Yamaha MT-10 SP 1000 2022 — Specifications

Who can claim to offer a stripped-down R1, civilized for the road, while retaining the temperament of a brute? Yamaha, with its 2022 MT-10 SP 1000, ticks all those boxes. The 998 cc inline four-cylinder puts out 165.9 horsepower at 11,500 rpm and 111.8 Nm of torque at 9,000 rpm. On paper, these are the kind of numbers that place this Japanese machine at the top of the heap against the Kawasaki Z H2, Ducati Streetfighter V4, and the KTM 1290 Super Duke R. On the road, it's a muscular roadster that's just begging to bite the tarmac, with a top speed of 250 km/h to remind you of its sportbike origins.

What sets this SP version apart from the standard MT-10 comes down to two golden letters: Öhlins. The 43 mm inverted fork and the rear shock, both from the Swedish specialist, feature electronically controlled semi-active technology. Three automatic maps adjust rebound and compression in real time based on riding style: a sport mode for those who push hard, a highway setting for eating up the miles, and a comfort program for Sunday rides. Three additional manual modes allow each parameter to be fine-tuned with precision, without electronic intervention. This sophistication alone justifies the price gap with the base version. The compromise between sporty handling and everyday comfort is nothing short of formidable.

The electronic arsenal doesn't stop at the suspension. Four power modes, a bidirectional quickshifter, lean-angle-sensitive traction control, cornering ABS, a six-axis inertial measurement unit, anti-wheelie, slide control, and even cruise control make up the full package. Yamaha has grafted onto its roadster virtually all the electronics of a hypersport, all managed through a 4.2-inch color TFT display. With this level of technology, you'd almost think you were at the controls of a superbike with raised handlebars. The YRC system groups everything into four customizable riding modes, which keeps you from getting lost in the menus.

On the styling front, the SP sports a livery inspired by the YZF-R1M, with its blue, aluminum grey, and gloss black tones. The aluminum perimeter frame houses a brushed swingarm that looks stunning. A belly pan and braided steel brake lines complete the picture, adding barely 2 kg to the scales for a total of 214 kg wet. Braking duties fall to 320 mm discs clamped by radial-mount four-piston calipers and a Brembo radial master cylinder, proving fully up to the task given the available horsepower. The 17-liter fuel tank remains reasonable, but for a machine designed more for thrills than grand touring, it makes sense.

That leaves the burning question: what's the price of the Yamaha MT-10 SP 1000 in France? Expect to pay 18,099 euros — a steep entry ticket, but one justified by the level of equipment. Against a Streetfighter V4 sold at a much higher price or a Super Duke R with a rawer character, the Japanese contender offers an appealing compromise between raw performance and onboard technology. It's aimed at experienced riders, comfortable with power, who want a machine capable of shining on the open road as much as during the occasional track day. With this refined second iteration, Yamaha has a credible high-end roadster — muscular without being unmanageable, sophisticated without going overboard. A true blade, dressed in a suit.