The V twin 1700cc Yamaha that was banned in America. Mt-01

[@jala6707]

Great to see some praise for the mighty MT-01. Just FYI: you can change the km/h on your speedometer to MPH by holding the 'Select' button for at least 2 seconds.

[@adambaldwin9105]

If the button method does not work the dirty kph to mph drop the zero and multiply by 6 soo 100kph = 10 x 6 = 60 mph

[@mstr-rptr]

Sean, your MT-01 has a Stage 2 exhaust. Stage 1 has only slip ons with EXUP untouched. Stage 2 has those tight bends on the front collector and EXUP is removed. Also your db killers are not stock, stock ones have pretty small bores

[@J2I3H]

The ugly tail is not stock😅

[@olivierduivestein6541]

Noticed similar things, he might respond!

[@TheStonedAge]

​@@J2I3Hhe mentions that in the video. Definitely agree it's much worse than stock. 🤢

[@jonnymac8925]

That bike has a bunch of aftermarket parts, carbon fiber wheels, Beringer master cylinders/levers, Galfer rotors and a plethora of other stuff!

[@CapCityDC]

​@J2I3H agree, most Smuggler seats Corbin have ever made enhanced a bike's look but not this MT bubble butt one.

[@MpeTe01]

Nice review! Had my MT01 for 17 years. Unique and nothing else quite like it. Will keep on riding it until I'm too old to get on. Plenty fast enough and roll on grunt and sound can be addictive.

[@TheRealTorqueMaster]

Hey man, glad you had the occasion to put your hands on one of these bikes, these are truly beautifully crafted machines. I also own one and my shop is specialized in their restoration / modification. If I may, I just want to point out a few things that were incorrect in the video: - the Stage I was just the slip-on mufflers, while the Stage II is the complete Akrapovic titanium exhaust + ECU mapping and the consequent EXUP removal. Pipes are quite larger in diameter in comparison of the stock ones, mufflers included; this means the first are not interchangeable with the last ones and vice versa, they are a completely different exhaust system; - front forks are R1 inspired, rather than being a straight transplant from the supersport: the extension is longer and the spring ratio is different; - the original definition of MT was intended to be "Mega Torque", changing into "Masters of Torque" when the series was revamped in 2014 with the arrival of the MT-07 and the MT-09. That bike seems in overall great conditions, aside from a few scratches on the rear swingarm. BST wheels are a godsend for handling and power deliverance on the ground. The things that make me a bit upset are the rised handlebar, the PCV, the final drive and the carbon exhaust covers. The first one is pretty useless, it severs a lot of the communicativeness from the front, better switch to a Rizoma MA011, bonus points if paired with the same brand' low risers. Additionally, check the steering bearings' health status: that bike eats them for breakfast, go with some conical All-Balls ones. The PCV - unless you have a quickshifter installed - it's a waste of money: the Stage II ECU is extremely well calibrated on its own and doesn't need any adjustment. You can easily check if it was tuned by Yamaha by looking at a serial number "70" etched on its surface. Simplify and toss it away. About the trasmission, it seems it has an oversize rear sprocket. That's the most counterproductive modification to do on the 01, the engine LOVES to gain revs smoothly and progressively and has a pretty harsh response if the transmission ratio is shortened. I strongly advise you to switch to a 38-teeth or - even better - a custom 37-teeth from Supersprox. Do not cheap out on chains and front sprockets too, go with some high-end ones (RK ZXW, DID ZVM-X2, Renthal forged pinions), the torque delivery is smooth but it's a lot. Speaking about the mufflers' carbon covers, they aren't installed correctly and are going to scrape the titanium on the mufflers. Remove the seat and put some spacers beneath the fixing points. If the bike grows into you, there are a couple things you can consider to make the ride even more enjoyable: Brembo M4 calipers on the front and HyperPro springs in the fork tubes and on the monoshock (which has an extremly high factory setting, around 90kg / 190lb). If you need some extra info / help I'll be happy to provide whatever you need, enjoy the ride!

[@johnrickards1908]

Wow, that level of knowledge has not been obtained without hard work and dedication. Sir, or madam? I commend you!

[@RageAgainstTheMachine.]

awesome info, cheers

[@TheRealTorqueMaster]

​@@johnrickards1908 Sir, and thank you for your appreciation! 10 years tinkering on the same bike really do produce weird levels of obsession on the psyche.

[@johnrickards1908]

@@TheRealTorqueMaster Ha, shame it doesn't seem to work for women, ask my wife. : D

[@brandonreid4511]

I could've literally bought an 06 MT-01 just a week ago!! Only 17,200kms on it, bone stock silver and black for 5500$ asking price!! Sold already of course but was only 45 mins from me in Ontario, Canada and only posted for sale right now that I seen here. I can't believe you actually bought this beauty after I thought about getting one last week!

[@tdimccullough]

i had an 06 mt01 in 2007 and loved it, it could happily tootle along at 50-60 mph all day and if you wanted to ride at 100mph it would do it happily, would never have sold it but it was taken from me on the side of an italian mountain, lying on it's side got a ride in an air ambulance, two weeks in a coma and two and half years before they would let me drive/ride on the road again

[@Joseph-gp5ld]

What a pristine Yammie you've discovered! Having owned a Road Warrior myself, I'm familiar with that engine - it was quite the powerhouse. I recall viewing images of the MT-01 years back and feeling disappointed it wasn't available in the USA. It appears to be an excellent sport touring motorcycle, offering ample torque for a leisurely ride. Personally, I'm not fond of the seat on your bike; I'd consider swapping it out but keeping the original for when it's time to sell.

[@amjrpain919]

Already having (and loving) a 2004 Warrior, I have lusted after this bike since it's inception! Thank you for the review!

[@petehedges6790]

Me, too! I absolutely loved my Road Star Warrior. I'm sad that this dream bike is basically unobtainium.

[@DutchMT]

Bikes and beards, its a fantastic beast. Your bike has a full titanium stage 2 exhaust system. Stage 1 is only the dempers. I own one for 15 years now. The bike has so much character. The Japanese at yamaha named the music note it makes Kodo. Meaning the rhythm of the heartbeat. Referring to the very big japanees wardrums. love it. At low rpm at a certain speed it sounds like there is a chopper close by. Its still very fast even though its weight. It is meant to have the stage 3 kit installed so that it can breathe. Its to environmentally restricted stock.

[@Eaglewatch47]

Yamaha never thought it to be a success in America. Most people look at horse powers and don't know what torque stands for.

[@JoshuaRoberts-kq9cs]

​@@Eaglewatch47One of my old girl friends had plenty of torque.When she rode you she could melt a condom.I never complained at all.

[@BonzaiMGB]

I just picked up a ‘23 MT-09 SP about a month ago. It is pretty cool watching this and learning about its predecessor. I love these bikes!

[@marremane]

Bought one last year as my first bike ;) absolute dream bike, it has absolutely everything i want. And it is one of the few muscle bikes you can ride if you are around 6'6'' - 6'7''

[@LooxJJ]

It was not banned. Yamaha US did not want to import because they figured not many will be sold here. Which is kinda true - a very reason why bikes such as Harley V-Rod series discontinued as well. Gone are the muscle bike era - ADV and Sports Touring segment boomed instead. If Yamaha, or any of Japanese Big-4, decides to make a bike that is legendary, they probably will...but it won't make that big of financial appeal to them.

[@user-so2xo4tn4c]

suzuki m109 still available

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

Hats off to Mike Corbin, the man who has saved a millions of our aszes.

[@Wellimanewguy]

Funny enough Sean says at the end of the video that he's never been a fan of corbin seats. Looking at pictures of Mike it's not tough to see why that may be. Never tried one myself but I'm certain it would be a step up from my XSR's stock seat.

[@joeblow8206]

Corbin seats are for girls. Need a saddle on your horse too?

[@CharlieboySLONDON]

I have a Corbyn on my Tracer 9 Gt , it wasn't worth the money tbh.

[@yamkaw346]

Yeah I’ve bought a few used motorcycles that had Corbin seats, never liked any of them.

[@billwiley7216]

As a long time Yamaha fan I had always wanted to see them create a naked sport tourer/ canyon carver based off of the V-4 V-Max engine. I have owned a V-Max and a Venture full touring rig based on the engine design and always felt like the engine would be loads of fun in a dedicated canyon runner! Nothing sounds like a nice piped V-4!

[@adotintheshark4848]

I had a V-Max, had all the power you'd want and then some. I also had a Royal Star with the same basic V-4 design. That thing was a slug, they detuned it too much for touring.

[@billwiley7216]

@@adotintheshark4848 There were aftermarket CDI boxes available for the Venture that allowed you to bump up the ignition timing and the maximum rpm level by like 1000 rpm's and with pipe changes and carb jetting you would be surprised what that then more uncorked detuned V-FOUR was capable of. With a 900lb full touring rig with a passenger onboard I was regularly beating single rider, light weight modified big motored S&S Harleys on stoplight to stoplight drag runs. Considering I was on a shaft driven full bagger I was happy with that performance. Some people I think were also changing the cams out but I never went that route. If I had really wanted to go fast I would have left the Venture at home and just brought out my R1!😁

[@babybudistmonk]

Quick way to get a very close idea on KPH vs MPH. Think of a clock. You have to compare time vs. percentage. 30 minutes is 50% of the clock range. 30MPH is roughly 50KPH. 60MPH is about 100KPH. 60 minutes being 100% of the clock range. Then just visualize a clock face when you need to compare the two measurements.

[@kasmanien]

Or you could just do simple math in that 1 kp/h = .62 mph , not exactly rocket science.

[@darksu6947]

​@@kasmanienThat math is so complicated I'm not sure a rocket doctor could figure it out 🤯

[@babybudistmonk]

@@kasmanien Yeah you can. But some of us are quicker with an easy visual representation than trying to do math in our head while also concentrating on other things going on. If it’s not for you then that’s fine. I know it helped me figure out the difference really easily.

[@mitracangalheiro]

or just adopt the metric system and stop being one of three or four countrys in the world still stuck in the imperial measurements system .... 😅

[@darksu6947]

@@mitracangalheiro That's a goofy idea because Freedom Units are best units! 😁

[@S682]

That might be one of the coolest bikes you’ve ever reviewed! I’m not a huge fan of naked bikes but I would love one of those in my garage.

[@RedBud315]

This was probably Yamaha talking a poke at H-D saying why do your V-Twins make so little power per liter? How crazy is that I was noticing the Corbin seat just before you brought it up and thinking WOW! they made a seat for such a limited bike?

[@tnhunts2759]

But HD big twins in the same displacement area as the Yamaha 1700 make similar, or more power?

[@RedBud315]

@@tnhunts2759 I made my comment thinking I heard him say this bike had 150 HP which is actually doesn't and he didn't say. 1700 C.C. is 103 C.I. and it looks like this bike had 90 HP. Todays 131 C.I.(2146 C.C) HD crate motor still only puts out 121 HP while their 1250 C.C. Pan America bike puts out 150. My '05 1200 Buell made 103 stock and 113 with factory race ECM so it made more power than the MT-01.

[@Ithboltar666]

Same goes for me. I have never seen modified MT-01 before. I think this one looks a lot better than stock one. The back end in oem doesn`t look very nice. Geel seats are good for ass.

[@elcookiemonsteru]

@@RedBud315 my 2008 600RR puts 120HP lol

[@RedBud315]

@@elcookiemonsteru I get that and 600's were putting out more than 100 HP in the 90's. V-twins are more about torque than H.P. My Buell could do a burnout at 3500 starting in 5th gear from a dead stop, not going through the gears. You would have to wind up your motor to over 10K to even come close to doing a 5th gear dead stop burnout and most likely couldn't do it. But, I would be interested to know if it could w/out stalling or flipping over.

[@sergiobadaro7099]

83 of those came to Brazil in 2007 and 2008. Mine is a 2008 with 16 thousand miles now. They are awesome bikes and it´s really is an "avis rara". If anyone has the oportunity to test ride it, do it. They are unique machines that surely will put a smile on your face.

[@robertveronese4405]

100km is about 62mph, 208km is 130mph, I had a CB400Super Four for over 10 years, best bike ever! I now have a Yamaha Mt15 155cc single about 19.5hp in the Philippines, will do 80mph or 130km. But have gotten 130mpg!! Just ordered a complete stainless exhaust with cat. and muffler(Akrapovic?) for $60 including shipping there. I live there half the time, and in Las Vegas the other half. Labor there at a dealer is like $5 for a tune up!

[@biffdotorg]

The corbin seats I have owned were like a memory foam that was initially hard, but needed to be sat on and warmed up. When other seats would get you sore around 100 miles, my corbin seats would be very comfortable. I would not recommend one for the few mile commuter, they seem to be for the long haul riders.

[@HatcheDWheeL]

You forgot about the MT03 which used the 660 single from the XT bikes, that was in production at the same time as this.

[@Radwanze]

Yeah I own a 660cc MT03. And apart from the name it has nothing in common with the 321cc MT03. It is definetly worth a mention when talking about the mt bikes.

[@1957bat]

These were expensive in the UK. They didn't sell well either. My local dealer had four but didn't discount them. They were the follow on from the Yamaha Bull dog. I went down the Buell route with an S1, which I still own.

[@ronwoudenberg2294]

Sean, you are living the dream... "Bikes and Beards" the Lord Jesus Proclaimed! I have followed you for years and met you at Daytona Bike Week. I consider you as my brother and friend. This Yamaha is my kind of bike. The closest I ride is a Buell Ulysses; just a baby compared to this MT-01.

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

The Yamaha big twins are amazing. My 08 Roadliner with a 1900 twin never ceases to amaze me with how easy it is to control and how mellow it is, even with ridiculous torque and HP. Big cruiser that is still very nimble if you know what you are doing.

[@aapddd]

Yeah that big 1900 is peach of an engine. One of the best I have ever experienced.

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

@@aapddd agreed! Never selling mine, unless it's for a nicer version of the same!

[@Gurn_Blanston]

Lol. 705 pounds. 67.5" wheelbase. 31 degrees of rake. That would be about as "nimble" as a sinking oil tanker.

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

@@Gurn_Blanston it is a lot of bike but I'm pleasantly surprised. I can idle speed maneuver it better than my other bikes of the past. Probably alot to do with the torque available at idle and the low center of gravity.

[@joesutherland225]

Canucks get all the bikes 😊

[@BikingChap]

I had one of these in the UK for a number of years and they were really misunderstood. They're a great bike for those who love a grunty V twin but don't like the whole cruiser thing. They weren't fast and certainly weren't a sports bike but they looked felt and sounded gorgeous, they were comfy too. I had a Ventura back pack and toured all around Europe on it and the only down side was the 120-130 mile tank range. Although in this case many of the lovely alloy parts have been removed, it was beautifully built especially compared to the awful build on the current MT. Prices are still going up in Europe as buyer realise we'll not see this kind of bike again and they appreciate why it was so special.

[@clarkream9082]

I've had a Corbin on my 1200 Bandit for 12 years, and it is still very comfortable.

[@colinm1325]

Good to know, thanks.

[@oi32df]

but not for long legs, I had a B12 too with corbin and my knees were too bent compared to the original seat

[@michaelhayward7572]

Never sold well when new. Stopped selling them, and they've been a cult bike ever since in Europe and the UK. Some outrageous custom bikes. Still on my bucket list. Ahead/before its time, wonderful motorcycle.

[@kevinmccorkle7476]

A 1700 Roadstar is deceptively quick 0 to 60. Not much after that, but I've surprised a few bikes. Great engines with loads of potential.

[@ericx7476]

Roadstars are heavy compared to the warrior.

[@jamestaylor5995]

Once you had it on the road I recognized the sound. It was very much like my '81 Yamaha 750 Virago. I rode it to college back in the early '90s. It likewise made lots of great torque down low but wasn't super fast on the high end.

[@350z_Jones]

I have a 2005 mt01 with the akrapovic muffler and i Love this bike! It‘s Not fast, but powerfull. Like a Harley Davidson for the corners!

[@M1Tommy]

My ‘04 Warrior still makes me grin every ride. This is a cool video, cool bike! 👍😎👍

[@alexandrosamanatidis7825]

The "no one knows what that means" about the km/h speed was the most american thing ive heard.😂😂😂

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Maybe that stupid God praising too 🤦‍♂️

[@jordanbutler8828]

As a Canadian this is so funny to hear. Plus the MT-O1 is easy to get here!

[@wurmageddon]

That and mispronouncing every European accessory brand

[@leewright7623]

Your British imperial measurements are showing 😅

[@alexandrosamanatidis7825]

@@leewright7623 I am Greek and we use SI measurements.

[@Pittsburghpilot]

Great video Sean this is what you do best, this is how you got famous, keep doing this.

[@NugeFireball]

Thank you for making this Video, I don't have a bike (yet) but I saw this at the Toronto Moto show when it first came out and loved the look of it.

[@slazgolf3161]

Hello, Surprising that this bike was not sold in the US, but to close the MT 01 adventure there was an MT OS ... this kit was only available in France (smoked windscreen, tank cover, aluminium handlebar mounts, special mirrors, etc.) A Yamaha bike studied in the US is the Yamaha Eluder & Star Venture - it is not sold in Europe.

[@leifhoffman6533]

Being a lifelong Yamaha fan and rider that is one beautiful bike. I would love to have one in my garage and it's a shame you can't buy these in the United States. I have no idea what the company was thinking for not releasing them here. I think they could have sold a ton. You are very blessed to own one my man.

[@Who.is.Clinton]

Mate, that MT01 is a beauty, I have a 2104 MT08, had it for 10years and it is going like a dream.

[@lizzardwizard2000]

Yamaha did something similar in the early 80’s. XV920RH in the US. It was 1000cc in the rest of the world. It was a sporterized V-Twin Virago. It had some interesting features like a fully enclosed chain drive and engine as a stressed member of the frame. Frame served as part of the air box. It was heavy and didn’t have much horsepower. Top speed was less than 120mph.

[@MyTriggerTalk]

Having had an old Suzuki VX800, even a little v-twin naked bike was a lot of fun. When I saw this from Yamaha, I absolutely HATED that they didn’t bring it stateside. Beautiful bike!

[@Srkcycles]

I feel the same way

[@dannysmith9882]

Yamaha had a model called the BT1100 Bulldog. It was closer to the VX800, VStar 1100 motor, also not sold here.

[@RR-2mn]

The fact that the Yamaha MT01 was not sold in America certainly has something to do with market protection, as its powerful V2 engine represents considerable competition for domestic products.

[@ottototo8]

I remember the panic in the industry when this came out. Motorcyclist magazine did an article on why this bike would never sell here with comments from a bunch of Harley guys. They were terrified of this thing. I wanted one desperately. Over Racing in Japan made an endurance racer out of one.

[@theprodigalstranger5259]

Take the KPH divide by 10 then multiply by 6 gives you a good approximation of MPH. So, your 119 KPH is about 71 MPH.

[@thenewcraft5582]

Such a cool bike! The engine and exhaust are beautiful. I had never even heard of this model before but it makes sense since it was never released here in the US. I'm heavily considering an older fun "sporty" V-twin motorcycle as a second motorcycle here in the next year or two, with the Harley XR1200 being at the top of the list currently. (down the line is a Buell X1, early Ducati Monster, Suzuki SV1000, etc). One of these might even be in first place on my list if they were ever sold here in the US during the production years.

[@Jluck78]

These are amazing bikes, I own several. They are reliable, well made and handle great. They are full of character and was originally marketed as an upscale product - they were very expensive. I often think about selling some into the USA.

[@frankweathersbee2553]

Loved my 08 gt100 Ducati, lite & flckable, you could slide both tires thru a corner & it would come out holding you're line & stay composed, no shake or wiggles.

[@congerthomas1812]

Those (Imports), rode a built GPZ750Z! I'm done at 3 gears now. My other mate had a 1200 Guzzi LeMans built. In 77 my dad got a 440 Chaparral. He had me race it, still wasn't a runner sled at 60!

[@jphillips360noscope]

I'm an Aprilia addict because I can't get enough of that Rotax twin sound... :D

[@glennmalm996]

I’ve been waiting for you to drive this. I wrote you a couple of years ago, asking if you ever driven one. I love my MT 01

[@ColonelMustard]

That Purple Rune in the background is gorgeous. Me and my dad had one years ago. Should have never let it go haha The MT-01 is an amazing bike. Wish we had them. Been looking hard at MT-09s personally.

[@MartynCharsley]

A few months before moving to the US I visited Tamworth Yamaha and took an MT-01 for a test ride. Loved it. Of course I couldnt buy one because I would be leaving the country and wouldnt be able to take it with me. Not to worry, I'll buy one when I'm settled in across the pond. It wasnt long before I'm talking to a salesperson at a local Yamaha dealership asking if they had, or could get me an MT-01. They had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. I tried to tell them. Frankly I couldn't understand why they hadn't heard of them. I used a pc in the parts department and went to the UK Yamaha website. I'm not exaggerating now; almost every employee at that dealership was looking at the screen and just being blown away by what an awesome piece of kit they were seeing and also by the fact that it wasn't available in the states. I bought a Midnight Warrior. Then after less than two years sold it because I couldn't get used to my feet being in front of me when riding, but I digress. That was in 2007/08. As years passed I'd attend MotoGP and WSBK events and always made a point of visiting the Yamaha display. I'd ask about the fact that the MT-01 wasn't offered in the model line up. The issue of legality never got mentioned, however I was told more than once that Corporate Yamaha had decided that in the United States there wasn't a market for large capacity standard V-Twin motorcycles. I guess Ducati, Aprillia and KTM didnt get the memo. 😊

[@Gurn_Blanston]

That motorcycle was imported into the U.S. before reaching 25 years old. You MIGHT be able to find a state that will be sloppy enough to title, register, and plate it, but the feds CAN seize the motorcycle and crush it.

[@keithcarpenter5254]

Kansas.

[@aleclenzen8347]

That is only if it was brought in illegally. Like he said manufacturers have a different set of rules. The 25 year rule was made for consumers buying Mercedes overseas way cheaper then shipping them to the US and selling them for big profit. They have nothing for manufacturers doing it. Just us normies. Even the GTRs from 2 Fast 2 Furious were legal except 1 im pretty sure. There are also hundreds of S15s and chasers that were here way before the time came. Most of them aren't on the No vin list. Only the ones that came over completely illegally. Not just all the before 25 year ones.

[@fvgc454ss]

Lies

[@Gurn_Blanston]

@@aleclenzen8347 Can you translate your verbal diarrhea into English? I don't speak welfare. What "rules" are you talking about? Be SPECIFIC.

[@Pleksilasi]

This is the dumbest law in america. No contest. No wonder america is about 25 years behind every metric country in terms of automotive tech.. You have literally an inverted china policy in place : can't copy better tech because otherwise gm/ford/harley can't compete with their dinosaur-tier motors.

[@noahknight4039]

I had to look up the reason because we have Cybertrucks, motorcycles that go 200mph plus, Hellcats, Corvettes ZR1s and all kinds of crazy vehicles in the states. I know it ain’t banned for being too powerful or something. It’s just they thought it wouldn’t sell.

[@hngrypanda5973]

Harley probably saw how awesome this bike is and felt instantly threatened. Probably whispered "hey this bike is trouble...don't let it in".

[@wurmageddon]

i mean they owned Buell by this point which made some pretty cool bikes

[@SethBergile]

Buell started the street fighter genre. Yamaha followed with the others.

[@stupidhead9117]

@@SethBergileApparently you’ve never heard of the Ducati Monster!

[@fvgc454ss]

Buell made lighter bikes with more power before this.

[@markl4673]

can you explain how this whisper actually worked?

[@johnschofield9496]

My buddy got a pre-owned one from Canada. Took 6-8 months ! Same guy stuffed a GS1100E engine into a Road King, called it his Har-Zuki !

[@J2I3H]

Did you get the yamaha bt1100 bulldog in america? I had one, also a cult bike here on the other side of the pond

[@cinkidaz]

I see you have what I believe are a couple of the 1980 BMW R 80 G/S bikes. As it happens, I worked for the shop that prepped the first 11 or so of those on the west coast (Az in this case) which were used for a press tour and for the photoshoot featuring a cowboy on a horse talking to one of the GS/80 riders. Monument Valley was the location, IIRC. Our lead mechanic and the other senior prepped them and then the lead went with them on the shoot to keep things healthy. Did not get a chance to ride one, sadly.

[@Starship007]

The exhaust looks like titanium? Is there a ring tone to the sound

[@spartanx169x]

Been waiting for this video. This is such a cool bike. First run - 3.1 seconds 0 to 60 60MPH is 96 KPH

[@perry92964]

i love those exhaust pipes and the way they come out the back

[@crakinbrian]

I remember when I found srk cycles on KZbin and went back and watched every single video like this like I was in the market for a new bike haha love these videos

[@leerager2364]

A few years ago I was looking to upgrade my fzr600 to a liter. Saw your video on the second gen fz1 and pulled the trigger. My favorite bike I've owned to date. Sucks we never got this beast of a naked bike . Few more years and we can import them hassle free .

[@dannysmith9882]

I didnt know it applied to motorcycles.

[@sheiladavis2304]

This was one of my favorite bikes. Being Canadian we got them from day one. I think you are right about it being stage one. I think being a v-twin companies like Harley would be willing to spend a little special interest money to keep this bike out. 120kmph works out to about 70mph. PS the seat looks kinda dorky and breaks up the lines.

[@neilleach5249]

Outstanding video. Fabulous bike. Great sound. Thank you for the verse! Best wishes.

[@rockhavenfarms7213]

In south africa we can import frame and engine separately of restricted or banned vehicles, we the put the engine back in and use the original log book or "title" and license as a armature or home built and it will 100% pass inspection if it meets the legal requirements which if it is stock then it will pass, ince it is licensed on our Enatis system the the vehicle can be modified. A modified vehicle can still be licensed but only if it is currently on the system.

[@stephenbaron5681]

A bike with lots of character is the Moto Guzzi Grisso you rode. Nothing like a big V twin. The four valve Guzzi pulls to 8K

[@NBSV1]

That low redline is one of the main problems with the extra big twins. Especially with a long stroke when they’re going for torque in a cruiser. They work fine in a cruiser where the performance expectations are different. For something intended to be more sporty it really needs the ability to rev to about 10k which is about impossible on an engine like that and still have something streetable. That bike would likely be much better with a destroked engine that brought it down to about 1200cc along with the bigger cams. But at that point you might as well design a sportier engine from scratch.

[@stevie9361]

Hey can you do a video on how to layer for winter riding? No heated gear. All I saw was you delivering a bike in the snow.

[@blanbec14]

This bike is great on twisty and large roads in which you can enjoy the low rev pulls and still count on the chassi for corners with some intensity. In the Vosges medium mountains of eastern France I used to ride a lot with one and it was fun. But if you want to ride it on long days of highways well, it is may be not worth the money. The typical use is in your canyons at average to high speeds, you are right.

[@rodneypennington1086]

No good for pillions but other wise fun to own. Preferred it to KTM 1290 - not as highly strung. Handles well and comfy. You have to get a small screen in colder country. Chains and tyres don't last too well. Might get another one day.

[@Henry.25]

I had the opportunity to ride one of these on my last trip to Brazil, it's a really nice bike to ride. The one I rode was 2008, and gray, but other than that, it was basically the same. I was going to buy it, but like you said, it's practically impossible to import it to the US.

[@mockbattles]

I live in New Zealand and a friend of mine owned a stock one. He let me borrow it a couple of times and I found it a bit underwhelming given the huge capacity. It could have been so much better with improved tuning and more beautiful styling.

[@CaptainsvLogs]

The beauty of this bike being AV Twin is the torque throughout the power band.

[@J2I3H]

The honda superhawk is called the firestorm here in europe.

[@kdsowen2882]

These rarely come-up for sale in NZ , less than one per-year , owners just don't sell them and if they do you are looking at over 10K . The build-quality is exceptionally-high and the fun-factor is too . Dave nz

[@lophophorawilliamsii9740]

Huh i thought SRK went out of business. Glad to see you back.

[@ChillOutVisuals]

Reason: Like the Yamaha XV1700, the MT-01’s large, air-cooled V-twin engine struggled with U.S. emissions standards. At the time, the U.S., especially California, had increasingly strict regulations, particularly for large-displacement motorcycles. Yamaha would have had to significantly modify the MT-01 to comply, which may have been deemed too costly or impractical.

[@Liam1304]

Your handlebars look bent brother?? I had the later version with 6-pot brakes. Absolutely my favourite bike and I would still have it if not for health issues. Beautiful combination of grunt and spirit with frame, suspension and brakes that were great for cornering. I particularly loved the combination. Similar weight, wheelbase, 1/4 mile and top speed to the GS1000S I had back in 1981 but sooo much better at everything. It doesn't exactly flick from peg to peg too fast though ;-).

[@Speedytrip]

We had them in Canada, this is still one of my favorite bikes ever. The torque is so addictive, and few bikes are as fun to run at somewhat legal speeds. If Yamaha could revisit this concept and shave a few pounds off of it, while keeping all of it's character, I think they'd sell well, I'd take a new MT over a Diavel any day. One thing I noticed on this bike is it's very sensitive to worn tires...once the tires are squared off, it kind of feels like the punching clown bags, it always wants to stand up.

[@Vitinhosbc22]

I had a 2005 (first year) like the one you got, rode over 30.000kms with this much torque and never had to change the chain/sprocket, the competitors would be yamaha vmax, triumph rocket, v-rod and etc. Great bike for what it is designed, yamaha reliability at its peak

[@dunjc001]

Great bike but not a competitor with a vmax 100hp vs 200hp

[@Vitinhosbc22]

@@dunjc001 i'm saying more of the style of a dragster bike, the newer vmax really came many years later completely updated and much faster indeed

[@jordanbutler8828]

As a Canadian this was really interesting because I had no idea how rare they. There’s 5 for sale on Marketplace in my area.

[@neanderthor66]

No comparison to a Vmax? Thats what I was waiting for when I saw 1700cc Yamaha.

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

Same .

[@liberals_destroy_everythin2497]

No comparison. This thing is comparatively a snoozefest. Heavy, slow.

[@ronedee]

Minus 2 cylinders and plus 40lbs compared to 1st. gen vmax. This wouldn’t be out of 3rd gear and the vee would be over the finish line. A better comp is the Ducati

[@nulla9601]

Not really comparible tho. This is like 90hp, Vmax is almost 200

[@neanderthor66]

@@nulla9601 90 HP out of 1700cc? Those are Harley numbers. Shameful.

[@sburns2421]

I remember seeing one for sale on adv rider about a year ago in this color scheme. Really neat bike. I wonder in a few years when 25 years old it will be easier to bring them into the US

[@lelandlewis7207]

130mph = 209kph I have a 1700 Roadstar and it is a beautiful bike to ride. Even at almost 1,000 lbs with me on it, it still has lots of power; I have had it to 160 kph (99 mph) for a short distance on a road trip.

[@spearmintvole9522]

I remember these. I couldn’t wait for a test ride and was convinced the one I rode was broken, dealer sent a tech out on it and confirmed that is just how they are. What a disappointment dog slow, poor brakes and vague handling. The weird part is the XJR1300 I turned up on shared some parts like brakes and it didn’t suffer from the same problems. Never was a bike less than the sum of its parts.

[@fedup7416]

I am Canadian, I've had several opportunities to buy one of these bikes. The first time I saw one it left a hugh impression on me. Ever since I have been strongly tempted. Because of my old bones, they just don't fit me. Oh to be young again.

[@Srkcycles]

You should

[@kawikakilawana7250]

Like, I kinda knew it was a big bike, but seeing Sean on it, really shows that's a BIG bike. Make my '99 X1 look like a beginner bike 😂

[@glx5165]

Canadian here. Had a 2006. Stock seat was amazing. Great bike. Should have kept it and got a B-king too. But ktm adventure now. Can’t go back.

[@mitchfritz6047]

0:57 they made a Buell, just say it

[@mongdesade6612]

I have 2 2005 MT-01's... Parts are incredibly expensive & availability an issue, hence my 2nd donor sickle! 120K on my beast & still going strong... Master of torque was appropriately named IMHO

[@hunteroftruth4986]

That bike would be a blast going up Hwy 7 N outside Hot Springs AR! I have a Electra Glide Ultra and a Triumph Tiger which I love and can say without a doubt this bike would be a blast! I also once owned a FZ-1!

[@apexandtalon]

These were hardcto sell new here in Canada. A local dealership had new leftovers around $7000 new.

[@nbowling10trio]

Google foo said it wasn't banned but Yamaha didn't see enough market in USA so it didn't import. Looks to me like they copied off the buells or xr1200

[@mrpolite01]

I’ve seen this bike at Corbin’s in Hollister for a long time. Glad you got it.

[@ArsonFire00]

10:36 Correction. No one in America knows what that means, the rest of us on planet Earth live in the 21st century.

[@guynoir4733]

Thank you for the unnecessary sarcastic report .

[@jasonbias3288]

The rest of the world didn't land men on the moon so....

[@themightybrew3979]

Little too much attitude for a motorcycle video. Try decaf.

[@Stars-and-Stripes-]

I would assume FZ stands for "FaZer" as the original FZ's were called Fazer's in Europe and other countries and FZ's in the US, NOT called an MT as you stated to my knowledge..

[@fvgc454ss]

Met a guy at Tail of the Dragon this year that had one from Canada. I want one bad now. Just a cool unique great sounding bike

[@FeatheredDino]

That's easily the single best V twin Yamaha has ever made. Admittedly, I am shocked they put it in a sport bike frame. It's a low rpm, single pin crank torque monster.

[@oi32df]

By the way, Canada is in America and here it was not a big sale success .Several copies from previous years collected dust in the show rooms.

[@genieb]

I loved this bike when it came out but ended up buying a B-King. I have turned a FZR 1000 Exup into a rad streetfighter back in the day though :).

[@darandodd12]

Bought a showroom new 02 Warrior in 04. Put Corbin seats on it. Loved the bike! Liked the seats.