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Transforming the MT09

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7.7K views 31 replies 15 participants last post by  SheepDawg454  
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#1 ·
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I have two bikes. One Triumph Street Twin for casual quick rides around the hood. And bc it’s gorgeous. I got my MT09SP last year for the thrills. Love it to death. Was thinking long and hard about swapping it out for a sport tourer, or adding a tourer. But I have no garage and an uphill, narrow, driveway- meaning storage and size/weight limitations.

instead, I went and turned the MT into a convertible sport tourer of sorts. (Yes I could’ve gotten a tracer. I just like the MT more around town and for solo rides. “Converting” it works for us.
The main bits and bobs.
-Corbin gunfighter plus lady seat- didn’t expect it to be such a huge upgrade over the Yamaha comfort seat. A world of difference even for solo rides!
-shad luggage system. I find the lines and mounts of the 3P system when luggage is off to be unobtrusive.
-convertible adjustable windshield by Madstad. A really nice piece. Fly screen for normal use. Big ass windscreen for the long haul that pops right
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on and off.

plus a few decorative bits just bc that’s part of the fun of these things.
 
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#4 ·
I have cruise control but not heated grips. We really only do warm weather touring. I did add those foam rubber slip on grips bc I do find the stock grips to be a bit buzzy and fatiguing. Still looking for decent sized and rubber padded foot rests. The Puig ones are small seeming. Also I’ve been very unimpressed with their products.

Honestly, it was the adaptive cruise control on the tracer that had me seriously considering turning the MT in. I have it on my car and it is infinitely more useful than standard cruise. At least in the northeast where truly open roads are a rarity,,.
 
#7 ·
I like it. I had luggage for my FZ1 and it was incredibly useful. I bought an old GoldWing to fulfill the touring role and give my wife a more comfy seat. That reminds me, it needs a battery.
 
#8 ·
I like my Madstad combo. Makes the MT-09 torture device tolerable if I want to cover miles on it. Thats a pic of 350 miles on mostly I-40 for a run to Arkansas and back. Worth its weight in gold IMHO. That is the 18" dark screen. I have a 22" lighter smoked shield for winter. Wife wants nothing to do with the MT-09 and I don't blame her. While it's a blast to ride, fun as hell. It is without a doubt the most uncomfortable bike I have ever ridden including road racing and drag bikes. It's ate up with torture device malfunctioning DNA. Have a Wing for rolling phat lux boat style two up.

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#9 ·
Longest stretch on my Mt09 is 800km on one day. It’s a torture device for sure but man is it fun when you get to the fun bits.
I use it as a tourer and commuter.
Cruise control is a game changer when the right wrist goes numb end of day from holding on bumpy roads. Can just put it on and shake it off.
padded bike pants are a good addition if you don’t have the comfort seat.
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#13 ·
I did the complete opposite. I bought a 2021 tracer 9 gt And I did everything I could to make it as fun as an MT-09 , but with the extended swing arm and extra weight it's just impossible, but I do have an extremely comfortable bike and now it's fast as hell . I did a DNA stage 2 air intake . ECU flash , full akrapovic system ,and I agree the Corbin gunfighter seat made it a totally different bike .highly recomnend ! Some day soon i want an mt-10 thats all set up with shad bags and a nice wind screen .
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#17 ·
I've done a couple of 2000km 4/5 day road trips on my '22 SP and apart from a sore arse at the end of a 4 hour or so riding day I've found it to be a great touring bike. I'm still 'playing' with the luggage set up but this latest combo working pretty well. Rhinowalk 18L Saddle Bags + SW Motech 18L Dry bags. Mounted on a SW Motech (Ali Express knock off) street rack. I've just bought the genuine SW Motech Streetrack extension which fits perfectly and will make it easier to mount and stabilise the rear bags for future trips.
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#18 ·
My longest stretch on the MT09 so far is about 700 miles / 1125 km so far, in the hot ass summer heat with the last 3 hours spent soaking wet in rain. It wasn't comfortable due to the weather but it told me that I can probably go farther with proper preparation (rest mainly) and good weather. Enough to where I've off and on considered trying to do an iron butt ride on the MT09.

That being said, for most of my tour trips I try to max out at ~500 miles a day or a better measurement would be ~8-10 hours of riding per day.

I wish the Madstad screens were out early on. I really want to spring for them but it's hard to justify when I already have 2 Puig windscreens which mostly do a decent job. I'm still rocking the stock seat, but I also have a strict to maximize ass fat which makes it comfy enough for me.
 
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#19 ·
it’s Autumn here. Just did my last weekender to the alpine region (Jindabyne and surrounds in NSW) it gets too cold to ride from May onwards. Sydney is still ok to ride but not as fun. I did 500/600km days most days and that is my happy limit for riding and do them back to back. I have done longer days but enjoyment factor drops after 500km. Most roads are bumpy and fast.

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#23 ·
Great pics, can almost feel it cooling down as that sun drops. Agree, Sydney is average (esp on weekends) even if you have the time and patience to head south to Mac Pass etc or thread the needle through the Old Pac nutcases the roads are either heavily policed, busy or pretty patchy. My weekend happy place is back of the Hawkesbury, lower blue mountains etc. Sometimes even south west around Wallacia/Picton. Shorter bursts but less hectic.
 
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#27 ·
As the weather warms here, it gets very tempting to ride in short sleeves. In addition to upgrading the bike so it can tour occassionally, I also got better warm weather gear. Last week, it was unusually warm so I was quite tempted to take off my jacket (perforated leather). Had on a pair of light riding jeans, mesh gloves and my helmet. But I reminded myself I’m trying for “ATGATT” so kept it on. Good thing I did.

Was riding in not heavy traffic in a local 4 lane avenue. Just as I was coming to a stop at a stoplight, I got rear-ended by a distracted driver in a Range Rover. Pushed me into the intersection and threw me from the bike. Although she told the officer it was “just a tap,” her front end was smashed in and the car was leaking fluid. Still waiting for the final tally, but did about $1700 worth of damage to the MT- mostly cosmetic and basically all the “touring” accessories. VERY annoying.

On the positive side, I escaped without serious damage. Probably better that I didn’t see it coming as I didn’t tense up before getting whacked. Still pretty surprised I’m not more damaged.

so, now my transformed bike is waiting at the shop to be transformed back into shape. Hopefully we’ll actually get to tour on the damn thing!
 
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