Yamaha into RETRO?

[wiredgeorge_imp]

http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/models/xsr900

I kind of like the bumblebee striped version! Had an 84 RZ350 KR Replica many years ago... same colors/graphics.

[Chapomis_imp]

Looks sharp, I thought the Ducati Scrambler looked great with the yellow tank too. But I think the gold anodized forks are unnecessary.

[Capo]

Saw this at the NYC bike show, and was very impressed. Looks great in the metal. My group voted it most surprising bike of the show. I like how the new wave of retro is more modern and inspired by the old bikes rather than retro for retro sake. This one is a winner IMHO

[jmc1100_imp]

Nice! I would love to demo that...

[Firstfour_imp]

Well, I like the upright seating position, and the round headlight.

Otherwise, I'll go the other way. I'm not a fan of "modern" styling with all the lines going every which way and an overall unfinished look. For instance, where are the side covers? What is that box hanging below the steering head? Like most of the "nakeds" it looks like a sportbike with the plastic removed, revealing mechanicals that were not particularly designed to be seen.

I bought a CB1100 because of it's looks, which are, to me, beautiful. Not because it was "retro" per se. And, of course, just my .02 and probably worth less...

[Paulb_imp]

I bet Kenny Roberts won't appreciate his famous racing block colours being described as 'Bumblebee'! I saw this bike and a couple of others in the same colour scheme on the Yamaha stand at the NEC show last month (UK) and they looked terrific. I think Yamaha have really got it together design wise, I believe they are using a German design studio for fresh ideas.

[Papa Weeley_imp]

I bet Kenny Roberts won't appreciate his famous racing block colours being described as 'Bumblebee'! I saw this bike and a couple of others in the same colour scheme on the Yamaha stand at the NEC show last month (UK) and they looked terrific. I think Yamaha have really got it together design wise, I believe they are using a German design studio for fresh ideas.

Funny, I had the same reaction back when I had a Yamaha FZ-1. One of the early models (I think 2003?) came in these colors, and it was always referred to as the "Bumblebee" model. Always rubbed me wrong, for some reason. Maybe because I'm old enough to have had King Kenny as one of my personal heroes, and it just seems almost disrespectful to call all of those great old, completely insane Yamaha race bikes like the TZ750 "bumblebees".
Back on topic, these new bikes look great - not sure if at this point in my life that I'd want one of those paint jobs myself, but still kind of a cool homage to Yamaha's awesome racing history.

[LongRanger_imp]

Firstfour, I couldn't agree with you more. The Ducati Scrambler is another one that baffles me from a styling standpoint. Guess I'm just getting old.

[redbirds_imp]

I think it looks great.

[url=http://s1259.photobucket.com/user/stumpshooter/media/Motorcycles/Roberts.jpg.html]

Roberts in the infield section of Daytona, 1974 200.

[Bob Sdaman_imp]

I do like this, and Yamaha is finding all sorts of uses for that new inline-3. But this isn't what I'd call retro. That there is a modern-looking bike, no matter how you slice it.
Reading through, I see they use the term "neo-retro", so maybe that hits the nail on the head, "new retro". At it's core, this is an FZ-09 with a round headlight, different fuel tank, and a different seat. The ergonomics look side-by-side the same. If they price it the same, in the early 8's, I think it'll do alright. It's not quite flooding their own market, but it sure is close.