Dream bike Yamaha MT-09

INTERMOT countdown 2016: 1

Yamaha MT-09

Almost four decades after the first three-cylinder in Yamaha history, the Yamaha developers started a new attempt with a triplet. The Yamaha MT-09 was an immediate success – in the sales rankings and now also in the MOTORRAD 2016 INTERMOT countdown.

One would have from YAmaha didn’t expect: a three-cylinder. Where Nippon’s engine designers have distinguished themselves for decades with silky-smooth and rock-solid four-cylinder engines. But since the men from Iwata have devoted themselves to the “dark side of Japan” when it comes to marketing, nothing is as it was. Or at least a lot different. The MT series takes on the job of the bad guy. The abbreviation stands for Masters of Torque, the masters of torque, and explains the new focus of development.

INTERMOT countdown 2016: 1

Yamaha MT-09

The three-cylinder of the Yamaha MT-09 hisses with bass

Just the sound. A completely newly composed symphony. Not the high-frequency singing of a Triumph Street Triple, not the grinding grumble of an MV Agusta Brutale. The three-cylinder of the Yamaha MT-09 hisses bassy from its stub exhaust. Unmistakable, independent. You want to hear it over and over again, this mixture of rattling suction noise and lustful roaring. You open the gas almost unconsciously, you listen curiously. And not only experiences fulfillment acoustically.

The three-cylinder, which is more long-stroke than its Italian and British three-cylinder counterparts, pushes from idle speed, and pulls through seamlessly until the rev limiter gently calls for reason at 11,000 turns. Upshift, boy. Sorry, almost forgot. As effortless as the lively drive of the Yamaha MT-09 looks. Or do you avoid shifting because the transmission looks a bit bony and demands a little more pressure under load? Well, you can live with that.

Harmony in a pack of three

After all, when the throttle cable is fully tensioned, declared and measured 115 PS pull on the chain. Did the word throttle cable come up? Forget quickly. The correct name for the gas cable must be correct. Because ride-by-wire, i.e. the throttle valve operated electronically via a servomotor, is of course part of the current generation of MT models. Just like the possibility of choosing one of three mapping variants. Even if the selection is somewhat reduced in practice. Because with the standard or the A-tuning, the propellant goes to work quite tomboyishly when the load changes, screwing up line and mood at the curve apex.

It would be a shame to annoy the well-behaved man with it. Click the switch on the right end of the handlebar on "B" and everything is fine. Then the treble of the Yamaha MT-09 gently accelerates, even hums smoothly through the towns in sixth gear. You can feel that the engineers have made an effort. A cylinder offset of five millimeters reduces friction losses, cracked connecting rods minimize the tolerance in the mechanical connecting rod bearings, and intake funnels of different lengths per cylinder optimize the gas flows. Harmony in a pack of three.

The dark side of Japan

Especially since the chassis is also committed to this lightness of being. The frame, which is screwed together from two pressed parts, and the swing arm – both made of aluminum – connect the cast wheels in a length of just 1440 millimeters. As with an off-roader, the wide handlebars, which are pulled up relatively high, stretch out towards the pilot. Everything looks filigree, narrow, promises driving pleasure – and also keeps the promise. Getting used to? No. At least if the driver has swapped the original tires (Bridgestone S20), which were wobbly on the Yamaha MT-09, for the neutral Conti Road Attack 2 Evo or Metzeler M7RR. Then the little one slips effortlessly through the corners – yes, that’s how the MT-09 pilot feels his pedestal after a few moments – and casually tilts into an inclined position. But before you get too cheeky, the fork and strut sound the alarm, pumping spongy through the spring travel.

Closing the rebound damping is possible, but does not help much. Many MT-09 drivers have now looked around for higher quality material on the accessory market. For this faux pas you can be a little angry with the Yamaha MT-09. But only something. Because apart from this line with the red pencil, the second three-cylinder machine in Yamaha history – the first triplet was in the XS 750 in 1977 – stands out excellently. And not only the good sales figures, but also the result of the election for the INTERMOT Countdown 2016 prove: Who dares wins. Perhaps the model planners needed the dark side of Japan of all places to jump over their own shadow.

Dream bike results 2016: Yamaha

archive

The second most votes in the dream bike election went to the Yamaha Vmax.

1. Yamaha MT-09: 18.4%
2. Yamaha Vmax: 16.8%
3. Yamaha XJR 1200: 13.8%
4. Yamaha YZF-R1M: 13.5%
5. Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Tenere: 12.1%
6. Yamaha YZF-R1: 10.2%
7. Yamaha FJR 1300: 9.0%
8. Yamaha YZF-R6: 2.2%
9. Yamaha FZS 600 Fazer: 2.0%
10. Yamaha XJ 600 S Diversion: 1.3%

Related articles

• Yamaha MT-09 in the driving report

  Yamaha MT-09 in the driving report Big grin for little money The Yamaha MT-09 is a reason to be happy: there is an extremely entertaining driving machine…

• Yamaha MT-09 Tracer, MV Agusta Stradale 800 and Triumph Tiger 800 XRx

  Yamaha MT-09 Tracer , MV Agusta Stradale 800 and Triumph Tiger 800 XRx Three-cylinder fun bikes in a comparison test With the MT-09 and the Rivale 800,…

• Roadster – Yamaha XSR 900 test: the MT-09 puts 3-legs in the retro – A very expressive roadster

  Yamaha XSR 900 test: the MT-09 puts 3-legs in the retro After the XSR700 imagined in collaboration with Japanese designer Shinya Kimura on the basis of…

• Roadster – Yamaha MT-09 SP test: the one we SPEED! – MT-09 SP test page 1 – Static: major change and eyeshadow

  Yamaha MT-09 SP test: the one we Sought ! The Yamaha MT-09, one of the stars of the French motorcycle market, never ceases to enchant motorcyclists eager…

• Yamaha MT-09 in the top test

  Yamaha MT-09 in the top test Queuing for the fleet manager There is movement in the middle class. The Yamaha MT-09 is preparing to stir up the…

• Kawasaki Versys 1000 Tourer and Yamaha MT-09 Tracer in comparison test

  Kawasaki Versys 1000 Tourer vs. Yamaha MT-09 Tracer Come with me to adventure land Come with me to adventure land was the motto of the pop group Pur….

• Yamaha MT-09 in the 50,000 km endurance test

  Yamaha MT-09 in the 50, 000 km endurance test Peculiar, but very popular The MT-09 is Yamaha’s first in-line three-cylinder since the XS models. And it…

• Roadster – Test Yamaha MT-09 2017: mult (r) iples pleasures! – Page 3 – Technical point MT-09 2017

  2017 Yamaha MT-09 review: mult (r) iples pleasures ! Having become a bestseller in just four years, the Yamaha MT-09 is full of positive developments for…

• Roadster – Test Yamaha MT-09 2017: mult (r) iples pleasures! – Page 2 – Dynamics: more rigor and efficiency

  2017 Yamaha MT-09 review: mult (r) iples pleasures ! Having become a bestseller in just four years, the Yamaha MT-09 is full of positive developments for…

• Yamaha MT-07 and Yamaha MT-09 in comparison test

  Yamaha MT-07 and Yamaha MT-09 in comparison test Which offers more for the money? The two hot Yamahas agree in at least one discipline: They are masters…

Related articles

• MotoGP – Moto GP Valence – FP1 practice: Marquez will not let go! –

  INTERMOT countdown 2016: 9 BMW R nineT Aesthetic enjoyment, disdainful zeitgeist or skepticism about water boxing? Whatever the case, the BMW R nineT is…

• MotoGP – Moto GP Misano – FP1 testing: Marquez sets the scene –

  Top test BMW S 1000 R Hit, sunk The new BMW S 1000 R sounds robust, rough and aggressive. Just like their key data: 160 hp, 207 kg, electronic chassis,…

• MotoGP – Moto GP Qatar FP3 testing: Marquez on its way –

  Top test Kawasaki Z 750 In a class of its own Either no opponents or a lot of enemy, a lot of honor ? In the past, Kawasaki’s Z 750 occupied the niche…

• MotoGP – Moto GP Valence FP2 testing: Marquez persists and signs –

  INTERMOT countdown 2016: 4th KTM 1290 Super Duke R. You didn’t have to be a prophet to predict this result: the KTM 1290 Super Duke R was voted the most…

• MotoGP – Moto GP Valence FP1 testing: the rain blurs the tracks … –

  INTERMOT countdown 2016: 7 Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle When the legendary US company presented the new Harley-Davidson V-Rod at the end of 2001, it was…

• MotoGP – Moto GP Indy FP2 testing: Marquez confirms, Pedro on the lookout –

  Review MV Agusta Brutale 989 R Little brutals It has a little less displacement than the Brutale 1078 RR. And in terms of performance, too, it takes a…

• MotoGP – Moto GP Americas – FP3 practice: Marquez is launched –

  Benelli TnT 899 S test The smaller dose of TnT After three years, Benelli’s three-cylinder fun bike TnT 1130 is getting a little sister ?? the TnT 899 S….

• MotoGP – Moto GP Netherlands FP3 testing: the sky and Rossi get angry in Assen –

  Top test Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider Slow down Harley has given the 2007 vintage of the Big Twins a lot of innovations and more displacement. For more…

• MotoGP – Moto GP Valence FP2 practice: Randy de Puniet in the lead! –

  INTERMOT countdown 2016: 5th Kawasaki Ninja H2 Who sows boost pressure, will reap a performance channel. According to this motto, Kawasaki built a…

• MotoGP – Moto GP Spain – Warm-up: Marquez passes in front of Rossi –

  Review Kawasaki ZX-12R Grand Tourismo Kawasaki is setting itself up permanently in the high-horsepower class. For sports fans there is the ZX-10R, while…