YAMAHA: New supersport sensation

Yamaha’s long-awaited R9 sportsbike is quite a tempting little proposition on the quiet. Yamaha’s gone above and beyond our expectations in some respects, giving the new upper-middleweight sportster some classy chassis components and a new lightweight bespoke aluminium frame, as well as modern aerodynamic bodywork with winglets. But with peak power output of 117bhp and a wet weight of 195kg, the bare performance figures were already attracting criticism on social media, with unflattering comparisons to 15-year-old 600 supersports bikes (never change, Facebook!).

This is simplistic stuff, of course. The 890cc CP3 triple motor inside the new R9 is a fabulous powerplant, with strong, torquey delivery (and compliance with the Euro5 rules that killed the old R6). On the road it’s a very capable unit, with all the modern bells and whistles that come with ride-by-wire throttle and 2024 electronics. It’s been tweaked from the version in the MT-09, with different fuel injection settings and altered final drive ratios – but the fundamentals of the 890cc inline-three DOHC 12v unit remain the same, with a bore and stroke of 78x62mm and 11.5:1 compression ratio.

The chassis is all-new though, starting with that Deltabox frame, which has been specially designed for the sporty R9, and weighs just 9.7kg, thanks to clever gravity-cast production techniques. Hanging off either end is new fully adjustable KYB suspension, with 43mm USD forks and a new monoshock design. The forks feature separate damping circuits in each leg – right for rebound and left for compression – and both forks and shock were developed alongside the new 2025 R1 suspension package.

Perhaps the biggest chassis surprise is the brakes though – Yamaha finally dropping the silver/gold/blue spot four-piston calipers that have graced all its performance bikes in recent decades in favour of fancy Brembo Stylema four-piston radial mount calipers. These are paired up with a Brembo master cylinder, 320mm discs and braided steel hoses, to provide ample stopping power you’d imagine. Bridgestone is supplying the rubber: sweet RS11 hoops that will do great work on track and road, in classic supersport 120/70 front and 180/55 rear sizes.

The bodywork is familiar R-bike family style stuff, with the corporate blue giving a uniform look with the R125, R3 and R7 models. The 9 gets a set of wings though, which claim to reduce front wheel lift by 6-7 per cent at speed, and the overall aerodynamics of the full fairing is claimed to be better than on the old R6, despite having a bigger engine and radiator.

Last but not least, the R9 is packed with up-to-date electronics, with lean-sensitive traction, ABS (switchable on the rear), anti-wheelie, slide control, engine brake control and power modes. There’s also the latest generation up/down quickshifter, cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity, all accessed via a full colour 5-inch LCD dashboard. There’s also an optional Y-Trac set up aimed at track users, which adds full datalogging of all bike functions including lean angle and traction intervention, GPS, throttle position, gear, speed and engine revs, as well as a virtual pit board, that lets your pals in pitlane message ‘Get a move on’ every 30 seconds while you’re trying to win inters again.

The price for all this? A frankly not unreasonable £12,250, and the new R9 will be available in March 2025.

R9 tech highlights

• All-new lightweight gravity cast aluminium Deltabox frame
• Brembo front master cylinder and Stylema calipers with 320mm discs and braided steel lines
• New KYB 43mm front forks with Separate Damping Force design
• Fully adjustable latest generation KYB rear shock with remote adjuster
• 195kg wet weight
• Award-winning CP3, 890cc, EU5+, 119PS engine
• 6-axs IMU with full suite of lean-sensitive rider aids
• Third Generation Quick Shift System (QSS)
• Exclusive Track settings with rear ABS off mode and full YRC adjustability
• CCU and datalogging capability
• 5-inch full colour TFT display with connectivity features
• Power delivery, Traction Control, Slide Control System, Brake Control, Back Slip Regulator, Engine Brake Management and front wheel Lift Control
• Bridgestone RS11 supersport tyres
• Adjustable levers
• Forged aluminium gearshift pedal
• Optional Y-Trac function offers a ‘Virtual Pitboard’, where the rider’s pit crew can send messages to their dashboard while on track