The MT-09 has been a staple in Yamaha’s “Hyper Naked” sportbike lineup for ten years, alongside their MT-07 twin, both best sellers in the American market. We’ve had the opportunity to sample the torquey triple mill in their “Sport Heritage” XSR900 a couple of years ago, and were so impressed with the Tracer 9 GT+ that it won our 2023 Bike of the Year. So when invited out to sample the powerplant in their naked sportbike iteration, I jumped at the chance.
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For years now, the MotoAmerica motorcycle road racing series has opened its season at Road Atlanta, with unpredictable, sketchy conditions always a possibility. This year‘s season opener was no different, with a hot and humid Friday for practicing and qualifying, followed by a near perfect day on Saturday with gentle breezes, partly cloudy skies and temps comfortably settling in the 70s, then Sunday brought a chilly rain and temperatures hovering in the low 50s.
The only thing predictable about our weather this time of year, is it’s unpredictability.
There are several inevitabilities in motorcycle riding and maintenance, and one of them is pipe discoloration. Over time, our pipes blue, yellow, darken, retain imprints and fingerprints, and just get downright unsightly. And whereas the rest of your motorcycle can be washed, cleaned, polished, and made shiny again, the same can’t always be said for your exhaust pipes. Due to extreme heat, time, exposure, and their own composition, keeping pipes clean and shiny is just a much more difficult job.
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The Triumph Speed 400 is that pint-sized chihuahua that comes charging into the dog park, confidently yapping at the bigger canines, who give him a wide berth out of sheer respect (yes, I’ve seen this at our nearby park). It’s that good.
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Colorado has become the fifth state to legalize lane filtering after Gov. Jared Polis signed SB24-079 on April 4, allowing motorcycles to filter between stopped cars in traffic and at stoplights.
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We caught wind of a limited line that H-D was introducing this year called the “Tobacco Fade” Collection, but didn’t get to see one at Daytona. We discovered this interesting collection buried deep in the brand’s website, and they are stunning. Inspired by the famous “tobacco fade” finish of so many 6-string and bass electric guitars over the past century, Harley has a recreated the look in motorcycle paint, adorning a run of Low Rider ST, Ultra Limited, and a Tri Glide Ultra bikes with the iconic rock guitar vibe.
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I must confess upfront – in all my years of motorcycle riding, with all of the races, rides, regional rallies, etc., I have never personally attended Daytona Beach Bike Week. I’ve just never been a big fan of crowded rallies. The last large “bike week” I attended was in 1999, a rain-soaked Myrtle Beach Bike Week. Never really paid them much attention prior, and haven’t had the desire to return since.
Until this year gave me three good reasons…
I must admit, I had never ridden a true trike before, as in single wheel up front, dual wheels/dual axle in the rear. I’ve taken Can-Am Spiders for a spin, we’ve reviewed the Polaris Slingshot before, but my first time on Mike’s trike was an education. Lena, Mike’s wife, recently let me borrow their trike for a couple of weeks, so I spent my first day familiarizing myself with the handling and maneuvering characteristics.
Riding a trike is wholly different than riding a bike.
Music and motorcycling just fit together, “like peas and carrots” as Forrest Gump once uttered. It seems like I’ve accumulated memory banks full of songs that hearken back to a certain ride, and vice versa. I’m not sure what dynamic is taking place, but nearly every road trip I’ve taken, sometimes even while local or regional riding, a song becomes the soundtrack that takes me back to that place, that bike, that traveling companion, that experience, every time I hear it. Here’s a few more of my favorites from the road.
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