By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Triumph Street Triple 765 RS (MY2023) vs Yamaha MT-09 (RN87-Y_AMT)
Triumph Street Triple 765 RS vs Yamaha MT-09: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
You'll feel the Triumph Street Triple 765 RS's short gearing snap it out of every exit as you roll on. The Yamaha MT-09 is already tugging from low revs, and it's got a real punch through the middle. Then it screams all the way to the top.
So which one do you buy?
The Street Triple 765 RS has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: Street Triple 765 RS
On a twisty road, the Street Triple 765 RS edges ahead. Thank more feel through the bars and lighter steering for that. Not by enough to settle it alone.
The MT-09 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: MT-09
Day in, day out, the MT-09 nudges ahead in traffic. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
Which one's the smarter buy
Value's a wash
At these used prices, neither bike is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Street Triple 765 RS
The Street Triple 765 RS's firm suspension holds a tight arc through fast sweepers, and there's grip feeding back through the bars as the pace climbs. On corner entry, the steeper front end turns in on a precise line, and it doesn't wander once it's set. The seat's soft over stiff springs. The brake lever's still honest deep into a bend.
Nils rode the Street Triple 765 RS in 2023, and in Austria in 2024 (NastyNils Testride).
MT-09
The MT-09 hasn't lost its hooligan streak, and it'll still loft the front wheel off the throttle or slide the rear out of a turn. A mid-corner bump meets a chassis that's calmer than earlier MT-09s. The front end stays planted. The pegs set a sporty crouch you'll keep all day.
Nils rode the MT-09 in Austria in 2024 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Street Triple 765 RS has the lower wet weight: 414 lb (188 kg) vs 432 lb (196 kg).
- The Street Triple 765 RS makes more peak power: 128 hp (96 kW) vs 119 hp (88 kW).
- The MT-09 makes more peak torque: 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) vs 59 lb-ft (80 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not built for this
Long days aren't what these two do best. Plan shorter legs and plenty of stops.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not their thing
Both of these ask too much of a rookie. Spend your first year on something lighter.
On running costs, these two are a wash. That's where your budget and your inseam get the final say.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Street Triple 765 RS
Strengths
- Elastic triple, forgiving in any gear
- Brakes that bite and last
- Electronics that stay invisible
- Genuinely premium build quality
- Cornering and handling agility
Trade-offs
- Stock seat too soft for track
- Hard riding shortens your range
- Wants real pace to shine
- Fiddly joystick menu controls
- Cruise control is a paid accessory
MT-09
What owners say
Strengths
- Thrilling CP3 engine character
Known problems to check before you buy
Street Triple 765 RS
- Valve spring retainer / collet replacement service action Triumph issued a dealer-mandatory service action for MY2023 and MY2024 Street Triple 765 (R and RS) requiring replacement of valve spring retainers. Dealers were instructed not to release affected bikes for delivery without the work being completed; bikes already in customer hands are to have the work performed at next dealer visit. The job requires engine removal and cylinder head removal. The action follows real-world catastrophic engine failures (valve drop, cylinder damage) reported by owners — including one MY2024 R at ~2,800 miles and one MY2023 RS at ~16,352 miles.
- Quickshifter / shift-linkage sensor failure on early MY2024 builds Early-production MY2024 Street Triple 765 RS units shipped with a quickshifter / shift-linkage sensor that failed in-service, often early in life (reports from ~1,500 miles). Triumph revised the sensor in production during 2024; warranty replacements on early units were delayed by parts backlog. The clutch and gearbox themselves remain unaffected — owners can continue to ride using the clutch lever during the wait.
MT-09
- ECU programming causing TPS wear and potential engine stall Recall 25V248000 A defect in the ECU software can cause excessive sliding of brushes inside the Throttle Position Sensor, leading to stalling, unstable idling, and the check engine light illuminating. Affects 2021–2025 MT-09 models, including the Y-AMT variant. A safety recall (NHTSA 25V248000) involves ECU reflash and TPS replacement.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 2-year-old Street Triple 765 RS with a 2-year-old MT-09.
- Street Triple 765 RS
- about $10,000
- MT-09
- about $10,200
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Street Triple 765 RS | MT-09 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.9 in (836 mm) | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Wet weight | 414 lb (188 kg) | 432 lb (196 kg) |
| Street Triple 765 RS | MT-09 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 765 cc | 889 cc |
| Power | 128 hp (96 kW) | 119 hp (88 kW) |
| Peak power at | 12,000 rpm | 10,000 rpm |
| Torque | 59 lb-ft (80 Nm) | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,500 rpm | 7,000 rpm |
| Street Triple 765 RS | MT-09 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 US gal (15 L) | 3.7 US gal (14 L) |
| Street Triple 765 RS | MT-09 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 310 mm | 298 mm |
| Wheelbase | 55.1 in (1399 mm) | 56.3 in (1430 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Street Triple 765 RS | MT-09 | |
|---|---|---|
| Slipper Clutch | Standard | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
