Yamaha’s naked MT series have been a huge success in recent years. Having come a long way since the oddball original V-twin MT-01 from two decades ago, the range has something for everyone, from the learner legal MT-125 to the barnstorming, 1000cc, MT-10 – with the MT-03 and the super popular MT-07 twin and MT-09 triple in between.
It was the MT-07 which relaunched the MT sub brand in 2014. It’s combination of lightweight, keen pricing and playful performance from the brand new 689cc parallel twin powerplant made it an instant best seller.
It has received several updates in that time, to keep it competitive with the many competitors which have emerged to challenge it over the years. It’s sold by the bucketload and is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down with over 160,000 machines hitting the roads in Europe alone. But with some big competition in the sector, they’ve given it a few little updates for the new year.
The last major MT-07 revision came in 2021 and although pretty much all of the middleweight naked remains the same as before, the updated 2023 version will now come equipped with a 5” colour TFT dash, which not only allows for different themes but also connects to your smartphone via Yamaha’s MyRide app. Alongside this, the switchgears have been revised and updated to accommodate the new dash and the ‘bars have changed too, while the front mudguard has been given a new lick of paint as well.
That TFT dash with smartphone connectivity has also made its way onto the MT-125, albeit with just one display screen available. The smallest MT also receives a new traction control system too. That might seem a little bit excessive for a 15bhp machine which can be ridden on a CBT, but it’s a good safety feature on a motorbike which is expected to be ridden by inexperienced riders in all weathers.
Although there’s no word yet on price or availability, expect the MT-07 to come in slightly more than the 2022 model’s £7,200 price tag, with the MT-125 expected to sit somewhere around the £5,000 mark.
