Is Yamaha’s 2022 MT-10 the Best Naked Bike in its Class?

Motorcyclist

For the 2022 model year Yamaha offers a new and improved MT-10, its liter-class naked bike. Previously known as the FZ-10, and the FZ1 before that, the MT-10’s name was changed so that Yamaha could fit it into the global Masters of Torque/MT model family. The MT-10 slots in above the new rider-friendly MT-03 and MT-07, both with parallel-twin power, and the inline-three MT-09.   --  We love the reshaped front end, with its Transformer-esque LED positioning lights and ultrabright LED headlamps. Other improvements include unique acoustic channels built into the top of the fuel tank. These vents allow the awesome sound of the 998cc CP4 engine to be focused right on the rider.   Yamaha has been manufacturing its crossplane CP4 engine for over a decade; its original purpose when it debuted was to offer added track ability. Today’s version feels like a cross between an old V-twin-style sportbike and a screaming inline-four, with a unique exhaust note. There are a lot of great-sounding motorcycles out there, and this CP4 engine ranks right up at the top. The sound when riding is tremendous, thanks to the new ducts, and those hearing this bike go by them won’t soon forget. We’re not sure how Yamaha Motor got this bike past sound and emissions testing, as it sounds downright mean. To the testers, it sounded nearly as awesome as a Tuono V4 1100, though with a character all its own; frankly, we love it.   Anyway, the CP4, Yamaha’s 998cc liquid-cooled inline-four, is the same crossplane-equipped engine as in the YZF-R1 minus the titanium valve train and connecting rods. This version is now Euro 5 compliant thanks to modified intake and the exhaust systems, which incidentally help make the induction system more rowdy...  Full story here: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/story/reviews/best-naked-bike-yamaha-mt-10-review-2022/  Motorcycle Gear Worn  Helmet: Arai Signet-X Jacket: Dainese Sevilla Air  Pant: Dainese Tex Gloves: Racer Guide Boots: TCX Rush 2 Air  Photography: Joseph Agustin Video: Ray Gauger Media, Inc.  Motorcyclist Shirts: https://teespring.com/stores/motorcyclist Shop Products We Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/motorcyclistmagazine   See more from us: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/

Transcript

00:00 Hey folks, we just got done riding Yamaha's 2022 MT-10 naked bike.

00:26 It's a motorcycle design for sport riding enthusiasts who want the power and performance

00:35 and handling of a super bike, but in a more upright and manageable ergonomics package

00:42 on the street.

00:44 Now for 2022, Yamaha Motor Corp has done a number of very nice modifications to this

00:51 MT-10.

00:54 Let's start with the styling.

00:57 The body panels, especially this front fascia right here is new and I love the way it looks.

01:04 I love the LED running lights that are neatly inserted into the nose.

01:11 It makes the vehicle look even more transformer-ish and it really follows in the motif of Yamaha's

01:20 YZF-R bike lineup.

01:25 I really like it a lot.

01:26 I also really appreciate how Yamaha installed these really nifty air exit vents atop the

01:36 4.5 gallon fuel tank.

01:38 And what those air exit vents do is that it allows the awesome sounds from the Ram Air

01:45 to just emit in the cockpit and it feels like you are riding in surround sound a YZF-R1

01:55 super bike.

01:56 It is so awesome.

01:57 I mean, I can't believe how good this motorcycle sounds when you're seated at the controls.

02:04 Even when you're standing at a standstill and another MT-10 rider passes you, the sound

02:10 that this motorcycle makes is in another league.

02:17 Let's move into the engine.

02:19 This vehicle continues to be powered by Yamaha's tried and true YZF-R1 engine.

02:26 It displaces 998cc.

02:29 It's inline four engine using Yamaha's now infamous cross-plane engine technology.

02:37 Cross-plane engine technology gives a hybrid feel between that of an old school V-twin

02:43 sport bike and a high revving inline four with a character and sound that's exclusive

02:50 to Yamaha.

02:51 It's a great engine.

02:52 We've been riding it for many years.

02:54 It has good feel at the business end of the Bridgestone tire.

03:00 It has good sound.

03:01 It's very playful.

03:03 The fitment of the YZF-R1 IMU powered electronics on this motorcycle really takes this naked

03:12 bike into the modern era.

03:14 You now have adjustable power modes.

03:17 You have adjustable wheelie control.

03:19 Yamaha Motor calls it lift control.

03:21 You have slide control, which is basically traction control that is affected by vehicle

03:28 yaw.

03:29 When you're spinning the tire, it only allows the vehicle to pitch ever so much in the yaw

03:35 axis when you're really getting some on the racetrack.

03:38 Those modifications are really nice.

03:40 It's cool Yamaha's fitting that electronics package on its MT-10, but realistically, those

03:45 electronics are really for the track rider.

03:48 If you're riding on the street, you're really not going to ride this bike hard enough to

03:51 even feel that kind of stuff work.

03:53 But if you like riding at the racing circuit, this MT-10 is sure to impress with its improved

04:00 electronics package.

04:02 Now, the thing that really draws me into these MT-10s is the ability just to be comfortable.

04:09 The handlebar is nice and upright.

04:11 It has a little bit more sporty ergonomics than the MT-07, than the MT-09, and I like

04:17 that.

04:18 Yet, the ergonomics package isn't too aggressive.

04:21 You can spend a six, seven hour day in the saddle like we did today, and your wrists

04:27 aren't going to hurt, your knees aren't going to hurt.

04:29 It's a very accommodating riding position, yet it's not wimpy.

04:34 When you're riding this bike, you feel like you're riding a serious performance motorcycle,

04:38 and I like that.

04:40 Obviously, this vehicle is equipped with Yamaha YZF-R1 chassis and suspension.

04:45 The handling on this bike is very exquisite, despite it gaining four pounds in terms of

04:52 curb weight versus its predecessor.

04:54 You'll never feel that extra weight.

04:56 This bike is very maneuverable.

04:58 It loves to go left, right, right, left.

05:01 It's easy to put where you want.

05:03 It's stable.

05:04 The suspension has a good, nice, rigid, racy type feel.

05:09 It's got good road holding, yet it still has a little bit of compliance over the bumps.

05:14 Of course, this bike's not going to ride quite as nice as the MT-09.

05:19 The squishy suspension on that bike's really nice for bumpy roads, but what you get with

05:24 this bike is added handling precision and added road holding for you riders out there

05:30 who really like to get some.

05:32 If you like to get some, you will like this bike.

05:35 If you're riding on beat down, bumpy roads, maybe an MT-09 or another motorcycle will

05:41 be better for you.

05:43 Overall, this motorcycle handles very well.

05:46 I'm really happy that Yamaha finally upgraded the front brake master cylinder on this vehicle.

05:55 We have a new Brembo sourced radial mount master cylinder, and it gives exquisite braking

06:01 feel when you squeeze that brake lever.

06:04 The rear Brembo master cylinder is also new, and I love the copious amounts of feel and

06:11 power that this bike has at the rear brake.

06:15 Adjustable mode ABS is now standard on this motorcycle.

06:20 Yamaha calls it brake control.

06:22 In the least aggressive setting, brake control mode two, this motorcycle offers lean-based

06:31 cornering braking.

06:32 Yamaha doesn't call it cornering braking, but that's what it is.

06:36 If you want to go to the more aggressive setup, BC level one, then lean-sensitive ABS braking

06:44 is disabled.

06:46 It's kind of strange, but for street riders that want lean-sensitive ABS braking, you'll

06:51 ride in level two, but still the ABS will kick in a little bit earlier.

06:56 If you're a more aggressive rider or someone who's riding at the track and you don't want

07:00 that ABS to kick in, you want BC level one.

07:04 The ABS programming on vehicles like the MT-10 is very conservative compared to the European

07:11 brands.

07:12 I wish Yamaha would go a little bit more aggressive in their ABS programming.

07:17 We would really like to see that.

07:20 That would allow us to use the brakes much harder without having to worry about the system

07:24 intervening or kicking back at the lever.

07:29 All in all, after a fun day's ride on the 2022 MT-10, I continue to be impressed with

07:36 this vehicle.

07:37 I very much like its improved styling.

07:41 I like the engine.

07:42 I like the handling.

07:43 The R1-based electronics are very nice, even though realistically we didn't ride the bike

07:49 hard enough on the street to really even have the electronics really help us at all, but

07:54 it's still nice that Yamaha fitted it.

07:58 I also really appreciate Yamaha stepping it up in the creature comforts department.

08:04 This nice TFT colored display looks nice, but realistically it's pretty old now.

08:11 Yamaha's been using this dash display for seven years now.

08:14 It's a little bit small.

08:16 The switch gear to manipulate that interface is a little bit hokey-pokey.

08:20 We've talked about this many times in other recent contemporary Yamaha street bike reviews.

08:26 So Yamaha, please fit a larger color TFT display on these vehicles.

08:31 It'd make the switch gear not so hokey-pokey.

08:33 We'd really appreciate it.

08:35 Overall though, for $13,999, this is a very nice bike.

08:41 Is it worth the extra $1,000 MSRP over its predecessor?

08:46 I don't think so.

08:47 If I'm an existing MT-10 motorcycle owner, I'm not going to buy this bike.

08:53 It doesn't offer enough upgrades in terms of performance handling, creature comforts

08:58 for me to really justify that expense of a new bike at another $1,000.

09:04 But if I'm an existing MT-07, MT-09, MT-09 SP rider, and I want a motorcycle with more

09:13 track pedigree, a motorcycle that's not going to be wimpy when I'm holding the throttle

09:18 wide and I'm riding around turns and trying to get some, well then this MT-10 would definitely

09:24 be on my shopping list.

09:26 All right, folks, that wraps up today's review of Yamaha's 2022 MT-10 naked bike.

09:34 Make sure to surf on over to MotorcyclistOnline.com.

09:38 That's where all of our written content lives.

09:41 Give this video a thumbs up if you liked it.

09:43 Of course, thumbs it down if you didn't.

09:45 And we'll see you next time.

09:46 Thanks for riding with us today.

09:47 [MOTORCYCLE ENGINE ROARING]

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