Yamaha R9 sportsbike gets winglets and 117bhp CP3 triple motor for less than £13,000

After years of internet rumours, online teasers, and manufacturer hints, Yamaha have finally revealed a full production R9 supersport bike for 2025 featuring winglets, lean-sensitive electronics, and a sub-£13,000 price tag.

Sportsbike fans have been calling for Yamaha to whack a fairing and some clip-ons onto their MT-09 naked triple since its inception in 2013 and following the arrival of the 500 Grand Prix-inspired retro XSR900GP back in April, it looked as if we might never get a three-cylinder focussed supersport machine from the Japanese firm.

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That all changes for 2025 though, with the incoming 890cc three-cylinder CP3 sportster now set to sit at the top of Yamaha’s road going sportsbike line-up in Europe, following the larger R1 superbike going track-only across the continent.

Fed by a 14-litre fuel tank, peak power sits at 117.3bhp at 10,000rpm, with 68.6lb.ft of torque available at 7000rpm. Meeting Euro5+ emissions standards, it benefits from different fuel injection settings, ignition timing, and final gearing – meaning top speed, engine eagerness, and pulling power are likely to be different to the MT.

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Providing a deep, throaty induction roar unlike any other sportsbike currently on the market, the popular CP3 engine is again housed in a cast-aluminium Deltabox-style frame.

Weighing a claimed 9.7kg, it’s said to be the lightest chassis ever used for a Yamaha sportsbike, as well as being stiffer in torsional, longitudinal, and lateral directions when compared with other three-cylinder Yamaha models currently on sale.

Kerb weight sits at 195kg (two kilos more than the MT) with a fresh rear subframe helping to provide the sporting new riding position and 830mm seat height.

Away from the chassis itself, the bike comes suspended by a new set of KYB springs. The 43mm upside down forks come with a deep bronze Kashima coating and are adjustable for rebound and compression.

The single rear shock provides full adjustability, with both components said to be developed in tandem with the track only R1 GYTR and R1 Race – also new for 2025.

Providing stopping power is a set of Brembo Stylema monoblock front calipers, which use braided hoses to bite onto 320mm discs. You also get a Brembo radial master cylinder for good measure, with the bike rolling on Bridgestone Battlax RS11 trackday tyres.

Shrouding the engine and chassis work is a fresh set of plastics, which take inspiration from the larger R1 and smaller R6 Race. These are combined with pronounced winglets flanking a centralised rounded LED headlight and duct, which are said to reduce front wheel lift by between six and seven per cent, increasing to around 10% additional downforce mid-turn.

Further helping to keep the wheels firmly on the ground are lean sensitive electronics, which come courtesy of a six-axis IMU. Riders can opt between ‘Sport’, ‘Street’, and ‘Rain’ modes – plus the option of four track modes and two custom pre-sets.

The customisable options allow you to pick the level of slide control intervention, engine braking, anti-wheelie, traction control, and more.

The R9 also gets launch control, meaning you’ll always bag the holeshot away from the traffic lights, and the rear ABS can be deactivated for some sliding action. Cruise control and a speed limiter are further included.

As you’d expect, there’s also an up/down quickshifter, with modes selected via a five-inch TFT dash that can be paired with a smartphone. Using Yamaha’s Y-TRAC app (Yamaha – Telemetry Recording and Analysis Controller) to log lap times, analyse riding data, and more.

If you fancy one, we’re told the guide price will be £12,250 and will appear on the Yamaha stand at Motorcycle Live in the UK next month. It’s available in a choice of blue or black and should arrive in dealers from March 2025.