Yamaha Mt-01 Hits the Road!!!
YAMAHA MT-01 HITS THE ROAD!!!
ROUNDUP
What would you pay for a modern sporting roadster based around a big-inch V-Twin? Yamaha's (so-far) Euro-only 2OO5 MT-O1 should ring-in under $13K.
DANG, IT'S HAPPENED again! A concept bike has escaped the show circuit and will appear in dealerships soon-unfortunately for us, though, it won't be in U.S. showrooms, at least not for now.
Yamaha's rakish MT-O 1 was the smash-hit of the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, looking very much like the result of a clandestine coupling between a Buell and a V-Max. Five years later, a productionized version, described by Yama types as a "Torque Sports Roadster' will be sold as a 2005 model in Europe. At presstime, further information is thin on the ground, though we do know that the bike will be unveiled to the public on September 14 at the Inter mot Show in Munich, and that a dedicated website is being set up. Like Honda's more recent Rune, the MT-01 has been watered down only slightly from its concept stage. Gone, for instance, are the sidemounted shock and rocker-arm arrangement, re placed by a more conventional under-engine damper. Missing, too, is the inboard rear brake
setup. Along the way, the alloy swingarm picked up Ri -style lower bracing. Power is still courtesy of a Road Star derived pushrod V-Twin air-cooler, though there's no word if displacement has been bumped past the stocker's 1670cc. If not, figure about 80 rear-wheel bhp-not over powering, but certainly enter taining in a package that should scale at least 120 pounds lighter than the Road Star.
A semi-dry-sump design, the current cruiser motor carries much of its oil in a faux non-unit transmission case. That and its attendant jackshaft have been done away with to shorten the new roadster's wheelbase, but where to house the oil? The concept bike was fitted with an under-motor "tray," but now that the shock resides in that location, it appears the MT’s cases have been enlarged-note the fluted appendage on the left side, not unlike the oil reservoirs attached to second-generation Japanese-market SRX Singles. Final drive is by chain, replacing the Road Star’s drivebelt, and more in keeping with the MT’s mechanical, sporting nature. As on the showbike, the main frame is aluminum, its top rails hogged out to accept the fuel-injection system’s oval, side-mounted air filters. Score one for easier maintenance.
Pressed for information, Yamaha U.S. would not comment on any details, technical or otherwise, only saying that the MT-01 will not be available in America for the 2005 sales season. Officials, however, did not expressly rule out an FJR 1300-type scenario, wherein consumer reaction to the bike is so strong that it is imported in limited numbers for 2006, sold to buyers who have anteed up a deposit. Originally slated for Europe only, the acclaimed sporttourer now sells in the 2000unit range in the U.S. annually.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your pens and pencils...
David Edwards
