Motorcycles

Yamaha to launch new MT-320 naked bike

Yamaha to launch new MT-320 naked bike
Apart from engine size, the MT-320 is likely to be identical to the Asian MT-25
Apart from engine size, the MT-320 is likely to be identical to the Asian MT-25
View 5 Images
The Red Rage color option appears to be the most popular in Asian markets
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The Red Rage color option appears to be the most popular in Asian markets
The new MT is expected to debut in EICMA in November
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The new MT is expected to debut in EICMA in November
The YZF-R3 was unveiled in last year's EICMA and will provide the basis for the new MT variant
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The YZF-R3 was unveiled in last year's EICMA and will provide the basis for the new MT variant
The YZF-R3 instrument cluster provides abundant information, including a - rarely seen in small motorcycles - gear indicator. The MT version uses the exact same unit.
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The YZF-R3 instrument cluster provides abundant information, including a - rarely seen in small motorcycles - gear indicator. The MT version uses the exact same unit.
Apart from engine size, the MT-320 is likely to be identical to the Asian MT-25
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Apart from engine size, the MT-320 is likely to be identical to the Asian MT-25
View gallery - 5 images

Following on from the recent unveiling of the MT-25 in Indonesia, Yamaha is set to introduce a larger capacityversion for developed markets based on the YZF-R3 sport bike. Dubbed the MT-03 or MT-320 (FZ in USA), the new model is intended to fill the gap inYamaha’s lineup between the entry level MT-125 and the powerful MT-07.

The MT-25is made in the new Yamaha Indonesia Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing facility in Pulogadung, East Jakarta, and is based on the Asian YZF-R25 model. Powered by a four strokeinline twin cylinder 249 cc engine, it produces 36 hp (26.8 kW) and features anintricate streetfighter styling. In Indonesia it sells for 46 million Rupiah(US$3,500).

The YZF-R3 was unveiled in last year's EICMA and will provide the basis for the new MT variant
The YZF-R3 was unveiled in last year's EICMA and will provide the basis for the new MT variant

Yamaha's pressrelease states that "theMT-25 is planned for many countries around the world, including developedmarkets." Given that in Australia, Europe, Japan and USA the YZF series includes the 320 cc R3 variant instead of the 249 cc R25, we should expect to see an MT modelwith this bigger engine. In R3 spec this fuel injected twin motor outputs 42 hp(31.3 kW).

A recentpatent leak has confirmed that a version of the new mid-sized MT equipped with ABS ison its way, probably programmed for official presentation at EICMA in Milan,Italy in November.

Yamaha faces competition from a range of brand new models withengine capacities upwards of 300 cc, such as the Kawasaki Z300 and BenelliBN302 twins, and the Honda CB300F and KTM 390 Duke singles. Triumph is also knownto be developing a similar capacity naked motorcycle, styled after the iconicSpeed Triple. Last year a prototype rumored to use a new 250 cc singlecylinder motor had been spotted while testing, yet recent reports indicate adelay in the development process in order to upgrade the engine to 300 cc in aneffort to keep up with its competitors.

The Red Rage color option appears to be the most popular in Asian markets
The Red Rage color option appears to be the most popular in Asian markets

These motorcycleswhere mostly designed for Asian markets with quarter liter engines, but have proved to be very successful in Europe – helped by the fact that the second levelmotorcycle license (A2) is capped to 35 kW (47 hp), regardless of enginecapacity.

View gallery - 5 images
3 comments
3 comments
Lyndon Leverington
So... Is this a replacement for our current MT03 in Australia with a different engine configuration? Current MT03 is a 660cc single.
fearnow
Number soup!
I welcome the MT/FZ-3xx, but I wish i had the problem of the rest of the world (notice I didn't group myself in with the 'civilised' portion) of having to differentiate from the MT03 - saw one in Amsterdam last month and DO WANT.
but alas, road singles don't do well here in Murrica.
JerryGrimes
@fearnow "but alas, road singles don't do well here in Murrica."
The R3 engine is a twin (as noted in the article).