What I Like — and Don’t Like — About Owning a Yamaha MT-07

Almost a year ago, I bought a used 2021 Yamaha MT-07 with close to 20,000 km on the odometer.

Today, TITAN is sitting at around 30,500 km.

That’s enough time for the honeymoon phase to wear off.

I’ve ridden it on normal weekdays, through city traffic, in less-than-perfect Dutch weather and on weekend rides when there was no particular reason to come home quickly.

And after all of that, I still like the MT-07.

Quite a lot, actually.

But I also understand its compromises much better than I did when I first got it.

This isn’t a review based on a dealership test ride, and I’m not going to tell you that everything about my motorcycle is brilliant simply because I own one.

Here are the things that have kept me enjoying TITAN after around 10,000 km—and the things I would happily improve.

The quick version

If you don’t want to read the whole article, my experience so far looks something like this:

What I like	What I don’t like as much
CP2 engine character	Limited wind protection
Manageable everyday size	Suspension feels fairly basic
Easy to enjoy without riding very fast	Long-distance comfort has limits
Works well in city riding	Very little built-in practicality
Still fun on weekend rides	2021 dashboard feels basic now
Around 25 km/L in my riding	Some useful functions need accessories
Simple, uncomplicated ownership feel	Not the motorcycle I’d choose for every type of riding

None of those negatives make me regret buying the MT-07.

They’re simply reminders that every motorcycle is a compromise.

And after living with one for a year, I think understanding the compromises is more useful than pretending you’ve discovered the perfect bike.

What I like #1: the CP2 engine still makes ordinary rides enjoyable

This is the obvious one.

The MT-07’s CP2 engine is probably the reason the motorcycle has such a strong personality.

But after living with TITAN for a year, what I appreciate isn’t simply that the engine is powerful enough.

It’s where the enjoyment happens.

I don’t need a wide-open road or a huge amount of speed before the motorcycle starts feeling entertaining.

There is enough response lower in the rev range that accelerating away smoothly, moving through the gears and finding a good rhythm on an ordinary road can be satisfying.

That matters to me because most motorcycle ownership isn’t happening on some perfect mountain pass.

Sometimes it’s just Tuesday.

Sometimes I’m riding through Amsterdam.

Sometimes I only have a relatively short window to get out.

A motorcycle that only becomes interesting when you’re doing something extreme wouldn’t suit the way I actually ride.

The MT-07 does.

My current Akrapovič Titanium exhaust adds even more character to TITAN, but I don’t want to confuse the exhaust with the underlying motorcycle.

The CP2 engine is the thing that gives the bike its personality in the first place.

After roughly 10,000 km, I haven’t become bored with it.

That’s probably one of the strongest compliments I can give the bike.

What I like #2: it doesn’t feel like hard work

One of the biggest things I’ve learned about motorcycle ownership is that specifications don’t always tell you how much effort a bike demands in everyday life.

The MT-07 feels manageable to me.

Pulling it out.

Parking it.

Riding slowly.

Moving through stop-start traffic.

Changing direction.

None of those things feel unnecessarily difficult because the motorcycle isn’t physically enormous.

That makes me more willing to use it.

And I think that’s underrated.

There’s little benefit in owning an impressive motorcycle if taking it out always feels like an event you need to prepare for.

TITAN is easy to say yes to.

Of course, the bike doesn’t create low-speed skill by itself.

Clutch control, vision, balance and smooth throttle use still matter. I’ve spent time deliberately working on those things, and they make far more difference than simply owning a relatively manageable motorcycle.

If slow riding is something you’re developing too, my low-speed motorcycle control guide goes much deeper into it.

What I like #3: it fits city riding surprisingly well

Amsterdam gives me a slightly different relationship with the MT-07 than somebody who mainly rides open countryside.

There are cyclists.

Traffic.

Junctions.

Narrower spaces.

Changing road surfaces.

Frequent situations where observation matters more than horsepower.

In that environment, I like the MT-07’s relatively compact feel and upright riding position.

I can concentrate on what’s happening around me instead of feeling as though I’m managing a huge motorcycle beneath me.

And because the engine has useful response without needing to be constantly revved out, the bike feels natural in normal road use.

That doesn’t mean city riding is automatically easy.

If anything, urban riding has made me much more interested in anticipation, positioning and visibility.

I’ve covered those skills separately in my guide to riding a motorcycle in heavy traffic.

The MT-07 works well in that environment.

But good city riding still comes from the rider.

What I like #4: weekday bike and weekend bike can be the same bike

This might be the characteristic I value most.

TITAN doesn’t force me to choose between practicality and fun every time I ride.

During the week, it can be an uncomplicated motorcycle for normal riding.

When I have more time, I can head farther away and the same bike still feels entertaining.

I’m not claiming the MT-07 is secretly a touring motorcycle.

It isn’t.

But for weekday riding plus weekend getaways, which is how I actually use my motorcycle, it covers a useful amount of ground.

That versatility is more valuable to me now than it was when I bought it.

At the beginning, it’s easy to focus on things such as horsepower, sound and appearance.

After a year, I care increasingly about:

How often does this motorcycle fit the ride I actually want to do?

For TITAN, the answer is still: most of the time.

What I like #5: I can enjoy it without constantly riding faster

I’ve become more interested in smooth riding over the past year.

Better braking.

Cleaner throttle inputs.

Looking farther ahead.

Better positioning.

Making a corner feel calm instead of dramatic.

And the MT-07 suits that mindset.

There is enough performance available when I want it, but the motorcycle doesn’t become boring simply because I’m not trying to extract everything from it.

That is important to me.

Motorcycling already offers more than enough temptation to chase speed.

I would rather have a bike that encourages me to enjoy riding well.

Sometimes the satisfying moment isn’t acceleration.

It’s spotting something early.

It’s getting a U-turn right.

It’s taking a bend smoothly.

It’s finishing a ride and feeling that my inputs were calmer than they were six months ago.

TITAN gives me plenty of space to continue working on that.

What I like #6: the fuel economy is genuinely useful

My real-world fuel economy has been around 25 km/L, or roughly 4.0 L/100 km.

I didn’t buy the MT-07 because I wanted an economical commuter.

But I appreciate that kind of efficiency much more after living with the motorcycle.

Fuel is one of those ownership costs that happens quietly.

You don’t think much about a single fill-up, but repeated across a year, efficiency starts to matter.

And I like that TITAN can still feel lively while being reasonably economical in the way I ride it.

I’m going to break this down properly in a dedicated fuel-economy article later, including realistic range.

For now, I’ll simply say:

25 km/L and an engine I still enjoy is a combination I’m happy with.

What I like #7: the simplicity suits me

My 2021 MT-07 isn’t overloaded with electronics.

And I’ve gradually come to appreciate that.

There’s a simplicity to getting on the motorcycle and riding.

I don’t spend much time thinking about menus, multiple riding modes or changing settings.

The important controls are still the basic ones:

Throttle.

Clutch.

Brakes.

Gear selection.

Body position.

Vision.

I don’t think simplicity automatically makes a motorcycle better.

Modern rider aids can be genuinely valuable.

But for where I am in my riding journey, the relatively straightforward nature of TITAN works for me.

It keeps my attention on riding.

What I don’t like #1: wind protection is still wind protection on a naked bike

This shouldn’t surprise anyone.

The MT-07 is a naked motorcycle.

If you’re travelling faster for longer periods, you are sitting in the airflow.

TITAN currently has a windscreen, and I appreciate having it, but a small screen doesn’t suddenly turn the bike into a touring motorcycle.

There is still wind pressure at higher speeds.

For shorter rides, I don’t think about it much.

When the ride gets longer, it becomes more noticeable.

This isn’t something I would call a flaw in the MT-07.

It’s part of the motorcycle category.

But if your riding involves hours of motorway use, I would take it seriously before buying one.

Sometimes the right answer isn’t another accessory.

Sometimes it’s a different motorcycle.

What I don’t like #2: the suspension reminds you where the MT-07 sits in the market

For my everyday riding, the suspension does its job.

I’m not riding around constantly thinking something is wrong with it.

But it also isn’t one of the parts of the motorcycle that feels especially sophisticated.

On smoother roads and at normal road pace, that doesn’t bother me much.

On rougher surfaces or when the pace increases, I’m more aware that the suspension is built to a price.

And that’s fair.

The MT-07 has always offered a lot of engine and motorcycle for the money. Some compromises have to appear somewhere.

Would I rush out and replace the suspension tomorrow?

No.

For the way I ride right now, I’d rather continue improving the rider before assuming every limitation needs an aftermarket part.

But if I eventually wanted to refine TITAN further, suspension would be one area I’d look at seriously.

What I don’t like #3: long-distance comfort isn’t unlimited

This one is personal.

I can happily take TITAN out for longer weekend rides.

But the longer I stay on the bike, the more obvious it becomes that long-distance comfort wasn’t the only thing Yamaha designed it around.

The combination of a naked-bike riding environment, wind exposure and a relatively simple seat eventually adds up.

That doesn’t stop me going on longer rides.

It changes how I approach them.

Take breaks.

Move around.

Don’t wait until you’re exhausted before stopping.

And recognise when concentration is starting to drop.

I’ve written separately about staying focused on long motorcycle rides because fatigue becomes a safety issue long before it becomes an interesting motorcycle-review talking point.

For a few-hour weekend escape, the MT-07 still works well for me.

If I were planning repeated all-day motorway touring, I’d want a different type of setup—or potentially a different type of motorcycle.

What I don’t like #4: built-in practicality is basically minimal

There isn’t much storage.

There isn’t integrated luggage.

There isn’t much weather protection.

If you want the MT-07 to carry more or become more useful for travel, you’re going to add things to it.

Tank bag.

Tail bag.

Panniers.

Top box.

Depending on your priorities.

I don’t necessarily dislike this.

It lets owners build the motorcycle around what they actually need.

But the standard bike isn’t pretending to be a utility machine.

That becomes important when people describe the MT-07 as a motorcycle that can “do everything.”

It can do a lot.

That’s different.

I’m planning a dedicated MT-07 luggage guide later in this cluster because the right solution depends heavily on whether you’re carrying something to work or packing for a weekend away.

What I don’t like #5: the 2021 dashboard is functional rather than special

The display works.

It tells me what I need.

And then I mostly forget about it.

Which is probably both the compliment and criticism.

Compared with newer motorcycles using larger colour displays and more sophisticated interfaces, the 2021 MT-07 cockpit feels relatively basic.

It doesn’t spoil the riding experience.

But it’s one of the areas where the bike’s age becomes more obvious.

Personally, I would still choose a great engine and straightforward riding experience over a beautiful screen attached to a motorcycle I don’t enjoy.

So this is a minor complaint.

But it’s still a complaint.

What I don’t like #6: making the MT-07 more useful can become an endless accessories rabbit hole

This isn’t entirely Yamaha’s fault.

It’s a motorcycle-owner problem.

Once you start riding regularly, it’s very easy to convince yourself that the next accessory is going to transform everything.

A different screen.

New levers.

Phone mount.

Luggage.

Protection.

Lighting.

Comfort upgrades.

Exhaust.

The list keeps going.

TITAN currently has Michelin Road 6 tyres, an Akrapovič Titanium exhaust, a BMC air filter, short brake and clutch levers, a windscreen, a tool bag and a tail tidy.

Some of those things affect the riding experience.

Some are practical.

Some are simply part of making the bike feel like mine.

But one thing I’m increasingly conscious of is this:

Not every available modification is an upgrade I actually need.

That’s going to be the philosophy behind my upcoming MT-07 setup and accessories articles.

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Things I thought would matter more than they actually do

Ownership changes priorities.

Before buying a motorcycle, you can spend hours comparing numbers.

Power.

Weight.

Top speed.

Acceleration.

Specifications.

After living with one, some much less exciting questions start feeling more important.

Is it annoying to use?

Do I enjoy riding it when I only have an hour?

Does it work in traffic?

Can I manoeuvre it comfortably?

How often am I actually wishing I owned something else?

How expensive is it to keep running?

Does it make me want to ride?

Those questions don’t look nearly as impressive on a specification sheet.

But they’re much closer to how I now judge whether a motorcycle is good.

And TITAN continues to answer most of them pretty well.

Has the MT-07 become boring after 10,000 km?

No.

And I think this deserves saying because “outgrowing” motorcycles comes up constantly online.

Maybe one day I’ll want something else.

Almost certainly, actually.

Motorcycling gives us far too many interesting machines to believe we’ll never become curious about another one.

But wanting to experience other motorcycles is not the same thing as the MT-07 becoming insufficient.

I still have plenty to improve.

I’m not extracting everything the chassis can do.

I’m not riding every corner perfectly.

I’m not finished improving my braking, observation or low-speed control.

Buying more motorcycle wouldn’t automatically make me a better rider.

So I don’t feel any pressure to replace TITAN because I’ve supposedly reached some arbitrary kilometre limit where a rider is meant to “upgrade.”

There’s still plenty here for me.

Has owning a used MT-07 changed my view?

I think it has.

I didn’t receive a brand-new motorcycle and watch every kilometre accumulate from zero.

TITAN already had close to 20,000 km when I bought it.

That makes my perspective slightly different.

My ownership question hasn’t been:

“How perfect is this new motorcycle?”

It’s been:

“How well does this motorcycle fit into my actual life?”

And after another roughly 10,000 km, that is still the way I prefer to judge it.

A motorcycle doesn’t need to be flawless to become yours.

What would I change about TITAN?

If I were prioritising changes purely around function, my thinking would probably look like this:

First: practicality

Anything that genuinely makes weekday riding and weekend trips easier.

Second: comfort

Changes that make longer rides more sustainable without destroying the simple character I like.

Third: chassis refinement

Only if my riding develops to the point where I can clearly explain what problem I’m trying to solve.

Fourth: appearance and sound

Nice to have—but not at the expense of the first three.

TITAN already has modifications, but I don’t want the motorcycle to become a never-ending project where the objective is simply to install more parts.

I’d rather ride it.

Would I buy an MT-07 again?

After around 10,000 km?

Yes.

But my reason is slightly different now.

When you’re initially attracted to an MT-07, the engine, appearance and reputation are easy things to focus on.

After owning one, what I value is the way everything comes together.

It’s manageable enough that I use it often.

Fun enough that ordinary rides aren’t boring.

Economical enough that fuel use doesn’t become irritating.

Versatile enough for the mixture of weekday and weekend riding I actually do.

Simple enough that the motorcycle doesn’t get between me and riding.

And imperfect enough that I understand exactly where its limits are.

That’s a pretty good combination.

Who would I recommend it to?

I think the MT-07 makes a lot of sense for riders who want one motorcycle to cover several different kinds of normal road riding.

Particularly someone who values:

• manageable size;
• city usability;
• a characterful engine;
• weekend-road fun;
• relatively simple ownership;
• reasonable fuel economy;
• the ability to personalise the bike gradually.

I would think harder if your main priority is:

• extensive motorway touring;
• maximum passenger comfort;
• large amounts of luggage;
• premium suspension;
• sophisticated electronics;
• strong wind protection.

That’s not an insult to the MT-07.

It’s simply recognising what the motorcycle was built to be.

FAQs

Related Reads

Continue the MT-07 series:

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

Is the Yamaha MT-07 a Good Beginner Motorcycle?

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

Riding in Heavy Traffic: Safety Tips for Urban Motorcyclists