Yamaha MT03 Review 2006-2014

[@alainremi267]

Thanks for your objective review! I've been riding every day with smile that MT03 for the last 4 years. It's a 2010 model & I confirm, that its engine is bulletproof provided you do the maintenance as prescribed. Mine is Gorgeous Red & the only thing I've added is a center stand. I like my bike to sleep upright. Also, Motore Minarelli, the MT03 builder, is an Italian company that was acquired by Yamaha. Minarelli started building two-stroke engine in 1951. Sad that this MT03 wasn't sold more widely, but I consider it as a "pièce de collection" & I hope to be able to keep it even when I switch to a lighter & lower bike such as the BMW G310R. I'm 75 years young & I hope to keep riding 'till I'm 85... I forgot: I've added to my MT03 a front mudguard extension after a small stone damaged my radiator despite its added protection grill :(

[@180FiftyFive]

Review is pretty good and quite accurate. Had this bike for 2 years. I've done some research on A2 bikes and owned a few. I think it's one of the best A2 bikes around - I've ridden Ninja 300, Duke 390, RC390, Honda CB500F, this MT03, Kawasaki ER5, restricted MT07, maybe others I dont remember. It's a fantastic bike if you find one that's been taken care properly. Really fun in the city and the twisties. Pretty comfortable (I'm 6 foot/183cm about 75kg/165lbs) although you might get cramps in your hip if you wear riding jeans with hip protectors after an hour. The sitting position is quite high, bars are wide and it's very light and predictable. It's a great bike to learn to slide on - when you downshift hard the rear wheel locks up but you feel in control because of the supermoto-style riding position and the wide handlebars. Very easy to maneuver at slow speed, although it can feel top-heavy when pushing it around the garage. You'll probably be stopping for gas quite often cause the tank range is below average. Around 100 miles like James said is accurate with normal riding. That's less than half of what I had on my Ninja 300. It handles really well, the stock exhaust sounds great on deceleration once its warmed up - pops and burbles. Super easy to maintain (spark plug access is convenient) and very reliable, except the battery is under the gas tank which can be annoying to get to. Pillions make it very top heavy and handling goes out the window in the city, but riding between towns avoiding the highways it's good enough. I crashed on gravel once and laid it down a couple times and didn't have any damage - the way it's built the parts that hit the ground are solid and you wouldn't normally hit the tank, so if you find one that's not shiny and you're a beginner, it's one less worry. Having had to replace fairing on a sportsbike twice, trust me it's a huge advantage both to your ego and your wallet. The rear brake caliper is a brembo unit. It's not big enough for 'brembo' to be spelled out so there is just the 'b' type logo. I think the brakes are good enough front and back. Compared to MT07 the overall quality feels better. MT07 is much much better in terms of engine character and is a better all-rounder, but this bike has an alloy swingarm that doesn't rust at all and overall the MT03 is quite solid. To use an analogy it's like a good hammer. Difficult to break or ruin unless you crash hard and totally disregard maintenance.

[@sheperdofthebrahs]

The part about the battery is so true. Changed it yesterday because there are mere days left till the local season starts and man...take off the backseat, unscrew the mainseat, unscrew the tank on the middle and on the sides, lift up the tank, unscrew the battery...god was that annoying, same thing backwards after putting the charged thing back in

[@nulla9601]

The mt03 from 2008-2014 have 35,4kW (2006-2007 have 33,4kW). Has this been a problem with the A2 license since it's 0,4kW above the maximum

[@vasilistsirm5239]

​@@nulla9601it's literally 1hp over, I think you will be ok

[@nulla9601]

@@vasilistsirm5239 you never know with the government, they always try to screw you over but I did send them an email and they said that it was fine luckily

[@Radwanze]

​@@nulla9601I dont know where you're from but over here in germany if this is a problem or not depends on what your registration paper says. In the german registration paper there are no decimal numbers, so mine just says 35kw and therefore it is perfectly legal for A2 regardles of what the "official numbers" are. (I have a 2008 model)

[@KraftfahrKonsul]

Thanks for your thoughts on the MT03 - i´m considering buying one for myself but due to your information in 2 person performance i´m now unsure about it. Great Channel! Always have a nice Ride.

[@davidpicard5376]

I have many bikes and have even ridden the R1000 BMW R and frankly this bike although incapable of the same engine performance is an exemplary embodiment of great design built on the premise of using a reliable very enjoyable old engine. Quite tragic how it never took off . I'm sold on this beautifully manufactured Japanese/ Italian collaboration.

[@dave9309]

I'm about to do my Direct Access here in the UK, I don't specifically need an A2 compliant bike as I'm over 21, but I have chosen this bike as my first because I want something nimble, grunty and forgiving on the gear changes, but without the ludicrous acceleration and top end of something with more cylinders. I managed to find a 58 plate one near me for less than £2500, up to now I had been potentially looking at spending almost twice that for something like a Scram 411 which has less power. Hoping that the revival of the MT03 with the new 300cc variant might being a bit of attention back to the 660 again.

[@davidpicard5376]

It seems that it has aroused curiosity towards the superior Mt 03 660. Mine is fuel injected and gets close to 24.5 km per litre so about 68-69 mpg imperial (4.5 litres) Also a very adept two up motorbike and very much lighter than current models of similar engine capacity

[@jimwitt21]

Thanks Em and Nate!!!

[@steepriderz9003]

It was great having you on mate 👍🏻

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

Very good review. I used to have an MT-01. I always wanted one of these, as well. Very stylish. I like singles. In the '80s, I did England to Portugal return three times, and Greece return once on a Yamaha XT500E. You can tour on singles. Everyone did in those days.

[@MotoEnz]

2022 anyone?

[@HiBaby_Gaming]

Yup me

[@HiBaby_Gaming]

I'm 164 and am afraid this will not fit me

[@180FiftyFive]

@@HiBaby_Gaming its definitely better for tall riders. its comfortable for me at 183cm. i can reach the ground with both feet. it is easily adjustable however i had a potential buyer (i sold mine) who was shorter than 170cm and the seat was too high for him.

[@HiBaby_Gaming]

@@180FiftyFive thanks brother take care

[@nulla9601]

​@@180FiftyFiveI'm 178cm. You think I could flatfoot it?

[@dazznutts]

Love mine got a low mileage one last October - Have Delkevic Exhausts and Booster Plug average 113-120 before red light comes on and do another 30ish miles usalual;y 12ltrs to 150 miles

[@jimwitt21]

Awesome! I get less but then I'm a fairly chunky guy 😅

[@williamrae9954]

Should do 200mls to the tank....3.5gallon at 65mpg as a Tenere 660 averages, as RTW Romanian/Bulgarian bloke gets,out of his heavier 660 Tenere...most people panic when the light comes on,I watched one review, the guy fills up at 100mls...if he checked the pump,he'd find out,that's half a tank

[@dazznutts]

Mines got stolen July 2022 BTW great bike with the grin factor but had a few problems before getting stolen - replaced the gear selector oil seal 3 times under hard braking the front would have a very slight wobble closest thing I could say almost like an effect of a warped disc then had to replace the Speedo which was very difficult to find a replacement- but if it wasn’t stolen I would still be riding it as such fun

[@orestephunx618]

Yep, they made it in Italy!

[@davidpicard5376]

I think there's a collaboration between Aprilia and Yamaha using the same powerhouse?

[@J2I3H]

Yeah, its engine is made by minarelli.

[@williamrae9954]

Yamaha have always uses subcontractors, as Toyota uses them(Yamaha build certain Toyota engines)! Bikes like the old TT600 were Italian built,the current MT/XSR/Tenere range are made in France by scooter manufacturers, MTK...engines are usually Japanese built, but the rest is made locally!

[@Nilloxified]

Fonds out about this bike recently, and it is kinda my dreambike. I will probably change tires and maybe add a mudplate to make it lightly offroady. Is that sth this bike is capable of?

[@ritaamsterdam8701]

Nice review

[@davidpicard5376]

I'm of an opinion that if I show mine everyone will be envious! It's 2014 , still like new and barely 15,000 km

[@kierancurtis1647]

Is there a part number for those crash bars? Trying to find some for my 2008 MT 03 but it's tough ordering the part with Brexit or seems to be is discontinued....

[@carfreak1234]

Nice review 👍

[@twowheel253]

Nice review. I noticed when you revved the throttle there was no backfire on decel. Every MT I've seen has a backfire - how did you remedy that?

[@mjoe7561]

Might be because they're standard silencers.

[@ollyh8668]

How tall are you? How do you find you fit on the bike? Im 6ft, fancy one but looking at seat height feel like im to big for one.

[@12345678910yoable]

Do you have a link to purchase the wind deflector?

[@jimwitt21]

No, sorry, it was fitted to the bike when I bought it already.

[@MrBoybergs]

Its an oem/stock Yamaha part

[@zoilindor]

I really love the bike, it drives pretty great and the torque is amazing. Dubble exhaust looks good and aftermarket sounds good as well. The only thing I can't find anywhere is that windscreen that fits perfectly. Anyone have any idea where i can find and buy one?

[@rhumorsky4055]

if you find something please let me know :D

[@zoilindor]

@@rhumorsky4055 I found out there is a part number for it, I don't have it right now. You should be able to find it on a Yamaha website. But it's only for sale on foreign website's, not from Yamaha directly and the cheapest is € 210,- for a piece of plastic...

[@ammosaurus1]

Hey ! Thanks for your vid May i ask you where you find those crash bar ?

[@jimwitt21]

They're Givi, and were fitted to the bike when I bought it.

[@apokaprince7302]

How we get it parts like camshaft

[@garytaylor3149]

Just out of interest what sort of mileage did it have when you got it, been offered one with 60k miles on for £1k

[@davidpicard5376]

11000 Km. Still like new and has been garaged from new.

[@williamrae9954]

There's a Romanian/Bulgarian taken a Tenere (same engine) around the World,in 6 figures...he's had his stripped down, everything like new!

[@kierancurtis1647]

Where can I find a tank protector/pad like that?

[@jimwitt21]

Its a Bagster, they make them for most standard bikes. I think this was £95ish. Search Google for bagster tank pads and you'll find it.

[@kierancurtis1647]

@@jimwitt21 legend! Thanks mate

[@alexandre7579]

No Brasil so foi Vendida No ano de 2008

[@jocajokic6199]

Best A2 Bike! A few little changes and its run sooo much better!!!! And smooth at 2000rpm! No more on Off! And run up From 5000 ,6000 to 7500rpm like From 2000 to 5000 !!! Only to drive over 120,130 km/h longer then 10km is not nice!!! Why the fuck no 6. Gear????🙈

[@SherKhan-b1kes]

Can guess with this engine having its roots from an off-road motorcycle, 5 was then considered enough. A new engine casing has to be developed to make space for the 6th gear however, due to internal politics Yamaha decided on parallel-twins and sadly killed this great 660cc engine 😭

[@user-zg3uf2pz6b]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXfWfYF_o6t6nNksi=E6by4TgmvrkrZfBT The original is against the Vuj -Go Tuned Version a Kreidler Mofa! 😂