YAMAHA
Bosses proudly proclaim that the new MT-10 is the “most remarkable naked bike to be developed by Yamaha so far” and there’s no doubting the naked R1’s aggressive impact goes far beyond any previous Yamaha street bike. The Ten puts the firm into an completely new segment, and its target is BMW’s S1000R. Based heavily on the YZF-R1S – an American-market version of R1 – the MT gets the same main chassis, swingarm, suspension, electronics package (minus the IMU), wheels and basic engine architecture – retuned for more mid-range. With the fairings stripped away it takes on a menacing stance, further heightened by the wide bars, mantis-like face, and minimalist new tail unit. Add in a liberal dose of Dark Side gothic colours offset by flashes of gaudy fluro yellow, blue, or just the vaguest sniff of red, and it all makes for a brutish offering. Yamaha’s MT range is underpinned by a commitment to performance and cost, and there’s no doubt the Ten will continue the mantra. With an expected price tag of £9999 – it could be one of the hottest nakeds of 2016.