Tested by Motoway on UK roads and at Donington Park

Motoway’s test team finally gave Yamaha’s new R9 a proper shakedown on UK roads and at Donington Park. The early verdict is quietly confident. Powered by the 890cc CP3 triple, the bike feels friendlier than an old-school 600 while keeping a serious edge for trackdays. UK pricing sits at £12,250.

What’s new, in plain terms

Under the fairing it isn’t a dressed-up MT-09. Yamaha built a bespoke aluminium Deltabox frame with quicker steering geometry and a quoted wet weight of 195 kg. Suspension is fully adjustable KYB at both ends, braking is by Brembo Stylema calipers with 320 mm discs, and the electronics run off a six-axis IMU with multiple power/ride modes and a 5-inch TFT (including a race display). Yamaha quotes 115 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 69 lb-ft at 7,000 rpm, and our track notes back up the strong mid-range and planted front-end feel.

On the road

Ergonomics lean toward “R1-racy”: high pegs, narrow clip-ons, roomy cockpit. Despite that, the CP3’s mid-range makes short work of real-world riding; the revised induction adds a deeper intake note without relying on the exhaust for drama. In mixed weather, the Rain mode’s softer throttle and extra TC proved useful, keeping the bike composed on fresh RS11s.

On track

A scorching day at Donington Park highlighted the chassis’ poise through fast sweepers. The standard RS11 rear showed tearing once hot, and the front-brake lever feel is a touch too progressive for some tastes — an easy fix with hoses/pads if you’re picky. Otherwise, the R9 held its own against bigger bikes and felt more forgiving than inline-four 600s, which mirrors Yamaha’s brief for the model.

Context that matters

This isn’t arriving in a vacuum. The R9 took a debut WorldSSP victory at Phillip Island in February — a handy calling card for a brand-new supersport. Yamaha also notes the new frame is the lightest in its supersport history, and the integrated “winglets” draw on MotoGP know-how. Small details, but they help explain the planted feel our riders reported.

Price and availability snapshot

• UK: £12,250 (launch price; colours vary by market)
• USA: from $12,499 MSRP

Bottom line

The R9 reads like a modern supersport done the sensible way: approachable power, real electronics, and a chassis that flatters you on the road then scales up on a trackday. If you want the theatre of an R6 without the punishment, this feels like the bike Yamaha meant you to ride.

Technical specifications referenced from Yamaha Motor and Yamaha Racing materials.