By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Yamaha MT-09 (RN87-SP) vs Triumph Street Triple R (MY2023)
Yamaha MT-09 vs Triumph Street Triple R: which one's easier to live with every day.
Tip the Yamaha MT-09 into a bend and it's settled at once, holding you down inside the bike. The Triumph Street Triple R's frame talks to you through the turn and doesn't fight your hands. It turns in light and stays planted.
So which one do you buy?
The MT-09 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Small edge: MT-09
Day in, day out, the MT-09 nudges ahead in traffic. That comes from lower running costs. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
Keeping running costs low
Slight edge: MT-09
The MT-09 comes out a little ahead on upkeep. Only a little.
What makes each one tick
MT-09
The MT-09's triple growls on an off-beat note that isn't exhaust trickery, yet hardly any buzz reaches the bars. It won't go wild.
Nils rode the MT-09 in Austria in 2025 (NastyNils Testride).
Street Triple R
On the Angeles Crest Highway, there's barely any effort needed at the bar to flick the Street Triple R from one switchback to the next. Brembo calipers bite hard off the brake lever, and the stop builds as evenly as you squeeze. The Showa fork soaks up ripples. Its lever keeps its feel when the pace climbs.
Nils rode the Street Triple R in 2023 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Street Triple R has the lower wet weight: 417 lb (189 kg) vs 428 lb (194 kg).
- The MT-09 makes more peak torque: 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) vs 59 lb-ft (80 Nm).
- The MT-09 has the larger engine: 890 cc vs 765 cc.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both miss here
Neither of these is a mile-muncher. If big days are the plan, keep looking.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Look elsewhere
Neither of these is a sensible first motorcycle. Learn on something smaller and lighter, then come back.
They come out level on twisty roads. The better-kept used example is the smarter money.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
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
Street Triple R
What owners say
Strengths
- Communicative and agile chassis
- Excellent quickshifter and gearbox
- Powerful brakes with good feel
- Superb build quality and attention to detail
Trade-offs
- Reduced fuel range due to smaller tank
- Limited wind protection and storage options
- Vague feel from stock Continental tyres
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| MT-09 | Street Triple R | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) | 32.5 in (826 mm) |
| Wet weight | 428 lb (194 kg) | 417 lb (189 kg) |
| MT-09 | Street Triple R | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 890 cc | 765 cc |
| Power | 119 hp (88 kW) | 118 hp (88 kW) |
| Peak power at | 10,000 rpm | 11,500 rpm |
| Torque | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) | 59 lb-ft (80 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 7,000 rpm | 9,500 rpm |
| MT-09 | Street Triple R | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 47 mpg (US) / 5 L/100 km | 44 mpg (US) / 5.33 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 US gal (14 L) | 4.0 US gal (15 L) |
| MT-09 | Street Triple R | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 298 mm | 310 mm |
| Wheelbase | 56.3 in (1430 mm) | 55.3 in (1405 mm) |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
