It’s almost impossible not to mention Yamaha when it comes to middleweight motorcycles. The Yamaha MT-series (previously FZ-series) nakeds have accommodated aggressive styling and brilliant performance whilst being accessible. One among them is the rather tasteful Yamaha MT-07. A Successor to the brutal yet incredibly athletic FZ6, the Yamaha MT-07 came with many upgrades and refinements done to an already impressive offering.
Previously, the MT-07 was badged under the FZ nameplate. Post-2018, Yamaha decided to bring the MT moniker and standardize their lineup of nakeds. Along with a change of title, the MT-07 came with a host of upgrades: Improved suspension, reworked bodywork, and updated looks were part of the package.
With an alluring price tag of $7,500, Yamaha sold a bucket load of MT-07s. Even though it was far more powerful than its predecessor, the MT-07 was significantly lighter and agile. The MT-07 is a mix of relaxed commuting with a bit of hooliganism rather than the all-out tracker. However, the new YZF-R7 could fill that gap.
Essentially a comfortable motorcycle for your daily errands, we reckon the Yamaha MT-07 with its broad range of utility could appeal to emerging bikers. Here’s our take on what makes this naked middleweight a good beginner bike.
Yamaha MT-07: Engine And Chassis
The Yamaha MT-07 comes with a 689-cc parallel-twin. Power stands at 72.4 horsepower and the MT-07 makes 49.4 lb-ft of torque from the relatively low-revving crossplane-crank motor. Complying with the Euro 5 emission norms, the 2021 MT-07 is not expected to lose any of its abilities but could gain a few essentials. A larger set of front brakes and few styling upgrades to be specific.
Yamaha has tweaked the chassis a bit and the ride height is now 31.7 inches. The steel twin-tube frame has been slightly reworked to add strength to the swingarm pivot area. The new frame as opposed to the FZ-07 has fewer bends in order to reduce flex whilst being lighter.
The suspension out back is adjustable for rebound damping and spring preload. Up front, compression duties are dealt with a pair of conventional forks. A pair of four-pot anchors bite the dual, 282 mm front discs with a 245 mm disc out back and ABS at both ends as part of the standard equipment package.
In terms of electronics though, the MT-07 is lacking. That was expected from a motorcycle that falls in this price bracket, something like the Royal Enfield Interceptor. The torquey motor gets you by surprise but proves to be tractable once you familiarize yourself with the motorcycle.
Yamaha MT-07: Styling
With the MT-07, the philosophy has been evolved to suit the changing trends while keeping the underlying theme the same. You still get the Predator-like headlamps that are mounted quite low followed by an upswept tail section. The tank shrouds and under-cowls are minimalized along with the impossibly attractive machined swingarm.
The sharp design is striking and the LED position lights placed on the sides bring about a menacing demeanor. The bike is more tout than its previous iteration and the revised styling does bring a bit of freshness to the plain FZ-07 design.
Yamaha MT-07: Is It Intimidating
The chassis of the MT-07 is well-appointed with easy ingress and a comfortable riding position. The re-styled seats and revised ergonomics make for the MT-07 being a tad bit more comfortable than its elder sibling, the MT-09. The seat height stands at 31.7 inches; a bit on the taller side with shorter riders tip-toeing between stops.
On the plus side, this gives off better ground clearance which is helpful for light-offroading and of course carrying a better lean angle whilst cornering. Though the bike is poised for a more comfortable ride, for a pro, knee-down corners and fast direction changes are on the cards.
Compared to other naked middleweights, the curb weight is a touch on the higher side at around 403 pounds. While it is not the most ideal for a beginner to deal with, it’s certainly not the worst given there are bikes that are much heavier and less playful than the Yamaha MT-07.
Yamaha MT-07: It’s a Great City Bike
With great riding ergonomics and a very tractable engine, the Yamaha MT-07 is definitely one of the easiest to ride around town. The engine is mated to a slick 6-speed gearbox with a multi-plate clutch although a slipper clutch would’ve been a welcome addition.
The engine snaps to life with a snarly growl that’s akin to the MT-09’s. The powerplant really gets a move on post 3000 rpm. With a very strong mid-range, the bike can hit the limiter at 10,000 rpm whilst maintaining the same levels of grunt. The gearbox is one of the most refined but shuffling through them can sometimes be abrupt. Pootling around town, the MT-07 is very flexible when it comes to maneuvering and weaving through traffic. Although the engine heating is a caveat, bear in mind, it’s one of the cheapest middleweights available.
Sources: Topspeed, Cycleworld