Rumors of a new Yamaha R9 have been percolating for a while, but there’s been no official word from the Japanese marque… yet. The theory is that Yamaha is planning to transplant the magnificent 889 cc tripe-cylinder engine from the popular MT-09 into a sportbike—as they did with the YZF-R7. But some Yamaha devotees are growing impatient.
Seb Hipperson is so tired of waiting for the factory Yamaha R9, that he’s literally taken matters into his own hands and built his own R9 prototype. We hope Yamaha’s designers are taking notes because it is glorious.
Based in London, Seb is a full-time fabricator focusing mainly on furniture, but often dabbling in other interests. He’s also a motorcycle enthusiast, customizer, and racer—hence the burning desire to see the R9 concept come to life.
“I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who has become impatient while waiting for Yamaha to put its lovely ‘cross-plane’ triple into a chassis and body suited for the track,” he tells us. “The vision I had in my mind was influenced and inspired by the Yamaha GP two-strokes of the 90s, like the TZ250 and YZR500, mixed up with the design of the current Moto2 race bikes.”
The project kicked off with a low-mileage Yamaha MT-09 donor bike, which was then unceremoniously stripped down to the absolute basics. Seb then set to work building a bespoke frame to house the MT-09 mill. Using the cradle from a Yamaha TRX850 as a cornerstone, he TIG-welded together an elegant trellis steel frame to construct his R9 around.
Technically, Seb welded three frames together, because it took a little trial and error to achieve the right geometry and aesthetics. The swingarm is from a Ducati 749, the rear shock linkage comes from Corse Dynamics, and the shock itself is a custom-built unit from Mupo Race Suspension in Italy.
Seb grafted a set of Ducati Panigale forks on at the front, but not before he upgraded them with Bitubo internals. Five-spoke alloy wheels from an Aprilia RSV Mille went on next, along with Brembo brake calipers at both ends.
With the rolling chassis in place, Seb turned his attention to the bodywork. The MT-09 features plastic panels over a hidden fuel reservoir and a few other key components, but none of that was going to work for what Seb had in mind. So he covered the chassis in foam blocks and started shaping his R9.
Once the parts were formed, Seb used the foam to create fiberglass molds. The front fender, fairing, belly pan, and tail unit were all shaped by hand out of fiberglass. The tank is a two-piece affair; a fiberglass airbox sits up front, with an aluminum fuel reservoir at the back, complete with a built-in sight glass.
The bike’s silhouette is flawless, and it’s easy to forget that you’re looking at a one-off special rather than a retro factory superbike. Carefully considered details abound, like the muscle car-inspired vent on top of the airbox. It’s not just there for show either—it directs air to the airbox, as does the vent at the front of the fairing.
With over 110 hp on tap and a throttle response second to none, the MT-09 is as lively as they come. But Seb still added a couple of non-invasive mods to make sure it runs strong and smooth. For starters, the ECU was flashed on a dyno to squeeze the maximum performance out of the custom airbox and exhaust system.
The exhaust itself consists of Lextek headers and an Arrow muffler, with a custom-made pipe connecting them. Other track-specific mods include a thumb lever for the rear brake, a protector for the front brake lever, and crash bobbins. Clip-ons, aftermarket levers, and a GPS-based speedo round out the spec sheet.
Seb’s Yamaha R9 would be impressive enough wearing nothing but a coat of primer, but he’s wrapped it in a livery that pushes it into the stratosphere. It’s hard to argue with Yamaha’s iconic red, white, and black ‘speedblock’ design, and the raw aluminum tank gives the build a factory prototype vibe.
Seb didn’t just build this to look good though. He’s already spent a season shaking it down on the track, and he plans to take it racing. That’s why the only light on the entire bike, is a small track-approved LED taillight.
If an official Yamaha R9 is coming, it’s likely to be announced at EICMA later this year. But as far as we’re concerned Yamaha should just make Seb an offer on his design, add lights to it, and put it into production.
Seb Hipperson Instagram | Images by Sam Napper (static) and Peter Wileman (action)
