YAMAHA'S MT-09 is the firm's first triple-cylinder motorcycle for thirty years. It wades into one of the most hotly contested segments in motorcycling.
The 847cc inline-three-cylinder engine produces a claimed 115bhp @ 10,000rpm and a healthy 65ftlb of torque @ 8500rpm. With a seat height of 815mm and a wet weight of 188kg, the MT-09 is a managable package.
It's available in four colour options for the bike's 2013 model year launch. All the bikes share the same colour frame, air intakes, seat and underseat bodywork. The colour changes are detailed below.
Blazing Orange
The Blazing Orange colour scheme is the loudest on offer. It offers up a deep glossy orange tank, with MT fuel tank logo positioned in the rider's view. the black wheels have orange pin-striping, gold forks and a chrome-effect Yamaha logo on the air intakes.
Matt Grey
The Matt Grey colour scheme is the most subtle in the line-up. The matt grey tank doesn't features an MT-09 logo, the wheels are black with no pin-striping and the forks are light grey. The Yamaha badge on the air-intakes is also a darker metallic colour. It's the MT-09 that whispers 'don't look at me'.
Deep Armor
The Deep Armor colour scheme looks like quite a bright purple in this photo but in real life it's a very dark purple, which comes to life in bright sunlight. It features the MT fuel tank logo graphic, visible to the rider, gold forks and white pin-striping to the black wheels. It shares the same chrome-effect Yamaha logo on the air intakes as the Blazing Orange colour scheme.
For me, it's the best-looking colour combination on offer.
Race Blu
The fourth MT-09 colour offering is Race Blu. Yamaha's signature colour scheme that's available on a host of bikes across their range. The tank is a glossy dark grey with a hint of blue in it. There's also a Race Blu logo stock on the tank inthe rider's view. The wheels are blue and thanks to the spoked-aluminium design, they look like the lightweight OZ wheels supplied on Aprilia's old RSV-R and Tuono. The forks are a darker grey compared to those on the Matt Grey colour scheme. Finally, the Yamaha logo on the air intakes is also blue.
If this bike had gold coloured front forks, I'd rate it up there as the best.
