This was my first bike 6 weeks ago. Have 2k miles on it already. Absolute best entry level bike. I have toured for 3 hour trips, commute every day to work, and even practice my wheelies and slow speed maneuvers. It’s taught me so much and it’s by far the most good looking entry bike in my opinion. Very Decepticon looking. Funny thing is, it can cruise at 70-75 mph easy. Yes there is passing power to be desired, but unless you commute on very high speed highways, which I don’t at the moment, this is an amazing bike that does everything, and it’s by far one of the best intended Street bikes out there
Cool to hear. I can relate, having rode 250Rs for 20 years and 70,000 miles worth. Lots of fun and capable on freeways, able to keep up at reasonable speeds. Enjoy!
Just found your channel, excellent overview of the MT 03. I downsized to an 03 two years ago after owning many big bikes and discovered what I’d been missing. This is a very underrated bike, I can keep up with much larger bikes, especially on the back roads. After all, the frame and engine are identical to the YZR R3 and that has it’s own racing series. Look forward to seeing more small bike reviews but I can’t think of any which will suit my needs more than this. Best wishes.
Cool R3 comparable MT03 here. A fun bike no doubt. I rode Ninja 250s for 20 years because they were so much fun, but also extremely low cost but very reliable bikes. I could go on the freeway with no issues. Passing up hills was out of the question as the main limit, but revving those bikes was tons of fun. You absolutely experienced the full power of that bike often. Each of mine lasted over 35,000 miles each before trading them in. Now on a Ninja 650 '21, but I'd always recommend a smaller bike too. Thanks.
90% of people who buy a motorcycle just want to have a little fun and or use it for commuting and will never go to a track and race it. This bike is plenty of motorcycle for 90% of riders
Ok I guess I can buy that. You hear stories of so many people who buy a bike and never ride it. This bike would be less of an investment and more than capable of anything close to legal speeds in the US.
My bike for 2 years now. Love this thing, low maintenance, fuel mpg is decent, shocks are surprisingly good. Very reliable and no issues. Wish yamaha put 150-160 rear tires though. I put 160s on mine and it corners great!
Thanks! Yes I'm reviewing a much wider range of brands, and dipping into a few other things on this channel outside of powersports. I think it will be good!
I sold my Goldwing, I sold my ST1100, last year sold my CBR1000F. I kept my CBR250R. It is fun and keeps up with traffic. Small displacement..For expert riders also.
Thank you for this video, it's really informative. I believe light, small-displacement bikes are a lot of fun. The Suzuki GD110 was probably the most fun bike I ever owned. I've been riding for a few years and have no need for a large engine; I'd never get to take advantage of that where I am. I'm trying to decide which bike I want next, so your videos are VERY helpful. I'll have to ride each of my options to help finalize my decision.
I just downsized from an fz6 to a 2022 mt 03 and I absolutely love it. The fuel economy is impressive and its quicker than I thought it would be. I live in rural England and this is the perfect size and weight for b road riding and commuting to work.
I can't wait to BUY one of these. I LOVED the R3... and I started following this smaller displacement bike BEFORE the MT-03 was even available in the states as we all know the R3 came here first. HUGE FAN of the FZ line which is what this is in every other country, 'cept here where they changed from FZ to MT for marketing purposes only, I'm NOT a sport/crotch rocket guy, but this thing is gorgeous, fun, flickable and an amazing price. Thanks for a GREAT video! (yeah I'm 9 months late but hey, ewwtube etc.)
I actually wanted to have a big bike as my first bike, but then I thought it would be useless if I only drive it slowly. It's not like I need to go really fast all the time. That's why I really loved it when you said "Its better to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow".
I purchased one for my wife got a great deal so I got to ride it home for her….WOW it’s super smooth power is more than enough for anything other than huge passing power.
Leaving a comment for you- just BC YT algorithms- interesting bike. I wonder if it could ever be possible for Yamaha to use this platform to build a Tenere 300.
Hey Peter, just discovered your channel and love your videos. I rode a MT-03 at my Basic Rider Course, and my legs didn’t fit well. I’m about 6’2”, and with feet on the pegs, my knees were too high to hug into the tank nicely, but it was fine for the training course. Do you think there is another 300 cc class bike that I would fit better on (Z400)? Or would I be better suited to check out a MT-07?
I would try the Z400. But it's not a big bike either. If you're comfortable moving to an MT-07, there are plenty of great options in that class that should fit you well.
Looking for my first bike and this is def on the list with the Svartpilen 401. No experience riding other than quads and scooters. Im also 47, 6'1 and 250. 🤔🤷♂️
At 250 lbs, don't be afraid to cross compare with slightly larger displacement. Also if you're 47 you might have more maturity and be able to handle more power than someone with less life experience and poorer judgement. The 300 cc class will be fine, but you may want to get a bit more if you plan to keep the bike for a while.
I'm looking into getting an MC license and I have been eyeing the MT-03 for a while now. I'm vertically challenged (5'4) and my limbs aren't long, and most bikes I've seen and sat on have all been really uncomfortable because my limbs aren't long enough which makes just sitting on them kind of panic'y because I feel like I can't reach anything properly 😂 Plus, it looks aggressive, which I really like.
I drove this for a good bit yesterday, it's a little tight for me, but I had an absolute blast on it. If you're shorter and think you might want to try this, I highly recommend giving it a try. It's very fun, and it might fit you well.
@@PeterLoweOne Yeah I'm definitely gonna see if I know someone that has one I can try out, but the ones I know with bikes are all 6'1+ tall so the chances of them having a low seat bike is slim 😅
Hi, Peter, how tall exactly are you in centimeters? Because your body shape and height is almost similiar to mine (181 cm), and I think it looks perfect with the bike. Nice video btw
I appreciate it. I try to do something a little different than others just to give a different perspective. I think there are a lot of great riding reviewers and I'll do a number of riding reviews too, but there's space for me on TH-cam to do this, so I try to do my best with them to cover information that others don't cover in the same way.
@@PanGrs I've only done one so far. I think others will probably do better riding reviews than me, but I'll try to add to the overall conversation on TH-cam and see if I can offer unique insight. I don't view other creators as competitors at all, I think we're all sewing a quilt of information, and I think the more quality information, the better.
Hmmmm I've never thought about that. These smaller bikes are often a little narrower. Dual sport bikes can often turn very sharp, and I've moved them through narrow doorways despite their actual width at the handlebars.
Nice looking bike but an uncolored LCD display just doesn't cut it anymore in 2024... Needs a COLOUR TFT display! Otherwise, I'm thinking of Kawasaki's new z500... (but don't want that weight/power).
In Canada the MT-03 has an MSRP of $6,599 and the SV650 has an MSRP of $9,199. Those are 2024 prices. If you're able to get them for the same price, I have to assume that you're looking used and then you'll have to take into account the mileage, maintenance records, overall condition, etc. Overall the SV650 is going to be more versatile as it is more comfortable at high speeds, but both bikes will work for what you're describing, with the MT-03 giving you a lower insurance premium.
If it's not enough power for you, you should consider getting another bike. Others will find them to be just fine for their needs. I think most people understand that these aren't meant to be R1's
Haha. With all due respect, the Tesla's may not be giving it all they've got. You're not beating a plaid with this bike. But having said that, you can absolutely have more fun on a bike like this than a Tesla. I say that as motorcycle riding Tesla driver.
@@PeterLoweOne i see. In south east asia, you can go as low as 155cc, 150cc, 125cc, and 100cc. I think in the 80s/90s, there was even a 60cc scooter from honda.
GREAT video... (I gotta be that guy I just can't help it) BTW you don't "drive" a motorcycle, you RIDE it. Just sayin' :) Equivalent to calling an engine a motor etc. ;) Have a good one!
Yup. I spent YEARS running a much bigger automotive TH-cam channel, I often slip into old habits and use the wrong words. I spent some time riding this bike yesterday, what an absolute blast to ride. Great fun for the money obviously, but just great fun overall!
@@PeterLoweOne Thanks for the reply! So.. I've been watching since the YZF-R3 came to the states, thinking to myself how excited I am for the possibility of the MT-03 coming to the states. That was a few years ago, it's here, and I'm excited to buy an MT-03 soon. SUBBED!
Cruise would be exceptionally rare on anything with a 300cc motor. If you're looking for cruise control on a bike like this, most people look into throttle lock options that work like a switch on the throttle to lock it in position.
I've driven plenty of bikes that have less power than this, and revving it is part of the fun with these bikes! I know it's not for everyone, and it sounds like it's not for you, but that doesn't make it a bad bike. It's a great bike for those that want to have fun on it and don't need or want the speed of a bigger bike.
@@PeterLoweOne couple of things I like about MT03. My son is safer in MT03 then my liter class bike. You can flog that little bike to death, and it still purrs like a kitten, and it does not overheat in 110-degree Texas summer. It is built like a tank. I personally would have like to see additional 20 hp to punch through the traffic.
“Gutless”, I wouldn’t call a bike which will go 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds “gutless”. I don’t think the R3 racing series would be based on “gutless” motorcycles. Are you riding it properly?
@@user-rf9me7xm1w I used to race 50 cc bike. Those were gutless too.. Racing is not street riding. How many 300cc motorcycle do you see on US roads? Any Why? Because you will kill yourself if you cannot keep up the traffic. In Texas that is 75 to 85 MPH. MT03 is a toy to learn. Not a serious commuter.
@@lordabhikingfisher8087 Fair comment but as I live in England, I don’t see any 300 cc bikes on the US roads ! The speed limits over here is 60 mph on most roads and the cars are not the oversized monsters you have over there so all in all, my MT 03 is ideal for me.
Too bulky motorcycle ... 168 kg for 321 cc ... Yamaha should make a light twin air 250 cc motorcycle that does not tire the driver at speeds of 60 - 70 km/h and does not require too many gear changes ...
From the streets of Asia, a carbureted honda Innova/wave 110 or a cub 125 would do fine up to 90km/h with 4 gears in total. All that weighing under 120kg
Hi mate , I own 2019 Mto3 in Australia 🇦🇺 , it’s been 3 years , it’s really not tiresome at all , I do freeway speeds 100kmph, daily 40 Kms up and down , I have never felt boring , it’s so awesome , and very reliable if u maintain well , I have clocked 33k, and guess what till now no valve clearance check done , I do all my service myself, it’s so easy and just keep chain lubed , it will never miss a beat . Mainly about the WEIGHT is very important, the windy days even in freeway u don’t get thrown around , that’s the reason behind the 168kgs
This was my first bike 6 weeks ago. Have 2k miles on it already. Absolute best entry level bike. I have toured for 3 hour trips, commute every day to work, and even practice my wheelies and slow speed maneuvers. It’s taught me so much and it’s by far the most good looking entry bike in my opinion. Very Decepticon looking. Funny thing is, it can cruise at 70-75 mph easy. Yes there is passing power to be desired, but unless you commute on very high speed highways, which I don’t at the moment, this is an amazing bike that does everything, and it’s by far one of the best intended Street bikes out there
Cool to hear. I can relate, having rode 250Rs for 20 years and 70,000 miles worth. Lots of fun and capable on freeways, able to keep up at reasonable speeds. Enjoy!
I wanna buy it as my first bike too
I m about to get my first bike. I m thinking about to get r3 or mt3 :/ mt3 can do daily commute highway (at least 20 mins 110km speed) and city ?
Just found your channel, excellent overview of the MT 03. I downsized to an 03 two years ago after owning many big bikes and discovered what I’d been missing. This is a very underrated bike, I can keep up with much larger bikes, especially on the back roads. After all, the frame and engine are identical to the YZR R3 and that has it’s own racing series. Look forward to seeing more small bike reviews but I can’t think of any which will suit my needs more than this. Best wishes.
I found this video is the most complete and fair review of Yamaha MT03. Thanks for this, Peter
I just bought one of these after having many big bikes and small bikes over last 40 years. This is the perfect bike for me, i love it.
I started on one had it for a year before i went to the Mt07. I can say its prefect to start on I loved that little bike.
Cool R3 comparable MT03 here. A fun bike no doubt. I rode Ninja 250s for 20 years because they were so much fun, but also extremely low cost but very reliable bikes. I could go on the freeway with no issues. Passing up hills was out of the question as the main limit, but revving those bikes was tons of fun. You absolutely experienced the full power of that bike often. Each of mine lasted over 35,000 miles each before trading them in. Now on a Ninja 650 '21, but I'd always recommend a smaller bike too. Thanks.
90% of people who buy a motorcycle just want to have a little fun and or use it for commuting and will never go to a track and race it. This bike is plenty of motorcycle for 90% of riders
I fully agree with your first 90% statement. I'd say the second percentage that you list would be closer to 60%
Ok I guess I can buy that. You hear stories of so many people who buy a bike and never ride it. This bike would be less of an investment and more than capable of anything close to legal speeds in the US.
My bike for 2 years now. Love this thing, low maintenance, fuel mpg is decent, shocks are surprisingly good. Very reliable and no issues. Wish yamaha put 150-160 rear tires though. I put 160s on mine and it corners great!
Love this little bike in this color especially. Great review as always. You are my favorite bike reviewer. Thank you.
Thanks so much for your kind words! I agree, this is a great bike for having some fun on!
Best review channel on the tubes
Agreed. He is very informative and actually cares about his viewers questions. He almost always responds. Busy man I'm sure haha.
Great review Peter. Nice to see you reviewing different brands.
Thanks! Yes I'm reviewing a much wider range of brands, and dipping into a few other things on this channel outside of powersports. I think it will be good!
I sold my Goldwing, I sold my ST1100, last year sold my CBR1000F. I kept my CBR250R. It is fun and keeps up with traffic. Small displacement..For expert riders also.
Thank you for this video, it's really informative. I believe light, small-displacement bikes are a lot of fun. The Suzuki GD110 was probably the most fun bike I ever owned.
I've been riding for a few years and have no need for a large engine; I'd never get to take advantage of that where I am. I'm trying to decide which bike I want next, so your videos are VERY helpful. I'll have to ride each of my options to help finalize my decision.
I just downsized from an fz6 to a 2022 mt 03 and I absolutely love it. The fuel economy is impressive and its quicker than I thought it would be. I live in rural England and this is the perfect size and weight for b road riding and commuting to work.
I can't wait to BUY one of these. I LOVED the R3... and I started following this smaller displacement bike BEFORE the MT-03 was even available in the states as we all know the R3 came here first. HUGE FAN of the FZ line which is what this is in every other country, 'cept here where they changed from FZ to MT for marketing purposes only, I'm NOT a sport/crotch rocket guy, but this thing is gorgeous, fun, flickable and an amazing price. Thanks for a GREAT video! (yeah I'm 9 months late but hey, ewwtube etc.)
By far the best reviews on you tube.
I would love to own one of this bike but can't get one to buy in my country.. im riding a 125cc for 10 years now
Thanks for the enjoyable review.
I actually wanted to have a big bike as my first bike, but then I thought it would be useless if I only drive it slowly. It's not like I need to go really fast all the time. That's why I really loved it when you said "Its better to drive a slow car fast than to drive a fast car slow".
Great presentation of this nice as well as really useful bike, Peter 👍
Tons of these here in SEA 😊
Thanks for watching!!
@@PeterLoweOne pleasure is totally on my side, Peter👍
I purchased one for my wife got a great deal so I got to ride it home for her….WOW it’s super smooth power is more than enough for anything other than huge passing power.
Yeah, these are still great bikes! Thanks for sharing!
Leaving a comment for you- just BC YT algorithms- interesting bike. I wonder if it could ever be possible for Yamaha to use this platform to build a Tenere 300.
Hey Peter, just discovered your channel and love your videos. I rode a MT-03 at my Basic Rider Course, and my legs didn’t fit well. I’m about 6’2”, and with feet on the pegs, my knees were too high to hug into the tank nicely, but it was fine for the training course. Do you think there is another 300 cc class bike that I would fit better on (Z400)? Or would I be better suited to check out a MT-07?
I would try the Z400. But it's not a big bike either. If you're comfortable moving to an MT-07, there are plenty of great options in that class that should fit you well.
@@PeterLoweOne Thanks and keep up the great work! Looking forward to more of your videos.
Im thinking of buying one, gonna see if i can trst drive one though
Looking for my first bike and this is def on the list with the Svartpilen 401. No experience riding other than quads and scooters. Im also 47, 6'1 and 250. 🤔🤷♂️
At 250 lbs, don't be afraid to cross compare with slightly larger displacement. Also if you're 47 you might have more maturity and be able to handle more power than someone with less life experience and poorer judgement. The 300 cc class will be fine, but you may want to get a bit more if you plan to keep the bike for a while.
I'm looking into getting an MC license and I have been eyeing the MT-03 for a while now. I'm vertically challenged (5'4) and my limbs aren't long, and most bikes I've seen and sat on have all been really uncomfortable because my limbs aren't long enough which makes just sitting on them kind of panic'y because I feel like I can't reach anything properly 😂 Plus, it looks aggressive, which I really like.
I drove this for a good bit yesterday, it's a little tight for me, but I had an absolute blast on it. If you're shorter and think you might want to try this, I highly recommend giving it a try. It's very fun, and it might fit you well.
@@PeterLoweOne Yeah I'm definitely gonna see if I know someone that has one I can try out, but the ones I know with bikes are all 6'1+ tall so the chances of them having a low seat bike is slim 😅
“Vertically challenged” lmao. just say you’re short
@@va_nzy I could, but its not nearly as fun.
Be a good buy for a starter bike then when ready to move up you could turn the Yamaha R3 into a trail type dirt bike for off road.
Hi, Peter, how tall exactly are you in centimeters?
Because your body shape and height is almost similiar to mine (181 cm), and I think it looks perfect with the bike.
Nice video btw
First time viewer. Great video
Thanks for watching!!
Is this the 2024?
Just a quick question. Has anyone had a pillion on the back and was it comfortable for them . Thanks
man, why no mt05
I never thought about that... But good point!
What speed can this bike go up to before you feel a bit volunable with it?
I've been over 150 km/h on it. No issues.
Rider size
How much is tank capacity?
14 litre
I average 70mpg sometimes a bit more
Wow really? I heard someone say it got in thr 50's mpg. 70 is great!@@Danny-et4wj
Nice review!
Hello. What bike will do off-road as well as on?
There are lots! Check out the Dual Sport class. I'll have a review of a 2024 Dual Sport on Friday.
The door to my house is 72 cm wide, can MT 03 enter through the door or not?
Best static reviewer on YT 👋
I appreciate it. I try to do something a little different than others just to give a different perspective. I think there are a lot of great riding reviewers and I'll do a number of riding reviews too, but there's space for me on TH-cam to do this, so I try to do my best with them to cover information that others don't cover in the same way.
@@PeterLoweOne My bad i've not seen your riding reviews yet. I bet you are exceptional on those too.
@@PanGrs I've only done one so far. I think others will probably do better riding reviews than me, but I'll try to add to the overall conversation on TH-cam and see if I can offer unique insight. I don't view other creators as competitors at all, I think we're all sewing a quilt of information, and I think the more quality information, the better.
the door of my house is 72 CM wide, can you recommend motorcycles with suitable width
Hmmmm I've never thought about that. These smaller bikes are often a little narrower. Dual sport bikes can often turn very sharp, and I've moved them through narrow doorways despite their actual width at the handlebars.
Thank you for the information@@PeterLoweOne
is this too small if you are 6'1?
I'm about 6 feet tall, and it works for me. You'd have to try it for yourself to be sure, but I think you'd be fine.
Nice looking bike but an uncolored LCD display just doesn't cut it anymore in 2024... Needs a COLOUR TFT display! Otherwise, I'm thinking of Kawasaki's new z500... (but don't want that weight/power).
11:00 A big somethin on my screen
Grow up
Mt03 or sv650……. Similar price for city and short high way combo…..anyone?
In Canada the MT-03 has an MSRP of $6,599 and the SV650 has an MSRP of $9,199. Those are 2024 prices. If you're able to get them for the same price, I have to assume that you're looking used and then you'll have to take into account the mileage, maintenance records, overall condition, etc. Overall the SV650 is going to be more versatile as it is more comfortable at high speeds, but both bikes will work for what you're describing, with the MT-03 giving you a lower insurance premium.
Nice!!
I'd like to listen to you commenting the Yamaha XMAX 300!
18:10 «if you can't have fun on a slow bike, you're not riding correctly» So true!
I'll be reviewing that on this channel! Stay tuned!
I second this. Those things are neat scoots!
Does it have helmet hooks?
Yes
I ride my MT03 near full throttle and near redline all the time, otherwise its just too gutless to move around in traffic as a motorcycle should.
If it's not enough power for you, you should consider getting another bike. Others will find them to be just fine for their needs. I think most people understand that these aren't meant to be R1's
No you don't.
i live in asia. havd a gb 350s honda. its small capacity. but i still go faster than the teslas here.
Haha. With all due respect, the Tesla's may not be giving it all they've got. You're not beating a plaid with this bike. But having said that, you can absolutely have more fun on a bike like this than a Tesla. I say that as motorcycle riding Tesla driver.
I own a FZ in Kerala
There's also an MT15. It's smaller than MT03.
We don't have that in North America. I'd love to try it though!
@@PeterLoweOne i see. In south east asia, you can go as low as 155cc, 150cc, 125cc, and 100cc. I think in the 80s/90s, there was even a 60cc scooter from honda.
Hi
GREAT video... (I gotta be that guy I just can't help it) BTW you don't "drive" a motorcycle, you RIDE it. Just sayin' :) Equivalent to calling an engine a motor etc. ;) Have a good one!
Yup. I spent YEARS running a much bigger automotive TH-cam channel, I often slip into old habits and use the wrong words. I spent some time riding this bike yesterday, what an absolute blast to ride. Great fun for the money obviously, but just great fun overall!
@@PeterLoweOne Thanks for the reply! So.. I've been watching since the YZF-R3 came to the states, thinking to myself how excited I am for the possibility of the MT-03 coming to the states. That was a few years ago, it's here, and I'm excited to buy an MT-03 soon. SUBBED!
So , No Cruise? So no long haul HWY or Interstate. Even tho, the motorcycle can handle it.
Cruise would be exceptionally rare on anything with a 300cc motor. If you're looking for cruise control on a bike like this, most people look into throttle lock options that work like a switch on the throttle to lock it in position.
MT03 is good. But gutless. I have to rev it to the sky just to keep up with the traffic. Nothing below 650cc for me.
I've driven plenty of bikes that have less power than this, and revving it is part of the fun with these bikes! I know it's not for everyone, and it sounds like it's not for you, but that doesn't make it a bad bike. It's a great bike for those that want to have fun on it and don't need or want the speed of a bigger bike.
@@PeterLoweOne couple of things I like about MT03. My son is safer in MT03 then my liter class bike. You can flog that little bike to death, and it still purrs like a kitten, and it does not overheat in 110-degree Texas summer. It is built like a tank. I personally would have like to see additional 20 hp to punch through the traffic.
“Gutless”, I wouldn’t call a bike which will go 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds “gutless”. I don’t think the R3 racing series would be based on “gutless” motorcycles. Are you riding it properly?
@@user-rf9me7xm1w I used to race 50 cc bike. Those were gutless too.. Racing is not street riding. How many 300cc motorcycle do you see on US roads? Any Why? Because you will kill yourself if you cannot keep up the traffic. In Texas that is 75 to 85 MPH. MT03 is a toy to learn. Not a serious commuter.
@@lordabhikingfisher8087 Fair comment but as I live in England, I don’t see any 300 cc bikes on the US roads ! The speed limits over here is 60 mph on most roads and the cars are not the oversized monsters you have over there so all in all, my MT 03 is ideal for me.
Too bulky motorcycle ... 168 kg for 321 cc ... Yamaha should make a light twin air 250 cc motorcycle that does not tire the driver at speeds of 60 - 70 km/h and does not require too many gear changes ...
W... what?
A unicorn bike essentially @@vitorvena
@@Antody i think a horse with a horn is easier to make than what he wants hahaha
From the streets of Asia, a carbureted honda Innova/wave 110 or a cub 125 would do fine up to 90km/h with 4 gears in total. All that weighing under 120kg
Hi mate , I own 2019 Mto3 in Australia 🇦🇺 , it’s been 3 years , it’s really not tiresome at all , I do freeway speeds 100kmph, daily 40 Kms up and down , I have never felt boring , it’s so awesome , and very reliable if u maintain well , I have clocked 33k, and guess what till now no valve clearance check done , I do all my service myself, it’s so easy and just keep chain lubed , it will never miss a beat .
Mainly about the WEIGHT is very important, the windy days even in freeway u don’t get thrown around , that’s the reason behind the 168kgs