Some on the forum are thinking of buying a MT-09 and asked what I thought if it, so I thought I would share with you all.
Firstly, two weeks ago I had no intending of buying a MT-09.
I had my first look at one while waiting for my lad to swap his 50cc scooter for a 125 bike, then I was talked into have a test run on it.
Initial impression: good looks, light, agile, quick off the mark, does not feel like a 200kg bike, more like a 150kg supermoto but smoother.
Now got over 600 miles on the MT-09, smiling
for all of them, my current thoughts are better than my initial reaction apart from the screen, which makes a lot of wind noise/buffeting when traveling over 59mph.I now have the screen at its lowest setting which reduces some of the noise.
I have not changed any of the riding modes, not even looked at the handbook to see what the settings do, just done the 600 miles on chlamydia mode.
For me the suspension/seat feels a bit hard, but I still did over 1.5 hours (continuous) on it the other day with no issues, and thru the twisties the bike feels good, so the suspension is doing a fine job for some of its tasks.
As I said, the MT-09 feels light, BUT it does not have that solid/quality feel of my (departed) KTM 990 or R1200GSA, nor my S1000R Sport, but those bikes are in different classes.
I have not rev'd it high, so I cannot comment about the high end power, but my gut reaction is that it will be sufficient for my day to day commuting bike.
I like a lot about the MT-09:
The precision between the throttle and rear tyre, especially when the traction control is switched off for traveling over long gravel driveways.
The overall lightness of feel.
The steering feedback.
The torque, nice smooth delivery.
I like some of the features on the computer, the way you can change the items on display, and the elapsed time which starts when the engine of switched on.
The range is looking good, twice I have done over 180 miles between fills. But remember the Tracer has a larger tank than other MT-09 versions.
The not so good bits (which are all minor, apart from the screen):
The screen on the Tracer...looks good but is rubbish. I assume it is the screen making the wind noise as when lowered it is quieter, but the hand guards may contribute to the noise!?
The hazard light switch...fafing small switch hidden out of the way on the right hand side.
It has some fixings for panniers, but you still need to buy a frame...Yamaha, why bother fitting the pannier rails as it is only part of the requirements ????
Where many bikes have the headlight full been "flash" switch, the MT-09 Tracer has a computer menu selection switch. I don’t know if this is for a lap timer of anything, but I don’t like it there.
The bike is booked in for its first service, so this time next week I will comment on the feel at higher revs.
