Yamaha's latest Show Model

Contemporary art

Riding fun defined by feelings & emotions

"We wanted to set a highlight, to show something extreme from Yamaha and get the public's reaction to it", says motorcycle product development manager Oliver Grill.

Oliver Grill with the MT-03

He continues: "At the same time, the model should be feasible so that if the feedback is very positive, we can actually decide to build it."

The philosophy behind the MT-03 is to enhance riding emotions. "In our model development philosophy, we are always investigating to bring new feelings and emotions that motorcycles can give you, and those are of course not always speed- and horsepower related as in most modern bikes. We want to offer fun of riding also at lower speeds or even in urban conditions and this is a study how to achieve that. That's why we focused on the sensation from a strong engine pulse, and a chassis to give a very direct contact to the machine."

Roadster Motard

Oliver continues: "When we were developing the idea, we used the key phrase "Roadster Motard".

Roadster because it stands for sex appeal, a very determined and aggressive design combined with a high quality technical spec. Motard, as in Supermotard, because it says something about riding sensations, about the extreme agility when riding in low speed range. So Roadster Motard is a new crossover combination, of fun riding and aesthetics!

Art of Engineering

To achieve the target of extreme agility, the single cylinder 'powerpack' is the most suitable engine. It is extremely compact and offers an immediate throttle response all through the rpm range, and it has a very strong character and sound. Oliver: "We called it the 'supertorque single'"

And of course the passion for motorcycles is not only in riding, it is also in the construction and design of the bike as a beautiful machine in itself. Strong mechanical expressions, handcrafted parts: the model is a piece of art, 'the art of engineering'.

Super-compact engine with beautiful exhaust routing	Side suspension by Ohlins	Belt drive: clean and high-quality

Design: "it's a small bomb"

One of the first sketches

Michael Uhlarik from GK Design Europe, explains: "We pushed very hard to get an extremely "Condensed Mass" design. The

Designer Michael Uhlarik

impact of the silhouette is possible because of the hardcore offroad riding position, WR style; with a very short fuel tank which is fused with a compact, sophisticated roadster design and a minimal tail."

"And whereas the MT-01 is designed to be very raw, primitive, machined from solid; the MT-03 is designed with a sophisticated, modernist approach. We wanted it to embody modern, contemporary urban product design."

Surprising use of materials

Design manager Nobuaki Kuwata

He continues: "An example of that is the headlight design which features LED discharge lights instead of the traditional round parabolic headlight. And on many parts of the bike we are using materials in a surprising and new way, to add more to the tactile pleasure of this motorcycle. Like for example with the clear instrument panel with aluminium inserts; or the aluminium sliders on the plastic fuel tank."

Design manager Nobuaki Kuwata adds: "We always strive for new solutions and emotional designs"

MT-01 and MT-03: maximum fun in minimum time

How is the relation between those models? Both are based on a similar philosophy: to have the maximum motorcycle excitement in the minimum time. Yamaha's goal is to bring excitement and enjoyment to its customers. Today, many people don't have the time to go to a beautiful area to ride their bike, they want to enjoy it immediately out of their garage - even if there is traffic, even if the roads are not so great. So Yamaha wants to offer a lot of elemental motorcycling fun in a short ride. That's why both models have a highly characteristic engine with instant throttle response, with good vibrations and with a sound like a drum. Combined with a very short and light high-spec rigid chassis and an 'attack mode' riding position, it creates the concept of instant enjoyment.

 

Similar philosophy of sound & emotion: "Instant Enjoyment" approach for both models

Same philosophy, yet so different: both models have their own way to achieve this instant enjoyment. "Whereas in the MT-01 the excitement is further enhanced by the huge torque of the 1700cc engine, in the MT-03 it is further enhanced by the extreme agility to have a lot of fun in narrow environments. MT-01 is maximum engine, MT-03 is maximum compactness," says Michael Uhlarik.

For enthusiasts

"This is really a bike for experts and enthusiasts, who can recognize and appreciate what this machine can do in the real world. Not only does it have great looks, it's also really a 'rider's bike'."

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