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A few weeks ago i decided i wanted a bit smaller/lighter/easier than the XSR900 and indeed a bit slower.
So i bought a KTM 690 Duke.... However that ended up being, well, shall we say, problematic.
So it was sent back to the dealer with the phrase "never darken my door again" and i ended up test riding some bikes and went for this
Yamaha MT-07
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51614512269_dbda185c4a_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51614512269_dbda185c4a_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mCZSgX ]2021-10-21_12-20-19[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Arrived today and ready to play.
You could get an ebike for that kind of money! 😉
Only just!
I've wanted a motorbike for a while now, Weeksy's threads do not help...
Head angle looks a bit steep.
Got any new bits lined up for it yet?
LOL just a few.
Evotech radiator guard
R&G front and rear axle protection
J-tech tail tidy
Wilbers shock
Just waiting for my lad to get home from school so we can do shock together.
I need to stop looking at these threads. New house has a shed that would house a motorbike... But I might end up living in it too 🙁
No fairing, not even a bikini one - I'm out.
Oh I like that, it's got just enough cartoony hunched forwardness from the tank and snub nose headlight without being too much. Love to see it with a bit less tailpiece though.
That looks lots of fun!!
Love to see it with a bit less tailpiece though.
By the weekend mate 🙂 it's a bit of a disassembly job for that and not one i'm doing today... But i've got the part here 🙂
Just had to Google the "Yamaha MT-07" to see how much they cost. Makes a complete joke of ebike prices. The Yamaha looks nice and a lot of fun. I still miss my R1.
Been out for another play today. Can't say there's anything i don't like about it.
Sure i'd like a slipper clutch for the downchanges, but hey, it only matters if i ever take it to track. The handling, it's perfectly nice, if a little wavey at times on the silly back roads, but i'm sure a shock will sort that completely. It's far from bad, just could be better i think.
It's tricky not to compare it to the XSR and the KTM.... But i will anyway. The fuelling is smooth, like silky smooth. There's a couple of people who say "the fuelling is a bit on-off" well **** me, they want to try riding a KTM 990 Superduke R or even arugably a 690 lol. Holding consistent throttles and speeds are effortless.
Clutch is, well, Japanese, as is the whole bike really, it does everything you ask, without question, without discussion and debate, all the gear changes feel effortless, there's no slop, play or missed changes, it's just through the gears as and when you ask.
It's not a big bike, even compared to the KTM which people say is small, but this sits lower, you also don't need to move about on it when riding, just on the seat and lean into corners. It's more of a leany bike than a hang off bike for it. This does of course mean the bike stays a bit more settled.
If we're being properly picky, these is the one thing where the KTM690 wins, it feels a bit more loose, a bit more all over and that kind of entertains you, so you end up feeling a bit wooah, a bit wahaaaay and that makes you laugh. The MT-07 just gets on with it and says "sure mate, we'll take that line if you like"
Changes of direction, lightness, that's where the MT07 beats the XSR900 hands down, it just feels well, more able to go where you want, when you want and how.... The XSR always felt a bit longer and a bit more grown up in that sense.
Do i miss the power of the XSR900, i'd be a liar if i said no, but only a little bit. The little Twin engine makes a cracking noise and pulls lovely, but it's not a stomping 120bhp twin after all so it takes a little persuasion to get there... but finding yourself at 80 is where the fun is, whereas on some of the bigger bikes (like the XSR900) you're not really getting that kick of fun well into 3 figures on the dash.
I assume the dash has buttons that show me other things, but i've got my rpm, gear indicator, fuel gauge and a clock, i don't really need to know the relative humidity in outer mongolia or any of the Traction, ABS, power modes, because i don't have them anyway 😀
I'm struggling to find a downside really on this.
Just had to Google the “Yamaha MT-07” to see how much they cost
I paid £6695 from Wigan Yamaha on the road... I had to pay for the heated grips, but they fitted for free.
^^^^^ That's what I meant...a lot of bike and technology for the money....excellent!
Nice!
I used to have an MT03 when they first came out and always vaguely wanted an MT01
I'm a big fan of torque-focused bikes for road riding. Hence me having a Monster S2R!
Hey Weeksy,
When the pull of a 690 becomes too much again (probably spring), I still have my 2017 690 Duke R tucked away in a warm corner of the garage 🙂
I should sell it really; it's like a brand new one.
These threads always getting me looking at bloody bikes. I don't even have a licence.
The MT-07 looks mint but I really like the XSR700, which I believe is the same bike with cosmetic (retro) differences.
Yes I could see myself on one of those. They're much cheaper than a Kenevo.
MT-07 make perfect adventure bikes!
The MT-07 looks mint but I really like the XSR700, which I believe is the same bike with cosmetic (retro) differences.
Beware they ride VERY differently mate. I don't wanna but you off but i took both out for a test ride. The MT07 i did 40 miles, the XSR700 i did 2..... I just couldn't get on with it. Even though i previously had an XSR900. Plenty of people love them, but for me, the XSR700 didn't work at all.
I’ve wanted a motorbike for a while now, Weeksy’s threads do not help…
Nor does his forum
I did my CBT a couple of weeks back and have my theory test at the beginning of November, Big Bike license after that - the bug truly bit me hard when I got my first nod from another rider and getting up to a wopping 50mph on a little Honda CB125F......might as well been a Fireblade. Took two days to wipe the grin off my face
Window shopping has made me fall hard for this
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51618857319_a83129bd8f_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51618857319_a83129bd8f_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mDo8UB ]2021-10-22_03-57-48[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51619071100_8aa42e325f_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51619071100_8aa42e325f_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mDpesu ]2021-10-22_03-57-38[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51619070740_609405d93b_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51619070740_609405d93b_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mDpemh ]2021-10-22_03-57-30[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51618855924_0080cc9630_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51618855924_0080cc9630_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mDo8uy ]2021-10-22_03-57-22[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Ahhhh, that's better.
Beware they ride VERY differently mate. I don’t wanna but you off but i took both out for a test ride.
Don’t suppose you’ve ridden the Tracer 7 have you weeksy? I’m considering the GT for commuting and occasional 2/3 day trips. Unless I can stretch to the new NT1100…..
Coming from a Triumph Bonneville so I don’t think the lower power compared to the 9 would be an issue.
Sorry Ape I never. Mate bought the Tenere and said it felt a bit flat. He now has an mt07 too. I'm not sure what tune/map etc is in the Tracer
No worries. I guess it can be fiddled with if necessary - fundamentally it’s the same.
New toy looks great
If you have time could you explain your thoughts/experience of the XSR900 and XSR700 v MT07?
(I prefer the more traditional styling of the XSRs, but am more interested in the ride than the looks).
The XSR 900 is like an old school geometry bike, reasonably tall, long and spacious. Think of bikes like an gsx1400 or Yamaha xjr1300 but lighter. The bars are forward, but close enough to reach.
It's a very easy bike to ride. The engine is fabulous. The CP3 triple with a WARRRRRRR or noise makes you want to rev. The suspension is somewhat harsh at times. But works well on A roads and track. Not quite as great on B roads.
The engine loves a remap which gets rid of any throttle snatch. However it's quite a fast bike and encourages you to see the big boys numbers on the Speedo
The mt07 is slow compared to the 900, think more sv650, ktm690 or er6. But it's an incredibly good bike to ride, it's instantly at home when you jump on it and pull away. It's not bonkers and at times you have to plan overtakes a bit more. But it rides light, light and sharp. With a great fun engine. It's very very easy and nice, slower, faster, town, country, just lovely.
The xsr700 was just awful for me. The whole bike felt wrong, it felt like it was 6" too far from tank to bars and on top of that the front wheel felt miles away. I did less than a mile on the test and took it back.
I've only ridden the mt09 on track, so hard to judge it too much, but it was like a taller and faster mt07 I guess