Introduction

The sport-naked, 847cc, Yamaha MT-09, comes with a new colour scheme as well as a price hike in 2019. The bike comes in two petrol variants: STD and Neo Roadster. The bike sports three sporty and attractive colour options: Night Fluo, Matte Dark Grey and Deep Purplish Blue. 

How is the design? 

The bike sports a muscular fuel tank and a radical design language. It also features a split alien-inspired twin-pod headlamp setup at the front, which is paired with a LED DRLs and a LED headlamp. Along with that, the bike also features a revised seat, svelte tail section and a bigger air-intake scoop. True to its body style, the MT-09 provides an upright riding position to the riders. The Night Fluo paint along with other attractive colour options, adds to the sporty look of the bike. The logo features a red finishing and to add to the defining feature of this stunning bike, an edgy fuel tank is also integrated. The split seats in tandem look even better with red painted alloy wheels. 

How is the performance?

The MT-09 is powered by an in-line three cylinder, 847cc engine, which has the capacity to churn out a peak torque of 87.5Nm at 8,500rpm, and a maximum power of 113.4BHP at 10,000rppm. The engine of the Yamaha MT-09 is paired with a 6-speed gearbox with QSS (Quick Shift System) to speed up gear shifting. An ABS in tandem is integrated in the bike along with a traction control, and this is mated to slipper assist and clutch. Considering the current standard of today’s motorbikes, the power of Yamaha MT-09 is not earth-shattering, but for a light-heavyweight sport naked bike, it is quite respectable. The in-gear acceleration of the bike is excellent, and this is possible with sensible gearing and good spread of torque to make rapid driving better from lower rpm and with sensible speed. 

How does the Yamaha MT-09 ride? 

Overall, the ride quality of the Yamaha MT-09 is impressive. The bike features a telescopic forks front suspension, along with a swingarm rear suspension, which has a good absorbing power. Therefore, with the monoshock at the rear and the 41mm inverted fork at the front, it would not be a concern for riders while riding over potholes and bumps, as well as undulated roads. The bike offers an upright riding position to the riders, and it is not expected that the riders would find it uncomfortable while taking the machine out for long drives. 

How comfortable is the Yamaha MT-09? 

The riding posture is aggressive and quite comfortable at the same time, giving the rider an upright riding position. It is easy to slide the seat a little back as well. On the outside, the bike appears to be nibble, light and agile, and it offers unmatched comfort to the rider with excellent refinement and throttle response, making it an ideal motorbike for daily short-distance commuting as well as long rides. The bike features well-cushioned split seats, which is long enough to accommodate two adult riders comfortably. However, the pillion might feel uncomfortable due to the lack of backrest. The bike comes with an 820mm seat height, and mounting the bike is much easier. 

How's the tech?

The 2019 Yamaha MT-09 is packed with a range of attractive tech features and for a bike, which is priced at 10.55 Lakhs, modern features are quite expected. The following are the features integrated in the bike:

• Traction Control System
• Muffler Cover sculpted to enhance agility
• Swingarm Mounted Rear Fender
• Lightweight and compact engine
• Engine Kill Switch
• Tachometer Digital
• Speedometer Digital
• Low Battery Indicator
• Clock
• Trip Metre Type Digital
• Gear Indicator
• Trip Metre count
• Fuel Gauge
• Low-Oil Indicator

The bike’s electronic package consists of a three-position D-Mode function, which enables the rider to adjust engine power, ABS and two-mode traction control. 

How's the mileage of the Yamaha MT-09? 

As claimed by Yamaha, the bike has the capacity to return a fuel economy of 19 Km/L, and as per the ARAI mileage, the Yamaha MT-09 returns a fuel economy of 25.85 Kmpl. However, as claimed by experts, the motorbike is able to return a mileage of 23.8 Km/L on the highway and in the city boulevards as well. 

Is the Yamaha MT-09 good value for money? 

Owing to its overall performance, the Yamaha MT-09 can be considered as a value buy in the high-end segment. With a hefty price tag and high maintenance, the company has been able to win the hearts of the customers with its quality ride and on-road performance. In terms of features, design, and comfort, the Yamaha MT-09 has also exhibited an impressive performance, 

How is the after sales service? 

The after first sales service of the Yamaha MT-09 is provided to check the fuel hoses for damage or cracks, and to clean and check the condition of the spark plugs. The after sales service also covers adjustment and clearance of valves. The Air-Induction System and Fuel-Injection System are covered in the after-sales service as well. The first service is provided after 1000 Km, and after that it is provided after every 10,000 Km. 

Which motorbikes compete in this segment? 

The other motorbikes competing in the same segment as Yamaha MT-09 are Triumph Street Triple, Kawasaki Z800, Suzuki GSR750, MV Agusta Brutale B3 675, Ducati Monster 796, and so on. 

Verdict (Value for money)

Despite the price tag of over 10 Lakhs, Yamaha is considered as a good value for money owing to its high-quality performance and design. Moreover, the bike is an ideal choice for long drives, and city commuting, and the naked sports bike is a perfect urban cruiser. However, the price point is high, and people looking for bikes for regular commuting, there are many cheaper and affordable options out there. Moreover, with Yamaha MT-09, riders might experience recurring clutch issues at times. Another major issue for riders is that there is limited-service network in India and the maintenance of the bike is high. Despite all that, the bike features an excellent and comfortable riding position, with top-class braking setup, and it also comes with a powerful engine with ample torque.