Yamaha fz-07

The Yamaha MT-07 (FZ-07 in North America) is a roadster (or standard) motorcycle with an eight-valve dohc 689 cc (42.0 cu in) crossplane inline-two engine, manufactured by Yamaha from 2013.

Design and development

In most respects, the MT-07 is a conventional middleweight roadster. It uses a compact tubular backbone frame, albeit with some echoes of a trellis frame.  Its rear monoshock unit is placed horizontally within the subframe to give a shorter wheelbase, to save weight and to lower the centre of gravity. Front forks are conventional telescopic items, whereas its 3-cylinder sibling, the MT-09, has USD forks. Anti-lock braking is available as an option.

Both the MT-07 and the MT-09 are base models, from which a range of derivative bikes is intended to follow in due course. For example, Yamaha commissioned designer Shinya Kimura to create a cafe racer special based on the MT-07. In June 2015, Kimura revealed the machine, which he called "Faster Son". Motorcycle News said that they expect Yamaha to announce a production version based on "Faster Son" in late 2015

270° crankshaft

The MT-07 parallel-twin engine's crankshaft has a 270° crank. The two cylinders in the engine fire at an irregular interval, in order to harmonize the inertia forces inside the engine, resulting in a more responsive and "torquey" sensation for the rider, a feeling not unlike that of a V-twin.

Reception

The MT-07 received positive reviews from motorcycling journalists. In The Daily Telegraph, Roland Brown rated the bike at five out of five stars, praising the engine, handling, value for money and overall riding experience, while criticising the front brake, calling it "adequate but less powerful than is suggested by its superbike-style specification of twin discs and four-piston Monobloc calipers". Motorcycle News awarded five stars also, praising the light weight and engine response, although noting that "at high speed it will start to get breathless".

Motorcycle Consumer News declared the engine response "remarkable for its smoothness"; and their dynamometer tests showed rear wheel horsepower of 66.85 hp (49.85 kW) @ 9,200 rpm, and torque at 45.41 ft·lb (61.57 N·m) @ 6,600 rpm. They measured a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph), 0 to 1⁄4 mi (0.00 to 0.40 km) time of 12.13 seconds at 173.33 km/h (107.70 mph), 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) time of 3.80 seconds, and 0 to 100 mph (0 to 161 km/h) time of 10.51 seconds; but braking performance was "disappointing" at 60 to 0 mph (97 to 0 km/h) in 39.9 m (130.8 ft) with ABS activated. Motorcycle Consumer News suspected the poor braking was down to the Michelin Pilot Road 3 tyres; and they recommended buyers to wait until Bridgestone BT023 tyres were OE items.