The saying goes, ‘as wise as an owl’, and it couldn’t be more appropriate for this particular motorcycle. If the feathered fellow had to choose a bike within a specific budget, but wanted to keep his wings in the fresh air, which means a naked bike, then the 2022 Yamaha MT-07 would be the wisest choice of all!
There’re already many ‘wise owls’ in and around Europe though. Since the launch of the funky naked MT-07 in 2012 it’s been Yamaha’s best selling bike in that part of the world. Oh yes, over 10,000 of them have left the shop floor every year for the past ten years, equating to well over 130,000 units, some seriously impressive sales figures for sure. So now we have the third generation of the MT-07, which is one of the most fun bikes I’ve had the pleasure of perching on (apologies for the bad link). Light, exciting, practical, good looking and Japanese build quality, makes for an enticing recipe, right?
For 2022 Yamaha has refined their middleweight naked in many areas. The chassis has had a few tweaks, like improved KYB forks and rear shock, lighter wheels, and bigger 298mm front discs (from the earlier 282mm), but the major change is the new bodywork and revised riding position. The newly shaped 14-litre tank has ram-air ducts on each side, which blend in well with the new seat design. Yamaha has also chosen to make the ’bars a massive 32mm wider, as the previous ones were a bit on the narrow side. They’re also placed 12mm taller and 10mm closer to the rider. These, with the new and very comfortable seat, place the rider in a much more neutral riding position for both commuting and fast antics.
Obviously the biggest change over the 2018 bike is the signature ‘Y’ shaped’ headlight, as Yamaha call it, giving the MT-07 a bit of a robotic face, a big improvement over the Cyclops one seen on the previous model. And behind that is a very welcome new LCD instrument display that is far better than the small square one found on their new R7.
The engine has a few changes primarily to comply with those dreadful Euro 5 emissions. A new exhaust has two ‘cats’ inside to keep real owls inhaling less carbon monoxide and the ECU mapped accordingly. This has the sad effect of taking a whole horsepower and one Nm from the engine last year, but with improved torque throughout the mid-range with a smoother power delivery. So that exhaust should perhaps be discarded ASAP which, in SA, it probably will be. Still it has a cool exhaust note with the odd crackle and pop on the downshifts. In fact due to the CP-2 engine’s unique 270-degree crankshaft and GP derived firing order it does sound similar to a V-twin, rather than the usual ‘delivery bike’ sounding parallel-twin, if you know what I mean? The result from the 689cc CP-2 motor is 74hp@9,000rpm and 68Nm@6,500rpm, more than enough to propel the MT-07 well past 200km/h. And one of the best parts, to me anyway, are second gear wheelies. Pull off, then into second and with a bit of hefty clutch action the MT-07 will comfortably stand up for many metres which is, without doubt, one of the best wheelie bikes on the market, and I would say it’s more fun to ride than their MT-09, if that’s your thing.
If you’re not a wheelie fan then the MT-07 will still reward you with a captivating ride and every time you get off it you always take a quick glance back with a broad grin on your face. When I dropped off the R7 I got straight onto the MT and instantly felt more at home, then again I adore naked bikes. The controls are so light, from the throttle, to the clutch, to the sweet gearbox action, it all feels so ‘correct’ for the want of a better word. And there’s no confusing electronics to fiddle with either, another good point from my side. When you start the MT you get what it says on the tin, nice and simple.
Compared to their R7 the suspension is on the soft side, which I also preferred. The MT-07 weighs in at a very respectable 182kg (wet) which is partly responsible for its fun factor. I let many riders, who own bigger bikes, ride the MT and all came back with the same comment; ‘fook, I need one of those’, and I couldn’t agree more! If I were asked to choose five bikes for my garage from all new bikes of any price, I’d have one of these please, especially in that gorgeous black with turquoise wheels, yummy! And it’s very rare you’d catch me saying something like that.
Now let’s get down to the best part: the price! You can have one of these in your garage for only R144,950, which is cheaper than many new off-road/MX bikes. I can’t currently think of any motorbike that does everything from commuting, to a spot of madness, that is better value for money. It’s also extremely good on fuel, until you go wild maybe and, being a Yamaha, exceedingly reliable.
To finish off on the ‘wise old owl’ theme, Yamaha claim that over 45% of new owners in Europe are actually very experienced riders to start with, which says it all. If you’re looking for something way off the fun scale on many counts you cannot beat this new MT-07 for the price. Let me know if you go and buy one, you will not be disappointed.
Images by Sudoku.
This bike was lent to us from www.worldofyamaha.co.za (011 259 7652). Give Nicolas a call for an extremely recommended test ride.
Also visit www.yamaha.co.za for more technical information and to find a dealer near to you if not in Gauteng.
