Yamaha MT-09 900 Y-AMT 2024 — Specifications

Imagine: you place your foot on the left footpeg, you reach for the shifter, and there's nothing there. Welcome to the world of the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 Y-AMT, the first motorcycle in the lineup to trade the gear lever for an electronic brain. The concept is simple. Yamaha has grafted a set of sensors and electric motors onto the existing 6-speed gearbox to manage the clutch and gear changes without any input from the left foot. This is not a torque-converter automatic transmission — it's a mechanically identical gearbox electronically controlled. The distinction matters, because the engine remains the same as the standard MT-09: the CP3 889 cc triple still delivers 119 horsepower at 10,000 rpm and 93.2 Nm of torque at 7,000 rpm. Nothing changes under the hood; everything changes in the way you use it.

Three operating modes are available to the rider. M mode turns two triggers on the left switchgear into a shifter: the thumb shifts up, the index finger shifts down, and the system handles the rest with a speed that makes a conventional quickshifter feel like a rusty old cable. D and D+ modes let the machine decide when to change gears on its own. The first prioritizes smoothness, ideal for city riding or a leisurely cruise. The second holds the revs longer before clicking into the next gear, for those who like to hear the triple roar through the rev range. On paper, the benefit is tangible: the left foot never leaves the footpeg, even when attacking tight corners. For a fast rider, that's an extra point of support that can make all the difference.

The mechanical foundation remains what has built the MT-09's reputation since its introduction. The aluminum perimeter frame keeps the 193 kg wet weight firmly in check, the 41 mm inverted fork and mono-shock offer reasonable travel of 130 and 122 mm respectively, and braking duties are handled by twin 298 mm front discs with radial-mount four-piston calipers. Tires in 120/70-17 and 180/55-17 complete a package that doesn't chase hypersport precision but aims for raw road-riding pleasure. Against a Triumph Street Triple RS or a Kawasaki Z900, the MT-09 Y-AMT plays a card no one else offers in this segment: eliminating clutch management to refocus attention on the line.

Yamaha hasn't skimped on the supporting electronics. Five riding modes, an inertial measurement unit, cornering ABS and traction control, wheelie control, cruise control — all configurable via a smartphone connected to the 5-inch color TFT display. The Y-AMT version adds keyless ignition, a small but welcome convenience. One might wonder, though, whether this accumulation of rider aids doesn't end up drowning the raw character that made the MT-09 a hit in the first place. The roadster born to shake your guts is gradually transforming into a technological showcase.

Then there's the question of price. At €11,299, the MT-09 Y-AMT costs only €500 more than the standard version, keyless system included. That's a measured premium for a technology that could appeal to urban riders tired of working the clutch in traffic as much as to experienced riders seeking an edge when pushing hard. The bike will also be available in a restricted A2-compliant version, opening the door to newly licensed riders. Yamaha is clearly betting on making this assisted transmission mainstream, and the contained pricing shows the brand wants to convince, not merely impress. The 14-liter tank will limit long-haul legs, but the MT-09 has never claimed to be a tourer. It remains a machine built for sensation — one that now offers a different way to experience it.