Motorcycle specifications YamahaMT-07 700 2026 The night brings out its claws

The MT-07 is an edgy, nervous roadster. Nervous because of its temperament, its peppy engine and its immediate desire to have fun. Nervous because of the arrival of the 750 Hornet, which dealt it a heavy blow, as well as a slight tumble to the top of the market, which it had monopolized for years.

Less powerful, less well-equipped, a price difference too small to make up for its shortcomings... What could the Yam do? Make small improvements in 2023 to wait for today's big overhaul...... then....
This time around, the MT-07 takes the bit between its teeth and revamps many things.

First and foremost, its face. If the previous MT-07 had relied solely on its face to seduce, its success would have been............ Let's leave it at that, so as not to offend anyone, and enjoy the newcomer's facelift. Strongly inspired by that of the MT-09, it would gain a feline purity if Yamaha didn't persist with this luminous wart on the forehead of its new models. Be that as it may, this less fussy physique allows us to reconsider the machine. The eyes are shrewd, the face slender, the stature mutinous.
New, less prominent shoulders, redesigned frame covers and radiator scoops, simplified rear cladding, a reworked fuel tank and a reduced rear lip give the MT-07 a new lease of life.

It was already a lot of fun before; this phase 4 will make it easier and more effective. From one end of the machine to the other, Yamaha has extensively revised the structural design of its flagship roadster. Just look at the tubular frame! It looks very similar to the old one, but only the steering column has been retained. Optimization of the steel tubes and reinforcement plates has increased its rigidity (longitudinal and lateral) by 12¨% or even 13%; without changing its weight, stabilized at around fifteen kilos. The swingarm is completely new, retaining a "banana" profile but losing its lateral recesses. Not to look pretty, but to gain mass and rigidity.

But what will immediately jump out at you is the arrival of an inverted fork. Giving it a sportier look, even more so with the new radial-mount calipers, it also adds rigidity to the chassis. On the other hand, the connecting rods and shock absorber have been adapted to this general reinforcement.
But a stiffer chassis is often (slightly) more technical to ride. Except that the MT-07 has gained weight everywhere:
- 500 grams on the aluminum fork/top tube assembly
- 600 g on the fairing panels
- on the battery
- and, above all, on the rims!
Normally, the MT-07 IV should have gained 4.5 kg. But thanks to the factory's hard work, the weight was reduced by 1 kg. As a result, it claims 183 units on the scales.
But let's get back to the wheels. The Spinforged aluminum references, produced by flow-turning, are 480 grams lighter. This weight saving is extremely important, as it is removed from unsprung masses, which boosts agility (-4% inertia). The tires have also been changed; Dunlop Sportmax Q5A will now do the job.

On top of this, the handlebars are 18 mm wider, offering better leverage. Yam has also redesigned the rider's position, lowering the handlebars by 22 mm and moving them back 9.3 mm. A small dose of comfort has been added for the legs, with the footrests lowered by 10 mm. It's going to rub sooner in the bends, especially as the MT loves them.

That's right, curves. We'll be able to hit them harder, but will we get there any faster?
At first glance, the CP2 engine must have been reworked, given the new design of the ignition and clutch housings. Uh..... That is to say.... Yes, the twin-cylinder engine has been reworked for Euro5+ compliance, but....It's all about the engine itself. With 74 hp and 7 mkg of torque, its values remain the same as ever. More than watts, it's the joy and punch of this small block that delights all its users (even if it's lagging behind the Honda engine in pure performance).

Yam called on acousticians rather than engine manufacturers to develop the 690 cm3. An acoustic amplification process, as on the MT-10 and MT-09, has been implemented to make the block more present, so that it sends sound waves towards the rider to enter into symbiosis with him. Yep........ In any case, the "wave" release gills are far less inspired than those of its big sisters, cutting through the middle of the tank. Underneath, the air filter, duct, horn and intake covers have been optimized to brighten up the vocals.

On a more practical note, users will appreciate the new anti-dribble assisted clutch. This means less effort on the lever to disengage the clutch, and "digestion" of energy feedback from the rear axle in the event of an overly muscular or impatient downshift.

Since its inception, the MT-07 has never been much into electronics. Recently, it was willing to install a 5-inch TFT screen, but that's as far as it went. By contrast, the competition is on the move. So, with the addition of a ride-by-wire throttle (christened YCC-T at Yam), it's getting back on track - and opening up a whole new range of possibilities. First, the arrival of two-stage traction control (which can be deactivated). Next, a choice of three power modes. Then, three riding modes (Sport - Street - Custom). In terms of options, the shifter can now be installed. And on the Y-AMT version, cruise control is standard.

Owners of previous-generation MT-07s will find the speedo modified. Yet it measures the same dimensions. Except that the interface has changed, offering twice as many display themes (4 now), and of course, it retains smartphone pairing for zic, calls and turn-by-turn navigation (with the Garmin StreetCross app).
All these new functions require new controls. New-generation commodos make navigation easier. The turn signals are also more intelligent: a simple press and they flash three times; a harder press gives classic operation; automatic activation of the warnings if the rider brakes hard; and finally, they switch themselves off after 15 seconds and 150 meters.

A big job for the MT-07, which was fed up with seeing the Z 650 and Hornet circling around it, watching the Trident approach, and hearing the threat of Chinese bikes more and more often. This major evolution allows it to get back on track.
What's more, it will also be available with the Y-AMT robotized gearbox. Virtually unheard of at this level of the range (let's not forget the NC 750 DCT), this technology allows the rider to choose between a manual assisted selection or two automatic gearbox schemes - D for everyday riding or D+ for a sporty temperament. No selector, no clutch, just thumb and forefinger.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos