Ten years after its launch, Yamaha has given the MT-09 a major update for the 2024 model year. In addition to the design being refreshed, Yamaha says it has paid a lot of attention to ergonomics, electronics and acoustics with the new MT-09.
When Yamaha launched the MT-09 for model year 2014 at the end of 2013 after years of radio silence due to the global credit crisis, it was the starting point of a completely different philosophy, the “Dark Side of Japan”. Since then, all MT models have been presented in a nighttime setting.
Yamaha says the styling concept behind the MT-09 has always been that of functional beauty, with everything else eliminated in a “less is more” approach, with the end result being a bike that has been dubbed “industrial” because of its a rough finish that was at odds with the Yamahas of that time, which were always neatly finished down to the smallest detail.
Not so the MT-09 and all the other MT models that would follow, which – especially given the competitive prices – suggested that Yamaha had instructed the design department to develop a model line that could be manufactured as cheaply as possible, and after which the marketing department got to work on coming up with a good story, which resulted in the “Dark Side of Japan.”
Tastes differ, but the MT family has never scored highly in terms of design. It was not without reason that it was said jokingly that the only reason Yamaha opted for night photography was because you can’t see how ugly someone is in the dark.
However, the MT-09 more than compensated for this with a brilliant engine block, the 115 hp CP3 three-cylinder with crossplane crankshaft, which ran fantastic and also sounded great. That plus its super competitive price of just under 9,500 euros. The second generation was launched in 2017, with adjustable suspension, traction control, a slip-assist clutch and an updated design with LED headlights. The third generation was presented in October 2020, with a larger 890cc engine capacity.
Yamaha says it has thought about every detail with the fourth generation to further improve the riding experience. For example, the brake pedal has been redesigned and is now made of forged aluminium, while on the other side of the block, the end of the gear lever has been significantly flattened to minimize foot movement when shifting.
Most striking is the new design with a fresher nose and now for the first time a separate saddle for rider and pillion. According to Yamaha, the riding position has been improved as well as the ease of getting on and off the bike. According to Yamaha, the elevation between the two saddles also ensures that you sit further forward and now have a nice support when you give the three-cylinder engine the spurs.
No significant adjustments have been made to the engine, except that it now meets the Euro5+ emission requirements, but Yamaha has put its sound engineering department to work to improve the acoustic sound of the three-cylinder engine. Yamaha says it has achieved this by modifying the airbox with two new intake ducts and an acoustic grille on top of the bike. As for shifting, Yamaha has used a third generation up/down quickshifter.
The new 5″ TFT color display has smartphone connectivity and navigation and the riding experience can be customized via the Yamaha Ride Control settings. Yamaha gives you the choice of 3 integrated riding modes (Track, Street and Rain) plus the option for two adjustable custom modes.
On the technical side, Yamaha has now used a Brembo radial brake pump and, as footwear, has chosen the new Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 tires, adjustable suspension for a sporty driving style, a lightweight CF aluminum die-cast frame and Yamaha’s SpinForged wheels for agility.
The 2024 MT-09 will be available in the colors Midnight Cyan, Icon Blue and Tech Black. Price and delivery time are not yet known.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.