2005 Yamaha MT-01

Radial brake calipers and 320mm floating rotors up front suggest sporty intent.

Despite its aluminum frame, at 529 pounds (dry) this Yamaha is 150 pounds heavier than an '05 YZF-R1--that's a typical passenger's weight--and can't match a true sportbike's flickability. Still, it feels reasonably light, bending into corners easily and precisely thanks to a rigid chassis and aggressive steering geometry. With a 25-degree rake and 103mm trail, the MT-01 is dimensionally close to Aprilia's Tuono, though the MT's 60-inch wheelbase is more than four inches longer than the Tuono's.

The swingarm mounts outside the CF die-cast aluminum frame to add rigidity and make room for exhaust plumbing behind the engine.

The swingarm mounts outside the CF die-cast aluminum frame to add rigidity and make room f

Compliant, fully adjustable suspension also contributes to the MT-01's corner-friendly nature. A fully adjustable R1-style 43mm inverted fork yields a sufficiently supple ride to cope with most potholes, and can be easily firmed up for smoother surfaces. The horizontally mounted rear shock, however, has to be stiff enough to keep all that torque from squashing it under acceleration. After considerable fiddling with the adjustments, the shock still rattled my kidneys over bigger bumps and felt slightly underdamped. Still, the MT's suspension usually serves up a comfortable and controlled ride.

Yamaha offers an Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, among other bits, to boost power.

There's sufficient clearance to exploit the knee-down cornering potential in the Metzeler MEZ4 radials; only the footrest feelers touch down at a sporty pace. Similarly, R1-spec front brakes are more than up to the task, featuring a pair of 320mm discs with four-pot radial calipers. They score big when it's time to scrub off speed, though repeated high-speed photo-session abuse did cause them to wilt; blame the bike's hefty weight for some of that. In normal or even hard use, though, the Yamaha stops with remarkable power and abundant lever feel.

MT-01 project leader Takashi Tominaga and the MT-01 at the bike's debut in Cape Town, South Africa.

MT-01 project leader Takashi Tominaga and the MT-01 at the bike's debut in Cape Town, Sout

Although Yamaha's latest isn't the most practical bike around--there's no centerstand and little room for luggage--it's nicely finished and otherwise well-equipped. Large mirrors stay clear at all engine and road speeds, while adjustable levers and various smart styling details are evidence of Yamaha's hefty R&D effort. That's as it should be considering the MT-01's price will be only slightly lower than the R1's in most markets, somewhere north of $11,000.

The Yamaha engineers and GK Design stylists who shaped the original MT-01 a half-dozen years ago should be delighted with the production version. The heart and soul of their idea survived the translation from concept to production, wrapping monster torque, neo-hooligan character and admirable handling in an extraordinarily distinctive package. Admittedly, the MT-01 is a little too portly and has insufficient top-end punch to keep up with an equivalent supersport machine. But on the right roads, the MT-01 won't be far behind.

And when twisty two-lanes turn into traffic-choked freeways and pockmarked surface streets, routes that suck the joy out of riding a far more tightly focused supersport motorcycle, the MT-01 rider will still enjoy the ride. More than anything else, remarkable versatility and broadband entertainment value make Yamaha's MT-01 the surprise star of '05. Let's hope it gets the chance to shine in the U.S.A. in the not too distant future.

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