TEST: Yamaha MT-09 | MoreBikes

Bruce Wilson takes a detailed have a look at Yamaha’s vastly widespread 900cc hyper-naked…

Yamaha’s MT-09 is a particular bike. Its massive torque, massive wheelies, and a sensible, comfortable driving place have helped promote the dream to the lots in a means the manufacturing facility might have most likely by no means imagined. A decade and over 200,000 bikes later, there’s a brand new fourth era on the playing cards.

The MT’s moved on with a brand new face, projector headlights and break up pillion and rider seats, mounted on a brand new rear subframe that’s additionally narrower. The ergonomics have been tweaked too, with decrease bars and extra rearward pegs in a bid to offer the bike a sportier really feel and extra reference to the entrance finish.

What’s much less apparent to see are the variations made to the body across the headstock, or the brand new engine mounting brackets that mix collectively to induce extra agility and stability, whereas a discount within the caster angle from 25 levels to 24.7 has additionally occurred. To egg the dealing with on additional, the fully-adjustable KYB forks have been made a little bit firmer, whereas the rear’s been softened and kitted with a brand new linkage. There’s additionally a elaborate new five-inch TFT sprint that brings an entire new stage of know-how and interplay to the Yamaha. It additionally permits for the governance of 5 rider modes (together with two customisable maps), plus alterable energy maps, wheelie management, slide management, engine braking and traction management. Cruise management can also be normal, and the self-cancelling indicators now have what’s greatest described as soft-touch, paddle shifters. After which there’s Yamaha’s latest-generation multi-directional shifter and blipper, that permits for down-changes whilst you’re on the throttle and upshifts whilst you’re slowing down… do you have to really feel the urge. 

You get the purpose: there’re lots of tweaks to the MT, although the engine is basically as you have been, with the one actual tweak being to the airbox and induction, because of new velocity stacks (two as an alternative of three). It’s all great things however having taken all this in through the mannequin’s presentation, the one factor on my thoughts was simply how effectively it will wheelie.

It’s been some time since I’d final ridden an MT-09, which is one other means of claiming I’d forgotten simply how genius the CP3 triple motor is. The torque on faucet is tantalising, making common driving a doddle no matter what gear you’re in or what revs you’re at. However if you wish to get the perfect of this beast, the punch on provide at about 3000-4000rpm in second and third gear is insane and makes wheelie-pulling youngster’s play.

The MT was each bit as playful as I hoped, and it was additionally a lot smoother, too. All through the years, and particularly on the sooner fashions, the throttle pick-up on the Yamaha was nothing in need of brutal… however that’s a factor of the previous. Even with the ability setting in its most potent of three maps, getting on the gasoline was silky-smooth, and that genuinely caught me unexpectedly. The unfold of energy is one thing to jot down residence about, too, providing grunt and pleasure as much as its peak at 10,000rpm. However what else would you count on kind a triple with 93Nm of torque on faucet?

Tackling the nadgery, winding roads we have been on, the engine proved an absolute weapon, aided by the slick shifter and blipper and the understanding slipper clutch that allowed for multi-gear downshifts with out the rear finish locking or hopping. The brakes have been good, too, with extra really feel than most common Yams by way of the brand new Brembo radial grasp cylinder, which gave me the arrogance to plough deep into corners.

That includes a comparatively brief wheelbase and sub-200 kilo moist weight, the figures recommended this factor could be fairly lithe, and it didn’t disappoint. It was additionally surprisingly secure, holding a line when placed on its ear, with good really feel by way of the pogos at both finish. Yamaha says it reworked the entrance forks to supply extra really feel by way of the forks, however I by no means had a difficulty on the outdated bike. The rear shock additionally bought fettled, however perhaps not sufficient for my liking. If I have been being vital, the arrange was just too gentle for correct enthusiastic driving. Up towards it for time, I didn’t have probability to go twiddling with the adjusters, however extra compression and added preload would have been the primary of my tweaks. And I’d have firmed the entrance up. Whereas the bike felt fairly plush and well-connected to the bottom, it simply appeared to lose a little bit of composure when being given an intensive exercise.

Messing round full, with our vacation pics within the bag, the journey again to our resort was fairly hilarious, with every of us eager to get our fill of daftness whereas we nonetheless had the prospect. That’s simply what this bike makes you do, so purchaser beware. However know this: with considered one of these in your arsenal, probability is your life will solely be bettered.

WORDS: Bruce Wilson PHOTOS: ANT Productions and Jonathan Godin