Yamaha XSR700: Return of the UJM?

When early images of the Yamaha XSR700 first trickled onto the web, punters immediately compared it to the Ducati Scrambler. The two are certainly gunning for the same market, but Yamaha's thinking goes far deeper than just taking a shot at Bologna's sweetheart. Yamaha Motor Europe product manager, Shun Miyazawa, is quick to point out that the XSR700 is not a modern classic, or neo-retro. Rather, it's a UJM—a universal Japanese motorcycle—and a return to classic design considerations and timeless style. Yamaha's tagged this philosophy 'Faster Sons'—a new approach within their Sport Heritage line. Miyazawa-san explains it like this: while...