Here’s an interesting trivia – Yamaha officially entered India with its flagship naked – the MT-01 (besides the YZF-R1 of course). The naked brute set the template for future Yamaha sports-naked motorcycles. MT stands for ‘Master of Torque’ and this nature made the naked series much sought after the world over. After sampling the brilliant YZF-R3, Indian enthusiasts yearned for its naked iteration, the MT-03. Yamaha however had other plans, and we got the MT-15 and even the intense MT-09, but no MT-03. That changes now with the arrival of the R3 and MT-03 but is it too late for the naked given its large and formidable competition? Does the MT-03 have what it takes to carve a niche for itself?
Unlike its faired cousin, the MT-03 gets a more modern design that’s in sync with Yamaha’s global MT-series lineup. It comes with two colour options – Midnight Cyan and Midnight Black. Our pick would be the former which looks quite striking with the painted alloys. Overall, the MT-03 is solidly built like its faired sibling and its design looks fresh.
Ergonomics-wise, the MT-03 offers a more upright riding position primarily due to the taller handlebar, while the footpeg position and 780mm seat are similar to the R3. Overall the riding position feels roomy compared to the new KTM 390 Duke, and should be comfortable on long rides. Its Achilles heel though is the lack of features. No ride modes, TFT colour instrument console or smartphone connectivity. It even misses out on a slip-and-assist clutch or a quickshifter.
The highlight though is the 321cc liquid-cooled parallel twin powertrain. Its 42PS and 29.5Nm outputs are not class-leading but it impresses with its silky smooth nature, even at its 12,000rpm redline. The power delivery is linear while its tractable nature should make it easy to ride even in the city. We hit a speedo-indicated top speed of 165kmph on the back straight of the Buddh International Circuit, 10kmph slower compared to the R3 and that was down to the lack of wind protection.
At 167kg, the MT-03 is two kilos lighter than the R3 and that should make it an easy motorcycle to ride on a daily basis. Out on the track, the front end feels slightly twitchy compared to its faired sibling but it doesn’t hamper your confidence when leaning into the corners. Overall, the MT-03 is almost up there with the R3, both in terms of capability and fun. That’s not surprising as the MT-03 has the same underpinnings and wheelbase as the R3. While the MT-03 handles well, the brakes could do with more bite and feel.
Priced at Rs 4.60 lakh, ex-showroom, the MT-03 costs just Rs 5,000 less than the R3. It is a well-built, capable and reliable motorcycle with a unique character of its own but comes across as an overpriced motorcycle once you factor in the competition. That said, if you have your heart set on a Japanese twin, should you pick the naked or the faired Yamaha? The R3 is more appealing and it also goes faster, both on the straights and corners, with only a slight compromise on comfort. While logic dictates that you pay the slight premium for the R3, the MT-03 feels like that wildchild that tugs harder at your heartstrings.
