Yamaha R9 Review. The Yamaha R9 is a Radical Race Ready Rocket.
Yamaha’s R9 is a middleweight sensation and highly desirable for those who want to spend time on tracks. It is a serious race bike which happens to be road-legal, allowing owners to tackle twisties as easily as chicanes.
Yamaha produced the R9 in reaction to the revision of the middleweight sports bike classification, which is hugely popular and leads to purchases of road-going bikes. At just over £12000, it will attract many buyers and worry the opposition, especially as the 890cc triple-powered R9 has already won in the World SuperSport series.
The Yamaha R9 has a Deltabox frame, chassis geometry, and multi-adjustable KYB suspension but keeps the MT-09’s engine. The rest is new, including lean-sensitive rider aids, ABS, and a six-axis IMU. Yamaha has given the R9 a beautiful aerodynamic design that the brand says is highly efficient. The bike maybe track orientated, but Yamaha has not left anything out for those who only ride the R9 on the road.
The Yamaha R9 has a fabulous 890cc triple motor that impresses with its power delivery and sound. It produces 117bhp, enough to satisfy racers and those pushing the road's limits. The engine is the same as the MT-09’s, but the R9 has a tailored aluminium Deltabox frame, which reduces the weight by a hefty 10 kg, so the road-ready bike weighs 195kg.
You get a fully adjustable KYB suspension and top-grade Brembo Stylema brake calipers connected with large-diameter 320mm discs on the front and a single 220mm disc on the rear loads of riding modes, power modes, and lean-sensitive rider aids derived from the R1 are installed alongside a six-axis IMU. The switchgear is new, and you have a clear 5-inch colour display screen, which allows you to select a race option and connect to a smartphone. The styling includes integrated winglets; the aerodynamics are Yamaha’s creme de la creme.
The Yamaha R9’s seat height is lower than the R7’s, the riding position is less extreme than the R6, and you get plenty of adjustment of the foot pegs. You also get that support from the beautifully shaped tank. You get cruise control, a USB-C outlet under the seat and self-cancelling indicators, all bonuses for a bike that will be a blast around any circuit
There are four power modes, three standard riding modes—Sport, Street, and Rain—two customisable modes, and four-track modes. So, everyone will find a suitable mode for riding, the weather, and the surface. The modes adjust the torque, power output, and riding aids.
The Yamaha R9 feels like being on an R6, although there are new clocks and switchgear, and riding in a better position feels more relaxed. It is less extreme than the R6 but still racy. You sit close to the wide 14l fuel tank and merge into the bike, which is excellent.
The R9 is rider-friendly and ideal for novice track riders but equally accomplished for track-experienced bikers. Both can jump on and start putting in rapid laps, bringing confidence to the bike.
The Yamaha R9 has lovely handling and superb useable power, and the shaped tank provides excellent support.
The bike allows you to make mistakes on the circuit, being forgiving if you power on too early or brake too late.
The Yamaha R9 is slightly over £12,000, so it is less expensive than the track-only R6 and less than Ducati’s recently launched Panigale V2 S, but more expensive than the traditional inline four-cylinder 600cc machines from Kawasaki and Honda.
The Yamaha R9 is a mature sibling of the R6. It has a super light, taut, precise chassis and a confidence-inspiring front end. The new machine has a more useable engine, particularly for road use and quality electronics.
“Ultra impressive race ready rocket.”
The bike is more straightforward to ride for a wider range of riders, meaning more people can benefit from the impressive performance. It looks fantastic, too, which always attracts buyers.
£12250