Yamaha MT-03
The MT-07's little brother. Yamaha's 321cc parallel-twin makes 42 PS — under A2 limit so no restriction needed — wrapped in MT-series naked styling that doesn't shout 'beginner'. Light at 168 kg and accessible at 780mm seat, the MT-03 is one of the friendliest steps from CBT to A2. Cheaper to insure than the CB500F, lighter, sharper-looking. The 321cc CP twin doesn't have the torque of Honda's 471cc but spins more freely.
- Engine
- 321 cc
- Power
- 42 PS
- Weight
- 168 kg
- Seat height
- 780 mm
- A2 licence
- —
Liquid-cooled DOHC parallel-twin
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 52 · Insurance 63 · Theft 65
The Yamaha MT-03 holds its value about as well as most bikes (around 29% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and costs about average to insure (group 7). Theft risk is moderate. It's A2-licence legal in standard form.
A bike-specific blend of value retention, insurance and theft risk (weighted 40/35/25). Bikes carry no MOT reliability data, so reliability isn't scored. Higher is better.
Variant: MT-03
Engine
Petrol · 321cc
Power
42 ps
Torque
30 Nm
Weight
168 kg
Seat
780 mm
Transmission
6-speed manual
Economy
65 mpg
Volume MT-03. 321cc parallel-twin, 42 PS, 30 Nm. 6-speed manual, chain final. 168 kg wet. 780mm seat — accessible.
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£3,833
Range £3,450 – £4,216
HIGH CONFIDENCE
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
New
£5,599
At 5 years
£3,387
At 10 years
£2,251
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
UK new price by year
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£3,770
Per year
£1,257
Per mile
£0.16
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
Group 7 of 17 (mid — mainstream) · Comprehensive · 5 yr NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bike insurance is far more sensitive to licence tier and rider age than cars — pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Licence
Age
No-claims bonus
5 yearsRisk profile
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 30-39
£460/ year
Roughly £38 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-21 | £759 | £1,012 | £1,417 |
| Age 22-29 | £466 | £621 | £869 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £345 | £460 | £644 |
| Age 40-49 | £304 | £405 | £567 |
| Age 50+ | £276 | £368 | £515 |
How we estimate this
Premiums combine licence tier, rider age, no-claims bonus and a risk-profile multiplier on top of a bike-specific baseline. Bike insurance is materially more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) than car insurance, and young riders pay considerably more than older riders even on the same machine. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
2/4Medium risk
Medium risk
Some theft pattern, particularly in urban postcodes. Thatcham-approved chain plus disc lock recommended; secure overnight parking helps premiums.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
What this means for you
MT-series styling makes the MT-03 attractive to thieves despite the small engine. Chain + disc lock advised in London.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
0
Medium
2
Low / cosmetic
3
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Cam chain tensioner (pre-2020) any | £200 (Yamaha service fix) |
| medium | Chain stretch 15-18k mi | £220 |
| low | Side stand cut-out switch 15k+ mi | £30 |
| low | Fork seals 20k+ mi | £100 |
| low | Battery every 2-3 years | £60 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Yamaha MT-03, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Variant comparison
The MT-07's small-displacement sibling. Cross-shop Honda CB500F (heavier but more torque, hits A2 limit exactly), KTM Duke 390 (sharper, harder ride, more expensive insurance), Kawasaki Z400 (similar formula). MT-03 wins on looks and insurance cost; loses to CB500F on outright performance.
Known issues
- Pre-2020 cam chain tensioner — Yamaha service fix
- Chain wear at 15-18k mi (£220)
- Fork seals at 20k+ mi (£100)
- Battery every 2-3 years (£60)
- Side stand cut-out switch — known niggle
Strengths
- +Sharpest-looking A2 bike on the market — MT-series styling
- +Light at 168 kg — friendly for newer riders
- +42 PS under A2 limit — no restriction needed
- +Cheaper to insure than CB500F (smaller engine)
- +Yamaha dealer network
Watch-outs
- −321cc lacks the low-end torque of Honda's 471cc
- −Wind protection minimal — small bike feel on motorway
- −Same cam chain tensioner pre-2020 issue as MT-125
- −Stock suspension on the soft side