YAMAHA MT-09

                                3. YAMAHA MT-09

Design and development

The MT-09 competes against the Triumph Street Triple, the Kawasaki Z800, the MV Agusta Brutale and Yamaha's ownFZ8 It is intended to restore Yamaha's fortunes, as the factory has in recent years lost its reputation for innovation.The MT-09's product manager, Shun Miyazawa, said Yamaha had considered in-line twins, triples and fours, and V-twins; but that the in-line triple gave the "best solution" of power, torque and low weight. Comparing the MT-09 to the Triumph Street Triple, he said the Triumph was a streetfighter, but the Yamaha was a "roadster motard".

Both the frame and the double-sided swinging arm are made of lightweight alloy which are cast in two pieces. The frame castings are bolted together at the headstock and at the rear, but the swinging arm parts are welded together. The MT-09 is the first Yamaha triple since the XS750 and XS850, both shaft-drive motorcycles produced from 1976 to 1981.

MT-09 Tracer

The MT-09 Tracer (FJ-09 in the US) is a sports-tourer model introduced in 2015. It has a partial fairing, a larger fuel tank, ABS, and "D-Mode" drive by wire throttle mapping. The display is the same unit as the Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré's. It also has LED headlights and tail-light.

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