A couple of years back I posted a review of my 2022 Yamaha MT-09 SP after putting about 8,000 miles on it. That video blew up – over 100,000 views and a few hundred new subscribers. Thank you, seriously, to everyone who watched and stuck around. But I owe you an update, and it’s long overdue.
So here it is. My honest Yamaha MT-09 SP long-term review. Not a first-impression piece. Not a spec sheet walkthrough. Just a few years of real ownership, a couple of headaches along the way, and a straight answer to the question I keep getting: would I buy it again?
Table of Contents
How I Ended Up With the MT-09 SP
Right after the pandemic, I had a chance to trade in my 2018 Honda CB650F
. The used motorcycle market at the time was absolutely crazy – used bike prices were through the roof, and new inventory was tight. Based on the trade-in value I was sitting on, buying new just made more sense.
I pre-ordered a 2021 Yamaha MT-09 SP. New generation, new styling, I was pumped. Then I waited eight months for it. By the time it showed up, it had rolled into the 2022 model year. No big deal. I rode it, loved it, put together that first review, and moved on.
Where the Mileage Actually Stands
Here’s the honest part I wish I could spin differently: I haven’t put the miles on it that I’d hoped. Between getting rear-ended, a parts shortage from a botched DIY maintenance job, and just the reality of work and life, the bike is sitting at 11,558 miles right now. That’s only about 3,500 more than the first review.
I’m not thrilled about it. But life happens, and the bike’s been there every time I’ve been able to ride it.
The Accident and What Came After
I was stopped at a red light and got rear-ended. Low speed, but enough to knock me off the bike. Fortunately I walked away fine. The bike didn’t. The insurance company quoted around $5,500 in damage.
Martin Moto took care of the repairs and did a great job putting it back together. But it meant about three months of downtime waiting on parts during a busy riding season. A lot of the miles I’d normally put on the MT-09 got shifted over to my Ninja 400, and honestly, I was really glad I had two bikes.
The Best Mod I’ve Made: Brake Light Modulator
While the bike was in the shop getting repaired, I had the dealer install a brake light modulator from TST Industries. Since they already had the rear end apart, it made sense to just have them plug it in while reassembling.
The way it works is simple: when you apply either brake – front lever or rear foot brake – the brake light pulses in a pattern instead of just staying solid. You can configure the pattern through the modulator itself.
After getting hit from behind, sitting at red lights was making me uneasy. The modulator has been great for keeping other drivers a little more alert and a little further back. If I had to recommend one modification for any bike — MT-09, Ninja 400, whatever you ride – this would be it. Genuinely worth it.
A Few Issues Worth Knowing About
The Sticky Brake Light
The modulator actually helped me catch a problem I might not have noticed otherwise. Every now and then when I’m riding with friends and we’re on comms, someone would call out that my brake light was on. Pretty easy to spot since it’s flashing a pattern.
The dealer found a minor adjustment needed at the rear brake switch during my last state inspection. But it’s still sticking occasionally, and now I think it’s coming from the front brake lever side. I have ASV levers on the bike – the kind that hinge and fold away on impact – and a quick pop of the lever usually clears it. No adjustment exists on the front switch, so I suspect there’s some dirt in there that needs cleaning. I’m keeping an eye on it.
The Cam Chain Tensioner Rattle
I mentioned this in the original review. In neutral, there’s a subtle rattle. Lots of people in the comments confirmed it’s a known MT-09 thing – the cam chain tensioner rattles when it gets loose. It hasn’t gotten any worse, so I haven’t felt the need to pull it apart and swap in a manual tensioning setup. Still watching it.
The Battery
During the winter I keep both bikes on trickle chargers so I can roll out whenever the weather cooperates. One morning the MT-09 just wouldn’t fire. Cranking strong, but wouldn’t start. My first instinct was the fuel injectors – we’d had a fuel injector cleaning done after the accident. But when the bike went in for state inspection, the dealer found the battery was bad. A new battery fixed it completely and it’s been fine ever since.
My Biggest Ongoing Complaint: The Headlight
I said it in the first review and I’ll say it again. The headlight on this thing is underwhelming. That single Cyclops-style light looks cool, but it doesn’t put out a lot of light. My Ninja 400 – which is a beginner bike by any measure – has a noticeably brighter headlight. I’d argue the MT-09 SP’s high beam isn’t significantly better than the Ninja’s low beam.
I don’t do much night riding, so it hasn’t been a safety issue for me personally. But if you regularly ride after dark, this is something to factor in.
Fuel Range: Minor Annoyance, Real Limitation
I get it. This is a high-performance street bike. I’m not expecting Ninja 400 fuel economy. But the MT-09 SP consistently gets me between 115 and 125 miles from a full tank before the light comes on. On group rides, I’m hunting for gas stations more often than most of my buddies. I wish the tank were a little bigger. Not a dealbreaker, but it’s something you’ll feel on longer days.
The Mods That Made It Better
Comfort Seat
The OEM seat looks fine but it’s stiff. Anything over an hour or so and I was feeling it. I swapped in a comfort seat and the difference is real. Longer rides, less fatigue. If you’re in the 40-and-up crowd like me, don’t sleep on this upgrade.
Michelin Road 6 Tires
I switched from the stock Bridgestone Battlax tires to Michelin Road 6s and haven’t looked back. Better grip, better handling, and they really shine when the road is wet. I feel noticeably more confident in the corners on a damp day. The tire life has been solid too. I liked them so much I’m planning to put Road 6s on the Ninja 400 when that set wears out.
Real Talk on Cost of Ownership
The insurance premium on a sport bike like the MT-09 SP is more than double what I pay on the Ninja 400. That’s just the reality of owning a high-performance motorcycle – a sport bike tax, basically.
The bigger surprise was tires and consumables. Tires are not cheap on this bike. Outside of that and the battery, I haven’t had major repair costs, but the ongoing ownership expenses are noticeably higher than something like a middleweight standard.
Long-Term Verdict: Do I Regret It?
No. Not even a little.
The MT-09 SP is kind of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It looks like a standard street bike, but it has sport bike performance underneath. It’s agile, it’s quick, and it’s capable of a lot more than I’m actually asking of it. And even at well under its limits, it’s an absolute blast to ride.
For my riding style – Pennsylvania back roads, occasional commuting, highway trips when the mood hits – it does everything without complaint. The only real drawback is the lack of storage. I commute with a backpack stuffed full of gear. I have SW Motech saddle bags from my Honda days and I bought the mounting hardware for the MT-09, but I haven’t installed them yet. Still on the fence about how I want to set up the back end.
If the thing got totaled tomorrow and the insurance company handed me a check, I’d go buy another one. Honestly, I’d probably upgrade to the newer generation since I like the updated styling and display. But if this generation was all that was available? I’d sign the paperwork without hesitation.
Wrapping Up
That’s my Yamaha MT-09 SP long-term review after a few years and just over 11,500 miles. It costs more to own than I expected, it drinks fuel a little faster than I’d like, and the headlight could be better. But it’s one of the most well-rounded bikes I’ve ever owned, and I have zero regrets.
If you’ve got an MT-09 SP, drop a comment below and let me know how yours has been holding up. Any issues I didn’t mention? Any mods I should look at? I’d love to hear from you.
If you found this useful, here’s how to stay in the loop:
Subscribe to the WaltInPA YouTube channel — I’ve got a long-term Kawasaki Ninja 400 review coming and eventually a side-by-side comparison of these two bikes.
Know someone who rides or is thinking about the MT-09 SP? Send them this post. Might save them a headache or two.
And come hang out in the WaltInPA Discord – good people, real conversations about riding. Link’s there, door’s open.
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