Riding Yamaha’s up-spec MT-09 SP through the Southern Smokies
I was recently in beautiful east Tennessee for the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP press launch. As many of you may have seen, my man Rob was out for the press launch of the base model MT-09 back in the spring, and I came to put this SP version through it’s paces. I was super excited because not only would I get to ride this amazing motorcycle, but I’d get to check an item off of my motorcycle bucket list- to ride the legendary Hwy. 129, the Tail of the Dragon.
Now I must admit, I am a big fan of triples. They always have a special place in my heart, so I was very excited to test out this motorcycle. This up-spec model has customization options that are exclusive to the SP, such as Engine Brake Management and the ability to turn off the rear ABS. More on those shortly. In addition it also runs on upgraded Ohlins suspension and Brembo Stylema brakes. One option that was very cool to see was the four exclusive track modes. Some of you may also remember I previously attended the press launch for the MT-10 SP so I was eager to compare this motorcycle with that incredible bike.
The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP, ready to carve some mountain curves. Photo by Yamaha/Spec PR.
Admittedly, It’s been a while since I have done a long street ride. My focus has been on racing so street riding hasn’t had the same appeal it once had. When I got the invitation to attend the press launch for the new SP version of the MT-09, I was curious how I would do given how rusty my street riding credentials were. Finding out that our route for the event included the legendary Tail of the Dragon left me excited albeit slightly nervous. I only hoped the $1,700 worth of extra goodies that come with the SP would give me the confidence to put the bike through a thorough test.
I did not get the chance to ride the standard version of the bike, but I have ridden previous generations as well as the SP version of the MT-10. I won’t dive into the details of the base model as our chief editor Rob covered that previously. My focus will be exploring the additions that come with this SP model. A quick rundown of those items are upgraded suspension components, the unmistakable SP colorway with polished swing arm, Brembo Stylemna calipers, expanded ride calibration options (engine braking adjustment and the ability to turn off rear ABS), and a new Smart proximity key system.
Lots of nice elements here. Photo by Yamaha/Spec PR
As we gathered to start our ride on a somewhat chilly and foggy morning at Fontana Resort and Village, I took a seat on the bike and immediately noticed how the bike nicely fit my 5’10”, 175 lb, 32 inch inseam frame. My legs fit well wrapping around the tank with my feet position giving a nice upright but slightly aggressive riding position. The reach to the bars was natural and I felt I could sit up and chew up miles, yet easily move my body into more of an aggressive position for carving up twisty roads.
We began our route on Highway 28, also known as “Moonshiner 28” and while my body felt slightly numb from the cool morning mountain air, the Bridgestone S23 tires coupled with the up-spec suspension did a great job of providing feedback of what was going on with the road. As we made our first stop, I felt like the bike was perfectly sized for my frame but immediately wondered how a taller rider would cope. I asked one of the other journalists who stands around 6’3” and he said it actually felt great to him as well, as he felt like he had great control over the bike with the stock rider triangle.
The air was crisp, the curves were sharp, and the MT-09 SP is a scalpel. Photo by Yamaha/Spec PR.
As the fog lifted and we continued on, we picked up the pace and rode on through a nice twisty section of road that was a mix of short and long sweeping turns. I continued to feel great feedback from the front tire and as I did my best to keep up with the group, including American motorcycle racing legend Josh Hayes, I would sometimes find myself coming a little bit too close to center on my exits. A fact that Josh was quick to point out to me at the next stop. Thankfully the Brembo Stylemna brakes kept me in check and provided a nice, instant and progressive response under braking.
With our ride continuing on the Cherohala Skyway, the suspension and brake package kept filling me with confidence as we made our way through the seemingly never ending sweepers. If those kinds of roads are your jam, definitely come check out this amazing national scenic byway. You will not be disappointed.
At our next stop I decided to dive into the electronics package and check out the special options the SP has to offer. The SP-only Track Mode allows the rider to adjust the engine braking as well as completely turn off the rear ABS. I did experiment with the engine brake settings and enjoyed having the adjustability, especially as we approached the Tail of the Dragon. By now I had a sense for what I felt I needed so having that option was definitely welcomed. Since I don’t use my rear brake ever when riding on track, I found myself doing the same on the street, so I left the rear ABS alone.
Sprung on Ohlins, braking on Brembo. Solid. Photos by Yamaha/Spec PR
The other nice thing the track mode allows is four customizable modes which the rider can select from in addition to the 5 modes the standard model includes. This gives the rider up to 9 rider mode options. However, keep in mind the track modes can only be changed when the bike is completely stopped.
I personally never use built-in lap timers, as I have always found them to be finicky or I forget to click the button needed in order to log your laps. However, one cool feature set that the SP has is it will run your laps automatically for you and show you things like lean angle and top speed. Sort of a neat way to gamify your riding if you like keeping track of that sort of thing. A few of us were joking here and there about our “lean angle” but it was all in good fun.
An incredible array of customizability. Photo by Yamaha/Spec PR
By the time we approached the Tail of the Dragon I was feeling ready to conquer the road and all its fun challenges. The ergos of the bike really gave me that sense of control and for the most part the C3 triple power plant did a great job of letting me stay mostly in one gear, usually 3rd or 4th throughout the ride. As we began our run through I could not get over how much different this section of road was to the rest we’d ridden earlier in the day. We had a mix of different turns previously from wide open long sweepers, some blind hairpins, but nothing compares to this 11 mile section of road.
I found myself a bit in between gears, 2nd and 3rd and noticed a bit of a lull in 2nd gear then a sudden surge of power around 6,000 rpm that I did not experience in the other gears. It caught me a little by surprise at first but I was able to anticipate it as I made my way through the Tail. The engine braking was sublime and I found myself needing to use less and less brake to simply flow through the corners. If I were to come back on my own I would want to run the route twice through the Tail, once to just get it under my belt and another run to take it in more after the shock of the first run. It’s quite technical.
Diving through the Tail of the Dragon; chasing one of the Yamaha riders. Photo by Yamaha/Spec PR
Once we concluded our Hwy. 129 run, we met at Fontana Dam to recap and talk about the day. This entire area is a rider’s paradise and I think the Yamaha MT-09 SP is the perfect motorcycle for this type of environment. The design and ergonomics of the bike make it feel even smaller than it is, with a very flickable character but the suspension keeps it planted and not feeling twitchy. I’ve said it before that riders these days are really spoiled for choice, and you’d be hard pressed to find a better choice if you’re in the “one bike to do-it-all” camp. For the extra $1,700 you couldn’t add everything the SP comes with on your own, so to me it is a no-brainer. If I was going to purchase an MT-09, it would be the SP model, hands down. The suspension and brakes alone are worth the investment. I will say, if I were to do a track day on this bike I would add some clicks to the suspension as there were a couple of times where I felt the front to be a bit on the soft side. However, from the factory I think the settings would be great for most.
After a day in the saddle. An impressive bike on incredible roads. Photo by Yamaha/Spec PR
I’ve been asking friends lately, if they could choose any three motorcycles in the world, what would be their choices? There’s always those that want all high-end exotics, some that want rare vintage bikes, and those that choose each bike for a specific purpose. For me, thinking back to those conversations and the reality of those who can only have one, I think the Yamaha MT-09 SP fits the bill. Yes, if you’re going to take it out on track, the suspension could use some tuning. I also found the turn signal indicator to be a little confusing at times. Additionally, if I was going to ride for more than 2-3 hours straight on open roads I might want to invest in a different seat, but overall those are small things that can be adjusted. If there was a definition for “one street bike to do-it-all”, you might just see the name MT-09 SP next to it.
Ryan “Ryhno 411” Nolan
For more on the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP, click HERE.
For Ryan’s ride review video, watch here without ever leaving this page:
0 Comments