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| | | Road test: Yamaha MT-03 – Playful single |  Written: 13/03/2006 : 11:46. Read 74517 times (35/day). | Two years ago Yamaha launched a big Confederate inspired sports roadster in MT-01. The problem is that MT-01 was only launched in the European market. Europeans seem to prefer small fast café racers, such as the new MT-03, whilst Americans seem to prefer big naked V-twins, such as the MT-01. We are confused, and it seems the market is a bit confused too. Whilst we await the next MT, probably a 1000cc twin based on the TDM, we have ridden the latest addition to a growing range. MT-03 is a big single in a small package.
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MT-03 is a simplistic style study inspired by European sub-culture-particularly by Italian and French café culture. MT-03 has got a dose of Supermotard, a dose of Scrambler and a dose of café racer. It’s made for fun with a price and style for people living with huge mortgage or rent expenses in the city. I found other uses for the smallest MT outside of the city too. When you live in a big city you tend to escape to the country side at the weekends. Friday afternoon and the traffic out of the cities is stationary and the air is lethal containing more carbon monoxide than is good for you. Plenty of instant torque makes sure you wheelie out of trouble from the lights and the light chassis is stopped efficiently by the budget brakes. The MT-03 is perfect in this situation. The MT is narrow and light with a big single cylinder engine made for torque. Filtering past the mile-long queue of stressed out city workers on their commute home is child’s play with MT-03. Perhaps the single has got slightly too much engine braking for smooth filtering, but again the torque becomes useful quickly enough for escaping the idiot that didn’t see you. The mirrors on MT-03 are just placed in van mirror height, but they can easily be tucked in. Finally I reach the end of the queue and can turn off to my favourite mountain roads. MT-03 loves the bends and the hairpin ones will always be the favourites. I remember Aprilia Pegaso 650 on these very same roads and the MT-03 is just as much fun as the Italian bike. MT-03 is pretty much an Italian bike at heart. The engine that powers three different Yamaha’s, two Aprilia’s and one Derbi is produced at Yamaha’s Italy factory and the design is very Italian too. MT-03 has got a 45hp version of the single cylinder 660 four-stroke. Yamaha XT and Aprilia Pegaso have got a 48 hp version. Yamaha claims the MT-03 is a newer model and emission control robs the MT of three hp. If that has happened to the MT-03 it will also happen to the others in the coming years. I do not remember the Pegaso 650 Strada feeling more powerful than the MT-03 so there can’t be much to it.
When sitting on the low 805mm seat you feel completely part of the bike. My upper body is very close to the front of the bike and the handlebars are wide. It feels even more so with that tall pillion seat behind. The foot pegs are big and chunky and accommodates big cross boots easily. You are meant to use your cross boots and cross helmet on this bike to reflect the urban and youthful supermoto image. At the same time you can wear whatever you like without looking out of place. MT-03 is very versatile in appeal. It has got certain retro styling points mixed with the urban fashionable look. The side mounted rear shock flashes out from the right hand side. Just like on the old Suzuki TL1000S. With 80bhp less the MT-03 does not suffer any in the handling department and it was impossible to notice that the MT has a side mounted shock through the bends. I did two long transportation journeys on motorways and it can be tiring. Not so much because of vibration, but of boredom. There is only one position on the throttle when on the motorways and that’s full throttle all the way. The MT struggles to maintain speeds above 90 mph and the engine is gasping for air. I do the motorway miles out of necessity and time considerations, not because I want to.
Many of the parts on the MT-03 are cheap to produce, such as the conventional fork, brakes and controls. Whilst other parts such as the detailed and luxurious seat, nicely designed headlight, double MT exhaust and aluminium swing-arm are pure quality. It all works perfectly together and even though some of the parts are cheap it does not mean they do not work. The brakes for instance are picked from the FZ6 and they give more than enough power and feel to a light motorcycle such as the MT.
Conclusion
MT-03 makes sense in many ways. It is cheap to buy, cheap to run and it looks good. It is a laugh in the city centre and everywhere where the bends are tight and the roads narrow. It is not much to pick on and the few things I could mention are just due to the limitations of any single. MT-03 is a great little MT.
By: Tor Sagen/Photo: Claire McHugh
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Engine
Engine type: 4-stroke, single cylinder, 4 valves,SOHC
Engine cooling: Liquid cooled
Displacement: 660cc
Bore x stroke: 100 x 84.0mm
Compression ratio: 10.0:1
Maximum power: 33.4kW (45 HP) @ 6,000rpm
Maximum torque: 56.2Nm (5.73 kg-m) @ 5,250rpm
Lubrication system: Dry sump
Carbutator: Fuel injection
Clutch type: Wet, multiple-disc
Ignition system: TCI
Starter system: Electric
Transmission system: Constant mesh, 5-speed
Final transmission: Chain
Fuel tank capacity: 15 litres
Oil tank capacity: 3.4 litres
Chassis
Chassis: Steel tube truss diamond
Front suspension system: Telescopic Fork
Front travel: 130mm
Rear suspension system: Swingarm
Rear travel: 120mm
Front brake: Dual discs, Ø 298 mm
Rear brake: Single disc, Ø 245 mm
Front tyre: 120/70-17
Rear tyre: 160/60-17
Dimensions
Length (mm): 2,070mm
Width (mm): 860mm
Height (mm): 1,115mm
Seat height (mm): 805mm
Wheel base (mm): 1,420mm
Minimum ground clearance (mm): 200mm
Dry weight (kg): 174.5 kg
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