Great review. I see two kinds of rider on the MT09. The young guys chasing an affordable powerful hooligan machine and the more experienced rider that actually appreciates how good these bikes are. You do a good job of explaining why these are a keeper.
Greetings from Germany! First of all, thanks so much for this long term owner review. Together with some first ride impressions on RUclips, this was one of the reviews, that had the biggest impact on my decision to actually buy an MT-09 SP over the Street Triple R. When riding it for the first couple of times, there were almost no surprises. Everything I experienced on this bike was covered by your review. Very accurate. Now, I have about 3600 Kilometres (or 2200 miles) on the bike and I have made some other excperiences that are worth adding. 1) The throttle wiggles. That is common on this bike. It has some movement to the left and right and also to the front and back and it is annoying. That can be taken care of by some teflon foilage that can be wrapped around the handlebar underneath the grip and to the left side as a spacer. Cost: 4,99 € No biggie to take care of but worth mentioning. 2) On longer rides (I travelled through Germany) I experienced a little pain in my ankles, because of the angle and position of the foot lever (I am 190 cm tall with big feet). Knees were fine, except with tight riding-pants. A higher seat or adjustable foot pegs do the trick here. 3) Also on longer rides, the seat can literally be a pain in the *ss. When riding long trips, just get rid of the underpants. Long, high-tech underwear in combination with the suit helped to get rid of the sore spots beneath my buttcheeks. With that taken care of, the seat is pretty comfortable. 4) The tires. I bought this bike in Germany in July 2019 and it had brand new (January 2019) and soft S20 Bridgestones installed, seems to me as if Yamaha had used up it's supply of old, hard OEM tires that might have been given away for free at the backdoor of the bridgestone factory in 2012 ;-)))) . But I will follow your recommendation to mount Rosso III tires after these are worn down. Hope you still have fun on your MT-09, it still amazes me how easy and simple it is to ride. Just like a pedal bike. Smiles per mile factor is immense ;-)
Greetings friend and thank you very much for your comment. I've owned a few bikes with a wiggly throttle, my Triumph Explorer has one that is very pronounced, but personally I end up getting used to them, so they never become a negative issue for me. I have yet to do some long rides of over 200km on my MT, so I've never sat on it for long enough that the seating position has become uncomfortable. However, the seat is a little hard and some riders may be affected by it, but my ass is seemingly made of iron because I prefer a hard seat 😉 It makes me very happy indeed to learn that I was able to provide a fellow rider in Germany with some assistance with their bike buying decision. The whole reason I share these videos, is because I have found there to be a lack of objective unbiased opinion and advice on platforms such as RUclips, where more often than not, you can only find sponsored content that tend to be little more than set piece music videos. Ride safe buddy 🤝👍
@@VeeFour I bought the comfort seat knowing that the stock seat is very hard. It doesn't really seem to be any different than the stock seat...until you ride it. The difference was dramatic. I would suggest it to everyone. I bought mine for my '15 this summer. It is quite expensive at about $675 CAN. I'm not sure how that translates for you. I'm 56 and have always found that my back is the weakest link. On the stock seat I could do about an hour. With the comfort seat I can do about 4 hours. I'm disappointed that the bike doesn't come with it in the first place, but worth it in the long run.
@@motozest7856 I just got myself one, and I wanted more power after gsxs750, and now with mt 09 sp I know why people return these bikes, you really got to be careful, but if you have traction control on stage 2 it is safe. It really wants to wheelie a lot :D Doing wheelies with gsxs was only when i really wanted, mt 09 just wants to do it all the time in first 2 gears easily :D
Great review, i agree 100% with you. I road tested a new mt 09 & love it. I'm in the process of selling my bike. This is my forever bike. Thankyou, cheers from 🇦🇺.
You've chosen very well Buddy. I've had mine for a year and a half and everytime I go for a ride it just makes me as happy as the first time I rode one 👍👍
Just came cross this video. Great review, I couldn't have said it better. I own my SP now for 15 months/9000 kilometers and still have a big grin everytime I get off of it. I didn't have the MT-09 on my shortlist initially. Sure, I knew about it, but the bad reviews (wobbly suspension) kept me kind of uninterested. Then came the day in May 2019 when I test rode the Suzuki GSX-S 1000 I intended to upgrade to. My decision was pretty much made after that spin. However, the MT tester bike standing next to the Suzi looked inviting, hence I took it for a spontaneous short try as comparision. So glad I did. I signed the contract for that new SP in the window right after having returned. P.S. Lovely landscapes in this video. Just reminded me to start plans for another U.K. trip.
After trying the Street 765 RS back to back with the 09SP i to landed on the Yamaha! It just felt faster, more agile and more planted then the 765RS. Im just 5.10" and still the Triumph felt a bit to small. Yammie is bigger and felt just right! Like i said to my dealer after the deal was done - This just feels right! Cheers
The best review for the SP (and I'm an SP rider). I'm still running stock tyres and okay. June 6th 2018, MCN had a great little article on recommended settings for the SP which I followed and is now so comfortable and feels so planted once softened back a bit on the rebound to accommodate our appalling UK rough roads. This bike really delivers all my needs and as stated can be used for commuting, going to the shops or weekend thrashing, such a versatile bike. One thing it always does best is putting a smile on my face.
Julian Hands Another SP rider! Brilliant 💪 I might try and find that copy of MCN as that sounds a useful article. Yes backing off the rebound was definitly the best adjustment I made as well, just a couple of clicks was all it needed and the difference was amazing! I just can't stop smiling when I'm on mine, it's infectious
I'm another SP rider and live in Malta. Our roads are worse than UK which I've ridden on too; I come every summer to the UK and spend a week or so touring. Anyways, my SP came way too hard. It was so hard that it literally jumped all over the place at very little speed. I checked static and rider sag which was fine for my weight, then dialed down the damping as suggested on the manual for a soft setting. It's now absolutely awesome for our roads. So planted and still doesn't dive alarmingly under braking. I must stress that I am not a maniac rider and normally ride at legal speeds, which is what I like. I might harden the bike when I'll take it on a long tour up the Alps next year.
Julian Hands. Thanks for the heads up on the MCN article. I downloaded a digital copy from great magazines and set forks to their recommendations. I had made some adjustments from stock settings but hadn't got this soft as yet. Feels much better than before after a quick test.
n filby , I’ve set mine according to the suggestions on the bike’s manual. Set mine following the soft settings and it’s fine, in fact great for the road.
Stephen Spiteri. They're quite similar settings. Rebound damping 22 clicks, fast compression 5 turns and slow compression 16 clicks. All measured from full hard to soft
Looking forward to getting my new SP delivered on Thursday. Traded in my Monster821 after testing the MT-09SP and MT10. It felt great on the road, engine is an absolute peach. I’ve had quite a few different bikes over recent years. Sprint ST 1050, 07 model R1, Tuono twin, CBR 600 couple of SV 1000’s. The SP feels a lot more perky than the Monster 821 and a lot more comfortable. Your review has got me buzzing for Thursday to come....
It sounds like you've arrived at the same conclusion as me after a long career on bikes, that power and size aren't everything they're cracked up to be and that a torquey characterful mid weight which keeps you smiling all day, is all the bike you need. Happy new bike day mate and ride safe(ish) 😁👍
Thanks for explaining the quick shift and auto-blip! So many bike reviewers complain about the quick shifter because they don’t know how to use it. Then I instantly give the video a dislike! Know how to use a product before you review it!!!!! Great job!
Thank you for your thoughts on the mt09. Agreed with your opinions on turn signal horn reversal, Honda does same. And rev match on down shift yes that's a satisfying skill that's enjoyed. I also have over 30 yrs riding experience and thank God everyday for that gift. Update on my 2013 triumph tiger explorer that wrote you about my concerns while back...to put simply..I luv this bike...Ride every day it's my work horse and motor is breaking in very nicely and engine noise quieting down. Question are you ignoring Richard Parker? Lol. Stay and ride safe.
Good to hear that you're bonding with your Tiger, and no I'm not ignoring mine. I had a great couple of weeks touring around Devon and Cornwall on him a month back and ended up covering a thousand miles around the south coast. I recorded a few blogs down there, but I found them tediously boring when I tried to edit them into something worth publishing, so I didn't continue with the edit. I'm not riding my Tiger enough though because I can't get my arse of the MT right now, but RP will be back, don't worry 😎👍
I ride a Honda CRF250M as a daily commuter to work and has the same switch gear. Was a nightmare at first but now that I'm used to it it actually feels to make more sense. So it's a question of getting used to it. I've got the MT-09SP as well and just wish it had more chunkier controls. They're just too small. Maybe again, it's a question of getting used to them being so small, I have to consciously look for the controls at the moment to find them, but I can't understand why Yamaha made them this small. They could have been more substantial.
Totally agree with you I had a original mt09 and got rid of it to get a mt10sp only had the 10 a year and sold it to get a mt09sp best move I have ever Made I have had over 50 bikes and the 09sp is definitely my favourite do it all bike
Keith Swales A chap after my own heart Keith. When you've ridden the kind of bikes that we've had, you've nothing left to prove. It's all about the ride mate, and like me you know that the 850 motor hits that perfect sweet spot 👍 Ride safe
Hisaan Haq the 10 was a fantastic bike but the 09 is just more fun and easy to ride the main reason for the swap was fuel consumption and it was heavy I don't miss the power difference because it's not that often you can use the 10 to its full potential, all in all the 09 is a more do it all complete bike for me,I don't miss the 10 at all and glad to be back on the 09
Really enjoying your channel! Video quality is great, sound is great, and your commentary is wonderful. Your style and persona is very similar to mine, so that makes your content easy for me to digest.
I ride a 2003 SV1000 Naked, so I'm always interested in what the market has out there in the category. The MT is intriguing, but I really think the SV is my forever bike...so funny that you used the term also! It is a little dated, but I own it outright, so there's no payment to worry about, and I can spend payment money on modifications. Really loving the channel man!
I don't understand the horn position either. Honda is doing the same thing. I have watched dozens of reviews on this bike and you are the only one that has brought this up.
@@VeeFour Especially if you have more than one bike, muscle memory would screw you up. When I ride in traffic I ride with my thumb covering the horn just in case. Doing that is only comfortable if the horn is low.
Hi Dave, without doubt the best review of the MT09-SP on RUclips. Thanks so much. I am in the market for a naked bike and test rode the MT09 last week. Your video is so helpful as you comment on pretty much all things I am thinking about in choosing the MT09-SP over other bikes. I am 50 and returning to bikes after a long absence and I agree it's a great riding position, comfortable seat that I also thought felt like a gel seat. And my god that triple engine, it's simply wonderful and is pulling me away from buying a twin or a four cylinder bike. I want to buy a bike that's good in traffic, is great fun pushing on in the twisties (but not overdoing it) and can also tour a bit. Your comments about using B mode in traffic, adjusting suspension and swopping out the OE tyres all sound great solutions. However, I am still a bit conflicted as the offset dash is not ideal and the headlight cluster is not the prettiest. I am also a little bit concerned about the bike having a flighty front end that seems to be widely reported. Is this completely solved with suspension settings and tyres? I am also test riding the new BMW F900R but I am pretty sure I am going to feel cramped on that bike even though its stacked full of tech and has a class leading TFT dash. What's the bottom line Dave, do you get over the offset dash and with suspension adjustment and new tyres the front end is always confidence building?
Thank you very much, and the whole reason for making such videos is to help guys like yourself make the best choice possible, so mission accomplished 👍 Well personally I love the little off set dash. It is perfectly readable at a glance and contains all the info you need, and I think it suits the bike aesthetically. The lightness in the front end only makes its presence felt, when you are really really getting on the gas on corner exits, or if uou deliberately over rev it as you crest a sharp hill (which is great fun) so you do a little wheelie. At all other times you don't notice it and the bike handles impeccably. I would always advocate test riding as many bikes as you can from your short list, as you never know when a bike you previously dismissed on paper, utterly surprises you. With this in mind you might want to test a Tracer 900 as well, as it has the same raucous fun engine but in a longer more stable and tour friendly chassis, along with touring bodywork and a more conventional dash layout. Good luck and ride safe 😎
@@VeeFour Hi again Dave. Just thought you might like to know having had two really good test rides and your very helpful video and comments, I am now an MT 09 SP owner ! Many thanks.
Thank you. Best review I’ve seen. I’d be coming down off an Aprilia Caponord Rally that is a big, heavy, powerful touring bike and it’s just too much. The idea of a feisty little buddy like the MT-09 is very appealing. You have made it a finalist.
Thank you very much. After 15 months of ownership, mine is still the most fun bike I've ever owned all whilst being really useful as a daily rider. for smiles per mile they're hard to beat and I'durge you to try one if you're compiling a shortlist 👍
Hey VeeFour, glad to see you are enjoying that MT 09 SP. Looks like we got it almost on the same date. I’ve done 5000 kms on mine now, but in my case I didnt really get along with it 100% so I’m swapping it for an MT 10. I agree with several things on your review, but I have my own opinion about the suspension. Even after several adjustments its a little too dry / harsh for my taste, specially on bumby roads ( I weigh 80kg). Also, about the modes, I still find the std mode to be a little too jerky for my taste. Anyway, my main issue on this bike wasnt the points mentioned above, but the overall looks of the bike together with the riding positon. I thought it would grow on me, but I just dont like the looks in the end. Im a tall guy and this bike is so skinny and small compared to what Im use to Im not 100% happy with it. I love the handling (only once I changed the tires) and the engine, but I cannot bond 100% with a motorcycle if I dont feel amazed when I get off it and look back. Thats just my opinion obviously. Thanks for sharing!
CookieMonster the Rider Hey buddy, the world would be a dull place if we all liked the same things. Enjoy your 10, it's a beast of a bike 💪👍 Ride safe 🤜
good vid Dave, i have the standard mt09 since may, i also love the cp3 engine, i have fitted crash protection ,engine case covers and asv levers to mine. its a joy to ride.
ooh, in line 6! now you're talking! I once had a go of a Street Fighter custom Honda CBX 1000, and that was the nicest sounding bike I've ever ridden 😍
Fantastic review. I have been looking at replacing my much loved Honda 900F Hornet and have looked a loads of options but every time I end up back at the MT09SP. This Review has made my mind up. Many thanks.
Brilliant!! What can I say? Revs your heart :) Just got my ECU flashed plus the Akrapovic and my god, what a difference. Not so munch in peek power(but that too!!) but the throttle manageability is so munch more confidence inspiring. I'm not completly happy with the suspension mate could you please share your set up? Cheers and enjoy
Diogo Monteiro It's difficult to say, I just put cable ties around the inner fork tube and the rear shock plunger, and adjusted the static sag to 25% travel when I was sat on it in full gear. I set the rebound front and back so that the return stroke was a bit slower than factory setting. I basically bounced on it and adjusted it one click at a time until I found a rebound speed I was happy with that returned gast enough to avoid pack down, but didn't feel bouncy. All I did then was set the compression damping to the middle clicks front and back with the intention of adjusting them to suit as I went along, but it actually feels good mid setting front and rear 👍
Just come across your review, great review on a cracking bike. I've just swapped a Vulcan S 650 for the Tracer 900 and I'm so pleased I did! The Vulcan was good but the Tracer is superb, in every way. And that engine is just fantastic, instant get up and go on tap. I truly think I've at last found my forever bike as it just does everything I need it to do, it's not perfect but then show me a bike that is and I'll happily buy it. The Tracer is in my opinion the ideal do it all machine that is easy to live with and cheap to run which is the ideal combination. I have yet to play with the suspension settings but as standard I find it ok as I don't push too hard anyway so it works for me. I reckon Yamaha got this one pretty much bang on.
I've yet to try the Tracer, but I can't think of another bike that has the potential to do pretty much everything you could ever want a bike to do, quite as well as this one 👍
@@VeeFour Its been wonderful. Cos of your videos i decided to go with mt09 over z900. Test drived z900 but not mt09. It´s so fun bike! A mode makes you ride like a dickhead tho. Engine and seating position is just so goood. Thanks mate, i have bike now for many years, keep producing videos.
Just counting down the days until I own one of these. Already put down a deposit on one, just can’t legally ride one until the end of October due to my license. But for now I’ll keep riding the learner approved MT07 (was made by Yamaha for Australia and New Zealand. It’s the same bike and engine, but sleeved down to 655cc and there’s a plate on the throttle body that limits the throttle to just over 50%)
Sebastien Masters excellent, you've made a good choice. Just take it easy for your first few weeks and get used to it and enjoy your new bike buddy. Ride safe 👍
Great review, I have got a standard 2017 MT09 with comfort seat and full akro exhaust. It took a while to really get the bike beyond just thrashing about but have really started to enjoy it this year. It feels so light and toy like after being on my Versys 1000 that it takes a few miles every time to readjust. I am a biggish 6 footer and agree it is so comfortable and I don’t know how they get so much room to the pegs without having them constantly dragging on the floor!
Mate, you were a great influence on me in buying this bike. So glad i did! It's absolutely amazing. You mentioned the tires being hard for an S20. Mine were fine! It's either they ship different tires for different markets or I was absolutely lucky. Mine are nice and soft and stick to the road like nothing else. I absolutely love them. So much so that I'm putting Bridgestones on all my bikes from now on. Used to swear by Dunlops but they are rock hard comparing to these. I'm meeting a couple of other MT09SP's tomorrow and will check out their tires as well. Have you considered the S21's? They seem to be the next generation to the S20's.
Excellent, I'm so glad I could help as that's the whole reason why I make these vids and I really like it when I could actually help someone make the best choice for them. One of the guys at Chorley Yamaha once explained to me how the factory fit what ever tyres they have to hand at the time. This was demonstrated by the 6 or so brand new R1's that they had in the showroom, as all the red ones had Pirelli Supercorsa fitted, while all the blues had Bridgestone RS10. They fit everything in batches apparently, so I suppose it's pot luck, but the ones that were fitted to my SP were like snooker balls. I'm a Pirelli or Dunlop guy so will probably give the S21 a miss, but all the main manufacturers put out decent tyres these days.
Excellent video I'm 45 now been riding forever I have an 09 GSXR 600 thinking of buying MT 09 for better riding position but keeping my GSXR having best of both worlds this video just makes me want to go straight to the dealership 😁 I hope the power and pull is simular thanks for a great video
I run Pirelli Angel gts on my 09 , great mileage on rear tyre and excellent edge grip , great review and I agree with you that its the perfect real world road bike for fun and smiles and wheelies.
They are more than touring tyres they actually compliment my mt09 in the handling especially cornering department they add to stability mid corner , they are on the sporty end of sports touring tyres and definitely worth a try , I ride quite hard and get 4k miles out of a rear , my 2014 came with Dunlops that were awful OEM rubbish and I binned them and the rear was destroyed after 1500 miles .
You chose well. I've had mine now for 2 and a half years and I still love it as much as when it was brand new. My only advice is thst if you're buying new, ditch the oem tires straight away and get some proper rubber on there, as the oem tires are garbage. Also get your suspension dialled in for your weight and preference. Ride safe 👍👍
I got mine back in this April and shared over 1000 miles with her together. I am living in Taipei and using this small bike to commute daily. My point is this machine is a little bit too powerful in certain urban area. Do not use "A" mode when the traffic is busy.
Nice review. Nice roads. I bought one a couple of weeks ago and it has never stopped raining - it is December though. You ought to blur your speedo reading now and again or you could get into trouble. Incidentally, my MT 09 ABS has Dunlop Sportmax D214 tyres fitted as standard. I cannot get over how empty yourr roads are up there. I am in SE England and to get roads as empty as yours I would have to go out at about 3am. I agree with about the horn indicators, malarkey and buttons on the display, they are difficult to change while on the move. Also the rev counter is so small, I never even notice it.
Mine's away for the winter now as I don't ride through winter anymore. Key framing a blur effect is a monumental pain in the arse, besides speeding is a found committing offence that needs precise time date and location to bring a prosecution, plus there's a statute of limitations on traffic offences so they've missed the boat on this one. Besides the poor cops are so under staffed these days that they don't have time to rake through RUclips looking for offences. I've ridden around the SE a bit myself, so I've experienced first hand just how rammed your roads are, so you have my sympathy. Enjoy your new bike and ride safe 👍
Good review! I've also got one and love it! The clunk in the quickshifter is because its only a simple switch quickshifter. Try an aftermarket Woolich shifter or one on a BMW s1000rr etc and they shift smoothly at any revs. Just because they have varied cut times depending on the engine speed, the MT one is very basic. Thats why its clunky :).
Oliver Taylor Thanks. Oh I'm very well acquainted with most of the manufacturers quick shifters, and they are all trickle down tech from the race track. As such they are meant to be opperated at high rpm, not just at regular road speeds. As you'll know, the one on the MT is flawless at high revs 😎👍
Mine was awful at first tbh, i think it was because the gearbox was new and tight. It would rarely shift. after 1k miles though it loosened up, 2k on it now and it never misses a beat. Still not 100% happy with it though, theres defo a time break in the shift. I'm tempted to get a Woolich one to go with the ECU flash i've got. Time will tell ;). Love the bike though. Just so much fun, especially once the suspension is properly set up
easy to listen too, great review, i just bought a 2018 standard MT-09 and im just waiting for the weather to get better here in Ireland so i can enjoy it.
Thanks. It's the perfect and logical step up from the 07 as it has a fair bit more power but nothing you wont be able to handle if you've become used to the twin 👍
That wiuld be an interesting concept, but I think the addition of the extra bling would price it completely out of its target market. It'd be a great looking bike if they did though 🤔👍
VeeFour I put a HyperPro streetbox (full suspension) in my old FZ-07 and I crushed the Tail of the Dragon 🐉. Locals rule- but yea the price would be more than the mt-09 and they probably wouldn’t sell many.
You can get akrapovic and ohlins fully adjustable rear and front suspension as an option for mt07. It puts ~8k £price tag on it, nonetheless the performance is comparable to mt09sp vs mt09 on release. Mt09 as a bigger bike, with more electronics and overall better hardware will just be targeted towards a different market.
Glad too see your still loving this bike and by the sounds of it you really really love it. I cant wait to get one myself probably later in year or next year i was unsure if i wanted this or the mt10, but i think mt09 is more than quick enough i will still test ride a mt10 but quite sure i want this. Good shout about tyres i will look into them when i get bike.
Found this really interesting, thanks. I'd like an MT-09 eventually, but I've just (last Thursday) got a new MT-07 as my first 'big'(ger than 125) bike. Perhaps by my early/mid thirties, after finishing the degree I'm about to start, I'll be earning enough to afford an MT-09 (yeah right, wishful thinking).
The 07 is a great first proper bike. The 270 degree twin is a brilliant engine and will keep you busy for years, so enjoy it. It seems that as you get older things become more affordable (to a degree) so you'll get there :)
@@VeeFour Test rode the MT-09 SP this morning (having unexpectedly come into a substantial sum of money a while back). Left it in standard mode and traction control on 2 (how the dealership gave it to me and unexpected power-wheelies might lead to shitty pants), absolutely loved it. I dunno what people are on about when they say the throttle is snatchy/twitchy - perhaps it is if you spend most of your time riding an inline 4 built before Euro 4/5 came in. However, compared to my '18 MT-07, everything's much smoother on the 09 SP. Throttle so much smoother, gearbox so much smoother (find it almost impossible to get a smooth upshfit from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd on my 07), clutch possibly a little lighter, suspension is as good as I will ever personally need.
Really a great review!!! I'm in the market for a sport naked bike, your review lead me to buy MT09 SP, the right HP you need on the road and a great feeling on a fun machine. Hallo form Rome - Italy
A good upgrade for you. It's not that difficult really, just watch how to vids on RUclips like I did. All I would recommend is that you use good tools that wont slip or mark the metal
You got the same motorcycle gloves as me! haha And getting my Street triple RS (matte black) next week, hopefully the weather gets better soon. Ride safe! 👍
@@VeeFour Some thermal inner gloves + long cuff gloves should do it! 😉 Thanks, it was a close call between the yamaha and the triumph but the throttle smoothness and finish did it for me. In the end they are both great bikes and it's all down to personal preference. I am going to wait till the weather is a bit warmer and less slippery. And it's been a few months since my accident so yeah gotta be wise
Very good and comprehensive, articulate review though ! I have done some written ones I impressed myself with (haha) and I like to be articulate and thorough but this reviewer has much more bike experience than I have and covered everything. Especially the tyres ! I know from my own experience with my FZ8 that Pirelli have the name but they also have the grip! Tried Dunlop SportMax after the Pirelli Rosso Corsa 2's I had. Still a fine tyre but just not quite up to the Pirellis. A better rider than me may notice a greater gap. (All this is an Australian perspective.) Sounds like the stock Battlax tyres on this MT09 should be canned alright!
Thanks very much. Tires can be a really personal thing. I know riders who will absolutely swear by one brand and refuse any others without trying them, but that's not necessarily a bad thing because it can be an expensive lesson buying a set that you never quite feel confident on. Some people are happy to sacrifice outright grip in favour of longevity because it suits their riding style and they're used to how a particular tire feels, but if I'm spending my own money then I want a tire that I know won't let me down, and my experiences with the various Pirreli models gives me that confidence 👍 Mind you, saying that I actually have Road 4s on my other bike 😂
Trust me when I say.. The best overall review of the MT09 I've seen most on RUclips.. 2016 plate for me though. I've just got to get used to the carataristics of the triple engine. Coming from inline four bikes last honda cb1000r very smooth engine .. Mt though Vibration in pegs and bars and engine..triple engine gives you more raw feedback than inline four's engine.. But inline four are just smoother.. It's trade of.. What suits each rider top end or low down fun.. Mt 09 got plenty of that low down fun. Or maybe sp is different to my 16 plate..
Excellent review,Bang on the money with the tyres.Yes the horn position is a pain. Good riding advice with the std A & B modes.I was considering having mine remapted.?Could anyone advise me if that would be a way forward. I thoroughly enjoyed the review.I own a 2019 which is exactly the same bike,different number on the plate. Also like yourself I own a R1 Totally agree with your comparison. I found this on RUclips September 2023 Bit late better than never.!! Have subscribed.👍
Thank you for your review. Looks like the MT09 would be the perfect downsizing replacement for my Concours 14. My only apprehension is the small fuel tank.
Wow that is a downsize and a half, quite literally half in your case. I find the tank range to be fine for a day out, but it's probably less than ideal for long distance work, but in that case there's the Tracer 900 GT
(My answer to someone who just asked about the GSXR1000 compared to MT09) I think the GSXS 1000 looks beautiful. I test rode one today (Matte black/ blue highlights). However, In my opinion the Suzuki felt boring after riding my friends MT09 SP 3 days earlier. The MT09 was trying to wheel stand much more in lower gears, and the power delivery was INSTANT! The Suzuki took a while to wind on in comparison, and I could easily keep the front wheel down by simply leaning forward. (I did not ride either bike on the freeway, so I have no high speed power comparison sorry) So I am leaning towards MT09 now, I found it more exciting than the GSXS.
Hello fellow rider, watching your videos is an absolute blast, very calm very relaxed 30 minutes gone like its 5 or 6 :D PS: What gloves are those? They seem fantastic. Cheers
Thank you very much indeed, I appreciate your kind words as I only aim to please 😁 The gloves are Alpinestars Mustang, and they're great summer gloves that help keep your mits cool 👍
Great review.....Veefour. I have a 900 Tracer GT and just love that triple. I would love to ride with you sometime. maybe I’ll get back to England someday. Keep up the great reviews👌
This is the bike I'm looking at getting next, I do own a mt07 2019 model i only passed my mod 1 & 2 last summer, but I like the look of the mt09 specially with the extra add ons it comes with, Anyway Great vlog buddy
LONG TERM?!? Keep us updated how she's doing for you... My 08 FZ6 currently has 51k and no major issues. Really looking at these, but don't trust the Yamaha triple yet.
Yeah I know, its a relative term but I'm confident in Yamaha's build quality as they don't build turkeys. I wouldn't expect anything less from an FZ6, as that's a tried and tested platform with a lomg development pedigree 💪👍
Yamaha do have a history of making triples with the great XS750/850 triple, shaft drive sport tourer from the 70's/80's. A friend had one of these and he loved it. Tough as and couldn't kill it.
The cp3 is out there since 2013.... It is very reliable and the fun/performance speaks for itself.... I haven't heard a single rider having a single issue with these bikes in the Mt09/fz09/xsr900 communities.
naaaah, I know this road really well, you can actually see around the blind corner a bit in the reflection of the porch window of the house opposite and see that it's clear. I did take two bites of the turn in though 😁👍💩
Buy the flyscreen. Not much wind protection but it makes the bike a little more stable at high speeds. Had no problem with the tyres. Ive done 4800 km and the back tyres is practicall done. I love mine also. I have a full exhaust on it. Worth every penny becouse the sound is epic. The only one better is the Yamaha CP4.
I've got a CP4 in my garage so I know what you mean. I don't like flyscreens, I prefer to have an uninterrupted wind flow without the buffeting that you get from a small screen. I actually like the feeling of wind passing me, as it adds to the whole experience :)
Cool vid,, sold my 12 bandit mk 1 and now have a mtsp. Great great bike,, only thing the front seems light,, but still fun,, and I was at 130 mph lol so gonna change the stock tyres,, great vid and great advice,, thanks for posting,
you forget how to ride an old bike having every thing on the new ones just took a vfr800 out w plate down shifting back wheel was going sideways locking up slipper clutches are so good on these modern bikes. mt09 such a good engine the best 115 bhp around.
zardportugal... you know what? I love it just as it is. I’ve had my fill of loud bikes in the past and glad to have a stealthy machine that sounds great in a subtle manner. When you give it the beans you do hear that engine doing it’s work believe me.
Great review VeeFour. Sounds like your loving your so as much as I do mine. Have you made any mods yet? ,Do you plan to? Tail tidy was a definite for me
n filby I do I'm loving it! Yeah I fancy adding a few mods like a tail tidy, but honestly I'm just enjoying riding it to much to be thinking about getting the spanners out on it 😎
Hey Vee! Just wanted to know how are you in terms of setup? I have mine like this measured from full hard FRONT - Rebound - 20 clicks off Slow Comp - 16 clicks off High Comp - 5 turns REAR - Rebound - 14 clicks off Comp - 12 clicks off. I'm enjoying mine everyday more and more and feel like one can always improve the settings. Take care mate
I'm sorry but I didn't record my settings, but other than setting the preload sag to around 25mm front and rear when im sat on it fully geared up, I backed off the rebound around 5 or 6 clicks front and rear from stock and just by luck that seemed to match my body weight and preferences. I didn't bother adjusting the compression, as my ample body mass seems to work well with the stiff factory settings as the stroke feels plush without sacrificing feel
Excellent review! I really enjoyed that. I came to watch this because i own a Tracer 900 (2017), and the SP is about the only bike I'd trade it for. The only negative you mentioned was addressed in the Tracer: it does have the horn as lowest button. Now that I know this, I'm even more puzzled as to why they wouldn't do that on the SP. I decided to get the Akrapovic exhaust, and am still grinning about it after 7000km. Really happy with the S21 Battlax tires, and am considering the brake pad upgrade soon, have you changed them already? I've only been riding for about 2 years, but feel like this engine is hard to beat... but what do I know, I'm totally new! Glad to hear you confirm this feeling with your 30 yrs of experience. Thanks again for the review!
Alexander Deleersnijder It really is the only negative that I can find. I'm still using the stock pads and will only change them when they wear out, so a good few years if life left in them yet 👍
I was wondering if you're interested in fitting luggage to this bike? Maybe since you've already got other bikes more suitable to touring that you have never considered luggage. I would like to fit soft panniers, which from my experience are the better choice for my kind of touring. Problem is that the rear indicators stick out too much and are on a short arsed bike so there is little room to fit the panniers on. Some people moved the indicators back with suitable brackets, both GIVI and SHAD have kits for this. Not keen to take that route as they don't compliment the bike's aesthetics when without panniers. There is another option to remove the indicators all together and replace the tail-light to have integrated indicators in it, look up TST Industries and Custom Led. These work great and leave the bike looking OEM so are a great option. I am also considering fitting car indicators into the recesses of the small plastic cowls under the seat. That would be neat wouldn't it? I've still to find suitable units that fit snug in there though. Interested to hear what your thoughts are on this topic.
I've no immediate plans to fit luggage to this one, as I have my Tiger 1200 kitted out with a full Givi Outback set up which I use for long distance duties. If I were ever to fit anything, I would definitely go the soft luggage and magnetic tank bag route, as retro fitting hard luggage carriers would just totally ruin the bikes lines for me. If anyone had touring aspirations for the MT09, then I would steer them towards the new Tracer GT, as that's ready to go touring wise. But if it was just the very occasional trip away, then it'd be soft luggage every time.
Stephen, if you are not a member of FZ09.org, then join and look up saddlebags. There are many options discussed, but the one that really got me interested was this one. It is the simplest solution I have ever seen for fitting soft luggage without having them flapping around and rubbing the tire. I intend making my own version from carbon fiber. www.fz09.org/forum/13-fz-09-gear-accessories/2965-saddlebag-bracket.html
MotoGuzziMoto ... I am a member of the FZ forum. I’ve still to post some pictures of my bike there and am glad to say that finally today I’ve managed to snap,some good ones for the forum. As to the post on baggage you mentioned, I’ve seen that but it sadly does not fully apply to the 2017 plus versions as the indicators are just under the pillion seat and stick out too much. So first thing is to relocate those pumpkins or in some way or another shorten them so that they don’t stick out that much. My first thoughts are to remove the rubber extension pieces if I can. Another recent idea is if I could remove them altogether and fit car side indicators that would fit inside that rear facing cowling situated under the seat. Then I would focus on making a simple frame so that the saddle bags will not touch the rear wheel or damage the plastics. This could be done diy from plastic tubing that’s normally used for plumbing. I’ll be posting my ideas on the FZ forum for those interested.
I haven ridden 2 times the sp version because this is one of my favorite bikes among 2 others. I love the engine characteristics but 2 main things couldn't convince me: 1) the ergonomics - the bike feels unstable on higher revs and due to the seating position the rider feels to much upright and this make the whole riding experience less confident. 2) the front wheel gets to light when revving hardly - > means you can't feel the front wheel, somehow no connection between you and the front. My 10 years older Street Triple R is doing all better for less the half of the price of the SP With the Kawasaki z900 2020 I had a totally other experience. This bike feels more stable and solid and more refined on all aspects compared the Mt09. The power of the Z900 is delivering more direct and stable. For me the Z900 and his powerful engine and the new electronic features are best bang for the buck! I am saying this as a Triple fan 😊
Excellent points that prove what I've often said, that modern bikes are all so good now (and I'll include your very capable 10 year old street in this) that it's all purely down to rider preference. Personally I love the light feeling of the MT's front end, but i can understand why some wouldn't . It's the same with your preference of the Kawasaki engine, which I find a bit bland but can understand how and why some may prefer it's linear smoothness. Thanks for the objective comment, as you are obviously an experienced rider who can back up what they're saying 👏👍
@@Braselton21 I've explained this numerous times, and even done a video on it. I'm partially disabled on my right side due to nerve palsy in right shoulder from a traumatic injury back 05. Riding fully square on the bike for more than 10 minutes or so causes me discomfort so over the decades I've adopted a semi one handed riding style for when I'm cruising, and it works fine. I am in complete control at all times, as my muscle memory has long since become accustomed to this style, and my hazard perception is unaffected. In my time, I've met 2 paraplegic 1 armed bike racers (one with only 1 leg too), and they were coming far from last in their respective classes. So there is figuratively more than one way to skin the proverbial cat 👍
Thank you. Not in the immediate future no. The stock exhaust isn't that bad looks and sound wise, and the bike is very well set up straight from the factory, so I wouldn't want to add anything that will affect its excellent fuelling. Maybe in the future when the stock system starts to look dirty I might, but not right now 👍
@@VeeFour I'm planning to get the MT07 or Suzuki SV650 (beginner). I would love to see that one reviewed and maybe a comparison in your view with the MT07. Thanks!
Hi, I can’t read all the comments. I’ve enjoyed your videos of the RS and 09SP, Ive had an unfortunate relationship with an MT09 ( 1st gen ), I own an FZ1N, I have ridden the MT10 and an old 1050 and liked the Triumph idea of the tripple and the 765 RS appeals to me but what are your opinions about said bikes as the MT09SP is your bike now and appeals to me, and so does the SP10 or MT10 and indeed 1050RS. However I am aware of the character and usability of both the the mid range tripples....I would be interested in your summaries....
Hi. In a bit of a nutshell, I've owned numerous and various bikes of the last 3 decades and amongst them recently, some very exotic and desirable Superbikes such as an Aprilia Tuono V4, a 2016 R1 and a 2012 Speed Triple. As fun as those bikes were, and I'll exclude the Speed Triple for the moment, big 1000cc sports bikes have become in my opinion utterly redundant for realistic road use. Their amazing top end power comes at the price of poor low speed enjoyment. You can't always be bouncing the rpm off the red line where these bikes want to live, and riding around at normal road speeds will have you constantly feathering the clutch whilst attempting to balance an on/off switch of a throttle. They're okay for an occasional ride, but this kind of experience really becomes tiresome day in day out. The MT10 is a much less troublesome bike to ride around at normal road speeds, and Yamaha have done a great job in moving the torque to a much more useable spot in the rev range. Indeed the MT10 would make for a great all day everyday bike, except for one thing. It's fuel ecconomy is horrendous, and the day I spent on a MT10 SP left me suspecting that it was leaking fuel it was so bad. The Speed Triple on the other hand, is a different proposition. It rides quite nicely at normal traffic speeds but can haul ass with the best of them when ridden hard, although it lacks the out and out top speed and power of all its rivals in its class, but it's still plenty powerful and handles great whilst still retaining an acceptable fuel consumption when compared to the MT10 and Tuono. Personally as much as I've enjoyed my time on this kind of bike, these days I find that the most fun to be had is on what used to be classed as middle weight bikes. Bikes that traditionally used to be around 750cc, but due to the need to maintain power with increasingly suffocating emission regulations are now around the 850 to 900cc mark, for me are in the absolute sweet spot for fun road bikes these days. You just can't use 200 horse power to its full potential on public roads if you want to remain alive and with an intact license, but with 120 horses you can use more of the engine more of the time, and couple that usable power with a well sprung lightweight chassis then you have (for me) the perfect road bike. I personally opted for the MZT09 SP as it fitted me better, and I prefered the way it delivers its torque in the midrange over the sportier top end feel of the 765 RS. This was a wafer thin choice on my part, and if I'd chosen the Triumph instead then I'd probably be just as happy with my choice 2 years down the line as there's no wrong choice between the 2. If I was ever to make a return to the litre class bike, then I'd look no further than the Speed Triple or at most a Kawasaki Z1000 SX for it touring potential, but to be honest I prefer the more nimble and better handling characteristics of the 765 over the 1050 everyday. I hope this helps 👍
Good Video, very informative. I have a 2015 Tracer 900. Toying with idea in changing to the MT09. Just wondering what your average MPG is?. I use my for commuting at the moment and getting 65mpg, so hoping that it's similar. Obviously dependant on riding style.
Thanks. I only ever use mine for blipping around the back roads on a weekend or for the occasional weekday evening ride, so I'm ususlly in a low gear and high revs, but the trip computer's average still has it over 54mpg which I'm very happy with. I imagine that with gentle high gear commuting, it would be similar to the Tracer seeing as they share an engine 👍
Thanks for your reply. Had a same dilemma with choice of the street triple. But I have a back issue, and even the slightest off neutral sitting position, get uncomfortable a period of time. MT09 is same seating as the tracer, so happy with that.
The great folks that create for motorcycles should consider rolling off the sub-30 to 20hz to quiet the wind rumble from drowning the engine sounds and so we can turn it UP. 👍
Lovely video. I'm thinking about getting rid of my s1000rr because it ruins my right elbow and this bike seems about right. I was looking at the street triple rs and the s1000r. I'm just not sure. Thanks for the info.
The RR is about as comfy as a full blooded sports bike gets, so it sounds like it's time to get into the naked game. I'd recommend a test just to make sure you won't miss the power, but I don't miss the power of my R1 👍👍
I too was going to buy a Street but the insurance was £1k and there was no way I was going to pay that. My SP is £450 and I always say it's kinda like a Supermoto too! I found the stock suspension really hard so much so that occasionally I would hit a bump and my feet or foot would come off the pegs. I'm going to take it to get to set up by someone who knows what they are doing because I don't haha. Compared to the Triumph it's actually completely different isn't it really? I found the Triumph way too small and it even looked small, the MT looks big and aggressive and feels a lot bigger as you probably know. I also agree about the front end the Triumph did feel more planted. Happy with my choice though with the SP. :)
PistonHeadChaz I wonder why the Triumph is over double to insure? That seems odd. Since I softened up the rebound on my SP, it's made a great riding bike even better, quite noticeably so
I think this review has probably helped me make my mind up (you are not both on commission from Yamaha no)? I just missed out on a beautiful Striple 765R Low - not that i'm short but it felt really comfy. Lucky to have Triumph & Yamaha dealers close to me (tell that to KTM - otherwise i'd have bought a 790 Duke) - but there seems to be very little "wrong" with the SP so that's the way i'll go unless my local dealer has just sold his only example, & is willing to give me a good price on my MT07. Cheers guys.
Great review. I did a test ride on the street triple 765 and it wasn’t comfortable for me. I want to do a test ride on the mt-09 next after watching your video. What is the service interval and the cost for mt-09?
Hey. My friend is considering between the MT09sp and triumph Street triple rs, just like you. He is leaning towards the Triumph just because of the specs. What advise would you give him? Cheers
Both of these bikes are amazing in their own subtle ways, so the only advice that I can give is go with your heart. If he can test ride both that would be the best way to split them, as he will probably like one over the other, but if he can't then all I can offer is that the Triumph has a more sporty feel and the Yamaha doesn't handle quite as well, but has slightly more midrange torque and pulls harder as well as being a slightly more comfortable seating position. It's a tough choice which ever way you look at it, but there are no wrong answers between them in my opinion 👍
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Great review. I see two kinds of rider on the MT09. The young guys chasing an affordable powerful hooligan machine and the more experienced rider that actually appreciates how good these bikes are. You do a good job of explaining why these are a keeper.
MotoGuzziMoto Absolutely, this bike is perfect for bridging the gap between functional sensible useability, and all day excitement 👍
The best owner review I've watched so far. You were clear and focused your review on everything that would intrigue potential new buyer. Brilliant!
Wow! Thanks :)
@@VeeFour were u riding please looks beautiful
Greetings from Germany! First of all, thanks so much for this long term owner review. Together with some first ride impressions on RUclips, this was one of the reviews, that had the biggest impact on my decision to actually buy an MT-09 SP over the Street Triple R. When riding it for the first couple of times, there were almost no surprises. Everything I experienced on this bike was covered by your review. Very accurate.
Now, I have about 3600 Kilometres (or 2200 miles) on the bike and I have made some other excperiences that are worth adding.
1) The throttle wiggles. That is common on this bike. It has some movement to the left and right and also to the front and back and it is annoying. That can be taken care of by some teflon foilage that can be wrapped around the handlebar underneath the grip and to the left side as a spacer. Cost: 4,99 € No biggie to take care of but worth mentioning.
2) On longer rides (I travelled through Germany) I experienced a little pain in my ankles, because of the angle and position of the foot lever (I am 190 cm tall with big feet). Knees were fine, except with tight riding-pants. A higher seat or adjustable foot pegs do the trick here.
3) Also on longer rides, the seat can literally be a pain in the *ss. When riding long trips, just get rid of the underpants. Long, high-tech underwear in combination with the suit helped to get rid of the sore spots beneath my buttcheeks. With that taken care of, the seat is pretty comfortable.
4) The tires. I bought this bike in Germany in July 2019 and it had brand new (January 2019) and soft S20 Bridgestones installed, seems to me as if Yamaha had used up it's supply of old, hard OEM tires that might have been given away for free at the backdoor of the bridgestone factory in 2012 ;-)))) . But I will follow your recommendation to mount Rosso III tires after these are worn down.
Hope you still have fun on your MT-09, it still amazes me how easy and simple it is to ride. Just like a pedal bike. Smiles per mile factor is immense ;-)
Greetings friend and thank you very much for your comment.
I've owned a few bikes with a wiggly throttle, my Triumph Explorer has one that is very pronounced, but personally I end up getting used to them, so they never become a negative issue for me.
I have yet to do some long rides of over 200km on my MT, so I've never sat on it for long enough that the seating position has become uncomfortable. However, the seat is a little hard and some riders may be affected by it, but my ass is seemingly made of iron because I prefer a hard seat 😉
It makes me very happy indeed to learn that I was able to provide a fellow rider in Germany with some assistance with their bike buying decision. The whole reason I share these videos, is because I have found there to be a lack of objective unbiased opinion and advice on platforms such as RUclips, where more often than not, you can only find sponsored content that tend to be little more than set piece music videos.
Ride safe buddy 🤝👍
@@VeeFour I bought the comfort seat knowing that the stock seat is very hard. It doesn't really seem to be any different than the stock seat...until you ride it. The difference was dramatic. I would suggest it to everyone. I bought mine for my '15 this summer. It is quite expensive at about $675 CAN. I'm not sure how that translates for you. I'm 56 and have always found that my back is the weakest link. On the stock seat I could do about an hour. With the comfort seat I can do about 4 hours. I'm disappointed that the bike doesn't come with it in the first place, but worth it in the long run.
Had my mt09 on for sale for a couple of months, but after watching your video I took it off the market. Thanks a lot mate 😃
You'd miss it if it went 😉
Why were you trying to sell it?
@@motozest7856 I just got myself one, and I wanted more power after gsxs750, and now with mt 09 sp I know why people return these bikes, you really got to be careful, but if you have traction control on stage 2 it is safe. It really wants to wheelie a lot :D Doing wheelies with gsxs was only when i really wanted, mt 09 just wants to do it all the time in first 2 gears easily :D
Great review, i agree 100% with you. I road tested a new mt 09 & love it. I'm in the process of selling my bike. This is my forever bike. Thankyou, cheers from 🇦🇺.
You've chosen very well Buddy. I've had mine for a year and a half and everytime I go for a ride it just makes me as happy as the first time I rode one 👍👍
@@VeeFour 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Please make more videos man, I really enjoyed this. Great review, most likely getting one myself soon, thank you for the help!
Maybe the best true review of an MT09 SP I've watched, and I've watched most. Well done, thank you!
I'll take that, thank you 😊
Just came cross this video. Great review, I couldn't have said it better.
I own my SP now for 15 months/9000 kilometers and still have a big grin everytime I get off of it.
I didn't have the MT-09 on my shortlist initially. Sure, I knew about it, but the bad reviews (wobbly suspension) kept me kind of uninterested. Then came the day in May 2019 when I test rode the Suzuki GSX-S 1000 I intended to upgrade to. My decision was pretty much made after that spin.
However, the MT tester bike standing next to the Suzi looked inviting, hence I took it for a spontaneous short try as comparision.
So glad I did. I signed the contract for that new SP in the window right after having returned.
P.S.
Lovely landscapes in this video. Just reminded me to start plans for another U.K. trip.
After trying the Street 765 RS back to back with the 09SP i to landed on the Yamaha! It just felt faster, more agile and more planted then the 765RS. Im just 5.10" and still the Triumph felt a bit to small. Yammie is bigger and felt just right! Like i said to my dealer after the deal was done - This just feels right! Cheers
Back to back testing is the best way to be sure, and I totally understand it "just feeling right".
Enhoy your new bike :)
Thank you for the great review! Just planning on getting me the MT09-SP. You are giving pros and cons in a very fair but still entertaining manner.
You're welcome, and thank you ☺
The best review for the SP (and I'm an SP rider).
I'm still running stock tyres and okay.
June 6th 2018, MCN had a great little article on recommended settings for the SP which I followed and is now so comfortable and feels so planted once softened back a bit on the rebound to accommodate our appalling UK rough roads.
This bike really delivers all my needs and as stated can be used for commuting, going to the shops or weekend thrashing, such a versatile bike.
One thing it always does best is putting a smile on my face.
Julian Hands Another SP rider! Brilliant 💪
I might try and find that copy of MCN as that sounds a useful article. Yes backing off the rebound was definitly the best adjustment I made as well, just a couple of clicks was all it needed and the difference was amazing!
I just can't stop smiling when I'm on mine, it's infectious
I'm another SP rider and live in Malta. Our roads are worse than UK which I've ridden on too; I come every summer to the UK and spend a week or so touring. Anyways, my SP came way too hard. It was so hard that it literally jumped all over the place at very little speed. I checked static and rider sag which was fine for my weight, then dialed down the damping as suggested on the manual for a soft setting. It's now absolutely awesome for our roads. So planted and still doesn't dive alarmingly under braking. I must stress that I am not a maniac rider and normally ride at legal speeds, which is what I like. I might harden the bike when I'll take it on a long tour up the Alps next year.
Julian Hands. Thanks for the heads up on the MCN article. I downloaded a digital copy from great magazines and set forks to their recommendations. I had made some adjustments from stock settings but hadn't got this soft as yet. Feels much better than before after a quick test.
n filby , I’ve set mine according to the suggestions on the bike’s manual. Set mine following the soft settings and it’s fine, in fact great for the road.
Stephen Spiteri. They're quite similar settings. Rebound damping 22 clicks, fast compression 5 turns and slow compression 16 clicks. All measured from full hard to soft
Looking forward to getting my new SP delivered on Thursday. Traded in my Monster821 after testing the MT-09SP and MT10. It felt great on the road, engine is an absolute peach. I’ve had quite a few different bikes over recent years. Sprint ST 1050, 07 model R1, Tuono twin, CBR 600 couple of SV 1000’s. The SP feels a lot more perky than the Monster 821 and a lot more comfortable. Your review has got me buzzing for Thursday to come....
It sounds like you've arrived at the same conclusion as me after a long career on bikes, that power and size aren't everything they're cracked up to be and that a torquey characterful mid weight which keeps you smiling all day, is all the bike you need.
Happy new bike day mate and ride safe(ish) 😁👍
Spot on.
Thanks for explaining the quick shift and auto-blip! So many bike reviewers complain about the quick shifter because they don’t know how to use it. Then I instantly give the video a dislike! Know how to use a product before you review it!!!!! Great job!
Thank you for your thoughts on the mt09. Agreed with your opinions on turn signal horn reversal, Honda does same. And rev match on down shift yes that's a satisfying skill that's enjoyed. I also have over 30 yrs riding experience and thank God everyday for that gift. Update on my 2013 triumph tiger explorer that wrote you about my concerns while back...to put simply..I luv this bike...Ride every day it's my work horse and motor is breaking in very nicely and engine noise quieting down. Question are you ignoring Richard Parker? Lol. Stay and ride safe.
Good to hear that you're bonding with your Tiger, and no I'm not ignoring mine. I had a great couple of weeks touring around Devon and Cornwall on him a month back and ended up covering a thousand miles around the south coast. I recorded a few blogs down there, but I found them tediously boring when I tried to edit them into something worth publishing, so I didn't continue with the edit.
I'm not riding my Tiger enough though because I can't get my arse of the MT right now, but RP will be back, don't worry 😎👍
I ride a Honda CRF250M as a daily commuter to work and has the same switch gear. Was a nightmare at first but now that I'm used to it it actually feels to make more sense. So it's a question of getting used to it. I've got the MT-09SP as well and just wish it had more chunkier controls. They're just too small. Maybe again, it's a question of getting used to them being so small, I have to consciously look for the controls at the moment to find them, but I can't understand why Yamaha made them this small. They could have been more substantial.
Totally agree with you I had a original mt09 and got rid of it to get a mt10sp only had the 10 a year and sold it to get a mt09sp best move I have ever
Made I have had over 50 bikes and the 09sp is definitely my favourite do it all bike
Keith Swales A chap after my own heart Keith. When you've ridden the kind of bikes that we've had, you've nothing left to prove. It's all about the ride mate, and like me you know that the 850 motor hits that perfect sweet spot 👍
Ride safe
Keith how did it feel in reducing the power from 10 to 9? And what were your reasons to change?
Hisaan Haq the 10 was a fantastic bike but the 09 is just more fun and easy to ride the main reason for the swap was fuel consumption and it was heavy I don't miss the power difference because it's not that often you can use the 10 to its full potential, all in all the 09 is a more do it all complete bike for me,I don't miss the 10 at all and glad to be back on the 09
VeeFour 👍😆 thanks for the reply and the fantastic video a very good review
What tyres are people running?
I've read that the original rubber isn't that great
Really enjoying your channel!
Video quality is great, sound is great, and your commentary is wonderful. Your style and persona is very similar to mine, so that makes your content easy for me to digest.
I ride a 2003 SV1000 Naked, so I'm always interested in what the market has out there in the category. The MT is intriguing, but I really think the SV is my forever bike...so funny that you used the term also!
It is a little dated, but I own it outright, so there's no payment to worry about, and I can spend payment money on modifications.
Really loving the channel man!
Thanks man! I appreciate your viewership 👍👍👍
One of the best bikes I've ever bought in my opinion 👌
I don't understand the horn position either. Honda is doing the same thing. I have watched dozens of reviews on this bike and you are the only one that has brought this up.
Why change an arrangement that works? The layout of the horn/turn signals works against your hand's natural movement 👎
@@VeeFour Especially if you have more than one bike, muscle memory would screw you up. When I ride in traffic I ride with my thumb covering the horn just in case. Doing that is only comfortable if the horn is low.
Hi Dave, without doubt the best review of the MT09-SP on RUclips. Thanks so much. I am in the market for a naked bike and test rode the MT09 last week. Your video is so helpful as you comment on pretty much all things I am thinking about in choosing the MT09-SP over other bikes. I am 50 and returning to bikes after a long absence and I agree it's a great riding position, comfortable seat that I also thought felt like a gel seat. And my god that triple engine, it's simply wonderful and is pulling me away from buying a twin or a four cylinder bike. I want to buy a bike that's good in traffic, is great fun pushing on in the twisties (but not overdoing it) and can also tour a bit. Your comments about using B mode in traffic, adjusting suspension and swopping out the OE tyres all sound great solutions. However, I am still a bit conflicted as the offset dash is not ideal and the headlight cluster is not the prettiest. I am also a little bit concerned about the bike having a flighty front end that seems to be widely reported. Is this completely solved with suspension settings and tyres? I am also test riding the new BMW F900R but I am pretty sure I am going to feel cramped on that bike even though its stacked full of tech and has a class leading TFT dash. What's the bottom line Dave, do you get over the offset dash and with suspension adjustment and new tyres the front end is always confidence building?
Thank you very much, and the whole reason for making such videos is to help guys like yourself make the best choice possible, so mission accomplished 👍
Well personally I love the little off set dash. It is perfectly readable at a glance and contains all the info you need, and I think it suits the bike aesthetically.
The lightness in the front end only makes its presence felt, when you are really really getting on the gas on corner exits, or if uou deliberately over rev it as you crest a sharp hill (which is great fun) so you do a little wheelie.
At all other times you don't notice it and the bike handles impeccably.
I would always advocate test riding as many bikes as you can from your short list, as you never know when a bike you previously dismissed on paper, utterly surprises you. With this in mind you might want to test a Tracer 900 as well, as it has the same raucous fun engine but in a longer more stable and tour friendly chassis, along with touring bodywork and a more conventional dash layout.
Good luck and ride safe 😎
@@VeeFour Hi again Dave. Just thought you might like to know having had two really good test rides and your very helpful video and comments, I am now an MT 09 SP owner ! Many thanks.
Love mine too, added a tail tidy and touring screen for my perfect bike
Thank you. Best review I’ve seen. I’d be coming down off an Aprilia Caponord Rally that is a big, heavy, powerful touring bike and it’s just too much. The idea of a feisty little buddy like the MT-09 is very appealing. You have made it a finalist.
Thank you very much. After 15 months of ownership, mine is still the most fun bike I've ever owned all whilst being really useful as a daily rider.
for smiles per mile they're hard to beat and I'durge you to try one if you're compiling a shortlist 👍
In the summer of ‘76 I was -15 years old! It feels so good to be young ;)
Ricardo Lourizela I was only 5 😎
Ricardo Lourizela “-15”! LOL
Hey I also got 70 mpg on highway. Of course taking it easy 60-70 mph
C you later mate. Looking forward to next review
Hey VeeFour, glad to see you are enjoying that MT 09 SP. Looks like we got it almost on the same date. I’ve done 5000 kms on mine now, but in my case I didnt really get along with it 100% so I’m swapping it for an MT 10.
I agree with several things on your review, but I have my own opinion about the suspension. Even after several adjustments its a little too dry / harsh for my taste, specially on bumby roads ( I weigh 80kg). Also, about the modes, I still find the std mode to be a little too jerky for my taste.
Anyway, my main issue on this bike wasnt the points mentioned above, but the overall looks of the bike together with the riding positon. I thought it would grow on me, but I just dont like the looks in the end. Im a tall guy and this bike is so skinny and small compared to what Im use to Im not 100% happy with it.
I love the handling (only once I changed the tires) and the engine, but I cannot bond 100% with a motorcycle if I dont feel amazed when I get off it and look back. Thats just my opinion obviously. Thanks for sharing!
CookieMonster the Rider Hey buddy, the world would be a dull place if we all liked the same things. Enjoy your 10, it's a beast of a bike 💪👍
Ride safe 🤜
Love your bike! Anyway I remember 1984 summer in the uk. It was awesome! Maybe someday I’ll be back. Have a great rest of your summer!
good vid Dave, i have the standard mt09 since may, i also love the cp3 engine, i have fitted crash protection ,engine case covers and asv levers to mine. its a joy to ride.
Rob Whelan The engine is so good isn't it. It's the gift that keeps giving 👌
Yes Dave i came from a hornet 600 so im loving the low down grunt of the cp3 motor.
I’ve come from a twin and enjoying the smoothness, just enough smoothness without being bland.
Wow that 3 cylinder engine sounds so nice, reminds me of an inline 6 In many ways. Great review Dave 😊
ooh, in line 6! now you're talking! I once had a go of a Street Fighter custom Honda CBX 1000, and that was the nicest sounding bike I've ever ridden 😍
@@VeeFour what engine configuration did the Honda have Dave? I'm Kawasakiguy_27 from Instagram by the way 🙂🏍️
Fantastic review. I have been looking at replacing my much loved Honda 900F Hornet and have looked a loads of options but every time I end up back at the MT09SP. This Review has made my mind up. Many thanks.
You’re welcome, and I don’t think you’ll regret your choice, I’m still in love with mine 4 years later
This was a very good review, you answered all of my questions. Great bike!
Thanks!
Thanks, and you're very welcome 👍
Brilliant!!
What can I say? Revs your heart :)
Just got my ECU flashed plus the Akrapovic and my god, what a difference. Not so munch in peek power(but that too!!) but the throttle manageability is so munch more confidence inspiring.
I'm not completly happy with the suspension mate could you please share your set up?
Cheers and enjoy
Diogo Monteiro It's difficult to say, I just put cable ties around the inner fork tube and the rear shock plunger, and adjusted the static sag to 25% travel when I was sat on it in full gear. I set the rebound front and back so that the return stroke was a bit slower than factory setting. I basically bounced on it and adjusted it one click at a time until I found a rebound speed I was happy with that returned gast enough to avoid pack down, but didn't feel bouncy. All I did then was set the compression damping to the middle clicks front and back with the intention of adjusting them to suit as I went along, but it actually feels good mid setting front and rear 👍
VeeFour Thanks again mate!
👍
After getting exhaust and remap. Did you get full exhaust system with cat delete? And did you feel any loss of power in low - mid rpm?
Just come across your review, great review on a cracking bike. I've just swapped a Vulcan S 650 for the Tracer 900 and I'm so pleased I did! The Vulcan was good but the Tracer is superb, in every way. And that engine is just fantastic, instant get up and go on tap. I truly think I've at last found my forever bike as it just does everything I need it to do, it's not perfect but then show me a bike that is and I'll happily buy it. The Tracer is in my opinion the ideal do it all machine that is easy to live with and cheap to run which is the ideal combination. I have yet to play with the suspension settings but as standard I find it ok as I don't push too hard anyway so it works for me. I reckon Yamaha got this one pretty much bang on.
I've yet to try the Tracer, but I can't think of another bike that has the potential to do pretty much everything you could ever want a bike to do, quite as well as this one 👍
Getting my SP tomorrow. 2018, but not driven at all. Can't wait!!
Very nice! Happy new bike day, surely the best of all days! Ride safe on your awesome new machine 👍
@@VeeFour Its been wonderful. Cos of your videos i decided to go with mt09 over z900. Test drived z900 but not mt09. It´s so fun bike! A mode makes you ride like a dickhead tho. Engine and seating position is just so goood. Thanks mate, i have bike now for many years, keep producing videos.
The best review, thats what i've been looking for. Thank you, cheers from Croatia!
Thanks buddy! If I've helped you make the right choice then I'm very happy indeed. Ride safe friend 👍👍
@@VeeFour you too, and good luck, hope its not anything serious with thumbs :|
Just counting down the days until I own one of these. Already put down a deposit on one, just can’t legally ride one until the end of October due to my license. But for now I’ll keep riding the learner approved MT07 (was made by Yamaha for Australia and New Zealand. It’s the same bike and engine, but sleeved down to 655cc and there’s a plate on the throttle body that limits the throttle to just over 50%)
Sebastien Masters excellent, you've made a good choice. Just take it easy for your first few weeks and get used to it and enjoy your new bike buddy. Ride safe 👍
Im looking forward to your other videos mate. It was an awesome review of the MTO9. Cheers
Thanks very much, that's really kind 👍
Great review, I have got a standard 2017 MT09 with comfort seat and full akro exhaust. It took a while to really get the bike beyond just thrashing about but have really started to enjoy it this year. It feels so light and toy like after being on my Versys 1000 that it takes a few miles every time to readjust. I am a biggish 6 footer and agree it is so comfortable and I don’t know how they get so much room to the pegs without having them constantly dragging on the floor!
Lee Trowsdale Yes there's been some very clever work carried out on the drawing board to get such a small sporty bike so comfortable 👍
Mate, you were a great influence on me in buying this bike. So glad i did! It's absolutely amazing. You mentioned the tires being hard for an S20. Mine were fine! It's either they ship different tires for different markets or I was absolutely lucky. Mine are nice and soft and stick to the road like nothing else. I absolutely love them. So much so that I'm putting Bridgestones on all my bikes from now on. Used to swear by Dunlops but they are rock hard comparing to these. I'm meeting a couple of other MT09SP's tomorrow and will check out their tires as well. Have you considered the S21's? They seem to be the next generation to the S20's.
Excellent, I'm so glad I could help as that's the whole reason why I make these vids and I really like it when I could actually help someone make the best choice for them.
One of the guys at Chorley Yamaha once explained to me how the factory fit what ever tyres they have to hand at the time. This was demonstrated by the 6 or so brand new R1's that they had in the showroom, as all the red ones had Pirelli Supercorsa fitted, while all the blues had Bridgestone RS10. They fit everything in batches apparently, so I suppose it's pot luck, but the ones that were fitted to my SP were like snooker balls.
I'm a Pirelli or Dunlop guy so will probably give the S21 a miss, but all the main manufacturers put out decent tyres these days.
wow I recognise that town, I am from Radcliffe but live in Perth Australia. great review !!
You simply can't get far enough away can you :D
Excellent video I'm 45 now been riding forever I have an 09 GSXR 600 thinking of buying MT 09 for better riding position but keeping my GSXR having best of both worlds this video just makes me want to go straight to the dealership 😁 I hope the power and pull is simular thanks for a great video
Compared to my gixxer 600 this thing just pulls like a demon. It is terrifying. Im putting down the deposit tomorrow.
@@SaustheBoss I bought mine just in break in period so keeping rpms low but it ain't easy I can feel this baby is jumpy lol
@@robertdean8102 trying to break in atm. 95km in and the struggle is real
@@SaustheBoss I'm in standard mode can't wait to get past the 600 mile break in period so I can unleash the power while in A
@@robertdean8102 riding a mates 09 recently in A mode... jeez its terrifying. I love it.
I run Pirelli Angel gts on my 09 , great mileage on rear tyre and excellent edge grip , great review and I agree with you that its the perfect real world road bike for fun and smiles and wheelies.
Simon Fly I've heard good things about the Angel GT, good touring tyres by all accounts 👍
They are more than touring tyres they actually compliment my mt09 in the handling especially cornering department they add to stability mid corner , they are on the sporty end of sports touring tyres and definitely worth a try , I ride quite hard and get 4k miles out of a rear , my 2014 came with Dunlops that were awful OEM rubbish and I binned them and the rear was destroyed after 1500 miles .
The best review ever, and I mean EVER!!! Well done too you sir.
I'll take that! Thank you sir!
Awesome this. You talked me into getting one. Cheers.
You chose well. I've had mine now for 2 and a half years and I still love it as much as when it was brand new. My only advice is thst if you're buying new, ditch the oem tires straight away and get some proper rubber on there, as the oem tires are garbage. Also get your suspension dialled in for your weight and preference.
Ride safe 👍👍
I got mine back in this April and shared over 1000 miles with her together. I am living in Taipei and using this small bike to commute daily. My point is this machine is a little bit too powerful in certain urban area. Do not use "A" mode when the traffic is busy.
Very enjoyable and well done review, thanks very much!
Epag Moto Thanks 😀
The MT 10 SP comes with LED indicators as standard,its a shame the 09 sp doesn't have them as standard,really enjoying mine as well.
Yeah, I'll probably get some for mine in the fullness of time
Nice review. Nice roads. I bought one a couple of weeks ago and it has never stopped raining - it is December though. You ought to blur your speedo reading now and again or you could get into trouble. Incidentally, my MT 09 ABS has Dunlop Sportmax D214 tyres fitted as standard. I cannot get over how empty yourr roads are up there. I am in SE England and to get roads as empty as yours I would have to go out at about 3am. I agree with about the horn indicators, malarkey and buttons on the display, they are difficult to change while on the move. Also the rev counter is so small, I never even notice it.
Mine's away for the winter now as I don't ride through winter anymore.
Key framing a blur effect is a monumental pain in the arse, besides speeding is a found committing offence that needs precise time date and location to bring a prosecution, plus there's a statute of limitations on traffic offences so they've missed the boat on this one. Besides the poor cops are so under staffed these days that they don't have time to rake through RUclips looking for offences.
I've ridden around the SE a bit myself, so I've experienced first hand just how rammed your roads are, so you have my sympathy.
Enjoy your new bike and ride safe 👍
@@VeeFour Thanks for the reply and clearing up the speeding thingy.
Good review! I've also got one and love it!
The clunk in the quickshifter is because its only a simple switch quickshifter. Try an aftermarket Woolich shifter or one on a BMW s1000rr etc and they shift smoothly at any revs. Just because they have varied cut times depending on the engine speed, the MT one is very basic. Thats why its clunky :).
Oliver Taylor Thanks. Oh I'm very well acquainted with most of the manufacturers quick shifters, and they are all trickle down tech from the race track. As such they are meant to be opperated at high rpm, not just at regular road speeds. As you'll know, the one on the MT is flawless at high revs 😎👍
Mine was awful at first tbh, i think it was because the gearbox was new and tight. It would rarely shift.
after 1k miles though it loosened up, 2k on it now and it never misses a beat.
Still not 100% happy with it though, theres defo a time break in the shift. I'm tempted to get a Woolich one to go with the ECU flash i've got. Time will tell ;).
Love the bike though. Just so much fun, especially once the suspension is properly set up
easy to listen too, great review, i just bought a 2018 standard MT-09 and im just waiting for the weather to get better here in Ireland so i can enjoy it.
Thanks. Enjoy your new bike and ride safe 👍👍
Thanks for this! Currently have the 07, really fancy a 09.....
Thanks. It's the perfect and logical step up from the 07 as it has a fair bit more power but nothing you wont be able to handle if you've become used to the twin 👍
Girl Powerlifter get a mt09. I think you surely love it
Same here :(
That SP has to be perfect for the tight twisties, i got to get one. Maybe they will make a FZ-07SP
That wiuld be an interesting concept, but I think the addition of the extra bling would price it completely out of its target market. It'd be a great looking bike if they did though 🤔👍
I think they will
VeeFour I put a HyperPro streetbox (full suspension) in my old FZ-07 and I crushed the Tail of the Dragon 🐉. Locals rule- but yea the price would be more than the mt-09 and they probably wouldn’t sell many.
The 2018 already had pretty significant suspension upgrades.
You can get akrapovic and ohlins fully adjustable rear and front suspension as an option for mt07. It puts ~8k £price tag on it, nonetheless the performance is comparable to mt09sp vs mt09 on release. Mt09 as a bigger bike, with more electronics and overall better hardware will just be targeted towards a different market.
Thanks dude this is the review I've been looking for, Ill be booking a test ride soon 👌
You're welcome. To test one is to want one 👍
Go Yamaha all the way from Australia
No arguments from this hemisphere :D
Glad too see your still loving this bike and by the sounds of it you really really love it. I cant wait to get one myself probably later in year or next year i was unsure if i wanted this or the mt10, but i think mt09 is more than quick enough i will still test ride a mt10 but quite sure i want this. Good shout about tyres i will look into them when i get bike.
Hisaan Haq The MT10 is fantastic and an absolute beast, but it has terrible fuel economy, and the 09 is plenty quick enough for anyone 👍
Thank you for the excellent long term review and good tips , really helps me or know I’m making the right choice on buying the MT 09👍!
I'm very happy to be of assistance. It's a big decision buying a bike so I'm glad I could help 👍
VeeFour Right ok !but to bad it just started snowing in the Rockys !
Found this really interesting, thanks. I'd like an MT-09 eventually, but I've just (last Thursday) got a new MT-07 as my first 'big'(ger than 125) bike. Perhaps by my early/mid thirties, after finishing the degree I'm about to start, I'll be earning enough to afford an MT-09 (yeah right, wishful thinking).
The 07 is a great first proper bike. The 270 degree twin is a brilliant engine and will keep you busy for years, so enjoy it. It seems that as you get older things become more affordable (to a degree) so you'll get there :)
I'm same mate got mt07 there brilliant bike lots of fun but deffo guna get mt09sp for upgrade
@@VeeFour Test rode the MT-09 SP this morning (having unexpectedly come into a substantial sum of money a while back). Left it in standard mode and traction control on 2 (how the dealership gave it to me and unexpected power-wheelies might lead to shitty pants), absolutely loved it. I dunno what people are on about when they say the throttle is snatchy/twitchy - perhaps it is if you spend most of your time riding an inline 4 built before Euro 4/5 came in. However, compared to my '18 MT-07, everything's much smoother on the 09 SP. Throttle so much smoother, gearbox so much smoother (find it almost impossible to get a smooth upshfit from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd on my 07), clutch possibly a little lighter, suspension is as good as I will ever personally need.
Really a great review!!! I'm in the market for a sport naked bike, your review lead me to buy MT09 SP, the right HP you need on the road and a great feeling on a fun machine. Hallo form Rome - Italy
I've had mine for 4 years, and I love it as much now as I did when I first rode it 👍
Thanks for the review. Looking at getting the MT09SP as an upgrade to my MT03. Feel a crash course in suspension adjustment might be coming on.
A good upgrade for you. It's not that difficult really, just watch how to vids on RUclips like I did. All I would recommend is that you use good tools that wont slip or mark the metal
You got the same motorcycle gloves as me! haha And getting my Street triple RS (matte black) next week, hopefully the weather gets better soon. Ride safe! 👍
You'll need warmer gloves at this time of year 🤤
Enjoy your new bike, you've picked a great one, and be careful on these winter roads 👍👍
@@VeeFour Some thermal inner gloves + long cuff gloves should do it! 😉 Thanks, it was a close call between the yamaha and the triumph but the throttle smoothness and finish did it for me. In the end they are both great bikes and it's all down to personal preference.
I am going to wait till the weather is a bit warmer and less slippery. And it's been a few months since my accident so yeah gotta be wise
Very good and comprehensive, articulate review though ! I have done some written ones I impressed myself with (haha) and I like to be articulate and thorough but this reviewer has much more bike experience than I have and covered everything. Especially the tyres ! I know from my own experience with my FZ8 that Pirelli have the name but they also have the grip! Tried Dunlop SportMax after the Pirelli Rosso Corsa 2's I had. Still a fine tyre but just not quite up to the Pirellis. A better rider than me may notice a greater gap. (All this is an Australian perspective.) Sounds like the stock Battlax tyres on this MT09 should be canned alright!
Thanks very much.
Tires can be a really personal thing. I know riders who will absolutely swear by one brand and refuse any others without trying them, but that's not necessarily a bad thing because it can be an expensive lesson buying a set that you never quite feel confident on. Some people are happy to sacrifice outright grip in favour of longevity because it suits their riding style and they're used to how a particular tire feels, but if I'm spending my own money then I want a tire that I know won't let me down, and my experiences with the various Pirreli models gives me that confidence 👍
Mind you, saying that I actually have Road 4s on my other bike 😂
cracking blog, excellent review veefour.
Neale Bradford Thanks Neale 👍🤜
Trust me when I say.. The best overall review of the MT09 I've seen most on RUclips.. 2016 plate for me though. I've just got to get used to the carataristics of the triple engine. Coming from inline four bikes last honda cb1000r very smooth engine .. Mt though Vibration in pegs and bars and engine..triple engine gives you more raw feedback than inline four's engine.. But inline four are just smoother.. It's trade of.. What suits each rider top end or low down fun.. Mt 09 got plenty of that low down fun. Or maybe sp is different to my 16 plate..
Excellent review,Bang on the money with the tyres.Yes the horn position is a pain. Good riding advice with the std A & B modes.I was considering having mine remapted.?Could anyone advise me if that would be a way forward.
I thoroughly enjoyed the review.I own a 2019 which is exactly the same bike,different number on the plate.
Also like yourself I own a R1
Totally agree with your comparison.
I found this on RUclips September 2023 Bit late better than never.!! Have subscribed.👍
Thank you for your review.
Looks like the MT09 would be the perfect downsizing replacement for my Concours 14. My only apprehension is the small fuel tank.
Wow that is a downsize and a half, quite literally half in your case. I find the tank range to be fine for a day out, but it's probably less than ideal for long distance work, but in that case there's the Tracer 900 GT
Yes sir, the Tracer 900 is on my short list.
(My answer to someone who just asked about the GSXR1000 compared to MT09)
I think the GSXS 1000 looks beautiful. I test rode one today (Matte black/ blue highlights).
However, In my opinion the Suzuki felt boring after riding my friends MT09 SP 3 days earlier.
The MT09 was trying to wheel stand much more in lower gears, and the power delivery was INSTANT! The Suzuki took a while to wind on in comparison, and I could easily keep the front wheel down by simply leaning forward.
(I did not ride either bike on the freeway, so I have no high speed power comparison sorry)
So I am leaning towards MT09 now, I found it more exciting than the GSXS.
Hello fellow rider, watching your videos is an absolute blast, very calm very relaxed 30 minutes gone like its 5 or 6 :D PS: What gloves are those? They seem fantastic. Cheers
Thank you very much indeed, I appreciate your kind words as I only aim to please 😁
The gloves are Alpinestars Mustang, and they're great summer gloves that help keep your mits cool 👍
Great review.....Veefour. I have a 900 Tracer GT and just love that triple. I would love to ride with you sometime. maybe I’ll get back to England someday. Keep up the great reviews👌
This is the bike I'm looking at getting next, I do own a mt07 2019 model i only passed my mod 1 & 2 last summer, but I like the look of the mt09 specially with the extra add ons it comes with,
Anyway Great vlog buddy
This is the nstural and logical next step from a MT07 👍
Great review. Wish you would post more
So do I, but I'm not being offered any bikes to test at the moment 😕
do more videos with MT09 sp
LONG TERM?!? Keep us updated how she's doing for you... My 08 FZ6 currently has 51k and no major issues. Really looking at these, but don't trust the Yamaha triple yet.
Yeah I know, its a relative term but I'm confident in Yamaha's build quality as they don't build turkeys. I wouldn't expect anything less from an FZ6, as that's a tried and tested platform with a lomg development pedigree 💪👍
Yamaha do have a history of making triples with the great XS750/850 triple, shaft drive sport tourer from the 70's/80's. A friend had one of these and he loved it. Tough as and couldn't kill it.
The cp3 is out there since 2013.... It is very reliable and the fun/performance speaks for itself.... I haven't heard a single rider having a single issue with these bikes in the Mt09/fz09/xsr900 communities.
Very nice chat mate. I enjoyed the video, very informative. I think i have found my forever bike... cheers 🍻
P.s. did the qs come standard or purchased? If purchased, where ? How much ? How difficult to install? Sorry for all question :)
@@obrider2963 Standard 👍👍👍
Lucky duck 😘
At 3:30 you choked up a bit in the blind turn. Scared me lol
naaaah, I know this road really well, you can actually see around the blind corner a bit in the reflection of the porch window of the house opposite and see that it's clear. I did take two bites of the turn in though 😁👍💩
@@VeeFour suspenseful moment for me lol nice bike though. I just wish they'd bring it to the US
Buy the flyscreen. Not much wind protection but it makes the bike a little more stable at high speeds. Had no problem with the tyres. Ive done 4800 km and the back tyres is practicall done. I love mine also. I have a full exhaust on it. Worth every penny becouse the sound is epic. The only one better is the Yamaha CP4.
I've got a CP4 in my garage so I know what you mean. I don't like flyscreens, I prefer to have an uninterrupted wind flow without the buffeting that you get from a small screen. I actually like the feeling of wind passing me, as it adds to the whole experience :)
Best review ever, well done to you…..
Thank you very much 😁
Cool vid,, sold my 12 bandit mk 1 and now have a mtsp. Great great bike,, only thing the front seems light,, but still fun,, and I was at 130 mph lol so gonna change the stock tyres,, great vid and great advice,, thanks for posting,
The front end is quite light, but I like that as it makes it feel frisky. Swapping out the oem tyres is a very good move 👍
Definitely a qaulity in depth review. Not many reviews will talk about the little things like the horn, indicator switch ect. Tempted to get one 🤔🤣
it's a small issue, but it really is the only gripe I have with this bike, and I still love it 2 years later 👍
@@VeeFour is the throttle as bad as what reviewers are saying it can be🤔
Excellent review. Thanks.
you forget how to ride an old bike having every thing on the new ones just took a vfr800 out w plate down shifting back wheel was going sideways locking up slipper clutches are so good on these modern bikes. mt09 such a good engine the best 115 bhp around.
adrian tompson Yeah we're spoiled these days aren't lol
Yes ,,great bikes,,smiles per mile for sure,
Totally 👍
That triple just NEED a proper exhaust.
Great review.
zardportugal Thanks. Maybe next year but I'm in no rush because the stock exhaust isn't thst bad for a stock one
www.jeskap.com.br/mt09-full-3x1-gp2r-carbono-p-1715.html
ruclips.net/video/SCCGmjUzSQ0/видео.html
This product is available in GB.
zardportugal... you know what? I love it just as it is. I’ve had my fill of loud bikes in the past and glad to have a stealthy machine that sounds great in a subtle manner. When you give it the beans you do hear that engine doing it’s work believe me.
Great review VeeFour. Sounds like your loving your so as much as I do mine. Have you made any mods yet? ,Do you plan to? Tail tidy was a definite for me
n filby I do I'm loving it! Yeah I fancy adding a few mods like a tail tidy, but honestly I'm just enjoying riding it to much to be thinking about getting the spanners out on it 😎
Excellent review. I just jot my 2020 MT 09 sp today.
Happy new bike day!
Hey Vee!
Just wanted to know how are you in terms of setup?
I have mine like this measured from full hard
FRONT - Rebound - 20 clicks off
Slow Comp - 16 clicks off
High Comp - 5 turns
REAR - Rebound - 14 clicks off
Comp - 12 clicks off.
I'm enjoying mine everyday more and more and feel like one can always improve the settings.
Take care mate
I'm sorry but I didn't record my settings, but other than setting the preload sag to around 25mm front and rear when im sat on it fully geared up, I backed off the rebound around 5 or 6 clicks front and rear from stock and just by luck that seemed to match my body weight and preferences. I didn't bother adjusting the compression, as my ample body mass seems to work well with the stiff factory settings as the stroke feels plush without sacrificing feel
Excellent review! I really enjoyed that.
I came to watch this because i own a Tracer 900 (2017), and the SP is about the only bike I'd trade it for.
The only negative you mentioned was addressed in the Tracer: it does have the horn as lowest button. Now that I know this, I'm even more puzzled as to why they wouldn't do that on the SP.
I decided to get the Akrapovic exhaust, and am still grinning about it after 7000km. Really happy with the S21 Battlax tires, and am considering the brake pad upgrade soon, have you changed them already?
I've only been riding for about 2 years, but feel like this engine is hard to beat... but what do I know, I'm totally new! Glad to hear you confirm this feeling with your 30 yrs of experience.
Thanks again for the review!
Alexander Deleersnijder It really is the only negative that I can find. I'm still using the stock pads and will only change them when they wear out, so a good few years if life left in them yet 👍
I was wondering if you're interested in fitting luggage to this bike? Maybe since you've already got other bikes more suitable to touring that you have never considered luggage. I would like to fit soft panniers, which from my experience are the better choice for my kind of touring. Problem is that the rear indicators stick out too much and are on a short arsed bike so there is little room to fit the panniers on. Some people moved the indicators back with suitable brackets, both GIVI and SHAD have kits for this. Not keen to take that route as they don't compliment the bike's aesthetics when without panniers. There is another option to remove the indicators all together and replace the tail-light to have integrated indicators in it, look up TST Industries and Custom Led. These work great and leave the bike looking OEM so are a great option. I am also considering fitting car indicators into the recesses of the small plastic cowls under the seat. That would be neat wouldn't it? I've still to find suitable units that fit snug in there though. Interested to hear what your thoughts are on this topic.
I've no immediate plans to fit luggage to this one, as I have my Tiger 1200 kitted out with a full Givi Outback set up which I use for long distance duties. If I were ever to fit anything, I would definitely go the soft luggage and magnetic tank bag route, as retro fitting hard luggage carriers would just totally ruin the bikes lines for me. If anyone had touring aspirations for the MT09, then I would steer them towards the new Tracer GT, as that's ready to go touring wise. But if it was just the very occasional trip away, then it'd be soft luggage every time.
Stephen, if you are not a member of FZ09.org, then join and look up saddlebags. There are many options discussed, but the one that really got me interested was this one. It is the simplest solution I have ever seen for fitting soft luggage without having them flapping around and rubbing the tire. I intend making my own version from carbon fiber. www.fz09.org/forum/13-fz-09-gear-accessories/2965-saddlebag-bracket.html
VeeFour ... I totally agree on the soft panniers being the best choice for this bike.
MotoGuzziMoto ... I am a member of the FZ forum. I’ve still to post some pictures of my bike there and am glad to say that finally today I’ve managed to snap,some good ones for the forum. As to the post on baggage you mentioned, I’ve seen that but it sadly does not fully apply to the 2017 plus versions as the indicators are just under the pillion seat and stick out too much. So first thing is to relocate those pumpkins or in some way or another shorten them so that they don’t stick out that much. My first thoughts are to remove the rubber extension pieces if I can. Another recent idea is if I could remove them altogether and fit car side indicators that would fit inside that rear facing cowling situated under the seat. Then I would focus on making a simple frame so that the saddle bags will not touch the rear wheel or damage the plastics. This could be done diy from plastic tubing that’s normally used for plumbing. I’ll be posting my ideas on the FZ forum for those interested.
Great review
Thanks, and I'm still in love with this bike and ride it as much as I can 👍
Excellent review, I highly enjoyed it 👍🏼😄
I haven ridden 2 times the sp version because this is one of my favorite bikes among 2 others. I love the engine characteristics but 2 main things couldn't convince me:
1) the ergonomics - the bike feels unstable on higher revs and due to the seating position the rider feels to much upright and this make the whole riding experience less confident.
2) the front wheel gets to light when revving hardly - > means you can't feel the front wheel, somehow no connection between you and the front.
My 10 years older Street Triple R is doing all better for less the half of the price of the SP
With the Kawasaki z900 2020 I had a totally other experience. This bike feels more stable and solid and more refined on all aspects compared the Mt09. The power of the Z900 is delivering more direct and stable. For me the Z900 and his powerful engine and the new electronic features are best bang for the buck! I am saying this as a Triple fan 😊
Excellent points that prove what I've often said, that modern bikes are all so good now (and I'll include your very capable 10 year old street in this) that it's all purely down to rider preference. Personally I love the light feeling of the MT's front end, but
i can understand why some wouldn't . It's the same with your preference of the Kawasaki engine, which I find a bit bland but can understand how and why some may prefer it's linear smoothness.
Thanks for the objective comment, as you are obviously an experienced rider who can back up what they're saying 👏👍
He even manages to have both hands on the 'bars at times...
I was nervous the whole time 0_o
The Dude won't be ready when a potential accident comes along :/
@@Braselton21 I've explained this numerous times, and even done a video on it. I'm partially disabled on my right side due to nerve palsy in right shoulder from a traumatic injury back 05. Riding fully square on the bike for more than 10 minutes or so causes me discomfort so over the decades I've adopted a semi one handed riding style for when I'm cruising, and it works fine.
I am in complete control at all times, as my muscle memory has long since become accustomed to this style, and my hazard perception is unaffected.
In my time, I've met 2 paraplegic 1 armed bike racers (one with only 1 leg too), and they were coming far from last in their respective classes. So there is figuratively more than one way to skin the proverbial cat 👍
Great review thanks. Are you thinking about an aftermarket exhaust?
Thank you. Not in the immediate future no. The stock exhaust isn't that bad looks and sound wise, and the bike is very well set up straight from the factory, so I wouldn't want to add anything that will affect its excellent fuelling. Maybe in the future when the stock system starts to look dirty I might, but not right now 👍
Waiting for more reviews from you. :)
Me too, but no one is offering me any bikes to ride 😕
@@VeeFour I'm planning to get the MT07 or Suzuki SV650 (beginner). I would love to see that one reviewed and maybe a comparison in your view with the MT07.
Thanks!
Great review, well said, very informative
Hi, I can’t read all the comments. I’ve enjoyed your videos of the RS and 09SP, Ive had an unfortunate relationship with an MT09 ( 1st gen ), I own an FZ1N, I have ridden the MT10 and an old 1050 and liked the Triumph idea of the tripple and the 765 RS appeals to me but what are your opinions about said bikes as the MT09SP is your bike now and appeals to me, and so does the SP10 or MT10 and indeed 1050RS. However I am aware of the character and usability of both the the mid range tripples....I would be interested in your summaries....
Hi. In a bit of a nutshell, I've owned numerous and various bikes of the last 3 decades and amongst them recently, some very exotic and desirable Superbikes such as an Aprilia Tuono V4, a 2016 R1 and a 2012 Speed Triple.
As fun as those bikes were, and I'll exclude the Speed Triple for the moment, big 1000cc sports bikes have become in my opinion utterly redundant for realistic road use.
Their amazing top end power comes at the price of poor low speed enjoyment. You can't always be bouncing the rpm off the red line where these bikes want to live, and riding around at normal road speeds will have you constantly feathering the clutch whilst attempting to balance an on/off switch of a throttle. They're okay for an occasional ride, but this kind of experience really becomes tiresome day in day out.
The MT10 is a much less troublesome bike to ride around at normal road speeds, and Yamaha have done a great job in moving the torque to a much more useable spot in the rev range. Indeed the MT10 would make for a great all day everyday bike, except for one thing. It's fuel ecconomy is horrendous, and the day I spent on a MT10 SP left me suspecting that it was leaking fuel it was so bad.
The Speed Triple on the other hand, is a different proposition. It rides quite nicely at normal traffic speeds but can haul ass with the best of them when ridden hard, although it lacks the out and out top speed and power of all its rivals in its class, but it's still plenty powerful and handles great whilst still retaining an acceptable fuel consumption when compared to the MT10 and Tuono.
Personally as much as I've enjoyed my time on this kind of bike, these days I find that the most fun to be had is on what used to be classed as middle weight bikes.
Bikes that traditionally used to be around 750cc, but due to the need to maintain power with increasingly suffocating emission regulations are now around the 850 to 900cc mark, for me are in the absolute sweet spot for fun road bikes these days. You just can't use 200 horse power to its full potential on public roads if you want to remain alive and with an intact license, but with 120 horses you can use more of the engine more of the time, and couple that usable power with a well sprung lightweight chassis then you have (for me) the perfect road bike.
I personally opted for the MZT09 SP as it fitted me better, and I prefered the way it delivers its torque in the midrange over the sportier top end feel of the 765 RS. This was a wafer thin choice on my part, and if I'd chosen the Triumph instead then I'd probably be just as happy with my choice 2 years down the line as there's no wrong choice between the 2.
If I was ever to make a return to the litre class bike, then I'd look no further than the Speed Triple or at most a Kawasaki Z1000 SX for it touring potential, but to be honest I prefer the more nimble and better handling characteristics of the 765 over the 1050 everyday.
I hope this helps 👍
Good Video, very informative. I have a 2015 Tracer 900. Toying with idea in changing to the MT09. Just wondering what your average MPG is?. I use my for commuting at the moment and getting 65mpg, so hoping that it's similar. Obviously dependant on riding style.
Thanks. I only ever use mine for blipping around the back roads on a weekend or for the occasional weekday evening ride, so I'm ususlly in a low gear and high revs, but the trip computer's average still has it over 54mpg which I'm very happy with. I imagine that with gentle high gear commuting, it would be similar to the Tracer seeing as they share an engine 👍
Thanks for your reply. Had a same dilemma with choice of the street triple. But I have a back issue, and even the slightest off neutral sitting position, get uncomfortable a period of time. MT09 is same seating as the tracer, so happy with that.
Hi Dave, another great review 👍....any plans to review the Tracer 900GT ?
Thanks. I'd love to as it should be a great bike, lets hope I get the offer to ride one
The great folks that create for motorcycles should consider rolling off the sub-30 to 20hz to quiet the wind rumble from drowning the engine sounds and so we can turn it UP. 👍
you've lost me there 🤔🤔😂😂
Lovely video. I'm thinking about getting rid of my s1000rr because it ruins my right elbow and this bike seems about right. I was looking at the street triple rs and the s1000r. I'm just not sure. Thanks for the info.
The RR is about as comfy as a full blooded sports bike gets, so it sounds like it's time to get into the naked game. I'd recommend a test just to make sure you won't miss the power, but I don't miss the power of my R1 👍👍
Good vid, I’m torn between this and mt10sp ✌️
puds boi My advice, test them both back to back if you can, BUT ride the 09 2nd 👍
I too was going to buy a Street but the insurance was £1k and there was no way I was going to pay that. My SP is £450 and I always say it's kinda like a Supermoto too! I found the stock suspension really hard so much so that occasionally I would hit a bump and my feet or foot would come off the pegs. I'm going to take it to get to set up by someone who knows what they are doing because I don't haha. Compared to the Triumph it's actually completely different isn't it really? I found the Triumph way too small and it even looked small, the MT looks big and aggressive and feels a lot bigger as you probably know. I also agree about the front end the Triumph did feel more planted. Happy with my choice though with the SP. :)
PistonHeadChaz I wonder why the Triumph is over double to insure? That seems odd.
Since I softened up the rebound on my SP, it's made a great riding bike even better, quite noticeably so
Not a clue! It was the RS version but it's only really the smaller equivalent of this. I can imagine, I look forward to getting mine set up correctly!
I think this review has probably helped me make my mind up (you are not both on commission from Yamaha no)? I just missed out on a beautiful Striple 765R Low - not that i'm short but it felt really comfy. Lucky to have Triumph & Yamaha dealers close to me (tell that to KTM - otherwise i'd have bought a 790 Duke) - but there seems to be very little "wrong" with the SP so that's the way i'll go unless my local dealer has just sold his only example, & is willing to give me a good price on my MT07. Cheers guys.
SteveO No not on commission from Yamaha 😂
Great review. I did a test ride on the street triple 765 and it wasn’t comfortable for me. I want to do a test ride on the mt-09 next after watching your video. What is the service interval and the cost for mt-09?
its what im buying next got mt07 now ina year il upgraded to mt09sp deffo its multi perpose bike use it for everything
You won't be disappointed 👍👍
Hey. My friend is considering between the MT09sp and triumph Street triple rs, just like you. He is leaning towards the Triumph just because of the specs. What advise would you give him? Cheers
Both of these bikes are amazing in their own subtle ways, so the only advice that I can give is go with your heart. If he can test ride both that would be the best way to split them, as he will probably like one over the other, but if he can't then all I can offer is that the Triumph has a more sporty feel and the Yamaha doesn't handle quite as well, but has slightly more midrange torque and pulls harder as well as being a slightly more comfortable seating position.
It's a tough choice which ever way you look at it, but there are no wrong answers between them in my opinion 👍