mnpctech
12th September 2004, 13:55
Taken from Motorcycle.com. I heard its actually going into production next year. I will keep you updated as I learn more.
Yamaha MT-01
A Concept Bike for the Power Hungry
Photos by Yamaha Motors
Los Angeles, November 9, 1999 -- For power-mongers, there has never been a better standard than Yamaha's tried-and-true V-Max. Over the years the Max has had a strong, loyal following. But what should they do when the old girl is getting a little long in the tooth and sales are stagnant? Simple, really: Appeal to the same crowd but with an even more powerful and wilder machine that leaves its predecessor looking like a well-worn Teddy Bear.
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Yamaha introduced its radical MT-01 concept bike to the amazement of all at the Tokyo Motor Show. Yamaha took the largest displacement motor available in a production motorcycle -- the air-cooled, V-twin 1600 cc Road Star powertrain -- and wedged it into a TZ250 frame. If that sounds sick, it is. Yamaha's goal was to reduce the weight of the whole motorcycle and focus all of the attention on an engine that is strong and torquey. Some have likened the MT-01 to something that either Erik Buell or John Britten would build with corporate resources behind them but minus the associated red tape.
While the MT-01 is still a concept bike and any talks of production are quite a ways off, Yamaha stresses that their aim was not to build a bike for racing but rather a bike where the rider feels like he's on an engine-on-wheels. This explains why the exhaust is not only underneath the seat, it looks as though it doubles as the subframe as well. Yamaha wants the rider to "feel the exhaust vibration and the sound." And the heat, too, it seems.
Because the engine takes center stage, even the suspension gets relegated to second-string duty. The rear shock is located parallel to the ground alongside the motor and connects to the swingarm via a four-bar linkage to keep the chain driven rear end under control. What looks like the fuel tank is actually the frame with a huge air scoop on each side. Fuel is held in a miniscule, two-gallon tank behind the rear cylinder. Up front is a pair of massive, inverted forks with YZF-R6 parts bin calipers bolted on parallel to the disc, similar to current WSB race bikes.
[url="http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcyam/mcphotos/mt0103.html"] (http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcyam/mcphotos/mt0101.html)
Again, we need to stress that at this point the MT-01 is only a concept bike. But if Yamaha senses that enthusiasts like what they see, it won't be the first time a manufacturer has put a radical concept bike into production. Whether or not a production MT-01 will have this bike's carbon-fiber spokes fitted to aluminum hubs, bar-end mounted turn signals and the almost non-existent two-gallon tank remains to be seen. But from what we can see here, as well as judging by the response at Tokyo, Yamaha is once again thinking ahead and doing things right.
Yamaha MT-01
A Concept Bike for the Power Hungry
Photos by Yamaha Motors
Los Angeles, November 9, 1999 -- For power-mongers, there has never been a better standard than Yamaha's tried-and-true V-Max. Over the years the Max has had a strong, loyal following. But what should they do when the old girl is getting a little long in the tooth and sales are stagnant? Simple, really: Appeal to the same crowd but with an even more powerful and wilder machine that leaves its predecessor looking like a well-worn Teddy Bear.
[/url]
Yamaha introduced its radical MT-01 concept bike to the amazement of all at the Tokyo Motor Show. Yamaha took the largest displacement motor available in a production motorcycle -- the air-cooled, V-twin 1600 cc Road Star powertrain -- and wedged it into a TZ250 frame. If that sounds sick, it is. Yamaha's goal was to reduce the weight of the whole motorcycle and focus all of the attention on an engine that is strong and torquey. Some have likened the MT-01 to something that either Erik Buell or John Britten would build with corporate resources behind them but minus the associated red tape.
While the MT-01 is still a concept bike and any talks of production are quite a ways off, Yamaha stresses that their aim was not to build a bike for racing but rather a bike where the rider feels like he's on an engine-on-wheels. This explains why the exhaust is not only underneath the seat, it looks as though it doubles as the subframe as well. Yamaha wants the rider to "feel the exhaust vibration and the sound." And the heat, too, it seems.
Because the engine takes center stage, even the suspension gets relegated to second-string duty. The rear shock is located parallel to the ground alongside the motor and connects to the swingarm via a four-bar linkage to keep the chain driven rear end under control. What looks like the fuel tank is actually the frame with a huge air scoop on each side. Fuel is held in a miniscule, two-gallon tank behind the rear cylinder. Up front is a pair of massive, inverted forks with YZF-R6 parts bin calipers bolted on parallel to the disc, similar to current WSB race bikes.
[url="http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcyam/mcphotos/mt0103.html"] (http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcyam/mcphotos/mt0101.html)
Again, we need to stress that at this point the MT-01 is only a concept bike. But if Yamaha senses that enthusiasts like what they see, it won't be the first time a manufacturer has put a radical concept bike into production. Whether or not a production MT-01 will have this bike's carbon-fiber spokes fitted to aluminum hubs, bar-end mounted turn signals and the almost non-existent two-gallon tank remains to be seen. But from what we can see here, as well as judging by the response at Tokyo, Yamaha is once again thinking ahead and doing things right.