ROAD TEST – 2020 YAMAHA MT-03 - JUST BIKES

ROAD TEST – 2020 Yamaha MT-03

Words and Photos: Zane Dobie

Reaching the ultimate power from a small capacity bike is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have on a motorcycle. But if you want to learn how to be a talented rider, you need to start slow. That’s where the 2020 Yamaha MT-03 really shines. It’s a good-looking street machine disguised as a LAMS-approved package. It’s not all about setting track records and breaking the sound barrier, either: the MT-03 is one of the easiest to manage motorcycles on the market right now.

ROAD TEST – 2020 Yamaha MT-03 — 2020 Yamaha MT-03

Like a YZF-R3 . . . but different

There are a lot of similarities between the YZF-R3 and the MT-03, but there are differences, too. Given the two models share an engine, gearbox, frame, swingarm, brakes, wheels, tyres and other parts, the differences may not look enormous on paper, but they are there. And it’s in the ride where those differences are really felt.

When I had the chance to ride the improved 2019 YZF-R3 on its release last year, it completely changed my mind on Yamaha’s low powered range. The manufacturer had finally brought the YZF-R3 back to what it should be: an homologation-type race bike for the road. It handled brilliantly on the track and tackled tight corners on the road like a champion, thanks to the upside-down front fork setup and peaky twin-cylinder motor.

I applaud Yamaha for applying those same 37mm KYB forks to the 2020 MT-03. Their inclusion means the MT-03 no longer feels like a cheap option for the novice rider. Instead, it’s now a motorcycle with nimble handling and a forgiving nature for those who want to sharpen their skills. An upright seating position makes the MT-03 a more comfortable ride than the YZF-R3 for both daily use and long-distance trips, too.

That upright seating position means you could lose some cornering stability and confidence to really lean the bike over, but that’s something only more experienced riders will notice. The trade-off is that the MT-03 is better controlled and easier to manage at low speed. Compared to the YZF-R3, the MT-03’s wide one-piece handlebar makes tight turns a breeze.

There is no doubt that taking your P’s test on the MT-03 over the YZF-R3 could mean the difference between success and failure, as you will not be restricted by a wider turning circle and a stooped riding position.

High Revving

Having ridden every motorcycle in the MT line-up, it’s my firm belief that the MT-03 - the baby of Yamaha’s ‘Maximum Torque’ family - is able to control its power best.

The twin-cylinder, 322cc, double overhead cam engine makes an impressive 30.9kW up at 10,000rpm and 29.6Nm at 9,000rpm, which means you have to be up in the top revs most of the time to get the best performance out of the motorcycle. Having to rev the bike hard to go fast might not sound ideal, but when you reflect on this motorcycle and what it is intended for, it’s a marvellous design.

That said, low speed manoeuvrability makes the MT-03 a tame city commuter when you want it to be. Unlike its MT-07 bigger brother, the MT-03 never feels like it’s trying to get away from you. It’ll comfortably sit at a lower speed and is a smooth ride, even considering most of that power is made up top.

At the other end of the spectrum, when you’re carving the bike around the bends at speed, the 322cc motor absolutely sings. You can use the high revs to engine brake into corners, rather than having to brake earlier. This type of riding allows you to get into a rhythm of carrying the maximum amount of speed you can through a turn, displaying actual skill rather than entering a corner slowly and gassing it hard on the straights.

The six-speed ‘box has no issues sitting on the 110km/h mark on the freeway, and coasts freely when decelerating: an attribute of having that peak power high up in the rev range. This makes the MT-03 more manageable to hold on the speed limit and comfortably breeze along like a larger capacity motorcycle.

Surprisingly for a beginner bike, the MT-03’s clutch lever does require a bit of muscle to engage but corresponds well when the throttle is eased. There is no disruption in power distribution once the throttle is engaged, either, resulting in easy-going rideability.

New Looks

The most noticeable change for the MT-03 in 2020 is in its appearance, starting off with the front end.

Blessed with its own unique headlight rather than a shrunken version of the MT-10’s headlight, the MT-03’s new ‘face’ is probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think it forms an aggressive, yet grown-up appearance for a junior motorcycle.

Indicators are now streamlined and create a minimal look, while the new LED headlights are more visible, keeping you in every bad car-driver’s view.

The architecture of tank and seat means you can grip the curves in the tank with your knees for a secure but relaxed ride. Newbie riders will benefit when leaning into a corner, allowing them to move off the seat further, with confidence boosted via the thigh grip of the tank.

For vertically-challenged people, the dip in the seating position makes stopping at the lights a lot easier, with no need to lean the bike to one side or stand on tippy toes when coming to a halt.

Not that you’re allowed to carry any passengers whilst you’re a learner, but the full motorcycle license holder may notice that the pillion seat seems a touch too high to comfortably carry your significant other. Having someone on the back could take some getting used to, although that extra height did assist in creating a cradle which added a sense of security when riding.

Stopping Power

The 2020 MT-03 has the same brake package as last year’s model, with a single 298mm front disc and floating twin piston caliper, while the rear brake is a 220mm disc with a single piston caliper.

Front and rear brakes are linked to an ABS package that works a treat but the brakes themselves are nothing special - I found myself wishing for a disc much like the larger bikes in the MT range. However, the general liveability of the brakes was decent and they offer more than enough stopping power to bring a novice rider to a halt.

The bike excelled at low speeds when I tried out a few sharp, slow turns using the rear brake to control the speed - the ABS engaged and was ready to jump in and help rather than constantly shuddering on the rear brake like a few systems do. Next to the MT-07, the entire braking system is a bit dated, but it’s a steady progress to making next-gen parts more affordable.

Competition Chassis

The chassis of the Yamaha MT-03 is a diamond frame design - the same as what’s on the YZF-R3. The goal of the diamond frame is to have as little welding and bending in the metal as possible. This stiffens up the bike more than if it was put together with individual pieces of metal.

Yamaha say that they used “the engine’s crankcase as a stressed member of the chassis”. This means that the bike needs less metal to minimize flex, getting rid of a chunk of weight, too.

The swingarm, measuring in at 573mm, is a tad longer than similar sized bikes, and it makes the MT-03 stable in a straight line. It also helps the rear shock manage bumps on the road without the need for a special setup.

A wet weight of just 168kg makes the MT-03 a breeze to ride into tight parking spaces and easy to manoeuvre when you’re off it. If you do have a mishap and end up with the motorcycle on its side, the light weight ensures it’ll be easy to lift back up, too.

The design of the frame and swingarm complements the excellent front shock and high revving motor. When comparing the MT-03 to rival bikes on the market, there are very few negatives you can identify with the combined package – it really shines.

Above the Rest

With its new-look styling and the subtle technical changes, the 2020 Yamaha MT-03 is a much better bike in general. Compared to its main competitor, Kawasaki’s Z400, it’s really in a world of its own.

The power output and the chassis feel like nothing else in the category. While 30.9kW might not sound like a lot, it is a substantial amount for a 322cc parallel twin.

As good as the majority of the MT-03’s componentry is, the rear suspension is the only part where it falls short of the competition. An upgrade to the rear shock would make this bike less harsh over bumps in the road, not to mention making my job a whole lot more difficult in finding something negative to say about it!

Although there is no TFT dash (one of my bugbears on modern bikes), the MT-03 does feature a neat shift light to stop you from bouncing off the rev limiter in between shifts and it even has an oil change trip meter on the LCD dash, among other standard electronic notifications like fuel consumption.

Finally, with the new look comes a new colour option - “Ice Fluo” grey (no, that’s not a spelling mistake) that comes with tangerine coloured wheels and accents. If that’s not for you, there are less dramatic Icon Blue and Tech Black options, similar to the rest of the Yamaha MT range.

Smart Starter

If you’re looking for your first bike, the 2020 MT-03 a very credible contestant. Its many attributes, including its comfortable riding position, will help guide you through your provisional motorcycle test with ease and stability.

If you’re post-LAMS and are after a general commuter, don’t discount the MT-03, either. It can hold its own in the city, on a country road and the track, even against some larger capacity bikes.

With a ride away price of $7,399, it really is the pinnacle of performance, comfort and style.