Battle for the Best: Yamaha MT-09 vs Ducati Monster 821 vs Benelli TNT 899

Over the past few years, the Indian two-wheeler market is continuously booming with new and powerful machines. Even the naked streetfighter segment is no less happening and one can find numerous bikes in the country to choose from. With the recently launched Yamaha MT-09, the 800cc to 900cc naked sportbike segment received a new contender and the competition is further spiced up for manufacturers like Benelli and Ducati. Now, we have to see which is the most capable of the three in terms of performance and price.

Let's find out in this comparison:

Designing and Styling:

Yamaha MT-03 comes across as a mid-sized sportbike with sharp body lines running across the overall body. Built on a diamond frame, the bike fits equally well for both urban commuting as well as highway riding. The MT-09 is inspired from the dark and has been coated in an all-black theme to compliment its presence.

The Ducati Monster 821 may not look as aggressive as the MT-09 but the red-coloured exposed trellis frame do look fascinating and reveals its true character. The front gets a rounded headlamp with LEDs and the entire body is chiselled as a combination of a cruiser and a sportbike.

Out of the three, the Benelli TNT 899 looks the most muscular. The bike with its front steel trestle and rear aluminium alloy cast frame holds together the massive aerodynamically crafted body. The front end has a stylish twin-headlamp section that matches well with the overall fat & bulky looking body design.  

Engine and Performance: Yamaha MT-09 is powered by an 847cc, three-cylinder, four-stroke, DOHC four-valve, liquid-cooled engine that has been linked to a six-speed transmission. The fuel injected motor churns out a maximum power of 113.4bhp at 10,000rpm with a peak torque of 87.5Nm at 8,500rpm.

On the other hand, the Monster 821 from Ducati draws its power from an 821cc, Testastretta 11° L-twin, liquid-cooled engine that comes mated to a six-speed gearbox. The electronically fuel injected engine has been coupled with ride-by-wire technology and produces a maximum power of 112bhp at 9,250rpm with a peak torque of 89.4Nm at 7,750rpm.

Third of the lot - Benelli TNT 899 is propelled by an 898cc, four-stroke, DOHC liquid-cooled engine that has been coupled to a six-speed transmission setup. The mill cranks out a peak power output of 119.37bhp at 10,000rpm with a maximum torque of 85.6Nm at 8,000rpm.

Chassis and Equipment: Yamaha MT-09 has been equipped with inverted telescopic forks at the front along with link type monoshock at the rear. The braking is taken care of by 298mm dual hydraulic disc brakes at the front and 245mm single hydraulic disc brake at the rear along with a standard ABS. The bike rolls on 120/70ZR17 front and 180/55ZR17 rear tubeless tyres that come mounted over black alloy wheels. Yamaha also offers a two-mode traction control unit to ensure safety and for more practicality the system comes with ON/OFF switchability.

Talking of Ducati Monster 821, the bike has been bestowed with 43mm upside down forks up front and progressive linkage with an adjustable monoshock at the rear. The fierce stopping power is delivered by dual 320mm disc brakes with Brembo four-piston calliper at the front while the rear gets a single 245mm disc brake. A dual-channel ABS unit comes as standard. The Monster 821 moves over 120/70 ZR 17 front and 180/60 ZR17 rear Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tyres that offer superior grip and stability. The bike comes with eight-mode traction control system and the rider also gets three riding modes viz. Urban, Touring and Sport. The bike also gets an adjustable seat to benefit the short-heighted riders.

Lastly, the sturdy Benelli TNT 899 has been integrated with Marzocchi inverted forks at the front while the rear end comes equipped with Sachs hydraulic mono shock absorber. The braking system comprises of dual 320mm disc brakes with Brembo four-piston calliper at the front with a single 240mm disc brake with Brembo twin-piston calliper at the rear. The TNT 899 progresses over 120/70-17 front and 190/50-17 rear tyres mounted over stylish black alloy wheels. Benelli does not offer ABS or traction control system with this bike even as an option.

Price and Verdict:

Yamaha MT-09 has been launched at a price of Rs. 10.20 lac for the Indian market. The Ducati Monster 821 is already on sale at a starting price of 9.29 lac, which gradually increases with the addition of equipment. Lastly, the Benelli TNT 899 currently retails at Rs. 9.48 lac (all prices, ex-showroom, Delhi). The Yamaha is the most pricier of the lot and offers ABS and traction control as standard. The TNT 899 lacks features like ABS and traction control and still costs more than the Ducati. For this reason, the Monster 821 emerges as the clear winner here in our opinion, as it offer loads  of equipment and is more logically priced.