2020 Yamaha MT-09

From the throaty exhaust note of the torquey 847cc engine to the aggressive, beady-eyed stare of the LED headlight, the 2020 Yamaha MT-09 is a tantalizing triple that is easily distinguishable on the road.

Originally named the FZ-09, its history begins in 2014 where it was one of the “first in a wave of naked bikes from the manufacturers that finally gained acceptance with the buying public in the USA.” It was followed by major updates in 2017 that addressed suspension gripes we had in previous model years. In 2019, the FZ was renamed as the MT-09 to align with Yamaha’s global market, and that is how it remains for 2020. Still equipped with the same sporty chassis, adjustable suspension, 847cc triple, and $8,999 MSRP seen in 2019, this hyper naked motorcycle will continue to have a firm grasp on the public’s and editors’ hearts alike.

In 2014 the FZ-09 claimed Cycle World’s Ten Best Bikes Best Middleweight category and went on to claim Best Standard in 2015. The XSR900—a sport-heritage variant of the MT-09—stole the crown of Best Standard in 2016.

Two of the main MT-09 competitors include the 2020 Kawasaki Z900 ABS and 2020 Triumph Street Triple RS. The Z900 ABS starts at $8,999 and the Street Triple RS at $12,550.

2020 Kawasaki Z900 ABS First Look

2020 Triumph Street Triple RS

2020 Triumph Street Triple RS First Ride Review

Yamaha’s Awesome FZ-09 Gets Numerous Upgrades For 2017

2017 Kawasaki Z900 versus Triumph Street Triple R versus Yamaha FZ-09 Comparison

No changes were needed, so no major ones were made. In fact, as covered in Cycle World’s 2020 MT overview, there aren’t any major changes to the 2020 MT line in general aside from the US introduction of the MT-03. Colorways are carried over to include Ice Fluo, Matte Raven Black, and Team Yamaha Blue.