Yamaha MT-09

The Yamaha MT-09 sits at the heart of the Hyper Naked range, the torque-rich three-cylinder roadster that made Yamaha’s dark side of Japan philosophy famous and remains one of the most complete naked bikes in its class. It bridges the gap between the approachable MT-07 and the flagship MT-10, offering serious performance in a chassis that never feels intimidating, whatever a rider’s experience level, and it has built a reputation as one of the most rounded naked bikes money can buy.

Power comes from an 890cc liquid-cooled triple, with a 78.0mm by 62.1mm bore and stroke, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, an 11.5 to 1 compression ratio and electronic fuel injection, producing a potent 119PS (87.5kW) at 10,000rpm and 93Nm of torque at 7,000rpm through a six-speed gearbox, wet multiple-disc clutch and chain final drive. Yamaha’s Y-AMT automated transmission is available for riders who want clutchless shifting without losing engagement, while the standard triple’s addictive, characterful pull from low revs right through to a hard-charging top end remains the MT-09’s calling card.

A controlled-fill die-cast aluminium frame with a bolted-on subframe keeps weight to a competitive 193kg, carried on a 1,430mm wheelbase with 140mm of ground clearance and rolling on 120/70 front and 180/55 rear tyres. A 41mm KYB inverted fork, adjustable for preload and compression damping, is matched to a fully adjustable horizontal rear shock, while twin 298mm front discs with four-piston calipers and a 245mm single-piston rear disc provide the stopping power to match the engine’s urgency.

Integrated handlebar switches control smartphone connectivity, navigation and riding modes, and self-cancelling indicators, which switch off automatically after fifteen seconds or 150 metres, sit alongside Emergency Stop Signalling for genuine everyday polish. An 825.5mm seat height and a 14-litre tank, returning around 5.0 litres per 100km for CO2 emissions of 116g/km, round out a package that suits riders who want flagship naked-bike thrills with a manageable, confidence-inspiring riding position, whether commuting daily or chasing a favourite road at the weekend. The Yamaha MT-09 is available now at GT Motorcycles, your Yamaha dealer in Plymouth, with finance and test rides available for riders across Devon and Cornwall.