Yam MT-03

**wkid_one** · 30th September 2003, 08:05

At the Milan show last week, Yamaha displayed a sort of successor to its MT-01 "Bulldog" model of two years ago. The '03 is a melding of streetfighter and supermotard styles. This continues a long motorcycle tradition of picking up on customization trends and turning them into production bikes (or, in this case, a teaser for a possible production bike). It retains the undertail exhaust and the side-mounted shock. It uses belt drive, which is not something that used to show up on bikes designed to be cutting edge -- a good sign that belt drive, cleaner and lighter and quieter and lower-maintenance than chains, is getting closer to acceptance for sporty street applications. The LED highlights are a nice touch. Will Yamaha be first to use them in a production bike?

**avgas** · 9th November 2004, 19:07

I think it might end up one of those bikes that never finishes development. Like the Suzi BKing. Its really sad cos alot of these bikes would sell big if they were released. Thank goodness the benelli tnt will be sold

**jrandom** · 9th November 2004, 20:23

Originally Posted by avgas

I think it might end up one of those bikes that never finishes development. Like the Suzi BKing. Its really sad cos alot of these bikes would sell big if they were released. Thank goodness the benelli tnt will be sold

Yamahahaha made the going-into-production announcement earlier this year, dude. And I noticed while in line at the gas station yesterday that one of the NZ moto rags was proclaiming the MT01's imminent arrival at Kiwi dealers. See, life does have nice surprises sometimes.

[Edit: Search the forum for threads with 'MT-01' in the title for relevant links, etc.]

[Edit edit: It's a *new* MT-01, like that concept photo. They named it the same as an ill-fated European model of a few years back, but it's a much, much sexier bike.]

**Blakamin** · 10th November 2004, 07:44

Looked pretty cool until I saw the shock-absorber on the otherside!

**vifferman** · 10th November 2004, 08:02

Originally Posted by Blakamin

Looked pretty cool until I saw the shock-absorber on the otherside!

Probably a matter of opinion, as that's one of the styling features that caused people to go for the whole 'semi-streetfighter' look of it. Personally, I think it suits the whole image of the thing.
I guess it's also one of the features that causes a marked polarisation of opinion about it...

**Blakamin** · 10th November 2004, 08:07

Originally Posted by firestormer

Probably a matter of opinion, as that's one of the styling features that caused people to go for the whole 'semi-streetfighter' look of it. Personally, I think it suits the whole image of the thing.
I guess it's also one of the features that causes a marked polarisation of opinion about it...

To me it looks like a big yellow out-of-whack-with-symmetry thing that would get in the way.... at least paint in silver!
other that that (and the "headlight") its a nice bike!

btw, I dont like the shock on buells either...

**avgas** · 12th November 2004, 20:25

To be honest i liked everything except the motor.
It looked to weird - like a harley crossed with a VMAX motor. It is very chunky like.
Im a streetfighter fan through and through. but when you compare it to the likes of the brutale, or the TNT, or even the Mammut - this still looks too chunky.
See if the production model is going to be a little more sedate in the motor department.
PS: Anyone seen my camera (see my thread in Biker ravings)

**avgas** · 12th November 2004, 20:26

Originally Posted by wkid_one

At the Milan show last week, Yamaha displayed a sort of successor to its MT-01 "Bulldog" model of two years ago. The '03 is a melding of streetfighter and supermotard styles. This continues a long motorcycle tradition of picking up on customization trends and turning them into production bikes (or, in this case, a teaser for a possible production bike). It retains the undertail exhaust and the side-mounted shock. It uses belt drive, which is not something that used to show up on bikes designed to be cutting edge -- a good sign that belt drive, cleaner and lighter and quieter and lower-maintenance than chains, is getting closer to acceptance for sporty street applications. The LED highlights are a nice touch. Will Yamaha be first to use them in a production bike?

this picture is actually a better version than the one i saw