+ Click to Enlarge NOT A RACE TRACK: The MT-01 in the vineyard at Steenberg. Pictures: DAVE ABRAHAMS

November 27, 2004
By Dave Abrahams

It's not a new idea to combine the quicksilver handling of a high-revving, lightweight sports bike with the muscular mid-range torque of a big, heavy cruiser – but it's not easy. Nobody has done it with as much authority as Yamaha.

When the MT-01 concept bike – a non-running mock-up – was shown at the Tokyo auto show in 1999 it came as a surprise to everyone, including Yamaha's European arm in Holland which is usually responsible for performance machinery.

It caused such as stir that Yamaha's designers felt emboldened to find out if the idea was viable.

First they a shoved 1670cc Road Warrior engine into an FJR touring chassis. That wasn't radical enough so they shoehorned the huge lump into an R1 frame. The hybrid created set the tone and performance parameters for the project.

What's in the MT-01 is no longer a Road Warrior engine. More than 90 percent of the components have been modified or lightened, including the crankshaft and flywheel to reduce rotating mass so the revs can rise and fall like a cobra striking.

The long-stroke, 48-degree V-twin has 66.3kW at 4750rpm but torque is really impressive – 150Nm at 3750rpm with 140Nm available from 1500-5000rpm. That's the flattest torque curve I've seen on a non-turbo petrol engine – car or bike.

Yamahas realised that some Japanese engines lack character because they're too sanitised so came up with the "Kodo" concept (it means "pulse" in Japanese) and designed the engine to vibrate (which it does, plenty) – big, low amplitude vibes that speak to you at gut level.

Then they bolted it rigidly into a two-piece CF cast-alloy frame, gave it a cavernous seven-litre air box and the first EXUP valve on a Yamaha twin.

The result is a loud and shakes, rattles and rolls with a flat, rather nasty, intake roar and big, brassy exhaust– and spits with ill temper through the pipes on overrun. At last someone in Japan is Getting the Message.

Yamaha says the bike will still pass Euro 2 noise regs. I'm not sure – but I'm certainly not complaining; this would not be half the bike it is without the sound effects.

All that torque is fed through a notchy, but surprisingly slick, vertical gearbox and a chain to the 190/50 rear gumball.

Take off

Dump the clutch above two-three and this thing takes off; nail the throttle, keep shifting just under 5000 and the MT-01 will take you up to 200km/h in less time than it takes to read this paragraph.

The media event bikes were all pre-production samples and their performance varied slightly. A few topped out at 204 km/h but TV presenter Dave Petersen pushed one to an indicated 217. Production bikes will probably reach somewhere in between when they get here in January.

They can also be ridden slowly; thanks to Suzuki-style twin throttle valves in the 40mm throttle bodies there's very little jerking at small throttle openings.

Ergonomics

The seat is very "dragster" with the rider firmly held exactly where the designers wanted him to be in a deep, dished saddle but having one's bum trapped becomes a bit irksome eventually.

It's not a tourer – Yamaha admits that - and go-faster goodies don't include screen or fairing but the stretch to the flat, not-too-wide handlebars is comfortable. The foot pegs are directly below the lowest point of the saddle and you naturally find yourself hunched over the high tank, elbows bent and ready to boogie – right after you crack the throttle open for the first time. It's that kind of motorcycle.

Yes, but can it boogie through the bends? Oh yeah!

All the masses (including the rider) are as close together and as low as possible with nothing out at the ends except the wheels. The wide bars give plenty leverage to throw the bike around and it's way more agile than its 240kg dry weight suggests.

The steering is quick, the adjustable 43mm upside-downies take the front wheel exactly where you point it and as long as you have the power turned on a quick pull on the handlebars will have the MT-01 flipping from side to side.

The bike has been made narrow where it counts by keeping the crankcase volume small, the stand, foot-pegs and levers are well tucked away and there's enough ground clearance serious lean.

Phenomenal brakes

And the brakes – oh mama, the brakes! Nissin blesses the MT-01 with the latest radially mounted Sumitomo one-piece callipers and radial master cylinders. Even with cut-price rubber hoses they are phenomenal, the most powerful I've encountered on a street-bike (not counting BMW's power-assisted items).

Yes, for all its hunched stance, incongruously tall engine and in-your-face naked styling (or lack thereof) this is a sport bike. Many times cars get in the way on our favourite roads and you have to wait. Then, a gap… go down a couple of gears, wind up the hamster and scream into action.

You can get through a smaller gap with this bike because, even at low revs, the power is always waiting.

The bike isn't perfect; the mirrors give you a brilliant view of your elbows. The fuel tank catches the inside of each thigh and the rear shock, horizontally under the gearbox, fades noticeably when the bike is pushed hard.

My MT-01 began wallowing mildly and I saw a couple of bikes ahead of me squirm uncomfortably on the narrow, bumpy roads in the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve.

Much as the race-replica riders (including me!) hate to admit it, the street is not the same as the track and the requirements are different. Which is where the MT-01 comes in; whatever you think of its looks it has presence to spare, a superb chassis and instant, performance like nothing else in its class.

It's a sport bike for the real world.