The MT-07 recently announced is the lightweight, powerful 689 cc parallel-twin little brother to the U.S. market Yamaha FZ-09. The FZ-09 is not only an entertaining mount, with loads of performance, it is priced very aggressively at $7,990.
We were curious to see how Yamaha would price the MT-07 in Europe, and now we know. Yamaha UK has given it a price of 5,200 British pounds. This is roughly 15% less than the British version of the Kawasaki Ninja 650. Since the Ninja 650 retails for $7,699, it is not unreasonable to expect the U.S. version of the MT-07 (FZ-07?) to be priced in the neighborhood of $6,500. We expect the MT-07 to be brought to the U.S. market, but we do not know when at this point.
I always wanted an MT-03 (single cylinder) but it never came to the states. I know it was over priced, but maybe now? Probably not.
I am diggin’ this resurgence in small/medium bikes. I can remember when an RD350 was a full-sized street bike. Would be great to see this become the new norm.
I’m still waiting for a modern RD350. I don’t need a bike that can go 150 mph. Riding a bike today is dangerous enough with everyone on their f*#kn cell phones. I like the Ninja 300, but I don’t like the price.
Re: ” I like the Ninja 300, but I don’t like the price.”
There are fewer new bikes worth owning that are less expensive than the Lil’ Ninja. If it works out like the Ninja before it, there will be a ton of low mile examples on the used market in a few years.
The new KTM may be the closest thing to the rd in spirit. More powerful and lighter.
re: “I like the Ninja 300, but I don’t like the price.”
whoa, truth in advertising. you really are a kid…! lol
Another cool bike from Yamaha, but I think it best to keep this one out of the states. I can see it causing confusion since it appears so similar to the FZ-09 at a glance (yes, I realize it’s not all that similar). Unless it was a whole lot cheaper it just wouldn’t make sense, and $7,999 is already incredibly affordable for such an all-around weapon I don’t know why anybody wouldn’t just choose the triple anyway.
I suspect that if it’s $1000 or $1500 less it will be seen to compete in a lower price class than the FZ-09 and likely be cheaper to insure too. So a bit more money than the Honda 500s but a bit less than the Kawasaki and Suzuki 650s and possibly performing better than all of them. Should be an easy sale. I’m interested for sure because.
Think I’d rather have the twin. Lighter, simpler, cheaper and still plenty of power.
Not enough power…IMHO
This bike will be plenty powerful. It’ll pull very hard, just have a lower top speed (which nobody needs on the street).
Wait, Dave. How can something have enough power to pull hard but not enough power to go fast? Oh wait, you mean it’s under-geared like a dirt bike?
If you consider ~125mph or so under geared then yeah..
This bike won’t pull any harder than any other 650-750 twin, certainly not as hard as a 100+ horse 600.
It remains to be seen just how strong the bike is but it’s a good bet that it will out roll-on a 600 four from say 50-80 in top gear and be generally more rideable at everyday street speeds than supersport 600s. If you’re talking track days then yes it won’t pull with a 600 on top end but should still be plenty of fun like the Suzuki and Kawasaki 650s.
Dave – side by side with the FZ-09 triple it won’t keep up….so for riders who are used to having great torque based acceleration, it doesn’t have enough power.
And a BMW s1000r will stomp all of them. Who cares?
I never meant to compare this directly to anything else (notice the lack of other motorcycle names in previous post), only to point out that based on it’s power and weight, it will be plenty powerful for anyone interested in a bike of this type.
If you think it’ll be too slow, then why read about it in the first place? Wasting your time..
I’m also more interested in the twin.
The strategy has always worked well for the Monster line. I don’t see why it would cause an issue for Yamaha unless the price isn’t more dissimilar to the appearance.
I was pretty well set on a CB500X this spring to replace my 250 Ninja, but am going to hold off to see what Yamaha is going to do with the FZ-07. If I was going to spend $8K, I would spend another grand and get a 696 Ducati Monster.
Good time to be a motorcyclist! So many choices at an affordable price…something for everybody.
Amen!!!
Halleluiah!
I’m glad to see a Japanese manufacturer explore the benefits of light weight. Unfortunately for me, no ABS = no sale. I’ll take a CB500X ABS, Versys ABS, or a 650 VStrom ABS instead. I can live with less HP and more weight.
Less HP! More weight!
Less HP! More weight!
It’s all a matter of tradeoffs and priorities. I can’t imagine buying another new bike without ABS. Once Yamaha gets its act together and offers it on this, it’s no sale for me.
Interesting to me how polarizing ABS has become. In 20 years of street riding I’ve had two braking events that would’ve activated ABS. I agree it’d be nice to have, but it would not make/break my choice on a bike.
The ABS version weighs 3kg more in the spec sheets.
What do you think that means?
To me, it means I didn’t check out the specs before commenting about settling for less HP and more weight to get a bike with ABS. It’s on my short list if it makes it stateside, then.
If it comes here, I will take it as it sits, if I want to ride in real dirt, I will buy a dirt bike, this thing would go down a dirt road or trail just fine.
In the US the MT-07 has something very important in common with the FZ-09; they are both unavailable. Try going to your dealer to buy a FZ-09. Unless you are very lucky it will be a wait.
At $6500, it would be priced perfectly to compete with the CB500F. But they need to catch on to what Honda is doing and create 2-3 more versions. Worth a premium over the Honda, given the much better power to weight ratio.
The japanese seem to be moving away from fully faired models and following the Ducati Monster and Ktm Superduke design open frame aggressive concept…….cool
re: “The japanese seem to be moving away from fully faired models”
moving or driven. there’s a difference.
that’s what i’m waiting for. maybe a new tdm with the 900 twi or even better a tenere w/ the tripple-in the sub 450 lbs range
A sport touring or commuter version, please. Or streety ADV tourer would work. Better seat, room for bags and a little wind protection.
called a Tenere…already available
Yeah, but the Tenere cost almoat twice as much as the MT-07 and probably out weighs it by 150 plounds.
You’re thinking of the Super Tenere. The Tenere is not yet available in the US market but is a 650 single along the lines of a KLR – just way, way cooler.
The Tenere already exists, it’s based on the porky 660 single, it is super heavy, it’s super ancient and it’s ridiculously expensive at about $10,000.
I’m not unfamiliar with the model (missing the displacement by 10cc not withstanding). I wasn’t recommending it as an alternative to this twin. The current version isn’t all that old but is not available in the US market so I’m not sure what it would cost here. I’m sensing that you don’t like the bike and don’t think anyone else should either.
I honestly don’t know why anyone would like it. The 660 engine and platform is over 20 years old now. The Tenere got a nice makeover, but so did Rosy O’Donnell. It’s just unconscionably heavy for a single, especially a DP single.
Keep in mind that the 660 Tenere weighs as much as a Tiger 800XC and costs nearly as much too. There’s no doubt in my mind that it will get one of the two new engines and chassis.
Costs nearly as much where, exactly? Not in the US. Again, I’m not defending the Tenere (although I think it’s cool looking – perhaps because it’s forbidden fruit). I just find amusement in folks whose world is too small for more than one opinion.
Sure, if you like seriously overweight and overpriced thumpers. Apples and watermelons.
The 660 tenere came out in 2008 in the uk and austraila, but still not here in north America for some reason. It looks like a awesome bike I would sell my klr 650 any day for that. Its all over you tube all good reviews.
I bet this will end up coming to the US market, Honda is expanding into the smaller CC bikes, hoping Yamaha will follow their move.
re: “I bet this will end up coming to the US market”
computer says, yes. if for no other reason than Honda just littered Eicma with a 1/2 dozen new models. FZ9 by itself’s “not gonna to get it done”. (Mladin voice)
we can only hope, Yamaha US has had their head somewhere dark and stinky for a long time
Thank you Yamaha for bringing back some sensibility to motorcycledom.
Adventure version please Yamaha!
You want a beak with that?
I think we need a horn on this one–I mean like a Unicorn horn! I’ll name mine Unico after the cartoon
Adventure version…please dont..will spoil the whole look
If they make an Adventure version that you don’t like, you can just ignore it and keep looking at the other one.
I agree! 660 tenere please!
Would love to see this platform or more so the triple transformed into an adventure touring bike. After searching around I found on the Yamaha Canadian site under adv touring a 2014 super tenere ic
on there and it says check back January 10, 2014 for details so maybe something will be heading to Canada and the US soon. Think I’ll hold out a little longer but would definitly settle for a leftover 2013 tenere at the prices they have them at around here.. An 8 or 900 triple would be sweet though.
See the link to the recently announced FZ-09 mentioned in the article.
900cc triple, in a similar chassis. just over 400lbs and also a decent price. Plenty left over for some touring accesories..
Yamaha make a smaller version of the Tenere…available in Europe……
Any good theories out there on how this “aggressive” pricing is now possible?
gotta sell sumptin’. it’s this…? or sit around with their thumbs up their bums. pretty sure that’s a whole ‘nother industry (unrelated).
Sure, it’s one of the pluses of becoming poor. You ain’t got no money, so they got to give up for less. Even the prettiest street walker in a poor neighborhood has to charge less. Think Royal Enfield Cafe Racer. It sells for 7K in the U.S., but for only 2 or 3K in India. How come they don’t sell it for less over here too? Cause we are richer over here and can afford to be ripped, while Indian’s have no more to give, no matter how much you squeeze them for that last drop of dough.
Ever wonder how people can supposedly live on and raise a family on a $1 or $10 dollars a day, as we are told they make in some parts of the world? My God, it must just be cheaper to live over there. A Big Mac probably only costs a .25 or so.
Not necessarily… take a look at the Big Mac Index (no, really, see the link below)
http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index
Income in South America is much lower, yet prices aren’t much lower.
Was just using the example to make a point. Never meant to say actual Big Mac’s cost literally a quarter anywhere in the world. The chart seems to vary. Yes, South America Big Mac’s don’t seem to vary that much, but then look at some parts of Asia, as much as 75% less even with cost of labor adjustments.
All I meant to say was that if people truly are only making $1 or $10 per day, then they still have to eat something and whatever they are eating has to be dirt cheap. A hell of alot cheaper than anything offered over here.
There is simply no way a person could survive on a $1 a day in the U.S. Even $10 a day would be a struggle to literally survive, but those in other countries don’t seem to have much of an issue. It has to be due to substantially lower costs.
We’ve seen large economic swings in our own country. When I was a kid a Snickers bar cost 75% less than now. Relating what things cost in 3rd world countries to our dollars is just a mirror trick.
Get what you are saying, but inflation within the same country over a period time, no matter how dramatic, is not the same as difference in actual, real world prices and cost of living in different countries at the same moment in time.
Price differences due to inflation over a period of time, everyone can understand. Why some things are offered cheaper somewhere but not another place during the same period of time, despite the same competitive pressures, is much harder to explain and understand.
The original poster was referring to the later, I think.
Overall this seems like a good value, but it’s the “value” fit and finish that leaves me unimpressed. For a first bike, or a point A to B, commuter it is ideal, but so aren’t some other bikes that offer a tad more refinement for just a few more $$. Anyway I’m glad that manufactures are offering bikes that will hopefully get more people riding.
Because you’ve seen one up close to evaluate the “fit and finish”, right?
*Eyeroll*
You can tell from the picture look above the headlight, look at the hole/open end on the frame, look at the section on the exhaust under the frame, look at the passengers seat…….. Just look at it……..
I see a bike with pretty darn good fit and finish. The casting all look great. Overall the fit and finish is more than you would expect from a bike at this price point. All your points are basically things you would see on other bikes with the same style. The frame for instance has an access hole for mounts, the same as the new KTM superduke, above the headlight?, the pass seat?. Show me a bike in the same category with better fit and finish. Ohh and try not to double the price tag.
I’m looking but I can’t see it. Above the headlights? I see bolts. What’s wrong with bolts? The exhaust weld I suppose could have been polished a bit more, but I’m sure that does not effect the weld quality, and I think most would agree that the exhaust as a whole looks rather nice for a budget bike. The plastic around the seat could have been indented to make the rear seat look more flush, but the separation you note is not due to poor fit and finish. It’s just the way it is supposed to look and function.
The hole in the frame? Again, never really seen it before on a bike, but I don’t see how it’s much of an issue. Never seen a Yamaha bike with poor levels of fit and finish. I doubt if this one suffers from it. There is a difference between being built to a price point and suffering from crappy levels of fit and finish.
For crappy levels of fit and finish, no need to look any further than the new Indian built Harley Street models. Those bikes look like they were built from the melted down metal of discarded pots and pans, with similar levels of fit and finish.
Hey Jake. I can’t tell for sure from the picture but I suspect that large hole is a welded in eye mount for a recessed engine mount bolt. My Ducati 796 Monster has one just like that. I like it…gives the frame substance. The alternative, pressing the frame tube flat and drilling a hole through it…now THAT would be tacky!
Unfortunately your wrong about the new Harley. The U.S and Canadian models will be built in Kansas City. And I will reserve final judgment until they arrive. But they appear from the pics to be very good. All though I did notice different levers and switchgear. Not sure why they would do that.
For a true close up photo of these new bikes go to the advrider.com site on the new Harley bike thread, pg. 55. That’s a true close up of these new bikes, how they truly look, without the photo touch-ups to minimize flaws, imperfections, and its general lack of finish – glamour shots basically – done by any competent marketing department. Simply put, it looks trashy, with the frightening quality levels we used to expect to see coming from Communist Russia.
Look at how mismatched all the parts of the bike looks. Nothing flows smoothly on this bike. All the separate parts don’t look as if they successful form a coherent whole. The bike looks as if its different parts were carelessly cobbled together to merely give it the general appearance of a bike, as if the designers cared so little for the bikes that they were only seeking meet those meager standards. And those parts look cheap, really, really cheap. Look at the neck of the frame, at all those exposed wires, very cheap looking wires at that. When’s the last time you’ve seen such tangible evidence of carelessness and indifference in design and manufacture on another modern bike?
I haven’t seen a bike so poorly put together in a long, long time. Harley has a bit of time to improve the fit an finish of this pre-production example, but the example is so off and so flawed, that I doubt if Harley can change the general lack of quality of this bike and its parts supply in a mere few months, short of just scrapping this whole, cursed project all together, and starting brand new from scratch, which we all know Harley will never do. Harley made its bed and now, unfortunately for it, its going to have to lie in it.
Look at the pic, and then tell me again that these Streets have a good promise of having quality fit and finish. I’m betting you’ll have a little more difficulty with your hopes and claims the second time around.
The point is the U.S 750 and 500 street will be built in Kansas city. We can debate over the fit and finish ,but not where they will be built. As for the Yamaha here I think it looks great based off the pics.
No, we can debate that as well. Actually, them not being built in America is more clear than their poor fit and finish.
“The Harley plant, near Kansas City International Airport, has 800 permanent hourly and salaried employees, and for now that is not expected to change. The extra work will be covered by seasonal employees who will come in to handle production surges. The 358,000-square-foot plant also makes the Sportster, Dyna and V-Rod models.”
Harley’s Kansas City plant is not hiring new workers, meaning they aren’t building anything extra over there.
That is all irrelevant. As I stated the 500 and 750 street, that are sold in the US. will be built in the Kansas City plant. To say that they will be imported from India is flat out false. http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/11/12/where-is-it-made-2014-harley-davidson-street-750-and-street-500/
Those are design issues, not fit and finish, but tell me: what bike in this price range has better “fit and finish?”
It’s a steel framed bike with an emissions canister, just like a Ducati. 😉
For many years if not decades, Yamaha full sized bikes rate high for fit and finish. If not this new model, it would be an extreme exception. In the image I don’t see the issues you describe.
There’s no doubt there’s never been a better time to be alive as a motorcycle buyer based on spec. For me , there’s never been a worse time based on styling. I know that everybody longs for the “new”, but I checked the dictionary and “new” and “beautiful” have different definitions. The Venus De Milo is considered by most classically beautiful and not a “horrible retro”. I despair for my future used bike choices. Maybe some enterprising individual with an artist’s eye will see fit to offer restyling kits for some of these bikes to take them out of the insect zone. The engines in the FZ09 and MT07 seem really amazing and must sound great. I love the specs that new bikes offer, but right now the only bike I have to consider as a future used purchase is a CB1100.
I hear what you are saying, but I think these new Yamahas look good. I guess I am the only one. Then again I was salivating at a very clean Frazer on craigslist the other day.
You’re not the only one.
These new bikes from Yamaha are remakable. Those that don’t think so do not know what they are looking at.
IMHO he FZ-09 is the most significant bike to come out of Japan in over 20 years. The last one…RC30. Obviously significant for different reasons but significant none the less. To pack this kind of performance, typical Yamaha reliability, character and aesthetics in a package costing this little is nothing short of remarkable.
Sure it’s got it’s issues but nothing a few bucks can’t sort while keeping total cost way under the competition.
Only real drawback is the smallish fuel tank. Yamaha did screw the pooch on this one. Would’ve been easy to provide sufficient fuel from the begining of the design process.
Nope, the most significant bike would have to be the NC700 series of bikes. The FZ-09 gives you more for less, which is nothing to sneeze at, but the NC700 breaks virgin ground on a whole new direction for bikes in general – real world higher mpg, torque for real world acceleration, DCT, low weight distribution for ease of handling, and unique cost cutting measures to allow for an extraordinary low priced bike without the sacrifice of quality.
The highest admiration goes to the bike that breaks virgin ground, as always. The NC700 is the most significant bike since the Honda CB750’s of the 70’s.
Seriously ?
The NC700 series have little resemblance to a proper
motorcycle, they are actually considered as a (pretty efficient)
‘white-goods’ mode of 2-wheeled transport, which is NOT
what Motorcycling is all about.
Yamaha on the other hand are getting it (luckily) and the 07 and 09
MT models are definitely the way to go for real a Motorcycling-infused product.
On the styling front they may scream ‘ugly is hot’, but they are
definitely the emotional choice as opposed to the NC700 that has
a powerband of a lawnmower (actually I wonder why Honda didn’t
just make them Diesel-powered at the first place, and drop the
‘bulls_it’ alltogether…).
The CB500F, on the other hand, is a much more rewarding package
overall, if a little tiny on the sizing/ergonomics front.
And let’s face it, people who want to move on to a PROPER, BIG BIKE,
do not like any ‘experimenting’ on the meaning of ‘BIG’.
Yep, I’m serious.
“the new Honda NC700X is the first modern motorcycle with an engine designed primarily for fuel economy rather than outright power”
To be truly revolutionary, just as to be a true discoverer, you have to be the first one there; the first one to plant that flag; the first to cut that path. Yamaha being the first to offer such power/performance for the price is significant but simply pales in comparison to Honda’s first to create a whole new category of bike and a whole new philosophy of biking.
Besides we have literally reach the point of diminishing returns as far as performance of motorcycles are concerned. Successfully accomplishing such goals is now old hat. Such attempts to improve performance first launched by Honda’s CB750, has without question been reached, now it is time to look to improve the bike and the biking experience in other areas, aside from just performance considerations. That’s what Honda’s trying to do.
We have seen it all before. Yamaha back in the 80’s while Honda was concentrating on its auto division, attempted to wrestle the #1 MC manufacturer title away from Honda, and for a brief period succeeded. But eventually Honda noticed and responded, and literally put Yammie back into its place and on the verge of bankruptcy. Only when Yammie apologized and promised to never to attempt such treachery again, did Honda let up and allow Yammie to once again become a profitable business.
What Yamaha does is significant and noteworthy, but it is a mere footnote in history compared to what Honda does. Honda changes the very direction of the entire motorcycling world when it feels the time is appropriate for such a change.
Honda moves mountains, Yamaha moves mole hills. The NC700 is a sterling example of Honda successfully moving mountains in the motorcycling world, once again.
Re:”And let’s face it, people who want to move on to a PROPER, BIG BIKE..”
..are dwindling in number or leaving motorcycling all together. Less than 500k new motorcycles sold to consumers with an average age of 47+ in 2012. Even HD has awaken to the smell of the not-so fresh coffee.
You need to share some of what you are smoking.
NC700…please.
I think your right. Although I believe the CTX1300 will be a better seller, it kinda crosses over from sport tourer to cruiser. with the CTX1300 your getting sport touring like performance and cruiser ergos with more of a sport touring styling. That is much better in my opinion than what the japs have done for decades, in building basically a lower grade Harley cruiser. I know that comment will draw a lot of flack, but the domination of sales in the U.S cruiser segment is way more than all the pirate wanna be bs. They build a great cruiser.
I believe Alec Issigonis, the originator of the Mini, said something to the effect that a poor design costs the same as one which was beautiful. I tried but could not locate the exact quote. Damn Google failed me once again. Translated this means it costs the same to style ugly as it does to style beautifully, so why doesn’t everyone just style beautifully and why does the most attractive designs remain always reserved exclusively for only the highest priced auto or motorcycles?
Well, crap, it has to do with $$’s. No one is stupid enough to give away style for free, even if the good style costs them no more than the bad. All men can agree that a good looking streetwalker even in a poor neighborhood can always charge more than an ugly one, even though her make up and outfit cost no more than the ugly one’s. Style and beauty always has innate value and if they gave it away for free and did not restrict it’s access for the lucky few, then what incentive would people have to purchase higher priced goods? None. That’s why low priced goods always have to leave you a little dissatisfied, whether due to poor style, reliability, poor tank size, or etc.
Modern Capitalism, the very stability of our society and that of World Order, is premised on there always being some hitch to make the lower priced and less exclusive always less than perfect and always dissatisfying, thereby keeping the poor and middle class in a perpetual state of chronic frustration and dissatisfaction. Otherwise, why would anyone bother to get up, go to work, and put up with the daily humiliation of serving those happier people who are above you? We only do it cause we are dissatisfied.
However Dave if you reach the level of enlightenment so as to be “satisfied”, then you are a danger to society. I think more people are catching on to the con that is consumer society.
Assuming your Dave is me, the above was written to help explain in a big picture sense to questioning people why so many bikes are so unnecessarily ugly or inexplicably flawed, unnecessarily, in some other manner, when it is so obvious that the manufacturer could have easily, at almost no additional cost, fixed the minor, irritating issue from the very start. Unbeknownst to them, their ugly and flawed bikes played their part contributing to world stability and world peace. Certainly more than Obama has done for it, and he got a Nobel Peace Prize, whereas your poor, unrecognized bike just gets insults and ignored. Ah, the bitter unfairness of the world. Will the injustice never end?
Ask people what makes the world go around, and most would probably respond, gasoline, the seemingly obvious answer. And it’s true but only in a technical sense. More fundamentally, it’s our collective unhappiness and dissatisfaction. The world has lived without the magical power of gasoline for most of its history. History has shown man can live without black gold, but the general dissatisfaction and misery of the mass of mankind, as in people like you and me? Nope, no stable society has even been formed without our tears, our endless b*tching and moaning, and our general, all around pissy, cranky, overly negative attitude.
Given that it’s the Holidays, I felt the time for such a long overdue recognition was appropriate. Hopefully, in understanding better how our own unhappiness and misery in a convoluted, but undeniably true, sense helps to make the world a far, far better place, we, the unhappy losers of world, the ones world rejected and forgot, the ones relegated to the ugly, uncool, un-admired bikes, can somehow find a silverlining in our discontent and crappy luck, and manage to be a little more positive and upbeat about our misery and low, laughable status in society, since, as I hope I have shown, our unending pain, our universally agreed upon unattractiveness, and humiliating failures and rejections, the fact that no one loves us but our dog, and even he only when we regularly give him his treats and pick up his poop, is not without a significant point or purpose. By recognizing the new found importance of losers to the overall health of society, hopefully should no one else be willing to recognize us, cheer for us, pat us on the shoulder, or provide us any hint of approval this Holiday season, as is usually the case, I say, we losers should take fate into our own hands and just do it ourselves. Yes, if no one else will give you a hug, just hug yourself. It is our inalienable right. We have earned it. You and your long suffering dissatisfaction deserve a good hug, even if you are the only one in the world willing to do it.
So that’s my attempt at holiday cheer to anyone who finds themselves depressed and down on their luck during the supposed happiest time of the year, the Holidays. Be happier about your crappy, good for nothing life. The world as we know it simply couldn’t exist without your pain, misery, dissatisfaction, and occasional desire to go jump off a bridge.
On a serious note, if one has reached such a state of enlightenment – what is generally referred to as true Individuality, or true self knowledge and awareness – such a person is generally not a very aggressive person and thus not much of direct threat to the establishment and its entrenched interests. But in an indirect sense, by providing the rest of the world a rare living and breathing example of such independence and freedom, by merely existing, he will be seen as a threat.
Should too many begin to believe and follow the example of such a person, then the hierarchy of the world will be none too happy and seek to somehow curtail his influence. Generally, merely ridicule and piling on is more than enough to dissuade most from following such a person’s lead. If you are such a person, I would suggest you just live your life quietly and low keyed, being happy that you have managed to awake and free yourself from the chains of this world, one of the few among us.
Should you choose not to live low keyed about your new found freedom and independence, but brag to others about your achievements and seek praise and recognition, then you will most definitely get noticed. The entrenched powers of this world will make you suffer, seeing if you will break and fall back in line with a little added pressure. They hope to prove that your insufferable, to them, superior attitude is merely a self-delusional conceit, and in reality, you are no better than them, those chains still hold you and you are still stuck on the Hamster Wheel of life.
But no matter the outcome of your test, the entrenched interests know they have little to worry about as far as their position and survival is concerned. So long as the majority of society prizes comfort, convenience, assurance, and status above all else, they will never escape from their dependence (bondage basically), never be spiritually objective and noble enough to find and unlock the truth and be awakened, and thus fundamentally changing the basic structure of the world, of how men relate to and value other men.
From my vantage point, the world has little hope of such a change anywhere in the near future, if ever.
“They always win you back with vanity”. Not an exact qoute, but from “devil’s advocate”. I agree with both of you, Jake and Scotty. Problem is seeing the door and walking through it are two different things. One must want to do it, not just know they should…….
That said, the Fazer was one of the first bikes I really wanted. The V-Max would be to much for a kid that was riding an 80cc machine. They do start us young.
In about 2004 I started asking myself “what is X(desired bike) going to do fundamentally better than the bike I have at the moment?” Once you start asking those questions its all downhill from there mate! It turned out the Moto Guzzi Breva 750 with hard luggage WAS going to be a better touring bike for me than an SZR660 with a race exhaust so I bought it. My needs and level of financial liquidity have not fundamentally changed since then – so I still have the Guzzi 🙂
There will always be a place for a consumer society, assuming resources allow for such extravagance. The young will always focus their energies in a desperate attempt (futile of course) to not miss out on life and be special, just as the old and worn out will always have deep, heartfelt attachment for the regular and the ordinary – what is better known as nostalgia.
The special seen through such road weary eyes is something dismissed as being silly and faddish which only the young, who have too much time left to understand its value, preoccupy themselves with. A regular, uneventful walk in the park for an oldie and moldy, where he spends the day by himself sitting on a park bench feeding the birds and squirrels, likely brings such a man more joy, peace, and contentment in his old age, than a thousand promotions, Facebook friends, or multiple vacations to exotic locations with non-stop beer binges and loose chicks could bring to those wild and crazy guys in their 20’s.
To expect the young to not act as if they are young, flawed and foolish as it maybe, is unrealistic and impractical. But I do agree, we probably have swung a bit too far to an extreme and have become too commercial for our own good.
This will be a sweet addition in the US. Yamaha teased us with the MT-06 thumper years ago, then refused to bring it here. I don’t see why the 7 will be any different. Of course, I’m still more likely to pick up a good, used FZ6 than to buy anything new.
A similar comparison that might be more meaningful is to compare the price for the FZ-09 with the FZ-07, in the UK. The FZ-07 is about 24% lower that the FZ-09. This suggest a USA MSRP, for the MT-07, of about $6000.
When I first saw this photo I thought that Yamaha had introduced a new adventure version of the MT-07. Closer inspection revealed that it was just a silver version that I hadn’t yet seen. Black, red, dark blue, and orange versions I have seen. This color scheme with panniers and windshield would make a very nice adventure tourer. It would still require more suspension travel and fuel capacity but the platform for a light, powerful, agile adventure bike is temptingly evident. Noticeable, also, is the accessibility of the oil filter, oil drain plug, and oil level sight glass. Maintenance will be a snap. I do have some concern about the vulnerability of the filter and drain plug to rocks and high curbs, etc. Not much frame to bolt a bash plate to. I really really love this bike’s potential. I’ve had a SV650 and currently have a DL650 and DL1000. It is my experience that the mid displacement adventure version is the best embodiment of possibilities in the Suzuki SV powered offerings. I strongly suspect that the same may be true with the Yamaha MT/FZ series.
+1
Now what about an proper dualsport adventure version of this, like the BMW F800GS ?
No need for fancy suspension like KTM, reasonably priced ADV bike with a 21″ front wheel and proper ground clearance.
+1
Amen
That large vertically oriented aluminum plate that extends up from the foot-pegs almost to the seat…is that simply a plastic cover?
When I blow up the image of the bike, it appears that the bike’s frame is all-tubular steel, and that nothing actually is attached to that plate.
Is this the equivalent of the plastic plates on the sides of the Suzuki SFV-650/Gladius?
Aluminum but decorative.
We can’t know without the bike in front of us but those plates appear to brace the swing arm pivot to the upper junction of the frame so this could be decorative and functional?
I believe they are decorative by the size and location of the fasteners. If you enlarge the press photos the two screws look to be 6mm and they seem to have rubber grommets under them so that rules out bearing much of a load. They probably cover up the frame tubes and some welds.
I wish they could resist the urge to tack those things on what should be a minimalist design.
My Gen 1 FZ-1 had plates like that bolted to the frame, I simply unbolted them and stuck them in a box in the garage. No biggie.
On the other hand, folks like me tend to grip a bike in that area and rub the paint. That would cause the steel to rust. Those covers should prevent that. Many steel framed dirt bike owners have added “Frame Guards” to prevent a similar thing.
Meh. I’d just Krylon them matte black and ride on. But then, I am a lazy bastage.
A lot of this pricing is currency driven (others won’t drop prices unless competition forces it). Do not underestimate the US’ ability to torpedo its currency (again)..
PS. Please bring it to the US. I want.
Yen hit 6 month low yesterday thanks to Iran deal. If they bring this bike to US and yen keeps weakening, $6,500 might be at high end of price range.
Don’t be dumb and repeat the nonsense the journos try to push on you. There are many reasons, value added tax, tariffs, and simple what the market will bear marketing driven bs. Hey the Yen is down journos why does a 600 cost $13K? Nope, check the inflation calculator it’s not that. I’m too lazy to search for the articles where the shills were playing apologist for the rise in bike costs and blaming it on a strong Yen.
The FZ09 is selling for $7,990 here so it is reasonable to expect that this would sell for $1k+ less in the US market if Yamaha were to choose to bring it here. Another factor would be country of origin. If they’re not making this in a place favorable to the aforementioned taxes/tariffs then its chances of making it to the US are lower.
But the exchange rates do matter. Many blame the Plaza Accords for why the Japanese economy went into a 15 year long period of stagnation. Back then, most assumed the U.S., throwing around its weight, forced the Japanese to appreciate the Yen to slow down its economy, thereby putting upstart Japan back in its place, and allowing U.S. industries to recover from the Japanese assault.
Looking back now, those assumptions appear to be mistaken. Yes, the appreciation caused the Japanese economy to go into hibernation, but the U.S. did not benefit, or did not benefit for very long. The primary beneficiaries were the neighboring “Little Tigers” – Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore. They took over the vacuum the Japanese were forced to forfeit, not the U.S.
Now that the global economy and market is large enough, with the inclusion of the BRICS, and even some parts of Africa, the global power brokers have let Japan off its leash and finally allowed it to reduce the Yen. They seem to feel the global market is now big enough to accommodate a rising Japan, a rising China, a rising India, a rising “Little Tigers”, all at once, even with a declining U.S. and Europe.
So again, exchange rates do matter.
Assumed since the bike is so cheap, it was not made in Japan, but one of those 10 cents per hour places. If not made in Japan, don’t think the Yen fluctuations matter as much.
Not to production costs but we’d still be paying a Japanese company in dollars so the exchange rate applies there.
i think yam’s are still a rising sun production (rated R). haven’t heard a peep about them offshoring. not yet anyway…?
Yamaha has at least 3 plants in India. Don’t know if any of those plants supply bikes or parts for bikes intended for the U.S. market, but Yammie does manufacture outside Japan.
apparently they build in china too. however (comma) the first character in the VIN tells the tale. anything starting with a J is Japan built. China starts with L, but then were talking innocuous kit like PW’s. my bud’s FZ9 starts with a J if it’s any kind of predictor for this “7-series”.
Answer me this then, anyone: If Yamaha can build this bike in Japan for 6K, what’s really preventing Harley from building (and I mean really build) its Streets in the U.S. The MT-07 is superior in every way to the Streets, better performance, looks, fit and finish, and higher quality parts. Also, even with the lower Yen, aren’t wages in Japan still higher or close to par with that of the U.S? A Harley worker only makes around $17 dollars a hour.
So if Yamaha had no need to go Benedict Arnold on Japan to produce a low priced entry bike, with its high or higher costs, then what’s Harley’s excuse?
Is there anyone out there who can explain?
I think Harley workers make more than $17 an hr.
Harley are making a 500cc and 750cc available in 2015
followed by Harley Davidson Training schools for those who want to learn how to ride on a Harley.
Priced around $7,000 for the 500cc
Q: “Is there anyone out there who can explain?”
ooh ooh, i’ll take this. survey says…!!! *DING*/board flips over…
A: margins. (audience collectively voices the answer)
specifically, they’re in short supply on these kinds of kit. when you account for the entire loop from raw materials to dealer floor unfortunately there is no windfall, there is no second coming, just the illusion of such.
what the domestic layperson falsely interprets as “renaissance”…? is actually an industry simply “treading water”.
example: a container ship being offloaded in long beach or newark costs the same regardless of the displacement of the vehicles therein. Teamsters don’t give a rats (nor should they). they unloaded, they transported, you pay, end of. so what that means is businesses/industries perpetuate into the future on PROFITS, not bank loans. Wharton 101 this.
All HD’s have imported parts in their content. The street models will be made in Kansas City, probably not much differently than the rest are made in Milwaukee.
Same holds true for Japanese made bikes. It is very likely that much of the content is outsourced from China, Taiwan, Korea, etc..
Wonder if more is coming further down the CC scale. MT-06, -05,-04?. I saw the r250 elsewhere.
These MTs are great, I wish they were prettier though. I like round chrome and subsonic aero visuals.
“subsonic aero visuals”
Huh?
no worries, that’s just my band from back in college. I’ve since traded my mullet for a gullet.
Man, that’s alot bike for 6,500, esp. considering they are today’s inflated, $7 Mickey D’s combo meal dollars. Last time I ate at Mickey D’s (which is the last time I could afford to buy new), I could get a quarter pounder, fries, and a drink for only $4. Given those prices, I can’t see how so many people these days can afford to be so overweight. You’d think they’d be getting thinner, not the other way around.
More choices than ever before with prices continuing to plummet, at least for certain segments of the market. I can’t recall in my lifetime there ever being a better time to be a bike buyer. It’s the best it’s ever been, and I think it will keep getting better.
Even though I’m an experienced sport rider, I don’t need as much power as the FZ-09 delivers. 75 HP and 45 ft. lbs. on a 400 lb. bike will get me through the mountain twisties plenty fast enough to keep up with the big boys.
Despite the great sound most triples produce, the FZ-09 seems to disappoint according to the reviews. I’m more of a twin fan anyway, so the MT’07 is of great interest. The fact that it’s less expensive (and probably lighter) is a pleasant bonus.
Assuming Yamaha made no gross errors, I expect it’ll give the other middleweights a serious run for consumer’s money. I just wish those fake air scoops carried real fuel.
The weight difference is only about fifteen pounds. The difference in engine output is very probably more appreciable in the lower and middle part of the rpm range as compared to the difference in peak power.
I believe the FZ-09 weighs 414 lbs wet, while the MT-07 weighs 394 lbs wet. So about 20 lbs if we are being picky. Still – both bikes are incredibly light weight for their class. I love this new direction Yamaha is taking. I hope these bikes are the hits they deserve to be.
Less reciprocating weight in the motor increases handling advantage of the smaller bike. The less is reciprocating mass the easier the bike changes its attitude or angle relative to riding surface. The greater the motor’s reciprocating weight the greater is gyroscopic effect, which increases the bike’s tendency to maintain whatever is its current angle relative to the riding surface.
What ever the price I will not buy a bike with a passenger seat so high that I can’t lift my leg high enough to get on the thing.
Seat height of the MT-07 is somewhere between 31 and 32 inches. That’s not high:
http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/eu/products/motorcycles/mt/mt-07.aspx?view=techspecs
Sorry, you said “passenger seat.” I agree. Passenger seats that are small and well above the operator’s seat are ridiculous. It’s a fashion thing.
I like to think of that passenger seat as being more of a back rest for the pilot (since I have no interest in carrying a passenger).
Leave the sidestand down, place left foot on left peg and mount. Bring sidestand up.
That’s the way. 100% agree.
This one doesn’t look high to me. I am guessing you only ride cruisers? Bikes like the Tiger 1050 and several BMWs (ex. R1200R )have a much more drastic height difference between the front and rear seat!