Yamaha XSR700
Yamaha's retro-styled middleweight — the MT-07's twin-cylinder engine and chassis in heritage clothing. Launched 2016, lightly refreshed in 2022 with sharper looks and updated dash. UK buyers love it because you get the MT-07's beloved CP2 parallel-twin (the same 689cc engine that powers Yamaha's best-selling A2 bike) wrapped in styling that doesn't look like a Power Ranger costume. Power is honest — 73.4 PS is plenty for B-road blasts without being so much you'll bin it. Easy to ride, easy to A2-restrict, and easy to live with. The compromise is suspension — fine for solo riding, less so two-up over potholes.
Default variant: XSR700
- Engine
- 689cc
- Power
- 73.4 PS
- Torque
- 67 Nm
- Weight
- 186 kg
- Seat
- 835 mm
- Economy
- 55 mpg
medium
medium
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£3,562
Per year
£1,187
Per mile
£0.15
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
Group 11/17 · ABI motorcycle scheme · Annual policy
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bikes use the ABI motorcycle group scheme (1–17, not the 1–50 used for cars) — Group 1 is cheapest to insure. Pick the risk profile closest to your circumstances.
Estimated annual premium · typical
£900/ year
Roughly £75 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Profile | Annual premium |
|---|---|
| Lower risk | £650 |
| TypicalSelected | £900 |
| Higher risk | £1,300 |
How we estimate this
Typical premium reflects . Lower/higher risk profiles synthesised from the observed underwriting range. Motorcycle premiums are far more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) and rider age than car insurance — younger riders or those on a CBT pay considerably more than this baseline. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
3/4High risk
High risk
Frequent theft target — appears regularly on UK police hot-lists, especially in London. Expect insurers to demand Thatcham chain + ground anchor + disc lock; tracker can knock 10–15% off premium.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
2
Low / cosmetic
3
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Cam chain tensioner 10k-20k mi (pre-2018 units) | £140 |
| medium | Regulator/rectifier 20k-40k mi | £180 |
| low | Throttle position sensor 25k+ mi | £90 |
| low | Wheel bearings 25k-30k mi | £70 per wheel |
| low | Fork seal leaks 30k+ mi | £120 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Variant comparison
The default — sole variant. A2-restrictable middleweight retro. Best buy in 2018+ form once the cam chain tensioner TSB had been applied.
Known issues
- Cam chain tensioner rattle on pre-2018 units (TSB applies)
- Regulator/rectifier failures (Yamaha pattern, ~20-40k mi)
- Wheel bearing wear from UK weather
Strengths
- +MT-07's proven CP2 engine — torquey, charismatic, reliable
- +A2-restrictable (47kW limit) so it grows with new riders
- +Tank-shape and seat make it comfortable for taller riders than the MT-07 sibling
- +Classic styling without the maintenance overhead of an actual classic
- +Wide aftermarket support — bars, exhausts, screens, soft luggage
Watch-outs
- −Suspension is basic for spirited riding or two-up loads
- −Higher theft risk in London postcodes (popular, easy to steal)
- −Stock seat hard on rides over 90 minutes