Yamaha MT-03

After reading Pratheek’s first ride review of the Yamaha 300cc twins from Thailand, and then spending a brief amount of time with the R3, I was quite stoked to get my hands on the MT-03. After all, naked/streetfighter motorcycles are what I feel suit my riding habits and style the best. But once the Yamaha MT-03 came to the BikeWale office for a thorough road test, my excitement levels changed and I came to a conclusion to whether or not one should purchase this for Rs. 4.60 lakh. Let's find out.

It's quite common to mistake a small bike for its bigger sibling, but not very often to happen otherwise. And that is exactly what happened a few times with the MT-03. It looks good, sporty, youthful and different. But, its design is quite similar to the MT-15 and that might receive polar opinions. The proportions appear a little less than that of a 300cc bike. The MT-03 looks and feels compact, which may not necessarily work well. More on the compact-feeling bit in the next segment.

The MT-03 is one of the top few bikes in the 300cc segment with exceptional build quality. From its paint finish to the switch cubes and their feedback, panel fitment, weld and other areas, Yamaha has pretty much set a benchmark here.

This is the area where you not only see that the MT-03 looks compact but also feel it. When the rider is ‘in’ the saddle of the MT-03, the surrounding feels quite cramped. This is a result of the narrow handlebar, and restrained real estate on the seat for the riders. If you are around six feet or taller, the MT-03’s lack of space would be even more evident since your knees are likely to hit the tank recess. 

But once you get a hang of the rider triangle, the MT-03 feels obedient in a manner and you make your way around it. One thing we noticed and did to accommodate ourselves comfortably on this bike was to ride with the elbows slightly out and hold the handlebar towards the edge.

We already know that the Yamaha MT-03 uses the same engine as the R3. As a result, it has the same character too. Moreover, we like the versatile character of this 321cc parallel-twin motor. It lets you ride peacefully in the city, by modulating the clutch and gentle acceleration whereas you can also run through the entire gearbox once on the freeway, without the engine feeling stressed. Both ends of spectrums come very naturally to the MT’s engine.

The strong low and mid-range makes the usability quotient very high. The gearbox offers slick shifts, and the overall engine performance feels solid! If you are riding in the city, third gear is the highest you will need to shift, thanks to the tall gearing setup.

The MT-03 feels in its element the most when ridden around 5,000-8,000rpm out on the highway. It's so much fun to shift through the gear, whack the throttle open, let the meaty exhaust scream and gun for top speeds.

Once you get used to the narrow handlebar, the MT-03 feels agile and light on its feet. It stands true even in terms of direction changes, or when you have to move it in tight spaces. However, getting used to its cramped rider triangle needs a conscious effort. The bike could be better off with a wider handlebar. In its current setting, you feel a little pressure on your wrist and elbows which is slightly uncomfortable at the start.

Yamaha has got the MT’s braking and suspension almost spot on. Its brakes, although non-adjustable, offer good bite, feedback and feel. The lever placement is on point and doesn’t require a hard squeeze to shed the speeds. It slows down the bike in a predictable manner without much ABS intrusion.

We rode the MT across various road conditions in Mumbai. From the immaculate highways to broken local roads, riddled with potholes. Not once did the MT’s springs feel stiff and or back-breaking. The setup is plain enough to absorb all the bumps and patchy roads without really transferring any of it to your back. This too makes the bike very convenient in terms of city riding or even if you are taking it to the Ghats on a Sunday. We would love to put the MT-03 on a touring test if the opportunity presents itself.

Just like its faired cousin, the MT-03 is also quite basic on the feature front. It almost feels archaic when pitted against some of its 300cc rivals. The MT comes with LED illumination, an LCD with all the necessary readouts, ABS, and a side stand sensor. Although you don’t fiddle with features when a motorcycle is engaging enough to ride, it's about the feel-good factor, especially when you are paying an exorbitant asking price.

Since the MT-03 and R3 share the same engine and weigh almost the same, the fuel efficiency figures too are in the same ballpark. The MT-03 also offers 29kmpl and with its 14-litre fuel tank, it offers a maximum range of 410km. However, the number could differ slightly as per your riding conditions and style.

The Yamaha MT-03 is probably the only naked motorcycle with a twin–cylinder engine in the 300cc class. It comes to India via the CBU route and offers impeccable build quality and performance. The engine feels solid and compatible in the city and even out on the highway, especially in terms of power delivery and the linear nature, and loves to be revved. We like how it handles, feels lightweight, can be pushed around the corners, and shows its sporty nature when needed. Even the suspension and brakes are well tuned which highlights the usability and ease of living with it.

But, the MT-03 is a hit-and-miss when it comes to the overall package for a few reasons. Firstly, the features. It barely gets any and even the ones that are offered, are very basic and are found on much more affordable motorcycles. Then, its asking price. At Rs. 4.60 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) it is nowhere close to being affordable or aggressively priced. The 300cc segment is loaded with some much more affordable and advanced motorcycles, which we would recommend you check out.

But, if money isn’t a problem here, and you want to own a reliable, performance-oriented, purist’s motorcycle, then the Yamaha MT-03 would be a good choice.

Photography by Kapil Angane