2014–2017 · Naked Bike · A variant of the MT-09
Differences between the standard MT-09 and the Sport Tracker
Triple Soul With Flat-Track Skin
The MT-09 is Yamaha's 847 cc inline-three in a compact, light chassis, and that pairing defines this generation. The triple makes 115 hp and 65 lb-ft. It pulls hard from low revs and keeps building all the way to the top, which is the rising, charismatic delivery I want from a naked bike. At 414 lb wet with a 32.1 in (815 mm) seat, it never intimidates. ABS, traction control and ride modes come standard, and so does adjustable suspension at both ends. The SportTracker trim adds its own styling to the standard bike and keeps the same hardware underneath.
What makes this bike special is the contrast. The fit and finish are clinical, nothing rattles, and it holds up well over the years, yet the ride is properly wild. This is Yamaha's Dark Side idea actually showing up on the road. It suits an experienced rider who wants a light, playful naked with real teeth and a huge aftermarket to tailor it. The caveats are real. The stock suspension runs out of damping when you push hard, long highway days wear on you, and on a used example you should confirm the handlebar holder recall (NHTSA 17V-221) was done. This bike turns the fun up. It doesn't calm it down.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 115 hp (85 kW) @ 10,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 65 lb-ft (88 Nm) @ 8,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 847 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 298 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.7 in (1440 mm) |
| Seat height | 32.1 in (815 mm) |
| Wet weight | 414 lb (188 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 gal (14 L) |
| Top speed | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 43 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
The first thing your body notices is the position. You sit close over the front wheel, pitched forward on a compact seat, and the bike feels small and light underneath you. The dash keeps it simple and gives you the basics. Roll away and the triple stays smooth through the bars and pegs, with none of the mechanical coarseness a big twin sends into your hands, and it spins up eagerly whenever you ask. Every shift snaps home cleanly, even when you rush it on an on-ramp. Then the wind takes over. With nothing in front of your chest, modest speeds already feel intense, and that pressure is the best reminder you get to back off, because the speedo climbs faster than your brain expects. Hours later you still catch yourself revving it out and hunting for the next on-ramp.
The MT-09 Sport Tracker (RN29-SportTracker) builds on the standard MT-09: the upgraded hardware, the key spec changes and where its character shifts. The full ride, specs, scoring and verdict are all right here on this page.
| Spec | Standard MT-09 | Sport Tracker | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top speed | 130 mph | 140 mph | +9 mph |
My own 0–100 score for this bike against the class, area by area — the marker on each bar is the class average.
This bike's real talent is the gap between how it looks and how it behaves. Parked, it's the tidiest, most flawless thing on the street. Ridden, it gives me the kind of grin I'd normally expect from something far rougher around the edges. The speed is the part that catches people out. Out of town it feels small and harmless, and then I'm in triple digits with nothing building up beforehand to warn me. Seat time hasn't dulled any of that. The more I ride it, the more I want from it.
In narrow corners and quick left-right sequences the MT-09 flips over the way a purpose-built supermoto does, and it feels just as eager doing it. That's the terrain this chassis was drawn for. Given how compact and forward-biased it is, I expected it to get twitchy once I let the triple run all the way out on the highway. It didn't. It stays calm and tracks straight, with more composure than the rest of its behavior would suggest. My warning is about the long, open bend taken at speed. The bike is not planted there. The front wanders instead of settling, and holding a tidy line becomes steady work at the bars. On a flowing road that asks for patience, this chassis would rather you kept it busy.
Which side of the 2016 remap you ride matters a lot on this bike. The first MT-09s had a throttle that snapped open off the bottom like a flat-slide carburetor. I could work with that, and some riders enjoyed it, but in traffic it was genuinely hard to manage and too aggressive for most people. The remap fixed it. Pickup is now clean and predictable, none of the intensity went missing, and that one change reshapes the character of the whole bike. Underneath, the triple gives me torque and revs in equal measure. It rewards short-shifting on the low-rev pull just as much as holding a gear all the way to the top. The gearbox is built to the same standard: no notchiness, no missed gears, no hesitation between ratios.
I judge build quality by what I stop noticing, and on this MT-09 there's nothing to notice. The finish is even from one end of the bike to the other, nothing turns into a noise over time, and the quality doesn't drop off in the places you rarely look. On a machine that invites hard riding, that consistency is what I want to see.
The leaned-in stance that makes this bike so good when I'm attacking a road starts to wear me down once the ride goes past a couple of hours. The seat is small, and the position never lets me relax into it. For an afternoon of hard riding it's ideal. A full day on the interstate asks more of the rider than it should.
How practical this bike is depends on who's asking. Anyone trading a full-fairing sportbike for something easier to live with won't find that here. The MT-09 has good manners, but its instincts are rowdy, and it lives a long way from the touring side of the naked class.
Handlebar clamp recall (NHTSA 17V-221)
The lower handlebar holder may not be properly tightened during assembly, potentially allowing the handlebars to loosen. Yamaha recalled 22,433 units (2015‑2017 FZ‑09/FJ‑09/XSR900) to replace the holder.
Noisy clutch basket
Some owners report a chattering or noisy clutch basket, particularly at idle. While not necessarily indicating an imminent failure, the noise can be annoying and may be exacerbated by aggressive riding.
Excessively aggressive throttle response causing jerky on/off transitions
The ECU's fuel mapping creates abrupt power delivery during throttle transitions. In A and Standard modes, small throttle movements cause disproportionate power changes. Fuel cut functionality above ~4,500 rpm shuts off injectors during deceleration, then reapplies fuel abruptly when RPM drops — creating a pronounced jerk. Most problematic at low speeds in urban riding. Yamaha partially addressed this with a revised ECU map for 2015, and offered free reflash to 2014 owners. Some 2014 units shipped with improved mapping. Aftermarket ECU flashing (2 Wheel DynoWorks, vcyclenut, Ivan's Performance) available for ~$350 USD.
Intermittent engine cutout at idle and during low-speed deceleration
Engine cuts out at traffic lights, during slow maneuvering, or when decelerating to a stop. The ECU reduces fuel supply too aggressively near idle. Related to throttle body synchronization issues in some cases. Problem can worsen in hot weather.
Throttle position sensor malfunction causing hesitation, surging, or stalling
TPS wiring or connectors may become damaged, loose, or corroded, sending faulty or no signals to the ECU. Symptoms include hesitation, surging, stalling, or poor performance. Can trigger fault codes.
Stock front fork and rear shock lack adequate damping for performance
Front fork too soft in compression and rebound for the bike's power and weight. Rear shock loses damping control under aggressive use. Dive under braking is excessive. Rear end feels unsettled over bumps. Multiple aftermarket suspension companies (K-Tech, Öhlins, YSS, Nitron) offer complete replacement units, indicating strong market demand for upgrades.
O2 sensor failures when exposed to heavy rain or pressure washing
The O2 sensor is vulnerable to water ingress. Heavy rain, deep puddles, or pressure washing can cause sensor failure, triggering engine warning light and poor running. The sensor's position makes it susceptible to road spray. At low constant throttle, O2 sensor cycling between lean/rich creates lumpy engine running. Solutions include O2 sensor eliminator, Power Commander, or ECU flash that disables O2 sensor cycling at low RPM.
Where this Yamaha MT-09 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the MT-09 is actually built for.
On Angeles Crest it's a riot: light, quick to turn and strong out of every tight corner. Long, fast sweepers make it nervous, so budget for suspension work if you ride hard.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
The Dragon's tight, repeating bends are this bike's home turf. It flicks side to side without a fight, though the long interstate haul to get there won't be its favorite part.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Yamaha MT-09. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
