Yamaha MT-07 700 2014 — Specifications

When Yamaha decides to shelve its four-cylinders and play the twin card, people pay attention. The Yamaha MT-07 700 lands in 2014 with a clear mission: blow up the middleweight roadster segment, where the Kawasaki ER-6n reigns unchallenged and the memory of the Suzuki SV 650 still makes nostalgics drool. The price of a 2014 Yamaha MT-07 700 in France, set at 5,699 euros, immediately sets the tone. Yamaha isn't here to make up the numbers — it's here to pull the rug from under the competition with a devastating price-to-fun ratio.

Beneath the 14-liter tank beats an all-new 689 cc inline twin dubbed CP2. This engine puts out 75 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 67.7 Nm of torque from 6,500 rpm. Numbers that sit within segment norms, but it's the delivery that matters. The 270-degree crankshaft phasing, inherited from the crossplane philosophy dear to Yamaha, brings an irregular firing order that gives the twin real character. The same principle is found on the manufacturer's larger-displacement machines, from the YZF-R1 to the MT-09. The Yamaha MT-07 700's power output hasn't changed across subsequent model years, including the 2023 version which retains that same temperament. The engine features forged pistons, four valves per cylinder, an 11.5:1 compression ratio, and a well-spaced six-speed gearbox. Reducing the average fuel consumption of the Yamaha MT-07 700 phase 2 was a major focus from the design stage, with an exhaust routed under the engine to centralize mass.

The chassis plays the smart minimalism card. A diamond-type steel tube frame that uses the engine as a stressed member, an asymmetric swingarm bolted directly to the crankcases. The Yamaha MT-07 700's wet weight comes in at 179 kg. That's featherweight for the class, making the bike easy to handle and agile in the city as well as on twisty roads. The seat, set at 805 mm, remains accessible to most rider builds. On the suspension side, a 41 mm telescopic fork and a mono-shock each offer 130 mm of travel. No inverted fork or sophisticated adjustments, but the package proves consistent with the price positioning. The braking, on the other hand, punches above its class: two 282 mm discs gripped by four-piston calipers up front. For a machine at this weight, that's generous. The 180/55-17 rear tire is a surprise — a size typically found on sportbikes like the R6, but one that flatters the lines and gives visual heft.

The design breaks from the classicism of roadsters of the era. The angular, almost aggressive silhouette borrows visual cues from its big sister the MT-09 while cultivating its own identity. The frame disappears beneath taut lines, and the minimalist flanks showcase the engine. This aesthetic approach speaks directly to newly licensed riders and urban motorcyclists looking for character without breaking the bank. The price of a 2015, 2016, or 2017 Yamaha MT-07 700 in France has stayed reasonable on the used market, making it still today one of the best entry points into the roadster world. Eligible for A2 license holders, it ticks every box on the spec sheet: light, torquey, good-looking, affordable. The Yamaha MT-07 700 laid the foundations for a commercial success that has never wavered, forcing the competition to go back to the drawing board.