Ever since the death of the legendary R6, Yamaha fans have been begging for another middleweight sportbike from the venerable triple-tuning fork marque. The R7 was revealed shortly after the R6’s demise, but many felt it was lacking as a successor to the R6, mostly because it was never intended to be. The R7 was simply an MT07 with higher spec suspension, some clip-ons, and some fancy fairings; it lacked the top-end power and the sophisticated chassis that define a supersport.
This made the R7 great in its own right, being cheaper and more approachable than other sportbikes. It was no replacement for the R6, but it shined a gleaming light on another possibility: taking the MT09 and giving it the R7 treatment. This would mean keeping the chassis the same and making the same platform tweaks that the R7 got compared to the MT07. However, this wasn’t good enough for Yamaha, and the new 2025 Yamaha R9 is a full-on supersport.
No Imposters Here
After a comically long wait that turned the R9 into an internet rumor worthy of numerous clickbait videos, the bike was finally revealed. To the surprise of many, it is not simply a reworked MT09 but a fully bespoke and feature-rich supersport. This is likely what caused the long wait for the R9 after the initial rumors. Starting with the most surprising departure from the philosophy of the R7, the R9 has a unique gravity-cast Deltabox frame, making it a true-blooded supersport. In fact, this is the lightest aluminum frame to ever be offered on a Yamaha supersport model. With the R9’s impressively low 430 lb curb weight and torque-rich 890cc three-cylinder CP3 engine, it will no doubt be a blast whether you’re on a track or a winding back road.
The Heart Remains Unchanged
Speaking of the legendary CP3 power plant, the absolute Swiss Army Knife of engines, it remains relatively untouched for the R9, meaning it will make just shy of 120 hp with all the torque you could possibly desire. The only real change is different tuning to give it a more supersport character. While not directly related to the engine, a smaller rear sprocket has also been added to help with high-speed performance, making the CP3 more suited for track use. The CP3 should give the R9 all of the top end of a 600cc supersport but without the lack of torque that makes the four-cylinder bikes less fit for street use. The only thing that would get in the way of the R9’s street aspirations is the ergonomics.
Don’t Expect a Sport-Lite
One of the hallmarks of the R6 was its ridiculously track-focused ergonomic design, which really made it unfit for street riding. This put a damper on its widespread appeal and made it less desirable for street use compared to some of its competitors. The R9 aims to split the difference between the R7 (which has relatively relaxed ergonomics, similar to the Honda CBR600F4i) and the R6 (which has you in the downward-facing dog pose at a stop light). This by no means makes the R9 a “sport-lite” bike akin to the Aprilia RS 660 or Honda CBR650––even the R7 has more aggressive ergonomics compared to those bikes. I would put the R9’s ergonomics in the same ballpark as the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. They are still fully committed supersport ergonomics but not to the detriment of streetability. The R9 is not designed to be a direct successor to the purely track-focused R6, but I think that for most riders, that is a good thing.
No Cut Corners
You might assume that the starting price of just $12,499 would be for a base model that lacks some of the high-end underpinning befitting a supersport, but no, the 2025 Yamaha R9 only has one trim, and it only costs $200 more than the 2024 Yamaha MT09 SP and $100 more than the 2025 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R ABS. So, what is equipped on this singular trim of the R9?
For starters, the R9 is equipped with a fully adjustable KYB suspension that wouldn’t look out of place on a $17,000 supersport. For stopping power, Yamaha has thankfully moved away from its in-house brakes in favor of Brembo Stylema calipers, which should stop the bike in a hurry, as well as provide the much-needed brake lever feel that the in-house Yamaha brakes tend to lack. Not to be outdone by the competition, the R9 also includes the hallmark of any true high-performance motorcycle: winglets! While they might be considered excessive, the winglets help make the R9 the most aerodynamic motorcycle that Yamaha has ever built.
As far as tech goes, the R9 has plenty of trickle-down tech from the R1, making it so feature-rich that it rivals the likes of the Aprilia RS 660––except the R9 actually has enough power to make all these assists seem more justified. There is a six-axis IMU, which is paired with the full suite of Yamaha Ride Control settings, including a nine-level lean-sensitive Traction Control System, a three-level Slide Control System, and lean-sensitive ABS with the ability to disable the rear wheel ABS for the rider who appreciates “backing it in.” The R9 is also equipped with Yamaha’s buttery-smooth third-generation up-and-down quick shifter. All of this is controlled through a five-inch TFT with smartphone connectivity. Oh, and did I mention it comes with launch control?
The Supersport, Evolved
The R9 will be available in three colorways, and other manufacturers should take notes. The three colors are the current Team Yamaha Blue, a throwback Intensity White/Red livery, and a Matte Raven Black for those who shop at Hot Topic. It’s hard not to find at least one of the three colorways appealing––there are no “Acid Golds” or “Storm Greens” here––just colors that have wide appeal and brand significance.
Overall, the new 2025 Yamaha R9 is a perfect puzzle piece to slot into the hole in Yamaha’s lineup where the R6 once stood. It is by no means a direct successor, but I believe that it will be all the better for it. Somewhat relaxed sport ergonomics that don’t noticeably impact track performance paired with an engine that is not only usable on the street but damn-near optimized for it. That combo, paired with the extremely aggressive pricing, should make the R9 a generation-defining sportbike that was well worth the long wait.
