Rennie Scaysbrook | October 9, 2024
Yamaha has taken the wraps off the eagerly awaited YZF-R9 at a private event in Los Angeles. While stressing the R9 is not a replacement for the YZF-R6, it’s hard not to draw those conclusions given this is the company’s new supersport machine.
It will retail for a very tasty $12,499 MSRP in the U.S., making it an extremely competitive offering—it’s only $900 more than the twin-cylinder Aprilia RS 660, and comes in some $650 less than the Suzuki GSX-R750, a machine that has not seen an update since 2011.
The R9 is powered by the same 890cc CP3 inline three-cylinder motor that resides in the MT-09 and MT-09 SP, although it will have different ECU mapping and two teeth less on the rear sprocket for taller gearing.
The YZF-R9 has some very big shoes to fill in Yamaha’s supersport line-up.
All the usual electronics are there in Yamaha’s Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T), six-axis IMU, nine-level traction control, three-level wheelie control and slide control, lean angle-sensitive ABS and Brake Control, four power modes, five ECU modes in Sport, Street, Rain and two Custom modes, two-stage engine brake control and, Back Slip Regulator, up and down quickshifter, launch control, Yamaha’s Variable Speed Limiter (YVSL), full LED lighting, smartphone connectivity and cruise control.
The R9 uses a model-specific gravity-cast aluminum frame Yamaha says is the lightest they’ve ever created for a supersport model with the swingarm taken from the MT-09. Suspension comes in the way of fully adjustable KYB forks and shock at the rear with a very handy remote preload adjuster.
Yamaha’s finally ditched the Advic brakes and gone with a full Brembo set-up in the Stylema four-piston monobloc calipers and radial master-cylinder, metered by Cornering ABS and Brake Control. You can also turn the ABS off at the rear when you head to the track.
Aesthetically, the R9 borrows heavily from the R1 with some fairly beefy winglets up front and a wider front fairing than on the R6. The seat unit is also a model-specific unit, its design a mix of R7 and R9 aesthetic.
Yamaha will thus be the third machine in the supersport category to feature a three-cylinder motor along with MV Agusta and their F3 800, and Triumph with the Brit’s Street Triple 765 RS. Fellow Japanese brands Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki are staying loyal to their four-cylinder ethos with the CBR600RR, GSX-R750 and ZX-6R, respectively. Only Ducati races in the supersport class with a twin-cylinder machine.
The new 2025 Yamaha YZF-R9 will be available in Team Yamaha Blue, Matte Raven Black or Intensity White/Redline, and will begin arriving to dealers in March for $12,499 MSRP.
Specifications
2025 Yamaha YZF-R9
MSRP: $12,499
| Engine |
Liquid-cooled, inline three-cylinder, 12-valve, DOHC, 240° firing order |
| Displacement |
890cc |
| Bore x stroke |
78 x 62.1mm |
| Compression ratio |
11.5:1 |
| Max power |
TBA |
| Max Torque |
68 lb-ft at 7000 rpm |
| Fuel system |
Electronic fuel injection system YCC-T with ride-by-wire system |
| Exhaust |
3-2-1 |
| Transmission |
Six-speed |
| Chassis |
Cast aluminum twin-spar |
| Front suspension |
43mm KYB fork, fully adjustable; 4.7 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension |
KYB shock, fully-adjustable; 4.6 inches of travel |
| Front brake |
Dual four-piston Brembo Stylema monobloc calipers, 320mm discs, ABS |
| Rear brake |
Single-piston caliper, 220mm disc, ABS |
| Front tire |
120/70 ZR17 Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 |
| Rear tire |
180/55 ZR17 Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 |
| Rake |
27° |
| Trail |
3.7 in. |
| Wheelbase |
55.9 in |
| Seat height |
32.7 in. |
| Fuel capacity |
3.7 gal |
| Weight |
430 lb (wet, claimed). |
