LIVING WITH: YAMAHA MT-09
After 2000 miles with Yamaha’s naked, this is what we’ve learnt.
The plaudits have always flowed for Yamaha’s MT-09 and this refreshed version is no different, but what’s it like to live with? Paul Lang has covered 2000 miles on the new model searching for imperfections. He’s not found many…
BOING! BOING! BOING!
I’m no Motogp rider who can talk chassis flex or feel the ‘ripple’ as I run over a human hair on the A15, but even I know the suspension on the latest MT-09 is where Yamaha have saved money. The front end clatters over bumps and gives me a headache. Tweaking/upgrading required.
TYRES
This test bike is shod with Bridgestone Battlax S22RS and they suit very nicely. Plenty of grip in the dry, confidence inspiring and when the deluges come I haven’t felt nervous in bends. After 2000 miles they are starting to square off slightly but there’s plenty of tread left.
SOUNDS BETTER, LOOKS BETTER, COSTS MORE
The MT-09 has a rumbly soundtrack, even though you can’t see where the sound is coming from at first. I prefer a shiny pipe and the options list offers a full stainless steel Akrapovic system. Budget (not that it is) £1449 and save yourself the heartache of discoloured header pipes.
DON’T DISS THE QUICKSHIFTER
I like the challenge of a good gear change, with a clutch, but the MT-09’S quickshifter is properly good fun and smooth. Works both ways which does worry me on the down shifts and through town it can be clunky. But where you want to be, on the B-roads, getting a jog on, it works.
WARNING: FRAGILE
Menu buttons have become an, almost, unavoidable aspect of current motorcycling life. Which is fine. However, my worry with the MT-09 is that this menu button feels fragile. If it were my bike I’d be worrying about how long it’ll last. Plus the menu allows two fuel gauge readings.
CLOCK WORK
With the current trend for enormo TFTS that resemble a cinema screen more than they do a ‘dash’ this MT-09’S offering is under whelming. Yet it’s easy to read and gives you all the info you need quickly. Unless the sun is over your shoulder and then you can’t decipher a thing.
A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE
I get that if you are refreshing a bike the design/look has to be, errrrrr, looked at. But this restyling job hasn’t worked. It doesn’t seem finished and there is a whiff of aftermarket bolt-on about it. The small projector bulb looks great on a 916, but here the proportions are wrong.
BRAKES: THE FUN NEVER STOPS
One of my favourite parts of the bike – so much feel and it doesn’t matter how much of a handful I grab they perform exquisitely. Since I attended a wheelie school I use more rear now entering corners and it’s great to know the MT-09S stoppers at the back work just as well.