Motorcyclists can be a nostalgic bunch. Which is why dealer showroom floors are flooded with bikes that are dead ringers for those of yesteryear. A taste for classic aesthetics, however, doesn’t have to veer toward a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past. Take the 2020 Yamaha XSR900: If it fell from the heavens in the mid-1960s, this three-cylinder machine would have looked unusual, sure, but still recognizable as a motorcycle. In 2020, the “neo-retro” style—as Yamaha calls it—doesn’t try to be anything other than just plain cool, especially in its new mid-1980s RZ350-esque Radical White/Rapid Red paint scheme.

Described by one editor as “fun in nearly all riding situations,” the XSR900 is based on the MT-09, so it borrows that bike’s 847cc crossplane triple and aluminum frame. The inverted fork and shock are adjustable, antilock brakes are standard, and electronic rider aids include D-Mode selectable throttle response and two levels of traction-control intervention, plus “off.” Retailing for a buck less than $9,500, the XSR900 is only $1K pricier than an XSR700. For that money, you get another cylinder, additional performance, higher-spec componentry, and more sophisticated technology.

Following Ten Best victories for the Yamaha FZ-09 in 2014 and ’15, it’s no surprise that the retro-style XSR900 found its way onto Cycle World’s respected list in 2016, topping the Best Middleweight Streetbike category. The three-cylinder XSR won the hearts of editors for its versatility, performance, and affordability.