MT-09 Just arrived in my local Stealer

[Skippernick]

As above, test ride coming up i reckon.

[slimwilly]

I have never ever had a test ride but i think this might make me travel to a dealer and ask,i think there is one in Worcester,Skellerns

[peterjca]

Don't like the looks of it, but I'll reserve proper judgement until I see it in the flesh.

November issue of Bike popped through the letterbox with the MT-09 on the cover and the bold claim:

"Japan's best bike since the Fireblade".

!!!

[locksmith]

Have they tested it on our roads yet or is it the official yammie launch test they went to?

[peterjca]

It's the test launch. Haven't read the feature yet, but skimming reveals:

"The MT-09 instantly makes the FZ8 redundant...

...You'll need very specific reasons to buy an FZ1 over the new triple as well."

Bike verdict:

Forget the MT-01 and MT-03. The MT-09 shares their philosophy, a few styling cues and Transformerish logos, but is an entirely new experience. Light, manageable, grunty, comfy, fast -- the list of desireable traits goes on. Comparisons to the class-dominating Triumph Street Triple are unavoidable, but over a 200 mile day the Yamaha is just as agile and easy to exploit, but with a stronger engine, better spec and finer fit and finish. Details like offset clocks and high, close bars need a bit of acclimitisation, but within a couple of hours it's utterly natural. £6799 is an utter steal, but a dealer has told us the second batch of bikes will be more expensive. Buy one now."

5/5 stars


I'm bloody intrigued!

[Dead Eye]

I think my concern now is that they will raise the price for no other reason than they can due to its success...

Lets just hope they don't do an Apple and release a new model every year with one slight thing tweaked and charge more for the privilege :|

[noggythenog]

  MT 09!!!
I'll be sticking with  's,
Stick a Fazer sticker on it & i'll consider.
But if i eventually replenish my funds i'll be getting me a nice, cheap, & probably sadly forgotten Fazer 8.
Poor fazer 8

[Dead Eye]

Any particular reason for the FZ8 noggy?

[noggythenog]

Any particular reason for the FZ8 noggy?

I like the way the Fazers rev & produce their power..im the same with cars as i like Honda vtec engines over say a torquey diesel.I dont think ill ever need the power of a Thou & so the FZ8 falls nicely in the middle between the 6 & thou & i really like the styling of the FZ8.
I think the FZ8 will be a future unsung hero.

[Dead Eye]

Have you test ridden one yet? Reason I ask is that its of the same ilk as the FZ6 and FZ1 which are fuel-injected and I've heard of the power delivery being a bit snatchy (on the FZ6 though).... of course the fact remains that I could be talking out of my arse

[chaz]

Well I was planning a test ride and weighing my MT-01 in if they gave me a good price? however as I binned it last week (low speed off) I might just have to keep it as well?

[slimwilly]

Will there be a half faired version for us tourists i ask?


I do need a half fairing,especially when it rains from Hereford to Milan, alot of rain that is.

[Hedgetrimmer]

This bike is definitely not designed for touring with a small capacity tank like that. Seems to me this is strictly a fun bike, and now sounds like it'll be worth every penny if that's what you're looking for. The look still doesn't do it for me tho. It could be a good base for doing a tourer with on the other hand. KTM seem to have done it with the 1190 Adventure, and surely Yamaha don't mean to use this triple in just one bike?

[mr self destruct]

That tank size is a reall off-putter for me, but I love the overall package.

[jon]

People always get put off by tank size, but I couldn't give a monkeys about it. After all, it's not like we have a shortage of petrol stations is it? And every time i fill up i get to show off my ride 

[pitternator]

fuel tank range is important if the bike is to be  a good road bike. My speed triple had an 18 litre tank and that enabled a decent stint of hooning or touring if you wanted. But 4 litres less is a massive difference . Sorry , but like the vfr 12 this sort of thing IS going to affect the riding experience.Basically after 10 litres or 90 miles the reserve will be on !
 
You have to compare it with the street triple, cos basically Yamaha have seen its success and this bike is its answer to it. BUT the street has  a 17 litre tank. I doubt if the Yam extra cc will make  a massive difference but almost at the outset it has made a negative before its had a chance. The price is cheaper than a street but I aint sold on the yams looks. I dont think at this stage it will scupper the street at all.
Just wait for Triumph to react. Already they have 0% finance on any triumph this month, I am sure they will look at price if Yam dont increase theirs.
If yam do increase price, then they are giving themselves an uphill battle once more.
I wish them luck , but its not cut and dried in my thinking.... ....their best advantage over most of the other jap offerrings is at least they made it  a triple not a 4 ...IMO the best config for a road bike.

[Davebo]

I dont think ill ever need the power of a Thou

  Huh?

Must admit tho I am nowhere near using all the power of mine... yet.

[Hedgetrimmer]

I dont think ill ever need the power of a Thou

  Huh?

Must admit tho I am nowhere near using all the power of mine... yet.

 
I DO NEED it!!! Gimme more, MORE, MORE, yeeee-ha!
But seriously folks, for me, the best thing about more power in higher capacity bikes is having lots of midrange, where it actually becomes useful. It would seem that triples develop quite a bit of midrange, and so I would agree with pitternator that it probably makes it a very good road-use engine. I believe the biking press likes to use the term "flexible" 

[locksmith]

When I read the MCN test a couple of weeks ago I don't recall them mentioning tank range so maybe it's not the issue everyone is expecting?

That said if the range is less than my Gen2 I would seriously think before buying.

[chaz]

I'd expect getting 150 miles to the tank full or a bit less if riding really hard, I'm ready for a rest after 60 miles, must be my age

[pitternator]

Lock
If it is  a 14 litre tank, most reserves are 4 litres. 10 litres at 9 miles /litre ( 45 mpg average) = 90 miles.!!   
 
That would fook me off, when my m8 on a street is getting 130 miles range before reserve light comes on ....
 

[Simon.Pieman]

Lets just hope they don't do an Apple and release a new model every year with one slight thing tweaked and charge more for the privilege :|

Well, why not? It's basically what the japs have been doing for the last 50 years. A great example is the old Gpz550H1 from 1981, in 1982 the H2 version came out and the only differences was the colour bars on the bodywork were reversed and the rear brake switch was changed from a mechanical one to an electronic switch. So they charged an extra £100 for the H2.

[Hamos]

Bike magazine are raving about the MT-09 this month.

[Tefer]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorcycle_manufacturers/yamaha/10285598/Yamaha-MT-09-review.html


Fuel capacity is hardly generous at 14 litres, but the MT is reasonably economical, averaging almost 50mpg to give a typical range of about 120 miles, if not the 150 miles claimed by Yamaha.

[mr self destruct]

Lock
If it is  a 14 litre tank, most reserves are 4 litres. 10 litres at 9 miles /litre ( 45 mpg average) = 90 miles.!!   
 
That would fook me off, when my m8 on a street is getting 130 miles range before reserve light comes on ....

Reviews are estimating it at 48 mpg so you're not too wide of the mark, I'd be filling up every  2 days.