Yamaha MT-07 on an A2 Licence: What European Riders Should Know

If you’re looking at the Yamaha MT-07 as an A2 rider, the good news is simple:

Yes, the MT-07 can be A2 compliant.

But there is an equally important second part:

That doesn’t mean every MT-07 advertised for sale is automatically legal for an A2 licence.

The exact power output matters.

The original unrestricted power matters.

The registration matters.

And if a motorcycle has been restricted after leaving the factory, the documentation behind that restriction matters too.

My own motorcycle, TITAN, is a 2021 Yamaha MT-07. After spending roughly 10,000 km with that generation of MT-07, I can understand why the bike is attractive to developing riders.

It is relatively compact, manageable in everyday riding and has enough character that you don’t immediately feel as though you’re riding something designed purely as a stepping stone.

But before discussing whether the MT-07 feels suitable for an A2 rider, we first need to answer the more boring—but much more important—question.

What actually makes a motorcycle A2 legal?

What does A2 actually mean?

Across the European licensing framework, an A2 motorcycle must meet three important requirements.

It must have:

• no more than 35 kW of power;
• a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.2 kW/kg;
• and it cannot be derived from a motorcycle whose original power exceeds 70 kW.

That last rule is sometimes overlooked.

You cannot simply take any powerful motorcycle, restrict it to 35 kW and automatically make it an A2 motorcycle.

If the original bike produces more than 70 kW, reducing it to 35 kW does not satisfy the A2 category.

That becomes important when you’re shopping for used motorcycles advertised as:

“A2 ready”

or

“35 kW restricted.”

The advert is not the legal standard.

The motorcycle and its documentation are.

Why the MT-07 works particularly well with A2 rules

This is one area where the MT-07’s specifications work neatly.

Yamaha lists the standard 2021 MT-07 at:

• 689 cc
• 54.0 kW / 73.4 PS
• 67 Nm
• 184 kg wet
• 805 mm seat height

Yamaha also lists an official:

35.0 kW limited-power version.

Because the unrestricted version produces 54 kW—not more than 70 kW—the MT-07 sits comfortably below the maximum original-power threshold for an A2-restricted motorcycle.

That is one reason the MT-07 makes so much sense within the European licence system.

You can have the same basic motorcycle platform while complying with the A2 power limit.

Is a 35 kW MT-07 the same motorcycle?

Broadly speaking, you’re still dealing with an MT-07.

The chassis, riding position and fundamental character of the motorcycle remain much closer to the full-power bike than if you simply bought a completely different smaller-capacity motorcycle.

But power delivery is obviously limited.

And I actually think that’s worth looking at positively.

The objective of an A2 restriction isn’t to create the fastest possible motorcycle that just happens to pass a legal calculation.

It’s to give a developing rider access to useful motorcycle performance while placing sensible limits around it.

The MT-07 already produces a lot of its character through the CP2 engine’s low- and mid-range response.

That means the motorcycle’s appeal isn’t based purely on chasing a huge peak-power figure.

For an A2 rider, that can make it an interesting combination.

Does 35 kW mean the MT-07 becomes harmless?

Definitely not.

This connects directly to something I discussed in Is the Yamaha MT-07 a Good Beginner Motorcycle?

A power restriction changes what the motorcycle can deliver.

It doesn’t automatically create:

• good throttle control;
• good braking technique;
• hazard awareness;
• low-speed confidence;
• good road positioning;
• judgement.

Those still come from the rider.

And 35 kW is still plenty of performance for normal European road riding.

I wouldn’t approach an A2 MT-07 with the mindset:

“It’s restricted, so I can’t really get into trouble.”

I’d approach it as:

“I have enough motorcycle to enjoy riding while I build better habits.”

That feels like a much healthier way to use the A2 period.

A2 rules are European—but the licence path isn’t identical everywhere

This is an important distinction.

The A2 category comes from a European licensing framework, but individual countries implement the licence system through their own national authorities.

That means you shouldn’t assume the age or progression path in one European country automatically applies everywhere else.

For example, in the Netherlands, A2 is the category for motorcycles with a maximum power of 35 kW.

For someone entering A2 directly without already holding A1, Dutch rules currently allow A2 practical training and exams from age 20.

Someone progressing from A1 can begin A2 lessons from 19 and take the practical examination from 20.

So if you’re reading this from Germany, Belgium, France, Spain or somewhere else in Europe, use the power rules here as a starting point—but check your national licensing authority for the exact age, training and progression requirements.

Buying a used MT-07 for A2? Check the paperwork

This is probably the most practically important section of this article.

Imagine you’re looking through used-bike listings.

You find a nice MT-07.

The advert says:

“A2 restricted.”

Good.

But don’t stop there.

Check the registered power

In the Netherlands, the motorcycle’s registered power appears under P.2 on the registration information.

For an A2 MT-07, you want the relevant registration information to reflect the compliant power.

In simple terms:

Don’t rely only on what the seller tells you.

Verify it.

A restriction kit alone isn’t necessarily enough

This is where things become more important with used bikes.

A previous owner may have physically restricted the motorcycle.

But there is a difference between:

the motorcycle being mechanically restricted

and

the motorcycle being legally registered with the correct power.

In the Netherlands, when motorcycle power is changed, the vehicle’s registered power should also be updated.

Depending on how the conversion was carried out, supporting documentation from the manufacturer or importer may be required, and in some situations an RDW inspection may be necessary.

That means I wouldn’t buy a restricted used MT-07 based purely on:

“Don’t worry, there’s a 35 kW kit installed.”

Ask what the registration says.

Ask for the paperwork.

And check it yourself.

The original power still matters

This rule is especially important if you’re looking at motorcycles beyond the MT-07.

An A2 bike cannot simply be restricted from any amount of power.

The original motorcycle must not produce more than 70 kW before restriction.

If a motorcycle originally produces more than 70 kW, reducing it to 35 kW does not make it suitable for A2.

The unrestricted 2021 MT-07 produces 54 kW.

That’s one reason the model works so neatly within the A2 system.

Factory 35 kW versus restricting a full-power MT-07

If I were buying an MT-07 specifically for A2 use, I would consider two possibilities.

Option 1: Buy one already correctly registered at 35 kW

This is the simplest situation.

You find an MT-07 whose documentation already shows the correct A2-compatible power and confirm everything matches.

There is less uncertainty.

For a used buyer, simplicity has value.

Option 2: Restrict a compatible full-power MT-07

This can also be possible.

But I would do it through a proper Yamaha dealer or another route that can supply the correct manufacturer documentation and ensure the registration is updated correctly.

This isn’t an area where I would chase the cheapest internet restriction kit.

The restriction affects your licence compliance, vehicle registration and potentially your insurance.

Do it properly.

Don’t forget your insurer

Another small detail that can become a large problem.

When the motorcycle’s officially registered power changes, your insurer should know about it.

The specifications under which the motorcycle is insured should match the motorcycle you’re actually riding.

If you’re buying a used restricted MT-07, I would therefore verify:

1. the actual power;
2. the registration;
3. the restriction documentation;
4. the insurance details.

That is much better than discovering a paperwork problem after something has already gone wrong.

Can you derestrict the MT-07 later?

One attraction of the MT-07 is obvious.

You may buy or use it at 35 kW while holding A2 and later want the full-power version once you have the appropriate Category A licence.

Conceptually, yes—that’s one of the reasons motorcycles like the MT-07 make sense as A2 options.

But again:

Changing the motorcycle’s power is not just a workshop decision.

If its registered power changes, the relevant vehicle registration also needs to reflect that change.

So when your licence changes, don’t simply remove a restriction and assume the administration takes care of itself.

Use the correct manufacturer, dealer and registration process for your specific motorcycle and country.

Would I buy an MT-07 specifically for A2?

I think it makes a lot of sense for the right rider.

Not because it gives you a clever loophole to get as close as possible to full Category A performance.

But because the basic MT-07 platform already works well for the kind of riding many developing riders actually do.

Around town.

Faster roads.

Weekday riding.

Weekend rides.

Learning.

Building confidence.

The manageable dimensions that I appreciate on TITAN don’t disappear simply because the bike is limited to 35 kW.

Neither does the upright riding position.

Neither does the basic character of the CP2 platform.

And later, once you’ve gained experience and obtained the appropriate licence, the motorcycle potentially has another stage of life available to you.

That’s quite a compelling ownership path.

But don’t buy an MT-07 only because it can be derestricted

This is where I’d push back against a common buying mindset.

Sometimes the A2 discussion becomes:

“What is the biggest bike I can restrict now and unlock later?”

I don’t think that’s the most useful question.

I’d rather ask:

What motorcycle will help me become a better rider during the next two years?

Maybe that’s an MT-07.

Maybe it’s a smaller motorcycle.

Either is fine.

A 35 kW limit isn’t something you need to defeat.

It’s simply the performance framework you’re learning within.

There is plenty to practise:

• emergency braking;
• smoother cornering;
• observation;
• road positioning;
• slow-speed control;
• wet-weather riding;
• traffic awareness;
• longer-distance riding.

A rider who becomes genuinely strong at those fundamentals on 35 kW is going to gain far more than someone who spends two years counting the days until they can unlock another 19 kW.

What I would check before buying an A2 MT-07

If I were standing beside a used MT-07 today with an A2 licence, here’s the checklist I’d work through.

Exact model

Confirm the year and variant.

Don’t assume advice for one MT-07 generation applies automatically to another.

Registered power

Verify that the motorcycle is actually registered at 35 kW or less where required.

In the Netherlands, check the registered P.2 power data.

Original power

Make sure the motorcycle qualifies under the original-power rule.

The 2021 MT-07’s unrestricted 54 kW output sits below the 70 kW threshold.

Restriction method

Ask whether it is:

• factory limited;
• dealer restricted;
• or modified later.

Documentation

If it has been converted, ask for the manufacturer’s or dealer’s conversion documentation.

Registration

Make sure the paperwork reflects the motorcycle’s current configuration.

Insurance

Tell your insurer exactly which version you’re riding.

Your licence

Verify your own licence category and national rules.

Your ability

Finally—and perhaps most importantly—ask whether the MT-07 actually feels manageable to you.

Legal doesn’t automatically mean suitable.

A2 MT-07 Buying Checklist

Before handing over money for a supposedly A2-compliant MT-07:

•  Confirm the exact year and variant
•  Verify the registered power
•  Look for 35 kW
•  Check that the original motorcycle was no more than 70 kW
•  Confirm how it was restricted
•  Ask for conversion documentation
•  Verify the registration was updated after any power change
•  Confirm insurance details
•  Check the rules in your own country
•  Test whether the motorcycle physically suits you
•  Don’t rely solely on “A2 ready” in an advert

That last one is worth repeating.

A marketplace description isn’t a licence document.

A2 MT-07 versus full-power MT-07

I haven’t written this article to argue that one is the “real” MT-07 and the other isn’t.

They’re simply motorcycles serving riders at different stages.

The unrestricted 2021 bike gives you the full 54 kW.

The official limited version brings that down to 35 kW.

For an A2 rider, that’s not a deficiency.

It’s the version that allows you to ride the platform legally while continuing to develop.

The more interesting question is what you do with that time.

My view as an MT-07 owner

After roughly 10,000 km with TITAN, one thing I’ve come to appreciate about the MT-07 is that enjoying it isn’t dependent on constantly using all of its available performance.

A good weekday ride doesn’t require maximum acceleration.

Neither does a weekend ride.

Sometimes the satisfying part is getting a slow manoeuvre right.

Sometimes it’s making a corner feel smoother.

Sometimes it’s reading traffic early enough that you never have to react dramatically.

The A2 version doesn’t remove those parts of riding.

If anything, I’d argue that they’re exactly the things an A2 rider should be concentrating on.

Power can come later.

Good habits are more valuable.

FAQs

Related Reads

If you’re considering an MT-07 while developing your riding experience, continue with:

Living With a Yamaha MT-07: My 10,000 km Ownership Guide

Is the Yamaha MT-07 a Good Beginner Motorcycle?

Motorcycle Safety Courses: Are They Worth It?

20 Motorcycle Low-Speed Control Tips: Balance, U-Turns & Slow Riding

Licensing information checked September 2026. Regulations and administrative procedures can change. Always verify current requirements with your national licensing and vehicle-registration authorities before purchasing, restricting or derestricting a motorcycle.