Just a few days ago, we told you Yamaha had overhauled the MT-09 naked bike for 2024. Well, they didn’t stop there. The company followed up that launch with news of an updated MT-09 SP, and they’ve confirmed this machine is also going to come to Canada.
What’s so special about the SP?
This machine takes the standard MT-09 formula and mixes in some more performance-oriented parts. It is worth noting that the base model is now billed as a “Hyper Naked” on Yamaha’s website, far from the budget-friendly image it originally bore. But Yamaha thinks the public will want more than that, so we get the SP.
The changes include updated hard parts and electronics.
Yamaha put a fully-adjustable 41 mm fork on the MT-09 SP, built by KYB. It has a diamond-like coating to reduce friction for a smoother ride, and the uppers are gold-finish for a bougie look. The shock comes from Ohlins, and is also fully-adjustable.
Yamaha also changed the footpeg and handlebar positions on this bike for a more sporty ride. They can be adjusted to two different positions, so the rider should be able to more easily dial in the fit.
Up front, Brembo Stylema brake calipers are now standard, for sharper stopping.
All these hard parts are made to improve the bike’s dynamics, and the changes to the electronics echo that theme. The SP model comes with four customizable Track riding modes. Riders can tweak the settings to suit particular weather conditions (scorching hot summer day, rain, etc.), or to suit different tracks (Mosport and Shubie take different approaches!). There is also a Track theme for the TFT screen, and a Smart Key ignition is standard, which “unlocks” the bike when the key is in proximity.
The SP also gets a paint job modeled after the R1M superbike.
All the other bells and whistles
These updates are all very cool, but the bike also benefits from all the improvements on the standard MT-09. That includes restyled bodywork, a new headlight and lots more—read all about those changes here.
