From the Webike Community's My Bike, the "Owner Review Summary" introduces various motorcycles based on the voices of owners who actually ride or have ridden them. This time, here's what the owners have to say about YAMAHA「MT-03」.
To be honest, Yamaha "MT-03" is this kind of bike!
The MT-03 was introduced in 2015. It was introduced as a naked version of the YZF-R3 with a full cowl and supersport character. It is positioned as a platform strategy vehicle using the same engine and chassis.
The shape of the YZF-R3 is completely different from that of the full cowl model, but the handlebar position is what makes the character of the YZF-R3 very different in terms of performance. Compared to the YZF-R3, the handlebar position is 39 mm higher and 19 mm further forward. Although numerically the difference is slight, when straddling the YZF-R3, which has a more forward lean and a lower stance, the MT-03 is easier to ride on the street and easier to ride for long periods.
When comparing the two vehicles, the difference between them is obvious. The MT-03 has a higher eye point and a wider field of vision in front of the rider. Also, in terms of handling, the MT-03 seems to handle more lightly because the rider's posture is more upright, which reduces the load on the front wheel.
In addition, thanks to the bar handlebars that allow for greater rider positional freedom, the MT-03 is easier to ride in the lean-wise position, as well as in the lean-in position where the rider drops his or her body firmly to the inside, or in the lean-out position like a motard model.
Yamaha's MT series is characterized by a character that incorporates the DNA of motard models rather than just road sport bikes, and the MT-03 also incorporates the characteristics of the MT series.
In the 2020 model change, the front suspension was changed to an inverted fork, further enhancing road sportiness. The styling around the headlight has also evolved to a projector-type LED light source.
How do Webike users feel about the MT-03?
MT-03
Average price of the new model: (approx.) 4608 USD
Used model price: (approx.) 3004 USD
Number of reviews: 27
※ Data as of December 29, 2023
Average owner satisfaction is 3.92 out of 5 (200 people rated)
It should be noted that the ratings for handling, fuel economy, riding, and looks exceed 4 points. Also, except for load ability, five items exceeded 3.7 points, indicating a high level of overall satisfaction with the model.
On the other hand, loadability was rated low, with some saying that it has no load capacity at all. Users who want to carry a lot of luggage seem to cover the shortage with side bags.
MT-03, Quick Summary
Advantage
- Powerful and lightweight, so it is easy to drive.
- Easy to turn and fun to corner
- Affordable price range, good footing even for a short person
- Cute and cool, with a face like a living creature
Disadvantage
- Wind is unavoidable since it is a naked bike.
- Riding long distances on highways may be difficult because of the high RPMs.
- The seat is hard, so it hurts a lot.
- There is no storage space at all, although it can hold a vehicle inspection certificate.
MT-03 Owner's Voice
Here are some of the most impressive voices among the many reviews.
Enu (2020 Model)
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | I fell in love with the face. |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | It is light and easy to ride, making it perfect for commuting and downhill touring. Although it is a 320cc bike, it is fast when it is ridden and has enough torque at low speeds to climb steep hills. The appearance of the bike is a matter of taste. |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | I know everyone has their taste, but the stock fenders are tacky. The lack of a cowl, which is the fate of a naked bike, makes me tired of the wind when riding on the highway. Disadvantage: It's not a complaint, but I feel lonely because I rarely see the same type of bike. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | The only breakdown I have experienced is a water leak from the reserve tank. I think it is easy to maintain and does not cost a lot of money. Many people hesitate to choose the 25 or 03 depending on whether or not to have vehicle inspections, but if the purpose of using the bike is commuting or touring down the road, I recommend the 03 because of its power. If you want to run the engine hard, the 25 is a better choice! If you want to go for a touring trip, I would recommend the 25. I am a little bit bothered by the fact that the automobile tax is the same for 03 as for large motorcycles. |
≒ (2023 Model)
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | I fell in love with it at first sight when I got my license, and the fact that I could ride such a cool bike on a standard motorcycle motivated me during my lessons. I looked at other bikes in the same class from other manufacturers, but this was the only one that struck a chord with my sensibilities. |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | I've heard it's easy to ride, but I can't say for sure since I've never ridden any other bike other than a learner's motorcycle. It looks great! |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | There is no storage at all, the car inspection card will fit but it will be a mess. Some kind of storage is a must. And when riding at high speeds, the handlebars vibrate a lot, so replacing the bar ends is a must! |
| Advice for prospective buyers | If you don't like the idea of carrying a seat bag or carrier, don't buy it. And it is by far the most expensive in its class. Unless you like it very much, I don't think you need to buy it. |
MOGI (2020 Model)
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | It has a distinctive Yamaha look, easy lighting position, lightweight, and ABS. I was also concerned about the suspension, but a nearby YSP listed an article about the lowering process, and I wanted to have it done by a store with a proven vehicle model and store. The reason for getting on two wheels in the first place was that I like to go to the countryside, but public transportation is inconvenient, and since I share a car with my family, I wanted to have my leg. The comparison models were the Estrella and MT-25, which were also said to be small, lightweight, and suitable for beginners. |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | The tank is wide and even beginners who tend to open their crotch can knee grip naturally. Compared to the CB400SFK, it is lighter and easier to handle. As its predecessor's catchphrase "the cheetah of the big city" suggests, it accelerates briskly. The face looks like a living creature and is cute and cool. |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | The lever has a shallow cutout to prevent it from breaking, but I'm not sure if it will break where I want it to. The face-shaped design is too conspicuous. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | Advice, or rather, a note to myself The retractable clutch lever bent when I stood on it. I fixed it using a wall and a pillar in my garage. During a camping tour, the shift pedal bent due to the high center of gravity and staggering while maneuvering. I rode in second gear to the campsite and fixed it with a hatchet I had with me for chopping wood. |
K.K (2021 Model)
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | The fact that Vulcan S was not in my nature made me want to enjoy the fun of MT-03 again. |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | An all-around bike. Low-speed riding is easier to handle with improved low-speed torque over the 2017 model. The fairing has been redesigned to protrude horizontally, making it look larger and more imposing. Wind protection has also been improved. More of a tourer type than a sport bike. The design looks more like a tracer type. |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | The 2017's fun to drive was halved as it no longer had torque at high RPMs and the driver could not feel the speed increase at high RPMs. While the narrow torque band makes it a bit difficult to handle, the joy of a good gearshift was great in the 2017 model, and we wonder if we should be happy or sad about the 2021 model, which can be driven even with sloppy gearshifts. The 2020 model has a smaller, smaller headlight with a street-fighter style design, which looks good but may have reduced visibility from oncoming traffic. When I see MT-25/03 in the oncoming lane, the lights are tiny! I think. The light is the Y of YAMAHA! I pass them before I think "YAMAHA Y". My MT-03 was wrecked and scrapped after being side-swiped by an oncoming right-turning motorcycle without being noticed. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | It's easy to ride and handle, so I can recommend it to beginners. But if you want to ride, I prefer the 2016 and 2017 models which are not for everyone. The 2018 and 2019 models are unconfirmed changes, but I heard that the ECU has become larger (larger capacity) to comply with emission regulations, so I doubt it. |
Check out MT-03's competitors
When considering the purchase of the MT-03, the MT-25 with a 250cc engine in the same chassis is still an interesting option.
Although these two vehicles share the same engine specifications other than displacement (liquid-cooled DOHC 4-valve 180-degree crank parallel twin), they are completely different in character.
While the MT-25 has a character that makes power at engine speeds, the MT-03 is given a torque-type character using a generous displacement.
In terms of numbers, the red zone is 12,500 rpm, 1,500 rpm lower than MT-25.
Maximum torque is also 1,000 rpm lower at 9,000 rpm, producing 3.1 kg-m. Thanks to this, the MT-03 is much more spacious when riding up winding roads and overtaking on highways.
If the bodies are the same and there is no inspection, I would tend to choose the 250cc MT-25, but the MT-03 has the displacement advantage of 71cc.
Incidentally, the way to distinguish MT-25 from MT-03, other than the car name logo and license plate number, is the step. Both cars have the same sporty machined aluminum steps, but looking at the heel plate, MT-25 has a hole in the heel plate without a hole, while MT-03 has a hole in the heel plate without a hole.
Now, if you are interested in the reviews of our competitors, check here!
※ Average owner satisfaction and number of reviews are as of December 29, 2023.
YAMAHA MT-25
Average Owner Satisfaction: 3.84 (409 people rated)
Average price of new model: (approx.) 4291 USD
Average price of used model: (approx.) 2985 USD
Number of reviews: 3
