Okay, so, I recently got my hands on a Yamaha MT-10. You know, that beast of a bike everyone’s been talking about? It’s basically a naked R1 with these wide handlebars. Honestly, I was pumped to try it out, and let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint.
I took it for a spin, a good 220 miles or so, just to get a feel for it. The first thing that hits you is the engine. It’s the same one from the R1, just tuned down a bit, but man, does it have punch! It’s so easy to get it going fast, and it feels incredibly smooth.
Of course, it’s not gonna match the R1 on top speed, especially since it doesn’t have that full fairing. But trust me, hitting over 160 mph on this thing is more than enough for the streets. That little plastic nose thingy is more for looks, but it does kinda push some wind away.
What I Did Next
- Checked the Usual Suspects: I gave it a good once-over, checking for anything obvious like leaks or loose parts. Found a cheap O-ring behind the headers that was leaking coolant. No biggie, easy fix.
- Test Ride, Round Two: After the quick fix, I went for another ride. This time, I wanted to push it a little harder. The acceleration is just addictive. But, I did notice the throttle being a bit jerky when going on and off. It’s annoying, but I found that riding in mode 2 helps smooth it out.
- Diving Deeper: I started digging around online, reading forums and stuff. Turns out, there are a few stories about engines blowing up. Rare, but still, it got me a bit worried. Also, saw some complaints about a recall on the brake switch, something to keep in mind.
- Sound Check: One thing I noticed was this weird noise from the engine. Did some more research, and it seems like it might be the cam chain tensioner. But a lot of R1 owners say it’s not a big deal, so I’m not too stressed about it. It seems to be happening early in the bikes life.
- Battery check: Some people report their battery have problems. I checked mine. It looks good.
I’m considering keeping this bike long-term, but I’m gonna keep an eye on those potential issues. The blown engine thing is a bit scary, but it seems like it’s mostly happening to people who are messing with the tuning. I also learned about lots of clutch problems. I’m gonna play it safe and keep it stock for now.
Overall, the MT-10 is a blast to ride. It’s powerful, handles great, and it’s surprisingly comfortable for longer rides. Just gotta watch out for a few quirks, but hey, no bike is perfect, right?
They are pretty much bulletproof. But I still need to do more test drive and observation.
