By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Yamaha MT-09 (RN69) vs Ducati Streetfighter V2 (MY2022)
Yamaha MT-09 vs Ducati Streetfighter V2: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
You'll feel the Yamaha MT-09 tip into a turn almost before you've asked, and it's just as easy to flick around at walking pace. Swing onto the Ducati Streetfighter V2 and its bars put the front exactly where you're looking. The front stays pinned to that line as speed climbs.
So which one do you buy?
The MT-09 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Narrow edge: MT-09
Over a year of riding, the MT-09 noses ahead on running costs. A neglected example would wipe that out.
The Streetfighter V2 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Nose ahead: Streetfighter V2
For the Monday-to-Friday grind, the Streetfighter V2 pulls a nose in front. Your own commute could easily flip it.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
By a nose: Streetfighter V2
The Streetfighter V2 is a touch more fun when the road starts bending. The reason: more feel through the bars and stronger brakes.
Which one's the smarter buy
Depends what you want it for
The lower price doesn't settle which one is the better buy.
What makes each one tick
MT-09
Most of what you'll notice on the MT-09 starts with its inline-three, an engine that answers low in the revs like a twin and rushes up top like a four. The intake howls as it climbs.
Nils rode the MT-09 in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
Streetfighter V2
There's a superbike's frame under the Streetfighter V2, which shows in a chassis that reads every small input at the bars. Highway wind hits you full on. The V-twin's still pulling hard at the top.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The MT-09 has the lower seat: 32.5 in (825 mm) vs 33.3 in (845 mm).
- The MT-09 has the lower wet weight: 417 lb (189 kg) vs 441 lb (200 kg).
- The Streetfighter V2 makes more peak power: 153 hp (113 kW) vs 119 hp (88 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither is a natural fit
Hours in the saddle won't flatter either of these. They're happier on shorter runs.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both fall short
If this is your first motorcycle, keep looking. Neither one makes learning easy.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
MT-09
What owners say
Strengths
- CP3 engine character
- Class-leading electronics package
- Light wet weight
- Reliability rating from owners
Trade-offs
- ABS abrupt under hard braking
- Cosmetic build niggles
- Mirror vibration above 6,000 rpm
- Mode 4 power cap effectively unusable
- Standard seat is firm and "slippery"
Streetfighter V2
What owners say
Strengths
- Premium build quality and components
Trade-offs
- Zero wind protection at highway speeds
Known problems to check before you buy
MT-09
- Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) wear causing unstable idle/stalling (recall 25V-248) Recall 25V248000 Worn TPS due to excessive brush sliding from improper ECU programming leads to unstable idling, throttle hesitation, and stalling. Yamaha recall (NHTSA 25V-248) requires TPS replacement and ECU reflash for affected units.
- Engine stalling due to ECU programming (recall 22V-130) Recall 22V130000 Improper ECU programming can cause engine to stall unexpectedly, particularly when clutch lever not pulled fully or at small throttle openings from idle. Affects all 2021-2022 MT-09 models; Yamaha recall issued March 2022 for ECU reflash.
Streetfighter V2
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 3-year-old MT-09 with a 3-year-old Streetfighter V2.
- MT-09
- $8,700
- Streetfighter V2
- $15,000
Three years on, the Yamaha MT-09 sits around $8,700 while the Ducati Streetfighter V2 holds near $15,000. That's a $6,300 gap in the MT-09's favor. They're recorded from the used market, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| MT-09 | Streetfighter V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) | 33.3 in (845 mm) |
| Wet weight | 417 lb (189 kg) | 441 lb (200 kg) |
| MT-09 | Streetfighter V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 890 cc | 955 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | 90° V-twin |
| Power | 119 hp (88 kW) | 153 hp (113 kW) |
| Peak power at | 10,000 rpm | 10,750 rpm |
| Torque | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) | 75 lb-ft (101 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 7,000 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| MT-09 | Streetfighter V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 US gal (14 L) | 4.5 US gal (17 L) |
| MT-09 | Streetfighter V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 180/60-17 |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
