Riding the Yamaha Mt-01
RIDING THE YAMAHA MT-01
ROUNDUP
HERE YAMAHA GOES playing the forbiddenfruit game with America again. Years ago, it was with the YZF600 and 1000, then the FJR1300 and now the stunning new MT01, on sale now—just not in North America!
Even Europeans felt sort of lucky to get a ride on the big 1670cc V-Twin at the bike’s press introduction in South Africa late last year. Like everyone, we looked at the 1999 Tokyo showbike impressed, but filed it under the heading, “It’s a concept bike, we’ll never see its like.”
Well, here it is, in a surprisingly accurate production rendition of said show star, right down to the shotgun exhausts.
How’s it ride? A new-generation V-Max this is not, but you’re never going to get Mr. Max-level power from this Road Star Warrior-sourced, pushrod air-cooler, anyway. Still, there is a lot to like.
Such as tons of torque. Sprouting from the bars is a vast round tach (with inset LCD speedo) that dominates the rider’s view, but serves mainly to demonstrate how little this bike needs a revcounter. There’s good power from 1500-5500 rpm, and with such a slow-revving unit, that’s quite a spread.
But, dear reformed sportbike owner, do not expect tiremelting mayhem when the pin’s pulled. Instead, expect the 190mm rear meat to grip and the front wheel to track the earth while you’re punched briskly to your next shift. Or just pick a tall cog and leave it there. You can: The MT pulls top gear cleanly from as low as 40 mph. Still, with 530 pounds to haul around, it feels a bit lifeless at times, despite the claimed 89 horsepower and 111 footpounds of torque.
There will be factory hop-up kits available.
The weight also shows itself in handling. We’re not suggesting that the MT’s an unwieldy porker because it certainly isn’t-in smooth, open bends, the handling is impressive. But get ripping in tight stuff and the extra 80 pounds the bike carries over, say, a Buell XB12 makes it feel a bit ponderous. Size, bulk and a mighty wheelbase of 60 inches (thanks in part to the big, cruiser-sourced crankcases) conspire to make such antics very high-effort. Further, keeping it leaned over while crossing bumps is difficult. Yamaha says it “optimized” the wheelbase for good handling, though this may have suffered in translation from Japanese for “got it as close as possible under the circumstances!”
The tendency to stand up also shows itself when using the strong, radial-mount front brakes while trailbraking. This is not ideal when you’re pushing it. Should we have flogged the bike this hard? Perhaps not, but Yamaha says, “On this bike, aggressive riding is possible.. .it’s enough for hard and fast riding.”
The chassis and suspension certainly suggest a sporting intent. The castaluminum frame is similar in construction to that of the FZ6, and rigidity is helped by the solid-mounted engine. Stock settings for the fully adjustable inverted fork are soft and there is some dive under braking, while the rear (with its ride-heighttweakable shock) provides a choppy ride on bumpy pavement. Full-tilt sportbike this is not.
Knock back the pace to seven-tenths and the ride is plush and secure.
The comfortable riding position is spot-on for a roadster like this, with footpegs reasonably set back so your torso leans gently into the wind.
It is unfortunate that the fuel tank holds only 4 gallons, because this is a bike you could ride a lot farther than the 80-miles-toreserve this capacity suggests.
The real purpose of this bike was revealed on the ride back from the Cape of Good Hope. We weren’t gunning it between tight hairpins or trying to chuck the bike on its ear, but holding fourth gear, rolling on, rolling off, leaning it in and wasting toe-sliders in a surprisingly swift yet easygoing waltz. No drama, no trauma. Enough time to point the odd eyeball at the countryside through which we were passing, yet enough pace to call it a proper ride.
Final word on how the MT01 will play in Peoria will have to wait at least until the 2006 model year, when there is a chance Yamaha might bring it Stateside.
Well, the U.S. did finally get those YZFs and is buying up plenty of FJRs. So here’s hoping you can have as much fun as we are over here in Europe!-Damon I’Anson/Bike
