Performance Bikes — March 2018

36 PERFORMANCEBIKES.CO.UK

THE SPECS

Power 113bhp@10,000rpm

Torque 64.5lb.ft@8500rpm

Weight 193kg (wet)

Price £8999

YAMAHA

MT-09SP

ENGINE

TypeLiquid-cooled, 12v, inline triple

Capacity847cc

Bore x stroke78.0mm x 59.1mm

FuellingFuel injection

Power113bhp @ 10,000rpm (claimed)

Torque64.5lb.ft @ 8500rpm (claimed)

CHASSIS

FrameAluminium die-cast

Front suspension41mm upside-down Kayaba

forks, fully adjustable

Rear suspensionÖhlins STX46 shock, fully

adjustable

Front brakes2x298frontdiscs,four-piston

calipers

Rear brakes245mm rear disc, twin-piston

caliper

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase1440mm

Rake/trail25°/103mm

Weight193kg (wet, claimed)

Seat height820mm

Fuel capacity14 litres

TECHNOLOGY

Rider aidsThreeenginemodes,two-stage

traction control (plus ‘off’), ABS, quickshifter

BUYING

Price£8999

Contactwww.yamaha-motor.eu/uk

THE DETAIL

four to feel like it’s really doing what it

wasintendedfor.I’mnotsurprisedit’s

the first thing anyone talks about after

riding one. That, and the wheelies. It

makessomuchsenseinaroadbike

where you can really exploit what it

offers.Howitfuelssowellshouldbea

lesson to other manufacturers and

engine designers of today. With

emissions regs getting tighter and

tighterit’salltoocommontoexpect

throttle response to be snatchy, and for

thedeliverytohaveholesinthe‘drive

curve’(copyright,me:IthinkIjust

invented that term) as smooth and

predictablefuellingiscompromisedto

satisfy the white coats who scrutinise

fun.NotsowiththeCP3enginehere.

Speaking of snatchy, I’ll give you a tip;

YamahassuchastheMT-09,MT09SP

andothersequippedwiththeirD-Mode

options for varying throttle response

arealwaysbestinB-mode.It’sthe

softestresponsebutdefinitelythebest.

Standardisgood,sharpandinstant,but

needsmeasureandisbestkeptfortrack

use,whileAistooaggresiveformost

andreducestheabilitytopinthe

throttle to the stop, let the progressive

shuntandtwo-leveltractioncontrolon

MT-09 meter out the maximum go.

So what have Yamaha come up with

for the MT-09SP? In summary,

next-level suspension and some styling

revisions. And that’s all it needed.

Shockfirst,andYamahaturnedto

Öhlinsfortheirexpertiseincontrolling

allthingsbouncy to take care of the rear

end with a bespoke unit. The spring rate

is lighter than standard, which at first

may seem a surprise. To describe the

standard shock as ‘floaty’ is fair, but

with the quality and range of damping

available in the Öhlins unit, control is

plentiful, with grip and comfort much

improved. A remote preload adjuster

and reservoir not only look good

hanging from the side of the tail unit,

1 Remote preload

adjustermakes it

easier to let

everyone know

you’ve got Öhlins

2 Subtley engraved

tops for the SP’s

fully adjustable

Kayaba forks

3 LCD dash now

reads white out

of black, while

black details

have been added

throughout

Balance between front

andrearissublime

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