By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Supersport
Yamaha MT-09 (RN69) vs YZF-R9 (MY2025)
Yamaha MT-09 vs YZF-R9: two kinds of bike, and who each one is for.
Tip the Yamaha MT-09 into a walking-pace turn and it's already pointing where you look. The Yamaha YZF-R9 settles on its line and keeps talking.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the MT-09 if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Clearly ahead: MT-09
The MT-09 earns its keep in weekday traffic better than the other one. For a daily commuter, it's the clear choice.
The YZF-R9 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: YZF-R9
Through a string of corners, the YZF-R9 feels a little more eager. What tips it: more feel through the bars and stronger brakes. The gap is small, so ride both.
What makes each one tick
MT-09
There's torque everywhere in the MT-09's crossplane triple, and the intake howls as it hauls from low revs. On the Angeles Crest Highway, the light chassis doesn't resist the bars from bend to bend. With 417 lb (189 kg) to rein in, the brake lever slows a bike that stays easy to handle at a crawl. It slices through city gridlock.
Nils rode the MT-09 in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
YZF-R9
Through the bars, the YZF-R9's KYB suspension sends clear feedback while the aluminum Deltabox frame holds firm. Corner entry is quick and exact, with the front staying steady as the bike leans in. Broken pavement doesn't unsettle the suspension. The riding position won't wear you down on a long stint. The exhaust snarls as the triple rushes up top.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The MT-09 has the lower wet weight: 417 lb (189 kg) vs 437 lb (198 kg).
- Launch Control: standard on the YZF-R9, not offered on the MT-09.
- Smartphone Connectivity: standard on the YZF-R9, not offered on the MT-09.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both fall short
Neither one is built for long-haul comfort. For big miles, look at a proper tourer or sport tourer.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both miss here
If this is your first motorcycle, keep looking. Neither one makes learning easy.
For running costs, you won't find daylight between them. Let the test ride settle it.
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"
YZF-R9
What owners say
Strengths
- Comprehensive electronics package
- Torque-rich CP3 engine
- Comfortable ride for a supersport
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.
YZF-R9
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Displacement
- 890 cc
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 119 hp (88 kW)
- Peak power at
- 10,000 rpm
- Peak torque at
- 7,000 rpm
- Fuel capacity
- 3.7 US gal (14 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| MT-09 | YZF-R9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) | 32.7 in (830 mm) |
| Wet weight | 417 lb (189 kg) | 437 lb (198 kg) |
| MT-09 | YZF-R9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Torque | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) | 68 lb-ft (92 Nm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| MT-09 | YZF-R9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Control | Not offered | Standard |
| 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.
