Yamaha 1670 MT-01 Kit phase 1 2006 — Specifications

Some machines warn you from the start. The MT-01 Kit Phase 1 makes no attempt to seduce with soft curves or reassuring electronics. It plants its 265 kg on the asphalt like a flag being driven into the ground, and it waits. The 1670 cc V-twin, 97 horsepower delivered at 4750 rpm and above all 150 Nm of torque at 3750 rpm, is an architecture conceived for high-performance agricultural tractors. In other words: built to go fast without needing to rev it out.

The tested unit comes with the complete Phase 1 kit, and the price breakdown deserves a closer look. The base motorcycle was listed at 13,263 euros. Add 1,427 euros for the Akrapovic exhausts, 637 euros for the MT-01 branded single-seat saddle, 287 euros for carbon panels, and you reach a total of 15,614 euros. A serious sum. The Akrapovic pipes transform the machine acoustically and visually, and they are the only additional equipment that justifies its price without reservation. The sound on deceleration is anything but trivial: it is an integral part of the experience. The single-seat saddle, on the other hand, proves far less convincing. The seat is firm, the thinness of the padding allows mechanical heat to come through unfiltered, and long stretches quickly become uncomfortable.

From the moment it starts, the V-twin announces its intentions. The rough, almost grumbling idle sets an atmosphere that has nothing of the well-mannered touring bike about it. The throttle carries a slight resistance, but once you twist it, the V-twin responds with a directness that pulls your arms in their sockets. Handling at low speed demands attention: 240 kg dry, mounted fairly high, a seat width that forces the legs apart, parking maneuvers that require a methodical approach. Nothing insurmountable for an experienced rider, but beginners will move on. This is not a learner's machine.

Once moving, the picture changes entirely. The die-cast aluminum frame inherits a philosophy drawn directly from the R1, and it shows: the radial four-piston calipers bite into the 310 mm discs with surgical precision, the 43 mm inverted fork works seriously, the reinforced swingarm inspires confidence in corners. The MT-01 is not merely spectacular on paper — it genuinely handles, which was far from guaranteed for a machine so radical in its positioning. The rev limiter steps in regularly to temper excessive enthusiasm under acceleration, a useful reminder that 150 Nm through a 190/50-17 rear tire will not forgive carelessness.

What makes the MT-01 unique in the 2006 motorcycle landscape is its ability to unite radically different audiences. Big American V-twin enthusiasts recognize the raw mechanical character. European roadster riders see in its angular lines a direct link to their culture. Fans of Italian machines appreciate the stylistic consistency. Few motorcycles manage to be both a purist collector's piece and a machine you can ride without hesitation on open roads. The claimed top speed of 216 km/h remains accessible, even though most of the pleasure is built well below that point, where torque alone decides everything. With its 15-liter tank, range will be another consideration on longer journeys. This Yamaha is not a tourer — it is a pleasure you learn to measure out.