Street triple, Mt-09, Z900

[zomer265]

Morning,

I've been into a couple of local dealers recently and looking at all sorts but mainly, the Street Triple and Mt-09 then also had a quick look at the z900 all for around the same price new!

Last year I did hire an earlier street triple for a few days which was quite good fun.

I know I would need to sort test rides etc to compare them for myself but I would like to hear other people's opinions and experiences with them?

I'm currently thinking of them in the order above. I've been reading bad experiences with the Mt-09 lacking feel from the front and feeling dangerous when pushing on which no one seems to be able to cure. As for the Z900 I think it will lack a bit of excitement being a four cyclinder and the extra weight!

Thanks.

[Jazoli]

The Street Triple and MT09 are very similar in some respects but the MT09 feels a lot quicker and has a much more lively engine, you may have read my posts about the handling issues I've experienced with my MT09SP but I'd not let that put you off unless you are really pushing on on the road as they just don't manifest themselves until you are riding at 8/10th's or above which is well beyond any legal or sensible limits.

I faced similar choices when choosing my bike, the street triple was great, it was utterly composed and well specced, the dash was really nice but it left me a bit cold to be honest and wasn't as much fun as the gen 1 street triple I'd previously owned, I also test rode the Z900, and I found it boring to be honest, it fuelled and handled well and felt like a premium product but just didn't do anything to excite me, the MT09 was by far the most fun and the engine is absolutely brilliant, it will get left for dead by an MT10 in a straight line but how much power do you actually need?

[zomer265]

I totally agree about the Street Triple and Mt-09 being similar, I have heard good things reguarding the CP3 engine well the whole CP range for that matter. Yeah it may have been one of your posts I've read. I've read of people saying it's nervous and dangerous at anything over triple figures and doesn't inspire confidence at all. Even read where one owner sold the bike because of it!

The Mt-09 was originally my first choice tbh until I started reading about the front end, which has put me off some what. The Street Triple I hired for a few days was an 11 plate, are you saying In your opinion then that the 765 isn't as fun as the 675? Regarding the Z900 that's exactly what I thought some would say about it and I thought. It seems you were in the same position as me and was also considering the same bikes! I do like the look of an Mt-10, maybe one day tho.

Thanks.

[Jazoli]

Unless you are planning to be the next McPint I'd wager that you'll never encounter the handling issues on the MT09 I rode a standard MT09 and thought it was a bit under damped, the SP has quality components but the setup is all wrong, I've managed to get it 90% there but it still gets a shimmy on in extremis, the rear end is fantastic, and the front also inspires confidence once you've worn out the OE fitted S20 tyres which are st and lasted 1400 miles and fitted something a bit better.

The 675 street triple was more fun than the 765, it felt a bit more frisky and a bit less polished but no worse for it, I forgot about the brakes on the (675 and 765) Street Triple, they were amazing in comparison to the MT09's which are ok but just ok, just ride all three and buy the one you like the best, there is no bad bike amongst them really, in hindsight I'd have not gone for any of them and would have probably bought a Tiger 800, Tracer 900GT or an MT10

[Bob_Defly]

I'll admit that I'm a bit biased here (MT-09 owner) but isn't there also a significant price difference?

I have owned my bike since 2014 and still absolutely love it. I bought it and modified it to correct any issues for still way less than the price of a new Striple. IMHO the engine is nicer, more fun, and more powerful. And it's probably more reliable.

The handling is great, and unless you're a riding god, I doubt you'll get into too much bother when in three figures.

[morebeanz]

I used to have a 675 Street R and now have the 765 RS but I have to confess that I haven't ridden the others you mention terribly much.

I absolutely loved my old street, and I would agree that by comparison, it was more of a hooligan feel to it than the new. Both are extremely accomplished bikes - lithe, nimble, fast and predictable. I have commuted in and out of central London on both of them, and done some touring, and they will swallow both without issue - best not to tour with a pillion though, a big bike it is not!

As someone who has only been riding since 2005, I particularly like the fact that the Street can be a pussy cat until you hot the higher rev range. Pootle or rag it, you'll see the Jeckyl and Hyde.


I quite liked the MT09 when I rode it, and it is a different character which didn't engage me. I don't think you can lose in your choice...

[SMar]

You should put the KTM 790 Duke on your list if your looking at a bike in this category. It has more smiles per mile than any other bike I've ridden in the past few years, and that includes bigger bikes such as the MT10SP, S1000R, S1000RR, Panigale V4, as well as the others your have mentioned. The mid range torque and handling is perfect for British roads.

[EvoBarry]

I own a '17 plate Tracer900 (same basic chassis as the MT09) and a '18 Street TripleR 765 - the MT motor has great midrange, real world use, but for me it feels artificially flat at higher revs, clearly held back and tails off a lot (it keeps revving but nowt happening). The Street takes a few more revs to get moving but on the road I don't think it'll make any difference to pace. The Triumph handling is a league ahead of the Yamaha though IMO, the Tracer is worse than the MT09 to be fair, borderline dangerous at speed if you have a top box.

I'd test ride both and have a good long ride, personally I find the 765 is a more refined bike than the 675 but it gives me huge confidence to ride where the older model like to waggle its bars occasionally if you were really on it.