MT Fils the Gap

When the MT-03 reaches our shores, it will be entering a segment that has been left untouched for years. We find out if it has what it takes to revive the market

- Joshua Varghese

GOING TO RIDE A NAKED IN THAILAND’ was probably a poor choice of words to explain where I was going. Thankfully, Yamaha India made better decisions because we were in a motorcyclist’s version of heaven to experience a motorcycle that could revive the 300-cc-twin segment in our country. Over three days, we experienced the Yamaha MT-03 as we rode on the Chiang Mai Phayao-Nan-Phayao-Chiang Mai circuit.

The MT-03 is a brand-new motorcycle so far as India is concerned, though we are no strangers to the MT family. They are all about sharp lines and aggression. That much is clear with the MT-03 too. It looks menacing from all angles; particularly when viewed head-on because of the LED headlight cluster. What stood out for me the first time I set eyes on it was the pure intent it seemed to exude. While most of the R3 is hidden behind fairings, the MT bares a generous amount of its fine form. From the front to the seat junction there are many cuts and curves to retain visual interest. Most of it is seen on the 14-litre fuel-tank that is flanked by air ducts on either side. Then there is the blacked-out engine on display too. From the rider’s seat onwards, the rest of the motorcycle is identical to its sibling, the YZF-R3. That is, perhaps, the only part of the MT that is hidden beneath cowls. In this cyan paint scheme, Yamaha opted to paint the 17-inch wheels, too, and it has worked well for the motorcycle’s streetfighter image.