2020 Yamaha MT-03: All You Need To Know

Yamaha recently surprised us with a new MT-03, so allow us to break it down for you

After teasing a new MT motorcycle last week, Yamaha has finally bared it all and unveiled its new MT-03. This launch has slipped under the radar a little since there wasn’t much hype created beforehand and quite frankly it was a little unexpected. So let’s take a closer look at the updated MT and decipher exactly what’s new about it.

A little background

Yamaha’s MT range consists of naked streetfighter motorcycles usually based on their fully-faired sportsbike counterparts. Currently, the only MT motorcycles we get in India are the single-cylinder 155cc MT-15 based on the R15, and the 847cc triple-cylinder MT-09. The MT-03 is derived from the Yamaha YZF-R3, which means it sits nicely in this gap, and sports the same parallel-twin 321cc motor. It is a model that has been sold in Europe since 2016 but a new version has now been unveiled for the 2020 model year. While it is based on the R3, it is a completely different motorcycle in terms of design and purpose, so let’s take a closer look.

What’s New?

For starters, the new 03 is visually different from its predecessor, gaining design cues from its elder MT siblings and now sporting dual position lamps accompanied by an LED headlight compared to the previous version’s single cluster. The bodywork has also been redesigned and the new bike now sports a more aggressive look in keeping with the ‘Dark Side of Japan’ theme that the MT range attempts to embody. The 37mm upside-down front fork comes from KYB and is new to the MT-03, while the preload-adjustable rear shock has also been re-tuned with new spring rates. Another advancement is the addition of a digital LCD instrument cluster, replacing the digi-analogue unit on the older bike.

Same Old

The rest of the motorcycle remains unchanged, meaning the same 321cc parallel-twin motor housed in a diamond-type frame. 17-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in 110/70-R17 rubber at the front and 140-70R17 at the rear. The R3 gets Metzeler Sportec M5 tyres in India, and it will be interesting to see if the MT comes with the same. Braking duties are taken care of by a 298mm/220mm front-rear disc combo, and ABS is offered as standard.

Wider Reach

The most noteworthy piece of news is the fact that the new MT-03 is set to reach more markets than its predecessor. And yes, India is on this list. We should receive this new bike sometime next year in the range of Rs 3.3 lakh - Rs 3.5 lakh (ex-showroom). The 300cc naked segment is steadily gaining steam, and once the new MT arrives, it will go up against the KTM 390 Duke, BMW G 310 R and Honda CB 300R.