Yamaha MT-07 On for young and old

In creating a motorcycle specifically for the booming LAMS (Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme), Yamaha has also produced a remarkably versatile 650 twin.

With 40,000 sales annually, the LAMS market represents a massive slice of Australia’s road-bike market, and Yamaha has set about snaring a big share with the new MT-07. The Australian model is actually a specially prepared version of the 689cc European model, achieved by reducing the cylinder bore size slightly to achieve the required power-to-weight ratio. Using a 270º crossplane crankshaft (as in the successful TDM900 and XT1200Z twins), the MT-07 delivers maximum torque of 57.5Nm at just 4,000 rpm. Great attention has been made to keeping the MT-07 as light as possible, resulting in a bike that tips the scales at just 164kg dry. To minimize the engine’s weight, cylinders are plated rather than sleeve-lined, a single-axis balancer is fitted, reducing the distance between the crank and the balancer axis and keeping the overall engine dimensions low. The balancer, plus the rubber engine mounts, keep vibrations to a minimum. Another plus is exceptional fuel efficiency, achieved to some extent by significant reduction in frictional losses within the engine and an all-new electronic fuel injection system.

The chassis is a light and slim high tensile tubular steel affair, which uses the power unit as a fully-stressed member. The chassis tubing has varying wall thicknesses and tensile strengths in different locations, again to minimize weight and harness the ample torque. The swinging arm is asymmetrical and is connected to a link-type rear suspension with an adjustable-forpreload, horizontally-mounted shock absorber that bolts directly to the crankcase. Up front are beefy 41mm forks with floating 282mm front discs.

I recently had the chance to sample the MT-07 with an all-day ride through the twisty Royal National Park, south of Sydney. Recent rain had left the roads greasy in parts, and it rained during the ride, so it was a real test of handling and road holding, and I came away mightily impressed with this machine. In fact, although it has been aimed at the novice, the MT-07 should have almost universal appeal; it’s that good. The engine has buckets of torque, which makes it brilliant around town, but I found it an absolute delight to flick through the curves and swerves, aided in no small part by the remarkably good Michelin RP3 tyres that were fitted to my machine.