|
Author |
Message |
Wafer_Thin_Ham |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham Super Spammer
Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :
|
Posted: 16:56 - 07 May 2017 Post subject: XSR700 Review Thingey |
|
|
I've been rolling around on an XSR700 for the past 5 weeks and counting for one reason and another. A few seem interested in what it's like so there's a little review of it. Just note that I'm not really it's target market, but I will be as objective as I can.
The XSR700 is based on the MT07 platform. It's the hipster styled version, with a suede effect rear seat, (very) wide bars and a classic headlight.
https://kickstart.bikeexif.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Yamaha_XSR700_ForestGreen_Static-2.jpg
This machine is all about style and the look above all else. You're buying this over an MT07 because you like the way it looks and you want something that'll look cool at the coffee stop. Personally I'm not a fan of the look. It sits too high at the front to my eye and that brake light perched on top of the rear fender as an afterthought. The quality of the paint and plastics is very cheap and flimsy. The welding on the exhaust is crude and on my example some of the anodised black bolts are starting to go a bluey tinge. That said, it's cheaply finished because it's cheap. £6,599 is the RRP I bet with a bit of haggling you could get a bit off of that, or put it on a PCP deal.
Once you start it up and get rolling at normal speeds it's passable. The forks are under damped and under sprung, but at least Yamaha had the forethought to fit brakes that don't offer much in the way of outright stopping power. I'm sure that this could be sorted with a new set of pads, but then you'd be overwhelming the forks even more. It's a similar story with the rear shock. The spring isn't so bad, but again there's very little in the way to damping meaning it pogos around even when not battering on.
The engine is a loveable little lump. It's smooth for the most part. Giving it full gas at low rpm in a high gear results in a lot of shuddering, but it's a parallel twin so it's to be expected. It jumps out of corners quite well if you're in the right gear. Get the engine in it's sweet spot between about 5-9k rpm and you can make reasonable progress provided you're liberal with the throttle. It's a little breathless from 9k up to the limiter at 11k, but you just change up. Outright top speed isn't really what this bike is about for me. You just surf the midrange.
The OE tyres are similar to the rest of the bike really, it's all about the style. Pirelli Sport Phantoms. Look cool, but offer precious little feel. They do seem to be wearing well though. Fortunately they don't seem to be overwhelmed by the power/handling prowess of the machine. It's the suspension and brakes that can time long before the rubber becomes an issue.
It's good on fuel. 50-55mpg is pretty typical for me. My use was mainly been motorway and a/b roads. So if you do a lot of town/residential work then your mileage would be better than mine.
In terms of riding position, it's fine. Bars are a little wide, which makes filtering tricky and you're sat very upright in the wind blast so it's not idea for motorways. It's also given me white finger a fair few times, but the bars don't seem to be noticeably buzzy.
Overall it's a perfect bike for someone fresh to bikes that wants something a little different like an old Bonneville, but wants it to actually start in the mornings. It's a proven platform. All of the shortcomings I've mentioned are easily sorted. With some Hyperpro Springs and fresh pads it would be a far better bike for me. That said, if you want a commuting tool, but an MT07 or Tracer 700 they're both better for that sort of thing. If you want something that looks super cool, then buy a Ducati scrambler or Triumph Street Twin. If you want something that looks ok, won't go wrong and is cheap then buy this. ____________________ My Flickr |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Kris |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Kris World Chat Champion
Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Teflon-Mike |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Teflon-Mike tl;dr
Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
owl |
This post is not being displayed .
|
owl World Chat Champion
Joined: 21 Oct 2016 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
owl |
This post is not being displayed .
|
owl World Chat Champion
Joined: 21 Oct 2016 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
ScaredyCat |
This post is not being displayed .
|
ScaredyCat World Chat Champion
Joined: 19 May 2012 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
DottyDuck |
This post is not being displayed .
|
DottyDuck Nearly there...
Joined: 12 Nov 2012 Karma :
|
Posted: 00:57 - 08 May 2017 Post subject: Re: XSR700 Review Thingey |
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
P. |
This post is not being displayed .
|
P. Red Rocket
Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham Super Spammer
Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham Super Spammer
Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham Super Spammer
Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham Super Spammer
Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :
|
Posted: 07:31 - 13 May 2017 Post subject: |
|
|
New SV is just as utilitarian as the old one, but more money. They must still have some pre-reg 16 SV650S's kicking around. Buy one of those instead. (Or an MT07, the engine is better IMO). ____________________ My Flickr |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
ScaredyCat |
This post is not being displayed .
|
ScaredyCat World Chat Champion
Joined: 19 May 2012 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
stevo as b4 |
This post is not being displayed .
|
stevo as b4 World Chat Champion
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham |
This post is not being displayed .
|
Wafer_Thin_Ham Super Spammer
Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
ScaredyCat |
This post is not being displayed .
|
ScaredyCat World Chat Champion
Joined: 19 May 2012 Karma :
|
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
grr666 |
This post is not being displayed .
|
grr666 Super Spammer
Joined: 16 Jun 2014 Karma :
|
Posted: 19:37 - 13 May 2017 Post subject: |
|
|
Since I've had a mention in this thread I'll chime in. When I bought the spacker it was after a test ride of the boggo MT09.
For me it was that engine, pulls like an absolute bastard in any gear at any revs pretty much. I wasn't fond of the looks
of the boggo bike but when I saw the Sport Tracker in the showroom it had just enough retro styling bolted to that magnificent
(and a tiny bit scary) powerplant to tick my visual boxes as well. And with the newest variant coming in the showrooms
shortly they had some good deals to clear the old stock which pretty much did it for me. I was looking at chucking
6.5 k ish at a 14 plate low milage striple and having ridden both bikes the Yamaha edged it out on fun factor for me,
mainly by being the more hairy chested of the two. Plus I got a brand new bike OTR (that definitely hadn't been in a ditch)
with two years warranty for 500 quid more than I was going to spend on a used one. Also I've yet to see another
Spacker on my travels whereas I see striples all the time. I know since adding the Akra I've made it a bit noisy
(read glorious) sounding which naturally turns heads, but even before I did it seemed to get noticed everywhere
I went. And I couldn't stop for fuel without someone asking me about it. It suits my needs, a sunny sunday bike thats
an absolute hooligan, loud as fuck and a giggle to ride. And it doesn't look like a racebike but I've surprised a few
600cc racebikes which only adds to its appeal for me. It just looks like an old fashioned motorbike at the same time.
Oh and it spits huge flames from the exhaust, like the Batmobile.
Ticks my boxes nicely and have no plans to change it for the foreseeable. I have over 2 years until it needs
it's first MOT. I'll re evaluate what I want from a bike then, assuming I don't wheelie it into the River Avon in the meantime. ____________________ Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off. |
|
Back to top |
|
You must be logged in to rate posts |
|
|
Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 6 years, 348 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
|
|
|