Yamaha MT-09 SP

The MT-09 SP keeps everything that made the MT-09 a hit, from the torquey triple to the lively chassis, and adds sportsbike-grade suspension and brakes. The question is whether the extra outlay makes sense for you.

Which MT-09 SP model year is on sale in France?

The current SP is the third generation, unveiled by Yamaha on 2 November 2023, shortly after the fourth-generation MT-09. As of October 2026, Yamaha France still sells it as a 2024 model: it is the only model year in its product data, priced from 1 January 2025. Yamaha lists no other model year in Germany, Italy, Spain or the Netherlands either.

How much is it and what does it add over the MT-09?

Yamaha France lists the MT-09 SP at €12,999 (recommended on-the-road price) in a single colour, the R1M-inspired Icon Performance. That is €2,000 more than the 2025 MT-09 (€10,999) and €1,500 more than the MT-09 Y-AMT with its automated gearbox (€11,499). In the US, it is sold as a 2026 model at $12,699. For the extra money you get:

• a 41 mm KYB upside-down fork with DLC-coated tubes (a very hard, low-friction coating), stiffer and also adjustable for high- and low-speed compression;
• a fully adjustable Öhlins shock with a piggyback reservoir and remote hydraulic preload adjuster, instead of the MT-09’s KYB unit adjustable for preload and rebound;
• Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers instead of the four-piston Advics units (according to MCN and Rider), on the same 298 mm discs;
• four customisable Track modes with two engine-braking settings, switchable rear ABS and a lap-timer display theme;
• Smart Key keyless ignition, which the manual-gearbox MT-09 lacks (the Y-AMT version has it);
• a clear-coated brushed aluminium swingarm, blue wheels and a gold fork.

Engine, frame, geometry, riding position, quickshifter and cruise control are shared: since 2024, cruise control is no longer an SP exclusive. Yamaha quotes 194 kg wet for the SP, 1 kg more than the MT-09.

Is there an A2-licence version?

Yes. Yamaha France offers an MT-09 SP 35 kW at €12,699, listed in its “35 kW motorcycles” range. According to its spec sheet, it makes 35 kW (47.6 hp) at 6,000 rpm when restricted and 70 kW (95.2 hp) at 9,000 rpm when derestricted: it is a separately homologated version, not a 119 hp SP restricted at the dealer. The full-power MT-09 SP requires a full A licence.

How good is the engine?

The 890 cc CP3 triple (78 x 62.1 mm, 11.5:1 compression), Euro 5+ compliant, makes 119 hp (87.5 kW) at 10,000 rpm and 93 Nm at 7,000 rpm, exactly like the MT-09. It is paired with a six-speed gearbox, an assist and slipper clutch (which stops the rear wheel locking on hard downshifts) and a third-generation two-way quickshifter that, according to Visordown, works from 2,000 rpm on upshifts and 1,600 rpm on downshifts. MCN rates it among the best triples around and recommends the middle throttle map of Street mode over the snappier Sport map. 1000PS notes a slight power deficit against the four-cylinder bikes in its group test, but very linear delivery.

How does it handle?

Geometry is shared with the MT-09: 1,430 mm wheelbase, 24.7° rake, 108 mm trail, 130 mm of travel up front and 117 mm at the rear. MCN finds the SP more composed and capable than the MT-09, whose rear squats under load: the SP turns quicker and holds its line better. Rider calls its suspension noticeably better, while Moto.it notes improved high-speed stability. The flip side is a firmer, sometimes harsh ride on poor surfaces, flagged by MCN, Moto.it and Moto-Net. On braking, MCN praises far better power and feel than the MT-09, whereas BikeSocial could not detect a clear difference on the road without a back-to-back test.

What electronics does it get?

The six-axis IMU runs traction control (TCS), slide control (SCS), lift control (LIF), cornering brake control (Brake Control) and a Back Slip Regulator (BSR) that prevents rear-wheel lock on aggressive downshifts. You get Sport, Street and Rain modes, two custom modes and, exclusive to the SP, four Track modes. The 5-inch colour TFT pairs with the MyRide app (notifications, calls, music) and displays Garmin StreetCross navigation. Cruise control, self-cancelling indicators, an Emergency Stop Signal (hazard lights under sudden braking) and a USB-C socket are standard.

What about fuel economy and servicing?

Yamaha claims 5.0 L/100 km (116 g/km CO2), giving roughly 280 km from the 14-litre tank. Rider Magazine recorded 41.3 US mpg (5.7 L/100 km) on the standard 2024 MT-09, which brings range down to about 245 km. The owner’s manual for the 2021 MT-09 SP, which uses the same engine, specifies an oil change every 10,000 km or every year and a valve clearance check every 40,000 km. Yamaha France’s 5-year warranty covers 2025 model-year bikes; for a 2024 SP, Yamaha refers buyers to their dealer.

Which rivals does it face?

MCN, Visordown and BikeSocial pit it against the Triumph Street Triple 765 RS (€13,095 in France), which Visordown finds slightly more exciting but less versatile, and the KTM 990 Duke. The Kawasaki Z900 SE and Honda CB1000 Hornet SP play the same premium suspension and brakes card with heavier four-cylinder engines.

Has it been recalled?

No recall covers the 2024 MT-09 SP in France or the EU. A 2022 European recall (Safety Gate A12/00556/22) covered previous-generation MT-09 and MT-09 SP models built between October 2020 and January 2022 for an engine ECU programming error. In the US, NHTSA recall 25V-248 covers 2021-2025 MT-09 SPs, including 2024 bikes, distributed only in Hawaii, for a throttle position sensor that could cause stalling.

Where does it come from?

Yamaha launched the MT-09 SP in Europe in 2018, based on the 847 cc, 115 hp MT-09, with an Öhlins shock and a fully adjustable KYB fork. The second generation (2021-2023) adopted the 890 cc engine, a new frame, an IMU and cruise control that was then SP-only. The 2024 generation adds Brembo Stylema calipers, Smart Key and Track modes. According to Yamaha, quoted by BikeSocial, the SP accounts for around 30% of MT-09 sales.