We do like an MT-09 round here: the cheeky 850cc triple-powered naked has been one of our fave road bikes since it hit the streets back in 2013. Cheap, quick, and great for the odd wheelie, the MT got Yamaha back on track, and has led to a load of other solid naked bikes: from the MT125 through to the bonkers MT-10 and the Tracer adventure tourers. They've sold a truckload of them all round Europe - the MT-07 and MT-09 are particularly popular in town.
The MT-09 was always a little rough and ready in terms of suspension though. That low sticker price had to be paid for somehow, and the bouncy forks and shock on the standard bike stick out a bit. Many folk sorted it with fork internal upgrades and new rear shocks. But now, here’s the answer from Yamaha, in the form of a new SP version of the MT-09, with an all-new suspension setup.
The MT-09 SP isn't as full-beans fancy as the electronic-Ohlins-equipped MT-10SP from last year. But you do get a flash remote reservoir Ohlins rear shock, plus new fully-adjustable front forks. The rest of the spec is as you were, but there is a natty new SP paint job, together with tweaked bars, levers and trim.
Sharper style, better suspension, all wrapped round that sweet, grunty 115bhp triple? Sounds pretty good to us…