"With my single-cylinder, I'll drop anyone on the twisty road!";"My twin-cylinder has a hell of an engine brake, so I can wind up at ease!";"With my three-legged, I'll take you both on with my eyes closed!"
That's the kind of discussion that gave me the idea of making this comparo, so I made a call to KTM and Yamaha, found my two riders and got down to business.
the best compromise? by Oli le Belge in collaboration with Scalle and Sylvain
Sylvain arrives just on time as I imagined, the MT07 is in front of the house and it's raining cats and dogs...
not a good start.
Well, at least we'll be able to test the mudguard protection.
We put on our rain suits and I hand out the bikes.
Instinctively, my passenger (and viewer!) of the day heads for the soft saddle of the MT07.
Sylvain jumps on the Duke 690 R (SM rider obliged!) and Scalle takes off on the MT09.
I scan the sky for clear skies, still hopeful of sunshine today.
The road is soggy and the three bikes are spraying the back of us.
No great feat this time, everyone's in the same boat.
The MT07's softer character calms its rider in such conditions, but in any case, the day gets off to a gentle start.
First photo stop, I take the opportunity to have a look at the dashboards.
It's fun this time, each one has its own personality, but it fits in well with that of the bike.
As a newcomer, I start with the MT07.
Attractive design, gear indicator, odometer countdown when in reserve, and a fun detail: Yamaha has decided to center the instrumentation, unlike the MT09.
On the Duke, we find the functional dashboard of the previous generation.
It's clear, uncluttered and sporty.
Of course, compared to the current look of the brand with the three tuning forks, the Austrian looks rougher.
As for the MT09, it features a familiar element - I still can't understand why it's not in the center of the handlebars...
and the engines?
Right from the start, even in the rain, the character of the engines is clear.
We start with the Duke R's 690.
Packed with electronics, the single-cylinder reaches its peak. I'll skip all the technical details and just talk about engine feel.
Thanks to the Akra titanium silencer, the mill produces 70 hp/din. With this engine breathing and singing well, torque has disappeared a little.
The Duke's ride is in keeping with its looks: you have to be awake and in the revs. It's a bit odd for a mono, but the boiler prefers the second half of the rev counter.
City riding isn't his cup of tea, but when the going gets tough, it's a blast!
On to the twin, 698 cc of smoothness for the MT 07
I didn't say smooth, but as you can see in one of the videos on my Youtube page, when Sylvain switches from the Duke to the MT 07, he exclaims a good"oh p.....!"
74.8 bhp distilled over the entire rev range, it's fun to see how this engine can, without too much trouble, keep up with the single and three cylinders.
But what about the three-cylinder?
The 45hp difference obviously makes it more lively. But the engine's Swiss Army knife character means it can be used in a wide range of sauces.
I have to admit that the Yam's three-cylinder engine has always had a special place in my heart.
So, even more than with other comparisons, I have to be measured in what I say.
But this mill is a real banana machine, with punch, power and sound at every level!
qualities, yes, but also flaws!
The Duke R's "Ready to race" designation is superbly enhanced by the on-board equipment (WP suspension, abundance of anodized and machined parts), a cleverly tuned ABS, this Katoche is no exception to the house rule.
But right from the start, the combination of saddle and sporty suspension didn't give me much hope of comfort.
You have to know how to choose in life.
It was the Duke's two-faced attitude that stood out for me during this test ride.
A real pain in the city because of the roughness of the single and the sporty stance, this bike is in its full glory as soon as the bends come into view.
With its ultra-grippy tires, lively cornering and perfect attacking position, this Austrian is a fighter plane on small roads.
As I wrote earlier, the MT09's engine remains a best-seller for me.
But I've noticed, as I've moved from bike to bike, that the 115hp can put a strain on the suspension on rough roads.
Nothing serious, far from it, but that's the whole point of a comparison, to bring out certain details that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.
Otherwise, it's all positive, with a generous engine that's easy to dominate thanks to 3 power modes, perfect looks with the optional small windscreen, and easy to drive.
And the new kid on the block?
Yamaha, once again, launches a motorcycle concept with an assertive look and belonging to a family, the MTs.
I'm a bit angry with them for giving the MT name to the 7.
Although it's a very good bike, it doesn't have the "aura" of an MT 01, 09 or even the MT03.
That said, compared with the Suzuki Gladius (€5799 with ABS, on special offer), which has always had trouble shedding its image as a woman's bike, and the less bourgeois-looking Kawasaki ER6n (€6599 with ABS), the MT07 can make the most of its price (€6199 with ABS) and statutory image.
in conclusion
At the end of the day, after just over 250 km in all conditions, the three riders and the passenger were delighted to find the MT07 softer than ever.
Soft in every way, from the seat to the suspension and even the engine character.
And despite this comfort, it never failed to keep up with the other two.
What if the MT07 were simply an affordable motorcycle: price, power and ride.
The trifecta?
See you soon,
Oli the Belgian
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| Yamaha MT-07 700 2014 | KTM 690 DUKE R 2014 | Yamaha MT-09 850 2014 | ||||||||||||||||
Chassis |
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| Nombre de places | ||||||||||||||||||
| Frame | ||||||||||||||||||
| type Diamant en tubes d'acier | treillis tubulaire au chrome molybdène | en aluminium moulé sous pression | ||||||||||||||||
| Fuel capacity | ||||||||||||||||||
| 14 liters (3.70 US gallons) | 14 liters (3.70 US gallons) | 14 liters (3.70 US gallons) | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil capacity | ||||||||||||||||||
| Seat height | ||||||||||||||||||
| Seat height : 805 mm (31.69 in) | Seat height : 865 mm (34.06 in) | Seat height : 815 mm (32.09 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Length | ||||||||||||||||||
| Length : 2,085 mm (82.09 in) | Length : 2,075 mm (81.69 in) | |||||||||||||||||
| Width | ||||||||||||||||||
| 745 mm (29.33 in) | 815 mm (32.09 in) | |||||||||||||||||
| Height | ||||||||||||||||||
| Min height : 1,090 mm (42.91 in) | Min height : 1,135 mm (44.69 in) | |||||||||||||||||
| Ground clearance | ||||||||||||||||||
| Wheelbase | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1,400 mm (55.12 in) | 1,466 mm (57.72 in) | 1,440 mm (56.69 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Dry weight | ||||||||||||||||||
| 149.50 kg | 171 kg | |||||||||||||||||
| Curb mass | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weight when fully loaded | ||||||||||||||||||
| 179 kg | 188 kg | |||||||||||||||||
| Brake assist | ||||||||||||||||||
| Optional ABS | ABS as standard | Optional ABS | ||||||||||||||||
Front axle |
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| Suspension | ||||||||||||||||||
| Telescopic fork Ø 41mm | Telehydraulic inverted WP forks Ø 43 mm | Reverse telehydraulic fork Ø 41 mm | ||||||||||||||||
| Wheel travel | ||||||||||||||||||
| 130 mm (5.12 in) | 150 mm (5.91 in) | 137 mm (5.39 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Angle de chasse | ||||||||||||||||||
| Setting | ||||||||||||||||||
| Brake | ||||||||||||||||||
| Braking 2 discs Ø 282 mm (11.1 in), 4-piston caliper | Braking 1 disc Ø 320 mm (12.6 in), radial mounting, 4-piston caliper | Braking 2 discs Ø 298 mm (11.73 in), radial mounting, 4-piston caliper | ||||||||||||||||
| Wheel | ||||||||||||||||||
| Front tire : 120 / 70 - 17 | Front tire : 120 / 70 - 17 | Front tire : 120 / 70 - 17 | ||||||||||||||||
| Pressure | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.25 bar | 2.5 bar | |||||||||||||||||
| Handlebars | ||||||||||||||||||
Transmission |
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| Gearbox | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 stage gearbox | 6 stage gearbox | 6 stage gearbox | ||||||||||||||||
| Transmission | ||||||||||||||||||
| Secondary by chain | Secondary by chain | Secondary by chain | ||||||||||||||||
Rear axle |
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| Suspension | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mono-damper | WP monoshock | Mono-damper | ||||||||||||||||
| Wheel travel | ||||||||||||||||||
| 130 mm (5.12 in) | 150 mm (5.91 in) | 130 mm (5.12 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Setting | ||||||||||||||||||
| Brake | ||||||||||||||||||
| Braking 1 disc Ø 245 mm (9.65 in), single-piston caliper | Braking 1 disc Ø 240 mm (9.45 in), single-piston caliper | Braking 1 disc Ø 245 mm (9.65 in), single-piston caliper | ||||||||||||||||
| Wheel | ||||||||||||||||||
| Rear tire : 180 / 55 - 17 | Rear tire : 160 / 60 - 17 | Rear tire : 180 / 55 - 17 | ||||||||||||||||
| Pressure | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2.5 bar | 2.9 bar | |||||||||||||||||
Motor |
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| Motor type | ||||||||||||||||||
| two-cylinder online , 4 strokes | single-cylinder , 4 strokes | 3 cylinders online , 4 strokes | ||||||||||||||||
| Cooling system | ||||||||||||||||||
| liquid | liquid | liquid | ||||||||||||||||
| Fuel system | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injection | Injection | Injection | ||||||||||||||||
| Fuel | ||||||||||||||||||
| Starting system | ||||||||||||||||||
| Timing | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 ACT | 1 ACT | 2 ACT | ||||||||||||||||
| Number of valves | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 valves per cylinder | 4 valves per cylinder | 4 valves | ||||||||||||||||
| Displacement | ||||||||||||||||||
| 689 cc, Bore x stroke: 80 x 68.6 mm | 690 cc, Bore x stroke: 102 x 84.5 mm | 847 cc, Bore x stroke: 78 x 59.1 mm | ||||||||||||||||
| Power | ||||||||||||||||||
| 74 ch to 9,000 rpm | 69 ch to 7,500 rpm | 113.4 ch to 10,000 rpm | ||||||||||||||||
| With compressed air | ||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Compression | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11.5 : 1 | 12.6 : 1 | 11.5 : 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Torque | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6.90 mkg to 6,500 rpm | 7.20 mkg to 5,500 rpm | 8.90 mkg to 8,500 rpm | ||||||||||||||||
| With compressed air | ||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Émission sonore | ||||||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 34ch (A MTT1 Permit) | ||||||||||||||||||
| No | No | No | ||||||||||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 48ch (French A2 Permit) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Yes | No | No | ||||||||||||||||
Options/Equipment |
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Practical information |
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| The advantages | ||||||||||||||||||
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| The disadvantages | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Performance | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Price | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Country of manufacture | ||||||||||||||||||
Compare |
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Torque
Yamaha MT-07 700 2014
: 6.9 mkg
KTM 690 DUKE R 2014
: 7.2 mkg
Yamaha MT-09 850 2014
: 8.9 mkg
Power
Yamaha MT-07 700 2014
: 75 ch (74 hp)
KTM 690 DUKE R 2014
: 70 ch (69 hp)
Yamaha MT-09 850 2014
: 115 ch (113.40 hp)
Power-to-Weight ratio
Yamaha MT-07 700 2014
: 2.25 kg/ch
*
KTM 690 DUKE R 2014
: 2.17 kg/ch
Yamaha MT-09 850 2014
: 1.51 kg/ch
Torque-to-Weight ratio
Yamaha MT-07 700 2014
: 24.12 kg/mkg
*
KTM 690 DUKE R 2014
: 20.76 kg/mkg
Yamaha MT-09 850 2014
: 19.21 kg/mkg
Speed
Yamaha MT-07 700 2014
: approximately 190 km/h (118.10 mph)
KTM 690 DUKE R 2014
: 200 km/h (124.30 mph)
Yamaha MT-09 850 2014
: approximately 230 km/h (142.90 mph)
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Models |
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Competitors |
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