By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Yamaha MT-09 (RN69) vs MT-09 (RN87-SP)
2021 Yamaha MT-09 vs 2024 Yamaha MT-09: which one's easier to live with every day.
Ease the 2021 Yamaha MT-09 away at walking pace and it's happy to flick and dart wherever you point it. The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 doesn't perch you up top; it tucks you down inside its frame. It's settled and steady within the first block.
So which one do you buy?
The 2024 MT-09 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Slight edge: 2024 MT-09
Day in, day out, the 2024 MT-09 nudges ahead in traffic. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Edges it: 2024 MT-09
Through a string of corners, the 2024 MT-09 feels a little more eager. The gap is small, so ride both.
What makes each one tick
2021 MT-09
Down low, the 2021 MT-09's triple shoves like a big twin, then it rushes for the redline like a four. The torque's there the instant the throttle opens, and a hoarse howl comes up from the intake with it. The bars don't fight you through slow city turns or the switchbacks of Angeles Crest Highway. The bike swaps lean instantly.
Nils rode the 2021 MT-09 in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
2024 MT-09
There's still a supermoto streak in the 2024 MT-09, and it wants to play. Compared to earlier generations, the current bike has dialed back some of the manic edge. Sit on it for an hour and the position makes sense. Into a bend, the front end rolls in calmly and doesn't snap for the apex. Out of the bend, the triple's even pulse has you back on the gas early. Barely a tingle reaches the bars.
Nils rode the 2024 MT-09 in Austria in 2025 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The 2021 MT-09 has the lower wet weight: 417 lb (189 kg) vs 428 lb (194 kg).
- Smartphone Connectivity: standard on the 2024 MT-09, not offered on the 2021 MT-09.
- USB Charging Port: standard on the 2024 MT-09, not offered on the 2021 MT-09.
Which one for the way you ride
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Neither one fits
If this is your first motorcycle, keep looking. Neither one makes learning easy.
Call it even on running costs and trips with luggage. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
2021 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"
2024 MT-09
Strengths
- Standout Triple For Back Roads
- Big Brakes, Light Lever
- Quickshifter You Forget About
- Settled From The First Corner
- Upright Comfort For All Day
Trade-offs
- Less Planted At High Speed
- Down On Grunt To Fours
- SP Suspension Rewards Hard Use
- Seat comfort remains firm on long journeys
Known problems to check before you buy
2021 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.
2024 MT-09
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Seat height
- 32.5 in (825 mm)
- Displacement
- 890 cc
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 119 hp (88 kW)
- Peak power at
- 10,000 rpm
- Torque
- 69 lb-ft (93 Nm)
- Peak torque at
- 7,000 rpm
- Fuel economy
- 47 mpg (US) / 5 L/100 km
- Fuel capacity
- 3.7 US gal (14 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
- Wheelbase
- 56.3 in (1430 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| 2021 MT-09 | 2024 MT-09 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wet weight | 417 lb (189 kg) | 428 lb (194 kg) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 2021 MT-09 | 2024 MT-09 | |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Connectivity | Not offered | Standard |
| USB Charging Port | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
