Thinking of buying a Yam MT-03, help needed!

[Ariel Badger]

I am considering an MT-03 650cc Yam. Nice looking bit of kit with a lot of punch and short wheelbase that should suit my needs ( Mostly on road but I do go off ito the wilds occasionaly) trouble is that the nobs at my local Yam dealer will not let me test ride one. Does any one here have experiance of this machine?
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[kat250]

The mt03 shares the same angine as the xt and an entire host of other machines. The 03 is relatively new so maybe worth checking out othe bikes that share the same engine? iirc the mz 660s share the same engine but produce more power than the yam version, and the pegaso of later share the same engine. Thats all i can think of just now .
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[Ariel Badger]

I believe the engine is fairly bombproof as most Jap lumps are. It is a fairly simple bit of kit as most singles are and produces torque rather than revs and speed. I believe it tops out at less than the ton but as we have a 70mph speed limit I see no problem with that. It is the handling and feel of the thing I am interested in and one can not judge that with the power unit in another frame or set up. The obvious solution is to just let me have the bike for a couple of days like many of the car companies will do and let me test it out.
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[kat250]

Well if you are lookign for handeling and off road use best bet is to go with an mz as you can easily get motard wheels and off road ones cheap for them. Basicly my opinion of the 03 is that it is a styled detuned xt with a few trick looking parts.
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in the famous word of jimmy pop "would you F*ck me for blow"
In the words of banditshigh "would you blow me to f*ck"

[TheShaggyDA]

You could always pop over to Amsterdam and rent one :-

https://www.rental-motorcycle.com/europe/netherlands/amsterdam_rental.html
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[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[Ariel Badger]

Not a bad Idea, I could get myself a dose of the crabs in the Red Light District at the same time. Only problem is have you ever riden in Amsterdam? Bike lanes, Trams, busses cars on the wrong side of the road and stoned Brits banging into things, Plus I am not used to American/Jap foot control set up I normaly have right hand gear change and the brake on the left.
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[Irezumi aka Reuben]

Depending on your height I'd consider looking at the Yamaha XT660R, or perhaps the XT660X.

The former has off-road wheels, I beleive 21" front and 17" rear, most likely more suited to the off-roading aspect.

The latter mentioned is the same bike but with 17" wheels both ends and road tyres. I assume it has different suspension internals/travel as well.

Both bike's use exactly the same engine as the MT-03.

XT660R:
https://www.motoryama.com.br/XT660-home-1.jpg

XT660X:
https://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/motorshow/html/museum/mc/05/images/index/xt660x_p.jpg

[TheShaggyDA]

This has the same engine too, but it's not going to help him get the feel of an MT-03 now, is it?

https://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/Images/Product_tcm26-37507.jpg
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[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[Ariel Badger]

The XT660X looks a nice little bike, I need somthing near the ground as I am rather un-tall and have 35 years of kick starter damage to my right hip. Like the styling of the MT-03 in much the way I like Macs over PCs they are still a pile of shit but they are more elegant and touchy feely.
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[Ariel Badger]

Just watched this Video from Yamaha https://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/products/motorcycles/sport_roadster/MT-03.jsp?view=video Notice how at second 17 the rider has lost control of the bike and his right foot is flapping about in the wind? at other times the MT-03 seems to be giving problems. Maybe the rake is too shallow and the WB too short.
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[TheShaggyDA]

I think they are going for the supermoto-stylee look. He does it again at 1:47, giving the "ooh look, I'm drifting, ma!" impression. It's also been speeded up in places.
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[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[Ariel Badger]

At 1.45 his foot once more comes forward off the foot peg (try pausing it), I wonder why? If it were to hit the floor it could brake a heel or smash backwards into the foot rest and brake lever taking out Achilles tendon and bone. At many other times he seems to be fighting the bike rather than steering it. Why would Yam put out a film that displays their motorcycle so badly?
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[TheShaggyDA]

[Ariel Badger]

Ride like that and the only lady you will be snoging is the Angel of Death whilst they remove your viable organs for transplanting.

I have not come across Supermoto before, it looks fun but is really not the way to ride on the open road is it?
I just want a stylish, small, detuned single and I still think a MT-03 may fit the bill. I just need to ride one before handing money over!
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[TheShaggyDA]

[Ariel Badger]

LOL!
That is not the kind of fun I am after, I just sold a 1936 Enfield. I fancy a modern machine for once, I have never experianced disk brakes or rear suspension and fancy giving it a go.
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[lilredmachine]

None of the bikes in this thread are supermoto as such. Definitlely not the MT03. A proper supermoto would be a KTM, Husaberg, Husqvarna, TM, Vertamati etc. all are hard edged, weigh about 110 kilos despit being 600cc and all are uncompromisingly useless to use every day.

What you are looking at is a commuter/street moto, they take the 17 inch rims, long travel suspension and a single (usually something lukewarm from the jap crowd) and stick in a frame that is more useable day to day. These bikes generally suck, as they weigh a good 40-50 kilos more than the proper supermotos and have less power. IMO it is best to avoid these types of bikes, either have a road bike or a supermoto or if possible, both.
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[lilredmachine]

Having said that, the XT660 looks good for a laugh.
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[Ariel Badger]

I am not looking for a Supermoto (in fact I had not heard the word untill yesterday) what I want is a nice plodder for the winter, something with decent brakes and lights and with a low saddle. I want the bike to be powerfull enough for motorway work and to be fun on dirt and gravel in the summer. The MT-03 is stylish and seems to fit my bill.
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[lilredmachine]

Whats the limit on the saddle height? A lot of the bikes such as the XT660 tend to be quite tall. The MT-03 sounds good for what you want, I just object to it being referred to as something even remotly supermotoey. TBH I quite like the look of it.
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[mchaggis]

I thought I liked the MT03 until I saw it in the flesh. It looks a lot better in the photographs. Once I saw one and what they had done to the front end, I was really unimpressed.
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[TheShaggyDA]

[Ariel Badger]

The saddle hight is dictated by the closeness of my nuts to the floor, I am 5,6 and most modern bikes are far too tall for me but the MT-03 feels comfortable.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[quacker_boy]

You thought about a BMW F650GS? My old man used to have one and let me ride it before he rode it back to england, i'm 5'6ish as well and had no problems sitting on it.

Bulletproof Rotax/Bombardier engine, disc brakes and mono shock and don't look too bad, check them out.

https://cannon-bmw.co.uk/cannon/New_Bikes/F650GS/2004%20BMW%20F650%20GS%20Dakar%20%20-%20low%20res.jpg

https://www.lejeune-motosport.be/imag/f650gs.jpg
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[Sphere]

I borrowed one from my dealer for an hour or so.

I thought it was a great little bike, a real hoot to ride if you accept it for what it is.

I do think it's overpriced when compared to say an er-6, but then it's not sold as a budget bike. (the latest Yamahas seem very well finished )

If you can, get a go on one. I'm sure you'll like it. Wether you'd spend 4.5k on one, only you can decide that one.

Sphere