Comments on: Yamaha MT-03: Is the U.S. Finally Worthy? (Bike Reports) (News) http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/yamaha-mt-03-is-the-u-s-finally-worthy/ Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews Thu, 23 May 2013 15:44:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: randy http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/yamaha-mt-03-is-the-u-s-finally-worthy/comment-page-2/#comment-23372 randy Sun, 12 Jun 2011 02:20:50 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=15686#comment-23372 Overweight and underpowered, probably overpriced. Simple as that. I test rode a Baghira, the thing was slow, my Corolla could give it a run for the money. Overweight and underpowered, probably overpriced. Simple as that. I test rode a Baghira, the thing was slow, my Corolla could give it a run for the money.

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]]> By: Norm G. http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/yamaha-mt-03-is-the-u-s-finally-worthy/comment-page-2/#comment-23284 Norm G. Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:02:41 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=15686#comment-23284 re: "the Japanese are simply not capable of building what people really want; a competitively priced, low weight, high performance single or twin." on the contrary, the Japanese (and any other manufacturer for that matter) are MORE than capable. we are afterall more than a decade into the 21st century. the problem at this point rests ENTIRELY with the consumer and their "incapability" of being rationale or realistic. re: “the Japanese are simply not capable of building what people really want; a competitively priced, low weight, high performance single or twin.”

on the contrary, the Japanese (and any other manufacturer for that matter) are MORE than capable. we are afterall more than a decade into the 21st century. the problem at this point rests ENTIRELY with the consumer and their “incapability” of being rationale or realistic.

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]]> By: Norm G. http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/yamaha-mt-03-is-the-u-s-finally-worthy/comment-page-2/#comment-23283 Norm G. Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:48:43 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=15686#comment-23283 a brilliant piece of kit and slick execution by yamaha. headlight gives it a whole baby b-king thing (wait, is that good?). but as johnny ro so wisely observes, it will be quickly "devalued" if it were to ever wash up on american shores... which of course defeats the whole idea of being in business in the first place. so no, we're not worthy. it should be noted, this cloud DOES have a silver lining in that we DO have the ability to MAKE ourselves worthy. so few situations in life actually allow us to effect change. this would not be one of them. a brilliant piece of kit and slick execution by yamaha. headlight gives it a whole baby b-king thing (wait, is that good?). but as johnny ro so wisely observes, it will be quickly “devalued” if it were to ever wash up on american shores… which of course defeats the whole idea of being in business in the first place. so no, we’re not worthy. it should be noted, this cloud DOES have a silver lining in that we DO have the ability to MAKE ourselves worthy. so few situations in life actually allow us to effect change. this would not be one of them.

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]]> By: patrick o http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/yamaha-mt-03-is-the-u-s-finally-worthy/comment-page-2/#comment-23259 patrick o Thu, 09 Jun 2011 01:17:14 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=15686#comment-23259 I like it. I love big nasty singles though. Great for ripping around town or the crappy twisty back roads I have here in no. california. I hope it has electric start because i am tired of kicking my SR500. My Husky 610 has the magic button and is a real trouble maker. Fun as hell. But it is Italian with little dealer support. Yamaha builds some great singles and this one looks like a real curb hopper. I'll take mine in black. I like it. I love big nasty singles though. Great for ripping around town or the crappy twisty back roads I have here in no. california. I hope it has electric start because i am tired of kicking my SR500. My Husky 610 has the magic button and is a real trouble maker. Fun as hell. But it is Italian with little dealer support. Yamaha builds some great singles and this one looks like a real curb hopper. I’ll take mine in black.

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]]> By: crashmw http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/yamaha-mt-03-is-the-u-s-finally-worthy/comment-page-2/#comment-23218 crashmw Wed, 08 Jun 2011 02:37:50 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=15686#comment-23218 Sorry, being a DRZ owner myself, I refuse to believe that 5 speeds are enough on any modern motorcycle -especially a bike that has torque down low. Sorry, being a DRZ owner myself, I refuse to believe that 5 speeds are enough on any modern motorcycle -especially a bike that has torque down low.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/yamaha-mt-03-is-the-u-s-finally-worthy/comment-page-2/#comment-23195 Mark Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:48:10 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=15686#comment-23195 Not to mention the difficulty of finding a KTM dealer in the U. S. I love the look of the Duke (although not the sky-high seat) but Japanese dealerships can be found in any sizeable city. Not to mention the difficulty of finding a KTM dealer in the U. S. I love the look of the Duke (although not the sky-high seat) but Japanese dealerships can be found in any sizeable city.

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]]> By: Rob Alexander http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/yamaha-mt-03-is-the-u-s-finally-worthy/comment-page-2/#comment-23161 Rob Alexander Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:11:27 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=15686#comment-23161 Looks cool... As a KTM 690 SM-R owner, I can tell you singles are way under-appreciated in the US and if done right, can offer great performance and better torque at the same RPM than multi-cylinder bikes. My SM-R is insane fun, it would be good though to have a cheaper Japanese alternative on the market as I realize not too many people are willing to shell out the money to buy a 690 Duke (the SM line is discontinued in the US but the Duke is 98% identical to the SM-R) and most Americans haven't even heard of KTM. Looks cool… As a KTM 690 SM-R owner, I can tell you singles are way under-appreciated in the US and if done right, can offer great performance and better torque at the same RPM than multi-cylinder bikes. My SM-R is insane fun, it would be good though to have a cheaper Japanese alternative on the market as I realize not too many people are willing to shell out the money to buy a 690 Duke (the SM line is discontinued in the US but the Duke is 98% identical to the SM-R) and most Americans haven’t even heard of KTM.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/yamaha-mt-03-is-the-u-s-finally-worthy/comment-page-2/#comment-23135 Mark Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:37:37 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=15686#comment-23135 It's just got "agile" written all over it. Oddly enough, I LIKE the headlight. I also like the LOOK of the twin exhausts although they're probably impractical. I also agree that a decent price point in the U. S. is doubtful. The seats look decent. At least they're wide. This is the type of bike we need more of in North America. It's relatively simply, reasonably sized and looks good. Singles and twins from 250 to 750cc should be the new "in" although Americans aren't that smart. I expect the bulk of us will either remain with cruiser bikes that are way too heavy or repli-racers that are way faster than any of us would ever be able to get on the road. We really should be more reasonable in our choices and think about MPG since the number of cars that can achieve 40mpg is growing every day. Makes no sense to have a MC that does no better. I think Suzuki could do something similar but more classic and less futuristic with the S40 engine for a pretty reasonable price. It’s just got “agile” written all over it. Oddly enough, I LIKE the headlight. I also like the LOOK of the twin exhausts although they’re probably impractical. I also agree that a decent price point in the U. S. is doubtful. The seats look decent. At least they’re wide.

This is the type of bike we need more of in North America. It’s relatively simply, reasonably sized and looks good. Singles and twins from 250 to 750cc should be the new “in” although Americans aren’t that smart. I expect the bulk of us will either remain with cruiser bikes that are way too heavy or repli-racers that are way faster than any of us would ever be able to get on the road.

We really should be more reasonable in our choices and think about MPG since the number of cars that can achieve 40mpg is growing every day. Makes no sense to have a MC that does no better.

I think Suzuki could do something similar but more classic and less futuristic with the S40 engine for a pretty reasonable price.

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]]> By: Jeff http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/yamaha-mt-03-is-the-u-s-finally-worthy/comment-page-2/#comment-23103 Jeff Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:50:04 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=15686#comment-23103 I had an '05 MT-01 and loved it. That's what Yamaha should be selling in the US, endless torque. I rode an MT-03 a few times in the mountains of Japan. The power isn't overwhelming, but if you like going very fast without the need to touch the brake, this bike does that well. I had an ’05 MT-01 and loved it. That’s what Yamaha should be selling in the US, endless torque.
I rode an MT-03 a few times in the mountains of Japan. The power isn’t overwhelming, but if you like going very fast without the need to touch the brake, this bike does that well.

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]]> By: Jeff http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/06/yamaha-mt-03-is-the-u-s-finally-worthy/comment-page-2/#comment-23102 Jeff Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:46:04 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=15686#comment-23102 I disagree with the "cheaper" part. The Euros don't make anything that costs less that their competitors. I disagree with the “cheaper” part. The Euros don’t make anything that costs less that their competitors.

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