This tidy Yamaha MT-09 is incredibly affordable
The Yamaha MT-09 has become a staple in the Iwata roster, meaning you don’t necessarily need to shell out much to bag a good used example
The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 represents a significant refresh to the three-cylinder naked, but the heart of the 2024 bike remains the same as its predecessor.
And for good reason. The 890cc CP3 motor that debuted in the 2021 MT-09 is one of Yamaha’s most popular, combining three-cylinder torque with cross-plane (hence ‘CP’) delivery and delivering more power in a lighter unit than the old 847cc engine that powered the original MT-09 from 2013.
The ‘24 bike offers a few updates over the 2021 generation, with more electronics, adjusted ergonomics and new LED lighting at the back. But it also comes with a price tag of over £10,000.
In comparison, you can now pick up a 2021-gen MT-09 for over £3,000 less. The one pictured in this article, for example, has 16,852 miles on the clock and is being sold by Crescent Motorcycles (Crescent as in the same Crescent that runs the factory Yamaha WorldSBK team) for £6,500. In this case, it also comes with a number of add-ons, including a flyscreen, radiator guard, anodised levers, bar end mirrors, LED multifunction indicators, passenger grab rail, tank pad and knee grip pads.
The ‘21 bike was a total revolution for the MT-09 when it was released. Not only was the engine updated to make it the most powerful version of the naked to-date at the time, it also provided more torque at a lower engine speed, while weight was cut in the cast aluminium frame and swingarm, and the fork was shortened for a more planted front end.
It is this base that the 2024 MT-09 is built on, and, sure, you don’t get the new LED taillight, TFT with Garmin StreetCross navigation, tuned sound, and updated electronics, but, again, the price is not insignificant.
The 2021 MT-09, on the other hand, can prove an absolute steal, especially the one pictured that comes in at £3,600 less than a new 2024 model. Another alternative, of course, is to wait and see what the much anticipated Yamaha R9 will deliver, possibly within the year.
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Image credit: Crescent Motorcycles.
