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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

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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%

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