Think I have fallen in love with a MT09

[SteelerSE]

Love the engine on the MT-09. The suspension and throttle are supposed to have been improved since I rode it and it's still great value. I didn't find it that comfortable but give it a shot and see how you get on.

[bgunn]

I feel I've kinda done the naked bike thing for a while with the CB1000R, but if I were in the market for another I'd consider an MT09 and then get the forks off to Maxton or the like, and get them set up properly, and buy a new rear spring and damper.

Fundamentally any bike these days has the right cycle parts and geometry, it's just the damping and setup they skimp on.

[tezzer]

I've got the MT09 Tracer, and at a mere 5'4" with the factory low seat option, it feels fine.

Up for sale anyway, as after years of 70's 2 strokes, despite it's brilliance, I just don't like it, and find it a bit sterile.

10 weeks old, and a bargain, if your interested !

[Fleegle]

tezzer said:

I've got the MT09 Tracer, and at a mere 5'4" with the factory low seat option, it feels fine.

Up for sale anyway, as after years of 70's 2 strokes, despite it's brilliance, I just don't like it, and find it a bit sterile.

10 weeks old, and a bargain, if your interested !

Thanks for the heads up, but she isn't after the touring type bike.

Hope you find something that floats your boat...........Kettle or H2 maybe??

[touringhornet]

tezzer said:

I've got the MT09 Tracer, and at a mere 5'4" with the factory low seat option, it feels fine.

Up for sale anyway, as after years of 70's 2 strokes, despite it's brilliance, I just don't like it, and find it a bit sterile.

10 weeks old, and a bargain, if your interested !

Go on then - Whats the info?

I have an MT09 (2014 model) for a year now and agree people give them a hard time. Remeber the RRP of these and what you are getting for that! Great engine and an engaging ride.

I test rode a 2017 tracer 900, and its throttle response is a LOT smoother in all modes compared to my 2014, so they must have new fuelling maps. Plus the addition of a slipper clutch on this years model. The new shape MT09 now has a quick shifter as standard also!

I'm struggling to find something as a replacement, so looking at the Tracer for a bit more comfort as most of my miles are commuting or the annual tour into europe!

Edited by touringhornet on Monday 24th July 09:34

[SteelerSE]

touringhornet said:

I'm struggling to find something as a replacement, so looking at the Tracer for a bit more comfort as most of my miles are commuting or the annual tour into europe!

When I was buying my list was:
Tracer
Versys 1000
KTM 990
V-Strom
Crossrunner

I ended up with the Crossrunner which does everything really well and is really comfortable.

The Versys was even comfier and the engine was lovely but overkill for 95% of my riding (commute).

The rest was personal preference really - quality, feel on the bike, seat height etc.

It was great trying a few bikes out though.

[graham22]

I'm a long time Yamaha fan.

I'd buy a Street Triple 765 over a MT-09.



Sorry, just saying, probably not helping.

A little tongue in cheek but isn't the price of the 'base' 765 close to the MT-09?



Have to admit did consider trading the FZ-1 Fazer for a Tracer but felt the build quality wasn't comparable.

[SMar]

graham22 said:

I'm a long time Yamaha fan.

I'd buy a Street Triple 765 over a MT-09.



Sorry, just saying, probably not helping.

A little tongue in cheek but isn't the price of the 'base' 765 close to the MT-09?



Have to admit did consider trading the FZ-1 Fazer for a Tracer but felt the build quality wasn't comparable.

I did trade in my FZ-1 Fazer for a Tracer last year, and have absolutely no regrets. I see no difference in build quality just a few more fiddly plastic bits now, but thats the same on a lot of new bikes.

Brakes are way better
Engine more character
Suspension better than the Fazer
Lighter and far more nimble
200 miles on a tank, Fazer 140 miles (same size tank)
More comfortable for pillion (opinion of my wife)
As quick as the Fazer on most British roads

Also cost me less brand new than the Fazer did 6 years eariler!

[ash reynolds]

I just got a great deal on an ex demonstrator Suzuki GSX S750, 195 miles on the clock. Up to this point I was holding out for a Street Triple RS. The GSX came in at £3.6k cheaper than the RS.

I freely admit that arguably the RS may be the better bike, but for me at least it wasn't £3.6k better. I actually find the GSX to be a better looking bike but that's subjective of course.

Cable throttle too!

This is a real world review of it, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHKiK5AnvGM

And my bike:

Edited by ash reynolds on Tuesday 25th July 12:26

[graham22]

SMar said:

I did trade in my FZ-1 Fazer for a Tracer last year, and have absolutely no regrets. I see no difference in build quality just a few more fiddly plastic bits now, but thats the same on a lot of new bikes.

Brakes are way better
Engine more character
Suspension better than the Fazer
Lighter and far more nimble
200 miles on a tank, Fazer 140 miles (same size tank)
More comfortable for pillion (opinion of my wife)
As quick as the Fazer on most British roads

Also cost me less brand new than the Fazer did 6 years eariler!

Bugger - you might end up costing me money!

[EvoBarry]

I have a 17plate Tracer900.

-

Brakes are average at best.
Suspension average at best.
Seat is painful after an hours riding.
Screen is noisy (lots of wind bleeds round the sides IMO)
Documented speed weave - various thoughts on what causes it.

+

MPG is brilliant.
Engine has good torque across the range.
Sounds good.
It has a feel good factor that belies its clear budget roots which means you either ignore the issues above or fix them.

Test ride for at least an hour to get a good idea of the bike.

[mitzy]

Went to the local dealer yesterday - just to sit on it, after seeing another one on the way home on Monday night.
I could not stop fawning over it.

Im 5.6 and it was was perfect - less wider than my current FZ8.

Wont be purchasing from them anyway - but left the shop feeling very giddy and excited.

Mine is due for its 16K service , so test ride will be happening.

[moto_traxport]

mitzy said:

Mine is due for its 16K service , so test ride will be happening.

Don't do the service and then trade it. The amount of people that do that is unreal!

[RemaL]

mitzy said:

Went to the local dealer yesterday - just to sit on it, after seeing another one on the way home on Monday night.
I could not stop fawning over it.

Im 5.6 and it was was perfect - less wider than my current FZ8.

Wont be purchasing from them anyway - but left the shop feeling very giddy and excited.

Mine is due for its 16K service , so test ride will be happening.

U want the MT09, then do it. I don't know anything about them but if you lie them and enjoy the test ride DO IT

[tjlazer]

I did 600 miles on this thing over a weekend in Norfolk whilst my street triple (675) was being worked on. Getting back on my street triple was sooo much more fun, like riding a grom in terms of grins per mile. I didn't really get on with the screen and then it tried to kill me when i hit triple digits with a massive front wobble. That aside the engine is pretty decent (if too smooth and boring with the stock exhaust) the handling was OK too and you could definitely load it up without complaint. In summary: good for touring if you don't mind a st screen and the strong possibility of death when making progress. I'd second the Triumph option over the Yam.

[Biker 1]

Just read Bike magazine head to head review: MT09 v Z900 v Triumph street triple R. Yam won, 9/10, Trumpet second, 8/10, & Kwak third, 7/10. The reviewers thought the Yam was more nimble & more fun at non-license shredding speeds & seems good VFM. However, I'm gutted that they were quite so scathing about the Z900 - I fancied one of those with an Akra pipe. Seems its rather 'old skool' for the journos - I'm going to test ride one anyway....

[tight5]

Biker 1 said:

I'm gutted that they were quite so scathing about the Z900 - I fancied one of those with an Akra pipe. Seems its rather 'old skool' for the journos - I'm going to test ride one anyway....

It's only their opinion.
See what you think after a test ride.

[Shadow R1]

mitzy said:

Went to the local dealer yesterday - just to sit on it, after seeing another one on the way home on Monday night.
I could not stop fawning over it.

Im 5.6 and it was was perfect - less wider than my current FZ8.

Wont be purchasing from them anyway - but left the shop feeling very giddy and excited.

Mine is due for its 16K service , so test ride will be happening.

Great stuff.

[Nath911t]

I test rode a couple of MT09 Tracers last year and liked it. I didn't get any of the infamous wobble at speeds on it but wind protection with the standard screen was pants. Seat was awful even compared to my current FZ1.

[SMar]

Nath911t said:

I test rode a couple of MT09 Tracers last year and liked it. I didn't get any of the infamous wobble at speeds on it but wind protection with the standard screen was pants. Seat was awful even compared to my current FZ1.

The only thing I didn't like about my Tracer was the screen, £70 later thats fixed, the seat must depend on your arse, I find it much more comfortable than my FZ1. I did 280 miles on Saturday in Wales, 8 hours on the bike with a few stops, no problem. The guys on the S1000RR's, Panigale's were ready for bed