Yamaha has made it clear that it no longer wants to do with the auto industry, but it’s still a big player in the world motorcycle. It has incorporated the lessons learned on the track into a new version of the MT-10, its wonderfully fast sport-naked model, and it has made the same updates to the MT-10 SP. even faster. Both motorcycles will launch in the United States in the first half of 2022.
“MT” stands for Master of Torque, and the company explains that the model draws inspiration from a variety of selection sources. One is what Yamaha calls the “dark side of ” Japan, “meaning wild designs emerge from the country sports car racing child culture. Another is the YZF-R1, a high-performance car that is highly regarded on racetracks around the world. Combining these two elements and ending up with something boring is almost impossible, and the MT-10 certainly looks somewhat with its angular frame plus contrasting blue and gold accents.
Yamaha’s designers removed any elements they deemed unnecessary and focused on showing off the mechanical bits. Ergonomics also played an important role in the design process: the hip position has been significantly lowered so that the rider feels like he’s sitting on a bike, not on a bike.
Power comes from a 998cc, 16-valve 4-cylinder engine that makes 164 horsepower at 11,500 rpm and 83 pound-ft of torque at 9,000 rpm. Sound is an important part of the motorcycling experience, so Yamaha has tweaked the engine’s intake and exhaust sounds. Interestingly, the Acoustic Amplifier Grille system includes speakers located on either side of the fuel tank, which emits the uneven sound of the engine directly on the driver’s side. The six-speed transmission features a quick shift system for clutchless up and down gearshifts.
Information about the vehicle is communicated to the driver via a 4.2-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) display that replaces the analog instrument cluster. It is controlled by buttons on both handlebars and it also displays the integrated navigation system.
Electronic Driving Assist is not exclusive to vehicles with four or more wheels. Yamaha’s MT-10 features a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) based on a pair of sensors to measure angular velocity and acceleration. The data collected by the IMU is sent to ECU, adjust the riding aids accordingly. For example, the system always controls the lift of the front wheels. There’s also tilt-sensitive traction control, Slip Control System (SCS) and Brake Control System (BCS). Many of these features can be adjusted individually.
Based on these features is the SP version, which Yamaha calls “the pinnacle of machine development.” This is the first mass-produced motorcycle with the latest electronically controlled suspension from Öhlins. As a result, the driver has three modes to choose from: A-1, which is the sportiest, A-2, intended for commuting or daily commute, and A-3, geared towards more comfort . Braided Steel brake lines more suitable for usage tracking become standard, and a model-specific threading system sets the SP apart from the standard MT-10.
Yamaha authorized dealer across the US will begin receiving the MT-10 in March 2022. Prices start at $13,999 pre-destination. Riders who reserve a spot in their garage for the MT-10 SP will have to wait until May 2022 and they will have to send the Japanese company a check for $16,899.
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