Yamaha MT-09 MY 2017, the fun-bike becomes practical [ROAD TEST]

Yamaha MT-09 MY 2017 – The MT-09 is among the best-selling motorcycles from the Iwata company, where at the top we find its sister Tracer, with which it shares the engine and much more. It is a motorbike that was immediately appreciated, on its debut in 2013 (even if the CP3 engine was already at Intermot 2012) and that this year, with the necessary intervention for theadaptation to Euro 4 standards, it was revised in many details, also inheriting part of the look of its big sister MT-10. It can be seen in the front, completely revised and which has as its central element the new and aggressive headlight, now equipped with LED lights. All the superstructures also change, while the saddle is longer and higher, to the full advantage of comfort (which was one of the main flaws of the first MT-09). Nice one new license plate holder attached to the swingarm, but aesthetics aside, many other aspects have been retouched, making the new MT-09 better and increasingly a reference motorbike in its segment. The price remains just below the 9.000 euro threshold, growing by 300 compared to 2016.

Aesthetics and finishes:

rating:  

A new and more refined face, the MT-09 is now a mature product and pleasant even in its details

The fact that it is one of the most interesting products of recent years has been decreed by its success and by the attention of enthusiasts to all its variations, from the Tracer (here is our test from last year) to the XSR (here is the article with the proof), which reinterpret the concept around its three-cylinder and with a chassis that remains substantially identical in the three variants. The Tracer is more practical and oriented towards long-range touring, perhaps for two, while the to marketing in recent years), which is accompanied by the pleasure of driving an MT-09.

She remains the most essential, but for some also the most pleasant, with a deliberately aggressive appearance, made more mature and pleasant by the MY2017 updates. Change face, which for an essential naked like this means change the headlight. The old and more conventional headlight unit in fact gives way to a modern and aggressive element based on 4 LED projectors (plus the daytime running lights), divided in half to therefore create the two portions on the right and left.

The instrumentation descends slightly towards the headlight and gains a more refined look, with a cover in the rear area to cover the unsightly connector and the wiring, which all disappear behind the small mask which, compared to the first MT-09, extends to entirely cover the area from the headlight to the ignition lock. The changes continue in the side panels area, which now have a more accentuated family feeling with the recent MT-10, which however remains even more aggressive and "massive" (some would even say Mazinger), given that the CP3 engine is leaner than the 4 cylinders.

The saddle has been revised, not so much for aesthetic reasons, but to fix one of the flaws of the old model, the lack of comfort. Now it is thicker by a good 5mm, as well as 13mm longer. The novelties end with a visible rear area the tail now cleaner, given that the license plate holder disappears and moves to the lower part, supported by an aluminum arm connected directly to the swingarm.

Engine and performance:

rating:  

It switches to Euro 4, loses nothing in malice and gains better set-up electronics

On paper, the MT-09 MY2017 could have simply conformed to regulatory obligations, with the transition to Euro 4 regulations, perhaps losing something in terms of delivery. At Yamaha they have instead decided to make the many admirers of the three-cylinder funbike happy by giving them away quite a bit of interesting news. First of all we can reassure you, the delivery curve remains the sight that anyone who has ever ridden a Yamaha equipped with the 3-cylinder Cross Plane has in mind (CP3 for “friends”). The transition to the most recent emissions category, with all the adjustments it requires, was painless, thanks to the expert interventions of the technicians.

The MT-09 then gains TCS traction control is standard (in reality it had already arrived on MY2016, but only if chosen with ABS). Configurable on two positions, as well as deactivable, it has a more safety-oriented mode, the “2”, while with the “1” it becomes “thug-like”, because it works from antiwheeling only with clutch in hand, while when the CP3 raises the front progressively, the electronics let it run and do not intervenewhether you use first, second or third gear. Indeed, it is possible to shift up without closing the throttle and comfortably exploiting the quick shift. Another novelty of MY2017, it works "to go up”, while climbing you can enjoy the new slipper clutch, which doesn't cause problems for the rear even when you try to overdo it.

We find confirmation in the usual ones 3 D-modes, with the possibility of using the most aggressive mapping (A) or a reduced power one (B). The latter is perfect for when it rains or when the road surface is particularly treacherous. The STD (Standard) ends up being the best, as well as the most used, given that when turned on again it is the one inserted by default. It appears to be just as aggressive, without reaching the more nervous "A", while it loses that annoying on-off, which was definitely the worst flaw of the first MT-09. This can be felt in all the methods used, testifying to the fact that the work done is really good. All the refinement, obtained with work especially on the electronics (which in part - traction control and new configuration in the electronic management of the YCC-T accelerator - had already arrived on MY2016, which however we had not had the opportunity to try), makes the MT-09 less grumpy and nervous, but just as aggressive. All the numbers of the CP100, 3 and a half in displacement, with 115 horsepower delivered at 10 rpm and the maximum torque of 87,5 Nm which reaches 8.500. It pushes well from just over 2 thousand rpm, from 4 thousand it shows an incredible back, with a nice reach up to the limiter. The electronic gearbox is good to go up, while the new one door slipper clutch with a further advantage: a 20% reduction in lever effort.

Ride and handling:

rating:  

Among the new features are the fully adjustable fork and ABS now as standard

The chassis remains faithful to the aluminum double beam frame, but the MT-09 MY2017 gains a fork now fully adjustable, asymmetrically with compression braking on the right stem and extension braking on the left. The rear mono, however, remains unchanged, equipped with complete adjustments and progressive linkages. As for braking ABS becomes (finally) standard, which helps the work of pair of 298 mm front floating discs and the 245 single behind. The 4-piston radial-mount calipers they do their job excellently and the braking is powerful, well modulated and does not fear fatigue. The weight to be stopped rises slightly, because from the 188 kg of the "old" MT-09, which were 191 for the ABS version (as mentioned, it is now standard), it rises to a 193 for MY2017, with a slight increase therefore of a couple of kilos.

Up to this point, at least on paper, there are some changes, but they don't seem like upheavals. However, getting on the MT-09 immediately appears to be a more mature motorbike and we are not just referring to the fact that it is less grumpy in delivery, even if she doesn't lack wickedness. In fact, what emerges as we drive the new MT-09 is its character smoothed and improved, thanks to small (but numerous) refinements. For example, the saddle is better designed (the position is now higher and the measurements of the footrest-saddle-handlebar triangulation are therefore slightly different), as well as More comfortable, while the chassis also appears more balanced and shifted towards that of a "normal" naked, compared to a motard. Sometimes just a few "clicks" in the suspension calibration are enough to change the face of a bike and our opinion is that Yamaha have been able to point them in the right direction. It's always a fun bike, which is greatly appreciated by tightrope walkers of single-wheelers or slightly dirty driving, but the clear impression is that it will be much friendlier even to those who use it in a more civilized way and perhaps for many kilometres, without getting off the saddle with a tired backside.

Price and consumption:

rating:  

It rises to 9 and gains new colours

The MT family owes a good part of its (very great) success to a record-breaking quality/price ratio. Let us remember, for example, that the small MT-07 received such a number of bookings upon its debut that it was unavailable for the entire first year of production, with the more or less direct consequence that the initial pricing (which was 5.690 euros) was deemed too aggressive. , while now it is a thousand euros more, but with ABS as standard), corrected upwards without reducing the enthusiasm of its fans. The three-cylinder older sister was not so cheap, but with a price of less than 8 thousand euros it also guaranteed unbeatable value for money. Now it has gained ABS, traction control, Quickshift gearbox, but also a more refined aesthetic and many refinements. All this obviously has a price, which is paid with a price list that today reaches just under the threshold of 9 thousand euros (8.990)

The MY2017 is available with the aggressive Night Fluo color (with the circles that "shoot" with a nice strong contrast), or in this Yamaha Blue that you see in the photo, while the third color is Tech Black, which gives up any chromatic contrast in favor of a sort of "total black". On the consumption front they remain substantially unchangedthe. As we had noted in the past, the MT-09 reaches around 20 km/l when traveling on the motorway and on extra-urban roads, but if you get carried away you can get down to around 15 km/l. The tank maintains its 14 liters and with them an autonomy of at least 250 km. There is a large list of original accessories available on the Yamaha website, there are 59 of them, from those that enrich and make the look customizable to your taste ad others that go in the direction of practicality, such as 12 volt sockets, heated grips, fairings/windshields, bags, top cases, comfort saddles and much more. There is no shortage of racing details either, such as the complete exhaust system with titanium muffler, the Öhlins NIX 30 cartridge kit for the front fork or the Öhlins STX 46 YA335 rear shock absorber. The only limit to the customization of your MT-09 is perhaps the "capacity of your wallet", because some of the accessories just mentioned cost around 1.400 euros.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Fun like few others, the CP3 confirms itself as a marvel even in the Euro 4 version, the TC with "hooligan" mode with wheelie permission is excellent, the value for money remains remarkable
We do not like it:
Even if blunt, the motard style setting must please

Yamaha MT-09 MY 2017: the Motorionline Report Card

Motor:
Handling:
Gearbox and transmission:
Braking:
Suspensions:
Guide:
Pilot comfort:
Passenger comfort:
Equipment:
Quality price:
Line:
Consumption:

Photo shoot: Roberto Cassago

Test clothing:
Jacket: Spidi Evorider Tex
Gloves: Spidi STR-4 Coupe
Trousers: Spidi Ronin Pants
Boot: Dainese TR-COURSE OUT AIR
Helmet – Caberg Ghost: the shell is made of tricomposite material (fibreglass, carbon, kevlar) in two shell sizes, this full carbon version is also available with a shell entirely made of carbon. An aggressive shape and style combine with unique functionality on the market. This jet is in fact equipped with a particular glasses-shaped visor that adheres to the face thanks to the sponge present on the lower profile of the same. The interiors are made with breathable and hypoallergenic fabrics that are completely removable and washable. The all-Italian finishes such as the five rivets embedded in the shell edge, the steel air vents placed on the neck roll and the eco-leather inserts demonstrate the attention and attention to detail.