The everyday performance bike that quietly does everything right

Sport bikes had largely taken over the motorcycle industry in the 90s. Manufacturers were creating one impressive bike after another, in search of either the fastest production motorcycle in the books or the fastest bike around the track. Despite being fast, these bikes gradually became less practical.

Small displacement sport bikes became more and more track-oriented, while larger bikes became heavier and bulkier. The standard bikes had certainly lost their charm, with the UJM years now very much in the rearview mirror. There was a need for a more comfortable motorcycle that offered dynamic handling. Enter the naked bike.

The naked sport bike is the everyday default performance bike

Ducati was the first manufacturer to see a gap in the market. The 1994 Monster is widely considered to be the first naked sport bike or sport bike without fairings. It was a smash hit and effectively reintroduced what an everyday performance bike could look like. It offered comfort-oriented ergonomics that made it practical enough for daily use, coupled with dynamic handling that made it equally adept at canyon carving.

Almost every manufacturer subsequently followed this template and the naked sport bike, or naked bike, effectively became the new standard motorcycle. That trend continues even today. No matter how many performance-oriented touring bikes and ADVs enter the scene, nothing comes close to true nakedness if you want a true everyday performance bike. There are many such streetfighters today, and they try to make their case in different ways. However, only a few people get everything right, and Yamaha is the winner in this regard.

Yamaha MT-09 SP offers impressive performance at a reasonable price

MSRP: $12,699

YAMAHA

Yamaha tried in vain to run the R6 engine in a naked/semi-faired platform, but it never worked. The introduction of the MT series proved to be a watershed moment for the brand. While the MT-10 sits at the top of the range (at least for now) and uses a reworked superbike engine, the MT-07 and MT-09 boast powertrains that were designed for real-world use. The MT-09 SP, in particular, offers us a way to have a true high-performance motorcycle that is affordable and also practical enough for every day use.

Unmatched torque makes the MT-09 a super fun machine

Power: 117 hp/Torque: 68 lb-ft

Yamaha Powersports

When Yamaha developed the CP3, the main objective was to strike a balance between bottom-end grunt and top-end performance. Basically, what previous models were unable to do. It was decided that the best course of action was to develop a new triple, as it offered the torque delivery of a big twin and the top-end performance of an inline-four. Over the years, it has been refined somewhat, and with so much torque available early in the rev range, it well and truly lives up to its “Master of Torque” nickname. While primarily developed for this naked bike platform, the CP3 has proven versatile enough to be used on a wide selection of motorcycles, including the new R9 sport bike.

Practical performance is abundant

YAMAHA

Like most motorcycles, there have been a few niggles here and there over the years, but overall the mechanical reliability can’t be faulted. This is an exceptionally reliable motorcycle engine, which is underlined by the fact that it is fitted to the Tracer 9 touring bike without any modifications. With a claimed fuel economy of 48 mpg, it’s economical enough to use as a commuter, but with its addictive powerband, duplicating the claimed figure may prove difficult.

MT-09 SP offers serious valley carving capability

YAMAHA

While the twin-spar aluminum chassis is more or less standard fare for Japanese manufacturers, the biggest criticism leveled at the original MT-09 was how poor its suspension was. It was soft, spongy and clearly out of place on a bike as capable as the MT-09. While the base model has been improved upon, the SP model actually corrects those mistakes by employing some fancy Swedish kit at the rear.

Its fully adjustable Öhlins rear shock is complemented by equally capable, fully adjustable KYB forks. This gives the MT the dynamic handling it deserves, and for those looking to carve a canyon or two over the weekend it’s worth the extra expense. The occasional trip to the track is also within its scope, but we’ll readily admit that if you’re looking for a more dedicated track bike, the R9 is a better choice.

Everything you want, with one minor exception

YAMAHA

When it comes to electronics, all the proverbial bells and whistles are present and accounted for. A recent update gave the model an IMU, so it has cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction control, cruise control, a quickshifter, and a big screen with smartphone connectivity on top of ride modes. This is a bike that really has every imaginable base covered, and it’s not even particularly heavy. Considering all the performance on offer, the advanced suspension and all the features, the wet weight of 428 pounds is nothing.

The compact chassis makes it quite agile even within city limits, but there is always a “but”. Looks are very subjective, but the MT-09 is objectively ugly. It’s actually let down by the contemporary “Transformer” design aesthetics that remains popular in this segment. While other manufacturers have found a good balance between modernity and beauty, Yamaha has not.

If you’re able to tolerate its looks, it’s arguably one of the best motorcycles on sale currently. Although there are other bikes that may offer more power or better handling, the MT offers a better balance of both than anything in its class. For the rest of us who take this design too far, the XSR900 may be a better choice with its charming retro design, but if you want the same riding experience, you’ll have to leave room in the budget for an aftermarket suspension.

CHASSIS, SUSPENSION, AND WEIGHT SPECIFICATIONS

Source: Yamaha Motorsports