Duel Triumph Street Triple R Vs Yamaha MT-09 SP 2018: triple muse !
Will the new suspensions of the Yamaha MT-09 SP give it the rigor it needs to keep pace with the Triumph Street Triple R, a benchmark for sporty roadsters? MNC pits these two artists of the 3-cylinder engine arsonist against each other: hang in there, it’s mind blowing !
Street Triple R Vs MT-09 SP – Page 1: Yamaha is looking for the Triumph…
It’s no secret: despite all its qualities, including its stormy 3-cylinder and its astonishing liveliness, the "tout court" has the "moving" at a sustained pace. The fault with its particular ergonomics – between trail and roadster – and especially with the softness of its suspensions, retained to make a good "cost" (9199 €).
- MNC comparative test : MT-09 Vs Street Triple Vs Z800 2013
- MNC comparative test : Street Triple S Vs Z900 2017
Yamaha has cut back on the quality of damping to better let loose on the equipment: LED lighting, radial calipers, anti-roll, aluminum frame and swingarm, three injection maps, adjustable and deactivatable traction control as well as a shifter, very rare as standard in this segment. An economically very favorable description (details on pages and 3) !
But for some bikers, among the most demanding, that is not enough: "okay, it is well stocked and its engine runs hell", they admit. "But more rigor would not be a luxury to cut croupiers to the more sporty of its rivals". And among these: the Triumph, which rallies in terms of efficiency !
The Japanese manufacturer is therefore splitting for 2018 an unprecedented MT-09 SP, recognizable by its fully adjustable Ohlins shock absorber and its Kayaba fork with extensive hydraulic adjustment possibilities. That’s all ? No: it is also adorned with a unique gray and blue color and "SP" markings on its ten-spoke rims. "Species" of show-off, go !
- MNC test : Yamaha MT-09 SP 2018, the one we Sought !
Displayed at 10,499 euros, this new version is stuck – as if by chance! – in the same price path as the Street Triple R (10,400 euros). Comparing them makes all the more sense as they share the same engine architecture – 3-cylinder in-line – and develop similar power (115 hp for the Japanese, 118 for the English).
British attention to detail
Triumph has made a specialty of pampering the presentation of its motorcycles, and its "Street R" is no exception: this mid-range model – between the Street S at 9,100 € and the Street RS at 11,800 € – enjoys a finish to die for, feeling reinforced by the flock of beautiful pieces specific to this "R" version.
- MNC of January 11, 2017 : Everything you need to know about the new Street Triple
The English, thin and slender, receives in particular qualitative fully adjustable Showa suspensions, four driving modes (Rain, Road, Sport and the customizable "Rider" mode) and a particularly successful five-inch color dashboard with TFT matrix ( details in).
Very well thought out and readable, this small "tablet" is activated from a practical joystick on the right stalk: some high-end road motorcycles do not reach such a degree of refinement and practicality! The Triumph’s instrumentation eclipses the Yamaha’s monochrome display, which also lacks handlebar controls to scroll through information.
The Street Triple R is also distinguished by its Brembo monobloc radial calipers worthy of a Superbike, which operates a master cylinder also in radial position. This device connected to braided hoses (in rubber on the MT-09) again outclasses that of Iwata, despite its elegant calipers whose polished star pistons refer to the first R1.
And the advantage is not only visual: the braking of the Street Triple R is better both in terms of pure power and ease of dosing. The Englishwoman drives the point home via the superior reactivity of its disconnectable ABS (fixed on the Yamaha), well helped on this point by the "chewing-gumesque" grip of its original tires !
The MT-09 SP, not on the same "tire of equality" with its less sporty profile, nevertheless scores a valuable point thanks to its much more efficient rear brake. Convenient to retighten a failed trajectory in the middle of a curve … or manage one of those wheelies that the Yamaha loves !
Roadsters with big Triple (s) !
Because the Yamaha is an inveterate player, with a communicative good humor! The MT-09 SP is the archetype of the "fun" motorcycle with which each trip takes on a playful dimension. This is largely due to its 847 cc engine, which is a real powerhouse.
Its "3-legged" combines all the qualities: flexibility, responsiveness, length and punch, all enhanced with a good dose of character. It is a complete and lively engine, even more so than that of the Triumph. And the feat is no small feat, as the three-cylinder 765 cc of the Street Triple – completely overhauled in 2017 – is successful !
- MNC test : Street Triple 765 RS, super sport roadster from Triumph
But the MT-09 offers a monstrous consistency from low revs, favored in this by its additional 82 cc and its large torque available very early (87.5 Nm at 8500 rpm against 77 Nm at 9400 rpm). It is the first to set off under acceleration, in addition to being the most generous in sensations: the reactions of the Yam ‘engine have something downright bestial. !
The Street Triple, more linear down to mid-range, is not so "fierce". A little less reactive and demonstrative, the refined English evolves in a typical "sporty gentleman" register. His block, however, is not civil and even develops a sacred explosiveness! Only, this is truly expressed in the towers, where its powerful extension then evokes the late .
- MNC Smart-Video :
A thrilling fight takes place between these two fire engines, punctuated by the superb sound of the 3-legs! The Street Triple R will delight music lovers with its villainous soundtrack: the impressive hum that escapes from its airbox between 9000 and 13000 rpm makes its lightning accelerations even more sensational..
The Yamaha, with a less rumbling and more discreet tone, nevertheless has the advantage of being free from this whistling which invariably escapes from the primary transmissions of the "3-legs" Triumph. Progress has been made on this point, but without completely eradicating it. This is one of the rare faults of the "Tripeul" across the Channel..
In terms of progression, let us also underline the positive evolution of the control of the injection of MT-09 SP. The connection between the throttle and the rear tire, without being perfect, has clearly improved: it is now possible to avoid jerks by showing a little tact in "Standard" mode..
In "A" mode, the sportiest, the management of the go-around remains too chaotic, even if we then appreciate the renewed instantaneousness in the arrival of power. Same story with the Street Triple R, whose accelerator becomes too ticklish in "Sport" mode.
As these two motorcycles do not lack responsiveness – far from it! -, it is better to stay on the intermediate configurations: "Road" on the Triumph and "Standard" on the Yamaha, for the benefit of driving comfort. Or rather "piloting"…
The queens of the winding
Because the sharp Street Triple R and the energetic MT-09 SP encourage more a minimally dynamic driving than a plane-plane ride … On their handlebars, the bends are swallowed at a beating pace with greed and a undisguised appetite for generous angles and catapult-style exits !
In the winding, the Yamaha uses its gazelle agility to dive with more ease than the Triumph. Iwata’s roadster turns with disconcerting speed thanks to its featherweight (193 kg fully loaded)! In addition, its wide and fairly flat handlebars facilitate its guidance in the pins, as well as during maneuvers..
The Street Triple R (166 kg dry) requires a noticeably greater effort when entering a curve, despite its extreme geometric values: with 23.9 ° caster angle and 1410 mm of wheelbase against 25 ° and 1440 mm for the Yam ‘, the Triumph is on a par with "pure juice" sports motorcycles !
But at the same time, it has a more forward position, which favors – a lot – control of the front axle to the detriment – a little – of handling. Its ergonomics are not extreme or uncomfortable, but the bust tilts to catch its handlebars narrower and lower than on the MT-09. The legs are also folded back, in line with its palpable sportiness !
The Triumph is indeed anchored in the asphalt on its hyper precise and very communicative front axle, which gives the impression of pushing all the limits of grip. It is also impressive in terms of traction and especially stability. Bluffing for a motorcycle with such a closed steering, which moreover is devoid of steering damper !
If the effort required for rope diving is slightly greater than on the MT-09 SP, the result is well worth it: the Englishwoman swallows the curves with an almost supernatural speed and efficiency! The Yamaha, although in clear progress thanks to its "SPortive" suspensions, is not as efficient.
Its Ohlins shock with its practical offset preload wheel is beyond criticism: its behavior is at least as good as the Showa of the Triumph, with even a touch of additional progressiveness which gives it an advantage of comfort. And this is not luxury, as the saddles of these two motorcycles are not models of softness !
The Japanese manufacturer has corrected things admirably with this quality suspension: the MT-09 SP no longer sags under acceleration and demonstrates infinitely greater traction than the standard version, all in favor of efficiency. . On the other hand, its fork still lacks enough hydraulic (re) holding to match that of the Street Triple R.
The observation is felt when the pace flirts with the limits of judicially acceptable: the direction of the Yamaha – not sufficiently braked at the start of the race – does not have the necessary rigor to dare to enter a curve as quickly as with the Street Triple A. On the other hand, the Japanese fork absorbs small bumps less dryly. !
The MT-09 SP’s more rearward tilting position and its wide handlebars also don’t naturally help load the front end: it’s as many additional front axle movements as with the Triumph, with which the pilot becomes "body" by intuitively placing pressure on the front.
Verdict: the Street Triple continues its "R"
The Street Triple R wins again on MNC, but defeating the MT-09 SP was not easy for the English! Admittedly, its cycle part is still a cut above, as well as its equipment and its finish, but its engine does not have the "trunk" nor the pleasurable resentment of its Japanese rival.
Lovers of great mechanical sensations will even be tempted to give in to the charms of the Yamaha, even if it means having to deal with its less rigorous behavior. The MT-09 SP remains a formidable "slap machine", except that now its handling is at the height of its brilliant engine. !
We love … but we love even more drawing lines with the Street Triple R, intoxicated by the deaf hum of its diabolically energetic 3-legged reach! The MT-09 SP is an authentic phenomenon, the Street Triple R a true masterpiece … The nuance is thin, of course, but the final rendering is favorable to the Hincley firm.
- Continuation of our duel in with our captioned photos.
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