Test Ride] "Yamaha MT-09SP" with special equipment for the suspension. It is a machine that will deepen your enjoyment of riding and will be with you for a long time!

The "MT-09" is Yamaha's naked sports model developed under the theme of "the joy of being able to ride at will" and is equipped with the "CP3" inline 3-cylinder 888cc engine based on the "Cross Plane Concept (CP)". The MT-09SP is a fully equipped model with upgraded front and rear suspension, front brake, and features useful for circuit riding. Text: Hiroyasu Ogawa Photo: Atsushi Sekino

KYB front suspension, Öhlins rear suspension, and Brembo front calipers are standard equipment.

Yamaha's "Crossplane Concept" is an engine development concept that aims to efficiently extract combustion torque produced in the combustion chamber. The MT-09 is a naked sport bike launched in Japan in 2014, powered by the CP3 inline 3-cylinder engine (846cc when first introduced) based on this "Crossplane Concept". In 2016, the MT-09 was equipped with traction control, and in 2017, minor changes were made to the model, including an assist and slipper clutch, a quick-shift system, and compression-side damping adjustment for the front suspension. The following year, in 2018, the MT-09 SP, a more fully equipped version of the MT-09, made its first appearance. Standard equipment included a KYB front suspension with damping force adjustment, Ohlins rear suspension with optimized spring rate and damping force, a painted fuel tank, and a double-stitched seat. In 2021, it will undergo its first full model change. The engine has been newly designed and its displacement increased to 888cc, and a newly designed die-cast aluminum frame has been adopted to reduce weight by approximately 4kg. The newly developed IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), which detects the vehicle's body posture and other parameters, contributes to more natural machine control. The "MT-09SP" has a "DLC coating" on the inner tube of the front suspension for a smoother stroke. In 2024, suspension settings and tank shape were changed to improve the riding position. Enhanced equipment included YRC (Yamaha Ride Control), which allows the rider to change engine characteristics, cruise control, and a 5-inch full-color TFT meter. The MT-09SP's front and rear suspensions were reset with revised spring rates and damping force characteristics. The front brakes are equipped with Brembo Stylema monoblock calipers. A new display mode for circuit driving has been added to the meter, and "EBM (Engine Brake Management)" and an OFF function for the rear ABS have been added to the "YRC" control menu. The MT-09SP has a wider range of engine characteristics and front and rear suspension settings without sacrificing the base model MT-09's ease of use in city driving, making it a machine that can be fully enjoyed on the race circuit. The base model "MT-09" is priced at 1,254,000 yen, the "MT-09 Y-AMT" with AT function at 1,364,000 yen, and the "MT-09SP" at 1,441,000 yen, making it the high-end model in the series.

Check out the MT-09SP's footrests.

The wider range of settings adds to the fun of driving in.

The engine characteristics of the "MT-09 series" can be changed to the three modes of "SPORT/STREET/RAIN" using the "YRC" function. In addition, the "PWR = Power Delivery Mode" changes throttle response in four stages, the "TCS = Traction Control System" can be set to three levels of intervention plus OFF when rear wheel spin is detected, the "SCS = Slide Control System" can be set to three levels of correction plus OFF when rear wheel skidding is detected, and the "YRC = Yawning Control System" can be set to three levels of correction plus OFF when the engine starts or stops. The "LIF (Lift Control System)" detects front wheel lift during acceleration and acceleration, and allows the driver to adjust the output in three levels plus OFF, Each of these settings can be saved in two "CUSTOM1/2" patterns, and engine characteristics can be selected from a total of five modes. In addition, the MT-09SP is equipped with a "TRACK mode" designed for circuit riding as an exclusive feature of the MT-09SP. In addition to the aforementioned settings, the "QSS = Quick Shift System" can be set to turn on or off the quick shift up and down, "BC = Brake Control" controls brake pressure when skidding is detected while the vehicle is banked, and "EBM = Engine Brake Strength" controls the engine brake strength when the throttle is off or when shifting down. EBM (engine brake management) controls the engine brake strength when the throttle is off or when downshifting, and ABS rear OFF can be set for a total of nine items. In addition, the "TRACK mode" can store such setting changes in four patterns, "TRACK1/2/3/4. In addition, the front suspension damping force adjustment has been significantly increased from 11 levels for the MT-09's rebound side to 26 levels for the MT-09SP, and from 11 levels for the compression side to 18 levels for low speed and 5.5 levels for high speed. The "MT-09SP" has both compression and extension damping force adjustments on the left and right sides, while the "MT-09" has separate functions on the right and left sides. In addition, the rear suspension damping force adjustment has been changed from 2.5 rpm on the rebound side in the MT-09 to 30 rpm on the rebound side in the MT-09SP, from no adjustment to 20 rpm on the compression side, and from 6mm to 8mm of pre-load. The MT-09SP's Öhlins rear suspension settings can be changed without the need for tools. The MT-09SP's engine and suspension characteristics can be set in great detail, allowing the rider to tailor the ride quality to his or her own preferences. With such a wide range of settings, it may take some time to find the best settings. On the other hand, the "MT-09SP" is even more fun to ride than the base model, and riders can fully enjoy the changes in ride quality that can be achieved by changing settings.

The bike is comfortable and will be with you for a long time!

The author test rode three "CP3" equipped models, the "XSR900 GP," "MT-09 Y-AMT," and "TRACER9 GT+ Y-AMT," and experienced the differences in the riding position of each model and the differences in ride quality between the standard MT and Yamaha's unique "Y-AMT. The CP3 model is a very different bike from the standard MT model, and the Y-AMT model is unique to Yamaha. However, we have the impression that the engine characteristics of the CP3, which produces ample torque from low rpm and is smooth from mid to high rpm, have not changed significantly from one model to the next. The MT-09SP idles at 1200 to 1300 rpm, and the practical torque for firm acceleration is 2500 rpm in "SPORT mode," 3000 rpm in "STREET mode," and 3500 rpm in "RAIN mode," with the throttle opening at different levels in each mode. The throttle opening is different for each mode. In "SPORT mode," the response is sharp right from the start of throttle opening, with a high throttle feel and quick rpm increase. The torque is strong, and the acceleration performance is like being pushed out of the throttle from low rpm, making this the mode where the MT-09SP's "speed" can be felt the most. In STREET mode, the response is neither too sharp nor too dull, and the RPMs rise smoothly in response to throttle operation, making acceleration easy to understand. With plenty of torque, it provides stress-free acceleration in the city and all-around neutral handling. In RAIN mode, the response is milder and rpm rises more slowly. The torque push is less pronounced and acceleration is mild, but the engine's ample displacement means it is not slow enough to cause stress when driving in the city. Machine behavior is also calm, making this mode the most reassuring when driving in the rain or on poor road surfaces. Considering the balance between the torque fluctuation when opening and closing the throttle and the resulting machine behavior (jerky behavior), "Street mode" seemed to be the best for the CP3-equipped models we have test-ridden so far. However, with the "MT-09SP," the "SPORT mode" was often selected. On paved roads in good condition, the rider can feel the suspension stroking around the initial area, but the ride is flat with little change in machine behavior. On rough pavement, the suspension steadily absorbs impact, and although some impact is felt over large gaps, there is no bottoming out, and the stroke seems to settle quickly. The front and rear suspensions are set to maintain a flat machine posture on a variety of surfaces, and the car responds well to torque fluctuations when the throttle is opened and closed, with virtually no jerky machine behavior. The MT-09SP, which offers flat ride comfort even with the overwhelming acceleration power of "SPORT mode," seems to have the best balance of sport and comfort performance among the CP3-equipped models. The KYB front suspension and Öhlins rear suspension contribute greatly to this balance in terms of stroke and shock absorption. In addition, the Brembo Stylema brake calipers provide braking power to handle the acceleration, and the braking force is easy to control directly by operating the brake lever. The riding position, in which the rider's upper body is slightly tilted forward, is not cramped, allowing for relaxed posture and nimble handling. The ride is flat, and with quick shift and cruise control, it is both convenient for city riding and comfortable for touring. The front end can be loaded by leaning the upper body forward, allowing the rider to enjoy sport riding on winding roads and circuits, tracing the desired line. The "MT-09SP" combines light handling, convenience, comfort, and sportiness at a high level, making it a pleasure to ride in a wide range of situations, and it has the depth of character to meet the rider's needs. It is an all-round, easy-to-use machine that will be with you for a long time.

Yamaha MT-09SP main specifications

Overall Length x Width x Height: 2090 x 820 x 1145 mm - Wheelbase: 1430 mm - Weight: 194 kg - Engine: Liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC 4-valve inline 3-cylinder 888cc - Maximum output: 120 PS at 10000 rpm - Maximum torque: 9.5 kgf-m at 7000 rpm - Fuel tank Capacity: 14 liters - Transmission: 6-speed return - Brakes: F = double disc, R = single disc - Tires: F = 120/70-17, R = 180/55-17 - Price: 1,441,000 yen "Yamaha MT-09SP" with special suspension equipment (22)