Yamaha MT-07 700 2016 — Specifications

What drives a manufacturer known for polished four-cylinders to bet everything on a punchy, accessible twin? At Yamaha, the answer is five characters long: MT-07. In 2016, the Yamaha MT-07 700 is already entering its third year on the market, and the momentum shows no sign of fading. It must be said that the middleweight roadster segment hadn't seen such a shockwave since the Suzuki SV 650, followed by the Kawasaki ER-6, which has dominated sales charts for years. Yamaha enters this arena with a different philosophy: forget the smoothness of a four-cylinder like the XJ6's, and deliver something rawer, more direct.

The heart of the beast is a 689 cc inline twin dubbed CP2. Its 75 horsepower at 9,000 rpm and 67.7 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm won't break any records on paper, but the real trick lies in the 270° crankshaft offset, inherited from the crossplane philosophy introduced on the YZF-R1. The irregular firing intervals give the engine a personality that numbers alone can't convey: an organic surge, a texture with every twist of the throttle, far removed from the linear purr of a four-cylinder. Add forged pistons, four valves per cylinder, an 11.5:1 compression ratio, and a well-spaced six-speed gearbox, and you get a modern powerplant that also knows how to keep average fuel consumption in check. The price of the 2016 Yamaha MT-07 700 in France sits at 6,299 euros, a figure that positions Yamaha as a serious ambush predator against its direct rivals.

On the chassis side, the diamond-type steel tube frame uses the engine as a stressed member. The asymmetric monocross-type swingarm, bolted directly to the crankcases, is a far cry from the cheap square-section swingarms found on entry-level roadsters a decade ago. The 41 mm telescopic fork is nothing spectacular, but it does its job with 130 mm of travel. The braking setup, however, impresses with its generosity: two 282 mm discs gripped by four-piston calipers up front is serious hardware for a machine that tips the scales at 179 kg wet. That contained weight is one of the MT-07 700's greatest assets. You'd be hard-pressed to find anything lighter in the category. The rear end runs a 180/55-17 tire, a size typically reserved for sportbikes like the R6. A choice driven more by aesthetics than necessity, but one that gives the machine a flattering visual stance.

The MT-07's design leaves no one indifferent. Sharp angles, sculpted flanks, aggressive headlight: the MT-09's little sister cultivates an urban, rebellious style that appeals to new license holders and experienced riders alike who want a lightweight machine for daily use. The seat height, set at 805 mm, remains reasonable, the 14-liter tank is enough for regular commutes, and the 190 km/h top speed is a reminder that this bike isn't built to devour highways but rather to thrill on back roads and city streets. For those wondering what the Yamaha MT-07 700's power output is or how much this machine weighs, the answers are crystal clear: it's a power-to-weight ratio built for instant fun, no overthinking required.

Since its launch in 2014, the MT-07 has reshuffled the deck in the accessible roadster market. Kawasaki and Suzuki have had to go back to the drawing board. And Yamaha even spun off the recipe with the XSR 700 for retro styling enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for the price of a 2015 MT-07 700 or a 2017 version in France, the verdict remains the same: few motorcycles offer this much character and riding pleasure for such a modest budget. The MT-07 isn't perfect — its fork lacks adjustability and its instrument cluster remains spartan — but it hits the mark where it counts. On the road, hands on the grips, it's a machine that makes you want to ride. And that's really all anyone asks of it.