All Tests – MT-09 Test: Yamaha’s future road’star ‘! – Yamaha on a new basis

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

All Tests - MT-09 Test: Yamaha's future road'star '! - Yamaha on a new basis

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.

Yamaha on a new basis

It was one of the "shock" announcements of the previous EICMA show in Milan last autumn: Or rather is relaunching, since the manufacturer had already tried this engine architecture with the XS750 and 850, about forty years ago. ‘years.

Yamaha MT-09: availability, colors and price

  • Availability:

  • Colors: Violet "Deep Armor", Orange "Blazing", Gray "Matt" or "Race Blu"

  • Price: € 7,790 (ABS + € 500)

In addition, Yamaha already offers this type of engine … in its Snow and Marine catalogs! The F40F and F30B engines, for example, "are designed to be easy to install and use, while providing reliable power", indicate the Blues.

Admittedly, these two outboards have in common with the engine of the MT-09 only the number of cylinders. Cubing 747 cc, the F40 and F30 are long stroke engines (65.0 x 75.0 mm) which feature a single camshaft and develop 29.4 and 21.2 kW (40 and 30 horsepower) respectively, as their name suggests ingeniously !

Japanese officials nevertheless rely on these products to legitimize their expertise – and their presence! – on the three-cylinder motorcycle market, until now the preserve of a few European manufacturers: Benelli, MV Agusta and, above all, Triumph with its "famous" Triple 675 and 1050 cc !

We also note that the displacement of the brand new Yamaha engine is inserted precisely between those of the two "Tripeuls": avoiding the frontal clash, the 847 cc Japanese also avoids overshadowing the 4-cylinder house of 600 cc and 1000 cc.

Little chance therefore to see appearing a Yamaha pistarde equipped with this 3-cylinder. In terms of pure performance, the 4-cylinder remains the benchmark among the Japanese, so that the R6 and R1 still have a bright future ahead of them..

According to Yamaha, this three-cylinder is still in line with the engine of their Superbike, the so-called CP4, for "Crossplane Philosophy 4-cylinders". Baptized CP3 – its name is engraved on the right crankcase -, the new three-cylinder adopts the same philosophy by acquiring a crankshaft set at 120 ° (and will do the same with a setting at 270 °, as on the TDM or XTZ).

Announced by its designers about 10 kg lighter than the 4-cylinder of the FZ8, the 3-cylinder of the MT-09 nevertheless boasts of having better maximum values ​​(in the free world): 115 horsepower against 106 and 87, 5 Nm against 82 Nm! Small additional bonus: the new roadster integrates three engine mapping modes (see our technical point on the penultimate page).

For French bikers, the power and torque of the MT-09 are reduced to 106 hp and 83 Nm. But even in France, the acceleration of the MT-09 promises to be more efficient since the cycle part of the new Yamaha roadster makes she also 10 kg to her sister !

In total, the full weight of the MT-09 is estimated at 188 kg, while that of the FZ8 reaches 211 kg … and that of the Z800 is close to 230 kg, maliciously reminds Yamaha !

However, "Yamaha Motor France will continue to offer the FZ8 and FZ1", tells us its managing director, Eric de Seynes,"because he remains unconditional fans of the 4-cylinder who appreciate both its extreme smoothness and its high power at high speeds".

A Yamaha roadster, more supermoto

It’s a safe bet, however, that upon reading the technical sheet (on the last page of this test), many FZ enthusiasts will be charmed by this new MT … From an aesthetic point of view, the style will seduce more or less, but it has the merit of leaving Yamaha of a "manga" style seen and reviewed in the 2000s.

Considered by Yamaha as a "supermotard roadster", the MT-09 is particularly stripped down. This should please bikers who recently criticized the overabundance of plastic covers and trim on contemporary roadsters !

Always in the image of a Supermot ‘, the MT-09 seems very compact: the saddle is particularly flat and the tank thin, the frame overhangs the engine as closely as possible, while the pot is hidden below and the lights are small and slender. "The LED tail light is inspired by the MT-01", slips us elsewhere Yamaha.

"The name MT-09 is mainly due to the fact that this bike has received extraordinary attention in terms of finish, like the MT-01", explains Eric de Seynes. And we have to admit that the finish of this new bike will be unanimous.

The diamond-like frame and cast aluminum swingarm are a thing of the past, as are the forged aluminum footrest brackets, gear selector and brake pedal. The more aesthetes will be able to criticize the somewhat raw appearance of the back of the speedometer and of its fixing … But a screen available in the accessories will quickly camouflage this small defect !

A choice of four colors is available to future owners. At Site, the scale naturally leans towards metallic orange, but the color that Yamaha puts forward is purple "Deep Armor", "the same as that of the first MT, the 01, launched in 2005".

The "Matt" Gray color is both more discreet and trendy. The fork loses in this version its golden tint and the MT tank logo. This is also the case with the essential "Race Blu" version, with its dark gray metallic body and blue wheels..

Last point with the Yamaha team before taking the controls of this novelty 2014: the MT-09 will arrive in the last week of September, at the "aggressive" price for the FZ8 and the competition but "soft" for the customer of 7 790 € … And on the road, what is this new 2014 motorcycle worth? In the saddle !

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