Yamaha MT-09 SP Review: The One You Want?

After being seriously impressed with the new Yamaha MT-09 earlier this year, we tried out the MT-09 SP for the first time in soggy Britain to find out where your extra money goes. Is it the one to have, or are you better off with the standard bike?
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[@eb-pe8xg]

I dislike reviews done in exotic locations, on exotic roads, with lots of track time, as I think most riders won't visit those exotic places or spend any time on a track. So thanks for a review that highlights what is probably what the majority of potential buyers will do with their bikes on a weekend ride. Now all we need is a daily commute to work style review.

[@toethlef8994]

There’s about 40 reviews of this bike that will give you that

[@stickvortex]

Depends where you live and how you use your bike. Here in Italy theres interesting roads everywhere so those reviews make sense, if you want to know about the performance. Makes sense since lots of people buy bikes as a hobby of sorts. If you live in the UK though I guess it makes sense to have a review done in local conditions if that’s all you have.

[@boblynch7535]

In days gone by, the exhaust system was a key point of the bike’s aesthetic. That industrial oil can of a cat/muffler is an abomination.

[@valebliz]

Looks remarkably unfinished.

[@Nine.siixxx]

Cry about it you couldn’t even afford it anyway

[@gavinmurrell3415]

Really, you think so? Interesting

[@hawkslayers1]

your gloves look like a 101 dalmatians 😂

[@Mosmos993]

Exhaust come pre-rusted for free

[@anneakhil5331]

must have been the old units they made for 2021 model left out cause that is so hideous no one purchased it lovingly 😂😂😂😂

[@SSJCLIFF]

OK so basically the only extra things you get now on the SP are the brakes and the suspension? As the standard now has the larger screen and extra programmable modes from the 2023 SP already? Also you are stuck with the silver blue only? I would love to get an SP but I would want it in the grey and fluro yellow.

[@JCHAN-qd3rz]

MT-09 SP. The machine has too many aesthetic detail conflicts. (my opine only) Many already pointed out the exhaust system, no argument here. The tank looks like a luggage box, the profile of the seat looks oddly sculptured. Yamaha can and should refine the visual appeal. The machine has a remarkable powertrain.

[@zergothikaify]

Its Japanese and I believe there's a reason why they took this design appeal.

[@sereneturmoil]

The comment on needing to get the MT-09 SP and Street Triple 765 RS together for a head-to-head is exactly what I'm looking for since these are my two shortlisted bikes. That said, I hate the colour scheme on the SP. The brushed aluminium swing arm looks terrible with the black frame everywhere else and Yamaha only offering the bike in the silver/black/blue is a let down. It looks terrible and would require an immediate partial wrap to get rid of the silver, at the very least, or fully to get a uniform and more aesthetically appealing look, in my opinion.

[@aluisious]

The Yamaha stands a much better chance of actually working every time you go out to ride it

[@ChaseLancaster]

Yeah I need this comparison too. It's between this 2024 SP for me or a Street Triple.

[@paulcullum1473]

Had three ST and 5 triumphs in total. Never had a problem 👍​@@aluisious

[@ferkle1980]

For what it’s worth, I’ve just traded in my 2019 street triple rs for an mt09sp.

[@ferkle1980]

@@aluisious my strs has never let me down. But then neither has my 58k mile Yamaha fazer….

[@bajo]

I don’t get why they changed the indicator. Not having a cancel button meant I was looking at the dash so many times during my ride. You can only cancel it if you press it again the same way or wait for the really long auto cancel

[@devilmaycry383]

I hope to sell my MT-07 soon so that I can place an order for the new MT-09 SP.

[@danielhasahondaandtriumph]

I’d give a street triple rs a test ride too before putting a deposit down 😊

[@SirMountainpass]

@@danielhasahondaandtriumph Ridden it, needs frequent down-shifting to access the power band 🥱

[@tdunster2011]

@@SirMountainpass yes. That's the fun bit.

[@CraigSmith568]

I have never seen an Mt-09 SP at the dealership and only 2 standard models since its introduction here in the U.S.

[@JackMihoff6969]

I have both the Street Triple RS and this. I prefer the Street Triple RS but the MT09/XSR900 for longer rides

[@colonelclaw]

A quick search has revealed to me that Akrapovic make a rather nice-looking replacement for that abomination of an exhaust, which costs almost exactly the same as the price difference between the base bike and the SP. So that's what I would go for instead, personally

[@valebliz]

An exhaust over suspension, not a great choice pal.

[@jou1226]

It sounds almost the same as the stock one, not worth the money. I wait for the LeoVice Race (with EU homologation).

[@tdunster2011]

@@valebliz Agreed. Linear front springs would be my first move like it is on all my bikes.

[@zackmartin9137]

I'm inlove with the design and looks of SP Version than the standard one

[@koelti13]

it looks great...except the exhaust system. It really takes away the premium feel

[@SirMountainpass]

With a tail tidy the first thing to go / swapped 😅✌️

[@deano501st]

Useless comment. Get a pipe? Simple :/

[@SirMountainpass]

@@deano501st You are entitled to your personal opinion 😅✌️

[@GazBromley]

ive had an MT10 for 2 years and its crazy fast, im 55 and sometimes i ache badly after a thrash, If i had an 09 would i still have loads of fun without the crazyness, or is it to big of a step down.

[@brizz769]

the underneath pipe does not looking premium at all

[@nirvanghaempanah9410]

in Aus the KTM 990 is actually cheaper than MT09SP as we speak and teckpack is included as free, was your objection to KTM 990 just the price? how you compare the two from fun factor and ride quality?

[@bobz1736]

You didn't answer the question? MT or ST?

[@daisuki-ns8oy]

Can the vertical shake of riding movie be improved? Many times the sudden shaking makes me feel like I am going to get drunk.

[@abymathew295]

When can we expect a upper middle weight Comparo...😍😍😍😍

[@redshiftit8303]

Why are there no under slung exhaust for this? The stock on may be ugly, but its clean... Will the old Akra's like the 2015 S-Y9R3-HAFT Racing Line (Titanium) still fit?

[@Bugside]

No

[@danielhasahondaandtriumph]

I would defo say the street triple is still the bike of the year especially for road and track 😊

[@churchofbrap876]

People complaining about the exhaust? Does anyone leave that on? I'd switch to Akrapovic right away.

[@erood6190]

That's another €2000. It should just come from the factory with a nice exhaust system. I have a Tracer 900 myself and hated the stock exhaust. It feels like a rip off that bikes don't come with good looking exhausts anymore.

[@churchofbrap876]

@@erood6190 they're subject to sound restrictions now, so if u want a little better exhaust note, the factory unit will rarely ever suffice. I've put an aftermarket pipe on every single bike I've owned, and tuned the bike appropriately. Not only do they sound better (without being annoyingly loud), but run much better. Modern bikes tend to be neutered from the factory because of emissions and sound restrictions.

[@redshiftit8303]

@@erood6190 To your point, the street triple has a decent looking stock exhaust. Yamaha seems to go out there way to make it ugly AF (or cheap af for them cost wise...).

[@tigerick7291]

Nigel Mansell look a like!

[@mofotose]

"ö" is pronounced like the "u" in "burn" for example so that was correct.

[@planb4life1234]

the exhaust ruins the look so bad

[@MrWolf2212]

Who cares.. most people buy an aftermarket exhaust anyway

[@Xerdoz]

I would probably buy this next year but I wonn't because of that stupid indicator switch and keyless ignition.

[@GadgetyMV]

Full marks for pronunciation!

[@Antweak83]

I think the street tripple rs still beats it. Especially in terms of flickabilty

[@monkmoto1887]

I’m not a euro bike supremacist, in fact I prefer the big 4. Have a classic Yamaha in the garage right now. But the MT series of bikes always miss the mark with me. They look cheaply made and everything looks and feels half assed and like an after thought. The most disappointing ride of my life was on an MT10. The throttle delay was so bad it felt like I had never ridden before and I’ve been riding since 6 years old. the mt09 was slightly better but still felt disconnected and cheap. The only thing that was better was in its most aggressive mode it almost felt like a normal motorcycle. Just look at that exhaust for an example of everything I’m saying.

[@inked-96]

It looks daft having the frame black with the swing arm in silver... it's an ugly duckling still. Why the XSR900 needs an update soon!!

[@icemanjondoe]

i’m fed up of “bike reviewers” slating keyless ignition on bikes. It’s epic, so effortless. Why the fuck do you want to keep using a key all the time when you can have it in your pocket. My M5 is keyless same thing i hate having to get a key out and physically get it in.

[@churchofbrap876]

I much prefer an old school key!

[@valebliz]

It’s useless trash and what the f does it have in common with a keyless car.

[@Don-Omarr]

In full leathers for example, you get one front pocket max and the bulky key for the keyless ignition is big and noticable on the front pocket and its annoying

[@Mark........]

I agree I'd be happy if my next bike is keyless the amount of times finish put gas in the bike go and pay, put gloves get on the bike , darn it bloody keys in my pocket

[@redshiftit8303]

Another point of failure.. Arguably yes, a key is also a point of failure. However having another area be tied to electronics is just another pain point that isn't necessarily fixable by the end user.

[@vaughanboyce3702]

These reviews are about as useful as a wet paper bag, a tame ride on a sh*t road??? Journo talking bs.

[@trevorphillips3055]

Let's be honest the surface of most B roads is better than most A roads! I like the colour schemes of the sp's they look a lot better than the standard variants. However I can't get past the ugliness, like the mt 10 the motors are great but lets have something prettier. That's one reason I have a Street rs.

[@tdunster2011]

Why the street RS and not the R ?

[@trevorphillips3055]

@tdunster2011 I test rode both but opted for the RS as I thought the ride quality was nicer. So it's worth the extra for higher quality suspension. And the Cosmic yellow.

[@abymathew295]

Extra dark side of Japan...😅😅😅

[@Kenicavus]

Premium dark side of Japan 😂

[@davehudson3439]

And of course...pretty gold forks and rusty looking cat. Both should be black!

[@GeorgiaGrowGuy]

Ohlins and Bremo make super cheap branded great for manufactures. Much lower quality than they sell to consumers. You cannot put 5-10k's worth of their real gear in a bike for $600. You're getting a badge, nothing more.

[@churchofbrap876]

Do u have proof of this? Yamaha would buy the shocks and forks in large quantities so probably negotiates lower cost overall.

[@valebliz]

That’s BS, I owned a speed triple R and it obviously had genuine ohlins shock and forks on.

[@Steve-motorcycles]

🤡 fool

[@tdunster2011]

@@churchofbrap876 He's 100% correct. All the major brands have different grades of shocks. The best shocks Ohlins, YSS, and others produce cost a lot more money than their base models.

[@tdunster2011]

@@valebliz Ohlins make a lot of different shocks at different price points. Most of them are good quality, some are very good, and others are no expense spared and cost more than most people would spend on an entire bike. The high end Ohlins, WP, YSS... K-tech... and so on equipment is prohibitively expensive - and would only find its way onto the very highest tier street bikes or race bikes - not mass-produced ones like we are talking about here.

[@dardobartoli]

The 765RS! seriously, they're not in the same league if you care about looks. The Yamaha is so Fugly

[@Doncan0823]

Looks like a crashed bike zip tied together…

[@SivaxReddy]

2020 design best

[@coartneycarroll6666]

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