2017 Yamaha Mt-10

2017 YAMAHA MT-10

NOT A NAKED R1-BUT SOMETHING SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT

Michael Neeves/MCN

When Yamaha Motor Europe first released information on its2016 MT-10, the hope was that the next email in our inbox would be from Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, announcing the bike’s arrival in the States, as the FZ-10. It took a while, but that email finally has arrived; the 2017 Yamaha FZ-10 will be in dealers by the time you read this. Here, in anticipation, is an early first riding impression from our buddies at MCN.

It might have an R1 engine, frame, suspension, and the superbike's beady twin LED headlights, but here at its world launch, Yamaha tells us the new MT-10 isn't a naked R1. And you know what? They’re right. It’s not a naked R1—but something so much better than that.

That’s because the Ri is all about the racetrack and so capable that it gives you little sense of speed, or indeed fun, when it’s not being ridden flat out—which of course you can’t do on the road. Take it on a long trip, and after a couple of hours enduring the superbike’s hard race seat and low clip-ons, your body will have cried, “Enough!”

Enter the new MT-10, with its upright riding position, business-class levels of legroom, and surprisingly decent wind protection on the highway that let you enjoy that gem of a crossplane-crank engine at saner speeds for the first time.

The powerplant is a bit different, mind you. Yamaha decided you don’t need a peaky, 200-hp race engine for the road and moved the power lower down the revs. In total, it’s altered 40 percent of the bike’s engine internals, stripping away a lot of its titanium and magnesium components to suit its lower-revving, more torque-laden character and to keep costs down. Yamaha has also shortened the gearing by two teeth on the rear.

The crossplane unit still howls, growls, and wails like a Yamaha YZR-Mi MotoGP racebike at full whack, has the punch of a V-4 exiting corners, and has a power delivery so elastic that an electric motor would seem clunky by

comparison. With 158 claimed horsepower at your right wrist, the throttle cable is more like a pulley for the front wheel in the first three gears—the farther you twist, the higher it goes.

Even still, unlike a Triumph Speed Triple, Ducati Monster 1200 R, Aprilia Tuono V41100, BMW S1000R, or KTM 1290 Super Duke, which all have explosive power deliveries, the MT-10 doesn’t have much in the way of shove at very low revs. Instead, you have to wait for the engine to catch up with your wrist or slip the clutch for fast getaways from a standstill. That tiny hole at low rpm is the motor’s only flaw though.

Lightly modified Ri brakes (new brake pads) are not class leading but actually

have more feel than the Ri’s on the road. And although the MT-10 doesn’t have the latest six-axis inertial measurement unit managing its traction control (only wheel-speed sensors), the system works brilliantly. Unlike the KTM 1290 Super Duke, for example, the system lets you pull wheelies with the TC left on.

The fully adjustable KYB suspension, lifted from the Ri, is valved on the soft side, and the Bridgestone S20 tires aren’t as sharp and quick-steering as what comes on the Ri. That said, it is still hugely competent. We rode in the dry and wet on all types of roads and the MT-10 never put a wheel wrong. Sure, it doesn’t pinball from corner to corner, changing direction like a disco laser beam, but the steering is predictable, the handling is forgiving, and there’s lots of feel for what’s going on beneath you. Fit some sport tires, firm up the suspension, add a quickshifter, and it would be a true weapon.

Even without those things, the MT-10 has got attitude and oozes character. This is the first Japanese naked to properly fit the bill as a super-naked, with power, handling, technology, comfort, practicality, and fun all built in.

And I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this, but the MT-10 pulls great wheelies... CTU

THE FIRST JAPANESE NAKED TO PROPERLY FIT THE BILL AS A SUPERNAKED, WITH POWER, HANDLING, TECHNOLOGY, COMFORT, PRACTICALITY, AND FUN ALL BUILT IN.

YAMAHA

MT-10

PRICE: N/A ENGINE: Liquid-cooled, DOHC inline-four DISPLACEMENT: 998cc SEAT HEIGHT: 32.5 in. FUEL CAPACITY: 4.5 gal. CLAIMED WET WEIGHT: 463 lb.