2024 MT-09 SP: Yamaha's naked triple gets more extreme

Hot on the heels of the 2024 standard MT-09 revealed on 31 October, Yamaha have now unveiled a spicier SP version with uprated suspension, brakes, electronics and more. 

Barely a week on from the last naked bike bombshell, the SP builds on a brand-new credible package that received new bodywork and styling incorporating LED lights – plus a sportier riding position, uprated brakes, all-new TFT dash and switchgear. 

The heart of the new MT-09 remains the characteristic ‘CP3’ three-cylinder motor updated in 2021, plus its cast aluminium Deltabox frame, as introduced the same year. 

Onto the new bike, and the 2024 SP builds on the new MT-09’s base and adds upgraded fully-adjustable suspension, top-spec Brembo Stylema brake calipers, an extra, customisable Track riding mode, an R1M superbike-inspired livery in black, blue and silver (complete with brushed aluminium swing arm), and (for the first time on any Yamaha) a new ‘Smart Key’ keyless ignition system. 

Although much of the SP is the same as the standard MT-09 (as most of that is new for 2024) it’s worth repeating here. 

Most obvious is the ‘slimmer, sharper new look’ comprising a new tank, a new LED front light cluster in a redesigned cover, new rear LED light with separate tail and brake lights, plus new two-piece seat with matching bodywork. 

The riding position has been updated too, with lower bars and higher, further back pegs, although both are adjustable. And, as with the stock 09, there’s an all-new, five-inch TFT dash and corresponding switchgear as derived from the latest Tracer 9 GT+ (and Niken GT). After that though, the new SP comes into its own. 

As with previous SPs, the 2024 bike comes with premium, fully adjustable suspension, this time comprising gold finished, DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coated, 41mm KYB forks at the front and an Öhlins monoshock at the rear. 

The new forks offer full adjustability for preload, rebound and compression damping while the Öhlins rear unit offers tweaks for compression and rebound as well as having a remote preload adjuster, too. 

The new MT-09SP’s brakes are uprated, too and now for the first time use twin Brembo monoblock ‘Stylema’ calipers bringing superbike class braking performance to Yamaha’s 900 roadster. 

While the standard 2024 MT-09 features three riding modes, Sport, Street and Rain, the new SP has an additional Track mode which enables the rider to customise four extra patterns of power, traction, braking and more to suit certain track scenarios. There’s also a dedicated Track theme on the SP’s TFT display. 

While a brand new and so far exclusive feature on the new MT-09 SP is Yamaha’s new keyless ‘Smart Key System’. This sees a new ‘on-off’ switch, in place of the usual key slot, at the top of the tank which is active as long as the new Smart Key is within range. The new switch also features a lock and unlock option for the fuel cap. 

The new 2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP comes in R1M-inspired black/silver/blue only, complete with a brushed aluminium swing arm. Prices and availability have yet to be announced. 

• Uprated suspension As with the previous SP version of the MT-09, the new 2024 model features uprated, fully adjustable suspension, this time comprising gold-finished, DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) coated, 41mm KYB forks at the front and an Öhlins monoshock at the rear complete with remote preload adjuster.
   
• Improved brakes The new MT-09SP’s brakes are uprated over the standard bike, too. As the stocker already has improved brakes for 2024, the new SP gets twin Brembo monoblock ‘Stylema’ calipers of the sort normally only seen on superbikes. 
  
• Enhanced electronics SP gets an additional Track riding mode on top of the stocker’s Sport, Street and Rain. This lets the rider customise four extra patterns of power, traction, braking and more to suit different scenarios. There’s also a Track theme on the TFT dash. 
  
• Get Smart The new MT-09 SP also sees the debut of Yamaha’s new keyless ‘Smart Key System’ with a new ‘on-off’ switch in place of the usual key slot at the front of the tank which is active as long as the Smart Key is within range. It also unlocks the fuel cap. 
   
• Just like the R1M As before, the new 2024 Yamaha MT-09 SP comes in its own, dedicated black/silver/blue livery which Yamaha says in inspired by its R1M superbike. This is also complimented by a new, brushed aluminium finish on the swingarm.