We’re off to Lanzarote this weekend for the press launch of Yamaha’s MT-07. The all-new 689cc parallel twin kicks out a claimed 74bhp and is the latest addition to the MT dynasty, aimed at A2 licence holders. In Yamaha’s own words, “the MT-07 has not been designed only to be the fastest, most powerful, quickest or most sophisticated.” It’s all about cheap thrills and bang for your buck.
The all-new twin-pot features a 270-degree crank layout, and includes a balancer shaft to aid vibes. There’s a lot of talk about crossplane philosophy: Yamaha’s uneven firing order, which is supposed to assist traction. 74bhp and a tasty upright riding position is a recipe for hoisting a few, learner-legal or not.
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The frame is a high-tensile steel backbone-type and uses the engine as a stressed member. It’s also very slim, and with a 805mm seat height, the MT will accommodate the vertically challenged and newbies. Dry weight is an impressive 164kg, and after riding the MT-09 recently, we’re sure the MT-07 is more than just a budget hack.
There are a few big-bike attributes, like the 180-section rear tyre and wavey brake discs, and it certainly doesn’t look like a cheap, tawdry learner bike. Taking a few styling tips from the MT-09 isn’t a bad thing and, in fact, the wheels are jacked directly from its bigger brother.
Check back for more early next week!
