By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Yamaha MT-09 (RN69) vs Triumph Street Triple R Low (HD04)
Yamaha MT-09 vs Triumph Street Triple R Low: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
You'll feel the Yamaha MT-09 tip into a turn the moment you push on the bar. The Triumph Street Triple R Low's chassis talks to you as it's turning in. It flicks over and holds the line you picked.
So which one do you buy?
The MT-09 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
A touch ahead: MT-09
The MT-09 comes out a little ahead on upkeep. Only a little.
The Street Triple R Low has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Inches ahead: Street Triple R Low
Back-road fun leans slightly toward the Street Triple R Low. Most of that is more feel through the bars and lighter steering. It's a narrow call, so trust your test ride.
Daily commuting & city riding
Narrow edge: Street Triple R Low
For the Monday-to-Friday grind, the Street Triple R Low pulls a nose in front. Your own commute could easily flip it.
What makes each one tick
MT-09
There's a heavy shove from the MT-09's triple well before the tach gets busy, with 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) peaking at 7,000 rpm. It pulls like a twin off the bottom, then rushes like a four up top. At walking pace the bars don't fight you, and on Angeles Crest Highway the MT-09 swaps from one lean to the next in a blink. The airbox howls as revs climb.
Nils rode the MT-09 in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
Street Triple R Low
The seat on the Street Triple R Low sits low enough for shorter legs, yet there's still the standard R's quick steering at the bar. Both boots sit flat at a stop from 30.7 in (780 mm). Around town the throttle draws a soft pull that builds evenly, and the triple doesn't scream until the revs run high. The Showa fork reads every crack.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Street Triple R Low has the lower seat: 30.7 in (780 mm) vs 32.5 in (825 mm).
- The MT-09 makes more peak torque: 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) vs 57 lb-ft (77 Nm).
- The MT-09 has the larger engine: 890 cc vs 765 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither one fits
Long days aren't what these two do best. Plan shorter legs and plenty of stops.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not built for this
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"
Street Triple R Low
What owners say
Strengths
- Smooth and engaging inline-three engine
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
- Lowered ergonomics without compromise
Trade-offs
- Firm suspension over rough roads
- Minimal weather protection and short tail
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.
Street Triple R Low
- Missing Sport and Rider modes and auto-cancelling indicators on early models Some 2020 Street Triple R bikes were delivered without the advertised Sport and Rider modes, and auto-cancelling turn signals, due to a software/PDI issue. Owners report that neither dealer reflash nor Triumph USA has resolved it quickly.
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
| MT-09 | Street Triple R Low | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) | 30.7 in (780 mm) |
| MT-09 | Street Triple R Low | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 890 cc | 765 cc |
| Power | 119 hp (88 kW) | 116 hp (87 kW) |
| Peak power at | 10,000 rpm | 12,000 rpm |
| Torque | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) | 57 lb-ft (77 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 7,000 rpm | 9,400 rpm |
| MT-09 | Street Triple R Low | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 US gal (14 L) | 4.6 US gal (17.4 L) |
| MT-09 | Street Triple R Low | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 56.3 in (1430 mm) | 55.5 in (1410 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| MT-09 | Street Triple R Low | |
|---|---|---|
| Cornering ABS | Standard | Not offered |
| TFT Display | Standard | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | Not offered | Option |
| LED Headlight | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
