Yamaha MT-09 – road test 2014

A fun bike built around a 3-cylinder with a bright future

di Matteo Pozzi 5 August, 2014

Photo Yamaha MT-09_2014 road test

The MT-09 represents an ambitious challenge for Yamaha, project in fact it is totally new. Yamaha tried to achieve an aesthetically pleasing motorbike, fun to ride, with a low weight and high performance. All without giving up a high build quality, but above all, at an affordable price. In short, the perfect bike! Judging by the sales data, with customers on the list to have one, Yamaha hit the mark. The MT-09 is all new, trendy (even the number of cylinders is) and has virtually no nothing in common with previous Yamaha models: engine, chassis, electronics, aesthetics, everything is completely new. Yamaha believes a lot in this new project, and everything suggests that the MT-09 is the progenitor of a new lineage, which will continue for many years to come. In fact, over the years the Iwata company has accustomed us to extremely long-lived models such as XT, TDM, Ténéré, R1 and R6 and many others, each of which has now entered the hearts of enthusiasts. We believe that CP3 (the new 3 cylinder) and MT-09 are acronyms destined to become familiar to everyone in the coming years.

Aesthetics and finishes:
rating:

Halfway between naked and motard, it certainly gets noticed and appreciated

The MT-09 is undoubtedly a motorcycle that already at first glance it fascinates. May it be a fun bike it's clear right away, it is lean, mean and no frills. As with all naked bikes engine is in plain sight, and he, in addition to the trademark, It also proudly wears its name, CP3. It is compact and clean also in terms of aesthetics, painted black, while the heads and the lid with its name are in dark grey. The 3 into 1 exhaust is, as fashion dictates, short and trunk. The engine is completely naked, because it is a load-bearing element, hanging from the aluminum frame above it. The swingarm is asymmetrical, with the right side completely different, studied in the shapes to leave room for the exhaust. Everything appears designed with lightness in mind, understood both as physics, the frame weighs only 10 kg, the bike is 171 dry, but also aesthetics. Plastics are limited to the maximum, in practice we only find the two black conveyors on the sides of the tank, which is thesingle painted element whose color you can choose, not even the front mudguard is an exception, because it is also black, like the rear tail. In practice, the aesthetics of the motorbike are concentrated around the engine, the small frame and the tank. The tail is tiny and has a minimalist design, like the front end. The front headlight is pleasant, but does not want to draw too much attention to itself, the instrumentation is completely bare and therefore well finished even in the rear part, small and essential, but complete and easily readable. Self impact It may seem a simple naked like many, a careful eye notices instead the saddle-handlebar-footpeg position and the accentuated fork trail are more motard-like. The handlebars, in particular, are very high, about 10 centimeters higher than the stripped competitors. This is precisely the image that Yamaha wanted to give it, a sort of cross between a motard and a naked. We will have the opportunity to find confirmation of this in the guide. There constructive care instead it is the one that Yamaha has accustomed us to, therefore excellent. This is demonstrated by the finishes of the two-part die-cast aluminum frame, or the engine which does not need covers and plastic elements to hide blemishes, with all pipes and wiring precise, tidy and in plain sight.

Engine and performance:
rating:

A small masterpiece, shame only for the excessive on-off

The engine is the real protagonist of the MT-09. Let's start by dispelling a myth, Yamaha is not new to 3 cylinders. He used them in the 70s and still has a fair amount of know-how in this field. The new engine is a small masterpiece, around which, we are sure, other models will be born, the MT-09 is the progenitor of the new family. It's about a very compact and light unit, weighing only 60 kg. From the R1 super sports car it inherits thecross crankshaft, which was introduced a few years ago, taking advantage of the experience in MotoGP, to increase the torque at low and medium rpm, without penalizing the draw length. Thanks to this measure the CP3 pushes hard from 2.500 rpm, has one incredible back and lengthens up to the limiter without hesitation. In addition to dispensing it has a personality and character to fall in love with, the classic case in which the numbers are not enough to exalt him as much as he is unable to do with those who drive it. The horsepower of the 3-cylinder 850 (847 cc to be precise) is 115 hp at 10.000 rpm, with 87,5 Nm of maximum torque at 8.500. The electronic management of the accelerator ride-by-wire (YCC-T), allows you to have the D-Mode available, with 3 riding modes to choose from, which influence the mapping and throttle response, all conveniently configurable from the block to the handlebar. No traction control however, it would not be consistent with his philosophy. The MT-09 always lights up in “STD” (Standard) mode, “A” is more brutal and aggressive, while “B” is the softer one, theoretically useful in the city or on slippery surfaces, or in the wet, and about fifteen horses are lost. Let's get to the main flaw of the MT-09: don't you know what the on-off switch is on a motorbike? Try an MT-09 in Standard or “A” mode and you will understand it. The reactions to the throttle control are excessive and abrupt, end up straining the rider's wrists to the point that, even for single-wheel shots, we used the "B" mode, the most "quiet", normally relegated in our test rides to short use, to check the setting, or in case of showers. Furthermore, as already mentioned, even if you have set "B" (or "A"), by turning off the bike you lose the configuration, because the MT-09 always turns on in "STD". Not a small flaw, but there are already rumors that Yamaha is developing the solution, perhaps even for the bikes already sold, with a small software update. Luckily two of the three maps are full power, with the 115 horsepower always available in both the Standard and the "A" versions, but with more or less sweet delivery and response. The gearbox, however, is excellent, with clutches that are always precise, the clutch releases well and has also given good proof of resistance and modulation, despite it not being hydraulic.

Ride and handling:
rating:

Aggressive, perhaps too much, certainly fun

The riding position reminds us of what we had thought when observing it. A naked, but motard is in the DNA of this bike. The position is straight, you are very well inserted into the bike and with a wide handlebar just enough to feel the front wheel as if it were under your wrists. It's a pity that the saddle both excessively hard and uncomfortable, on long stretches you get off with more than a few pains. Honestly, more comfortable padding wouldn't have hurt, on the contrary. The wrists are also quite stressed when driving, but this cannot be remedied, given its motard nature. To achieve such ease of handling and speed, sacrifice is a must. The steering angle is good, in the city the handling is comparable to that of a scooter, and if you use the "B" mode it is not even too uncomfortable or abrupt. Its habitat but it is another, they are the roads all twists and turns, Where the MT-09 raises more than a smile. It has reference-level agility and handling, certainly thanks to the weight it contains only 188 kg with full tank (+3 for ABS), but undoubtedly also thanks to a excellent frame and balanced weight distribution, very central. The MT-09 is capable of very rapid changes of direction, it is a devourer of hairpin bends and narrow and medium radius curves, with a engine that pushes hard always and in any case. It's not uncommon to find yourself on one wheel exiting a corner, without even wanting to. The narrow silhouette of the motorbike then facilitates movements on the saddle. Be careful though, not everyone likes the motard approach. Those who are more roadster will end up hating it a bit for this naked roadster vocation, as Yamaha defines it, heavily loaded on the front. You drive differently and you have to get used to it, the front gives less feedback when the pace increases, it feels less and ends up being a less intuitive and simple bike to take to the limit. Moreover the trim, at least with the default settings, it is not at all rigid and can be felt in the succession of direction changes, where the bike moves quite a bit. A few clicks of adjustment and things improve, but the problem doesn't go away. For the less experienced she is far too nervous if she gets carried away with the gas. All topped off with a hyper-responsive throttle control, unless you have set the “B” mode. Nothing excessive, it's part of the absolutely fun bike nature, which will make it much appreciated by those who love riding like this. If the rear wheel is perhaps too soft for fast driving, the up-side-down front fork with 41 mm stanchions is fully adjustable and excellent, progressive and capable of transmitting the sensation of a front end that is always well loaded. Praise for the braking system, is exceptional at all gaits, very adaptable, powerful and resistant to prolonged efforts. The two front discs are 298 mm floating, the calipers are radial with 4 pistons. At the rear the disc is 245 mm, with sliding pin caliper. ABS is a 500 euro optional.

Price and consumption:
rating:

Aggressive starting price, ABS on request

The starting price of the MT-09 is 8.090 Euros. Given what it offers, especially in terms of performance thanks to the new 3-cylinder, it's truly exceptional. Be careful, however, that the version we tried, equipped with ABS, costs 8.590 euros. Then there are two versions Sport Tracker and Street Rally, offered respectively at 600 and 500 euros more than the standard one, equipped with optional packages practically discounted by around 20%, also in this case with or without ABS, always offered at 500 additional euros. You buy it for many reasons, but what is exclusive (at least until the arrival of new models) is that it has an all-new three-cylinder engine that is truly inimitable. I am four colors available: Deep Armor, Blazing Orange, Race Blue and Matt Grey, which is that of the sample we tested. The consumption indicated by the instrument is far too optimistic compared to the data we have been able to detect empirically, we have in fact noted a rather important discrepancy. In any case, the MT-09 is not particularly thirsty, but not the most economical either. The mileage on the motorway is just under 20 km/l, similar values on extra-urban roads traveled without exploiting it too much. If you get carried away you can get down to the 15km range with one litre. The 14 liter tank guarantees a fair amount of autonomy, especially in light of the type of motorcycle.

PROS AND CONS
We like it:
Exciting engine at any speed, easy handling and agility, aggressive line, excellent quality-price ratio
We do not like it:
Uncomfortable saddle, wrist fatigue, record-breaking ON-OFF in A and Standard modes

Yamaha MT-09: the Motorionline Report Card

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