
YAMAHA MT-09 SR (2014 - on) Review

At a glance
Owners' reliability rating: | |
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Annual servicing cost: | £150 |
Power: | 115 bhp |
Seat height: | Medium (32.1 in / 815 mm) |
Weight: | Medium (415 lbs / 188 kg) |
Prices
Overall rating
Next up: Ride & brakesThere's not a lot wrong with the MT-09 in standard trim so this bike was always onto a bit of a winner.
Ride quality & brakes
Next up: EngineA bit of a letdown. An aftermarket shock transforms this bike's handling and is well worth considering.
Engine
Next up: ReliabilityThe SR uses the same three-cylinder engine used in the MT-09. It's a fantastic 115bhp motor that spins beautifully. There's lots of low-down grunt and a decent surge of top-end performance. The jerky power delivery has been mostly fixed now by a new fuel map that you ask to be used as standard when you order the bike.
Reliability & build quality
Next up: ValueSuspension lets down what is otherwise a very capable all-rounder. The style of the SR will grab you or leave you cold.
Value vs rivals
Next up: EquipmentHard to justify the extra £750 for a few plastics and a different riding position. Also, you have to order the bike, order the SR package and then pick it up from a dealer. You can't just get an MT-09 and then get nthe kit bolted on. It just doesn't work that way apparently!
Equipment
The Street Rally(SR) is a supermoto version of the big-selling MT-09. It comes with revised tank shrouds, side number plates, fork covers, a higher and flatter seat, headlight covers and handguards.
ANd those changes will cost you an extra £750 over the base MT-09.
And the suspnesion, like on the standard MT-09, is not great. The rear shock lacks refinement and struggles to cope with the lively power of the triple.
Specs |
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Engine size | 847cc |
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Engine type | 12v inline triple |
Frame type | Cast aluminium perimeter frame and double-sided swingarm |
Fuel capacity | 14 litres |
Seat height | 815mm |
Bike weight | 188kg |
Front suspension | 41mm USD forks, adjustable for preload and rebound damping |
Rear suspension | Single rear shock with preload and rebound damping |
Front brake | two 298mm discs with four-piston monobloc calipers |
Rear brake | 245mm single disc with single piston caliper |
Front tyre size | 120/70 x 17 |
Rear tyre size | 180/55 x 17 |
Mpg, costs & insurance |
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Average fuel consumption | 48 mpg |
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Annual road tax | £93 |
Annual service cost | £150 |
New price | £7,699 |
Used price | £4,300 - £7,700 |
Insurance group |
14 of 17 How much to insure? |
Warranty term | 2 year unlimited mileage |
Top speed & performance |
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Max power | 115 bhp |
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Max torque | 88 ft-lb |
Top speed | 145 mph |
1/4 mile acceleration | - |
Tank range | 200 miles |
Model history & versions
Model history
The MT-09 was launched at the end of 2013 and was well received. It's a decent seller for Yamaha.
Other versions
MT-09 is the donor bike. There's also a Street Tracker version.
A faired version was set for 2015.
Other Yamaha MT family models
- Yamaha MT-125 review (2014-on)
- Yamaha MT-01 review
- Yamaha MT-03 review (2006-2016)
- Yamaha MT-03 review (2016-on)
- Yamaha MT-07 review (2014-2018)
- Yamaha MT-07 review (2018-on)
- Yamaha MT-09 review (2013-on)·
- Yamaha MT-09 SP review (2018-on)
- Yamaha MT-09 Tracer review (2015-2018)
- Yamaha MT-10 review (2016-on)
- Yamaha MT-10 SP review (2017-on)
Owners' reviews for the YAMAHA MT-09 (2014 - on)
11 owners have reviewed their YAMAHA MT-09 (2014 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.
Review your YAMAHA MT-09 (2014 - on)
Summary of owners' reviews |
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Overall rating: | |
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Ride quality & brakes: | |
Engine: | |
Reliability & build quality: | |
Value vs rivals: | |
Equipment: | |
Annual servicing cost: | £150 |
Year: 2014
Annual servicing cost: £100
Fin to ride, bulletproof reliability, cheap manteinance and low consumption
Perhaps changing brake pads for sintered from r1 would give more sense .
It has low grunt and also like to Rev. I had a KTM 950 sm and has more grunt un low revs but failed on high
Only had to repair the high Beam wires, too short from Factory.
I make all the manteinance. Easy to service.
Its a naked motorbike : less is more. Light and minimalist. I like the simplicity
Buying experience: I bought from second hand. 3500km, Now 40.000km trouble free
Version: ABS
Year: 2014
Extremely generous power and torque. Unpredictable acceleration. Inaccurate suspension.
Zero wind protection and strong saddle
You have the power and torque you need in any situation
A windshield, some hand guards and a more comfortable saddle should be added.
Buying experience: The process of buying from Superbike factory was simple, fast and effective.
Version: Abs
Year: 2015
Annual servicing cost: £250
Best. Low down torque, mad top end Worst. Suspension
Uncomfortable seat after 50 miles
Incredible engine, original tyres were rubbish. Dunlop roadsmart 3s transform the handling.
Buying experience: New from Dealer
Year: 2014
Annual servicing cost: £100
For 5 by 5 MT-09 needs a better seat, a better rear suspension a little wind protection and a less snatchy engine.
It probably needs a better suspension on the rear for more confident riding
I fixed the problem of a uncontrollable acceleration with an Italian rapid bike easy modul. Now everything is under control the dynamic is better, The fan started only when it’s necessary And the answer of the acceleration it’s perfect
I have 7000 miles and no problems so far
I change the seat put a windshield some Givi luggage hand guards for more comfortable trips
Version: ABS
Year: 2014
For me, the most important thing, is the rapport between the weight and the power; 191 kg and 1 15 hp. This rapport give the bike the agility to fight with many other much more expensive bikes.
Adjust very carefully suspensions. Add a Rapid Bike Easy against the snatchy throttle and everything will be at high standard.
MT-09 comes with a very lean air-fuel ratio to pass the pollution test. Because of this the engine work very hot in the fan start often. The easy module fix this problem and the bike became very controllable.
I choose Yamaha for their renowned reliability and till now, the bike never let me down.
I would prefer a more modern and generous display
Year: 2016
Annual servicing cost: £100
Overall this bike is heaps of fun, quick, nimble and plenty of torque to keep you entertained.
Rear shock is a let down and had to be upgraded
More power than I will ever be able to fully use!
Not had any trouble with reliability problems. Ridden around Spain and Portugal over 2000 miles in 12 days and no issues.
Servicing is fairly easy, mechanic friend looks after my bike.
Basic model without ABS, would like a quickshifter
Buying experience: Private sale with no issues
Year: 2015
Annual servicing cost: £150
A good bike that could have been a great bike. Low budget ride let's the bike down. But what a cracker of an engine. Would I buy again?........maybe
Poor shock and springs let down a superb engine. Yamaha went a bit to low budget. Couple that with an uncomfortable seat and many a rider will trade in early for a better ride.
Great engine but the chassis components let down the overall experience with poor suspension front and rear
Pads oil and tyres. Reasonable running costs. Fuel economy good to excellent
After a remap the engine is less snatchy and pulls like a train
Year: 2015
Worst features for me were the seat and suspension. Fixed both of those relatively cheaply. Best features are pretty much everything else. AMAZING engine!! Beautifully smooth power delivery, I'm not sure where MCN gets off labelling their review "2013 onward..." I didn't ride one of these until 2015 and when I did I was left wondering what everyone was on about with the throttle problems because they'd been fixed. I love how much money I had left to customise it. And I can't overstate that, I had budgeted for a Striple or Z1000 (both of which I would've put a pipe and power commander on) so I had a ton of cash left over and I've had so much fun making it unique.
Great all rounder. I preferred the stock suspension for commuting because it was nice and plush but it was worth the upgrade because it rips through the twisty stuff now. I need a break about every 250km when I have to fill up. The longest I've gone on one tank so far is 260km and in theory I still had a bit but I wouldn't deliberately take it over 250km *****with the stock seat, it starts to hurt after an hour, an hour and a half and you want to get off, 2 hours is torture***** But my aftermarket seat only cost me $370AUD delivered to my door from France. I put a Puig screen on it which was a great move for touring, I've never ridden a bike with a screen before but I see the value on longer journeys now.
There is nothing to fault, it smoothly delivers an amazing amount of power and torque from very low rpm!!
Servicing is VERY cheap, however here in Aus, insurance is a bit out of control. That said, I'm sure that'd be the case for any bike in this category.
I've been lucky with accessories, top sellerie seat is a winner... first thing to get! For suspension I put a Nitron road race shock and in the front racetech gold valves and springs, had them professionally set up which in total set me back $1850AUD. CRG RC2 shorty levers (I wasn't a fan of the clutch and it's not adjustable), these are amazing but there are plenty of other options. Akrapovic carbon and power commander.... THAT SOUND!!!!! I think the titanium looks better but the sound! Puig screen, win. R&G rear hugger. Yamaha licence plate holder and LED turn signals. Phewwww, probably forgot oh yeah.... Tyres. Tyres tyres tyres... So mine came stock with Bridgestone S20 tyres. In the dry, I was using the entire tyre (after suspension upgrade) and had loads of grip, awesome if you can choose to sit the wet days out. But I found they give no warning in the wet, just slip. I don't have a car so I have to ride in the wet and they were a bit sketchy. So now I have Michelin PR4 tyres. Noticeably less grip in the middle of the tyre in the dry, but I think the edge seems good. Early days so far but I have used them in the wet a couple of times and I'm impressed. Not sure if I'd actually recommend them or not yet though.
Year: 2014
Annual servicing cost: £200
Snatchy, snatchy, snatchy, snatchy throttle!!! Best avoid, unless you like replacing your neck vertebrae from time to time!
Ride quality adversely affected by that all-dominating snatchy throttle.
Engine is 5/5 on the gas, but around town is blighted by, you guessed it, that snatchy, snatchy throttle. Spoils an otherwise brilliant engine.
Rusts to bits with winter weather. So-called nano-coated exhaust gets stained just like any other, regardless of what Yamaha say.
Average cost range
Average. Nothing of note to praise.
Buying experience: Bought new from a dealer. Has good support, service, etc
Version: Naked
Year: 2014
Fuel consumption not great
Good commuter, comfortable, handles fairly well, good power delivery
Smooth power curve, addictive sound
Bar ends rusting inside
Service not due yet
Akrapovic Titanium exhaust system
Buying experience: Dealer, demo, 3700km's, price paid R102,000.00
Year: 2014
Annual servicing cost: £150
The high riding position gives you lots of feel for the rear of the bike but the standard set up leaves a lot to be desired when in comes to front end feel.
The engine has to be the best part of the bike for me. its brilliant round town due to all the low down torque. but there is also more than enough high end power to put a smile on anyone's face
I have had problems with the kick stand sensor just killing the engine while riding.
the bike cost me £150 to run last year excluding Tax and Insurance
for the price you pay for the bike there are quite a lot of nice features with this bike. you get a display that can display: Air Temperature Engine temperature Trip 1 Trip 2 MPG and mileage The bike also has 3 ride modes B Standard and A. The only one that seems different is the B mode which is the lowest (only ever use it in the rain) Standard and A seem to be very similar