Yamaha stunned sports riders with its iconic YZF-R1 – the all-new YZF-R9 is sending similar shockwaves.
Way back in 1998, Yamaha unleashed the YZF-R1 on an unsuspecting public.
With 150bhp in a sweet handling 175kg package, the new top dog superbike blew away the opposition and established the R-series as the sport bikes to be on. ‘The YZF-R1 creams the opposition,’ gushed Two Wheels magazine at the launch.
Fast forward to 2024, and both the 1000cc YZF-R1 and 600cc YZF-R6 have increasingly become track focused. To the extent that the R6 is now sold as a circuit racer without lights or the ability to road register. That leaves a gap in the market for a bike that is equally capable on the track and road – a gap that the all-new YZF-R9 now fills.
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Where the R1 is intended for 80 per cent track and 20 per cent road use, the new YZF-R9 is truly a 50/50 road/race proposition and well placed to welcome new riders to the supersport category.
So, while the new bike comes with a super lightweight chassis, aerodynamic bodywork, fierce Brembo braking package and the whole suite of adjustable electronic rider aids, it also comes with a linear and easy to control crossplane inline triple engine, cruise control and a more comfortable riding position than a dedicated track bike.
Best of both worlds
The versatile YZF-R9 has some significant features that earmark it as a future collectible. For example, it’s the most aerodynamic Yamaha ever built. The chassis is lightest ever fitted to a Yamaha supersport bike. And it features the first low speed valve fitted to a motorcycle shock absorber.
It also looks pretty cool, running MotoGP inspired winglets that really do work by reducing front wheel lift by up to 7 per cent in a straight line and 10 per cent in corners.
The Deltabox chassis is rigidity tuned to be more stiff than an MT-09 but more supple than the R6 with a 50/50 front to rear weight distribution for superb balance.
The riding position is roomier and more comfortable than the latest R6 – more like the original 1999 model R6 position – and the Deltabox chassis weighs just 9.7kg for an overall wet weight with full fuel of just 195kg.
Test riders were lapping within a second of the R6 but doing so a lot easier with the additional torque and mid-range from the CPs motor. Which is one reason the Pata Yamaha race team have decided to race this model in the 2025 World Supersports Championship.
Up front the premium Brembo Stylema monoblock front calipers combine with a Brembo radial master cylinder, large 320mm dual front discs, stainless steel brake lines and aggressive pad compounds to offer supersport-level braking performance with exceptional power and feel.
R1-spec KYB front forks run rebound damping in one leg and compression damping in the other for fine tuning the ride and the new KYB rear shock offers linear performance and ultimate control.
Smart speedster
Even more impressive is the list of electronic rider aids. The bike runs a six-axis IMU – the same as fitted to the R1 – and so the whole suite of controls (lift, slide, brake) are adjustable.
Two custom and four race track modes join the standard Sport, Street and Rain, all viewable on the full colour TFT dash. There is also a data transfer function that allows laps to be analysed and the ability for the rider to communicate with pit crew in real time.
If that all seems track focused, road riders are also looked after with the ability to display navigation via a Garmin app, the ability to download images from your smartphone to the dash, that cruise control feature, a Variable Speed Limiter for those double demerit weekends and self-cancelling indicators.
Add in Yamaha’s awesome third gen quicksifter, an Assist and Slipper clutch and intuitive new switchgear and you have a truly versatile package aimed at not only stepping riders up from the existing YZF-R3 and R7 but attracting new riders to the Supersport category.
Easy rider
Over the years, superbikes have become a lot safer – and faster. But the speed limits have remained the same. Which makes a weekend ride a bit risky – even for the most careful rider. Licences are easily lost, so many riders have migrated from sport bikes to adventure bikes for their adrenalin fix. Because there are very few cops in the bush…
YZF-R9 is set to halt the exodus. A bike that is as quick on the track as it is sure footed on the street. A versatile bike that is easy to ride but will blow your hair back when required. Because to take a leaf out of the MotoGP race book, if a bike is easy to ride, it’s easy to ride fast.
YZF-R9 will be available in Team Yamaha Blue, Matt Black and Intensity White/Redline colours from around May 2025. A special introductory price of $21,349 inc GST ride away will last until 31 March 2025 after which time the price may well go up.