XSR700: It’s Not Fun to Pursue only Convenience and Practicality | Beloved Motorcycle

MYBIKE COMMENT

Motive for purchase

It was purchased as an up-and-coming bike for an old man who is 60 years old.

Two years ago, I bought a '21 CRF250 L to replace my '92 K100RS 4V Anniversary, which had been with me for many years, and I was thinking of making it a top-of-the-line bike--I was old enough to ride a small one instead of sandals. However, after having ridden big bikes all my life, I was afraid that the small and light CRF would cause accidents because it was not scary to ride in any reckless way, whether on or off the bike.

The XSR700 is excellent as a closing vehicle for experienced riders and as the first big bike for young riders. Above all, the fact that it can be handled as a clog without being overbearing is the best among the CP2-equipped models. I saw and tried MT07 and Tenere700, which were the subject of purchase comparison this time, and thought they were wonderful, but they were too beautiful to stand on, so they dropped out of the candidates.

The Fantic Caballero 700 with CP2 had just arrived in Japan in terms of timing, but considering the price and after-sales support, I thought this would be a Santoni leather shoe, not a clog, so this is also a forfeit.

In fact, up to this point, the XSR700 had not even been on my list of potential purchases, and now the MT09, which captivates with its sound, and the XSR900, which wears a somewhat nostalgic style, emerged as candidates. I tried both of them and thought they were wonderful, but again, these too were too complete standing up and were not selected.

I was agonizing over the fact that I liked the engine feel of the CP2 when I remembered that there was an XSR700, a model I had never paid attention to before.
I looked at it carefully and found that the marketing strategy that encouraged retrospective and the deliberately incomplete design looked somehow appealing, and I decided to buy it.

Advantages

Classical above the waist and mechanical below the waist, they are all handsome if you only look at the parts. However, if you look at the whole, it is exquisitely unbalanced or incomplete. But this imperfection creates a mysterious charm. This is indeed the work of GK Design. I take my hat off to his sense of style.

And the fact that they are not at all like other people in Tokyo can be highly regarded as a mirror of unpopular car models (I'm complimenting you).

Regardless of whether you approve or disapprove of its appearance, the CP2 is a sensual power unit. Whether you are rolling at low rpm, accelerating at full throttle, cruising at a reasonable speed, taking high-speed corners or tight corners, or riding in any other way, it not only meets your needs but is also very sensual.

The vehicle weight of 188 kg is also exquisite and easy to handle. What happens after you get off the bike, such as stopping for a moment or pushing and pulling, is important on a get-off bike. Especially when you get old like me, I know firsthand that no matter what you do, muscle training or not, you will get weaker year by year, so I take lightness as justice.

The seat height of 835mm is also acceptable when considered as the source of the fluttering feeling. By taking advantage of the upright and high seat height position, the rider can take any corner as desired by relaxing the shoulders, not putting too much force on the handlebars, and slightly rounding the back to ride backward with the trunk.
This is a way of turning with the hips without opening the legs or removing the knee grips. The way you ride is already heroic. When ridden in this way, the handling is very neutral and shows no strange quirks. You can enjoy the so-called YAMAHA handling.
The Road 5 with normal tires and suspension is sufficient for the job unless you do something crazy.

The clutch is said to be heavy, but from the perspective of today's crafted clutches, this is certainly also a heritage specification. However, for the generation that has experienced heavy clutches and clutches that do not disengage, this is probably just about the extent of what they can expect.

Disadvantages

YAMAHA is a manufacturer that focuses on making motorcycles for enjoyment as a hobby. Therefore, it is safe to assume that practicality is not a top priority.

This is the reason for the loadability, which, as you know, is said to be non-existent.
Depending on how you look at it, this may be a disadvantage. However, it has enough room to carry a cardboard box or a seat bag attached to the tandem seat. Not even cargo hooks are provided, but it is manageable.

The XSR700 does not dare to be built up, but has bolt-ons for the second half of the seat rail so that it can be cut off as standard, and has gutters on both sides of the tank for the separator from the beginning. So, please understand that the owner should devise the practicality such as loading according to his/her needs.

If you don't like GK Design's exquisitely elaborated default style, Yamaha intends that you should thoroughly customize it and enjoy it. The rise of the scrambler and café racer cults in Europe is a good example of this (this is just my personal opinion).

If you remove the in-vehicle tools from the tray and put them in a bag, they will fit neatly in the space where the hook wrench for initial adjustment is located (once initial adjustment is made, it is not something you have to adjust all the time, so you do not need to carry it). (Once the initials are determined, it is not necessary to adjust them all the time, so they are not carried in the front of the car. In this space, a standard wrench or Allen key can be replaced with a proper one from a tool manufacturer.

Advice for prospective buyers

If you are looking for a middle-class bike with a 270-degree crank engine and the same level of convenience, the NC750X from a certain company is your choice. It is equipped with a metric system, an excellent windshield, and even ETC as standard equipment. If I "need" to take the expressway for a one-day round trip to Higashi Osaka or an endurance shopping rally in the 23 wards of Tokyo, I would choose the NC750X.
The price and fuel economy are both good enough to keep a draft out of your pocket.

But chasing after convenience and practicality is no fun.

Motorcycles are hot in summer, cold in winter, wet when it rains, troublesome to clean, and inconvenient to begin with. Yet, because we find this inconvenience endearing, old motorcycles are still popular, and new motorcycles that have inherited the inconvenience are being born. Of course, products that are less inconvenient and more convenient have also been created, evolving further and gaining support, but surprisingly, the popularity of inconvenient products shows no sign of slowing down.

The XSR700 has a hard time fitting even the ETC2 unit under the seat, and the only people who can fire up the XSR700's engine are those who can appreciate this grace by YAMAHA and love the inconvenience.

It's no wonder the XSR700 is so unpopular. The MT07, its sister, comes with a factory-installed carrier and pannier system. If you like Yamaha, prefer CP2, and value practicality, the MT07 is the way to go. Although they have the same frame and engine undercarriage, they are on a different playing field from the XSR700 from the start.

If you like the XSR700, don't hesitate to straddle it without hesitation because of the seat height. It would be a shame if you don't like it. The foot grounding is the same as that of SEROW 250. The footpeg position when you put your feet down is also good. The lower half of the body is more relaxed than that of MT-07 when sitting on the seat because of the waist height, and the roomy riding posture created by the upright position is worthy of evaluation.

It is also nice that it is not intimidating because it wears a somewhat nostalgic appearance. It does not stand out even if you park it around there for a while. This is recommended for those who don't like to stand out and for those who want to ride casually in their everyday clothes.

It can be used as a getaway in town, or it can be used as a nighttime diversion on the Metropolitan Highway, or it can even be used to make up distance at high speeds, and then be afforded the luxury of riding back through the winding roads. The XSR700 is pure fun to ride and interesting. You can ride it without any worries. I recommend it to those who are looking for something like that.