Yamaha’s 2017 MT-09 revisited
This fun-loving inline triple can be yours from an appealing £5500
What we said then…
Yamaha have given their naked triple a makeover, lavished it with ride-enhancing extras, and ironed out those little niggles that slightly took the shine off the original model. Now with fully-adjustable forks (the previous model only had preload and rebound), the front-end is a big improvement and feels plush on its factory settings. Even over rough roads the nicely damped front-end is keeping things composed without jarring or clattering. And it’s a similar story at the rear. Gone is the MT-09’s original shock, which was far too soft for the torque-filled power delivery, and in its place is the unit from the XSR900, which provides excellent control, composure and grip. Yamaha’s 847cc, 113bhp CP3 engine is now Euro4 compliant but power and torque remain unchanged. There’s tons of shove everywhere and this gives the rider plenty of flexibility with gear selection. And now you can surf that wave of torque even better than before with the 2017 bike’s factory-fitted quickshifter. Although the aluminium diamond frame is unchanged, the 2017 MT-09 features a 29mm shorter subframe which places you 5mm higher and also tilts you further forward. The 5mm seat height increase hasn’t made the MT-09 any less accessible to shorter riders; I’m 5ft 7in and can get both feet securely on the ground.
For a bike so flickable and frisky through the corners, the MT-09 is very composed when blasting along motorways. Wind protection is reasonable too, but for more protection there’s the optional flyscreen or touring screen available in the accessories catalogue. Boasting great quality, plus loads of torque and rideability in a value package, the MT-09 will be a serious threat in the naked middleweight battle. MCN launch report, December 12, 2016
Yamaha hit a sweet spot with this evolution of the MT-09, ironing out some of the annoyances (jerky fuelling and underdamped suspension) of the original model whilst also giving the styling an appealing twin-headlamp freshen up. With a new, more powerful and tech laden (but arguably a bit fugly) model out this year, dropping £6500 on a oneowner, low miles 2018 example could be a good call, especially if you’re not fussed about IMUs and frame rigidity. Owners of the 2017-onwards model grumble a little about the hard seat, a feeling that’s amplified by the fact that the subframe cants the rider forwards towards the tank. Servicing costs are pretty reasonable at around £140 for the basic 6000 or annual check. The valve check happens at 24,000 miles at a cost of around £250 and dealers say this shouldn’t be skipped as they’ve seen a few MT-09s out of tolerance at this mileage.
‘With a new model coming it’s a bargain’
Worthwhile extras?
Once noticed, it’s difficult to unsee that swingarm-mounted numberplate bracket, so many owners opt to ditch it and fit a more conventionally mounted tail tidy instead. Evotech Performance produce a great kit for the MT-09, which is completely plug and play and very well made, for £150. The official Yamaha Comfort Seat (£248) is also well worth having as the stock seat is torture for anything longer than a Sunday blast or Monday commute. As with any naked bike, frame sliders and engine covers are also well worth investing in – R&G have an impressive range.
“After knocking around on a 1990 Yamaha DT50 for a few years, I passed my A2 test and got an ER-5, then took my full A licence at 21. I really wanted a BMW S1000RR but because I did a lot of touring I knew it wouldn’t be sensible. It was my dad who actually suggested Yamaha’s MT range to me so we went down to our local Yamaha dealer, Mototechnics, where I tried the MT-10 first but it was a fraction too tall for me. Then I swung a leg over the MT-09 and found it was perfect.
“I did all kinds of things on it from touring to trackdays. We rode down to Cornwall as a family and I discovered the standard seat was an absolute killer. I was a bit gutted because I’d chosen the MT-09 because I thought it’d be better for touring. As we were riding down, I said to my mum over the headset that I wanted a Shad Comfort Seat (£238) for Christmas, and because she’s a great mum she got me one! “On the trackdays that I did, the MT-09 was really fun but I soon discovered the limitations of the suspension so I ended up getting that upgraded. The engine had so much torque that it was always really easy to ride, and the riding position with its flat bars gave a great feeling of confidence.
“I was really happy with it and in almost 10,000 miles I’d had no issues with it. But I’d always said the only thing that would make me part with it would be if a nice S1000RR came along. Well, one did! I’d taken an Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory out and instantly knew it was my time for a sportsbike, so the time had come to trade in the MT-09. I ended up getting £5700 trade in against the S1000RR.
‘I upgraded the suspension for trackdays’
“I took off all the extras I’d put on, like the Akrapovic exhaust, tail tidy and Shad seat, and sold them all separately. But I will admit it absolutely broke my heart pulling into the dealer knowing it was no longer mine. The MT-09 was an epic bike and once I’ve done all my hooning about on the S1000RR, I’ll buy another one… But for now, I’m extremely happy on my BMW!”