Supersport gap filler: Yamaha MT-07 dresses up to replace R6

[weeksy]

I actually like that, I'd like it a lot more if it had the MT-09 motor in it though.

100% that... if it had the 09 motor and electronics, we'd have placed an order already.

[KungFooBob]

I can't see them doing it, the 09 version would probably steal R1 sales.

The 07 is a 'stepping stone' to R1 ownership.

[Supermofo]

I'm guessing it's a cost thing. Yamaha want to offer the look but at a good price. The Prilla's are silly money IMO. And you have to ask yourself if you are really gonna need fandangled leccy safety nets with probably less than 70 gee gees at the back wheel. An R6 would batter this new bike on road and track and had no electronics at all. If Yamaha price it at the same money or more as an MT09 who's gonna buy it. Which is exactly the problem Aprilla are having.

[tricol]

I thought initially they are missing a trick with the power, almost 25hp down on the RS660. But, at this price point they will sell a lot of them. I think it looks great!

[Hot_Air]

Electronics sells bikes these days

I wonder?

While motorcycle journalists and magazines demand electronics, I imagine it's because they need things to write about. But how much difference do electronics make when it comes to regular customers? Yes, I can see the value in ABS and traction control, but I don't feel the need to reprogram them before every ride.

My bike has more electronics than the starship Enterprise, but the electronics made sod all difference when choosing what to buy. Even in winter, I leave it in Sport mode, and that's that. The electronics only make a difference after I've changed the battery and need to reprogram everything, then the complexity makes the electronics a hassle.

[The Spin Doctor]

Dunno much about the twin myself mate, but would surprise me....

Main issue for me is lack of decent QS/Blipper and traction. Why make a supersport and then scrimp on the electronics.

Because no-one is buying them any more?

It'll have traction control.

The original 600 supersport bikes were road bikes that got the road bits stripped off to go racing. By the end, they were essentially track bikes with road bits added on and they lost their broad spectrum functionality as a result. You only have to look at the huge sales of the early CBR600s - described as the best all-rounder ever built by more than one journalist. The later models appealed to an increasingly niche market, and one that has - by now - vanished.

[weeksy]

Electronics sells bikes these days

I wonder?

While motorcycle journalists and magazines demand electronics, I imagine it's because they need things to write about. But how much difference do electronics make when it comes to regular customers? Yes, I can see the value in ABS and traction control, but I don't feel the need to reprogram them before every ride.

My bike has more electronics than the starship Enterprise, but the electronics made sod all difference when I was choosing what to buy. Even in winter, I leave it in Sport mode, and that's that. The electronics only make a difference after I've changed the battery and need to reprogram everything, then the complexity makes the electronics a hassle.

It's a good question, i guess i look at it from a slightly different perspective as i like the electronics for track stuff, but i think trackdayers are in the minority compared to road riders i guess.

[Hot_Air]

@weeksy Do trackdayers regularly change the electronics’ settings? I guess cornering ABS is useful (also on the road) and traction control is handy.

I’m behind the track times. In my track days, I didn’t even have ABS, let alone traction control.

[weeksy]

@weeksy Do trackdayers regularly change the electronics’ settings? I guess cornering ABS is useful (also on the road) and traction control is handy.

I’m behind the track times. In my track days, I didn’t even have ABS, let alone traction control.

The majority i see these days are track dedicated bikes so it's not often a question of changing as such at they're not riding them home afterwards, they're on slicks and going in the van. So they'll set it once to whatever their preference is, then leave it. I'm not convinced the majority of them NEED traction control, but it's nice to have there, same as ABS. Things like QS and blipper are left on and IMO you 'use' them more as they're on all your gear changes, not just a 'maybe' feature you're unlikely to activate.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

It's made to compete with the CBR 650, 650 Ninja and SV650, wtf does it need a shed load of electronics for, all it would do is increase the price. It's got about 70bhp, it doesn't need traction control, it's a softie touring bike with sports bike styling, like a big R3, it most definitely isn't a direct R6 replacement, it's more like an FZR600.

[Yorick]

I was reading a write up yesterday, apparently it's got 'better' pistons and a different bore costing to the MT/XSR... but doesn't make anymore power, just to improve reliability.

I didn't know there was any reliability problems with the twin?

Dunno much about the twin myself mate, but would surprise me....

Main issue for me is lack of decent QS/Blipper and traction. Why make a supersport and then scrimp on the electronics.

Some of us don't want electronics.

[Hot_Air]

Things like QS and blipper are left on and IMO you 'use' them more as they're on all your gear changes

While it makes sense on track, I'm with @Yorick on this. And on the road, I prefer life without a QS and blipper because I find it satisfying to match revs with engine speed when changing gear. I'll be sad to lose gear-changing when we're all zipping about on electric bikes!

The majority i see these days are track dedicated bikes so it's not often a question of changing as such at they're not riding them home afterwards, they're on slicks and going in the van.

I must be out of date because I used to ride to the circuit, do a track day, and ride home again. I couldn't afford a track-dedicated bike, even if it makes sense (fewer worries if you bin it). I would have been slightly intimidated to turn up to the circuit and find everyone else on slicks. Luckily, I prefer road riding nowadays. I would rather be on the Stelvio Pass than on track.

[weeksy]

I must be out of date because I used to ride to the circuit, do a track day, and ride home again.

At a guess 5% maybe fractionally more will turn up having ridden to the circuit. Even if not all track dedicated bikes (like mine for example) they'll still mostly come in a van. In terms of track/road bike, i'd say 60-70% of bikes are track only.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Some of us don't want electronics.

Seconded, if you could buy a non ABS model I'd be getting it, all it does is add weight and complexity, I don't want traction control, amazingly I can control the throttle on a 70bhp 700cc twin.

Performance wise my 30 year old FZR400 will kick it's arse, as it has nearly the same power, less weight and better aerodynamics, if I buy one of these, and I do fancy one, it'll be used a sports tourer, I see no reason to take it on track where a 20 year old R6 would leave it for dead and cost a quarter of the price.

[Bigjawa]

It's made to compete with the CBR 650, 650 Ninja and SV650, wtf does it need a shed load of electronics for, all it would do is increase the price. It's got about 70bhp, it doesn't need traction control, it's a softie touring bike with sports bike styling, like a big R3, it most definitely isn't a direct R6 replacement, it's more like an FZR600.

FZR was supposed to take on the CBR, I'd say it's more like an FZ600. (One of the great underdogs IMO)

[weeksy]

I was reading a write up yesterday, apparently it's got 'better' pistons and a different bore costing to the MT/XSR... but doesn't make anymore power, just to improve reliability.

I didn't know there was any reliability problems with the twin?

Dunno much about the twin myself mate, but would surprise me....

Main issue for me is lack of decent QS/Blipper and traction. Why make a supersport and then scrimp on the electronics.

Some of us don't want electronics.

on the vast majority of bikes that have electronics, they can all be switched off or easily disabled. You'd think a bike designed more for lower level riders would arguable benefit more from electronics too.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

FZR was supposed to take on the CBR, I'd say it's more like an FZ600. (One of the great underdogs IMO)

That's a bit harsh

[Yorick]

Dunno much about the twin myself mate, but would surprise me....

Main issue for me is lack of decent QS/Blipper and traction. Why make a supersport and then scrimp on the electronics.

Some of us don't want electronics.

on the vast majority of bikes that have electronics, they can all be switched off or easily disabled. You'd think a bike designed more for lower level riders would arguable benefit more from electronics too.

Learner bikes don't need that stuff or you'll never learn to ride properly and become too dependent on the stuff.

[Yorick]

Some of us don't want electronics.

Seconded, if you could buy a non ABS model I'd be getting it, all it does is add weight and complexity, I don't want traction control, amazingly I can control the throttle on a 70bhp 700cc twin.

Performance wise my 30 year old FZR400 will kick it's arse, as it has nearly the same power, less weight and better aerodynamics, if I buy one of these, and I do fancy one, it'll be used a sports tourer, I see no reason to take it on track where a 20 year old R6 would leave it for dead and cost a quarter of the price.

The ABS on the front of mine takes some braking power away. But it's a pain to take off and bypass. If I was in the rainy UK it might be useful, but not here.

The rear ABS is quite good as the rear can lock up when berserk braking on track. But I never use a back brake anyway

[weeksy]

Some of us don't want electronics.

on the vast majority of bikes that have electronics, they can all be switched off or easily disabled. You'd think a bike designed more for lower level riders would arguable benefit more from electronics too.

Learner bikes don't need that stuff or you'll never learn to ride properly and become too dependent on the stuff.

Time have moved on fella... the days of carbs, blipping, non-slipper clutches we'll never see again, we don't need people to learn things that they'll never ride.
I'd love to know if Marquez for example has ever even ridden a bike without all the modern bits.