Barry Collett, Phoenix Motorcycles, Trowbridge
rides, its price of just under £10,000 made it attractive enough for buyers to sell out soon after its introduction.
Since then, variations of many of those bikes have come in the shape of the very popular Tracer 700 and 900 sport tourers, higher spec MT-10SP and Touring models, all introduced for the 2017 year. For 2018 there’s the MT-09SP and Tracer 900GT to choose from. Andy says that’s not the end of the expansion of the MT range, with Yamaha set to create even more: “We’ll be able to broaden the range cost-effectively thanks to having proven bases to build on, particularly with 700, 900 and 1000cc machines.”
ON REFLECTION
“It was a tough time at Yamaha from the early Noughties. We had to cope with introducing a completely new range of very different bikes, and all during a radical reorganisation of the company. But the belief, dedication and inventive nature of the workforce made sure everyone was converted to a new way of thinking. We had to get people thinking they’d like to own a Yamaha again, get dealers to stop wanting to get another franchise and stop good people leaving the company. And we did it. Sales of the MTs have been so good and Yamaha customers started returning to our shops. It was our target to stop any more people leaving and bring leavers back. We’ve very much succeeded.” “We’ve done well with MTs. Tracer
700s and MT-07s are very popular with us. The prices of all MTs are excellent and you’re getting a lot of machine for your money. Since the MT range came along it’s made a big difference to business. The MT-10 has sold excellently for us. Everyone who rides it thinks it’s phenomenal. We’ve got a demo of each model and I’d say about 90% of those customers who try them buy them. The MTs have revitalised Yamaha and they’re suiting the change in the market perfectly.”