Yamaha MT-09 mods & upgrades

The MT-09 is the hooligan project bike. The early FZ-09 practically required aftermarket intervention — its fueling and suspension are the most fixed problems in modern naked-bike history — and the 889 generation is a favorite canvas because the triple takes to exhausts, gearing and ergonomic work so well.

1. Tail, levers, sliders

   Fender eliminator, adjustable levers, frame sliders. Standard first weekend, and the MT-09's stock plate hanger deserves what's coming to it.

   Tail Tidy & BilletLeversCrash Protection

2. Fix the fueling

   On 2014–16 bikes the flash is effectively mandatory — the snatchy throttle is maps, not cables, and the community verdict is 'if you're on the fence, just do it.' On 2021+ it's optional polish.

   Tune

3. Exhaust

   The Akrapovič low-mount full titanium is the signature MT-09 look and sound; SC-Project and Graves cover other tastes. The triple is one of the few engines where the sound alone justifies the spend.

   Exhaust

4. Suspension both ends

   Gen-one bikes need springs and a revalve (or cartridges and a shock) just to match the engine. 2021+ is better but still built to a price — set it up for your weight either way.

   Suspension

5. Calm the front, fix the seat

   Most riders add a steering damper (GPR or Öhlins) for the light, wheelie-happy front end, and the stock seat is a known complaint — both are quality-of-life money well spent.

   ElectronicsRearsets

6. Rubber

   Sticky sport rubber suits how these bikes actually get ridden. The 847s especially ship on rubber far more polite than the engine.

   Tires & Wheels

1. Tires

   Trackday DOT rubber first. The MT-09 makes a surprisingly capable track bike, and the contact patch is where that starts.

   Tires & Wheels

2. Brake consumables and feel

   Track pads, braided lines, fresh fluid. The 847's axial master cylinder is the weak link — a radial master swap is the community-reported fix; 2021+ bikes came with one.

   Brakes

3. Suspension for pace

   Cartridges and a quality shock sprung for your weight — on gen-one bikes this is not optional at track pace. The SP trim's Öhlins rear is a head start, not a finish line.

   Suspension

4. Damper and crash prep

   Steering damper for hard drives out of corners, case covers and sliders for the inevitable. Rearsets add cornering clearance the street pegs give up early.

   ElectronicsCrash ProtectionRearsets

5. Flash, pipe, gearing

   Full system and flash together, then gearing — the triple pulls hard enough that a tooth or two at the rear wakes up corner exits without hurting much else.

   TuneExhaustDrivetrain

6. Shift assist

   2014–16 bikes take a standalone quickshifter; 2017–20 have factory upshift that a flash can refine; 2021+ up/down works well out of the box.

   Quickshifter

• FZ-092014–2016

  847 cc CP3 launch generation: famously snatchy fueling and underdamped suspension — the reason a flash and suspension work are the usual first mods. Sold as FZ-09 in the US.

• 2017 update2017–2020

  Still FZ-09 in 2017, MT-09 from 2018. Adds traction control, slipper clutch, upshift quickshifter, improved suspension and the LED face. Same 847 engine — most mechanical parts carry across 2014–20.

• 889 gen2021–2023

  889 cc engine, new CF die-cast aluminum frame, R1-derived 6-axis IMU electronics, up/down quickshifter. Nothing meaningful crosses over from the 847 bikes.

• 2024 restyle2024+

  New bodywork and lighting, 5-inch TFT, new switchgear; Y-AMT option from 2025. SP trim adds an Öhlins shock and upgraded front brake hardware. Same 889 platform underneath, but cosmetic and dash-adjacent parts split from 2021–23.