MARCH 2018|PERFORMANCEBIKES.CO.UK 37YAMAHA MT-09SP
STOCKBIKEMODSbut add practicality, too. Kayaba got on
the bespoke train and built a set of forks
specifically for the MT-09SP, as the
engraved fork tops subtley proclaim.
They’ll actually be available separately
through dealers, along with the shock,
should you want to trick up a standard
MT-09. These run dual-stage springs
which are also lighter than standard in
the first half of the stroke but firmer in
the last 75mm, so bottoming out
(confirmed by many wheelies and
hairpin panic-braking) isn’t an issue.
The damping is tailored to match the
rear, and balance between the two is
noticeable. The forks are fully
adjustable, with separate high and low
speed compression valving. Yamaha
have kept the same geometry and
weight distribution on the SP, knowing
it worked on the standard bike. The SP
flatters me, and flattens the roads (as
well as a wild dog that decided to show
me what new-found control was
possible by running across my path.
Bad vegan, no sleep for me tonight...).
Aesthetically, Yamaha have played
the SP card well, continuing the current
trend of paintwork and finish to certain
parts, so it shares the visual theme of
the MT-10SP and R1M. The
middleweight SP comes in one colour
but that’s fine as it’s not going to get any
complaints. The tank is silver-sided with
spangly black down its middle, with
water-t ra n sfer red gossa mer-t h i n
graphics you’ll run your fingers over
more than once to feel the edges (which
aren’t there). Quality. Wheels are deep
blue and handlebars and levers are now
blackwhichIreckonmorebikesshould
come with as they look ‘special’ and add
to the SP experience. More black has
madeitswayintotheclocks,whichare
still LCD rather than TFT, and share the
samelayoutasthebasemodel.Butthe
displayisnowwhite-on-black–itjust
looksthatbitbetter.Whatdoesremain,
and which I wish Yamaha had changed,
is the quickshifter (standard on both the
MT-09andSP,andstillabitclunky).
Forsomebizarrereason,ithasagreen
QS light on the panel. It’s always on;
andyoucan’thelpbutconfuseitwitha
neutralindicator.Doyourselfafavour
–addyourowntouchofblackby
covering it with some electrical tape.
The cost of the SP is £800 more than
thebasemodel,whichmakesthe
differences, even if it were just the
suspension, more than worth it. £8999,
plus whatever the Government decide
bike tax is going to be depending on
their mood that particular day, buys a
lotofqualitymotorcycleintheSP,andif
youspringforatriptoPortugalonitto
celebrate your purchase you won’t go
wrong (Judith Chalmers called; she
wants her clichés back... – CN). I can
recommendboth.THE KEEN PBreader (my
mum, for instance) will know
I’ve been running a stock
MT-09asmylong-termer,
andhavereplacedthe
standard suspension in an
effort to bring performance
up to par.
I’ve replaced my shock
withaNitronR2unitand
their Tri-Valve cartridges
have made their way into
theforks.So,let’sstartwith
theobviousissue:mykit
costjustnorthof£1800.
Add that to the cost of a
YamahaMT-09(£8199in
standard trim, since you
ask), and you’ve spaffed£10konabikethatstill
doesn’t have the SP’s
brooding paintjob and
styling tweaks.
But,whilemymodsdon’t
seem to make financial
sense, I’m convinced the
levelofrefinementinthe
Nitron components will still
bearfruitifyougotmy
long-termer and an SP
together in a head-to-head.
My bike also has other
performance mods, like
rearsets and black bars with
revised geometry. There’ll
be a bigger styling change
induecourse,butitproves
Yamaha don’t have a
monopoly on MT-09SPs...Why not just
do it yourself?
You’ll get 10,000 miles
from an MT-09 front tyre‘New forks run dual-
stage springs whichare lighter in the first
half of the stroke,
firmer in the last 75mm’TURN TO
P96 FOR
WHITEY’S
MODIFIED
MT-09