New rumors have emerged in Japan suggesting that a fully faired three-cylinder sports car based on the Yamaha MT-09 is due to arrive in 2024. Already, at the end of last year, the Yamaha R9 was registered in Japan, the United States and Europe and recently the same thing happened for the figurative brand. On October 17, 2022, the YZF-R9 and R9 graphic logos were registered which will adorn the motorcycle for their use on: “motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, three-wheeled motorcycles, three-wheeled mopeds and parts and accessories for all the aforementioned vehicles »
Although Yamaha has never officially mentioned the existence of an R9 project, the commercial and production logic points in this direction. The CP3 platform – 889 cc in-line three-cylinder engine and aluminum alloy frame – used for example by the MT-09 SP is already an excellent starting point for a streamlined sports car.
However, the latest report from the Japanese publication, Autoby suggests that the motorcycle will arrive in the lineup in 2024. The report is accompanied by a set of rendered images explaining how the R9 could turn out.
Bridging the gap between the inline-twin R7 and the 1cc R998 superbike, the R9 would likely offer a more usable package on the road than the old inline-four R6.
An official release in 2024 would coincide with the 25th anniversary of the R1, so it stands to reason that a livery of this type would be present on the fairings of the new Yamaha.
To reduce R&D costs, the compatible 125s share the same frame, and the MT-03 and R3 have the same chassis and geometry. It's a similar story with the new R7 too, which borrows the structure of the MT-07, with the MT-10 using the frame of the R1.
It stands to reason that an R9 would do the same, with these design sketches showing the aluminum beam frame and swingarm as on the MT. It's likely to see the same suspension and braking components from the MT-09 SP model - with the springs tweaked for a raised rear end and livelier steering.
The same color TFT dashboard arriving in 2021 is also likely to be carried over from the MT-09, along with pressure-sensitive electronics courtesy of a six-axis IMU.
