The Yamaha MT-07 - Total Controlled Aggression
The Yamaha MT-07 is the newest 650cc class motorcycle which will soon be launched in Thailand, and with a quick look you can see directly that it's a very modern machine. Yamaha has been very clever with the styling, hiding the cheaper aesthetics and immersing it in neat trinkets like the motard style rear spindle guards. Regardless of the specifications, the Yamaha MT-07 is really good looking.MT denotes 'More Torque'. There's no denying that the twin cylinder engine, despite that it's has only 689cc capacity, has lots of torque (10 torque more than the Kawasaki ER-6N). The grunt infested fun that sends the front wheel skyward with little encouragement. With non-adjustable suspension and a good old parallel twin engine line-up.
The Yamaha MT-07 very short gearing amplifies the sharp delivery, as does the light throttle action, and you'll struggle to keep the front wheel on the road when playing the throttle. The engine spins quickly and aggressively, but it's all beautifully controlled.
Yamaha selected a 689cc, liquid-cooled, 4-valve, inline-twin engine, with a bore of 80mm and 68.6mm stroke. The engine has a compression ratio of 11.5:1 and gives 75 horsepower at 9000rpm, as you can expect from a modern 650cc class motorcycle it's fueled by a electronic fuel injection system controlled by ride-by-wire throttle.
The Japanese manufacturer has brought total control with the Yamaha MT-07. Every throttle opening equates to rear wheel action, very much like an Yamaha YZF-R1, and you rarely chase engine revs. The engine feels so much more advanced than any other 650cc available in Thailand.
The aluminum backbone chassis is just as impressive making use of its super-slim stature. It steers insanely fast, yet perfectly neutral, and is the only motorcycle in it's class with a 180-section rear tire. This equates to handling and cornering; stable and certain at every degree of lean.
Anyone that weighs more than the average Joe would benefit from increasing the shock's preload adjustment, just to support the rear a little. The Yamaha MT-07's stroke is superior to any similar motorcycle.
