2021 Yamaha MT 09 SP vs 2021 Aprilia Tuono 660 vs ?

Katatonic

Katatonic

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I’m looking for a new street bike. Something a little lighter, smaller and ‘fun’.
I’ve pulled my Aprilia Tuono 1100 off the road and it will predominantly be a track-only bike going forward, so the new bike would either join the Versys 1000 or possibly replace it. The Tuono will be brought out to play on future Tail of the Dragon trips, but that’s about it.
Would need to be comfortable for multi-day trips and fun to ride but does not need to accommodate a passenger.
Yamaha MT 09 SP and Aprilia Tuono 660 kind of stuck out for me.
A huge point against the Tuono is their dealer network. Even overlooking my issues with Two Wheel and the fact that I will never go back to them, they were the closest Aprilia dealer to me at 45 minutes away. Also, Yamaha reliability is miles ahead of Aprilia.
Some features I would like to see:
- Factory Quickshifter (up/down)
- Cruise control
- Decent factory suspension
- Fairly upright as I can’t ride sportbikes due to an injury.
Am I overlooking any bikes that would fall into the light, fun street bike category that would also be as reliable as Yamaha?
Budget doesn’t really come in to play but I would like to keep the MSRP around the $14k - $16k range (plus tax and whatever else) to maintain peace around here.
Aaaaand go!
 
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Katatonic said:
I’m looking for a new street bike. Something a little lighter, smaller and ‘fun’.
I’ve pulled my Aprilia Tuono 1100 off the road and it will predominantly be a track-only bike going forward, so the new bike would either join the Versys 1000 or possibly replace it. The Tuono will be brought out to play on future Tail of the Dragon trips, but that’s about it.
Would need to be comfortable for multi-day trips and fun to ride but does not need to accommodate a passenger.
Yamaha MT 09 SP and Aprilia Tuono 660 kind of stuck out for me.
A huge point against the Tuono is their dealer network. Even overlooking my issues with Two Wheel and the fact that I will never go back to them, they were the closest Aprilia dealer to me at 45 minutes away. Also, Yamaha reliability is miles ahead of Aprilia.
Some features I would like to see:
- Factory Quickshifter (up/down)
- Cruise control
- Decent factory suspension
- Fairly upright as I can’t ride sportbikes due to an injury.
Am I overlooking any bikes that would fall into the light, fun street bike category that would also be as reliable as Yamaha?
Budget doesn’t really some in to play but I would like to keep the MSRP around the $14k - $16k range (plus tax and whatever else) to maintain peace around here.
Aaaaand go!
Click to expand...
is the SP coming? Happy to hear it if so, should get it with your budget and change to spare.

if you know the motor then you know, SP suspension fixes it's greatest weakness.

It's gonna smash the Tuono 660 and not look back.
 
Evoex said:
is the SP coming? Happy to hear it if so, should get it with your budget and change to spare.

if you know the motor then you know, SP suspension fixes it's greatest weakness.

It's gonna smash the Tuono 660 and not look back.
Click to expand...

SP is definitely coming. It includes Ohlins rear suspension and better upgraded KYB front as well as cruise control.
It also adds a couple of cosmetic things, but I don’t really care about that.
It also adds $3k to the list price which comes out to around $14.5k which is well within range.
 
Katatonic said:
SP is definitely coming. It includes Ohlins rear suspension and better upgraded KYB front as well as cruise control.
It also adds a couple of cosmetic things, but I don’t really care about that.
It also adds $3k to the list price which comes out to around $14.5k which is well within range.
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honestly if its coming it would be on my middleweight shortlist as well....very short list.

edit: lol they even made a new motor which produces more torque at a lower rpm. nuts.
 
Evoex said:
honestly if its coming it would be on my middleweight shortlist as well....very short list.
Click to expand...

I almost pulled the trigger on one yesterday but I’ve never even sat on at MT 09 and the dealer didn’t have one in stock for me to sit on, regular or SP. I called 3 dealers and they all didn’t have any. I would like to throw a leg over one to make sure the ergonomics work before putting a deposit down on an SP.
The most helpful answer I got was “We have a new one (non-SP) still in the crate so we can call you in a week or two when you can come see it.”
 
Katatonic said:
I’m looking for a new street bike. Something a little lighter, smaller and ‘fun’.
I’ve pulled my Aprilia Tuono 1100 off the road and it will predominantly be a track-only bike going forward, so the new bike would either join the Versys 1000 or possibly replace it. The Tuono will be brought out to play on future Tail of the Dragon trips, but that’s about it.
Would need to be comfortable for multi-day trips and fun to ride but does not need to accommodate a passenger.
Yamaha MT 09 SP and Aprilia Tuono 660 kind of stuck out for me.
A huge point against the Tuono is their dealer network. Even overlooking my issues with Two Wheel and the fact that I will never go back to them, they were the closest Aprilia dealer to me at 45 minutes away. Also, Yamaha reliability is miles ahead of Aprilia.
Some features I would like to see:
- Factory Quickshifter (up/down)
- Cruise control
- Decent factory suspension
- Fairly upright as I can’t ride sportbikes due to an injury.
Am I overlooking any bikes that would fall into the light, fun street bike category that would also be as reliable as Yamaha?
Budget doesn’t really some in to play but I would like to keep the MSRP around the $14k - $16k range (plus tax and whatever else) to maintain peace around here.
Aaaaand go!
Click to expand...
You missed the 890r, its very light, and probably more usable at street speeds than the 1290

I'd be willing to bet the KTM dealer network is also probably better than aprilia due to their offroad popularity

Evoex said:
It's gonna smash the Tuono 660 and not look back.
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I dunno about 'smash' tuono, the engine might be better, but the aprilia sounds and looks much better than the yamaha, of course if you go with the tuono you'll have to get it flashed
 
bigpoppa said:
You missed the 890r, its very light, and probably more usable at street speeds than the 1290

I'd be willing to bet the KTM dealer network is also probably better than aprilia due to their offroad popularity


I dunno about 'smash' tuono, the engine might be better, but the aprilia sounds and looks much better than the yamaha, of course if you go with the tuono you'll have to get it flashed
Click to expand...
I'm talking performance.
 
Katatonic said:
I almost pulled the trigger on one yesterday but I’ve never even sat on at MT 09 and the dealer didn’t have one in stock for me to sit on, regular or SP. I called 3 dealers and they all didn’t have any. I would like to throw a leg over one to make sure the ergonomics work before putting a deposit down on an SP.
The most helpful answer I got was “We have a new one (non-SP) still in the crate so we can call you in a week or two when you can come see it.”
Click to expand...
heh.

the '17 was less aggressive then the tuono 1100, most definitely in the peg location.
 
My friend had a 2019 MT-09 and loved it except for the stock suspension - he's over 200 lbs, though. When it was rear-ended this past fall and written off, he looked around at all the new bikes coming in and ended up ordering the 2021 MT-09 SP, which will hopefully arrive this month from Apex. If you want to see it in person, I can ask him to let me know when it arrives and you can go check it out.
 
Relax said:
My friend had a 2019 MT-09 and loved it except for the stock suspension - he's over 200 lbs, though. When it was rear-ended this past fall and written off, he looked around at all the new bikes coming in and ended up ordering the 2021 MT-09 SP, which will hopefully arrive this month from Apex. If you want to see it in person, I can ask him to let me know when it arrives and you can go check it out.
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I’ve ridden an FJ 09 which has the same motor, and it’s a fantastic engine! I just want to make sure the seating position and bars are in a good spot where they don’t aggravate my neck/shoulder.
I’ll see if Tri-City comes through with getting one out of the crate, but if not I might need to make friends with your buddy.

Relax said:
Also, between the two, you might find the Tuono 660 underpowered coming off a Tuono 1100.
Click to expand...

Most things are under powered compared to the Tuono….lol!
But that’s part of what I’m hoping to accomplish and why the Tuono is off the road. It’s ridiculous as a street bike and I’m lucky I wasn’t caught doing something stupid with it….lol
 
bigpoppa said:
You missed the 890r, its very light, and probably more usable at street speeds than the 1290

I'd be willing to bet the KTM dealer network is also probably better than aprilia due to their offroad popularity
Click to expand...

I’ve never considered KTM….they just don’t do it for me. I’ve ridden a buddy’s (@BigEvilDoer) RC8R and it’s a fantastic bike, but I’ve never had any desire to own a KTM.
Dealer network for me would be fine, Apex isn’t too far from me, but they all seem….‘agricultural’ to me….
 
Katatonic said:
I’ve never considered KTM….they just don’t do it for me. I’ve ridden a buddy’s (@BigEvilDoer) RC8R and it’s a fantastic bike, but I’ve never had any desire to own a KTM.
Dealer network for me would be fine, Apex isn’t too far from me, but they all seem….‘agricultural’ to me….
Click to expand...
some people like that sort of thing
https://imgur.com/PFgexaz

If electronic cruise control is important to you, those are about the only choices I can think of, but if your open to using a throttle lock/mechanical cruise control, you get more options:

Street triple, the new and improved monster(no trellis)
not sure if hypermotard would fit in with these bikes at 440 lbs wet though
 
bigpoppa said:
some people like that sort of thing
https://imgur.com/PFgexaz

If electronic cruise control is important to you, those are about the only choices I can think of, but if your open to using a throttle lock/mechanical cruise control, you get more options:

Street triple, the new and improved monster(no trellis)
not sure if hypermotard would fit in with these bikes at 440 lbs wet though
Click to expand...
id say that v4 1100 has character in spades!
 
How about a KTM 690 SMC-R or Husqvarna 701 SM? Especially if you're keeping the Versys for longer distance/highway use? 300 lbs dry/330 wet, 70 HP / 54 lb-ft and gets pretty good reviews. On the big side for a true supermoto, but supposedly more fun than a Hypermotard on the back roads while still capable of highway stints. They're on the top of my list if I ever had to replace the SXV.
 
Katatonic said:
I almost pulled the trigger on one yesterday but I’ve never even sat on at MT 09 and the dealer didn’t have one in stock for me to sit on, regular or SP. I called 3 dealers and they all didn’t have any. I would like to throw a leg over one to make sure the ergonomics work before putting a deposit down on an SP.
The most helpful answer I got was “We have a new one (non-SP) still in the crate so we can call you in a week or two when you can come see it.”
Click to expand...
Apex Cycle has one listed on their website. It's used, but if all you want to do is go plunk your butt down on one...

Consider XSR900 maybe? Same engine again... can't compare rider triangle as I haven't put any real seat time on either XSR900 or the MT09.
 
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bigpoppa said:
Street triple, the new and improved monster(no trellis)
not sure if hypermotard would fit in with these bikes at 440 lbs wet though
Click to expand...

What about the new Triumph Trident? A definite possibility.
It uses the Daytona 675cc motor with a 1.1mm(ish) reduced stroke and slightly sleeved cylinders. Motor should be super smooth and rev happy.
 
Best way to describe the MT09 Ergos are it feels like a street dirt bike. It’s the most comfortable bike I’ve ever owned.

660 will have some teething problems, looks like they have a recall on the connecting rods already.
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