All Tests – MT-09 Test: Yamaha’s future road’star ‘! – MNC riding the MT-09

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MT-09 test: Yamaha’s future road star !

All Tests - MT-09 Test: Yamaha's future road'star '! - MNC riding the MT-09

Symbol of a new era to come, Yamaha unveiled a new three-cylinder almost a year ago. The first motorcycle to be equipped with it, the MT-09 roadster arrives in dealerships at the end of September … but it is already being tested on Site ! Verdict.

MNC riding the MT-09

The first impression is excellent: the new MT-09 is easy to get on – thanks for the flat saddle! – and obvious to raise from its side stand. A few movements of the hips are enough to make the machine waltz from left to right effortlessly and confirm that yes, this bike is light !

The riding position is also very good, mainly thanks to the higher, wider and closer handlebars to the rider than the handlebars of other Yamaha roadsters. The bust is naturally straightened, the arms slightly bent: the pilot is ready to face the urban jungle…

The legs are not too bent – even when you measure 1.80m – and the thighs are pressed against the thin tank and its perfectly flat sides. The courts on legs are not lost either, since the saddle located at 815 mm from the ground is copiously refined on the front, which facilitates the access of the two tips of the feet to the ground.

The only downside in ergonomics concerns the width of the engine, accentuated by the finesse of the frame! The housings protrude widely on either side of the chassis. The right is a bit of a problem because when stopped, the calf naturally sticks to it, hence the presence of a discreet plastic cover.

This clutch housing therefore requires the pilot to offset his support a little so as not to be too uncomfortable by the heat. Note, however, that it was over 30 ° C in Split (Croatia), the place of our first contact, and that the engine temperature exceeded 100 ° C. !

Before leaving, Site wants to take a quick look under the saddle … but even turning around the motorcycle, impossible to find the lock! And for good reason: it is hidden right above the wheel, protected by a small cap…

We then discover two small spaces: the first at the level of the tool kit (attached to the saddle) can accommodate a small disc lock and the second, deeper, is between the battery and the tank. But its access is partly blocked by an electrical connection: a pity !

Final adjustments before starting the engine: the pilot can adjust the distance of his brake lever in five positions – only one for the clutch – and fine-tune the orientation of his mirrors, which offer a very good view of his rear.

Finally, the opener signals us to start our machines. And there, first (half) surprise: unlike the English "Tripeul", this 3-cylinder does not whistle! Likewise, the Japanese engine is not as noisy as the “made in Italy” engines. Phew…

Lightness + engine fishing = happiness

A few small rotations of the right wrist are enough to make the engine climb to its mid-range. Iwata’s 3-cylinder is very lively and the sound of its rocky pot. On the other hand, some "Yamahists" will regret the absence of the distinctive little rattle of the brand’s 4-cylinder engines emanating from the air boxes..

The lightness of the MT-09 is confirmed from the first hectometers and contributes to this impression of extreme agility. The large handlebars also help to twirl from one street to another – the turning radius is satisfactory -, while the front axle and the foot of the Bridgestone S20 demonstrate a reassuring neutrality..

The thinness of the tank also allows the motorcycle to be held firmly between his thighs. Unlike its predecessors, this new Yamaha is particularly obvious to take "in leg" !

The grip is a less obvious suspicion due to the jerks generated during acceleration: firstly, the opening of the butterflies in the injection bodies (via the YCC-T system, see our technical point) seems too frank and too generous.

With impressive torque – not to say intimidating – from low revs, the 3-cylinder energetically propels the bike and its driver. By selecting mode B, the softest, the less explosive response – than in standard mode and mode A especially – allows you to erase the jolts, but not completely.

Over the kilometers, however, the pilot acclimatizes and manages to drive calmly, smoothly. The flexibility of the 3-cylinder is then remarkable: it accepts to go down almost to idle! On the sixth report, we drive on a trickle of gas just below 40 km / h, while the tachometer displays – not clearly enough – 1500 rpm.

With the streets of the suburb of Split being badly slippery, opening wide in the first three gears invariably resulted in loss of rear grip. Under these conditions, engaging mode B can be useful. We salute in passing the ease of the Yamaha system: gas cut, a simple press is enough, no need to validate by keeping the control pressed..

The box, well spaced and controlled by a clutch lever neither too hard nor too dry, suffers from a single defect, recurring at Yamaha: the selection is a bit rough. Fortunately, by properly synchronizing your foot to the engine speeds, the gear change is done more easily, and without clutch !

On the other side of the handlebars, the brake control requires a minimum of restraint. Taken in full hand, it leads to a sharp dive of the fork, which can be confusing during the first crossings of roundabouts or crossroads.

On wet, greasy or shiny roads – there are a lot of them in Croatia! -, we prefer to increase our safety margin because in the event of a hard blow, it will not be easy to control the planting of pistons on the discs! In "normal" use on the other hand, the braking of the MT-09 seduces by its precise touch and its optimal dosage..

The rear brake is not to be outdone since it allows to perfectly support the front brake. Its power is not colossal, but its bite is enough to seat the bike around bends … or to make it skid for "fun" !

The suspensions on the other hand do a very serious job. In town and on roads, the imperfections of the tarmac are impeccably absorbed, making daily journeys or long walks quite pleasant.

For maximum comfort, the rider should step back on the saddle in order to take advantage of its full width. We just regret that it is a little too tilted forward. On this point, Yam ‘could have further accentuated the "Supermotard" kinship.

The passenger, on the other hand, will consider that Yamaha would do better to take inspiration from the road! Without passenger handles, the MT-09 offers a saddle that is too thin and footrests too high to consider long journeys as a duo…

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