Can you believe that the Japanese Icon, the Yamaha MT-09, and its legendary CP3 motor have been in production for the last 10 years? Much like Porsche’s 986 Boxter and Volkswagen’s Golf MK1 GTI, the MT-09 was Yamaha’s saving grace at the time with its affordable price tag, aggressive street fighter design, thrilling power delivery and zero electronic rider aids. I can still remember seeing the MT-09 flooding the early version of my teenage Instagram feed with wheelie videos and plenty of images of the ‘MT’ faithful customising their Yamahas to their own desired taste—it’s fair to say that the MT-09’s raw nature became part of the hooligan and stunt bike craze overnight.
10 years later Yamaha continued their evolution of the MT-09 with the same brief, the brief that reads out, “The Dark Side Of Japan”. Much like Kawasaki’s ‘Sugomi’ styling on their Z naked range, Yamaha’s focus when they said, the dark side of Japan was to draw some inspiration around the city’s secret nightlife and graffiti, putting together a design language that pretty much states evil villain turned good, much like the Marvel Comics character Venom.
If you want to skip through a couple of chapters in the History books, all one needs to know is that from the third generation onwards the MT-09 went through a radical change. What was a slightly unhinged symbiote in its early versions turned into a 90 per cent new motorcycle with a new 890 cc engine, revised electronics and, most importantly, a more cornering-friendly chassis. To get your MT to corner before the gen-3 was on showroom floors you’d have to have a big set of kahunas, extra money left over to buy some suspension upgrades or you’d have to take the plunge on buying an SP model—if you were quick enough to get your hands on one.
History aside, the gen-3 although 90 per cent new, kept all that was good including the traditional ergonomics which for years made many of us jump ship to the MT, even though braking and handling weren’t on par with the competition. The only thing that was lacking and every MT-09 fan has their own opinion about each generation of MT-09, but for me, it was that headlight styling, jip I went there and boy was it tough to look past, until now at least…
This year we see “same same but different” from Yamaha with what on the surface looks like a completely new bike thanks to a fresh new design, fancy air box, sleek new headlight, a sporty two-piece seat, standard cruise control and a revised electronics package amongst a few more finer details. As for the finer details, we are talking about a more aggressive riding position, alongside revised geometry and suspension settings. Other than that summary of changes the new model stays largely unchanged with the same 890 cc CP3 motor, chassis, swingarm and subframe.
So, in theory, this new gen-4 MT-09 should be the remastered version of the last, or is it?
She’s got the look! For the first time in a long while, I’m attracted by the styling of the MT-09. The new bi-functional LED headlight which mimics a Mecha anime robot’s helmet, sits almost flush with the forks integrating into the sharp new tank and faired tail section design. Yes, we MT lovers are missing the one-piece seat but with the two-piece seats, we get a more edgy design that ties into the new look and a bump stop to help keep us settled when pulling wheelies. One gripe all of us MT-09 riders have with Yamaha has to be the tank size, come on Yamaha we need a bigger tank, these 14-litre jobs have been annoying us for years, more litres equals more range and therefore more fun.
Talking about tanks, Yamaha has designed a clever feature which was worked on alongside Yamaha’s music division called “Acoustic Amplifier Grilles”. Right… What these two grills or intake ducts do is deliver the CP3’s exhaust and intake notes directly to the rider for an enhanced sensation of acceleration, but also to show Euro whatever we are on now, the middle finger. I loved the feature, especially when quick-shifting in the high RPMs as this allows you to hear exhaust pops and bangs through the grilles. On the downshifts, you can also enjoy some pops and bangs, which in all honesty saves buyers the need to buy an aftermarket exhaust.
We also see build quality go to an almost German level, with new switch gear that makes the last model feel 10 years old and finally, a bigger 5” TFT with a world of new tech, preprogrammed and custom rider modes. Again, I enjoyed playing with the modes and quickly dived into creating my own customised riding mode to suit my style of riding. From slide control, lean-angle sensitive traction control, lift control and engine power settings, the MT-09 like an obedient child allows you to decide what kind of behaviour to be in.
When I saw the lack of handlebar risers, a sharper seat, a lower tank, further set footpegs and a different rake angle, I was concerned that Yamaha had gone down the more supersport Triumph Street Triple RS route. Thankfully the MT-09 hasn’t been turned into a wristy weapon, but rather an in-betweener which has finally evolved the hooligan into more of an all-round package that can now be stable through faster corners and still hoist the front wheel when persuaded to. You also don’t have the annoying short turning circle on this new model, this was something that many riders got annoyed about on the last MT.
The ergonomics on the gen-4 suit the chassis and suspension to the tee and now allow for much quicker and more precise riding without losing out on the fun factor, that forms part of the MT-09’s DNA. The new Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 tyres of course add to the package and do their job just well for all things sporty on the road. To compliment the stopping performance Yamaha has upgraded to a new Brembo radial master cylinder which in my books was a necessary upgrade over the Nissin radial brake master cylinder on the gen-3, which just made the brakes in the past feel wooden.
Thanks to the addition of cruise control and the slightly comfier seat the MT-09 can also be ridden on longer stints too. I have personally done many long-distance trips on my MT-09 and XSR 900 and I’ve always been blown away at how these naked bikes can handle the open road with a few minor screen modes. The MT-09 has been known for doing it all, but for the first time, it truly is a machine that can do it all, with less compromise.
In a nutshell, the new MT-09 is the bike we MT fans have been waiting for, a machine that is now far more comfortable at being pushed to its limits, rather than holding the rider back. You can feel more feedback from the front end which gives you confidence and makes for a more engaging ride than ever before, in the same breath the riding ergonomics are not too extreme either—allowing the MT to retain its comfortable daily ride characteristics. It’s still not the most focused machine for track riding in the sector like the Triumph Street Triple RS, but it strikes a brilliant balance between being both sporty and the typical fun hooligan you can commute on.
The new MT-09 is without a doubt a remastered version of the outgoing model, but for those who prefer the original flavour the gen-3 is still a fantastic motorcycle and I wouldn’t blame you for holding on to it. For those looking for something less baby blue and more special, Yamaha SA have got the SP version on their floors which gets you a few extra bling bits like Brembo brake calipers, keyless ignition, upgraded suspension, a fancy SP paint job and more electronic rider aids. Right now the MT-09 is currently very well priced, undercutting its competitors by a couple of grand and offering riders a phenomenal package.
For more information on the bikes featured in this article, click on the links below…
