Yamaha XSR900 SP Spotted in US Filings

The Yamaha XSR900 SP has emerged in US regulatory filings, suggesting a new performance-focused variant of the 890cc neo-retro motorcycle.

Yamaha has submitted vehicle identification number (VIN) filings to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), listing both a standard XSR900 SP and a California-spec version, indicating that the model is being prepared for the 2027 model year.

According to the filings, the XSR900 SP will use Yamaha's 890cc, three-cylinder CP3 engine, producing 117.4hp, identical to the output listed for the standard XSR900, as well as the MT-09, Tracer 9, and R9 in the same documentation.

This suggests that the SP variant will focus on chassis and equipment upgrades rather than additional engine performance.

Chassis and Equipment Upgrades

While Yamaha has not revealed the equipment list for the XSR900 SP, the motorcycle's relationship with the MT-09 SP gives a strong indication of what could change.

The MT-09 SP gets DLC-coated front forks, an Öhlins rear shock, Brembo Stylema brake calipers, and additional electronic features over the standard MT-09. Yamaha could bring similar upgrades to the XSR900 SP, giving the neo-retro motorcycle a more premium chassis and braking package.

Regulatory Filings and Market Availability

There is one caveat to the filings. The latest NHTSA documents list the XSR900 SP but do not mention the XSR900 GP, while separate California Air Resources Board (CARB) documents for the 2027 XSR900 range list the XSR900 GP but not the SP. This could be down to an error in one of the filings or the documents being updated at different times.

The VIN information does, however, point towards the XSR900 SP being a new variant rather than simply the XSR900 GP being introduced in another market. The SP gets a different VIN prefix from the existing XSR900 GP, further strengthening the case that Yamaha is developing the model.

There is no word yet on when Yamaha will officially reveal the XSR900 SP or which overseas markets will receive it.

The source of this information is Autocar India, which has been following the development of Yamaha's motorcycles.

The XSR900 SP is expected to be a high-performance variant of the XSR900, with a focus on chassis and equipment upgrades rather than additional engine performance.

The Yamaha R2 is expected to launch in India next week, with pre-bookings already open at Rs 10,000.