News – New in 2016: the Yamaha MT-03 arrives – Used YAMAHA

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New in 2016: the Yamaha MT-03 arrives

News - New in 2016: the Yamaha MT-03 arrives - Used YAMAHA

Since the arrival of the MT-09 in 2013, the new MT range has met with tremendous success with 70,000 sales in Europe, all models combined. Yamaha, determined to ride on this success, builds a bridge between the MT-125 and the MT-07 with the new MT-03, a roadster derived from the sporty R3 . 

Since the arrival of the, the new MT range has met with tremendous success with 70,000 sales in Europe, all models combined. Yamaha, determined to ride this success, builds a bridge between the MT-125 and the MT-07 with the new MT-03, a roadster derived from the . 

The mid-displacement roadster with MT sauce

Officially discovered at the 2015 Milan Motorcycle Show, the MT-03 is the roadster version of the launch last year. The novelty is equipped with the same engine – a 321 cc twin-cylinder developing an output of 42 hp and 29.6 Nm of torque – and operates the same chassis, articulated around a tubular steel frame of fairly simple design to the exception of the robust asymmetric swingarm.

The damping and the running gear are also identical: at the front, a telescopic fork of 41 mm – not adjustable – surrounds a wheel 17 inches and 110 mm wide and a simple brake disc of 298 mm.

At the rear we find a mono-shock absorber, a 140 mm rim and a 220 mm disc.

The main difference between the sport and the roadster lies in the ergonomics, with the addition of a raised handlebar, forward and downward footrests and the use of a new two-seater saddle located at 780 mm.

This approach is known, since already followed by Yamaha to transform its small bomber into a roadster . 

The lines comply with the codes in force in the "MT" family, recognizable among other things by the mesh scoops along the 14-liter tank. Yamaha does not specify the weight of this new roadster, probably slightly lower than the 169 kg all full made of the sports R3 due to the removal of the fairings.

What price and what outlets ?

The availability of this new MT-03 is scheduled for “February 2016” in Midgnight Black and Race Blu blue. Its price, essential data on this segment, is not yet communicated … Let us recall that the motorcycles of 250 and 300 cc are struggling to break into the European market, despite their interesting format for young A2 licenses and their economic interests (lower consumption and insurance).

MT-03, like deja vu ?

Our readers will no doubt have already noted that the name "MT-03" has already been used in the recent past at Yamaha, in this case on a roadster with a 660 cc single cylinder..

Unveiled in 2006 and recently released from the catalog, this "first generation" MT-03 never really met its audience largely because of its high price and the structural limits of its valiant "mono", also used on the XT660 . By reusing this name, Yamaha shows its desire to completely redesign its "MT" range and to separate it from previous models, such as the MT-01.

The reason for this commercial failure is notably due to the lack of attraction of young people towards these intermediate displacements, often considered insufficient and not very rewarding..

Nothing illogical, finally, insofar as a young license carries out all his training and passes his exam on twin cylinders from 600 to 700 cc, ER-6n and MT-07 in the lead. Buying a 300 cc motorbike therefore generates some form of potentially crippling downshift….

Above all, the price positioning of motorcycles from 250 to 300 cc really leaves something to be desired and often places these entry-level machines in head-on competition with multicylinder roadsters of the same brand..

At Yamaha for example, the and its 74 hp player twin is currently displayed at € 5,999: to make its new MT-03 economically attractive, its price should logically be around € 4,500.

Except that the operation seems impossible since the French subsidiary already offers its small MT-125 at … € 4,299. This leaves only a range of 1700 euros to place the 300 cc between the 125 and the 700! Unless there is a good surprise, the MT-03 will therefore be marketed around – or even above – € 5,000. Either way too close to the MT-07 to hope to seduce young French bikers…

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