Yamaha MT-03 from Cycle Torque TV on Vimeo
 

IT’S safe to say Yamaha is killing it with its current Massive Torque (MT) line up and the MT-03 is set to continue the trend.

Since-after the release of the MT-09 in 2013, Australia received a slightly restricted, Learner-Approved MT-07 in 2014, and it was so good (almost too good) Yamaha thought, ‘lets sell the higher-output model too’, and its been hotcakes ever since – both MTs topped the list of naked bike sales last year.

Late in 2015, Yamaha announced it would follow in the footsteps of its YZF-R3 machine by producing an entry-level bike to the Massive Torque range for the current model year using the same platform, but giving it more of an upright riding position and also making it look just as good without the fairing.

The MT-03 is based on Yamaha’s ‘Doctor Vale Approved’ YZF-R3 and it shares the same engine, frame, suspension and wheels – although being a naked bike, the bike feels more similar to the MT-07 than it does the R3 when throwing a leg over. It is a combination of subtle things – the MT-03’s upright seating position and higher ’bars, along with what seems to be a slightly different shaped tank and the lack of fairing – which are the main contributions to why a fundamentally naked version of the same bike feels so different to sit on.

The specs sheet obviously show the dimensions are very similar as the R3, but surprisingly it is also comparable to its ‘bigger’ MT-07 brother,  which feels similar in size. The MT-03 has a 20mm shorter wheelbase, the seat height is 25mm lower and the overall height is 55mm lower than the MT-07.

The seating position is quite comfy and well-suited to first-time riders and those returning to the superior, two-wheeled mode of transport.

Riders of all shapes and sizes can call this bike home and it rides great for its intended application – which is to help a new rider get acquainted with things, and learning how fun and rewarding riding a motorcycle can be when you start out with the right one. Being taller, I tend to prefer the seating position of the MT-03 over its sportier brethren. I find it is a bit more practical for the road and I can enjoy myself a bit more – especially in traffic and city situations.

On the backroads, I can ride longer.

The 321cc parallel-twin engine likes to rev, but it is user-friendly and produces enough power to get out in front of traffic when you let your right wrist do enough of the talking. The engine is capable of quite high speeds (Yamaha is racing this engine in a one-make YZF-R3 Cup), well beyond the freeway limit. Things feel quite linear until peak torque is generated at 9,000rpm and power is produced at 10,750rpm, which provides a small surge in performance between. This means the MT-03’s engine performs best when it is kept on the boil to maintain its speed and acceleration, but continually riding the bike in its upper-echelon you will find other things start to find their limit, which I will get to soon.

The instruments are simple and comprehensive, featuring a gear indicator, analogue tacho and digital speedo.

Learners will certainly appreciate the gear indicator, a quick glance every now and then to know which gear you are in will assure you don’t take off in second or third, plus it’s much better than changing to sixth, then realising you were already in top.

Handling-wise, the MT-03 is intuitive – it takes slightly more rider input to turn-in than its pin-sharp counterpart MT-07. This is confidence inspiring for riders with less experience, who will find the bike feels quite stable to corner.

The MT-03 is also very stable undertaking slow speed U-turns and creeping through busy traffic dabbing the rear brake.

The solitary front brake works well and although the initial bite isn’t super strong, it is quite comparable to most other bikes in this segment.

The feeling from the non-adjustable brake lever is reliable, providing great feedback from the brakes to modulate stopping pressure through the lever.

ABS clicks in and slows the bike down well in an emergency stop – another reliable backup feature for inexperienced riders.

The suspension is also quite good considering there is minimal adjustability – preload only for the rear shock. This softer set up is fine for smooth main roads and commuting but obviously, it is only when you find yourself on ordinary backroads or pushing the bike that little bit harder than you should, do you really notice the suspension isn’t perfect.

Novice riders need only get their local Yamaha dealer to set the rear preload for their travelling weight and be off on their merry way.

Yamaha has a truckload of genuine accessories available for the MT-03 and if I owned this bike, I’d fit the Akrapovi? stainless exhaust, a tail-tidy licence plate holder and a rear seat bag, to make the bike sound better, look a little bit more stylish and also be a bit more functional for my day-to-day travels.

The bike is available in three colours, ‘Race Blu’ – which is the colour of the test bike Yamaha supplied us with, ‘Racing Red’ and ‘Midnight Black’.

Overall, the MT-03 is an impressive package that is on par with what sells in a hotly-contested 300cc market.

Not only is the MT-03 a great commuter in its own right. It is also a great pathway for learners. Especially if you like the look of the bike, being part of a big range from Yamaha. Start out on the MT-03 for a year or two, move up to the MT-07LA or wait until your full licence for the higher-output version, where you will gain more experience once again, then the MT-09 or -10 will be waiting in the wings and you will have become a pretty capable motorcyclist in that time.

The MT-03 gives learners another great option to choose from in Yamaha’s LAMS stable, ‘feeling’ a bit bigger than an R3 makes it more suitable to a wide range of riders and it is much easier to handle than the MT-07LA, which could be a handful for some in their first year riding.

The MT-03 does all the things learners need it to, has a reliable ABS backup when you are ‘learning’, or doing what it doesn’t want to do, it’s priced well at $6,499 ride-away and it looks great not only in its own right, but as the entry-level option of what Yamaha can now call its even massiver… MT line up.