The Japanese Motorcycle With Honda Reliability And BMW-Style Character
Over the years, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers have earned a reputation for building some of the most reliable motorcycles. Honda, in particular, leads the way in this respect and has come out on top of just about every reliability index there is. While this kind of pragmatism has served them well, it has left room for European brands like BMW to thrive. Offering motorcycles that promise the kind of riding experience you just don’t get with the more pragmatic Honda motorcycles.
The Best Of Both
Out of all the Japanese brands, it is Yamaha that best understands that a motorcycle purchase, at least when it comes to larger capacity bikes, is an emotional purchase. Their corporate philosophy is summed up by the Japanese word Kando. Although there is no direct translation, in the context of what Yamaha wants you to experience, it is “a feeling of deep satisfaction and intense excitement.”
This neatly ties into the brand’s “Revs Your Heart” slogan, which means a big emphasis is put on rider engagement. Even with such a big push for rider engagement, they are still a Japanese company, and product quality is always going to be pretty near the top of any list of priorities. As such, Yamaha consistently ranks second only to Honda in terms of reliability, yet still offers a wide selection of motorcycles that are fun to ride.
The Yamaha MT-07 Brings The Kando Philosophy To Life
MSRP: $8,599
Of all the bikes in the Yamaha lineup, it is the MT-07 which best defines this Kando philosophy. It actually has done so for several years now, but the latest version of this ever-popular naked bike has just added even more value to the mix. The CP2 engine is at the core of what makes this bike so special. Over the years it has been in production, it has proven to be one of, if not the most reliable motorcycle engines. Yet, unlike most reliable motorcycles, the MT remains a fun and engaging motorcycle to ride every day.
The Cross-Plane Parallel-Twin Revolution Began Here
Power: 72 Horsepower
After trying and failing to get their coveted 600cc supersport engine to work in a naked derivative back in the 00s, Yamaha made the decision to go back to the drawing board. The result of this was the development of the CP2 (cross-plane parallel-twin), and the CP3 (cross-plane triple) for a range of middleweight street bikes. Initially, the MT-09 and MT-07 naked bikes came out, but after that a string of other bikes based on these platforms have also come out. It is fair to say that the CP2 in particular showed the rest of the industry the path forward, because pretty much every single major manufacturer has since gotten a cross-plane twin into production.
Proof That Fun Doesn’t Need To Come At The Cost Of Reliability
The reason for this is simple. A cross-plane twin mimics all the best characteristics of a similar-sized V-twin, without the drawbacks. These engines are relatively efficient, and cost less to produce thanks to the fact that they only require one cylinder head. You still get that meaty midrange, with pretty much all the torque available from around the 2,000 RPM mark. The upshot of this is a motorcycle that is really fun to ride at road-legal speed. You don’t need to wring its neck to get the most out of it, and even when you do, it remains relatively economical, with a claimed fuel economy of 57 MPG.
The Latest MT-07 Offers Impressive Value
Traditionally, the biggest asset the MT-07 has is its power-to-weight ratio. With a wet weight of only 403 pounds, it is a bike that feels far more powerful than it really is. It is an ideal commuter bike thanks to how nimble it is, and is equally good at carving up canyons over the weekend if the mood arises. The latest bike got an upside down front for the first time, which does a great job of papering over the bike’s greatest weakness. Although it is a nimble machine, this is achieved thanks to some clever geometry rather than a competent chassis. It has a short wheelbase, and this makes the bike extremely flickable, but it is no track bike. Experienced riders will find the limits of its steel diamond chassis in short order. The front wheel does not like to stay planted, and while hooligans will love this trait, it will wear a little thin over time. But, this is one of the very few compromises Yamaha were forced to make with the model.
In terms of features, the MT is relatively well-equipped. It has switchable traction control, ABS, ride modes, a TFT dash with smartphone connectivity, and turn-by-turn navigation. Unfortunately, the one feature we all wish it had is still missing in action. Yamaha has refreshed the design a few times in a relatively short space of time, but even though this is a step in the right direction when compared to the previous, objectively ugly bike, it doesn’t exactly do the rest of the bike justice. Its mediocre design only serves to detract from what is an otherwise fantastic package.
The Perfect Middleweight Foundation
If you are like us and don’t particularly like the way it looks, there are plenty of CP2-based alternatives. The XSR700 offers a tasteful retro design, and an altogether more simplified riding experience. If you prefer something a little more sporty, then the YZF-R7 has you covered, and if you want to go off-road, then the Tenere 700 (World Raid pictured) is arguably one of the best middleweight ADVs money can buy. Outside the US, you can even have a touring bike in the form of the Tracer 7.
Yamaha were quick to realize that with the CP2, they had stumbled upon the Golden Goose. It is one of those gifts that just keeps giving. While the MT-07 is a great street bike, there is a bike for pretty much every kind of rider making use of this powertrain these days. All of which embody Yamaha’s Kando philosophy.
Source: Yamaha Motorsports
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