The YZF-R6's withdrawal has left a big hole in Team Blue's faired bike lineup. Yamaha launched the R7 to make up for it (in a way), but it's only a small step from the R3 and a very long way from the R1. Yamaha is now confirmed to bridge this gap with its upcoming full-faired sportbike, the YZF-R9.
Since Yamaha filed trademarks for the R2 and R9 last year, this isn't exactly breaking news. In addition to trademarking the names, Yamaha has now trademarked the official YZF-R9 and R9 logos in Australia, according to CycleWorld. A carbon copy of all other R models confirms that the R9 project is nearing completion.
It began by putting the YZF-R1's engine on a naked, but in recent times, Yamaha has reversed course - the R7 uses the MT-07's engine.
Keeping this in mind, the Yamaha R9 will likely borrow the MT-09's 889cc triple-cylinder engine. 117 horsepower and 68.6 pound-feet put the R9 right between the 73 horsepower R7 and the almost 200 horsepower YZF-R1. A triple-cylinder engine would make it more tractable than a YZF-R6.
MT-09 benefits from adjustable upside-down forks, spin-forged wheels, and electronic rider aids, all of which will appear on YZF-R9.
With a weight of 419 pounds (wet), the MT-09 is also light. R9 will feature Yamaha's signature M1-inspired styling and multiple chassis changes. There will be clip-ons, rear sets, a new subframe, and a sharper rake.
YZF-R9: When Will It Arrive?
As a 2024 model, Yamaha's YZF-R9 could arrive next year. Yamaha may give some hints on the project at EICMA just to fire warning shots at its rivals. Despite being in a league of its own, the YZF-R9 will rival the Aprilia RS660 and Honda CBR650R.
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