Yamaha MT-09/FZ-09 (2015-2020, 847cc triple) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals

This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Yamaha MT-09, which was previously known as the FZ-09.

The Yamaha MT-09 was first released as the FZ-09 in the US. But by 2018, the whole world aligned on its name as the MT-09.

Irrespective of its name, it has always been the same fundamental motorcycle. It’s a standard sport bike based on the 847cc inline three-cylinder engine — a “triple” — that has loads of character and torque, and a very street-oriented powerband that makes the MT-09 fun in a wide range of use cases.

Yamaha made some significant updates to the MT-09 in 2017, including a twin-lamp redesign. They also gave it an assist/slipper clutch and some adjustability in the front suspension.

Nonetheless, the fundamental parts and tools required to service the MT-09 haven’t changed since launch, so this maintenance schedule is for the FZ-09 and MT-09 from 2015-2020. In 2021, a new MT-09 and MT-09 SP were released with an updated 890cc CP3 engine.

It’s similar to the maintenance schedule for the Yamaha XSR900 which has the same 847cc CP3 engine at their core.

The Yamaha MT-09 is also available as the MT-09 SP, which up-rated fully-adjustable Öhlins front suspension and a Sachs rear shock.

This post was originally published on 27 July 2020, but has since been updated with a simplified maintenance schedule guide, tire specs, chain maintenance, and more.

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Yamaha MT-09 Service Intervals

The minor service intervals (between oil changes) for the Yamaha MT-09 is different in the US and European manuals.

  • US manual — the maintenance intervals are 4000 miles / 6000 km, or 6 months.
  • European manuals — the maintenance intervals are 10000 km / 6000 mi, or 12 months

The valve service interval for the MT-09 is more similar, 26600 miles / 42000 km in the US manual, and 40000 km in the European one.

There are also a few items that are unique to each manual. So they’re separate below, aside from the standard “inspection checklist”.

What you need to service the Yamaha MT-09 — Consumables and Special Tools

If you’re servicing the MT-09, you at least need motorcycle maintenance tools — things like an oil catch pan, a paddock stand, and so on.

For the Yamaha MT-09, the manual recommends the following specific consumables.

PartYamaha MT-09/FZ-09 part spec
Engine oilUse Yamalube 10W-40. The manual recommends “Yamalube” and it’s affordable, so why not! Other high-quality synthetic oils include Motul 7100 10W-40 or Mobil 1 Synthetic 10W-40.

Don’t over-torque the bolt (spec is 43 Nm/31 lb-ft for the oil drain bolt per the manual) — use a torque wrench if you don’t have experience with how much torque is enough.
Oil filterNeeds to be changed every time you change the oil. Either get a stock oil filter (part 5GH-13440-50-00) or the Hiflofiltro HF204RC (better than K&N). Torque for the oil filter is 17 Nm/12 lb-ft.
Engine coolantYamaha recommends an ethylene glycol antifreeze with corrosion inhibitors. Yamalube coolant is hard to get, so Pro Honda HP coolant is a good substitute.
Spark PlugsNGK CPR9EA9 should be used per the manual. Make sure it’s gapped correctly to 0.8-0.9mm (with a gapping tool) and torqued with a torque wrench to 13Nm/10 lb-ft.
Air filterYamaha part number 1RC-14451-00-00, or the K&N alternative YA-8514.
Brake padsChoose EBC for more bite and lower fade, the people on fz09.org like them (among others). You need two sets for the front and one for the rear.
* Front: EBC FA252HH
* Rear: EBC FA174HH
Yamaha FZ-09, FJ-09, Tracer900, and MT-09 consumables (up to 2020)

And the following general consumables are useful as well.

Description
Paddock Stand — Makes maintaining your chain or doing other maintenance much easier.
Motul chain paste — one of the most highly-regarded chain lubes. Easy to apply, doesn’t fling off. If you need more stuff, get the Motul chain care kit as an affordable package.
Always good to have on hand lithium soap-based grease for lubing external pivot points (like the swingarm) and bearings.
Use Protect all cable life to lubricate your cables and controls.
General motorcycle maintenance consumables and tools

Yamaha MT-09 Maintenance Schedule

Below is the maintenance schedule for the Yamaha MT-09, also known as the FZ-09.

We’ve broken the maintenance schedule into two sections

  1. The core maintenance schedule. This comes in both US and Europe versions, with different service intervals.
  2. The standard “inspection checklist” to be done every service.

Maintenance notes

  • At the end of the schedule, continue the maintenance schedule in the order below (every 1, 2, or 4 maintenance periods, depending on the line item)
  • Yamaha only wants you to lube the chain, change the oil, and grease external pivot parts, and recommend that other items be left to a dealer or mechanic.
  • Don’t clean the air filter with compressed air (you’ll damage it).
  • Regularly check the brake fluid levels. Replenish as necessary.
  • The break-in service is not included below (these bikes are no longer sold and have all been broken in.)

Yamaha MT-09 US Maintenance Schedule (Miles — US manual)

Below is the miles-based maintenance schedule for the Yamaha MT-09. See below for the km-based schedule.

miles x 100048121620
Months612182430Every
Conduct standard inspection checklist (see below)
Change engine oil (warm engine before draining). Use Yamalube 10W-40.
Replace oil filter (Hiflofiltro HF204RC)
Check spark plug condition. Adjust gap and clean.
Replace spark plugs (NGK CPR9EA9, gap 0.8-0.9mm)12000 mi / 18 months
Check and adjust valve clearance26600 mi
Replace air filter (K&N YA-8514)24000 mi, or riding in rain/dust
Replace brake hoses4 years
Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4) and internal components of brake master cylinder and calipers.2 years
Moderately repack swingarm pivot bearings with lithium soap-based grease.32000 mi
Check steering bearing assemblies for looseness.
Moderately repack steering bearings with lithium soap-based grease.Repack every 12000 mi
Change coolant (Lithium soap-based coolant) 3 years
Check evap emission control system for damage. Replace if necessary
Maintenance schedule for the MT-09 (US)

Yamaha MT-09 Europe Maintenance Schedule (Km)

This is the maintenance schedule for the km-based manuals (Europe, Australia). Maintenance schedules are slightly wider.

km x 100010203040Every
Conduct standard inspection checklist (see below)Year
Change engine oil (warm engine before draining). Use Yamalube 10W-40.Year
Replace oil filter (Hiflofiltro HF204RC)
Check spark plug condition. Adjust gap and clean.
Replace spark plugs (NGK CPR9EA9, gap 0.8-0.9mm)
Check and adjust valve clearance40 000 km
Check evap emission control system for damage. Replace if necessary
Replace air filter (K&N YA-8514)
Replace brake hoses4 years
Change brake fluid (Castrol DOT 4) and internal components of brake master cylinder and calipers.2 years
Check steering bearing assemblies for looseness.
Moderately repack steering bearings with lithium soap-based grease.
Change coolant (Pro Honda HP coolant) 3 years
Maintenance schedule for the MT-09 (Europe)

Standard inspection checklist

Below is the checklist of items to do at every service per the schedules above.

Yamaha MT-09 Standard Inspection Checklist
[D] Perform dynamic inspection using Yamaha diagnostic tool. Check the error codes.
Check throttle grip operation and free play, and adjust if necessary.
Lubricate throttle cable and grip housing (Protect All Cable Life).
Check clutch operation. Adjust or replace cable.
Lubricate moving parts and cables thoroughly (lithium soap-based grease, Protect All Cable Life).
Check lights, signals, and switches operation.
Check sidestand switch operation and replace if necessary.
Check brake switch operation, front and rear.
Check / adjust headlight beam (if necessary)
Check the air induction cut-off valve, reed valve, and hose for damage. Replace any damaged parts.
Check and adjust fuel injection synchronization.
Check fuel hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary.
Check brake hoses for cracks or damage, and for correct routing and clamping.
Check coolant level
Check cooling system hoses for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary.
Check engine idle speed
(Not required in US)
Check front brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Replace brake pads if necessary (EBC FA252HH x 2).
Check rear brake operation, fluid level, and for fluid leakage. Replace brake pads if necessary (EBC FA174HH).
Check tyre tread depth and for damage. Replace if necessary (see spec below).
Check and adjust tyre pressure as necessary.
Check front fork operation and for oil leakage. Rebuild/ replace if necessary.
Check shock absorber operation and for oil leakage. Replace if necessary.
Check wheel bearings for smooth operation, looseness, or damage. Replace if necessary.
Check swingarm pivot bearing operation and for excessive play.
Check all chassis fitting and fasteners, and tighten/replace as necessary
Lubricate brake lever pivot shaft with silicone grease lightly.
Lubricate brake pedal, clutch lever, and shift pedal pivot shafts with lithium soap-based grease lightly
Check sidestand pivot operation. Lubricate with lithium soap-based grease lightly.
Check crankcase breather hose for cracks or damage. Replace if necessary
Check exhaust system for leakage. Tighten and/or replace gaskets as necessary.
Yamaha MT-09 Standard Inspection Checklist

Yamaha MT-09 Chain Maintenance

It’s important to maintain your chain on the MT-09, as on any chain-driven motorcycle. Use a good-quality chain lubricant like Motul chain paste, or a Motul chain care kit which comes with a couple of handy tools to maintain the chain.

Yamaha recommends you follow the following chain maintenance schedule every 500 mi (US) / 1000 km (Europe) and after washing the motorcycle, riding in the rain, or riding in wet areas.

Chain maintenance item
Check drive chain lubrication condition, lubricating if necessary (Motul chain paste)
Check drive chain slack, alignment, and condition, adjusting / replacing if necessary
Chain maintenance — Yamaha MT-09

Naturally, if you track or race your MT-09, then attend to your chain more often.

Checking drive chain slack

To check the drive chain slack, you need a ruler, and maybe some rubber gloves or a rag to avoid getting grease on your hand.

  • Put the motorcycle on the side stand
  • Shift the transmission into neutral
  • Push up and down on the chain in the middle (the bottom segment). Measure the deflection between the top-most point and bottom-most point.
Yamaha MT-09 drive chain slack measurement
Yamaha MT-09 drive chain slack measurement

Target drive chain slack: 5-15mm

Roll your motorcycle forwards and backwards. Find the tightest spot and keep measuring.

If the slack is too little (or too much), you have to adjust the slack by loosening the rear axle, using the adjusters, then re-tightening the axle.

Adjusting drive chain slack

To adjust drive chain slack:

  1. Loosen the axle nut and lock nut on each side of the swingarm.
  2. To tighten the chain (what you usually need to do), tighten the adjuster nuts on each side of the swing-arm. Make sure you tighten each side to the same amount (using the notch guides).
  3. Re-measure the drive chain slack once tightened. Once it’s at the correct amount, tighten the axle nut (torque: 150 Nm / 108 lb-ft), and then the lock nuts (16 Nm / 12 lb-ft).

Tire Sizes and Recommended Pressures

The MT-09’s manual has the following recommended tire pressures. Stock it ships with sport tires, Bridgestone S20s or Dunlop D214s, tubeless.

WheelTire sizeTire pressure (cold)
Front120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W)250 kPa / 2.5 bar / 36 psi
Rear180/55 ZR17 M/C (73W)290 kPa / 2.9 bar / 42 psi
Tire sizes and pressures

Of course, use those pressures as a starting point and adjust as necessary.

About the Yamaha MT-09

2017-2020 Yamaha MT-09 static RHS front 3-4 blue graffiti

The Yamaha MT-09 is a classic hooligan bike — upright, lightweight, easy to ride, and very fast.

The original Yamaha MT-09 is so responsive that many reviewers and riders think the engine’s throttle response is “twitchy”, i.e. it’s hard to keep it smooth at low or steady speeds. That’s just the result of a motor that makes torque everywhere and is — again — very light, at under 190 kg fully fuelled.

The core of the Yamaha MT-09 is the “crossplane concept” CP3 engine. It’s a liquid-cooled 847cc inline three-cylinder engine with dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder.

At peak, the original Yamaha MT-09 makes a healthy 85 kW / 114 bhp at 10000 rpm, or 87 Nm / 65 ft-lb @ 8500 rpm. It’s a very midrange-oriented engine, but it revs high enough to keep sportbike owners interested.

The engine in the MT-09 is the same in the original XSR900 and the touring-oriented Yamaha Tracer 900.

The basic MT-09 comes with quite a few features to help you keep the power on the ground. There’s ABS, adjustable traction control, and Yamaha’s D-mode. A lot of riders prefer the original MT-09 in B mode to reduce the twitchiness of the throttle.

In 2017, Yamaha made some significant updates to the MT-09, even though the engine remained the same at its core.

Most striking is the visual change to the MT-09, with very aggressive dual lights. Here is how it changed externally:

The new twin-eye design gives the 2017-2020 MT-09 a much more “streetfighter” look, keeping it in line with the brutal design language of the original Yamaha MT-10.

The 2017-2020 MT-09 also got an assist/slipper clutch, quickshifter, and improved suspension to reduce some of the complaints for too-soft suspension of the early model.

The basic MT-09 also got compression and rebound adjustability in the fork legs — quite a big improvement over the base!

Yamaha also started getting more aggressive with colour schemes, including fluorescent paint choices.

2017 Yamaha MT-09 fluro hi-res front 3-4

In 2021, Yamaha announced a new MT-09 with a larger 890cc engine.

Manual for the Yamaha MT-09 (2015-2020)

The above information was gleaned from the owner’s manual for the 2018-2019 Yamaha MT-09, but it’s similar to other years of the MT-09 (see below).

You can see that the maintenance schedules are different.

The US manual for the Yamaha MT-09 has intervals of 4000 miles or 6000 km, and the European manual has intervals of 10000 km (6000 miles), with largely the same items (e.g. changing the oil) at different intervals.

You can download the maintenance schedule for the MT-09 for a few year models below.

You can also get them from Yamaha’s website here.

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