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Test: Yamaha MT-07 (Baujahr 2018)

Budget bike at its best

08.08.2018

The Yamaha MT-07 costs a slender 6,795 euros - can you only get a cheap homeor or just a low-cost motorcycle in front of the door? We wanted to know more and tested the current model.

First contact

One thing is clear: the Yamaha is a commuter. In the list of the best-selling bikes in Germany, she sits stable in second place behind the long-time burner BMW GS. The customers, they like the Yamaha.
Now, with majority decisions, this is always such a thing, but at first glance there is actually not much that could bother you. It is compact, the very short wheelbase of only 1.40 meters is striking. "Could be shaky," one thinks. And the bike is rather something for singles, because the space for the passenger is limited. In part, the competition from Kawasaki ER-6n or Suzuki Gladius can do better.
The Yamaha does not leave a cheap impression: the exhaust is made entirely of stainless steel, the front and rear adorn pretty LED lights. There is also nothing to complain about when it is processed.
The Japanese have mounted a twin in the bridge tube frame, and this engine deviates from the single. The unusual 270-degree lifting pin offset provides a slightly rough engine sound that is more reminiscent of a V2 than the in-line motor it really is. Otherwise, the data is rather normal: 689 cubic centimeters give a maximum power of 75 hp, just as slim as the Yamaha the torque of 68 Newton meters at 6,500 rpm. It can also be throttled, and therefore it can be used for beginners with the A2 driving licence.
Enough rumtheorized, so what do you get for the tight budget?

The Yamaha MT-07 on the slopes

Just as light as she is at only 182 kilos, so she also drives. So she drives further around corners, so it accelerates, and whoever exaggerates it at the start can easily bring the front wheel to eye level. This manoeuvrability of the Japanese woman is supported by the rather narrow handlebars, but above all through the sitting position. Unusually far ahead, the pilot sits on the comfortable seat, which is strange at first, but creates a good feeling for the front wheel.
With its very short wheelbase, Yamaha has created the ideal motorcycle for the city. As with all Naked Bikes, the windscreen is simply not available. In the natural terrain of the Yamaha - city, country road - you use the top speed of 207 km/h but eh' only if you want to say goodbye to your driver's license in the longer term. Not that she couldn't: the engine even feels more like 90 hp than the actual 75, and the powerful impression is supported by the sound of the "V2-Twin". Here the Yamaha clearly has an advantage over the competition of Suzuki or Kawasaki. However, the sportiness of the engine has its limits. Between 3,000 and 7,000 is the ideal speed region, neither below nor above much happens. The torque is kept rather slim like the whole motorcycle, so the pilot should bring a certain pleasure in the speed.
Fortunately, this hardly affects consumption: cruises go for 3.5 liters, normally it will be just over four liters. Only with express surcharge will a six stand in front of the comma - but who does this without windprotection, see above.

This is how she drives herself

In addition to fine-tuning such as a new headlight, the 2018 facelift brought some changes to the chassis. This was necessary, because the previous year's model looked under-dampened at the back and at the front. Especially at the front, this has now improved, the driving comfort is still completely fine. Overall, the Yamaha always has a safe, good-natured driving behaviour. The brake with ABS is equally inconspicuous.

Conclusion - what got stuck

There's no question: the Yamaha is a good motorcycle. Your list of shortcomings is pleasingly short. However, motorcycles that want to please everyone sometimes suffer from this huge target group. Just as short as the list of defects is therefore what really characterizes this motorcycle. For example, sport drivers would undoubtedly have to invest in the chassis - or look elsewhere. What is striking about the Yamaha MT-07 is its inadequacy but its enormous manoeuvrability. Where others are struggling, the MT simply travels around the small corner.
This makes it the ideal motorcycle for beginners or newcomers - and for those who are simply looking for a cost-effective, trouble-free base that is annoying in the rarest of cases.
But cheap homeers? Certainly not.

The test motorcycle was kindly provided by Motorrad Ruser.

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