Yamaha MT-07
The middleweight naked benchmark. Yamaha's CP2 689cc parallel-twin pumps out enough torque to make the MT-07 grin-inducing without being intimidating, the chassis is forgiving but eager, and it can be A2-restricted — meaning new A2 riders can buy one knowing it'll grow with them when they pass their A test. The 2021 refresh sharpened styling and updated lighting; 2023 added a 5-inch TFT dash on the MT-07 LCD-replaced model. The single most-recommended first-big-bike in UK forums for over a decade.
- Engine
- 689 cc
- Power
- 73.4 PS
- Weight
- 184 kg
- Seat height
- 805 mm
- A2 licence
- Restrictable
CP2 parallel-twin 270° crank
wet
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 64 · Insurance 38 · Theft 35
The Yamaha MT-07 holds its value about as well as most bikes (around 25% lost over three years, against the 25-32% bike norm) and is expensive to insure (group 11). Theft risk is high. It can be restricted for an A2 licence.
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-07
Engine
Petrol · 689cc
Power
73.4 ps
Torque
67 Nm
Weight
184 kg
Seat
805 mm
Transmission
6-speed manual
Economy
58 mpg
License
A2 restrictable
The volume MT-07. CP2 689cc parallel-twin with 270° crank for V-twin-like character, 73.4 PS, 67 Nm. 6-speed manual, chain final drive. 184 kg wet. 805mm seat = accessible to most riders 5'6"+. A2-restrictable. The default first big bike.
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical clean bike.
Estimated market value
£5,662
Range £5,096 – £6,228
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
£7,850
At 5 years
£5,181
At 10 years
£3,831
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
£5,716
Per year
£1,905
Per mile
£0.24
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 11 of 17 (high — performance) · 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
£1,100/ year
Roughly £92 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 | £1,815 | £2,420 | £3,388 |
| Age 22-29 | £1,114 | £1,485 | £2,079 |
| Age 30-39Selected | £825 | £1,100 | £1,540 |
| Age 40-49 | £726 | £968 | £1,355 |
| Age 50+ | £660 | £880 | £1,232 |
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
3/4High risk
High risk
Frequent theft target — appears regularly on UK police hot-lists, especially in London. Expect insurers to demand Thatcham chain + ground anchor + disc lock; tracker can knock 10–15% off premium.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 bikes are on police's most-stolen lists. London especially. Expect insurance to demand a Thatcham-approved chain + ground anchor + disc lock; without these your premium goes north of £1,400.
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
3
Low / cosmetic
2
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| medium | Rear shock (pre-2021) Ohlins/YSS/Nitron common any | £500 to upgrade |
| medium | Final drive sprocket 20-25k mi | £200 (chain + sprockets) |
| medium | Regulator/rectifier Newer R/R units improved 30k+ mi (older bikes) | £200 |
| low | Fork seals 25-35k mi | £150 |
| low | Cam chain tensioner 20k+ mi (rare) | £250 |
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-07, 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
UK's bestselling middleweight naked. Cross-shop Honda CB650R (smoother inline-four), Triumph Trident 660 (more premium feel), Kawasaki Z650 (cheaper). The MT-07's A2-restrictable status + strong residuals + characterful CP2 engine make it the default first big bike. Best-recommended in forums for over a decade.
Known issues
- Pre-2021 stock shock under-damped — common upgrade
- Final drive sprocket wear at 20-25,000 miles
- Coolant level on early ABS models — check at service
- Otherwise extremely reliable — CP2 engine well-proven
Strengths
- +A2-restrictable to 35kW — buy now, unrestrict at full A license
- +CP2 parallel-twin: torque-rich, characterful, easy to ride fast
- +Light at 184 kg — flickable, confidence-inspiring
- +Affordable middleweight (sub-£8k new)
- +Strong used market — easy to sell on
Watch-outs
- −Suspension is the obvious upgrade — stock dampers vague
- −No quickshifter standard (optional)
- −Wind protection minimal — long motorway stints tiring
- −Slightly cheap-feeling switchgear vs Triumph Trident 660