Yamaha has announced its eagerly anticipated R9 sportsbike. The MT-09 based machine effectively replaces the long-running R6 as the company’s middleweight race replica and looks set to be homologated to take part in international supersport race series from 2025.
The arrival of the new machine is no surprise to anyone, nor is its specification unexpected. Senior members of Yamaha’s official World Supersport race team had let slip at the start of the year that this would be the last season for the venerable R6 and that it would be replaced by an R9 for 2025, and now the news has been officially announced.
At the heart of the R9 is Yamaha’s well proven 119bhp CP3 engine, without any modifications. In terms of peak power, that’s right in line with the R6, although we the 890cc three-cylinder engine from the R9 will offer more torque and a very linear power delivery. It’s a soulful unit as seen in numerous Yamahas, including the MT-09, XSR900, XSR900GP and Tracer 9, and well known as a performance engine, but it’s the chassis which will have sportsbike fans salivating. The lightweight Deltabox chassis is bespoke for the new model. Yamaha says the frame weighs just 9.7kg and is stiffer than the one found on the other CP3 models.
The bodywork has a distinct Yamaha R series feel to it and features large aerodynamic wings, similar to those found on the company’s MotoGP racer and the recently announced R1 Race. The wings are said to reduce wheelies under power while increasing front end grip through corners. Suspension and brakes are also top notch, with 43mm KYB forks offering massive adjustability. Each fork leg features a base valve designed to optimise pressure in the cylinder by limiting or entirely preventing oil from flowing into the bottom of the fork, which Yamaha says results in an improved damping response, better feedback and all-round stability. The rear shock is also adjustable for preload, rebound damping and compression damping. Electronics are in line with those found on other Yamahas, meaning a great range of rider aids and power modes will come as standard and, because it comes fitted with a six-axis IMU, many of these are lean sensitive and highly customisable too.
Significantly, the R9 features race-derived Brembo Stylema monoblock calipers. It’s the sort of equipment usually found on high-end superbikes and is linked to a Brembo master cylinder. That’s important because the R9 has been developed to compete in supersport racing, where brakes are among the components which are not allowed to be changed under the rules, and it is expected that the Yamaha will be one of the most competitive bikes on the grid next year. Supersport regulations require ‘balancing’ of all the bikes through electronic restrictions and weight limits, and the R9 will be pitched against the likes of the Kawasaki ZX-6R, Ducati Panigale V2, Triumph Street Triple RS, the MV Agusta F3 800 and KTM’s equally new-for-2024 990 RC R on the track.
With the R1 now a track only model, the R9 will be Yamaha’s flagship roadgoing sportsbike. No prices have been announced yet, but the expectation is that it will retail for less than £13,000 when it goes on sale in March 2025.
As well as the new R9, Yamaha has also announced the R3 will be getting an update for 2025. The 321cc A2 licence sportster gets new bodywork in a similar style to the bigger machine. The reshaped seat is narrower, making it more accessible for shorter riders, while it also gets an assist and slipper type clutch which, we know from experience, gives a very light clutch action and helps smooth out down changes through the gearbox.
Fancy one? They’ll be in showrooms from November.
