The Yamaha MT-03 can hit 108 mph top speed
Yamaha’s MT-03 has been with us for a while now, but it actually started life with a completely different powerplant a 660 cc single-cylinder engine borrowed from the XT660.
That original model was produced from 2006 to 2014, running alongside the larger MT-01 (2005–2014).
Despite sharing the “MT” name, those two motorcycles could hardly have been more different.
They shared little beyond the distant family badge.
In 2014, Yamaha completely reimagined the MT series with the launch of the MT-07 and MT-09.
In 2016, the range was expanded further with the addition of the MT-10 and the all-new MT-03 – the model we are performance testing here.
At least now the modern MT range shares a common philosophy, even if the engines and configurations differ significantly.
They are all naked motorcycles with a strong emphasis on attitude and performance, under the “MT” badge – which, as far as I am aware, stands for “Maximum Torque”.
The current Yamaha MT-03 looks very much like its bigger sisters in the MT family, but it has lost half its capacity compared with its predecessor.
It is now powered by the same 321 cc parallel-twin engine found in the Yamaha YZF-R3, yet it produces very similar peak power to the model it replaced.
Like many naked versions of sportier faired bikes, the MT-03 is aimed at riders who want a little more comfort and everyday practicality, but still wrapped in the aggressive, modern naked styling we have become used to.
In what is now a very crowded entry-level and learner motorcycle segment, the MT-03 competes against a wide variety of both naked and fully faired machines spanning many different engine sizes.
Its closest rivals would be the Kawasaki Z400, Honda CB300, and KTM Duke 390.
Yamaha MT-03 Engine performance and dyno
The Yamaha MT-03 uses the same familiar engine as the YZF-R3 – a compact 321 cc parallel-twin producing a claimed 42 horsepower at 10,750 rpm and 22 ft-lb of torque at 9,000 rpm.
It is a lightweight, rev-happy unit, typical of many small-capacity performance engines.
On the dyno, our test MT-03 delivered a respectable 36 horsepower at 10,400 rpm and 20 ft-lb of torque at 9,000 rpm.
These figures are slightly down on the YZF-R3 we tested previously, although both bikes are nominally the same on paper.
The difference can be attributed to day-to-day dyno variations and conditions.
The power curve is also a little less smooth than I remember from the YZF-R3, and the throttle response feels slightly snatchier in places.
There are sections of the rev range where the MT-03 actually makes a touch more power and torque than the R3 we tested.
I suspect this minor variation is largely due to our MT-03 example being fitted with a slip-on exhaust that had not been properly dyno-tuned.
Overall, the power and torque delivery is still very good. The MT-03 pulls willingly from as low as 3,000 rpm and builds strongly as the revs rise.
Yamaha MT-03 in gear acceleration
The small dip you see at 3,500 rpm is not really noticeable on the road.
As you drive through 4,000 rpm, the engine begins to gain urgency, picking up strongly from 6,000 rpm and pulling hard through to 9,000 rpm, where there is another brief dip.
It then picks up again at 10,000 rpm and continues to deliver nicely until just past 12,000 rpm.
If this MT-03 had been completely stock, I suspect these dips would be even smaller or non-existent. In any case, they are not really felt on the road and are unlikely to have any meaningful impact on performance.
Despite the dyno curves of the MT-03 and YZF-R3 looking slightly different, they feel very similar from the saddle.
Like all small-capacity motorcycles, the Yamaha MT-03 cannot hide the fact that it has a modest engine.
No matter how well-tuned it is, if you want strong acceleration, you need to keep the revs in the upper half of the tacho.
The MT-03 is no exception and really comes alive above 6,000 rpm.
Compared with the Ninja 300, Z300 and CB/CBR300, the MT-03 offers better flexibility and significantly more peak power once the revs climb above 6,000 rpm.
The only engine that clearly has the edge is the 80 cc larger Z400/Ninja 400, but the advantage is not as big as the dyno curves alone might suggest.
The KTM 390 Duke is also a little stronger in certain areas. Here you can see the comparison between the Ninja 400 and the YZF-R3.
Yamaha MT-03 0-60 mph in 5.11 seconds
With the same engine as the Yamaha YZF-R3, we expected very similar real-world performance from the MT-03.
Any deficit would mainly come from the fact that the MT-03 is naked and therefore suffers more as speeds rise due to poorer aerodynamics.
Typically, naked versions of sports bikes are detuned for stronger low- and mid-range power and given shorter gearing to improve in-gear acceleration and help compensate for their aerodynamic disadvantage.
However, this is less common with entry-level and learner naked bikes.
They usually retain the same engine specification and gearing as their faired siblings – and the Yamaha MT-03 is no exception.
Launching the MT-03 is essentially identical to the YZF-R3. The clutch feel and progression are the same: light, with a clear and well-defined biting point that is typical of many learner-friendly motorcycles.
The MT-03 is easy to launch. The best results come from a firm but progressive clutch dump with the revs between 8,000 and 9,000 rpm.
The key is to engage the clutch quickly without letting the revs drop below 8,000 rpm.
If you engage it too quickly, the engine will bog down, and you can easily add a full second to your 0-60 mph time.
Once the clutch is fully engaged, you can take each gear almost to the redline before shifting.
It is fairly straightforward, although you do need to watch for wheelies in first gear if you are too aggressive with the clutch, which is actually quite fun on a learner bike.
After just a few attempts, it was not difficult to achieve competitive times. In the end, the Yamaha MT-03 recorded 0-60 mph in 5.11 seconds – exactly the same as the YZF-R3 we tested previously.
The 0-100 km/h time for the MT-03 was 5.41 seconds.
Surprisingly, the MT-03 actually pipped the YZF-R3 in the quarter mile with a time of 14.05 seconds at 92 mph. It is only after that point that the faired R3 begins to pull away thanks to its superior aerodynamics.
The MT-03 reaches 0-100 mph in 18.82 seconds – almost two seconds slower than the R3.The lack of bodywork on the MT-03 clearly starts to hurt from around 80 mph onwards, and the effect becomes more pronounced above 90 mph.
Considering it is a naked bike, it still performs remarkably well.
While we sometimes correct data for weather and conditions, nothing beats running two bikes back-to-back on the same day.
In those conditions, the YZF-R3 consistently edged ahead of the MT-03 purely due to its better aerodynamics.
| Yamaha MT-03 Acceleration | |
| Speed | Time |
| 0-10 mph | 0.65 |
| 0-20 mph | 1.36 |
| 0-30 mph | 1.88 |
| 0-40 mph | 2.78 |
| 0-50 mph | 3.67 |
| 0-60 mph | 5.11 |
| 0-70 mph | 6.65 |
| 0-80 mph | 9.06 |
| 0-90 mph | 12.81 |
| 0-100 mph | 18.82 |
| SS/QM | 14.05/92 mph |
| SS/KM | 27.40/105 mph |
| SS/Mile | 40.18/108mph |
| Top Speed | 108 mph |
Yamaha MT-03 Top speed 108 mph
The Yamaha MT-03 reached a top speed of 108 mph.
Like all naked bikes, there is very little protection from the elements, and this eats into the modest 36 horsepower available.
Top speed can almost be achieved in fifth gear, but a few extra revs are needed, so sixth is required.
In sixth, the revs barely rose and settled at 11,000 rpm. I am confident that with a better tuck, a few more mph could be gained, and a smaller rider would likely see 110–112 mph.
Our test bike had an aftermarket exhaust and may not have been running at its best, which could have slightly reduced the top speed.
If we get hold of a completely stock example, we will re-test and update the figures.
On the road, the MT-03’s engine is genuinely enjoyable and punches well above its 321 cc capacity. Yamaha has done an excellent job of creating a compact twin with a good spread of power, a respectable peak figure, and strong real-world usability.
The MT-03 often feels more like a 400 than a 321. In most situations, you can ride it in a gear higher than many of its rivals.
For highway overtakes, dropping just one gear into fifth gives more than enough drive to pass traffic quickly and safely.
Ultimately, the Yamaha MT-03 shines brightest on slower, twisty roads rather than fast, open ones.
With only 36 horsepower, no matter how well delivered, there is only so much it can do.
Above 85 mph, you will often wish for more power, but below that speed, the MT-03 delivers peppy and genuinely fun performance.
