2017 Yamaha MT-09
This is Yamaha
MT-09, much loved for its low price-to-displacement ratio, and its very capable
three-cylinder engine.
Up front, this naked 849 cc triple sportsbike gets
full-width LED headlights replacing the
single lens unit on the previous model. At the back the tail lights are also
new, and feature LED lighting in two vertical rows.
In the engine room, the MT-09 gets Yamaha’s Assist
& Slip (A&S) clutch, which acts as a slipper clutch under downshifting
load, while delivering precise engagement. Clutch lever pull has also been
reduced by a full fifth, or 20%, reducing hand fatigue while riding in slow
traffic conditions.
A welcome update is the inclusion of the Yamaha
Quick Shift System (QSS) quickshifter, which now comes as standard fitment.
This was something we remarked upon when reviewing the Yamaha MT-09, and it is,
indeed, a necessary piece of kit for an engine as quick as the MT-09’s.
On the suspension side, Yamaha has obviously been
listening to feedback, as the forks are now updated 41 mm diameter units with
adjustable rebound and compression in the right and left fork legs,
respectively. The rear tailpiece is now gone for 2017, replaced by a
swingarm-mounted carrier for the number plate.
