Yamaha XSR900 (2016-2021) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the 2019 Yamaha XSR900. It shares a lot with the maintenance of other motorcycles in the Yamaha range with the 847cc triple engine, like the Tracer 900 or the MT-09.
The Yamaha XSR900 is a standard motorcycle, basically a re-styled MT-09 with a few component changes depending on which market you’re in. However, a few components are unique.
The 2016-2021 Yamaha XSR900 is based on the 847cc CP3 engine, a dual overhead cam 12-valve inline three-cylinder engine. In base form it makes 84 kW (113 hp) at 10000 rpm, and 87 Nm (64 lb-ft) at 8500 rpm. Final drive is through a 6-speed transmission, wet clutch, and chain drive.
Yamaha updated the 2022 Yamaha XSR900 with the 890cc CP3 engine, just like its siblings the updated MT-09 and Tracer 9.
This was originally published on July 31, 2020, but has since been significantly expanded and updated.
This site has links for things like oil and spark plugs from which we earn a commission (which unfortunately nobody can save, not even us). If you appreciate this work, then please use those links. Thanks!
Yamaha XSR900 Service Intervals
The minor service intervals (between oil changes) for the Yamaha XSR900 is different in the US and European manuals.
- US manual — the maintenance intervals are 4000 miles / 6000 km, or 6 months.
- European manuals — the maintenance intervals are 10000 km / 6000 mi, or 12 months
The valve service interval for the XSR900 is more similar, 26600 miles / 42000 km in the US manual, and 40000 km in the European one.
There are also a few items that are unique to each manual. So they’re separate below, aside from the standard “inspection checklist”.
What you need to service the Yamaha XSR900 — Consumables and Special Tools
If you’re servicing the XSR900, you at least need motorcycle maintenance tools — things like an oil catch pan, a paddock stand, and so on. Apart from that, for the Yamaha XSR900, the manual recommends the following specific consumables.
| Part | Yamaha XSR900 spec |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | Use Yamalube 10W-40. The manual recommends “Yamalube” and it’s affordable, so why not! Other high-quality synthetic oils include Motul 7100 10W-40 or Mobil 1 Synthetic 10W-40. Don’t over-torque the bolt (spec is 43 Nm/31 lb-ft for the oil drain bolt per the manual) — use a torque wrench if you don’t have experience with how much torque is enough. |
| Oil filter | Needs to be changed every time you change the oil. Either get a stock oil filter (part 5GH-13440-50-00) or the Hiflofiltro HF204RC (better than K&N). Torque for the oil filter is 17 Nm/12 lb-ft. |
| Engine coolant | Yamaha recommends an ethylene glycol antifreeze with corrosion inhibitors. Yamalube coolant is hard to get, so Pro Honda HP coolant is a good substitute. |
| Spark Plugs | NGK CPR9EA9 should be used per the manual. Make sure it’s gapped correctly to 0.8-0.9mm (with a gapping tool) and torqued with a torque wrench to 13Nm/10 lb-ft. |
| Air filter | Yamaha part number 1RC-14451-00-00, or the K&N alternative YA-8514. |
| Brake pads | Choose EBC for more bite and lower fade, the people on fz09.org like them (among others). You need two sets for the front and one for the rear. * Front: EBC FA252HH * Rear: EBC FA174HH |
Yamaha XSR900 (2016-2021) Maintenance Schedule (USA)
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Yamaha XSR900.
Note that the XSR900 has two different maintenance schedules — US and Europe/APAC.
- The US maintenance schedule shows service intervals of 4000 miles / 6000 km or 6 months.
- The Europe maintenance schedule shows service intervals of 10000 km / 6000 miles or 12 months.
There are various other small differences too. Both are below.
We’ve broken the maintenance schedule into two sections
- The core maintenance schedule. This comes in both US and Europe versions, with different service intervals.
- The standard “inspection checklist” to be done every service.
Maintenance notes
- At the end of the schedule, continue the maintenance schedule in the order below (every 1, 2, or 4 maintenance periods, depending on the line item)
- Yamaha only wants you to lube the chain, change the oil, and grease external pivot parts, and recommend that other items be left to a dealer or mechanic.
- Don’t clean the air filter with compressed air (you’ll damage it).
- Regularly check the brake fluid levels. Replenish as necessary.
- The break-in service is not included below (these bikes are no longer sold and have all been broken in.)
Yamaha XSR900 US Maintenance Schedule (Miles — US manual)
Below is the miles-based maintenance schedule for the Yamaha XSR900. See below for the km-based schedule.
| miles x 1000 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Months | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | Every |
| Conduct standard inspection checklist (see below) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Change engine oil (warm engine before draining). Use Yamalube 10W-40. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Replace oil filter (Hiflofiltro HF204RC) | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Check spark plug condition. Adjust gap and clean. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Replace spark plugs (NGK CPR9EA9, gap 0.8-0.9mm) | ✓ | ✓ | 12000 mi / 18 months | |||
| Check and adjust valve clearance | 26600 mi | |||||
| Replace air filter (K&N YA-8514) | 24000 mi, or riding in rain/dust | |||||
| Replace brake hoses | 4 years | |||||
| Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4) and internal components of brake master cylinder and calipers. | 2 years | |||||
| Moderately repack swingarm pivot bearings with lithium soap-based grease. | 32000 mi | |||||
| Check steering bearing assemblies for looseness. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Moderately repack steering bearings with lithium soap-based grease. | Repack every 12000 mi | |||||
| Change coolant (Lithium soap-based coolant) | 3 years | |||||
| Check evap emission control system for damage. Replace if necessary | ✓ | ✓ |
Yamaha XSR900 Europe Maintenance Schedule (Km)
This is the maintenance schedule for the km-based manuals (Europe, Australia). Maintenance schedules are slightly wider, at 10000 km or annually between oil changes.
| km x 1000 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | Every |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct standard inspection checklist (see below) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Change engine oil (warm engine before draining). Use Yamalube 10W-40. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Replace oil filter (Hiflofiltro HF204RC) | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Check spark plug condition. Adjust gap and clean. | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Replace spark plugs (NGK CPR9EA9, gap 0.8-0.9mm) | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Check and adjust valve clearance | 40 000 km | ||||
| Check evap emission control system for damage. Replace if necessary | ✓ | ||||
| Replace air filter (K&N YA-8514) | ✓ | ||||
| Replace brake hoses | 4 years | ||||
| Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4) and internal components of brake master cylinder and calipers. | 2 years | ||||
| Check steering bearing assemblies for looseness. | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Moderately repack steering bearings with lithium soap-based grease. | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Change coolant (Pro Honda HP coolant) | 3 years |
Standard inspection checklist
Below is the checklist of items to do at every service per the schedules above.
| Yamaha XSR900 Standard Inspection Checklist |
|---|
| [D] Perform dynamic inspection using Yamaha diagnostic tool. Check the error codes. |
| Check throttle grip operation and free play, and adjust if necessary. |
| Lubricate throttle cable and grip housing (Protect All Cable Life). |
| Check clutch operation. Adjust or replace cable. |
| Lubricate moving parts and cables thoroughly (lithium soap-based grease, Protect All Cable Life). |
| Check lights, signals, and switches operation. |
| Check side stand switch operation and replace if necessary. |
| Check brake switch operation, front and rear. |
| Check / adjust headlight beam (if necessary) |
| Check the air induction cut-off valve, reed valve, and hose for damage. Replace any damaged parts. |
| Check and adjust fuel injection synchronization. |
| Check fuel hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary. |
| Check brake hoses for cracks or damage, and for correct routing and clamping. |
| Check coolant level |
| Check cooling system hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary. |
| Check engine idle speed (Not required in US) |
| Check front brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Replace brake pads if necessary (EBC FA252HH x 2). |
| Check rear brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Replace brake pads if necessary (EBC FA174HH). |
| Check tyre tread depth and for damage. Replace if necessary (see spec below). |
| Check and adjust tyre pressure as necessary. |
| Check front fork operation and for oil leakage. Rebuild/ replace if necessary. |
| Check shock absorber operation and for oil leakage. Replace if necessary. |
| Check wheel bearings for smooth operation, looseness, or damage. Replace if necessary. |
| Check swingarm pivot bearing operation and for excessive play. |
| Check all chassis fitting and fasteners, and tighten/replace as necessary |
| Lubricate brake lever pivot shaft with silicone grease lightly. |
| Lubricate brake pedal, clutch lever, and shift pedal pivot shafts with lithium soap-based grease lightly |
| Check side stand pivot operation. Lubricate with lithium soap-based grease lightly. |
| Check crankcase breather hose for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary |
| Check exhaust system for leakage. Tighten and/or replace gaskets as necessary. |
Chain Maintenance on the Yamaha XSR900
It’s important to maintain your chain on the XSR900, as on any chain-driven motorcycle. Use a good-quality chain lubricant like Motul chain paste, or a Motul chain care kit which comes with a couple of handy tools to maintain the chain.
Yamaha recommends you follow the following chain maintenance schedule every 500 mi (US manual)/ 1000 km (Europe/APAC manuals) and after washing the motorcycle, riding in the rain, or riding in wet areas.
| Chain maintenance item |
|---|
| Check drive chain lubrication condition, lubricating if necessary (Motul chain paste) |
| Check drive chain slack, alignment, and condition, adjusting / replacing if necessary Chain slack spec: 5-15 mm (0.2-0.59 in) at middle point |
To measure the drive chain slack on the Yamaha XSR900, you measure the up and down free movement of the chain at the middle point. This is done with the motorcycle on its side stand, with no weight on the bike, and the transmission in neutral.
If the chain slack is out of spec, you adjust it. You’ll need wrenches and a large torque wrench for the rear axle.
- Loosen the axle nut and the locknuts on each side of the swingarm. The locknuts hold the adjusters in place.
- To tighten the drive chain, turn the adjusting bolt on each side in a way that moves the rear wheel backwards. To loosen the chain, move the rear wheel forwards
Keep adjusting the drive chain in this way until you get the target chain slack. Adjust both sides the same amount, referring to the notches.
Finally, retighten the axle nut (150 Nm / 111 lb-ft), and then the lock nuts (16 Nm / 12 lb-ft).
Tire size and tire pressure for the XSR900
The Yamaha XSR900 ships with Bridgestone S20 sport touring tires.
Below are the tire sizes and recommended pressures.
| Wheel | Tire size | Tire pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W) | 250-290 kPa / 2.5-2.9 bar / 36-42 psi |
| Rear | 180/55 ZR17 M/C (73W) | 250-290 kPa / 2.5-2.9 bar / 36-42 psi |
Adjust tire pressure to suit your riding style and your weight, including any passengers and luggage.
About the Yamaha XSR900 (2016-2021)
The first-gen Yamaha XSR900 is essentially re-styled first-gen Yamaha MT-09 — a little bit classic-looking, but quite modern in technology.
The XSR900 takes inspiration from Yamaha’s history of sports bikes and motorcycle design, and combines it with high-tech engineering. So it has a round headlight and comfortable handlebars, plus some styling that make it look OK as a naked, but it shares so many components with the MT-09 that you may think it’s just a styling exercise. But Yamaha actually made a couple of tweaks to the suspension that make the XSR900 a more competent bike in stock form than the early FZ-09.
In terms of style, the Yamaha XSR900 is supposed evoke a “heritage” aesthetic. But it’s not really a “heritage” bike, as so much on it is modern — a quick-to-spool-up dual overhead cam liquid-cooled engine, ride safety electronics, and modern suspension. The XSR900 is definitely a sport bike that’s designed for twisty roads or aggressive street riding.
The heart of the Yamaha XSR900 is the same as other CP3-based engines of its generation. It’s a 847cc inline three-cylinder engine that is liquid-cooled and has four valves per cylinder.
At peak, the Yamaha XSR900’s engine makes 84 kW (113 hp) at 10000 rpm, and 87 Nm (64 lb-ft) at 8500 rpm, making for a sporty ride. Given that the XSR900 has a wet weight of only 195 kg (430 lb), it really hustles!
Compared with the MT-09, the XSR900 has a more comfortable (and taller) seat and more relaxed ergonomics. Taller riders like the fact that they can spread their arms out wider.
From the rider’s perspective, the instrument panel is one of the more distinctive differences between the MT-09 and the XSR900.
While the MT-09’s functional LCD gets the job done, it has an odd shape, and isn’t aesthetically for everyone. The XSR900’s single round clock, on the other hand, is legible as well as more universally accepted as attractive.
A frequent complaint about the MT-09 (especially earlier years) is under-sprung suspension. The XSR900, while sharing many components with the MT-09, has different specs in the forks that results in fewer of these complaints. Back-to-back testing shows that the XSR900 has harder, more planted suspension, which is a relief.
The early 2016-2021 XSR900 does, on the other hand, share the same snatchy throttle as the first gen MT-09. This was alleviated in the 2022 Yamaha XSR900, which has full ride-by-wire.
Brakes on the XSR900 are quite sporty, being 298mm discs with 4-piston radial mounted calipers. Suspension is capable too. Both the inverted fork and the single rear shock are adjustable for preload and rebound damping. It’s not superbike spec, but then, nobody really expects a heritage bike to be.
Maintaining the Yamaha XSR900 is similar to most other liquid-cooled Yamaha motorcycles. You change the oil every 4000 miles (US) or 10000 km (Europe / APAC), and every 2nd service you change the spark plugs and inspect the valves. Along the way, keep the fluids like brake fluid and coolant fresh, maintain the chain, and you’ll be in good shape.
Yamaha significantly updated the XSR900 for 2022, adding the 890-cc engine, cruise control, and a six-axis IMU.
Reference — Manual for the Yamaha XSR900
The above information was gleaned from the owner’s manual for the 2019 Yamaha XSR900, and checked against other years to make sure the content was the same. See the screenshot below.
You can download it from Yamaha’s website here.
See the screenshot of the maintenance schedule from the European XSR900 manual to see the differences — 10000 km / 1 year service intervals.
