Is new faired MT-07 imminent?

Yamaha plan fully faired twin to fill the supersport gap

Yamaha are working on a faired MT-07 to fill the gap left by the outgoing R6 according to sources in Japan. Rumours of a new model have been circulating for some time but the latest information suggests Yamaha will unveil the bike this spring to arrive before the autumn. The writing has been on the wall for the R6 for years, with declining sales and evertightening emissions standards making continued investment (and profit) steadily less likely. Then, late last year, Yamaha announced the R6 would be no more in Europe, with just a few track-only models available for die-hard trackday enthusiasts and racing teams.

With the R6 gone a chasm is left in Yamaha’s sportsbike range between the A2-friendly R3 and the range-topping R1. Sources tell us that this gap will be filled by a new bike, powered by the CP2 engine from the new MT-07.

The parallel twin in the latest

MT-07 produces 74bhp, so it’s clear that unless Yamaha give it a massive overhaul the new bike would compete with the Ninja 650 or CBR650F rather than the Aprilia RS660. The CP2 engine is arguably the best bit of the MT-07, delivering a fun and engaging ride without brain-warping power. Even with a huge update, we think Yamaha will still want to keep the output nearer to 80bhp, so it doesn’t become an R6-style exercise in chasing the redline. To help keep costs down, which will be key to the success of the project, the chassis will be similar to the one in the existing MT-07. Yamaha already have form modifying this chassis, such as on the Tracer 7, so it shouldn’t require huge work. Wheels, suspension and other running gear are likely to be similar, to help keep the budget under control.

‘There is a huge chasm between the R3 and R1’

Motoring on The CP2 engine is a peach and Yamaha know it, so it’s unlikely they’ll want to meddle with a winning formula Will it be an ‘R7’? The R7 was a WSB homologation special race bike, which Yamaha are very proud of so we think the firm will give this bike a fresh label The price is right If Yamaha can produce this for under £7500, they could be on to a winner With changes afoot, this could well be a useful option for people who fancy mini-twin racing Better together The MT-07 chassis is well proven and would adapt well to life in a fully faired machine