Yamaha MT01?

[Laava]

Anyone got one and what do they think of it? Also are the later model ones improved and if so in what ways? TIA Al. I like the look of them a lot but haven't ridden and don't know anyone who has one.

[malfunconz]

no idea what they go like but i am sure they go like stink . Looked at one in nelson couple weeks ago and it looked like a grunt machine .

[Pussy]

I've ridden one.
Lots of grunt, handle reasonably well... BUT.... vibrate like a bastard

[EJK]

Ask Musicman. He's got one. He is the other Asian (not the Boba Fett-Pikachu Asian) who went on the CC Challenge with you bout two and a half years ago.

He's had it for over a year now I think.

[tigertim20]

Anyone got one and what do they think of it? Also are the later model ones improved and if so in what ways? TIA Al. I like the look of them a lot but haven't ridden and don't know anyone who has one.

I rode a 2010 one.
It has lots of power, but frankly, it didnt FEEL powerfull. It was effortless, going up a hill in top gear at like, 2000rpm or so.
Also what I found amazing was how easily you could throw the thing around, it was a shock actually, I expected it to be a big fat heavy pig, but it was as flickable as my old 600 sports bike.

What it lacked though, was any real character, it was frankly boring. it was just too smooth for aa V twin of its size, its like a toyota corolla, does its job well, but it's nobody's dream vehicle.

I would put it right towards the bottom of the list if i was after a V twin of that sort of capacity or anywhere near it. I found riding it a total let down.

[GrayWolf]

Well I bought one in December, (2007 model)
In way Tim has got some of his 'view' right, if you look at the bike from a 'high performance' perspective. Yamaha typicaly for the Japanese, had to find a marketing 'angle' and speil for their product and they are partly correct, but the idea of 'soul' I guess is diffferent for cultures and if anything generationaly. I grew up in the 60's, teenager in the 70's, so I have a vivid memory of the old Brit twins sound, feel and owning a couple of them. The MT pushes all the right buttons if you are from that era. Yup it vibrates, it thumps in way that'll get the lil woman's attention on the back It's about using the torque which it has masses of, (more than an R1 at full song) rather than dropping a cog and revving the nuts off it. I rode over the Nelson Hills,Wairu valley and the Kaikoura's over Xmas.. leave it in 4th and surf the wave torque between bends So yes it may feel like it has no power it revs slowly, but with about 4kph for every 100rpm in top? Its actualy producing more speed per rev's than a 'busa. The amount of engine braking also requires some adjustment in riding technique.
Really the MT-01 is targeted for feel and performance towards the Moto Guzzi, Triumph Bonneville/Thunderbird buyer (new Triumph). I followed an MT and an XR1200 sporty over the Lindis Pass about 18months ago 2 up on my ZZR. (I admitted elsewhere I was impressed with the XR's overall performance). The MT and it were having a rare old time. A ZZR1.1 is not the most sporty handling bike I'd agree, but those two big V's could hussle. The MT weighs as much as my ZZR and I would say it is noticably more flickable that the Zed, it just isnt going to out jockey a sprot bike unless ones being badly ridden. The radial brakes from the R1 are also brilliant, it stops far more powerfully than my Zed which has standard 4 pot calipers but twin braided hoses and a 'heftier' master cylinder.
I've now done about 2500 km's and I am loving it. It is powerful, in a lazy way. The drive out of corners is just 'legendary'. Tim's thoughts that it is boring? Yes in a way that any japanese bike is boring or Toyota like. It doesnt vibrate as badly as a H Ferguson but open the throttle, and you can feel those big jugs firing. It's reliable, has fantastic lights, which ANYONE who has ridden a motorcycle equipt with the 'Prince of Darkness's' products will truly appreciate and bits aint gonna fall off along the road. Having owned 2 old Bonnie's back in the days of stupidity/youth, I cannot understand anyone wanting masses of vibration from a bike, it produces teeth rattling, hand tingles, no view from the mirrors and becomes bloody unpleasant over any real distances at any fair rate of quickosity, 120kph upwards!. I am wearing a wide shit eating grin on this bike at just about legal speeds, something I needed to do errrrrr X2 limit to get similar on the Zed, such is the difference as to where the 'fun zone' lies on the two different bikes.
it IS a bike for those fed up with sprot bikes, the seating position is upright/sporty, the bike has its power in the usable (legaly) range, it may not accelerate like meat loaf's famous song but feels more like one of Steppenwolf's famous ditty's, a magic carpet ride!
and as a footnote how DID yamaha get the standard pipes through the highly stringent Euro noise reg's?

[CeeJay]

Bought an '06 about 12 mnths ago with ~7k km. It now has ~17k km.



Overall, have to say I love this bike. In my view, it's a brilliant concept to put a large displacement slow revving engine into a sports frame. What you get is a high torque, cruiser-type motor in a frame/suspension package that handles remarkably well. There's no point comparing it to a 4 cylinder sport bike since they develop max power at high revs. The MT-01 redlines at 5500 and reaches peak torque at 4500. The sweet spot of the engine is around 2800 rpm and in top gear on a flat road that translates to ~130 kph. That in itself can be a problem with Mr Plod

The standard cans are homologated for Euro emissions so a de-baffle, de-cat and K&N makes a noticeable difference, providing increased grunt and a bigger grin. On long (500km) trips with mates on sports bikes, the MT is never left wanting but of course will never win in a straight line WOT situation. The only negative is the bike is a heavy beast at ~262kg. Although well balanced and not difficult to handle, you wouldn't want to lay it down. Also, it pays not to try to corner overly fast since, at that weight, the momentum tends to want to keep it going straight ahead. The most fun is when you get stuck behind a line of cars, a campervan or truck on a hill. Just drop a cog and wind it on a bit and the massive torque (MT) just yanks you past effortlessly

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...8&d=1312148900

[mossy1200]

I like mine and I have had zx12r,sp1 and aprilia in the past.I dont miss the hp and now i have carbon cans its even more fun to have volume control in my rt hand without blistering speed.

[Sable]

That is a heinous failed abortion on wheels. Kill it. With fire.

[mossy1200]

That is a heinous failed abortion on wheels. Kill it. With fire.

That smarts real bad

[raziel1983]

I like mine and I have had zx12r,sp1 and aprilia in the past.I dont miss the hp and now i have carbon cans its even more fun to have volume control in my rt hand without blistering speed.

And here I am limiting myself to bikes with hard panniers..

O for Awesome!

[ktm]

The bikes themselves are cool but as for the trailer, I'm with Sable on that. Burn baby burn LOL

[mossy1200]

The bikes themselves are cool but as for the trailer, I'm with Sable on that. Burn baby burn LOL

More hurt im going to go polish my ugly arse till it shines.

[GrayWolf]

I think the saddest thing about bikes like the MT, V max and B king... Is they represent a risk factor design, that was a lets build it because we can philosophy. With the advancing restrictive legislation in some large market countries, and the current downturn in overall sales worldwide. We may be owning soon to be 'modern classics' ...... the likes of which may not be built again.

[jrandom]

I think the saddest thing about bikes like the MT, V max and B king... Is they represent a risk factor design, that was a lets build it because we can philosophy. With the advancing restrictive legislation in some large market countries, and the current downturn in overall sales worldwide. We may be owning soon to be 'modern classics' ...... the likes of which may not be built again.

Yep, the GSX1400's already gone that way to the big garage in the sky. Only old stock and second-hand examples left for purchase now.

Such a shame. Motorbikes aren't what's breaking the environment.