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Posted On 28 Jun 2024
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YAMAHA MT-07 HO EVERYONE LOVES A HOT ROD! WORDS STUART WOODBURY PHOTOS JOSH EVANS
Yamaha’s MT-07 has been a runaway success with Yamaha struggling to keep up with the demand.
As you would be aware (well, you should be!) Australia’s version is LAMS approved, while those over in Europe have the full powered, larger capacity version. The MT-07 is such an awesome bike that the full powered version was screaming to be made available here and that’s just what Yamaha Motor Australia has done – for you! So now there are two versions, the LA (LAMS version) and this HO (High Output) version we just rode at the Australian launch.
This was not your typical launch with presentations and kissing of feet, no, it was grab the bikes and go for a blast.
Just what you or I would do on any given day with a bunch of mates, and the road we blasted up is one I’m very familiar with, the Putty Road. The weather was dry, wet, dry, wet and extremely windy. Only the brave were out on their motorcycles, just a couple plus our crazy bunch.
Riding the new HO version was also going to be a great comparison against the LA version that we now own. It would be a good test of the performance mods I’ve made, seeing how they stack up against the bigger capacity, more powerful HO.
The MT-07 HO has the same chassis, suspension, brakes and seating position as the LA version. It’s all down to the super sweet parallel twin housed in the tubular steel frame that is different. Engine size is 689cc versus 655cc of the LA. Not a huge difference? Well, it does offer a fatter top end and a much smoother engine versus the LA.
Ours has a touch more bottom end than the HO, but the HO does have that top end advantage. If you were to put a freer fl owing exhaust and air filter into the HO, this would make it surpass our bike throughout the entire rev range, making it a “giggle yourself silly till you cry” kind of fun versus “giggle, then giggle some more – like a kid in a lolly shop” (as I always say).
Handling is the same super light and agile package and the brakes are powerful with excellent levels of feel – the same package, I dare say, that was fitted to the R6 a few years ago.
The HO is being sold in Australia in the one colour combo – matt silver with the blue frame and wheels. The blue highlights of the frame and wheels really look the part. In Europe this is a limited edition model. I was actually thinking of pulling the wheels off and taking them home with me, but I guess that wouldn’t suit the ‘red’ theme we’ve gone for…
Is there competition for either the LA or the HO version? Not really. For the price (the HO is only $9999 + orc) and the fun that you get from that tiny price tag, no one else has anything to offer that fits the mould of the MT-07. It might not have 200hp but that makes not one bit of difference and I should know, living with an MT-07 I smile every time I ride it. It does not have a fast top speed, but that helps me keep my licence, too! It is the torque and the way it’s put down to the rear wheel that makes this such a fun bike to ride.
If you want an all-round barrel of fun motorcycle, the Yamaha MT-07 HO (or LA for that matter) should be top of your list. The blood is pumping through my veins already in anticipation of my next ride, and you will feel that same exhilaration when you take one out.
YAMAHA MT-07 HO (HIGH OUTPUT)
PRICE: $9999 (plus on-road charges)
WARRANTY: Two years, unlimited distance
SERVICING INTERVALS: Every 10,000km or 12 months
ENGINE: Liquid-cooled parallel twin cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
BORE x STROKE: 80 x 68.6mm
DISPLACEMENT: 689cc
COMPRESSION: 11.5:1
POWER: 55kW @ 9000rpm
TORQUE: 68Nm @ 6500rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed, wet multi-plate clutch, chain final drive
SUSPENSION: Front, 41mm telescopic fork, non-adjustable, travel 130mm. Rear, mono shock, adjustable preload, travel 130mm.
DIMENSIONS: Seat height 805mm,weight 179kg (wet), fuel capacity 14 litres, wheelbase 1400mm
TYRES: Front, 120/70/ZR17. Rear, 180/55/ZR17
FRAME: Tubular steel
BRAKES: Front, twin 282mm discs with four-piston calipers. Rear, 245mm disc, single-piston caliper.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 5.5 litres per 100km, premium unleaded
THEORETICAL RANGE: 254km
COLOURS: Racing Blue
VERDICT: THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK, EVER!
