When Yamaha announced its new R9 supersport in late 2024, it immediately garnered attention from sportsbike fans around the world. But despite the hype, the R9's design is understated—easily blending in with the crowd and not immediately noticeable to most people.
At first glance, many expected the R9 to be a conversation magnet at motorcycling events or local meet-ups. But despite this, it was surprising that there was little interest from passing riders. Many realized that it looked like an R7 or R6 at first glance, so it was not immediately noticed as Yamaha's new supersport.
The R9's blue and white livery is certainly fabulous, but it's not in-your-face compared to other rivals like the bright-orange KTM 990 RC R. Because of this, the R9 can slip into the backdrop among the brighter and flashier race reps and adventure bikes. It's funny, I get more looks at my Enfield Classic 350 than my Yamaha, even though it doesn't have a rev counter!
But this does not detract from the beauty of the experience. The R9 provides a comfortable ride, quiet on rural roads and civilized in city traffic. Whether on trackdays or passing houses in the countryside, its presence remains subtle while providing cracking induction noise to the rider, especially with the help of the taller Puig R-Racer screen.
One important thing to remember is the mirror stalks. While visibility is great, longer mirror stalks would be more helpful as the view is often obscured by the elbow. In everyday driving, life-saver checks are essential, especially when changing lanes on dual carriageways or motorways.
