New Yamaha MT-07 ridden
Updated MT-07 has a fight on its hands to retain the middleweight crown
The MT-07 is undoubtedly a very good bike and has sold strongly since it first appeared all fresh and funky-looking back in 2013. Since then more than 125,000 MT-07s have been sold across Europe. And for 2021 Yamaha have made lots of small changes in a bid to keep their perky parallel twin on top of the increasingly competitive middleweight naked pile.
And while that lovely motor is now Euro5, Yamaha haven’t had to compromise performance too much, losing a mere 1.6bhp (now 72.4bhp) and just 0.7lb.ft of torque long along the way. It’s nothing you’d notice on the road. Gaining an extra cat in the revised two-into-one exhaust pipe has added an extra kilo to the weight, but it hasn’t strangled the fruity exhaust note. The engine still feels responsive and perfectly connected to your right wrist, and there’s a rich seam of torque that pulls hard in the low to midrange.
Design of the times
The front brake discs have grown to 298mm (from 282mm) which adds a bit of extra bite, while quality Michelin Road 5 tyres are now fitted as standard and offer highperformance. The Michelins warm up fast and there are decent levels of grip even when the road is wet. The riding position has changed slightly, with the bars 30mm wider and closer to the rider by 10mm. They are 12mm higher, too, which gives a more upright feeling. A modest change but it made the Yam a little more comfortable and riding all day caused no comfort issues. Away from the engine internals and subtle ergonomic tweaks, one of the key changes for 2021 is the way the MT-07 looks. Up front, there are LED headlights and a new MT-09-inspired face. The re-design has sparked a bit of debate, but the new bike looks good in the metal. There’s also a redesigned 14-litre tank and fresh instrumentation. An A2-licence version is also available.
It’s not so simple
While the fun and rewarding engine and all-over simplicity of the MT-07 are still strong points, Yamaha may need to start thinking about quick-shifters and the like to take the popular middleweight forward.
With the imminent arrival of Aprilia’s Tuono 660 and the Triumph Trident 660, the battle to be the best middleweight naked is a hugely competitive and lucrative one. And Yamaha have their work cut out to stay ahead.