Yamaha MT-09 SP 2024 – First Ride Review

The Yamaha MT-09 platform is having a moment right now. The 2024 base model, when released, brought with it a new bag of components and features that catapulted it to the top shelf of the hyper-naked sportbike class. You can read my review of the 2024 MT-09 model here. But Yamaha wasn’t done yet. Still, on the clock, the engineers sought to refine their base MT-09, and they did. The result is the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP. And if you ask me, the SP stands for splendid. 

The Yamaha MT-09 SP sets itself aside from the base model with a list of components that elevate the product and overall ride experience.  For starters, you have to step back and appreciate the visual presentation of the bike itself. Inspired by the missile that is the Yamaha YZF-R1M, the MT-09 is naked fluidity on two wheels in its Liquid Metal/Raven colorway. That two-tone fuel tank, with colors distinguished by the recognizable trim of blue that picks up on the spinforged wheels, is set off further by the polished clear-coated swingarm, giving sexy and brutal, at the same damn time.    

A smart key FOB is a welcomed added feature. It works the same as many and most key FOB operations, as long as the FOB is in the required proximity. On start-up, you are greeted by the Yamaha animation on the  5-inch TFT dash. You can select from several display themes. Exclusive to the SP is a track-themed display that records lap times and other circuit riding-related data. In harmony with the track theme and also exclusive to the SP are the 4 custom track modes, part of the new Yamaha Ride Control (YRC) module. In track mode, you can select one of the two engine brake management settings, plus the option to deactivate the rear ABS. 

Also exclusive to the upgraded MT-09 SP is the premium suspension assembly. The SP employs a set of 41mm KYB adjustable forks at the front, while at the rear, you’ll discover a fully adjustable Ohlins shock with a remote preload adjuster. Brake upgrades include a Brembo Stylema monoblock front caliper setup, mated to the Brembo radial master cylinder, also found on the base MT-09. 

These splendid refinements led me to my own moment as a motorcyclist and journalist. There are a few stretches of road that are on just about every rider’s “I did that” list, a term I prefer over the “Bucket” list (one implies that there is more life to live while the other assumes that you’re at the end of your life reflecting on your accomplishments before you kick the bucket). And the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap, Tennessee, is on my “I did that” list. 

A spirited ride through the illustrious roads of, around, and through North Carolina and Tennessee was a great warm-up for what was to come later in the afternoon. The MT-09’s new airbox played the perfect soundtrack through acceleration with an aggressive howl, a symphony to my ears. These sweeping and winding roads are the SP’s playground. The 890cc, three-cylinder CP3 engine delivers constantly throughout the gearbox. The third-generation quick shifter is kin to a hot knife to butter, affording confidence in the bike and making the overall ride more enjoyable. The M-Spec Battlax Hypersport S23 tires are legit, with great grip and traction. The Brembo master cylinder and stylema calipers give impressive feel without being grabby. The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP is exhilarating.

With the pre-game over and after a quick stop for lunch, the Dragon awaited.

This ride was my first trip to the Dragon. 11 Miles. 318 curves. This experience was only enriched by the motorcycle being ridden. The Yamaha MT-09 platform is engineered for this type of technical riding. And it did not disappoint.

When you have a bike that offers you the desired effect across multiple riding styles, be it track, backroads, canyons, or commuting, you begin to understand the essence of being a motorcyclist. You want a bike that delivers. Road after road. Moment after moment. Time and time again. Yamaha continues to create motorcycles that facilitate that need and want. Pound for pound, the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 is the most multifunctional platform in its class. 

Tail of the Dragon, slayed. 

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