On the road
The MT-10 SP will make you want to rediscover your favourite roads. There is potential for disappointment, though: we all have that particular series of bends that have, over the years, provided us with a challenge and a sense of accomplishment when you get them just right. The SP demolishes any nostalgia associated with such routes by tracking truer and sharper than anything before. It makes things too easy. The reality is that you need to move on and find a new route that really suits the SP. It’s the ideal bike for exploring, capable of powering over the slightest crest at any speed with the wheel in the air, still begging for the throttle to be opened wider. It does this with uncanny stability, accompanied by a unique sound and feel from the engine that inflates confidence.
B-ROADS
If ever there was a bike designed for swooping through a collection of coiled corners, the MT-10 SP is it. The engine, identical to that found in the stock MT-10, is still the star of the show. Derived from the R1 superbike, but retuned to better suit this naked model, the motor’s secret is the way it generates its 158bhp. The crossplane crank engine has an uneven firing order that delivers power with a precise linear feel, as well as a hugely addictive, yawning growl. This characteristic keeps the power manageable and tends not to disrupt the chassis when ridden at a more engaging pace – something which, especially when allied to the SP’S semi-active Öhlins, makes for a truly magical ride.
Switch the semi-active suspension into A2 mode, the softer of its two sports settings, and the system’s brain constantly adjusts the damping to seamlessly react to lumps and bumps in the road, giving an almost uncanny ride down even the gnarliest of back roads and allowing you to pretty much fully exploit the bike’s sporty side as far as you like. Stability in both braking and
“Its suspension gives an uncanny ride down the gnarliest of back roads”
acceleration is incredible, so much so that it’ll make even the most challenging of roads feel easier to ride. It’s all too common to look down at the dash and see a far bigger number than expected – but good luck trying to explain to the police (when they finally catch up with you) that it’s the semi-active Öhlins’ fault!
The suspension’s A1 mode gives a very firm ride and is better suited for use on trackdays, but both modes can be customised to better suit the rider’s style. There are also two pre-set M modes which turn off the system’s semi-active component for a more conventional-feeling ride, but why pay for semi-active suspension only to turn it off? There are four pre-set riding modes –A, B, C and D – altering the values for power, throttle response and traction control. It’s just a shame that Yamaha couldn’t find a way to incorporate the R1M’S prodigiously good wheelie control into the SP’S system, as this is a bike that wants to lift its front wheel with the merest whiff of throttle.
MOTORWAYS
Bikes like the MT-10 were not really designed for marching down motorways, but that doesn’t mean to say it’s a fish out of water. It is easily capable of racking up hundreds of miles a day without fuss. At an indicated 75mph this super-naked offers enough comfort and wind protection for a long day in the saddle. And at this speed, according to the new, full-colour dash, the revs in top gear sit in the ‘eco’ zone, at about 5100rpm and returning roughly 50mpg, giving a cruising range of about 180 miles from its 17-litre tank. Though by that distance you may well be in need of a break as some riders find the bike’s seat uncomfortable (a comfort seat is available as an optional extra).
Like the standard MT-10, the SP has cruise control – handy for motorway riding and easy to set. Night riders will discover that the SP’S headlight is stunning – in fact, the darker the road the more impressive the projectortype headlight performs. The beam’s spread is low and wide with a purity of white light that makes everything it illuminates appear crisp and sharp. Main beam is just as impressive.
TOWN RIDING
Despite its outright performance, the MT-10 SP shines in the low-speed urban environment. Its tremendous sporting ability can happily be cast to one side for slower manoeuvring through traffic. Its narrow-yet-tall stance gives it the ability to sneak through stationary lanes of traffic as if it was a lightweight commuter. The transmission is geared long to meet the requirements of the engine’s outright speed potential, but in town the torquey motor will happily accept higher gears at low speeds without disrupting the crossplane smoothness. The front brake is excellent, giving a good range of feel with loads of power, and of course it’s backed up with ABS.