Reminds me of my 1976 Triumph T140V 750cc Bonneville which was 395 lbs and because of the excellent handling was able to beat every motorcycle I raced all the way into 1992. I finally retired her and she sit's not 20 feet from me as I write this. I like this new Yamaha FZ-07 and my experience with Yamaha is that they make excellent high quality motorcycles. I may prefer this over a new Harley-Davidson Sportster or a new Triumph Bonneville mostly because of it's much lighter weight.
I test rode this today and agree with everything said. First thing you notice is just how light and compact the bike is, feels more like a 250 than a bike over twice that capacity. Next thing you notice is the awful silencer that strangles what would otherwise be a very throaty and off beat sound, Such a shame but I suppose only to be expected nowadays. Shouldn't be long before there are alternatives though. Riding the bike can best be described as a whole load of fun. The wide range of power, the light weight and nimble handling make for a brilliant street bike. Power to weight ratio is perfect for blipping around getting through the traffic and it's small enough to squeeze through to the front of the queue then shoot off into the distance on one, (or even two wheels if you're into that sort of thing). Brakes are also really good and the back brake proves really useful in traffic. On the A-B roads this thing is absolutely brilliant. All that midrange power makes the twisties and overtaking traffic almost effortless. You also get the feeling there would be a great overrun sound from the exhaust, if only it would let it out, Up to about 70mph the wind isn't really a problem but at much over 80 you find yourself concentrating on hanging on and so riding becomes more of a chore than fun. Therein lies the problem with motorway or dual carriageway riding. Not much point in having a bike that does 120mph if you couldn't hang on to it.for more than ten minutes at anything above 80. Though, to be fair, I guess that's missing the point a little. This is a point and squirt bike, with plenty of squirt. A decent screen would certainly help if you wanted to do any distance riding. I test rode both the Yam and the ER6 which is the obvious competitor. The main difference is the fun factor of the Yam. It wins hands down in just about every respect, except perhaps the option of a fairing on the ER if you want to do distance work. The Kwaka certainly feels safe and secure, a bit like sex with the wife. The Yam on the other hand feels like having a mistress... half your age... and in to bondage. I suppose that part of the reason it seems so powerful is that it's a 700cc bike that feels like a 250 and it's hard to get your head round that your riding a mid range bike because your brain is convinced it's a 250. I've no doubt there are faster 700cc bikes, but they feel like 700cc bikes and this certainly doesn't. As for the price, similar to the Kawaka and at just over five grand, it's a steal (though the Kawaka is available on 0% here in the UK. I should mention the new Honda or the (old) Suzuki but I haven't ridden either and, to be honest, have little or no interest in doing so. One minor complaint, At 51 yrs old apparently I'm not Yamahas target market. (probably the Honda). Well don't start digging my grave yet Yamaha, Even a middle aged (and slightly overweight) bloke knows how to enjoy riding a motorcycle. Well that's my entirely unbiased and unprofessional review (no I don't work for Yamaha though am willing to accept a huge discount for saying such nice things about your bike) ;-) Hope you enjoyed it. Best advice I can give is... Go out and ride one,,, If you don't enjoy it then you're probably already dead.
Thanks for the feedback. Agreed re the target market. Yamaha say the MT-07's focused on 20-35 year olds but I hope I'll still be enjoying bikes like this at 90!
I test rode one of these on the weekend for my bro who's looking at buying one (and did after the test). It has a very decent rev range, goes up to 11k, however its only usable within the torque curve, I found letting the gearing sit around the 4-6k mark was on the money and produced all the snap and power you'll need as a learner and beyond. It absolutely ate up the corners, we were on some very twisty back mountain roads so I was able to push it through the corners. the stock suspension and settings were a little soft for me but im 100kg so probably on the money for a 60-80k rider. Also that front tyre didn't have quite the feedback I'm used to, but that's the beauty of this bike, it runs full size tyres, something may overlook. with the 180 rear and 120 front you have a huge choice of the best tyres available to you. Definitely a Plus. A bit on me, I ride an R1 on the street and a Superbike Spec BMW S1000RR on the track and have been riding for over 30 years.
Have to say, this is the first iM video I've watched, and information, delivery, and camera work is better than anything else I've seen. A bit monotone, as if you were reading off of a card someone else had written, but overall very, very well done. If they bring this to the USA, it may very well be my next bike. Thanks guys!
An Amazing looking bike, good CC and the price is very low, about Damn time this endless rise in prices came to an end, value for money, I hope they sell a ton of them!
I'm between this bike and a SV650. The SV650 has a lot aftermarket parts and is a solid bike, but unfortunately they discontinued it. The thing holding me back from this one is I always like to give ANY new products, whether its motorcycles/game systems/cell phones at least a 6 months to a year to see how they perform before purchasing them. By then they usually have gotten all the bugs out. It's a fantastic looking bike though, very happy they made a new naked line of bikes.
I'm selling my sv650 k6 for this one :). Lower center of grativy, more nimble (the front feels incredibly light) , riding position is, to me, quite more comfy (but the seat it self is a bit hard). It feels like it pulls a little bit more especialy at low rpm. The front brakes is day and night though ! So much so that when I went back on my sv650 I was very dissapointed by the lack of bite on the suzuki (only 2 pistons per caliper). There's very few drawback to me for the mt07 : There's even less room under the seat, the gearbox feels a bit harsh and the switches are pathetic. I felt a lot more confident on sharp corner in the city with the mt07 and only had it 1/2h. A lot of fun this bike feels like a pushbike for handling :).
shannow95 Thanks for the input. Unfortunately there are no dealers in my area that let you test ride FZ's, so I can't check them out in depth. So this did help.
Micah Murray I hear ya, man. I rarely go for new stuff due to the unknown bugs and flaws yet to be discovered. If companies did proper r&d, it wouldn't be an issue. But we know most cut corners and testing to meet deadlines and maximize profits.
I like the bike better than the MT-09, because I am around the age when speed isn't everything, except when pulling out of a corner on a twisty road in the mountains, then TQ is the best friend a bike rider can have, I am use to a naked SV650, this bike sounds like it would be way more fun, even for us older folk. The MT-09 is a little too much power from what I've read & seen, now if I was younger yes ! The MT-07 has more leg & hip room for me as well, over the ER6N. Not sure the fuel useage of this bike, but it should get up to 50 mpg easy ? I hope anyways. lol Glad to hear it's US bound as well. My SV650 has finaly found it's replacement...Thats my 2 cents. yl
TIme for Kawasaki to punch out their 650 twin to a 700 or more. If they did that and brought it out in a naked version similar to the ER-6 they can compete. All the manufacturers should be building a machine like this. It is literally the best of all worlds.
Why is sound so important? I don't get it... what's wrong with a quiet bike? Exhaust note is nice, except for straight pipes in residential areas, and OK Goldwing silent is a bit much but all this money spent of aftermarket canisters...? Please explain. after performance, ergonomics, economy, price, features - exhaust note is far down the list and wouldn't be a deal-killer...
This seems like the ideal town/city/commute/country lanes bike. I want one. Looks really good too. What is the suspension like when going quickly, please?
Basically it's fine. I'm quite heavy, and the shock in particular can feel a bit soggy when you're riding hard. But for the type of bike it is, and the price, I thought it was very good.
Thanks. The shock can always be upgraded. Looks really good. Nicest bike in its class. Will make a nice second bike to my B-King. At the moment I have a Buell Ulysses, which I don't trust.
I'd say it'd be excellent, yes. The MT-07 is so light that even with 48bhp it has a similar power-to-weight ratio to bikes like Honda's CB500F and NC750S, so it should still be really good to ride. And when you derestrict it you'll get a great performance boost pretty much for free.
***** Ha guess that depends on your situation! If you're as broke and crash-prone as I was at 18, a cheap old bike to learn on might make sense. But if you can afford the MT-07 and are sensible, I'd have thought it would be ideal.
This or Ninja 300? I currently have a Ninja but am still restricted and this seems like the most powerful bike I can legally get for the next few years. Please tell me pros and cons of both if possible, thanks in advance.
Did you not watch the video? Ninja 300 does not nearly compare, you get more than twice the horsepower/torque with this bike, much faster but not overwhelmingly fast as most supersports, its a fair first bike if you're in the confident side and would do great as a second if you really think it would be too much power, but given its relatively low weight and upright seating position, gear indicator...etc, i dont see why anyone would go with a 300
arman sesar If you dont see why anyone would go with a 300 then maybe you should ride one. Sure it has less power than the MT07 but it can still hit like 190 or so kph and revs to 15,000 rpm, plus it's probably the sexiest looking learner bike out there.
Cool, well it seems like you enjoy it, and i also believe they are plenty sexy, just thought it would be more economical to go with something more powerful to avoid an upgrade
I'm 6'4" and didn't have a problem with it so I think you'd be fine. Obviously there's no wind protection, and if you're also heavy you might find the shock a bit soft. But my height wouldn't put me off buying one.
iMotorcycle Video Thanks for your response. One more question. Since you are a tall guy, do you recommend any other bikes that would be comfortable? The bike I purchase will be my first bike and I'm looking at middle weight bikes in all of the different styles of motorcycles.
CHILLY CHILLZ Kawasaki Ninja 650r, Honda CBR500R, X, and F (although a little underpowered, yet tons of fun!), Suzuki SV650, Suzuki DRZ400SM if mostly around town kind of stuff, you could look into the Yamaha FZ6R if you have some experience. There's plenty of amazing options. :)
joshuamoore13 Thanks again for the response. I've been looking into the FZ6R after your suggestions. I'm more than likely going to buy a used bike. Thanks again.
Why don't we get this in the U.S.?…. It looks so much better than the FZ-09. I would buy this. Bring it here Yamaha but add ABS. $6990 done deal. Don't get greedy and overprice this.
Best review of this bike I've seen so far. I like how the host talks about the Euro and North American specs of the FZ-07. Sexy bike I must say.
Reminds me of my 1976 Triumph T140V 750cc Bonneville which was 395 lbs and because of the excellent handling was able to beat every motorcycle I raced all the way into 1992. I finally retired her and she sit's not 20 feet from me as I write this. I like this new Yamaha FZ-07 and my experience with Yamaha is that they make excellent high quality motorcycles. I may prefer this over a new Harley-Davidson Sportster or a new Triumph Bonneville mostly because of it's much lighter weight.
I test rode this today and agree with everything said.
First thing you notice is just how light and compact the bike is, feels more like a 250 than a bike over twice that capacity.
Next thing you notice is the awful silencer that strangles what would otherwise be a very throaty and off beat sound, Such a shame but I suppose only to be expected nowadays. Shouldn't be long before there are alternatives though.
Riding the bike can best be described as a whole load of fun. The wide range of power, the light weight and nimble handling make for a brilliant street bike. Power to weight ratio is perfect for blipping around getting through the traffic and it's small enough to squeeze through to the front of the queue then shoot off into the distance on one, (or even two wheels if you're into that sort of thing). Brakes are also really good and the back brake proves really useful in traffic.
On the A-B roads this thing is absolutely brilliant. All that midrange power makes the twisties and overtaking traffic almost effortless. You also get the feeling there would be a great overrun sound from the exhaust, if only it would let it out, Up to about 70mph the wind isn't really a problem but at much over 80 you find yourself concentrating on hanging on and so riding becomes more of a chore than fun.
Therein lies the problem with motorway or dual carriageway riding. Not much point in having a bike that does 120mph if you couldn't hang on to it.for more than ten minutes at anything above 80. Though, to be fair, I guess that's missing the point a little. This is a point and squirt bike, with plenty of squirt. A decent screen would certainly help if you wanted to do any distance riding.
I test rode both the Yam and the ER6 which is the obvious competitor. The main difference is the fun factor of the Yam. It wins hands down in just about every respect, except perhaps the option of a fairing on the ER if you want to do distance work.
The Kwaka certainly feels safe and secure, a bit like sex with the wife. The Yam on the other hand feels like having a mistress... half your age... and in to bondage.
I suppose that part of the reason it seems so powerful is that it's a 700cc bike that feels like a 250 and it's hard to get your head round that your riding a mid range bike because your brain is convinced it's a 250. I've no doubt there are faster 700cc bikes, but they feel like 700cc bikes and this certainly doesn't.
As for the price, similar to the Kawaka and at just over five grand, it's a steal (though the Kawaka is available on 0% here in the UK.
I should mention the new Honda or the (old) Suzuki but I haven't ridden either and, to be honest, have little or no interest in doing so.
One minor complaint, At 51 yrs old apparently I'm not Yamahas target market. (probably the Honda). Well don't start digging my grave yet Yamaha, Even a middle aged (and slightly overweight) bloke knows how to enjoy riding a motorcycle.
Well that's my entirely unbiased and unprofessional review (no I don't work for Yamaha though am willing to accept a huge discount for saying such nice things about your bike) ;-) Hope you enjoyed it.
Best advice I can give is...
Go out and ride one,,, If you don't enjoy it then you're probably already dead.
Thanks for the feedback. Agreed re the target market. Yamaha say the MT-07's focused on 20-35 year olds but I hope I'll still be enjoying bikes like this at 90!
One of the greatest reviews I've seen for some time, very informative and to the point, this may just pass as the most well rounded bike of the decade
I test rode one of these on the weekend for my bro who's looking at buying one (and did after the test). It has a very decent rev range, goes up to 11k, however its only usable within the torque curve, I found letting the gearing sit around the 4-6k mark was on the money and produced all the snap and power you'll need as a learner and beyond. It absolutely ate up the corners, we were on some very twisty back mountain roads so I was able to push it through the corners.
the stock suspension and settings were a little soft for me but im 100kg so probably on the money for a 60-80k rider. Also that front tyre didn't have quite the feedback I'm used to, but that's the beauty of this bike, it runs full size tyres, something may overlook. with the 180 rear and 120 front you have a huge choice of the best tyres available to you. Definitely a Plus. A bit on me, I ride an R1 on the street and a Superbike Spec BMW S1000RR on the track and have been riding for over 30 years.
Have to say, this is the first iM video I've watched, and information, delivery, and camera work is better than anything else I've seen. A bit monotone, as if you were reading off of a card someone else had written, but overall very, very well done. If they bring this to the USA, it may very well be my next bike. Thanks guys!
An Amazing looking bike, good CC and the price is very low, about Damn time this endless rise in prices came to an end, value for money, I hope they sell a ton of them!
I'm between this bike and a SV650. The SV650 has a lot aftermarket parts and is a solid bike, but unfortunately they discontinued it. The thing holding me back from this one is I always like to give ANY new products, whether its motorcycles/game systems/cell phones at least a 6 months to a year to see how they perform before purchasing them. By then they usually have gotten all the bugs out. It's a fantastic looking bike though, very happy they made a new naked line of bikes.
I'm selling my sv650 k6 for this one :). Lower center of grativy, more nimble (the front feels incredibly light) , riding position is, to me, quite more comfy (but the seat it self is a bit hard). It feels like it pulls a little bit more especialy at low rpm. The front brakes is day and night though ! So much so that when I went back on my sv650 I was very dissapointed by the lack of bite on the suzuki (only 2 pistons per caliper). There's very few drawback to me for the mt07 : There's even less room under the seat, the gearbox feels a bit harsh and the switches are pathetic.
I felt a lot more confident on sharp corner in the city with the mt07 and only had it 1/2h. A lot of fun this bike feels like a pushbike for handling :).
shannow95 Thanks for the input. Unfortunately there are no dealers in my area that let you test ride FZ's, so I can't check them out in depth. So this did help.
Micah Murray I hear ya, man. I rarely go for new stuff due to the unknown bugs and flaws yet to be discovered. If companies did proper r&d, it wouldn't be an issue. But we know most cut corners and testing to meet deadlines and maximize profits.
I like the bike better than the MT-09, because I am around the age when speed isn't everything, except when pulling out of a corner on a twisty road in the mountains, then TQ is the best friend a bike rider can have, I am use to a naked SV650, this bike sounds like it would be way more fun, even for us older folk. The MT-09 is a little too much power from what I've read & seen, now if I was younger yes ! The MT-07 has more leg & hip room for me as well, over the ER6N. Not sure the fuel useage of this bike, but it should get up to 50 mpg easy ? I hope anyways. lol Glad to hear it's US bound as well. My SV650 has finaly found it's replacement...Thats my 2 cents. yl
Finally. The perfect bike or me. The only thing between me and owning one, is several thousand miles of ocean. Come on Yamaha. North America please!
really like this bike. but if I got one I would for sure need the front screen.
TIme for Kawasaki to punch out their 650 twin to a 700 or more. If they did that and brought it out in a naked version similar to the ER-6 they can compete. All the manufacturers should be building a machine like this. It is literally the best of all worlds.
Great video thanx.
Great review!
120 miles/hour is about 190km/hour, not above the 200 mark as mentioned
Hi, do you think it would be a good adventure bike with proper tires?
Please bring mt-07 in the Philippines.
I'm thinking about getting this bike, how tall are you? I'm 6'1" and don't want the bike to feel small
Does it sound close to the FZ8 or more like a 650 twin? I really don't like the 650 twins in the kawi and suzuki
It sounds like a rather quiet twin, but it has plenty of other things going for it!
it sounds alot better than ER6.. The mt07 twin has a different crank angle or something, makes it sound alot better! i dont like the ER6 sound either.
Why is sound so important? I don't get it... what's wrong with a quiet bike? Exhaust note is nice, except for straight pipes in residential areas, and OK Goldwing silent is a bit much but all this money spent of aftermarket canisters...? Please explain. after performance, ergonomics, economy, price, features - exhaust note is far down the list and wouldn't be a deal-killer...
This seems like the ideal town/city/commute/country lanes bike. I want one. Looks really good too. What is the suspension like when going quickly, please?
Basically it's fine. I'm quite heavy, and the shock in particular can feel a bit soggy when you're riding hard. But for the type of bike it is, and the price, I thought it was very good.
Thanks. The shock can always be upgraded. Looks really good. Nicest bike in its class. Will make a nice second bike to my B-King. At the moment I have a Buell Ulysses, which I don't trust.
Nick M If you know that the shock/suspension can be upgraded, then why did you ask?
Obviously, if it was okay stock the need to upgrade wouldn't be necessary, you clever sod.
Is this a good first bike when limited to 48hp? In germany I can only ride 48hp untill I turn 20.
I'd say it'd be excellent, yes. The MT-07 is so light that even with 48bhp it has a similar power-to-weight ratio to bikes like Honda's CB500F and NC750S, so it should still be really good to ride. And when you derestrict it you'll get a great performance boost pretty much for free.
Roland Brown But I dont want to ruin it. Should I get this in september or wait and get a old used bike to practice and then get a mt09 in 2 years?
***** Ha guess that depends on your situation! If you're as broke and crash-prone as I was at 18, a cheap old bike to learn on might make sense. But if you can afford the MT-07 and are sensible, I'd have thought it would be ideal.
love to have one....OMG
well how do I get one to Cyprus o_O ....?
This or Ninja 300? I currently have a Ninja but am still restricted and this seems like the most powerful bike I can legally get for the next few years.
Please tell me pros and cons of both if possible, thanks in advance.
Did you not watch the video? Ninja 300 does not nearly compare, you get more than twice the horsepower/torque with this bike, much faster but not overwhelmingly fast as most supersports, its a fair first bike if you're in the confident side and would do great as a second if you really think it would be too much power, but given its relatively low weight and upright seating position, gear indicator...etc, i dont see why anyone would go with a 300
arman sesar If you dont see why anyone would go with a 300 then maybe you should ride one. Sure it has less power than the MT07 but it can still hit like 190 or so kph and revs to 15,000 rpm, plus it's probably the sexiest looking learner bike out there.
So you have some riding experience and you want to upgrade to a 300? not much of an upgrade but feel free
I got a 300 since after a bit of research, figured it was a better option.
Cool, well it seems like you enjoy it, and i also believe they are plenty sexy, just thought it would be more economical to go with something more powerful to avoid an upgrade
I'm 6'3" and interested in this bike. How tall are you and would this bike be ok for a man of my height?
I'm 6'4" and didn't have a problem with it so I think you'd be fine. Obviously there's no wind protection, and if you're also heavy you might find the shock a bit soft. But my height wouldn't put me off buying one.
iMotorcycle Video Thanks for your response. One more question. Since you are a tall guy, do you recommend any other bikes that would be comfortable? The bike I purchase will be my first bike and I'm looking at middle weight bikes in all of the different styles of motorcycles.
CHILLY CHILLZ Kawasaki Ninja 650r, Honda CBR500R, X, and F (although a little underpowered, yet tons of fun!), Suzuki SV650, Suzuki DRZ400SM if mostly around town kind of stuff, you could look into the Yamaha FZ6R if you have some experience. There's plenty of amazing options. :)
joshuamoore13 Thanks again for the response. I've been looking into the FZ6R after your suggestions. I'm more than likely going to buy a used bike. Thanks again.
are they going to sell mt07 in usa?
They do. It is called the FZ-07 here.
Why don't we get this in the U.S.?…. It looks so much better than the FZ-09. I would buy this. Bring it here Yamaha but add ABS. $6990 done deal. Don't get greedy and overprice this.
Ah, only if I can convince the wife......
otherwise, get a new wife.
it is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission :P
MissMan666 do you own this bike ?
speak more slowly