Yamaha MT-10 SP test: Sweden does it good
A year after the release of the MT-10, Yamaha offers a more sophisticated version of its maxisportive maxiroadster: the MT-10 SP. Equipped with a specific color, the dashboard of the R1 and – above all! – Ohlins electronic suspensions of the R1M, can it make you crack ? Site tested it !
MT-10 SP test page 1 – With Ohlins … electronic !
Launched last year on the highly competitive "maxiroadsters" market, it now benefits from the support of a second version that is even sportier – and therefore more attractive? – with the MT-10 SP, the suffix of which has already been used by Yamaha in and .
- Test Yamaha MT-10 SP 2017 :
Like these two previous (top) models, the MT-10 SP is mainly equipped with Ohlins suspensions: NIX30 fork at the front and TTX36 shock absorber at the rear … both electronically controlled! Yes, as on the proposed for two seasons by the Blues of Iwata.
"These are the same suspensions as on the top-of-the-range R1, but certain parts and their settings have been adapted to the roadster and its more road use, even urban," said Staffan Sandberg, engineer at the prestigious Swedish brand. No, not Ikea, nor Krisprolls: Ohlins !
For the Stockholm-based brand, "suspensions are a matter of compromise: entering a curve against braking, grip when accelerating against chassis stability, stability against handling or comfort … All these situations require different settings".
This is why for a little over 30 years, Ohlins has been working on its electronic suspensions "precisely in order to avoid compromises, by continuously adapting the hydraulics of the fork and the shock absorber", enthuses our Swedish interlocutor at the meeting. ‘a coffee break after our first 70 kilometers of riding the "SP".
Until this stop unfortunately, the course was mainly made up of long straight lines and too few very fast curves. The opportunity for MNC to remember one of the weak points of the: his saddle much too hard to cover long medium distances without feeling it pass…
Fortunately, the suspensions of the MT-10 SP absorb well the small jolts of the tarmac in A2 mode (Touring, read the technical point) and provides significant comfort given the very "sport" orientation claimed by Yamaha.
The photo spot, nestled in an unexpected succession of bends in the middle of the South African vines, finally gives us the opportunity to experience the suspensions more. Foresighted and motivated, the Journal moto du Net chooses to toughen its MT-10 SP by selecting the A1 mode with a simple push, without taking out any tool..
On hard braking, MNC notices that the attitude of the motorcycle varies little, when the right lever is taken as when it is released a few moments later. "The on-board electronics more or less brake the compression and relaxation of the suspensions, depending on the information collected by the various sensors (gas, brakes, wheel speed, etc.) and the analysis of the control unit", describes the engineer Ohlins to us.
In fact, the motorcycle turns one block towards the rope, without ever changing course … as long as the track – the road! – remains impeccable, because on the bumpy sections, the rigor of the bike is a little excessive. The slight jolts sensitive to the handlebars when braking or in the saddle when accelerating encourage switching to A2 mode.
"The second automatic mode is more suited to this type of road," advises one of the members of the Yamaha team, in English clearly tinged with Japanese. A round trip in front of the photographers later, MNC confirms that the MT-10 SP is more pleasant to drive as well. And the overwhelming majority of testers agree.
Unless you like very responsive motorcycles, the rider may only select A1 mode on the track. On the road, the A2 mode allows you to benefit from a semblance of comfort, while maintaining a lively motorcycle when setting on the angle, perfectly stable in fast curves and firmly wedged on its rear axle when exiting..
What are M1, 2 or 3 modes? "What you want!" Engineer Ohlins answers. "You just have to know that in the customizable manual modes, you can adjust your suspensions to the click of a button, once and for all: the settings no longer change while driving".
While driving, it is possible to juggle between the three types of injection maps, the three levels of traction control and the five suspension modes, on the sole condition of cutting the gas. On the other hand, you must stop to modify the "global" driving modes (A, B, C or D) which automatically program the three engine parameters, TCS and suspensions..
All the settings appear at the bottom of the color TFT screen borrowed from the very latest generation of R1 – which keeps its track or road displays, day or night -, and everything is controlled by means of buttons on the handlebars. A handlebars still as wide and practical to take the Yamaha in the winding … Continuation of this test on the next page !
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