Yamaha’s MT-09 has always been a bit of a menace. Loud, torque-rich, short-wheelbase, and forever itching to loft the front wheel at inappropriate moments, it’s long been one of the most entertaining naked bikes you can buy without a mortgage-sized price tag. The new MT-09 Y-AMT takes that same recipe and bolts on Yamaha’s Automated Manual Transmission, removing the clutch lever and gear shifter in favour of electronic actuators and buttons. Like it or not, automatic boxes are probably the future so Yamaha are right to join the auto party.

Underneath the new tech, the MT-09 Y-AMT is very much the same animal we already know and love. The 890cc CP3 triple still punches out 119 hp (87.5 kW) at 10,000 rpm and 93 Nm at 7,000 rpm, and it feels every bit as rowdy as those numbers suggest. There’s a deep well of midrange torque, a hard-edged top end, and that unmistakable triple-cylinder intake howl amplified through Yamaha’s acoustic grilles in the tank. It’s an engine that eggs you on constantly, and it remains one of the most characterful motors in motorcycling.

The chassis is equally familiar. The lightweight CF die-cast aluminium Deltabox frame keeps things tight and agile, the fully adjustable 41 mm USD forks and link-type rear shock do a great job of controlling the madness, and the Brembo radial master cylinder feeding twin 298 mm front discs delivers strong, predictable braking. At 196 kg wet, the Y-AMT version is only 3 kg heavier than the manual bike, and you’d be hard-pressed to feel that extra weight anywhere other than on a spec sheet.

In short, the MT-09 itself is brilliant. It’s sharp without being nervous, playful without being scary, and about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on. That hasn’t changed.

What has changed is how you interact with it. Yamaha’s Y-AMT system uses two electric actuators to operate the clutch and shift gears, controlled by the ECU and a dedicated motor control unit. You can ride it in fully automatic mode, with either D for relaxed commuting or D+ for more aggressive riding, or you can take control yourself using a see-saw switch on the left handlebar.

In practice, the system works, but it doesn’t quite have the polish of some rival automated and semi-automated transmissions. From a standing start, initial pickup from zero throttle can be abrupt and it is there that the Y-AMT system feels it's most unrefined. It’s not dangerous, but it does feel a little clumsy compared to the smoother, more intuitive responses offered by some of Yamaha’s competitors in this space. Interestingly, the Y-AMT system on the MT-07 feels must more sorted so it may be down to cubes which is perhaps back up by the fact that the Tracer 9 GT+ i rode just after the MT-09 suffered from the same issue.

Shifts themselves are fast — very fast — and once you’re rolling, the Y-AMT settles down nicely. In D+ mode it keeps the engine in the meat of the powerband and bangs through gears with impressive speed, while manual mode lets you take charge without touching a clutch. For commuting, filtering, or longer days in the saddle, there’s no denying the appeal. It’s easy, it’s stress-free, and it allows you to focus entirely on throttle, braking, and line choice.

That convenience, however, comes with a small price in personality. The MT-09 has always been a wheelstand legend, and while you can still get the front wheel up, some of the mischief has been trimmed away. Without a clutch lever, clutch-up wheelies are off the menu, and that removes a layer of interaction that many MT-09 tragics genuinely enjoy. The bike still goes hard, still makes you grin, but it’s a slightly more polite version of its former self.

The tech package rounds things out nicely, with a crisp 5-inch TFT dash offering connectivity, a Smart Key system for keyless ignition, and all the expected modern rider aids quietly working in the background.

So where does that leave the MT-09 Y-AMT? As a bike, it’s outstanding — sharp, fast, charismatic, and endlessly entertaining. As a transmission, Y-AMT is clever and promising, but it lacks the finesse and fluidity of the best systems currently on the market. For riders who want maximum ease and everyday usability without sacrificing performance, it makes a lot of sense. For purists who live for clutch control and unfiltered hooliganism, the standard MT-09 still holds the upper hand.

Either way, Yamaha’s most lovable troublemaker remains intact— the MT-09 Y-AMT it's just a tad more polite.

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