Yamaha MT-09 0-60 mph in 2.95 Seconds
Yamaha's MT-09 was introduced in 2014 and is also known in North America as the FZ-09. It Primarily competes against the Triumph Street Triple, the Z900 Brutale/Dragster 800 Duke 790/890 etc. Though there are a wide range other machines in its purview including Yamaha's own smaller MT-07 and larger MT-10.
The naked motorcycle class has become extremely popular in recent years as many punters have turned their backs on Superbike and Supersports machines and instead opting for more practical alternatives that while not as fast offer very a good performance per practicality ratio.
The MT-09 was part of an array of new and appealing naked motorcycles intended to restore Yamaha's fortunes, as the factory had in recent years prior in the eyes of some lost its reputation for innovation.
The MT-09's product manager, Shun Miyazawa, said Yamaha had considered parallel-twins, inline-threes, inline-fours and V-twins, but that the inline-three gave the "best solution" of power, torque and low weight. Comparing the MT-09 to the Street Triple, he said the Triumph was a streetfighter, but the Yamaha was a "roadster motard".
Yamaha MT-09 Power & Torque
MT-09 dyno
The MT-09 is the first Yamaha motorcycle since 1981 to feature a triple cylinder 4-stroke engine, a configuration that has been made popular in recent years by Triumph and MV Agusta.
The 847 cc engine makes a claimed 115 hp at the crank and produces respectable a rear wheel figure anywhere between 100 and 110 hp at the rear wheels.
Power is not earth shattering by today's standards but for a light-heavyweight naked it is more than respectable. The 110 hp is well spread meaning that you do not need to scream the engine to make decent haste and can easily short shift it through its gears and make rapid progress.
As the triple cylinder engine sounds so good, it is so easy to wind it right out to 11,500 rpm just for the noise alone.
In-gear acceleration is fantastic due to a good spread of torque and sensible gearing that makes the MT-09 feel a whole lot more rapid driving it from lower rpm and at sensible speeds.
An MT-09 in 2nd gear will trounce a 15+ R1 from a 20-70 mph roll. It will also walk it in a 3rd gear roll from 30 to 90 mph.
It is an amazingly effective engine and feels very quick sub 100 mph and on tight and twisty roads when blasting from one corner to the next.
Yamaha MT-09 Acceleration & Top Speed Review
Mt-09 Acceleration
The MT-09 is a particularly good performer if you can put that power down and manage those wheelies as if you invite it to, it will almost literally power wheelie from tick-over in first gear and will come up nicely on the power if accelerating through 40 mph in second.
It is incredibly fun but can make it hard to get the perfect start. For best effect the TCS and wheelie control should be left off as is too jerky and intrusive.
With the nanny interventions off the MT-09 hit 0-60 mph in only 2.95 seconds which beats out many Suerbikes.
The MT-09 is pretty rapid and scorched to 100 mph in only 5.8 seconds. This is somewhat class leading and is up there with many of the litrebikes that make almost double the power. Keep feeding the MT-09 gears and it will nudge under the 11 second mark for a quarter mile time of 10.69 @ 129 mph.
A more realistic time from a light and competent rider would be very high tens or low or flat 11s but mid tens are certainly doable with a perfect launch, conditions and jockey-weight rider.
The MT-09 makes great use of its engine and anything under bonkers speed not much will get away from it.
1000cc Superbikes from 20 years ago such as the CBR900RR and ZX-9R were about as accelerative as an MT-09 from 0-130 mph. The MT-09 as a point and squirt urban weapon is where this bike is most effective and where not much will touch it.
The MT-09's top speed is a very respectable 147.9 mph and can be achieved in 5th right at the rev limiter or just under 10,000 rpm in top where it stops dead though in some markets MT-09's as stock have ECU restrictions and will barely top 130 mph.
There is plenty to go in terms of rpm, but it hits a wall due to having poor aerodynamics and protection for the Rider.
110 horsepower can normally net you 160 plus mph if you have a full faring and decent protection from the elements so even a small screen might help the MT-09 get to 150 plus. But top speed is not what this motorcycle is about seeing as it is a Naked bike.
The MT-09 Performs very well and makes good use of its power for highly effective acceleration both from a stop and in-gear. Sure there are other larger capacity naked bikes that offer the same and more – such as Yamaha's own MT-10 or KTM's 1290 Duke but these are in the next class up and it is not very fare to compare the MT-09 with them directly as the MT-09 lives with the Z900, KTM790/ 890s and Brutale and Dragster 800s and it very much can hold its own against those motorcycles.
Yamaha MT-09 Specifications
Yamaha MT-09 Power & Torque
Yamaha MT-09 Acceleration & Top Speed Review