It was only last week that Yamaha Motor Europe released a teaser video letting you imagine what the new Yamaha MT-09 will look like for 2021. Not much information has been released about this upcoming model, but some photos have been leaked online and here's what it will look like.
As expected, the engine was developed in response to Euro 5 rules. With an additional 42 cc, its displacement increases from 847cc to 889cc. This allows a power gain of 4hp (119 instead of the 115hp of the current version) but also increases the torque, from 87,5 Nm to 93 Nm, this being available 1500 rpm lower, at 7000 rpm. /min.
The three-cylinder engine also gets new air intakes, seen in photos, a redesigned fuel injection system and an all-new exhaust, as well as new camshafts, pistons, connecting rods and crankcases. Overall, despite the increase in displacement, it's 1,7kg lighter than before, with the majority of the savings coming from the exhaust.
The chassis also evolves on this 2021 model. The frame is made of cast alloy, as before, but designed to be much sportier and lighter by adopting the Deltabox type configuration. The beam design distributes the forces from the steering column to the swingarm pivot for maximum rigidity. Lateral rigidity is improved by 50% compared to the previous model, while the mix of longitudinal and torsional rigidity is improved by the new design. The chassis is also more compact allowing for a smaller overall size, the fork tubes are shorter with the steering column lowered by 30mm to put more weight on the front wheel.
Overall, the mass of the 09 MT-2021 is 189 kg, fully fuelled. It's 4 kg lighter than the old model.
The design has also been redesigned. At the front, the new generation of the Yamaha MT-09 features a new headlight design which is reminiscent of the old KTM 390 Duke. It now has a main headlight framed by two LED strips on the side. Whether we find it pretty or not, Yamaha says it "represents the future direction of MT design", so we can expect to see a similar evolution on future versions of the MT-07, MT-10, MT-03 and MT-125 in years to come.
On the electronic side, the driver is not left out as he is greeted by a new color TFT dashboard which gives control of three driving modes as well as a host of other options, but more significantly, the MT -09 benefits from a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), similar to that used on the R1 superbike but 50% smaller and 40% lighter. Measuring fore-aft, side-to-side, up-and-down as well as pitch, yaw and roll movements, the IMU is linked to a tilt-sensitive traction control system , drift control, wheelie control and adaptive cornering ABS.
We also note the presence of a quickshifter.
There's no word on when the official launch date will be, but these photos mean it's coming soon, very soon, in fact.
