I had the pleasure of riding the R3, the 300f and the MT03 today. I chose to buy the MT03. I found it more comfortable and less bumpy than the Honda 300f, and I really like the look of it. It's slightly more upright than the R3. I pick it up next Friday. I want to thank you for the dozens of your videos I have watched over the last 6 months. I really appreciate the way you present bikes and talk about them.
Thanks! Very nice review. I like your appreciation for the fun of the smaller machine. There is the old saying that it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than it is to ride a fast bike slow. I have recently started riding an FZ-07 (MT-07) after many years on a 1200GS and Concours 14 (1400GTR) and I am having a blast!
Vol Rider I take it you're about my age! After those two old guy bikes, the MT is a breath of fresh air. I like to keep some fire in the garage, have a Tuono next to the Concour.
I own a 2016 MT-03 and have done 3.500 km with it so far. Some things I would love to tell you if you are thinking of buying one of these: Engine is fantastic, and so is the gearbox. Howerver, if you are 190cm and about 80 kg like me, the suspension is not very good if you start to push the bike. Nothing too bad, but not confidence inspiring if you know what I mean. Also the rearsets are not set up very well for taller riders, but I guess there are more short riders than tall riders. I get about 4l/100km out of it if you drive at a normal speed, and about 5l/100 on the highway. And unlike Sir MissendenFlyer I actually love the instrument panel. I don't think it's dated, I think it's the best of all the small capacity nakeds at the moment. Good view of it, gear shift indicator, fuel indicator, all you need and it's very readable. The reason I bought this bike is because I'm tall, this is actually the only bike I could physically fit on. But I do not regret buying her. In fact, I prefer this bike to the 390 duke because of it's much smoother engine and better ergonomics. It also does look like a bigger bike than the KTM. If you like to learn more, feel free to ask! :)
Commute with another person. Do you mean take the other person as a pillion? The pillion seat is not a place where I would want to sit for very long. It's narrow and hard. If you mean commute by just driving around town with other people then it's absolutely fine. I did not adjust the suspension preload because it has non-ajustable suspension. You could choose to swap the springs in the forks for tougher ones, they have some öhlins springs for it if I'm not mistaken. The upgrade is fairly expensive, so you should look that up. With 93 kilo's that would definitly be something I would do. The suspension feels soft to me, and I'm only 80 kgs. The bike is only a beginner bike for me, and I'm willing to keep it stock and sell it once I get my A license so I can buy a bigger bike.
I have never dropped any bike in my life. It's a lightweight bike, 168 kg fully flueled. The first time I got on it it was pretty scary and it felt quite heavy, but any bike would if you first get on a bike. But now I own it, it's actually very light and flickable. If you have the money for the MT 07 then you should definitly get that. I couldn't get it because of the EU license regulations. MT 07 is definitly a better bike but the MT 03 is fine really. I would say the bang for the buck is about the same. That is if you do not get bored of the MT 03's power, which I'm not. Resale value should be very good depending on where you live, in Europe it's a highly populair bike. I think if I were to sell it with 10k km on the clock it would depriciate about 25%. I bought the bike for 5600 euro's, I think I can get 4 grand for it easily...
Downsizing. Just bought 2019 runout model from dealer in OZ, very happy with MT03, very sleek and nippy. Great Metro rider with attitude! The only difference with 2020 new model. Reversed forks, new Tachometer, tweaked suspension, front headlights and LED indicators. Really same Machine. International pricing seems to go up and down like a brides nightie. Runout Aussie price A$6500 = UK 3500 pounds! Great buy. Thanks again for your good balanced review. Look forward to your ongoing Commentaries! Cheers
DrumHeadV I don't disagree, but it's a bigger number, so looks more. It's just marketing hype. My cars 138bhp, 140 ps, so they just quote the 140 nowadays, simples :)
I bought my MT-03 yesterday and what a bike it is! I am SOOOOOO happy with it! A good looking bike and has a decent amount of power for my liking. I got a late 2017 and it has 40,039 Kilometers.
After watching this, I'd been thinking that something's been missing from my motorcycling for a few years, & think this is the missing link,I'm halfway through restoring my gt750 Suzuki which I've had for years,for a while I'd been thinking about getting a smaller bike, please keep up the great work on a great channel, as for spitfires, hurricanes, lancasters, bring it on ♥️
That's a great comment about enjoying smaller bikes and pushing them to the limits. I have a FZ1 and it is stupid fast. I find as I get older I enjoy tinkering with smaller bikes and enjoy them more.
Yes that is the other thing with smaller bikes, they do tend to be a bit simpler too so you can tinker a bit more readily with them - which to me is part of the attraction., Cheers - TMF
Love these regular reviews! Great insight into what else is out there, you are diverse in the bikes that you test which is awesome. Try and get Kawasaki to lend you a Vulcan, would love to hear your experienced opinion on that :D
I've currently got the new duke 390 sitting in the garage right now. Cracking little bike and a lot of fun to ride. I'll compare the clocks of the KTM to a 2017 LG 4K OLED TV to Yamaha's 1970's Decca colour TV with Wooden cabinet...basically they couldn't be further apart.
Love your videoes! This little MT-03 has a more conventional 180 degree crank like the Kawasakies. You'll have to get the Yamaha MT-07 to listen to a 270 degree motor. I can't seem to find a full review on your page of the Yamaha MT-07, I'd really like that. You only did the Tracer 700 and the XSR 700 :-(
it actually has a 360° crank, every cylinder fires only every second rotation, so every 720°. To get an even firing order it has a 360° crank, not 180°.
Nice video as usual. You were lucky you didn't get knocked off on some of those roundabouts - leaving your left indicator on. We've all done it though.
with the rumored phasing out of the powered down version of the mt07 and the recent face lift on the duke 390 I think that what the mt03 need is a remodernize front light and face, something mt09 or mt10 inspired maybe, and a wider rear tyre maybe, that would attract more people IMO
Seems good decent town bike and as you say ideal for newer riders. But £4.7k you've got to really want one at that . Plus who designed that clutch cover bracket it's hideous at least paint it black ! Great review as ever TMF .
Love the yam Mt's, I think they are great all of them. What combat pants you got on mr flyer? Are they regular or Kevlar and knee and hip armour? Have been looking for some.
you Brits crack me up. weight in KGs - power in HP - torque in NM - distance in Miles - fuel capacity in L ...metric english metric english metric LoL no wonder you needed to Brexit
Cheers Akathe Squid - I completely agree!! We tend to use whatever suits most - for example our favourite subject the weather....Fahrenheit if it's hot ("it's 90 degrees out there today!") and centigrade if it's cold ("its minus 4 out there today!").... :0)
that was for Liquid with no sense of humor - for the rest of you: John - will do and thanks! TMF - civilized and friendly as usual Andy - yeah well we have TRUMP so...I see making metric system illegal and Making America Great Again!
I suppose you could put it like "learning your craft", but alternatively it could be just riding the bike for the purpose you require (with no intention of ever getting a bigger bike). The bike gets up to speed in a fashion, similar to a small not so powerful car. No need to spend more money on a less fuel efficient car just because you have learned to drive it well. It isn't a system of progression for everyone.
I know I am kinda late but I am hoping you can give your thoughts. Right now I am struggling to decide between used 2018 CB500F and a 2018 MT-03. I am looking for a first bike for myself which can do a bit of commuting and occasional road trips (not extreme distances). I should mention that the MT-03 is cheaper by about 600€ and it has 16k km, while Honda CB500F sits on 13k km
Love your videos. Can you make a video on running-in a new motorcycle engine. Seems like there a lot of thoughts on how to do it ie. manufacturer's or hard break-in. Thanks.
I have a kawasaki Z300 as a commuter and find it perfect for that job. It's good looking, cheap to run and good fun higher in the revs. Any plans to bring Kawasaki Z range into your reviews TMF? Great job BTW, my favourite moto sub.
Great review. Seems like a nice bike. I have my Harley Fat Bob, but if I had the money I would like to get a dual sport bike. The MT-03 is not really an off road bike. Like you said more like an urban riding bike. Take care.
faith biker i have seen footage of an mt 03 advertisement where they took it on loose gravel with knobby tyres. It may have been to say it can do it but I don't know if I would g off road with it 😕
Was the odometer in kph or mph? Couldn't make it out in the video. Also, does the screen light up with yellow or white colour? Thanks, great and informative video!
Hi my daughter is looking for her first bigger bike . Would you say the mt 300 is one of the better options for her ? Looked at 500s but insurance is crazy. Thanks Gary. 👍
When the time comes that you do ride the KTM 390, is it possible for you to do a comparison video and a 'TMF' verdict on which you would buy if you were in an A2 licence position out of the three 300(ish)cc naked bikes? I personally think that you would make that into an informative and helpful video, possibly you could speak to the guys down at Brian Gray's Powerbiking about filming the three next to each other or getting to test ride them all again in one video, or something similar.
I used to own a 2007 Mt-03 on my A2 licence, absolutely loved it. Throttle was jerky as hell, bike was overfueled like nothing else so it backfired CONSTANTLY. Didn't handle very well but my god it made you feel alive and a bit naughty. I'd love another, not this new small CC twin cylinder crap bikes with no soul. All of these pollution regulations are making small bikes just boring now, in my opinion of course.
Only in Brazil it comes directly from Yamaha with the wrong drive chain ( wrong chain which does not allow tension adjustments)... and they are selling it for full 3 years now and did nothing to correct the problem, even though there are a lot of complaints...
Is this bike the exact same as the r3 just with different fairings? It looks like the same frame and engine... or is there any other differences between them? Just wondering cause I have an r3 but like the naked bike look was hoping to convert it
TheMissendenFlyer I can’t seem to find anything that says they are the same when I look it up but putting pictures side by said they look like they are built on the same frame and engine even looks like my bike without my fairings on
Err, I'm not entirely sure where Yamaha build this one, I've a feeling they may have a factory in Thailand...but I'm guessing...not that it matters to me to be fair!
Love the FZ family but this looks like more my speed. I'm so short lol it's hard to find a bike that I can first on. I need a seat hight of like 30 inches or less. This looks and sounds brilliant.
@@TheMissendenFlyer I'm not riding anything right now, other than a 110 Honda CRF dirt bike. Haha. I'll be I'm the market for a bigger bike soon, and the MT-03 seems to be a great option. I'm also checking out the R3 and the BMW 310 GS.
Depends what the work is and what your journey is like - if there's any traffic stuff involved then the GS would be the one for me (K1600 just too big to move around in tight spaces)....
No I wouldn't, I think the BMW felt like it had better performance. Whether it does or not I don't know, just felt quicker to me....thanks for watching - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer thank you. It's an important information coming from you and I'll wait the G310R to be launched in Brazil next August 12 instead of buying the MT-03. Great videos by the way! Also subscribed to the channel.
+TheMissendenFlyer : maybe that's because the BMW's torque kicks in earlier in the rev range which is great for city Street riding. And maybe you did not ride the mt03 or BMW spiritedly enough on the city roads, hence the low down torque seems to be the winner?
Hey, do you recommend the MT03 for a 188cm 6'1/6'2 tall bloke? I am not sure.. I was thinking about the 390 duke.. then I read that I might be to tall. Then I saw the MT07 which I loved but with an A2 license MT03 would make more sense but now I am worried about my size again :D I'd really appreciate to get an answer from anyone who es experience with tall people on those bikes, thank you very much
@@TheMissendenFlyer awesome, thanks for the fast reply! Another question, would you recommend buying a bike before having the licensce or wait until you have it?
I liked your review of the yamaha mt03 but would ask if you could you do a review of the yamaha mt125 I ask as I have never ridden a motorbike I thought it best to do my cbt then use a 125cc for 12 -18 months and learn how to ride a bike on the road correctly before taking my full licence and moving to a larger capacity bike. i also ask as I will only hold a provisional licence I am not able to have test ride on this bike
No good complaining about PS when you still quote imperial. The UK is now metric. That isn't MPH and HP. You have viewers outside the UK. Kilowatts and Newton Metres speak volumes these days. Anyway, thank you for the video :-)
I’m not sure what you filmed it with, but the aspect and frame rate is maiming me feel sick, so I can’t watch it, it’s a shame as I’m interested in the bike.
I had the same dilemma - well I'd ruled out the mt03 as I personally don't like its looks. Was torn between the duke390, Z300 and G310R. Went for the Z300, which I preferred to the KTM and at the time (summer 2016) the G310R release was delayed - bought Z300 and adore it. Would recommend taking them all out for test and see which you prefer :)
Another good video. Loving the frequency of them too. One would have to think that the new KTM would blow this out of the water. Seems a fun bike though.
Hi do you think this bike is cheap to run and economical enough for 50 miles commute to work? I'm against speeding and overrevving, it's loads of non sense. Just cruising normally upto the speed limit nice and easy on the gears. Is 70mpg achievable what do you think? I'm on the edge of buying the bike in 48 hours. thanks
Yeah the black is not very nice. It doesn't accent the bike very well. The blue is very nice, especially in bright sunlight, the paint is very in your face and catches quite a few looks!
I would have liked IFO about vibrations and how the motor respond to cruising on a Freeway with 70-80 mph. For me is this bike not to compare with the KTM. The KTM is a 400cc bike. In small bike engines are 100 cc more than an universe. Its in my opinion more like compare with BMW G310R, Kawasaki Ninja 300 or Versays X300. The KTM 390 is more like the Honda CB 500F (476cc)
Just felt more fun to me, bit more go, preferred the looks and build quality, lovely and light feel.....the MT03 is all those things too, just that the BMW pipped it for me...
In my Opinion these modern 300 class bikes are 1. too expensive for new riders 2. good for the city and 3. when u leave the city for once u really want something more fun.
I'm using my 2015 R3 as an everyday drive and been across Europe on it on several occasions. It's very enjoyable, even though it's a 300 cc. Of course, been driving it for two years I'm sure I wouldn't mind something more powerful, but it does me very well.
They aren't just for new riders. Maybe in Europe they are, but there is a very large market for these bikes outside of Europe too. In Asia these bikes are more than powerfull enough and are very desirable indeed. I do agree with you on highway use, I wish it had a bit more power and torque, because if I do 130kmh on the highway I'm doing about 8k RPM However on 80kmh roads, she's a blast and to 100kph they actually are not that much slower than big bikes. My friend has a z750 and to 100 he is maybe 1 to 1.5 sec faster, but not a whole lot, it's after 100 where you notice the lack of power most...
thing is i live in germany and i spent alot of time on the highway and with my current motorcycle a 2016 SV650 48hp its not doable for long i am going 140 km/h and the bike screams at 8-9k rpm for the whole way.
By comparison this 2017 MT-03, although a nice little bike, seems so old and dated compared to the 2017 390 Duke. Eg: LED headlights and DRLs, TFT colour screen with plenty of good info like battery voltage, remaining DTE, and fuel economy; bluetooth connectivity to show incoming calls and current music track playing, throttle by wire, lit up switchgear, Full ABS, slipper clutch, etc... I'm looking in this market, eg Z300 ABS, MT-03, and 390 Duke, and I'm pretty much sold on the 2017 390 Duke.
Update... Well, after prevaricating for the last 6 months, I finally made a decision, and went with a nearly-new Yamaha MT-03. The 390 Duke is quite a bit more expensive. I test rode the G310R and I found the MT-03 much nicer to ride. Comparatively, the MT-03 felt much nippier, had a nicer sound, and felt smoother, perhaps because of the twin, rather than single, power plant. Picking my new MT-03 up tomorrow!
@@samgab Any update on the update? How are you finding the MT-03? Similar to you a year ago, I am cross shopping the Z300 ABS, MT-03, 390 Duke for a first bike. The Duke is probably a little more than I wish to spend, and I have some concerns about reliability, particularly in the Australian heat. Any regrets with the MT-03? If you had your time again would you still pick the it?
@@drewqqq Ha, thanks for the interest... Actually, I really enjoyed my time with the MT-03, lovely little bike, and I improved it by adding Oxford sports heated grips (excellent addition!) and a genuine Akrapovic slip-on exhaust, which really improved the sound a great deal, and it crackled and popped on the downshifts, plus some crash protectors... However, I lusted after, and then bought, a brand new 2018 BMW S1000R in August, trading in the MT-03. So whilst I really liked the MT-03, I'm absolutely LOVING the S1000R! Looking back though, I think if they were both exactly the same price, and the Duke 390 2017-2018 was covered by a warranty still, I think I'd go for the Duke 390 first, then the MT-03 second, and then maybe the Kwaka. Nothing against the Z300, but I just haven't ridden it, though I'm sure it's on par with the MT-03. But I think I like the looks of the MT-03 over the Z300, and I like the Duke best. But the engine on the MT-03, being a twin, was really nice for a little 300. I've seen quite a few owners reporting issues that have come to light with the Indian made Duke, things like water ingress into the display, and other niggles, so you'd want it to have a warranty, and yes, I heard that they run hot... Yeah, all things considered, I'd go for the MT-03 again. I just wish they'd update it a bit with LED headlight and indicators, and maybe a more modern dash, but having said that, the dash is very good and legible, with all the info you need.
Of course Mr Flyer starts with a "High kids"! ;-) Sorry... Yes, try the KTM 390, brilliant bike for the urban area. Feels so small, so nimble, so lightweight. Almost moped feel about it. Till you pull the throttle! Fun bike indeed. But I prefer a twin, I must say.
best pure motorcycle reviewer on UA-cam. subscribed.
Thank you sir - and welcome aboard!
I had the pleasure of riding the R3, the 300f and the MT03 today. I chose to buy the MT03. I found it more comfortable and less bumpy than the Honda 300f, and I really like the look of it. It's slightly more upright than the R3. I pick it up next Friday. I want to thank you for the dozens of your videos I have watched over the last 6 months. I really appreciate the way you present bikes and talk about them.
Hey congratulations Roger, and thanks for the kind words!
Thanks! Very nice review. I like your appreciation for the fun of the smaller machine. There is the old saying that it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than it is to ride a fast bike slow. I have recently started riding an FZ-07 (MT-07) after many years on a 1200GS and Concours 14 (1400GTR) and I am having a blast!
I agree with the old adage!
Vol Rider I take it you're about my age! After those two old guy bikes, the MT is a breath of fresh air. I like to keep some fire in the garage, have a Tuono next to the Concour.
I own a 2016 MT-03 and have done 3.500 km with it so far. Some things I would love to tell you if you are thinking of buying one of these: Engine is fantastic, and so is the gearbox. Howerver, if you are 190cm and about 80 kg like me, the suspension is not very good if you start to push the bike. Nothing too bad, but not confidence inspiring if you know what I mean. Also the rearsets are not set up very well for taller riders, but I guess there are more short riders than tall riders.
I get about 4l/100km out of it if you drive at a normal speed, and about 5l/100 on the highway.
And unlike Sir MissendenFlyer I actually love the instrument panel. I don't think it's dated, I think it's the best of all the small capacity nakeds at the moment. Good view of it, gear shift indicator, fuel indicator, all you need and it's very readable.
The reason I bought this bike is because I'm tall, this is actually the only bike I could physically fit on. But I do not regret buying her. In fact, I prefer this bike to the 390 duke because of it's much smoother engine and better ergonomics. It also does look like a bigger bike than the KTM.
If you like to learn more, feel free to ask! :)
Thanks Arno!
Arno D I'm 187cm at 93kg. Is it comfy to commute with another person?
As for weight did you adjust the suspension preload?
Commute with another person. Do you mean take the other person as a pillion? The pillion seat is not a place where I would want to sit for very long. It's narrow and hard. If you mean commute by just driving around town with other people then it's absolutely fine.
I did not adjust the suspension preload because it has non-ajustable suspension. You could choose to swap the springs in the forks for tougher ones, they have some öhlins springs for it if I'm not mistaken. The upgrade is fairly expensive, so you should look that up. With 93 kilo's that would definitly be something I would do. The suspension feels soft to me, and I'm only 80 kgs.
The bike is only a beginner bike for me, and I'm willing to keep it stock and sell it once I get my A license so I can buy a bigger bike.
Arno D Yes around town mostly, also did you ever drop the bike as a beginner? Thats what I am afraid of for the resale value. I really want a mt 07.
I have never dropped any bike in my life. It's a lightweight bike, 168 kg fully flueled. The first time I got on it it was pretty scary and it felt quite heavy, but any bike would if you first get on a bike. But now I own it, it's actually very light and flickable.
If you have the money for the MT 07 then you should definitly get that. I couldn't get it because of the EU license regulations. MT 07 is definitly a better bike but the MT 03 is fine really. I would say the bang for the buck is about the same. That is if you do not get bored of the MT 03's power, which I'm not.
Resale value should be very good depending on where you live, in Europe it's a highly populair bike. I think if I were to sell it with 10k km on the clock it would depriciate about 25%. I bought the bike for 5600 euro's, I think I can get 4 grand for it easily...
Braided brake lines and sintered pads will take care of that brake issue. It's an easy and cheap fix that worked wonders on my R3.
Yep - good call...and good to hear from you again - all the best - TMF
Do braided lines actually make a noticeable difference?
@@Brewer_ apparently so.
Downsizing. Just bought 2019 runout model from dealer in OZ, very happy with MT03, very sleek and nippy. Great Metro rider with attitude!
The only difference with 2020 new model. Reversed forks, new Tachometer, tweaked suspension, front headlights and LED indicators. Really same Machine. International pricing seems to go up and down like a brides nightie. Runout Aussie price A$6500 = UK 3500 pounds! Great buy. Thanks again for your good balanced review. Look forward to your ongoing Commentaries! Cheers
I bought one of these and have over 6000 km in 14 months. Great bike for commuting I put a hard box on the back for lockup. I am 187 cm and 100 kg.
As a German, i appreciate your quoting its power in PS (as one should :D )
They quote PS, simply because it's a bigger number, and people will assume they mean BHP. Cracking review as always, lovely little bike for newbies..
As far as I know, PS is just the German abbreviation for BHP (Pferdestärken). Unless they are measured slightly differently? I would be surprised...
DrumHeadV I don't disagree, but it's a bigger number, so looks more. It's just marketing hype. My cars 138bhp, 140 ps, so they just quote the 140 nowadays, simples :)
I bought my MT-03 yesterday and what a bike it is! I am SOOOOOO happy with it! A good looking bike and has a decent amount of power for my liking.
I got a late 2017 and it has 40,039 Kilometers.
Cool - congratulations!
@@TheMissendenFlyer Thanks mate! I am still getting excited just from looking at it!
Personally I like the instrument cluster better on this than the mt07.
That's a great looking bike; Yamaha has their game together particularly well right now top to bottom.
Agreed....
After watching this, I'd been thinking that something's been missing from my motorcycling for a few years, & think this is the missing link,I'm halfway through restoring my gt750 Suzuki which I've had for years,for a while I'd been thinking about getting a smaller bike, please keep up the great work on a great channel, as for spitfires, hurricanes, lancasters, bring it on ♥️
Thanks blue haze boy - appreciate the kind comments and glad you like my videos. All the best - TMF
That's a great comment about enjoying smaller bikes and pushing them to the limits. I have a FZ1 and it is stupid fast. I find as I get older I enjoy tinkering with smaller bikes and enjoy them more.
Yes that is the other thing with smaller bikes, they do tend to be a bit simpler too so you can tinker a bit more readily with them - which to me is part of the attraction., Cheers - TMF
Hi I brought one of these last week done 14 miles so far same colour as yours
Excellent review ! Refreshing to find a Vlogger that has a vocabulary that's not full of F Bombs. Cheerz.
Thank you Versys 16060 - I pride myself in never having sworn in over 400 videos! :0)
Love these regular reviews! Great insight into what else is out there, you are diverse in the bikes that you test which is awesome. Try and get Kawasaki to lend you a Vulcan, would love to hear your experienced opinion on that :D
Now that would be a hoot! Thanks for the kind comments- TMF
I gave you the 1k like 🤗 thanks for the review
I've currently got the new duke 390 sitting in the garage right now. Cracking little bike and a lot of fun to ride. I'll compare the clocks of the KTM to a 2017 LG 4K OLED TV to Yamaha's 1970's Decca colour TV with Wooden cabinet...basically they couldn't be further apart.
Yes the little KTM certainly looks a corker - looking forward to giving that one a go myself....enjoy! - TMF
DeadHead
yeah totally agree about the crappy analogue clock on the mt 03 , even the MT 125 has a digital dash so how come they put this crap on it?
A New subbie, enjoying the veiws of my local area and your Vlogs.
Welcome aboard! Great to have you along....TMF
Love your videoes!
This little MT-03 has a more conventional 180 degree crank like the Kawasakies. You'll have to get the Yamaha MT-07 to listen to a 270 degree motor.
I can't seem to find a full review on your page of the Yamaha MT-07, I'd really like that. You only did the Tracer 700 and the XSR 700 :-(
it actually has a 360° crank, every cylinder fires only every second rotation, so every 720°. To get an even firing order it has a 360° crank, not 180°.
Nice video as usual. You were lucky you didn't get knocked off on some of those roundabouts - leaving your left indicator on. We've all done it though.
Well spotted!
the video I was looking for! Thanks! ^^ +1 sub
Excellent - thanks and welcome aboard!
with the rumored phasing out of the powered down version of the mt07 and the recent face lift on the duke 390 I think that what the mt03 need is a remodernize front light and face, something mt09 or mt10 inspired maybe, and a wider rear tyre maybe, that would attract more people IMO
That is one super review there, thanks for that :)
+BlueDevilMugBiker Thank you!
Great review what road is that with 5he long line of trees it looks lovely 😊
Seems good decent town bike and as you say ideal for newer riders. But £4.7k you've got to really want one at that .
Plus who designed that clutch cover bracket it's hideous at least paint it black !
Great review as ever TMF .
Thank you Andy...
Man..Wish They brought this to the U.S. this year. I prefer super sport styling on super sports.
Love the yam Mt's, I think they are great all of them. What combat pants you got on mr flyer? Are they regular or Kevlar and knee and hip armour? Have been looking for some.
They are RST trousers with Kevlar and armour - great bits of kit...
you Brits crack me up. weight in KGs - power in HP - torque in NM - distance in Miles - fuel capacity in L ...metric english metric english metric LoL no wonder you needed to Brexit
It's a system that's been used for years and it works, you think because Brexit is happening all those units will change? Idiotic comment.
We are indeed a confused nation
Cheers Akathe Squid - I completely agree!! We tend to use whatever suits most - for example our favourite subject the weather....Fahrenheit if it's hot ("it's 90 degrees out there today!") and centigrade if it's cold ("its minus 4 out there today!").... :0)
jeez...lighten up Francis
that was for Liquid with no sense of humor - for the rest of you:
John - will do and thanks!
TMF - civilized and friendly as usual
Andy - yeah well we have TRUMP so...I see making metric system illegal and Making America Great Again!
Good review.
She feels comfortable and not so much vibrations at say 110kph motorway speeds?
Plenty of over-taking power around that speed limit?
nice fun ride .where is the location of the road with trees on as it looks really nice many thanks tony
Not sure which road you are referring too?
I suppose you could put it like "learning your craft", but alternatively it could be just riding the bike for the purpose you require (with no intention of ever getting a bigger bike). The bike gets up to speed in a fashion, similar to a small not so powerful car. No need to spend more money on a less fuel efficient car just because you have learned to drive it well. It isn't a system of progression for everyone.
Always wondered what LLC means. *License Losing Calamities*
if u can, do a test ride of the Duke 390 2017, and compare it to the mt03. It would be a great help.
Stay tuned! ;0)
Bishoy Mikheal what's the cruising speed?
I know I am kinda late but I am hoping you can give your thoughts.
Right now I am struggling to decide between used 2018 CB500F and a 2018 MT-03.
I am looking for a first bike for myself which can do a bit of commuting and occasional road trips (not extreme distances).
I should mention that the MT-03 is cheaper by about 600€ and it has 16k km, while Honda CB500F sits on 13k km
I'd have the Honda personally....
that's a high seat at 780cm's.... Great review as always TMF...
Love your videos. Can you make a video on running-in a new motorcycle engine. Seems like there a lot of thoughts on how to do it ie. manufacturer's or hard break-in. Thanks.
What like this you mean? >> ua-cam.com/video/XCN7gXImnn8/v-deo.html
Looking forward to see what you think of the 390 duke!
Me too!
i wish mt 03 will come out here in philippines. would love to buy that bike
+Florendo Launio Sorry about that :0(
hey really nice video, can you give the information about the engine, dimensions, price in the description it'll really help us out.
Done!
...I've now added them to the description...
www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/yamaha/yamaha_mt03%2016.htm
I have a kawasaki Z300 as a commuter and find it perfect for that job. It's good looking, cheap to run and good fun higher in the revs. Any plans to bring Kawasaki Z range into your reviews TMF? Great job BTW, my favourite moto sub.
Thank you Benny - Sadly Kawasaki aren't talking to me at the moment, but I'll keep chipping away!
God I wish this bike was there when I started riding.
Thanks again another great review... Do you ship your hoodies etc to Australia 🇦🇺
Yep....
Great review. Seems like a nice bike. I have my Harley Fat Bob, but if I had the money I would like to get a dual sport bike. The MT-03 is not really an off road bike. Like you said more like an urban riding bike. Take care.
Thank you F-B - always good to know you're out there...TMF
faith biker i have seen footage of an mt 03 advertisement where they took it on loose gravel with knobby tyres. It may have been to say it can do it but I don't know if I would g off road with it 😕
Was the odometer in kph or mph? Couldn't make it out in the video. Also, does the screen light up with yellow or white colour? Thanks, great and informative video!
+Alex Augustine Mph and as far as I recall the screen was lit white...
they say..silvers better in daylight.
Hi my daughter is looking for her first bigger bike . Would you say the mt 300 is one of the better options for her ? Looked at 500s but insurance is crazy. Thanks Gary. 👍
Yep - Duke 390 even better IMO....
@@TheMissendenFlyer great thanks for your reply I'll check the insurance out on that too . 👍
Would bike licences still apply if we leave the EU. Eg the A1, A2 and A licence will be no more? As we can make our own laws.
I suspect those are ours and nothing to do with the EU
TheMissendenFlyer maybe but countries like Belgium follow the progressive licence too...
great review ar u gona ride the fjr 1300 or the super tenery
Would love to if I get the chance - stay tuned!
Thanks great review!
Thank you!
How about the Benelli BN302S in comparison?
I hope the make adventure one in this MT03
When the time comes that you do ride the KTM 390, is it possible for you to do a comparison video and a 'TMF' verdict on which you would buy if you were in an A2 licence position out of the three 300(ish)cc naked bikes? I personally think that you would make that into an informative and helpful video, possibly you could speak to the guys down at Brian Gray's Powerbiking about filming the three next to each other or getting to test ride them all again in one video, or something similar.
I won't be able to get all three together Ben but I'll see what I can do with regards to an overall verdict.....can't wait to ride that baby Duke...
Now you've had a ride of the duke, how do the 2 compare? My top 2 choices for a road bike. (Currently have dirtbikes.)
Nice. I'll bet that's a popular bike.
I reckon so!
Can you drive a larger bike with cbt if riding with experienced rider?
Only if they’re an instructor and you’re on a lesson...
@@TheMissendenFlyer that means I have to waste time and money on a 125cc first to build up experience before doing mod 1 and 2. ☹
Yep....
can you not do any reviews of any hondas like the cb500f or the 650f ?
Yes
would you be able to make a video on the best 125cc bikes for the 17 year olds, I think that would be very helpful.
I'd love too - getting the bikes is the issue :0(
I used to own a 2007 Mt-03 on my A2 licence, absolutely loved it. Throttle was jerky as hell, bike was overfueled like nothing else so it backfired CONSTANTLY. Didn't handle very well but my god it made you feel alive and a bit naughty. I'd love another, not this new small CC twin cylinder crap bikes with no soul. All of these pollution regulations are making small bikes just boring now, in my opinion of course.
Cheers Harvey...
Yes thats what i meant by the 2007 MT-03, the 660 thumper. Brutal bike that had no forgiveness.
Wish it was in the USA
Yeah, odd that it isn't....
Have you done a review of the Honda 300f?
Not yet - stay tuned!
Any chance you would do a Kawasaki z400 review!? Thank you
There's a chance - but i have a bit of difficulty getting hold of Kawasakis to ride unfortunately......
@@TheMissendenFlyer ok thank you for letting me know. your reviews are awesome!
Only in Brazil it comes directly from Yamaha with the wrong drive chain ( wrong chain which does not allow tension adjustments)... and they are selling it for full 3 years now and did nothing to correct the problem, even though there are a lot of complaints...
Sounds odd..... thanks for watching - TMF
Is this bike the exact same as the r3 just with different fairings? It looks like the same frame and engine... or is there any other differences between them? Just wondering cause I have an r3 but like the naked bike look was hoping to convert it
Don't know to be honest...
TheMissendenFlyer I can’t seem to find anything that says they are the same when I look it up but putting pictures side by said they look like they are built on the same frame and engine even looks like my bike without my fairings on
Looks great.
1:45 the mt07 has a 270° firing order so it wouldn't surprise me if the 03 has it too
...but it doesn't. Same mill as the R3, with 180° firing order. 👍
Looks a smashing little thing. Is it a proper Japan built bike?
Err, I'm not entirely sure where Yamaha build this one, I've a feeling they may have a factory in Thailand...but I'm guessing...not that it matters to me to be fair!
Indonesian goods at Japanese prices..
Love the FZ family but this looks like more my speed. I'm so short lol it's hard to find a bike that I can first on. I need a seat hight of like 30 inches or less. This looks and sounds brilliant.
Yes it’s a cracking bike and ideal for the smaller person due it’s weight as much as the height - what are you riding currently?
@@TheMissendenFlyer I'm not riding anything right now, other than a 110 Honda CRF dirt bike. Haha. I'll be I'm the market for a bigger bike soon, and the MT-03 seems to be a great option. I'm also checking out the R3 and the BMW 310 GS.
@@WillowyMilk Wow - 3 quite different machines there....I'll be interested to hear which one you go for (all of them very good by the way)...
Sir what would you suggest for work riding: a bmw 1200gs rallye or a bmw k1600gt?
Depends what the work is and what your journey is like - if there's any traffic stuff involved then the GS would be the one for me (K1600 just too big to move around in tight spaces)....
Well i guess the 1600 GT is quite big judging from your review of it; personally i've yet to see one.
Thnks for your reply good sir.
You're very welcome...
Have you tried a Honda Cbr500x, considering it as a first bike?
Not yet I haven't Bob - but you never know....stay tuned!
Having tested the MT-03 and G310R, would you say the Yamaha is the best option for performance, while both are equivalent in comfort?
No I wouldn't, I think the BMW felt like it had better performance. Whether it does or not I don't know, just felt quicker to me....thanks for watching - TMF
TheMissendenFlyer thank you. It's an important information coming from you and I'll wait the G310R to be launched in Brazil next August 12 instead of buying the MT-03.
Great videos by the way! Also subscribed to the channel.
+TheMissendenFlyer : maybe that's because the BMW's torque kicks in earlier in the rev range which is great for city Street riding. And maybe you did not ride the mt03 or BMW spiritedly enough on the city roads, hence the low down torque seems to be the winner?
Hey, do you recommend the MT03 for a 188cm 6'1/6'2 tall bloke? I am not sure.. I was thinking about the 390 duke.. then I read that I might be to tall. Then I saw the MT07 which I loved but with an A2 license MT03 would make more sense but now I am worried about my size again :D
I'd really appreciate to get an answer from anyone who es experience with tall people on those bikes, thank you very much
Well they are both quite small machines - best bet of course is to try and get a sit on both. Best of luck! - Andy
@@TheMissendenFlyer awesome, thanks for the fast reply!
Another question, would you recommend buying a bike before having the licensce or wait until you have it?
Michelin pilot 3's for tyres,great for grip, have a set on my b12 Suzuki
Had this bike, only found a big issue with the consumption, can't even reach UP to 200kms with a full tank.. Apart from that great bike
My big Harley won't use that much fuel !! What was the problem with your MT 03 Fuel consumption ?
I liked your review of the yamaha mt03 but would ask if you could you do a review of the yamaha mt125 I ask as I have never ridden a motorbike I thought it best to do my cbt then use a 125cc for 12 -18 months and learn how to ride a bike on the road correctly before taking my full licence and moving to a larger capacity bike. i also ask as I will only hold a provisional licence I am not able to have test ride on this bike
If I get the chance then I'd love too - as you saw, I love smaller capacity bikes, great fun.....and thanks for watching - TMF
No good complaining about PS when you still quote imperial.
The UK is now metric. That isn't MPH and HP. You have viewers outside the UK.
Kilowatts and Newton Metres speak volumes these days.
Anyway, thank you for the video :-)
You're welcome....
I’m not sure what you filmed it with, but the aspect and frame rate is maiming me feel sick, so I can’t watch it, it’s a shame as I’m interested in the bike.
Sorry about that, go and have a lie dowm...
Thanks
one question wanna buy bike so BMW g310r Yamaha mt03 or Kawasaki z300 which one is better
I had the same dilemma - well I'd ruled out the mt03 as I personally don't like its looks. Was torn between the duke390, Z300 and G310R. Went for the Z300, which I preferred to the KTM and at the time (summer 2016) the G310R release was delayed - bought Z300 and adore it. Would recommend taking them all out for test and see which you prefer :)
I agree ride them all....
Another good video. Loving the frequency of them too. One would have to think that the new KTM would blow this out of the water. Seems a fun bike though.
Yes I imagine it may well do - can't wait to find out!
Is this basically an R3 without fairings?
Yes
How fast can you go max??
Hi do you think this bike is cheap to run and economical enough for 50 miles commute to work? I'm against speeding and overrevving, it's loads of non sense. Just cruising normally upto the speed limit nice and easy on the gears. Is 70mpg achievable what do you think? I'm on the edge of buying the bike in 48 hours. thanks
+Metal sucks sure you could commute 50 miles on it no problem. You could do 70mph but might want to cruise nearer 55-60 though...cheers - TMF
Mt-03 or z300 for first bike?
Not ridden either so can't really comment!
Is this in the U.S.
No
@@TheMissendenFlyer that sucks looks interesting
My bike!
What that actual one??
No I own a blue one :) i.imgur.com/njTdVwx.jpg For a lovely picture of mine!
Submit that one to a photo contest man. Beautiful picture
Thanks! Certainly not a bad picture for something taken with a smartphone.
Yeah the black is not very nice. It doesn't accent the bike very well. The blue is very nice, especially in bright sunlight, the paint is very in your face and catches quite a few looks!
I would have liked IFO about vibrations and how the motor respond to cruising on a Freeway with 70-80 mph.
For me is this bike not to compare with the KTM. The KTM is a 400cc bike. In small bike engines are 100 cc more than an universe.
Its in my opinion more like compare with BMW G310R, Kawasaki Ninja 300 or Versays X300. The KTM 390 is more like the Honda CB 500F (476cc)
you need to rev the engine to get the most out of this bike
This is definitely true. But cruising at low RPMs is also very cool.
Not sure you can call it a light bike when it weighs the same as a Striple...
+Bobby Z well the Striple is light (but I take your point!)
the mt03 is the same weight wet as the str is dry so no its not the same weight. Mt03 is much lighter.
Stuck between the ktm duke a this one. Anyone had any experience on both of the bikes?
...I shall be riding the Duke soon! Stay tuned.....
Are you there on Facebook?
As of yesterday yes :0) ...not sure what I'm doing with it yet though...!
TheMissendenFlyer link?
Should be in my banner....
Have you tried the MT07 ?
No I don’t think I have - Tracer 700 yes.....
MT-03 or G310r ?
G310r for me.....
Why m8?
Just felt like a better machine - no good reason I can put my finger on, just preferred it - personally I'd have a 390 Duke over both...
This or the BMW G310R?
+fahmi9 Personally I'd take the BMW...
TheMissendenFlyer reason being?
Just felt more fun to me, bit more go, preferred the looks and build quality, lovely and light feel.....the MT03 is all those things too, just that the BMW pipped it for me...
TheMissendenFlyer alright thank you very much for your input!
No problem...
👴🏼You should always inspect the tyres afore you ride.
In my Opinion these modern 300 class bikes are 1. too expensive for new riders 2. good for the city and 3. when u leave the city for once u really want something more fun.
I'm using my 2015 R3 as an everyday drive and been across Europe on it on several occasions. It's very enjoyable, even though it's a 300 cc. Of course, been driving it for two years I'm sure I wouldn't mind something more powerful, but it does me very well.
They aren't just for new riders. Maybe in Europe they are, but there is a very large market for these bikes outside of Europe too. In Asia these bikes are more than powerfull enough and are very desirable indeed.
I do agree with you on highway use, I wish it had a bit more power and torque, because if I do 130kmh on the highway I'm doing about 8k RPM
However on 80kmh roads, she's a blast and to 100kph they actually are not that much slower than big bikes. My friend has a z750 and to 100 he is maybe 1 to 1.5 sec faster, but not a whole lot, it's after 100 where you notice the lack of power most...
I've ridden the R3 and I think if you are not looking for breaking any laws in speed limits that bike will do sufficiently well on tours.
thing is i live in germany and i spent alot of time on the highway and with my current motorcycle a 2016 SV650 48hp its not doable for long i am going 140 km/h and the bike screams at 8-9k rpm for the whole way.
Fair enough!
By comparison this 2017 MT-03, although a nice little bike, seems so old and dated compared to the 2017 390 Duke. Eg: LED headlights and DRLs, TFT colour screen with plenty of good info like battery voltage, remaining DTE, and fuel economy; bluetooth connectivity to show incoming calls and current music track playing, throttle by wire, lit up switchgear, Full ABS, slipper clutch, etc... I'm looking in this market, eg Z300 ABS, MT-03, and 390 Duke, and I'm pretty much sold on the 2017 390 Duke.
Update... Well, after prevaricating for the last 6 months, I finally made a decision, and went with a nearly-new Yamaha MT-03. The 390 Duke is quite a bit more expensive. I test rode the G310R and I found the MT-03 much nicer to ride. Comparatively, the MT-03 felt much nippier, had a nicer sound, and felt smoother, perhaps because of the twin, rather than single, power plant. Picking my new MT-03 up tomorrow!
@@samgab Any update on the update? How are you finding the MT-03? Similar to you a year ago, I am cross shopping the Z300 ABS, MT-03, 390 Duke for a first bike. The Duke is probably a little more than I wish to spend, and I have some concerns about reliability, particularly in the Australian heat. Any regrets with the MT-03? If you had your time again would you still pick the it?
@@drewqqq Ha, thanks for the interest... Actually, I really enjoyed my time with the MT-03, lovely little bike, and I improved it by adding Oxford sports heated grips (excellent addition!) and a genuine Akrapovic slip-on exhaust, which really improved the sound a great deal, and it crackled and popped on the downshifts, plus some crash protectors... However, I lusted after, and then bought, a brand new 2018 BMW S1000R in August, trading in the MT-03. So whilst I really liked the MT-03, I'm absolutely LOVING the S1000R! Looking back though, I think if they were both exactly the same price, and the Duke 390 2017-2018 was covered by a warranty still, I think I'd go for the Duke 390 first, then the MT-03 second, and then maybe the Kwaka. Nothing against the Z300, but I just haven't ridden it, though I'm sure it's on par with the MT-03. But I think I like the looks of the MT-03 over the Z300, and I like the Duke best. But the engine on the MT-03, being a twin, was really nice for a little 300. I've seen quite a few owners reporting issues that have come to light with the Indian made Duke, things like water ingress into the display, and other niggles, so you'd want it to have a warranty, and yes, I heard that they run hot... Yeah, all things considered, I'd go for the MT-03 again. I just wish they'd update it a bit with LED headlight and indicators, and maybe a more modern dash, but having said that, the dash is very good and legible, with all the info you need.
@@samgab Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it. And congratulations on the BMW S1000R - an absolutely gorgeous motorbike.
Of course Mr Flyer starts with a "High kids"! ;-) Sorry... Yes, try the KTM 390, brilliant bike for the urban area. Feels so small, so nimble, so lightweight. Almost moped feel about it. Till you pull the throttle! Fun bike indeed. But I prefer a twin, I must say.
Yes looking forward to trying the little Duke - stay tuned!
Oh yes, I will! :-)
BRING TO USA
What, in hand baggage??
U Yanks will like it.esp citys.
Is called fz o3 in the usa
This one or bmw g310r
+Varun Kanth I prefer the BMW....
TheMissendenFlyer hello mate, why the G310R?
I'm still on the fences. BMW G310R or MT-03 or 2017 Duke 390?
Same here, just can't decide ....
IMHO the new design is terrible. The 2006-2010 design was amazing looked like a boar. Now it looks like a common anybike.
Well it's all a matter of personal taste - I like this one, but not as much as the MT10 :0)