Why the 600 faded, and where the R9 fits
Roadracing World on how 600cc supersports priced themselves out, and the gap Yamaha built the R9 for.
When Yamaha announced the R9, Roadracing World set it against a decade of change in sportbikes. Its argument: overall sportbike sales have fallen, the most advanced 600s became so track-focused and electronics-heavy that they priced themselves out of the market, and literbikes near 200 horsepower became less accessible in both performance and price. The R6 is not in Yamaha's 2025 US lineup.
The R9 is Yamaha's answer: an 890cc triple at $12,499, above the twin-cylinder R7 at $9,199 and well below an R1 starting just under $19,000. The piece argues it offers the horsepower of a strong 600 with more torque, more legroom and better electronics, for about what a similarly equipped 600 cost.
Prices are US MSRP as reported at launch.
Source: Michael Gougis, Roadracing World, October 9, 2024.