Page 56 - 2022-08-01 RiDE

BRITAIN’S TOP-10 NAKEDS
MT-10 boasts Japan’s
most-characterful four
YAMAHA
4MT-10
The best balance of
practicality and insanity
Price £13,500 Power 164bhp Torque
83lb·ft Weight 212kg Seat height 835mm
Updated this year, Yamaha’s supernaked is
one of those bikes that doesn’t necessarily
deliver the kind of ride you would expect
— but in a good way. On paper, you read
about the R1-derived engine and chassis
and you assume it will be a frothing, ultra-
aggressive beast but then you ride it and
quickly discover that while it can certainly
go bananas, it is actually remarkably
refined, practical and full of character. And
the 2022 updates have made it even better.
Although the bones of the MT remain the
same, the new model now has an IMU to
add angle-sensitivity to its electronics,
righting one of the areas that was left
lacking when compared to its tech-heavy
rivals. The crossplane motor has a smidge
more grunt and the chassis tweaked to
bring more refinement to the ride quality.
Small changes, yes, but ones that have had
56 SEPTEMBER 2022
THE COSTS
SERVICING
Minor 6000 miles/£250
Major 12,000 miles/£520
PCP
£154.10 a month x 36
(£2700 deposit, 7.9% APR, 4000
annual miles, £7402.50 final
payment.)
PREDICTED VALUE
AFTER THREE YEARS
£8500
a big impact on this wonderful machine.
Physically far larger than the likes of the
Tuono V4, the MT-10 is a relaxing bike to
ride and its small screen is surprisingly
good at deflecting wind onto your chest,
helping ease the strain on your arm
muscles. It’s a pleasant place to spend time
and although the clocks are a bit small and
cluttered (and lack connectivity) the
MT-10’s comfort levels mean it can most
certainly be taken on a tour and it even has The engine is beautiful
cruise control as standard. Then, when the and makes 163bhp feel
motorways are gone and you can hit the oh-so-easy.
twisty roads, the Yamaha comes alive. Fuel economy and tank
The star of the MT’s show remains that range remain poor —
crossplane engine. Brimming with 40mpg and 116 miles
low-end drive and now with a far more until reserve hurt.
compliant throttle connection, the sound
and feel of the CP4 engine is so hard to beat RIDE VERDICT A great bike
and makes the MT what it is. Smooth as that scratches that
silk when cruising, rumbly and off-beat sportsbike itch without going
under power, it has an abundance of not over-the-top and forgetting it
only performance but also character. is built for road riders.
Shame it’s so thirsty, though.
Handling is good but, while the MT-10
isn’t the most agile of supernakeds, its might be in danger of being developed into
suspension is both plush and beautifully irrelevance, this is a road bike first and
damped and the chassis has all the foremost and has a truly unique character.
handling prowess you need for the road. The Yamaha MT-10 is our pick of the
While it seems the supernaked class bunch. JON URRY