; it is also a genuinely fun, tractable engine. As is the case with any middleweight these days, midrange performance is prioritized above all else. Having access to more of the power lower down in the rev range means you are actually able to enjoy it at real-world speeds. 50 pound-feet of torque might not seem like much, but most of it is already available from around 2,000 RPM. That is ridiculously low. It makes the XSR700 a blast to ride pretty much anywhere, even if it is just to the shop around the corner.
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The XSR700 Is Simplified Motorcycling At its Very Best
The only “feature” the XSR700 gets is ABS. That’s it. This is a very simple motorcycle, which makes it something of an outlier among other modern motorcycles currently on sale. This might seem like a weakness, but it will actually improve the longevity of the motorcycle we already know to be mechanically reliable. Most modern motorcycles are mechanically reliable. So that doesn’t necessarily make the XSR700 unique in that regard, but the problems that do tend to pop up over time are all electrical.
Fewer electronics equate to fewer long-term issues. The ergos are comfort-oriented, your hands fall naturally on the bars, and it has ample legroom. It is a very comfortable bike that will gladly handle the weekday commute and longer rides over the weekend. But, with a seat height of 32.9 inches, it is a little taller than average and might not suit shorter riders.
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No Frills, No Fuss
The chassis and suspension are of the budget variety, but still more than up to the task of handling its power output. It will be quite at home on a canyon road, but you will need to have your wits about you because this bike doesn’t even have a slipper clutch, let alone traction control. It is pretty light and has a short wheelbase, which means it is extra flickable and extra fun in the right hands. Rider engagement is at the forefront here, but while some will recommend this bike to new riders, that would be a mistake in our opinion. This already has a little more power than most new riders can handle, and the lack of added electronic safety nets makes it a less-than-ideal starter bike.
It is a great bike to step up to, but not exactly beginner-friendly. In terms of looks, we feel Yamaha nailed the design brief. It is just a good-looking motorcycle. While it draws inspiration from the past, it isn’t anything like some other retro models that quite literally take you back in time. In that regard, you could argue the fact that the XSR700 is missing some of the authenticity you get with a genuine retro model. It simply blends elements from the past into what is an otherwise modern “neo-retro” design.
Naturally, a back-to-basics motorcycle like this won’t be for everyone. It is actually a little surprising that something like this still exists, and it is for that reason that we absolutely love the thing. It offers that ideal 50/50 fun-to-practicality ratio we were talking about earlier, and will be a great option for anyone after a motorcycle that forces you to step away from the world for a bit, and just ride.
Chassis, Suspension, And Weight Specifications
|
Chassis |
Steel diamond |
|
Front Suspension |
41mm telescopic fork (5.1-in travel) |
|
Rear Suspension |
Single shock, adjustable preload (5.1-in travel) |
|
Weight |
410 lbs |
Source: Yamaha