From an 1190 Adventure to MT09

Clutt-225

Well-known member
So I’ve said many times on this site. I came from a Harley Davidson touring model to an 1190 Adventure.
I’ve also said I absolutely love the bike, it does everything well. When a good friend was shopping this summer and I tried very hard to convince him that he too should by an Adventure bike. Now Ryan hadn’t ridden in about 8 years and his last bike was a 2008 CBR 1000RR. He was convinced that the adventure bike would lack the performance that he was missing from his old Honda. He purchased a 2019 Yamaha MT09. Today I rode the MT09 on a shortened (due to rain) 300km loop.
So here’s my 2cents on the MT09 compared to my 2015 1190 Adventure
Price was very very close and either of us could have gone either direction. I chose used with lots of extras he chose new and stock and added Yamaha comfort seat and short tinted wind screen.
The power for the most part is very close, with the 1190 having more bottom end grunt and requires less shifting to make that pass. Both are far in excess of anything needed. The MT gets the fun factor points, it’s light nimble and begs for the turns like a S/S only way more comfortable on your back and wrists.
The 1190 definitely is more comfortable than the MT09 and it has much better wind protection even with my smaller wind screen.
Now I have luggage, hand guards and heated grips on my used 1190 and that was definitely missed on this day trip.
I also find I use my luggage on the short errands, begging the question. How do people ride bikes with no luggage? Ryan definitely needs a set of bags.

My conclusion is I have the right bike for me. But it’s awesome having a good friend with an MT09 in my garage, even if it’s only temporary.

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reliability tho ;)
 
We will have to see.
So far my 1190 has over 19,000km with no issues
The MT09 has 3400km with no issues

I know older KTM has a bad reputation but I thought they have there crap fairly well sorted now. But I could be wrong.
 
Your probably safe, products/design/engineering improve over time, but reputation tends to stick
 
OP, what did you think of the suspension?
I had the FJ version of that bike at it was awful
hit a bump mid corner and it would rollick like mad
decided to sell it rather than put $$ into an upgrade
 
The suspension issues on the MT have said to all but sorted. Though I never rode the older model so I don’t know. It felt very very sporty compared to my 1190 even on the “sport” setting. Firm yet planted on good asphalt. Typically I like to take the back roads. ie I was trying to take little lake road from Brighton to colborne rather than hwy2. It’s a bit stiff for that old patched up road, where the 1190’s suspension really shines.
All in all I think the MT09 is exactly what it’s intended to be. Perfect for the rider that really wants a S/S but wants to ride it comfortably.
 
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