The RIDE Road Test: Yamaha MT-07
The new MT-07 gets improved suspension and a higher price...
IT’S FAIR TO say the MT family transformed Yamaha’s fortunes. With the MT-09 and MT-07, the Japanese firm hit on a formula for fun, affordable motorcycling that was an instant sales success. The big-capacity triple arrived first, joined in the middle of 2014 by the 689cc parallel twin. Since then Yamaha sold more than 120,000 MT-07S worldwide.
One reason for this popularity was price: the MT-07 was launched at just £5199. But it was more than just a cut-price, do-it-all roadster. It had an underlying X-factor that made it greater than the sum of its 74bhp engine and basic steel frame.
Not wanting to meddle with the formula, Yamaha’s updates for 2018 are subtle: the side-mounted air intakes have been reshaped; the lights have been restyled; and the rider’s seat has been tweaked to make it better for larger riders. But in one area Yamaha has made bigger changes: the suspension, often highlighted as a weak spot, has been reworked and firmed up.
One other thing has changed: the price. A new 2018 MT-07 will cost you £6489 — a bigger price hike than just inflation. Do the sharper looks and firmer suspension justify the higher price – or is it a bit stiff? We put Yamaha’s updates to the test...
B-ROADS
By default, the MT-07’S nakedness and pared-down layout makes it feel light and manageable and this translates to how the bike performs on the open road. The handlebars give an upright and neutral riding position and though the bars feel slightly narrower than expected, there’s plenty of leverage. The steering is light and there’s impressive precision from the front Bridgestone BT023 tyre, which gives confidence to hustle through bends. Quick changes of direction require minimal effort.
The revised front and rear suspension work together very well across a wide range of speeds. This helps the chassis stay balanced under braking and on the power, generating good stability. Bumps are handled well too, with none of the jarring that is usually associated with budget suspension.
Out on twisty B-roads, top gear is too tall to be of any use, so the MT cruises in fourth or fifth. The spaces between the rest of the cogs are all useful and the gearbox feels precise at the lever with each gear engaging instantly at any speed or rpm. The engine almost begs to be revved; open the throttle from low rpm and the revs rise cleanly with no flat spots, just a clean, linear stream of power. However propulsion starts to taper off just before the 10,000rpm redline, encouraging you to change gear.
When it comes to dropping down a gear, the engine braking can be a bit fierce if you try to downshift too quickly, — something to take into consideration should you have a pillion on board.
In terms of conventional braking, the twin-disc setup at the front lacks a bit of feel and it would be fair to say that it’s slightly grabby and lacking in outright power. The front brake lever operates a somewhat dated-looking master cylinder but it offers five levels of span.
The MT-07 is very engaging on roads like these. The combination of lightweight chassis and punchy motor generates a real thrill.
Motorway
The MT-07 carries itself effortlessly along dual carriageways and motorways. The super-efficient eight-valve twin-cylinder engine barely needs any throttle to maintain a sensible cruising speed. When you do dial in some more rpm the speed increases smoothly and without fuss from the chassis. It’s perfectly stable at higher speeds, though the sustained realistic cruising speed dictated by the naked design is just below an indicated 80mph. At these speeds the theoretical range from the 14-litre tank could be as much as 175 miles, though the anxiety of wanting to fill such a small tank gets pretty compelling at around 140 miles.
Cruising in top gear at an indicated 70mph the tacho shows around 4500rpm and 3300rpm at 50mph. On this bike, sixth gear is very much an overdrive designed to help the MT-07 achieve its 56mpg cruising economy, as it brings the rpm down by 750rpm from fifth. That said, the engine is still capable of pulling from 50mph in top gear without the need to downshift.
The MT-07’S Gps-verified top speed is an impressive 127mph, but equally
“Quick changes of direction require minimal effort”
noteworthy is the bike’s composure at these strictly autobahn speeds — there is no decay in the stability as the bike blasts past the legal limit and on to its maximum. The seat, though spacious, has padding more akin to that of a sportsbike which compromises posterior comfort after 80 or so miles. Thankfully there’s very little in the way of finger/toe-numbing vibrations transmitted through the bars and pegs from the engine. The mirrors are well positioned, with no distortion to the image and an almost complete reflection of the rear with minimal intrusion from the rider’s shoulders.
The dash is a clear backlit LCD display and has all the basic functions — speed, rpm and gear position as well as two trip meters, air and engine temperature, mpg and fuel range. The last block on the fuel gauge starts flashing when there’s about three litres left in the tank and then the low-fuel trip meter appears, which lets you know how many miles you have covered with the display flashing.
In town
The MT-07 is incredibly easy and manageable to ride at low speeds. More than that, the bike’s minimal weight and flickability boosts confidence. So too does the MT-07’S ABS, which allows for hard braking before cutting in. At the rear, the ABS will only start stuttering when you toe the lever while riding over a slippery manhole cover.
The flexibility of the engine and the well-spaced gear ratios means the MT-07 performs brilliantly at urban speeds. The cable-actuated clutch feels light to operate but has an initial grabby feel that takes some getting used to.
But this doesn’t hinder progress at the traffic lights — the punchy 689cc twin will leap off the line cleanly and efficiently. When it comes to negotiating traffic, the handlebars and mirrors don’t hinder filtering in any way. The steering lock is generous and accentuates the bike’s manoeuvrability, making it extremely manageable in tight turns and particularly when parking. The MT-07’S switchgear is very basic and for some reason Yamaha has decided to downsize the switches. The reduced-size indicator switch in particular causes fumbling, especially when wearing winter gloves.