2024 Yamaha MT-09: Have They Tamed The Beast? 

Yes I love that 3rd gen Xenomorph alien looking windshield!

Agreed! I think it is the best looking gen. This and 1st gen with the larger, more traditional headlight. Didn't look the Power Ranger eyes 2nd gen, or the Transformer Cyclops 3rd gen. But this subtle sci Mech/Iron Man head looks great! The lines flow into the tank very well.

It's 100% the worst design. The MT-09 always had a supermoto-ish look that was iconic especially with the flat almost dirt bike seat. Now it literally just looks like every other naked like a generic cb300r or z650.... this design is awful and the 3rd/2nd gens will always be the greatest. Looks like yamaha decided to go for mass appeal and made it look like one of those 125cc scooters from thailand

@@DB-sd3cw I think the fact that you said "mass appeal" proves right there that it isn't the worst design. It just isn't your preferred design.

@cr0p_dustin by mass appeal it means that they're hoping to draw in the new rider/kid biker crowd that doesn't really know any better. Perhaps I should have picked a different term but it doesn't at all mean it's the best design, just the one that appeals to people who don't know much or have a really low IQ, probably like yourself

@cr0p_dustin nah mass appeal just means the most generic and less polarizing design hence why it now looks like a 125cc scooter from china

I don’t set around wondering how my bike looks! I think about how it performs and how well it holds up to my needs plus reliability when I find myself 1,500 miles from home. The MT09 has proven itself freeway flying, the Tail of the Dragon, on track days and as a commuter around town. Yamaha got her done!!!!

@@walterjohnson2031 while I definitely agree that looks shouldn't be the end all deciding factor when you purchase a bike I think - deep down - everyone buys a motorcycle with at least an eye towards how appealing the bike is on a purely superficial level. I don't think there's any shame in that either.

@@iansmith237 Absolutely nothing wrong with buying anything because it appeals to you. If you are lucky and find the look you desire and it also fulfills all your other requirements for performance etc good for you. The reason looks entered my conversation is many people express their opinion on how bad looking the MT09 is. I feel that the MT09 3rd generation in Raven flat black is a very attractive design. Most all the other bikes out there require you to read the label to know what brand it is. The MT09 has it’s own look and anything else in the class best be ware of it’s performance. Butt ugly is in the eye of the beholder as is beautiful.

3rd gen did that as well.

I wanted the xsr but I can't get down with that longer wheelbase, sucks cause it's pretty..

I am 6 ft. Even with a 31 inch inseam and with all riding gear on to include helmet I tip the scales at 192 pounds. The MT09 fits like a glove and is comfortable even on a couple 600 mile days. Suspension works well with me and 35 pounds of gear on a trip up the Tail of Dragon and Blue Ridge Mountains. I have the stock seat and find it adequate for my needs so far. Power is very satisfying two up and a real hoot solo. Depending on how wild your are feeling you can plan on 45 to 55 mpg. It runs stronger than my 1000 Kawasaki from 1979 and hangs with a ZR1 tell you hit a bit over 90 mph. If you tuck in tight you will top out of 144 mph in 5th gear. No problems or defects found. Only thing is rear tires don’t last very long but the S22 Brigstones work great.

@@walterjohnson2031 incredibly detailed - thank you!

I've got a '22 XSR900; its insurance is really low compared to the MT09 despite being very similar hardware wise.

@langhamp8912 Never thought about that! I thought they would be the same, or close. I'll have to get some quotes. Thank you!

@@papi96 I was actually looking at the GSX8S first and the MT09 second but the XSR900's insurance was nearly half of those bikes. Progressive Insurance had enough data on the XSR900 to rate it as "very low" risk. In comparison, the GSX8S and MT09 were nearly double for the same insurance. On the other hand, most owners of the XSR900 were in their twenties in the 1990's ie it's a retro bike bought by older riders.

@langhamp8912 that makes a lot of sense! Me being in my late 40s also, I do like the looks of the XSR more haha. Damn insurance. I was actually thinking about the GSX-8S and GSX-8R too. Going to try them out in the next few weeks. I rode the '24 MT-09 at a Yamaha demo day and it was amazing! There's another demo day in my area on 6/8, so I'll go and ride the XSR900 and the '24 MT-09 back to back. I imagine they're very similar. Thanks for all the info!

​@@papi96 Do you remember the original Honda CBR900RR? The one that had such a high crash rate that State Farm and other insurance companies refused to insure them? THAT one? The XSR900 makes more HP and weighs 20 pounds less, and would absolutely slaughter the CBR around a racetrack with its electronics. However, I would rate the GSX8S is a better bike for, maybe, everything except faster trackdays. There is NOTHING like the GSX8's engine; you can probably stand a quarter on the gas tank and rev the motor....the engine is that smooth. On paper the GSX8 is nothing special but I seriously think it's one of the best bikes at any price point. Both bikes are so quiet you can hear the valve train (I own the XSR900 and demoed a GSX8S), and both are so smooth that it can be hard to tell what RPM you are by feel (I've never had this problem before). I do find it curious I get tailgated a lot when I use cruise control on my XSR900.

it's free from Garmin

@@Bullpit2 that's great although a bit surprising since I believe you have to pay on the 24 Tracer 9 GT plus.

@@bethmohit5822 Yeah different app. Motorize (Tracer) is paid only, Streetcross (MT09) is free forever.

I notice it, too. When I’m going up the gears from a stop, second feels really weak, then third hits like a truck. It caught me off guard the first few times.

@@KjKase they chopped power in first and second gear to protect the inexperienced and foolish people. MT09s are notorious power wheelie masters in the first 3 gears. My generation 3 model with quick shifter with nothing but throttle will pick up the front wheel and carry it all the way from 1st through 2/3 of 3rd gear. “Yes”, your right hand can write checks on a MT09 your ass can’t cash. Stock exhaust with a performance flash removes all the peaks and valleys in power delivery. Adds roughly 6 horsepower at the rear wheel. Fuel economy actually got better unless you get your boy racer alter ego out.

Mine power wheelies in 3rd at 70mph..

But that face though

I also personally think the 3rd generation was the accumulation of all the best specs for the MT09. Weight, horsepower and overall individuality peaked with this model. But any model of the MT09 is having your cake and eating it to.

Plus

@@Bugside does it already have the OBD plus disgnose in it?

@@Skater17long ooof, no idea about that, didn't even know there was a new obd standard

@@Bugside aight , I ordered one but havent found any info about the euro 5 or euro 5 plus. Thats why I was curious. Lets hope they get a good amount of sound out of it with aftermarket exhaust. I drove one with Akrapovic and it was not that bad at all, could be a lil bit louder for my taste.

Hoooold up.. You don't want an ugly headlight so you're buying a Duke?! Those have the ugliest headlights out there, imo

Do a headlight swap. It isn't impossible if you take it slow and figure out the parts you need

@@cr0p_dustin Yes,I agree. I actually want a Z900rs but want cruise and quick shifter.

@@pamdemic7848 in on a Z400 right now and would love a Z900, but they just don't give you all the goodies the MT09 does. If the z900 got a serious update, then I'd consider it again

get the xsr??

Where have you been for the past 3 years?

That issue was sorted on the gen 3 in 2020. Get with it

On your face????

Messed up big time. But you give only cosmetic critisme… wich is mostly subjective. Anyway. The bike improved over the years mechanicaly Most people would agree

I actually perferwd the psyclops eye because it was a glass LED projector. People complained and they changed it fast which bummed me out

A lot of people, myself included think this is easily the best looking generation so far. The 1st gen with more traditional headlight and this 4th gen look the best. This gen goes for more of an Iron Man look and the lines work better with the tank vs the transformer cyclops of the 3rd gen.

a sign that they definitely did not mess up is how polarizing it is. people either love it or hate it. i love it

Dude what… thats THE ugliest bike on the market😂 i would love to see the kind of women you find attractive🤡 yikes….