This one or the MT-09 Tracer would be ideal. Put them in STD mode and they are very user friendly, but put them in A mode and they are all the crazy performance you could ever need, and the triple engine will astonish you it's that good, plus it's Yamaha so it'll be reliable and hassle free
There's no such thing as a bad bike these days, they're all built well and are reliable, so it's just comes down to personal taste. Ride safely which ever you choose.
I am 60 years young, recently retired and bought a 2014 fz09 (with plenty of after-market stuff) for something to do. I had been away from riding for a decade. The first day I rode it, I became aware that I had forgotten a lot of what I knew about riding. The last bike I owned was a ninja 1000. The fz09 scared the "heck" out of me. Mode B is my new best friend.
Really enjoyed your review of this bike. I am looking at getting a 2019 MT 09 and I feel more confident about heading in that direction. My Suzuki Bandit 1250 S is a bit heavy for me even though I enjoy riding it but I don’t want it to be my “for ever” bike. I’m 66 years young and want to to find real enjoyment in my riding. I hope this bike won’t be too much for me ! I love your commentary and could listen to your accent all day long. Your grasp of the English language and knowledge of bikes puts a lot of other reviewers to shame. Well done
Thank you very much indeed sir. I've owned a Bandit 1250 myself and they are a great machine, but the MT09 is just so much more vibrant to ride. It will do everything you need it to as a daily rider, but it does it whilst always feeling lile it's on the balls of it's feet and eager to please. They are easy to live with and coming from a big 1250, it will feel light and breezy. I'd urge you to test one, and if possible the Tracer version along side, as it has even more comfortable ergonomics and a longer wheelbase in case you find the MT's steering a bit light for your taste. Ride safe 👍
Get this bike but keep the bandit! Make your bandit he grocery getter and the MT your wild side! You’ll be fine. I’m in my 50’s and about to get one myself. Had 3 bandits.
Thank you very much indeed. I find it baffling why Yamaha don't supply the SP to The USA and Canada, as so many people seem to be asking for it there 🤔
New Subscriber. Glad to see you have come out of hibernation, missed your reviews. Really enjoy your reviews and trips. Hope to see some more trips from you Dave in the future. Best motorcycle reviews on UA-cam; period. Fair, Balanced, & Informative. Keep up the good work.
Love your in-depth reviews. I have an MT10 SP absolutely love it. The wife wanted a triple so it was a toss up between the 09 or the street triple RX she chose the 675 as the dealer network was closer. Pity the MT09 SP wasn't available then.
Thanks. I loved the MT-10 SP that I tested, and if I was running just one bike to do it all, I'd have one myself without a shadow of a doubt. Picking the Street Triple isn't a compromise, I'd find them so hard to choose between, especially with the new 765 RS, so she's got a great bike either way
Great review, superb scenery. Couldn't agree more with your comments on who this bike could appeal to. Bought a 2017 mt09 last summer, returning to bikes after 15 years or so, aged 52 and three quarters 😄and find the bike superb. It certainly does have a dark side as you said and should be respected ❗️I might even explore the A mode come the spring 😁 , liked and subscribed 👍🏻
Great reviews Dave, I know what your saying about the mid size bike's these days, you can use more of the power the you can on a litre bike, which is more involving to ride, I have the MT10 SP as well as the Street Triple RX 675, I couldn't tell you which one I like best it's that close. I'm 57 and have had bike's since I was 13. Keep up the good work!!
I have the stock model. I have never heard of the SP designation but it definitely appears worth it. Either way, I’m happy and at 600 miles I’m about to change the oil and adjust the suspension as it’s a bit soft. The aesthetics have grown on me as well haha.. happily unexpected. First mod was the factory wind screen which cleans up the look nicely and helps w the wind blast.
Great to see one of your videos again mr veefour :) One thing, though, I believe the rear shock is a fully adjustable YA 535 Öhlins RSA unit. At 1480 euros for a TTX unit I think maybe not plus the TTX is very stiff unlike the unit on the '09 SP (so I hear).
Nice review. Hopefully you will make a few videos on it when the streets dries up :) Bought the Street Triple RS last year due to the critic of suspension and I really felt that the screen had to little contrast. Making the Street Triple a better package, but I luster after the lowend grunt the MT-09 has. Perhaps I should give MT-09 a new look after the upgrades, unless a SuperDuke becomes possible.
Thank you for your review. Good work keep up. Just canceled the order on the Mt 07 and bought the Mt 09 SP instead. I came from a Honda CB 600 Hornet and I liked the Mt 07 very much but I found there was something missing... Only had the XSR 900 for test ride and wasn't sure if I can handle the MT09 because of the many other videos where the people are going Beast Mode with it. But after you review I just cannot wait to get my A** on it :-D
Vienna Finest I think you've made the correct decision there. After spending time on the Hornet, you'll want something with a little bit more ooomph about it and the 09 is the perfect progression. Yes it can be a bit of a hooligan machine, but only if you choose to ride it like one. It's a really easy bike to chill out on too, because the triple motor had a lovely wide spread of torque, so you don't have to wring it's neck all the time
I currently have the MT07 Tracer and I fully agree with you. However after 2 years I am still happy about my purchase even if my Tracie lacks a little bit of character. I hope to be able to switch to the MT09 SP on next year if my accountant gives me the green light (that's my wife indeed)
Great review, have been waiting for a good review of the SP for some time now. Thanks and good day to you sir ;) Btw sitting here in the snow waiting for summer.
I currently ride a 2008 Buell XB12X Ulysses, 1203 cc (my first motorbike), and a 2010 Triumph Speed Triple, which I got for when the Buell was in the shop. Both were purchased new when I turned fifty and fifty two, so I concur that liter bikes can be fine first bikes for mature riders -- I've never had any trouble with the bikes being "too powerful". I do a lot of highway riding for my commutes, so the ample headroom from the liter engines has been helpful at times in that setting -- if I see potential trouble, I prefer to roll on the throttle and gtfo if I can, instead of reflexively hitting the brakes. The Uly is my bad weather bike, and Speedy is for milder weather, though I ride both year-round, in NJ USA. If I had to start again today, I'd get a Yamaha Tracer 900 GT for bad weather and a Yamaha MT-09 for good. Liter bikes are nice, but they necessarily bring more weight to the package, so I feel ready for lighter bikes when the time comes. Serviceability is an important factor for me. I can literally walk 2 miles to the Yamaha dealership from my home, whereas the Triumph dealership is twenty miles away, and, at this point, the Buell dealership is non-existent altogether, so I've had to tool up and learn to service it myself. I also think there would be some benefit to parts interchangeability between these two Yamaha bikes. I do clean my bikes periodically, but the Buell especially is always dirty. Don't pamper your bikes so much -- get out and ride, that's what they're for!
Good review. I bought a 2017 MT09 and love it. I did test ride the Z900 but found the MT to have more character. Fun factor 10/10. I went for the Puig tail tidy which I think gives it a cleaner look.
VeeFour i was considering the tracer 09 2019gt that is coming out end of 2018, or this one, but your review tells me this is the best choice for now, maybe over a couple of years the Tracer
i m expecting this bike for this week so i m watching your video to wait. what a plaisir when u switch in A mode i really saw the difference!!! nice video thank you very much.it helps me a lot to wait for my mt09 sp.
Inspired by you, I test rode an MT09SP today. Love the engine and overall character of the bike, for me, it is a serious competitor to the Street Triple 765. Stock suspension settings seemed too hard on the shock and too soft on the fork. Is that what you found? It was a demo but was reassured the settings were stock. How are the finishes and surfaces holding up?
Well I'm quite a big bloke at 95kg, so I had to stiffen up both ends but slowed the rebound damping quite a bit, and then she felt perfect for me. The finish is holding up superbly, and a bucket of warm soapy water and a microfiber sponge has her looking like new 👍👍
Thanks, @@VeeFour Should be enough suspension adjustment for me. Good to hear finishes holding up too. Sorely tempted as I've been offered a corking deal on a new one. Was sold on a 765RS but the cheeky character and more torque of the MT09SP have it beat for me. By the way, the bike I rode had the Yamaha fly screen and I was surprised at how little wind I had on my chest compared to the Street Triple, interesting screen design and a laminar effect I think.
Really nice video, thank you. I'm going to test the MT09 SP next week because I've to decide between this one and the Street Triple R, is very hard guys. Any suggest?
I had the same dilemma and both bikes are superb in their own subtle way. It's difficult if not impossible to make an objective choice between them, and I firmly believe thst there's no wrong choice between them. So all I can suggest is that you try them both, sleep on it and see which one your thoughts keep coming back to and that will be the choice for you . Good luck 👍
Great review 👍.....I'm looking to take this on test this Sunday from Chorley Yam 😁.....been trying to come up with a decent test route; what roads did you use as they look ideal? Thanks again for a great review, can't wait to get on it now
These roads were around Rivington, Tockholes and Belmont area. They are the nearest decent roads to Chorley Yamaha, so just turn right out of their showroom and head to Horwich then Rivington via the back roads....oh and don't forget to tell them Veefour sent ya lol :)
VeeFour Fantastic mate! I'll be sure to let them know you sent me as it was seeing your video that made me have to try this beut 👍😁......thanks for the tip on the roads (just need fingers crossed for the weather lol)
Excellent review, thank you for infecting my mind with this bike, new subscriber, enjoyed some of your other vlogs as well. Keep up the good work. I'm up in the air still, it's either the MT09 SP or the new Tracer 900 GT coming this summer. Will be doing some riding with a pillion but only for extended weekends, not major touring. My GF is petit, 156cms and 48 KG, her backside needs to make up its mind where it feels more comfortable I suppose.
A top quality review V4, thanks, on par with the MT09 review by 44 teeth. I am also in my late 40's and have been searching for that elusive fun bike with accessible power for ages. My 955i Speed triple came close but it had a pig of a heavy clutch in slow traffic. What roads are you riding between 24 and 28 minute in your video? Somewhere between Preston and Bolton? anyway I ordered a 2017 standard version a few weeks ago and it is being delivered from my local West Yorkshire dealer tomorrow as it happens. Cant wait for the weather to improve!
Never mentioned the differences between sp and bog standard, plus how much is it in UK. Good review, I like it when Direct comparisons are made between different bikes. If you were given choice of a street triple r or the sp, which would you go for and why. Thanks Duncan.
My reviews are totally ad libbed on the spot, and I didn't know I'd be testing it that day until an hour before so yeah I missed some useful info out. You raise a good point, so I may do a follow up vid on this one
i wonder if the SP is worth it or to just get the standard 09 and upgrade to ohlins later myself if i feel the need to... as someone who's only bike right now is a DRZ440 with offroad and Supermoto rims setup. I think the MT-09 would be the perfect second bike... something to take on the highway or just to use daily since single cylinder bikes are not the most practical... hows that lean angle though? since im use to motards and dirtbikes with unlimited lean angle that would be the only hard thing to get use to for me.. although ive heard you can get higher rear sets im not sure if id be cramped with that since im over 6 foot... plan on doing some track riding on it too. my ideal moto garage is an EXC450/500 (SM and offroad rims) + MT-09 (daily rider, commuter and longer rides or with a pillion) and i can carry both in my camper van :D good review!
I bought the SP as a second bike, but I find that I use it most of the time as it can pretty much do anything. I'm not sure that it makes economic sense to upgrade the suspension later, and I did the maths on this very same idea myself before I bought mine. It's not just a case of throwing a rear shock unit onto the bike, as the front forks are completely different on the SP version. It uses KYB seperate function forks, as opposed to the standard's oem forks that have the damping in one leg and the suspension in the other, which to the best of my knowledge can't be upgraded with aftermarket cartridges. Ground clearance had never been an issue for me, but if you're used to Supermoto bikes then you might have techniques and skills that I lack. Plus aftermarket pegs rearsets always look better 👍
VeeFour thanks for the detailed reply... I think I’ll maybe have to test ride both to decide if the SP is worth it or not... a shame I can’t test ride it on a track though as I intend to use it on track as much as I can as well as on the road. 👍🏼
it would be really dumb if they didnt. my guess is they will look at sales here in europe and then you guys in the states will get it a year or so later. i ordered one a week ago or so and the dealer told me they sell like crazy.
I dont know why the aren't available here. When I went to my local dealer in the fall, they never even heard of the SP. They ended up asking ME all kinds of questions about the bike. I heard they are available in Canada but I dont know if this is true or not.
On the test ride I may have thought so, but now that I've got a 1000 miles on my own SP I'd say not a good bike for a beginner. It's a little bit to light on the front end and prone to pulling wheelies when you dont exoect it to, and the engine is a bit to torquey for a first bike. A beginner rider could be lulled into a sense of false security by the comfortable and easy riding position, only to very quickly get themselves into a situation that they're not experienced enough to get out of
As well made and solid as they are, the switches are a bit crammed together. I imagine that after a while muscle memory will kick in and you'd stop doing it
Very detailed review . Great job . I wish it was a twin though as I love powerful twins for street bikes . The triple can resemble an inline 4 which is a bit lacking in character .
Thanks.I think he triple engine spilts the difference between twins and inline fours perfectly. You have some of the smooth power delivery of the 4 , but with some of the torque and character of the twin. I love em, but it'd be a boring old world if we all liked the same thing, after all there are people out there who actually like singles! 😂😉
Looking at getting a MT09 sp but from past reviews it kinda put me off, saying torquey and scary bike. But now watching your review Im definately interested rather than the MT07.
Have you test-ridden the Yamaha XSR900? If not, would you consider adding a comparison video to MT-09? I've read some throttle response differences, as well as ergonomics and suspension.
I would not think that this would be a good very first ever bike, but after some training with a good school and so long as you have a mature mind, then it could be okay
Any bike can kill you (and others) if you're stupid. If you expect to do a lot of highway riding, I believe more powerful bikes can be safer than under-powered bikes. My 16-year-old son is learning on my 1203 cc Buell Uly, and he's doing fine. If you know what you've got for a bike, treat it with respect (and maybe keep it in B mode while learning), and you'll be fine. On the other hand, if you're not yet comfortable focusing your attention 100% on all aspects of riding, no bike, big or small, will be safe for you, so it might be better to simply wait a bit longer rather than getting a weak bike.
Hi Dave really injoyed the Vidio's for the MT-07 and the MT-09, last year I bought a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Iam back to biking after a long period , I feel that the R.E Interceptor is not got enough grunt for me now and Need to know if I would fit the MT-09, Iam 6 foot 1" and weigh in around the 19 stone do you think the bike would be a good fit for me, Iam in my 79th year, but seem to have got back my road craft after having a break for 54 years, it looks like the MT-09 has all the power that I would require, I really look forward to your Reply Best Regards Bryan Medway
Hello sir and welcome back to the fold. The MT09 has more than enough grunt for you, me and honestly for anyone else on the road, but it's a very user friendly and accessible amount of power. Coming from the Enfield it will feel much MUCH sportier and at first it will undoubtedly surprise you. Modern bikes like the MT feel a bit twitchy on the throttle at first, and this can be a bit off putting, however this is just a side effect of electronic fuel injection having to meet the demands of current emission regulations, and your wrist becomes used to the subtle throttle imputs needed to tide smoothly, so that after a short while you don't notice it. Also this effect is greatly diminished on the MT09 when you put it in 'B mode' , as the power delivery is softened greatly in this mode and the bike almost feels as it is breathing through a carburettor. Ive had my MT09 for almost 2 years now and it's still putting a smile on my face every time I ride it, and I can't see me getting rid of it anytime soon. I'm 6'1 myself and it fits me fine, so it will be good for you too, plus if Yamaha can use this same engine to power their massive and heavy 3 wheeled Nikken GT, which is designed to be a long distance 2 up tourer, then it will cope with a 19 stone rider with ease. I would definitely recommend that you take one for a test ride first just to make sure before you part with any cash, and if you do take the plunge, then budget for a change of tires straight away, because the oem ones are terrible (even though they are supposed to be good Bridgestones which they aren't), and get the dealer to adjust the suspension for your weight. Let me know how you get on and ride safe.
You precisely summed up my thoughts on the styling/aesthetic of it. Sure the Triumphs are high spec and will (arguably, in the hands of somebody who can ride them properly) out-perform anything short of an outright sportbikes, but to me at least the whole Street/Speed Triple ranges are all ugly as sin. Like you said about the retro thing too; Yamaha has the XSR series, Kawasaki the Z900RS, Honda are now coming out with the CBR 'Neo Cafe Racer' (or whatever they're calling it, something like that) series, Husqvarna have their retro 401 and 701... Loads of people hate on the MT09's looks but I like it a lot, particularly the headlights. It looks futuristic and aggressive, like it might transform into something that will kick the shit out of you for disrespecting it. 1970/whatever is the past, things move on. The standard Z900 is one of the coolest looking bikes Kawasaki manufactures, so far as I'm concerned and the RS variant is probably the weakest attempt at modern retro on the market now. Even if they may be the best performing bikes in the naked category, none of the Dukes do it for me. To summarize my long winded, unsolicited and irrelevant opinion - having just recently got my category A, my only serious considerations for my next bike are an MT or a Kawasaki Z.
At last, someone who gets it! Putting cosmetic touches on bikes like vestigial cooling fins or throttle bodies that mimic carburettors is a deeply sad thing in my eyes, and the people who are taken in by them are just trying to cling on to something that wasn't very good in the first place. The Z900RS is a great looking bike because it has the same profile as one of my all time favourites, the Z1, but those faux cooling fins! urgh they just ruin it. I agree that the current Z900 is a fantastic and bang up to date looking bike, and I hope I get to try one, but the rambunctious triple of the MT09 just won me over as it is just so so much fun. I have a stupid grin on my face all day riding it, but I think the Kawasaki wins in the looks department.
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond. Have been enjoyed those of your videos I've seen so far, makes a change to listen to somebody with a grasp of grammar and an extended vocabulary. You talk about the things I'm curious to know about the bikes you're riding; for example, the part in this video where you talked about the gearing and rev range etc. Also your comparison of riding modes and consideration of what it might be like for those of us with less experience. I'd love to have an MT09 but I've only just got my unrestricted bike licence (after years of driving cars but seven months on an MT-125) and I'm a couple of months off 28 years old. I really wouldn't be responsible with it. Test rode an MT07 over Easter weekend and loved it; something I can commute on in the week and have fun with at the weekends.
Thanks for this review! It's the most complete review on youtube from a non-profesional rider. I watched all of it because I'm considering getting one of these toys soon. I'm actually coming from a more powerful bike, but I just love the engine and looks of this bike. It annoys me that the street triple gets a groovy TFT and the Yamaha doesn't though.
Thank you for this detailed review. I'm interested to buy SP version or standard MT-09. At Yamaha dealer in my country the SP version costs 2350 euro more than MT-09. is it worth buying SP?
fire blade Thanks. One cannot account for all possibilities, but 30 years continuous experience on two wheels with only a couple of sub 5 mph tumbles to my name, have given me plenty of observational and reactive skills. Motorbiking is all about acceptable risk taking, and wide angle GoPro footage doesn't give an accurate representation of my situational awareness. I'll be okay buddy 😉😎👍👍
Yes second hand prices on the 10 are very appealing, but they are thirsty as hell (more so than the R1 strangely) and are a massive insurance hike over the 9. Getting a ride on the Speed shouldn't be hard, but I've never been in a Husky dealer before so I'm not sure how blaggable they are
VeeFour a question for you the XSR900 should be similar enough to this, so if for weekend fun only would you spend your £6k on a second hand XSR900 or a ZX6R 636? Also put yourself in the situation where you would mostly on the road at the weekends and you have no track bike
Hi. Im just getting my license, and Im loving this bike. But Im stilla asking me if this is a bike thats good for beginners? With the "no skills" and so on. Nice review!
Its way too powerful as a first bike. An mt 07 is a great first bike though, has A LOT of power (especially for a beginner) and it has that torque that makes it feel even faster. Fun factor doesnt die on that bike, but you still get a chance to grow into it. Get an mt 09 after one-two years or so instead if you like the mt 07!
Personally, I think it's all about maturity. If you're learning in the UK on our Direct Access scheme, then you would ride a bike like the MT07 during training, which is a brilliant and very capable bike for any rider of any level of experience, and the training you recieve and the testing regime could prepare you for a bike like the 09. HOWEVER, you would need to temper your newly taught skills and confidence, with a lot of maturity and understanding that passing a test is only a start. The MT09 is a very easy bike to ride at normal road speeds and in B mode the throttle is very manageable for a novice to get used to. The danger comes when you are at the stage of having a couple of thousand miles under your wheels and you grow over confident, because at high revs the 09 really can rapidly get you into serious trouble that only experience and muscle memory will get you out of. So in a nutshell, it's probably not the best first bike, but it could be for some careful people. Good luck.
Pretty bad to be honest. OE tyres on new Japanese bikes always seem a bit hard to me, so I swapped mine out for some Pirelli Rosso 3 as soon as I got it home
I'm baffled as to why they don't. So many US riders have asked for the SP range to be imported, Inthink Yamaha have goofed in not bringing the range to the American market
£750 excess........ Best you make sure the side stand is down correctly. Nice review Dave. I quite like the look of the MT-09, I just can't sit on it comfortably enough after my op. Thanks for posting.
Oh yes, I don't intend to make that mistake again. The £750 excess was for a total loss of the bike, so I could have binned it so long as it wasn't written off :)
OurCakeProductions, I totally agree. Great bike for the price, amazing engine, light handling and super fun. However, after an hours rest ride my tail bone was killing me. Put me off. Now a proud owner of an RS 765. The slightly more forward-leaning riding position suits me better. Great review Dave!
Quite nice review. However, the camera work needs to be worked on. Especially the walk around. Might I suggest a different camera for that in order that you can get decent close ups. And watch the strong shadows.😊
Thanks. I'm only playing at this and don't have much of a clue as to what I'm doing. However, some people have actually commented that they like the bumbling amateur nature of my vids, because it lends a certain sincerity to my message of the regular bloke's opinion. Personally I just think they're crap 😁 I think a better camera for walk arounds is a good idea though 👍
VeeFour you are right, the amateur nature adds its value and I like them because of that. But maybe using a phone camera for the walkaround would improve a lot because action cameras really distort the bike lines.
It depends on how beginner you mean. I wouldn't learn on this bike but it could be okay after you've had some professional training and a few hundred miles on a training school bike
I really cant decide between SP and Street triple R... I really like the look of MT09 SP and that it comes standard with Quickshifter and upgraded suspension. and it's still cheaper than Triumph. but it doesn't have brembo brakes, The screen on mt09 is just awful, exhaust sound from standard pipe is also better on ST and overall quality is better than on MT09.
Splendid Cookie In my opinion there is no wrong choice between the two. Brembo brakes are great, but you only really see the benefit of them on track, because if you're braking that hard on the streets then at some point the road surface will let you down (patch of gravel, diesel etc) and you'll be sliding under an oncoming truck. Personally I wouldn't make a decision based on the lack of Brembos, they're great to have of course if the bike you want already has them, but the stock brakes on the MT are more than fine for street use, and can always be improved with non oem pads. As for the rest, it's a personal choice as to which you prefer the look of and which engjne characteristics you like, the Yamaha is noticeably more torquey and grunty low down, whereas the Triumph has better top end that just screams and howls. The Triumph will handle slightly better, but again you'd only really notice this during hard track riding but it's still nice to have the potential, and build quality wise I'd say tht they were both on par. The Triumph has more toys but it's also chunk of cash more expensive, so it all balances out in my book and either choice will leave you with a fantastic bike to be proud of 👍👍
For me, it's just a better all round road bike. The 09 has more than enough power, and you can use more of the power it has on offer than the 10 because public roads in the UK are busy, full of crap and are infested with speed cameras. The 09 feels lighter and more fun to razz around on, and just feels more fun. I've owned various 1000cc powerful sports bikes, and yoi just can't use anything like their full performance as you will either lose your license, kill yourself or worst of all kill someone else. I've ridden both and the 09 is just more fun, cheaper and easier to ride, plus the 10 drinks fuel like it's got a hole in the tank. I did a viseo explaining my reasons as to why I think mid ramge bikes are better for road riding 👍
If the condition is okay, the SP has superior suspension and is well worth it. If I bought a standard MT09, I'd want to spend a couple of grand on an Ohlins shocker and a decent fork cartridge kit, but the SP already comes with this all done for less than the price of doing it yourself. Brand new is always nice though
Thanks for the Review , don’t know why they don’t have the Sp in the US , I will be buying one anyway, I just traded in the my ZX10R Ninja in for a Indian Scout , it’s a nice Cruiser but it just doesn’t have that Zippy throttle response a Track bike or a sports bike like the MT 09 has , so Iv got to get me one ☝️!
The horn switches of the XSR700, XSR900, MT07 and MT09 are small and the user presses the button inconveniently and it is not designed according to the principles of ergonomics.?
Hmmm, good question. The honest answer is I don't know, but 5 minutes of Google reveals that it MAY be possible but it's a tight fit. Personally I love the look of an oversized rear tyre so I fit them where ever practical, but in the case of the MT I'd be concerned that fitting a 190 50 would slow down the turn in, and the agility of this bike is one of the things I'd never want to compromise. A 190 55 coupd potentially mitigate this loss in performamce, but could raise an issue with lifting the rear slightly so the bike's balance and ergos are affected, and in any case it'll be a shoe horned fit. A much deeper search of owners forums should turn up more info on this topic 👍
I didn't say because I tested the Street on a lovely warm dry day and the bike was fully run in, so I could put it through it's paces a bit more. Whereas a cold February day on a zero mileage bike brand new tyres isn't the ideal testing environment. However I think I will allow myself to be drawn into confirming that I prefer the low down torque delivery of the MT over the Street, but I can imagine that under identical conditions the Street will handle better than the Yam. It would be a very difficult choice between the two......stay tuned ;D
Someone please help. I have a problem. Have 3 bikes in my garage and they are offering this bike at a local dealer for a song and I’m close to buying it.
Great review mate. I’ve actually ordered one and it’s in the post. You confirmed what I thought entirely, which is good. I debated with myself on choosing this over the Triumph RS, which I still think is the technically better bike but the riding position and the fact that it has a better and wider seat for taking my better half on occasions tipped it for me. As you well said, this bike does look better than the Triumph. The Triumph has this grown up look, a bit of a “safer on the general public eye” and a more traditional look to it. The MT range has an acquired taste to its lines. You either love it or hate it. Just like Guinness really. And I do love Guinness.
Excellent good for you......and to give you a spoiler alert, I've ordered one too SHHHHHH. It was a tough choice, but for me it comes down to the price and....well it just feels right :)
VeeFour That is excellent news! Really glad you did as it gives more confidence that I made the right decision in choosing Yamaha. Since we’re being honest, I’ve always had Japanese motorcycles and know they are reliable especially when it comes to engines and that gives me peace of mind especially when traveling on a bike abroad. Having said that, it is an unfair assumption, as I have no proof they are more reliable than Triumph, and it may be just in the mind, my mind. Anyway, chuffed you choose the SP and looking forward to more videos of you and your new bike.
stephen spiteri after a month i really would like to know how it handles with two people on the saddle. I've heard there isn't much room on the back and the passenger pegs are a bit high. I'd appreciate your input on the matter as i am really considering this bike.
Neekholas, this bike is still a compromise. If you plan on big trips with someone riding pillion you would be better off buying the Tracer 900. I have still to receive my bike so I can’t give you more first hand information. Having said that, a friend owning an MT09 replaced the rear foot peg standoff’s with the ones from the Tracer which are longer so provide a more comfy position for the pillion. He has also fitted the oem rear rack which has grab handles so his wife is well pleased. The rear Givi bag that clips on the rack provides her more support and safety. So there are small things that can improve the MT09 for touring and you can remove the lot once you’re back home. One must decide what his bike will be used most for I suppose. Think with your head but choose with your heart. Life really is a balancing act.
stephen spiteri thanks for the good and detailed answer. Indeed you can always change a couple things. I've been riding a supermoto for years so i am not really used to comfort, neither is my girl. So the 09 cant be worst than that . Thanks for the information thought.. good luck and enjoy the bike when it arrives !
I honestly don't, and 30 miles is quite a long way with the fuel light on. Maybe it doesn't let you fully drain the tank to stop any sludge getting into the fuel system
That is right, however I used to have an XSR700. With that I could do 50-60 miles on reserve. So I expected the same with the MT09SP. It didn't work unfortunately. Nevertheless it is an amazing peace of machinery. Love every second on it.
My only complaint is no cruise control! Besides the back shock! But heated grips quick shifter comfort seat windscreen! cruising the highway all day long!
It go’s 0-140 in 11 sec Note the new models can’t change rev limiter/gov on top speed. “Yet” Governs at 140 at 8,500 rpms out of 10,500 rpms the last 2000 rpm can get another 29 plus MPH! Tops out on rpms around 170 mph! For the track specs if anyone wanted to know! I did some research for a 2019! 0 to 140 results may vary Upon take off! Traction control! experience! Also height and weight of rider! Ride safe my friends! Bike weights with out gas 405 lbs with gas 425 lbs! 11 seconds was result from big rider 200 lbs plus! Just FYI! #YamahRacingTeam
Also when it hits it’s max torque of 65 pounds at the rear wheel at 2500 rpm’s it holds its max torque of 65 foot-pounds all the way through the whole rev range to 10,500 rpm’s! Crossplane crank! say what! The reason you pick the MTO9 out of all the other ones in the family it weighs 425 pounds wet! No not a beginner bike! 😂 849cc of mean! Standard mode wheelies on demand all you have to do is open the throttle up 1st to 3rd gear have to clutch up after that! B mode is like rain mode! #YamahaRacingTeam
58 years young and getting back in to biking..... love the look of this bike to!!! 👍
This one or the MT-09 Tracer would be ideal. Put them in STD mode and they are very user friendly, but put them in A mode and they are all the crazy performance you could ever need, and the triple engine will astonish you it's that good, plus it's Yamaha so it'll be reliable and hassle free
A good choice of middleweights out there........ I’ll pick carefully. Many thanks for the reply and roll on spring 👍
There's no such thing as a bad bike these days, they're all built well and are reliable, so it's just comes down to personal taste. Ride safely which ever you choose.
I am 60 years young, recently retired and bought a 2014 fz09 (with plenty of after-market stuff) for something to do. I had been away from riding for a decade. The first day I rode it, I became aware that I had forgotten a lot of what I knew about riding. The last bike I owned was a ninja 1000. The fz09 scared the "heck" out of me. Mode B is my new best friend.
I’m 51. Just bought my ‘18 MT-09 last week. Great bike.
Really enjoyed your review of this bike. I am looking at getting a 2019 MT 09 and I feel more confident about heading in that direction. My Suzuki Bandit 1250 S is a bit heavy for me even though I enjoy riding it but I don’t want it to be my “for ever” bike. I’m 66 years young and want to to find real enjoyment in my riding. I hope this bike won’t be too much for me ! I love your commentary and could listen to your accent all day long. Your grasp of the English language and knowledge of bikes puts a lot of other reviewers to shame. Well done
Thank you very much indeed sir.
I've owned a Bandit 1250 myself and they are a great machine, but the MT09 is just so much more vibrant to ride. It will do everything you need it to as a daily rider, but it does it whilst always feeling lile it's on the balls of it's feet and eager to please. They are easy to live with and coming from a big 1250, it will feel light and breezy.
I'd urge you to test one, and if possible the Tracer version along side, as it has even more comfortable ergonomics and a longer wheelbase in case you find the MT's steering a bit light for your taste.
Ride safe 👍
Get this bike but keep the bandit! Make your bandit he grocery getter and the MT your wild side! You’ll be fine. I’m in my 50’s and about to get one myself. Had 3 bandits.
Great review... wish us n Canada got the SP version. You are a most enjoyable reviewer Dave
Thank you very much indeed.
I find it baffling why Yamaha don't supply the SP to The USA and Canada, as so many people seem to be asking for it there 🤔
@@VeeFour में एक बार तो मैंने भी
you sound like you're very cold when speaking
so thanks for fighting the winter elements and giving us a great first impression of the SP
WaseWasp You're very welcome, and yes it was a bit chilly. Roll on spring!
You are so entertaining. Just as funny as you are informative and articulate.
Wow! Thanks very much 😁
New Subscriber. Glad to see you have come out of hibernation, missed your reviews. Really enjoy your reviews and trips. Hope to see some more trips from you Dave in the future. Best motorcycle reviews on UA-cam; period. Fair, Balanced, & Informative. Keep up the good work.
Minnesota Vikings Wow...just wow! I'm humbled, thank you very much
Beautiful roads, beautiful explanations, beautiful bike... subscribed!!
Great to have you on board :)
Love your in-depth reviews. I have an MT10 SP absolutely love it. The wife wanted a triple so it was a toss up between the 09 or the street triple RX she chose the 675 as the dealer network was closer. Pity the MT09 SP wasn't available then.
Thanks. I loved the MT-10 SP that I tested, and if I was running just one bike to do it all, I'd have one myself without a shadow of a doubt. Picking the Street Triple isn't a compromise, I'd find them so hard to choose between, especially with the new 765 RS, so she's got a great bike either way
Great review, superb scenery. Couldn't agree more with your comments on who this bike could appeal to. Bought a 2017 mt09 last summer, returning to bikes after 15 years or so, aged 52 and three quarters 😄and find the bike superb. It certainly does have a dark side as you said and should be respected ❗️I might even explore the A mode come the spring 😁 , liked and subscribed 👍🏻
clive evans Thanks Clive, good to have you on board 👍
Welcome back Dave great review👍👍👍🍻
Thanks Aaron, it's good to be back
Thank you!!! I'm going to get this bike. Looks amazing for a first bike!!!
Great reviews Dave, I know what your saying about the mid size bike's these days, you can use more of the power the you can on a litre bike, which is more involving to ride, I have the MT10 SP as well as the Street Triple RX 675, I couldn't tell you which one I like best it's that close. I'm 57 and have had bike's since I was 13. Keep up the good work!!
Yes absolutely I would be at the dealership today and buy one if it was possible
I have the stock model. I have never heard of the SP designation but it definitely appears worth it. Either way, I’m happy and at 600 miles I’m about to change the oil and adjust the suspension as it’s a bit soft. The aesthetics have grown on me as well haha.. happily unexpected. First mod was the factory wind screen which cleans up the look nicely and helps w the wind blast.
Great to see one of your videos again mr veefour :) One thing, though, I believe the rear shock is a fully adjustable YA 535 Öhlins RSA unit. At 1480 euros for a TTX unit I think maybe not plus the TTX is very stiff unlike the unit on the '09 SP (so I hear).
Windy Run Your Ohlins fu is strong Windy one 💪👍
Nice review. Hopefully you will make a few videos on it when the streets dries up :)
Bought the Street Triple RS last year due to the critic of suspension and I really felt that the screen had to little contrast. Making the Street Triple a better package, but I luster after the lowend grunt the MT-09 has.
Perhaps I should give MT-09 a new look after the upgrades, unless a SuperDuke becomes possible.
They are both different flavours of fantastic. There's no wrong choice between the two in my opinion. I need to ride a Super D myself at some point
Please do! :D
Great review. Been to my local dealer today and had a look at the 09sp. Think I’m in love!!
Thank you for your review. Good work keep up. Just canceled the order on the Mt 07 and bought the Mt 09 SP instead. I came from a Honda CB 600 Hornet and I liked the Mt 07 very much but I found there was something missing... Only had the XSR 900 for test ride and wasn't sure if I can handle the MT09 because of the many other videos where the people are going Beast Mode with it. But after you review I just cannot wait to get my A** on it :-D
Vienna Finest I think you've made the correct decision there. After spending time on the Hornet, you'll want something with a little bit more ooomph about it and the 09 is the perfect progression.
Yes it can be a bit of a hooligan machine, but only if you choose to ride it like one. It's a really easy bike to chill out on too, because the triple motor had a lovely wide spread of torque, so you don't have to wring it's neck all the time
I currently have the MT07 Tracer and I fully agree with you. However after 2 years I am still happy about my purchase even if my Tracie lacks a little bit of character. I hope to be able to switch to the MT09 SP on next year if my accountant gives me the green light (that's my wife indeed)
Great review, have been waiting for a good review of the SP for some time now. Thanks and good day to you sir ;) Btw sitting here in the snow waiting for summer.
I think that I would actually prefer some snow, instead of the miserable rain an wet cold we get here
I currently ride a 2008 Buell XB12X Ulysses, 1203 cc (my first motorbike), and a 2010 Triumph Speed Triple, which I got for when the Buell was in the shop. Both were purchased new when I turned fifty and fifty two, so I concur that liter bikes can be fine first bikes for mature riders -- I've never had any trouble with the bikes being "too powerful". I do a lot of highway riding for my commutes, so the ample headroom from the liter engines has been helpful at times in that setting -- if I see potential trouble, I prefer to roll on the throttle and gtfo if I can, instead of reflexively hitting the brakes. The Uly is my bad weather bike, and Speedy is for milder weather, though I ride both year-round, in NJ USA. If I had to start again today, I'd get a Yamaha Tracer 900 GT for bad weather and a Yamaha MT-09 for good. Liter bikes are nice, but they necessarily bring more weight to the package, so I feel ready for lighter bikes when the time comes. Serviceability is an important factor for me. I can literally walk 2 miles to the Yamaha dealership from my home, whereas the Triumph dealership is twenty miles away, and, at this point, the Buell dealership is non-existent altogether, so I've had to tool up and learn to service it myself. I also think there would be some benefit to parts interchangeability between these two Yamaha bikes. I do clean my bikes periodically, but the Buell especially is always dirty. Don't pamper your bikes so much -- get out and ride, that's what they're for!
I've yet to ride a Buell, but I always really liked their styling. EB is a visionary. Ride safe in the NJ winter, you're a braver man than me 👍
Good review. I bought a 2017 MT09 and love it. I did test ride the Z900 but found the MT to have more character. Fun factor 10/10. I went for the Puig tail tidy which I think gives it a cleaner look.
Baztech Warrior Puig do a tail tidy? hmmmm interesting
VeeFour www.motea.com/en/tail-tidies/tail-tidy--light-yamaha-mt-09-17-18-puig-black-i2981-278600-0.htm
best review of MT-09 on youtube, look forward to your other videos
roughsponge Wow, thanks 👍
Definitely going to buy this one!
Niels Van wijngaarden I don't blame you 👍
VeeFour i was considering the tracer 09 2019gt that is coming out end of 2018, or this one, but your review tells me this is the best choice for now, maybe over a couple of years the Tracer
i m expecting this bike for this week so i m watching your video to wait. what a plaisir when u switch in A mode i really saw the difference!!! nice video thank you very much.it helps me a lot to wait for my mt09 sp.
Oh yes, A mode made a real difference and totally changed the character of the bike in a good way. Enjoy your new machine
I'm still waiting, thank you for sharing your experience.
Inspired by you, I test rode an MT09SP today. Love the engine and overall character of the bike, for me, it is a serious competitor to the Street Triple 765. Stock suspension settings seemed too hard on the shock and too soft on the fork. Is that what you found? It was a demo but was reassured the settings were stock. How are the finishes and surfaces holding up?
Well I'm quite a big bloke at 95kg, so I had to stiffen up both ends but slowed the rebound damping quite a bit, and then she felt perfect for me. The finish is holding up superbly, and a bucket of warm soapy water and a microfiber sponge has her looking like new 👍👍
Thanks, @@VeeFour Should be enough suspension adjustment for me. Good to hear finishes holding up too. Sorely tempted as I've been offered a corking deal on a new one. Was sold on a 765RS but the cheeky character and more torque of the MT09SP have it beat for me. By the way, the bike I rode had the Yamaha fly screen and I was surprised at how little wind I had on my chest compared to the Street Triple, interesting screen design and a laminar effect I think.
Really nice video, thank you. I'm going to test the MT09 SP next week because I've to decide between this one and the Street Triple R, is very hard guys. Any suggest?
I had the same dilemma and both bikes are superb in their own subtle way. It's difficult if not impossible to make an objective choice between them, and I firmly believe thst there's no wrong choice between them. So all I can suggest is that you try them both, sleep on it and see which one your thoughts keep coming back to and that will be the choice for you . Good luck 👍
@@VeeFour thank you very much, it's very hard but I'll follow your suggest.
Great review 👍.....I'm looking to take this on test this Sunday from Chorley Yam 😁.....been trying to come up with a decent test route; what roads did you use as they look ideal? Thanks again for a great review, can't wait to get on it now
These roads were around Rivington, Tockholes and Belmont area. They are the nearest decent roads to Chorley Yamaha, so just turn right out of their showroom and head to Horwich then Rivington via the back roads....oh and don't forget to tell them Veefour sent ya lol :)
VeeFour Fantastic mate! I'll be sure to let them know you sent me as it was seeing your video that made me have to try this beut 👍😁......thanks for the tip on the roads (just need fingers crossed for the weather lol)
Excellent review, thank you for infecting my mind with this bike, new subscriber, enjoyed some of your other vlogs as well. Keep up the good work.
I'm up in the air still, it's either the MT09 SP or the new Tracer 900 GT coming this summer. Will be doing some riding with a pillion but only for extended weekends, not major touring. My GF is petit, 156cms and 48 KG, her backside needs to make up its mind where it feels more comfortable I suppose.
A top quality review V4, thanks, on par with the MT09 review by 44 teeth. I am also in my late 40's and have been searching for that elusive fun bike with accessible power for ages. My 955i Speed triple came close but it had a pig of a heavy clutch in slow traffic. What roads are you riding between 24 and 28 minute in your video? Somewhere between Preston and Bolton? anyway I ordered a 2017 standard version a few weeks ago and it is being delivered from my local West Yorkshire dealer tomorrow as it happens. Cant wait for the weather to improve!
Never mentioned the differences between sp and bog standard, plus how much is it in UK. Good review, I like it when Direct comparisons are made between different bikes. If you were given choice of a street triple r or the sp, which would you go for and why. Thanks Duncan.
My reviews are totally ad libbed on the spot, and I didn't know I'd be testing it that day until an hour before so yeah I missed some useful info out. You raise a good point, so I may do a follow up vid on this one
i wonder if the SP is worth it or to just get the standard 09 and upgrade to ohlins later myself if i feel the need to...
as someone who's only bike right now is a DRZ440 with offroad and Supermoto rims setup. I think the MT-09 would be the perfect second bike... something to take on the highway or just to use daily since single cylinder bikes are not the most practical... hows that lean angle though? since im use to motards and dirtbikes with unlimited lean angle that would be the only hard thing to get use to for me.. although ive heard you can get higher rear sets im not sure if id be cramped with that since im over 6 foot... plan on doing some track riding on it too.
my ideal moto garage is an EXC450/500 (SM and offroad rims) + MT-09 (daily rider, commuter and longer rides or with a pillion) and i can carry both in my camper van :D
good review!
I bought the SP as a second bike, but I find that I use it most of the time as it can pretty much do anything.
I'm not sure that it makes economic sense to upgrade the suspension later, and I did the maths on this very same idea myself before I bought mine. It's not just a case of throwing a rear shock unit onto the bike, as the front forks are completely different on the SP version. It uses KYB seperate function forks, as opposed to the standard's oem forks that have the damping in one leg and the suspension in the other, which to the best of my knowledge can't be upgraded with aftermarket cartridges.
Ground clearance had never been an issue for me, but if you're used to Supermoto bikes then you might have techniques and skills that I lack. Plus aftermarket pegs rearsets always look better 👍
VeeFour thanks for the detailed reply... I think I’ll maybe have to test ride both to decide if the SP is worth it or not... a shame I can’t test ride it on a track though as I intend to use it on track as much as I can as well as on the road. 👍🏼
Thorough review. The bike seems like a winner. I wish Yamaha would bring the SP's (MT-10) to the States.
JDMan That's strange, the USA is a massive market for bikes
it would be really dumb if they didnt. my guess is they will look at sales here in europe and then you guys in the states will get it a year or so later. i ordered one a week ago or so and the dealer told me they sell like crazy.
I dont know why the aren't available here. When I went to my local dealer in the fall, they never even heard of the SP. They ended up asking ME all kinds of questions about the bike. I heard they are available in Canada but I dont know if this is true or not.
JDMan Seriously?! Wow, I'm not sure that I'd trust that particular dealer, they obvioisly don't pay much attention to bike media outlets
I agree😖from Canada!
hey man awesome video big like ! Can you consider this bike for beginner ?
On the test ride I may have thought so, but now that I've got a 1000 miles on my own SP I'd say not a good bike for a beginner. It's a little bit to light on the front end and prone to pulling wheelies when you dont exoect it to, and the engine is a bit to torquey for a first bike. A beginner rider could be lulled into a sense of false security by the comfortable and easy riding position, only to very quickly get themselves into a situation that they're not experienced enough to get out of
@@VeeFour And what if you'd just put it in B-mode for the first 6 months or so? (then to standard, then lastly A-mode)
8:33 seems to be a problem across the range. I did that to my mt10sp, triggers me everytime
As well made and solid as they are, the switches are a bit crammed together. I imagine that after a while muscle memory will kick in and you'd stop doing it
Very detailed review . Great job . I wish it was a twin though as I love powerful twins for street bikes . The triple can resemble an inline 4 which is a bit lacking in character .
Thanks.I think he triple engine spilts the difference between twins and inline fours perfectly. You have some of the smooth power delivery of the 4 , but with some of the torque and character of the twin. I love em, but it'd be a boring old world if we all liked the same thing, after all there are people out there who actually like singles! 😂😉
Very true mate ! Subscribed and looking forward to more of your reviews .
I have got a 2012 speed, and thinking to changing to a 2019 mt09 sp or a hypermotard because I only use it for weekend fun and twisties
Looking at getting a MT09 sp but from past reviews it kinda put me off, saying torquey and scary bike. But now watching your review Im definately interested rather than the MT07.
It's torquey in a good way as it only gives it to you when you ask for it. The rest of the time it's super mellow 👍
@@VeeFour cheers again for the brilliant review will be off to Chorley yamaha to pick one up.
Have you test-ridden the Yamaha XSR900? If not, would you consider adding a comparison video to MT-09? I've read some throttle response differences, as well as ergonomics and suspension.
I'd love to, and I've been dropping hints at Chorley Yamaha to do this very thing, but they aren't biting
Very informative, thank you for the review.
You're very welcome :)
Hi, you think it a good for first bike? I know he have much power but I love this bike, and Also for trip. Thanks
I would not think that this would be a good very first ever bike, but after some training with a good school and so long as you have a mature mind, then it could be okay
Any bike can kill you (and others) if you're stupid. If you expect to do a lot of highway riding, I believe more powerful bikes can be safer than under-powered bikes. My 16-year-old son is learning on my 1203 cc Buell Uly, and he's doing fine. If you know what you've got for a bike, treat it with respect (and maybe keep it in B mode while learning), and you'll be fine. On the other hand, if you're not yet comfortable focusing your attention 100% on all aspects of riding, no bike, big or small, will be safe for you, so it might be better to simply wait a bit longer rather than getting a weak bike.
Hi Dave really injoyed the Vidio's for the MT-07 and the MT-09, last year I bought a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Iam back to biking after a long period , I feel that the R.E Interceptor is not got enough grunt for me now and Need to know if I would fit the MT-09, Iam 6 foot 1" and weigh in around the 19 stone do you think the bike would be a good fit for me, Iam in my 79th year, but seem to have got back my road craft after having a break for 54 years, it looks like the MT-09 has all the power that I would require, I really look forward to your Reply Best Regards Bryan Medway
Hello sir and welcome back to the fold. The MT09 has more than enough grunt for you, me and honestly for anyone else on the road, but it's a very user friendly and accessible amount of power.
Coming from the Enfield it will feel much MUCH sportier and at first it will undoubtedly surprise you. Modern bikes like the MT feel a bit twitchy on the throttle at first, and this can be a bit off putting, however this is just a side effect of electronic fuel injection having to meet the demands of current emission regulations, and your wrist becomes used to the subtle throttle imputs needed to tide smoothly, so that after a short while you don't notice it. Also this effect is greatly diminished on the MT09 when you put it in 'B mode' , as the power delivery is softened greatly in this mode and the bike almost feels as it is breathing through a carburettor.
Ive had my MT09 for almost 2 years now and it's still putting a smile on my face every time I ride it, and I can't see me getting rid of it anytime soon. I'm 6'1 myself and it fits me fine, so it will be good for you too, plus if Yamaha can use this same engine to power their massive and heavy 3 wheeled Nikken GT, which is designed to be a long distance 2 up tourer, then it will cope with a 19 stone rider with ease.
I would definitely recommend that you take one for a test ride first just to make sure before you part with any cash, and if you do take the plunge, then budget for a change of tires straight away, because the oem ones are terrible (even though they are supposed to be good Bridgestones which they aren't), and get the dealer to adjust the suspension for your weight.
Let me know how you get on and ride safe.
You precisely summed up my thoughts on the styling/aesthetic of it. Sure the Triumphs are high spec and will (arguably, in the hands of somebody who can ride them properly) out-perform anything short of an outright sportbikes, but to me at least the whole Street/Speed Triple ranges are all ugly as sin. Like you said about the retro thing too; Yamaha has the XSR series, Kawasaki the Z900RS, Honda are now coming out with the CBR 'Neo Cafe Racer' (or whatever they're calling it, something like that) series, Husqvarna have their retro 401 and 701...
Loads of people hate on the MT09's looks but I like it a lot, particularly the headlights. It looks futuristic and aggressive, like it might transform into something that will kick the shit out of you for disrespecting it. 1970/whatever is the past, things move on. The standard Z900 is one of the coolest looking bikes Kawasaki manufactures, so far as I'm concerned and the RS variant is probably the weakest attempt at modern retro on the market now. Even if they may be the best performing bikes in the naked category, none of the Dukes do it for me. To summarize my long winded, unsolicited and irrelevant opinion - having just recently got my category A, my only serious considerations for my next bike are an MT or a Kawasaki Z.
At last, someone who gets it! Putting cosmetic touches on bikes like vestigial cooling fins or throttle bodies that mimic carburettors is a deeply sad thing in my eyes, and the people who are taken in by them are just trying to cling on to something that wasn't very good in the first place. The Z900RS is a great looking bike because it has the same profile as one of my all time favourites, the Z1, but those faux cooling fins! urgh they just ruin it.
I agree that the current Z900 is a fantastic and bang up to date looking bike, and I hope I get to try one, but the rambunctious triple of the MT09 just won me over as it is just so so much fun. I have a stupid grin on my face all day riding it, but I think the Kawasaki wins in the looks department.
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond. Have been enjoyed those of your videos I've seen so far, makes a change to listen to somebody with a grasp of grammar and an extended vocabulary. You talk about the things I'm curious to know about the bikes you're riding; for example, the part in this video where you talked about the gearing and rev range etc. Also your comparison of riding modes and consideration of what it might be like for those of us with less experience.
I'd love to have an MT09 but I've only just got my unrestricted bike licence (after years of driving cars but seven months on an MT-125) and I'm a couple of months off 28 years old. I really wouldn't be responsible with it. Test rode an MT07 over Easter weekend and loved it; something I can commute on in the week and have fun with at the weekends.
Thanks for this review! It's the most complete review on youtube from a non-profesional rider. I watched all of it because I'm considering getting one of these toys soon. I'm actually coming from a more powerful bike, but I just love the engine and looks of this bike. It annoys me that the street triple gets a groovy TFT and the Yamaha doesn't though.
Thank you for this detailed review. I'm interested to buy SP version or standard MT-09. At Yamaha dealer in my country the SP version costs 2350 euro more than MT-09. is it worth buying SP?
That's over twice the difference in the UK. I'm not sure that is worth the upgrades myself for that much more
great review mate but please watch the speed in the 30`s and hope u don't hit a pothole while riding with 1 hand take care cheers
fire blade Thanks. One cannot account for all possibilities, but 30 years continuous experience on two wheels with only a couple of sub 5 mph tumbles to my name, have given me plenty of observational and reactive skills. Motorbiking is all about acceptable risk taking, and wide angle GoPro footage doesn't give an accurate representation of my situational awareness. I'll be okay buddy 😉😎👍👍
Good review 🤗 I have a 2015 mt09 would love to have the sp
Informative review as always, think I would go for a 2nd hand MT10 though. Any plans to test new Speed Triple or the new Husqvarna Vitpilen?
Yes second hand prices on the 10 are very appealing, but they are thirsty as hell (more so than the R1 strangely) and are a massive insurance hike over the 9.
Getting a ride on the Speed shouldn't be hard, but I've never been in a Husky dealer before so I'm not sure how blaggable they are
VeeFour I think you will manage it, gift of the gab 😜 looking forward to see what actually makes it into your garage
VeeFour a question for you the XSR900 should be similar enough to this, so if for weekend fun only would you spend your £6k on a second hand XSR900 or a ZX6R 636? Also put yourself in the situation where you would mostly on the road at the weekends and you have no track bike
The early mt 09 's where all about B mode to start off-'til the tyres warned, to be safe!
I never got around to riding the first MT-09, so I suppose I'm benefiting from the evolution of the range
VeeFour sound
Hi. Im just getting my license, and Im loving this bike. But Im stilla asking me if this is a bike thats good for beginners? With the "no skills" and so on. Nice review!
Its way too powerful as a first bike. An mt 07 is a great first bike though, has A LOT of power (especially for a beginner) and it has that torque that makes it feel even faster. Fun factor doesnt die on that bike, but you still get a chance to grow into it. Get an mt 09 after one-two years or so instead if you like the mt 07!
Personally, I think it's all about maturity.
If you're learning in the UK on our Direct Access scheme, then you would ride a bike like the MT07 during training, which is a brilliant and very capable bike for any rider of any level of experience, and the training you recieve and the testing regime could prepare you for a bike like the 09.
HOWEVER, you would need to temper your newly taught skills and confidence, with a lot of maturity and understanding that passing a test is only a start.
The MT09 is a very easy bike to ride at normal road speeds and in B mode the throttle is very manageable for a novice to get used to. The danger comes when you are at the stage of having a couple of thousand miles under your wheels and you grow over confident, because at high revs the 09 really can rapidly get you into serious trouble that only experience and muscle memory will get you out of.
So in a nutshell, it's probably not the best first bike, but it could be for some careful people.
Good luck.
How is the standard tyres on it
Pretty bad to be honest. OE tyres on new Japanese bikes always seem a bit hard to me, so I swapped mine out for some Pirelli Rosso 3 as soon as I got it home
Any chance of you doing the XSR900 and giving your opinion on it compared to this? Would love it.
Great & honest bike review, thanks a lot and big V to you... :)
Thank you :)
Was about to buy an mt09 then I rode the Suzuki Gsxs 1000.. for nearly the same price the Gsxs 1000 is leagues ahead.
Coming from a 2013 street triple
Wish they would import them to the USA
I'm baffled as to why they don't. So many US riders have asked for the SP range to be imported, Inthink Yamaha have goofed in not bringing the range to the American market
£750 excess........ Best you make sure the side stand is down correctly.
Nice review Dave. I quite like the look of the MT-09, I just can't sit on it comfortably enough after my op.
Thanks for posting.
Oh yes, I don't intend to make that mistake again. The £750 excess was for a total loss of the bike, so I could have binned it so long as it wasn't written off :)
OurCakeProductions, I totally agree. Great bike for the price, amazing engine, light handling and super fun. However, after an hours rest ride my tail bone was killing me. Put me off. Now a proud owner of an RS 765. The slightly more forward-leaning riding position suits me better.
Great review Dave!
Quite nice review. However, the camera work needs to be worked on. Especially the walk around. Might I suggest a different camera for that in order that you can get decent close ups. And watch the strong shadows.😊
Thanks. I'm only playing at this and don't have much of a clue as to what I'm doing. However, some people have actually commented that they like the bumbling amateur nature of my vids, because it lends a certain sincerity to my message of the regular bloke's opinion. Personally I just think they're crap 😁
I think a better camera for walk arounds is a good idea though 👍
VeeFour you are right, the amateur nature adds its value and I like them because of that. But maybe using a phone camera for the walkaround would improve a lot because action cameras really distort the bike lines.
Is it good and suitable for a beginner? Planning to get one
It depends on how beginner you mean. I wouldn't learn on this bike but it could be okay after you've had some professional training and a few hundred miles on a training school bike
@@VeeFour I have driven Upto 220 cc.I mean beginner in the sense that I haven’t driven bigger cc motorbikes. Is it easy to switch to 900cc one?
I really cant decide between SP and Street triple R... I really like the look of MT09 SP and that it comes standard with Quickshifter and upgraded suspension. and it's still cheaper than Triumph. but it doesn't have brembo brakes, The screen on mt09 is just awful, exhaust sound from standard pipe is also better on ST and overall quality is better than on MT09.
Splendid Cookie In my opinion there is no wrong choice between the two. Brembo brakes are great, but you only really see the benefit of them on track, because if you're braking that hard on the streets then at some point the road surface will let you down (patch of gravel, diesel etc) and you'll be sliding under an oncoming truck. Personally I wouldn't make a decision based on the lack of Brembos, they're great to have of course if the bike you want already has them, but the stock brakes on the MT are more than fine for street use, and can always be improved with non oem pads. As for the rest, it's a personal choice as to which you prefer the look of and which engjne characteristics you like, the Yamaha is noticeably more torquey and grunty low down, whereas the Triumph has better top end that just screams and howls. The Triumph will handle slightly better, but again you'd only really notice this during hard track riding but it's still nice to have the potential, and build quality wise I'd say tht they were both on par. The Triumph has more toys but it's also chunk of cash more expensive, so it all balances out in my book and either choice will leave you with a fantastic bike to be proud of 👍👍
VeeFour after having 2 mt 09 & 09 tracer i was made up to get a tigersport an' then the brandnew 1 . The triumph brand name says something (MGB)
Why did you prefer this to the 10?
For me, it's just a better all round road bike. The 09 has more than enough power, and you can use more of the power it has on offer than the 10 because public roads in the UK are busy, full of crap and are infested with speed cameras.
The 09 feels lighter and more fun to razz around on, and just feels more fun. I've owned various 1000cc powerful sports bikes, and yoi just can't use anything like their full performance as you will either lose your license, kill yourself or worst of all kill someone else.
I've ridden both and the 09 is just more fun, cheaper and easier to ride, plus the 10 drinks fuel like it's got a hole in the tank.
I did a viseo explaining my reasons as to why I think mid ramge bikes are better for road riding 👍
@@VeeFour Great,I've had an offer accepted for an MT 09 SP,looking foreward to it before winter descends
Also,there are pre reg mt09s for sale less than price of 2018 SP,s,would you go for new standard or older SP for price?
If the condition is okay, the SP has superior suspension and is well worth it. If I bought a standard MT09, I'd want to spend a couple of grand on an Ohlins shocker and a decent fork cartridge kit, but the SP already comes with this all done for less than the price of doing it yourself.
Brand new is always nice though
My next purchase 😎😎
Money well spent 👍👍👍
Thanks for the Review , don’t know why they don’t have the Sp in the US , I will be buying one anyway, I just traded in the my ZX10R Ninja in for a Indian Scout , it’s a nice Cruiser but it just doesn’t have that Zippy throttle response a Track bike or a sports bike like the MT 09 has , so Iv got to get me one ☝️!
I'm really baffled as to why they aren't imported into the US, so many American bikers are asking for them
VeeFour yeah I don’t get it either maybe the MT 09 sales so well in Europe so they there way of rewarding y’all 😁!
The horn switches of the XSR700, XSR900, MT07 and MT09 are small and the user presses the button inconveniently and it is not designed according to the principles of ergonomics.?
chokpiti kaewnil yes, the horn button is badly placed indeed
Good review 😁
Thanks :)
No need the work the clutch when changing modes, btw, what rpm does it do at 60 mph?
Can you put a 190 series tire on the rear rim?
Hmmm, good question. The honest answer is I don't know, but 5 minutes of Google reveals that it MAY be possible but it's a tight fit. Personally I love the look of an oversized rear tyre so I fit them where ever practical, but in the case of the MT I'd be concerned that fitting a 190 50 would slow down the turn in, and the agility of this bike is one of the things I'd never want to compromise. A 190 55 coupd potentially mitigate this loss in performamce, but could raise an issue with lifting the rear slightly so the bike's balance and ergos are affected, and in any case it'll be a shoe horned fit.
A much deeper search of owners forums should turn up more info on this topic 👍
Great review thank you... awesome bike! Its on the short list 👌
Great review, enjoyed that. Can we use plain English please ('gas mileage')?
I think it's an idiom that I've picked up through watching hundreds of other international reviewers
Also unless I missed it you didn’t say which you prefer performance wise Street Triple or MT09?
I didn't say because I tested the Street on a lovely warm dry day and the bike was fully run in, so I could put it through it's paces a bit more. Whereas a cold February day on a zero mileage bike brand new tyres isn't the ideal testing environment. However I think I will allow myself to be drawn into confirming that I prefer the low down torque delivery of the MT over the Street, but I can imagine that under identical conditions the Street will handle better than the Yam. It would be a very difficult choice between the two......stay tuned ;D
Someone please help. I have a problem. Have 3 bikes in my garage and they are offering this bike at a local dealer for a song and I’m close to buying it.
DOOOO IT!
DOOOO IT!
DOOOO IT!
Great review mate. I’ve actually ordered one and it’s in the post. You confirmed what I thought entirely, which is good. I debated with myself on choosing this over the Triumph RS, which I still think is the technically better bike but the riding position and the fact that it has a better and wider seat for taking my better half on occasions tipped it for me. As you well said, this bike does look better than the Triumph. The Triumph has this grown up look, a bit of a “safer on the general public eye” and a more traditional look to it. The MT range has an acquired taste to its lines. You either love it or hate it. Just like Guinness really. And I do love Guinness.
Excellent good for you......and to give you a spoiler alert, I've ordered one too SHHHHHH.
It was a tough choice, but for me it comes down to the price and....well it just feels right :)
VeeFour That is excellent news! Really glad you did as it gives more confidence that I made the right decision in choosing Yamaha. Since we’re being honest, I’ve always had Japanese motorcycles and know they are reliable especially when it comes to engines and that gives me peace of mind especially when traveling on a bike abroad. Having said that, it is an unfair assumption, as I have no proof they are more reliable than Triumph, and it may be just in the mind, my mind. Anyway, chuffed you choose the SP and looking forward to more videos of you and your new bike.
stephen spiteri after a month i really would like to know how it handles with two people on the saddle. I've heard there isn't much room on the back and the passenger pegs are a bit high. I'd appreciate your input on the matter as i am really considering this bike.
Neekholas, this bike is still a compromise. If you plan on big trips with someone riding pillion you would be better off buying the Tracer 900. I have still to receive my bike so I can’t give you more first hand information. Having said that, a friend owning an MT09 replaced the rear foot peg standoff’s with the ones from the Tracer which are longer so provide a more comfy position for the pillion. He has also fitted the oem rear rack which has grab handles so his wife is well pleased. The rear Givi bag that clips on the rack provides her more support and safety. So there are small things that can improve the MT09 for touring and you can remove the lot once you’re back home. One must decide what his bike will be used most for I suppose. Think with your head but choose with your heart. Life really is a balancing act.
stephen spiteri thanks for the good and detailed answer. Indeed you can always change a couple things. I've been riding a supermoto for years so i am not really used to comfort, neither is my girl. So the 09 cant be worst than that . Thanks for the information thought.. good luck and enjoy the bike when it arrives !
Just watch your speed in those 30MPH area's matey
Such a shame you can only get it in silver, i really dont like silver and blue on this bike.
You can get it in dark knight all black
I own actually an MT09 SP. On reserve the engine stopped after 30 miles, however there was more than 1.5l petrol in tank. Do you know why?
I honestly don't, and 30 miles is quite a long way with the fuel light on. Maybe it doesn't let you fully drain the tank to stop any sludge getting into the fuel system
That is right, however I used to have an XSR700. With that I could do 50-60 miles on reserve. So I expected the same with the MT09SP. It didn't work unfortunately. Nevertheless it is an amazing peace of machinery. Love every second on it.
Not to mention Yamaha’s three cylinder is a crossplane crank design three cylinder! “WHAT” 😂
My only complaint is no cruise control! Besides the back shock!
But heated grips quick shifter comfort seat windscreen! cruising the highway all day long!
Confort seat has a back rest a little one’
It go’s 0-140 in 11 sec Note the new models can’t change rev limiter/gov on top speed. “Yet” Governs at 140 at 8,500 rpms out of 10,500 rpms the last 2000 rpm can get another 29 plus MPH! Tops out on rpms around 170 mph! For the track specs if anyone wanted to know! I did some research for a 2019! 0 to 140 results may vary Upon take off! Traction control! experience! Also height and weight of rider! Ride safe my friends! Bike weights with out gas 405 lbs with gas 425 lbs! 11 seconds was result from big rider 200 lbs plus! Just FYI! #YamahRacingTeam
Also when it hits it’s max torque of 65 pounds at the rear wheel at 2500 rpm’s it holds its max torque of 65 foot-pounds all the way through the whole rev range to 10,500 rpm’s! Crossplane crank! say what! The reason you pick the MTO9 out of all the other ones in the family it weighs 425 pounds wet! No not a beginner bike! 😂 849cc of mean! Standard mode wheelies on demand all you have to do is open the throttle up 1st to 3rd gear have to clutch up after that! B mode is like rain mode! #YamahaRacingTeam
I said good day! Lol Have a good day!
the engine is so good ride another 115hp bike and they seam very flat .
I know exactly what you mean, it feels a good 20 hp more powerful than it's published figures
Wow. I like Yamaha super racing bike that only means amazing bike style no1 racebike.Yamaha.
🥇
my mate has one , its a bit shit n cheap , goes well though , for how long god knows , bouncy bouncy ,
Spot on and that’s coming from a Yank
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