Yamaha has revealed the newest member of its MT family at the ongoing EICMA show, powered by the YZF-R1’s inline-four engine. Sporting the highest performance specifications of the lineup, the Yamaha MT-10 has technology developed from the R1 but tweaked for more practical street use.

The naked bike’s 998cc crossplane engine features a number of significant technical changes that are designed to deliver strong low to mid speed torque, including newly designed intake, exhaust and fuelling systems, as well as an optimized crank balance. A number of model-specific settings have also been adopted in order to enhance the direct and connected feeling between the throttle and the rear wheel that is associated with the crossplane design.

Yamaha D-MODE offers the rider a choice of three engine running modes that are designed to suit different riding situations and conditions. The key to its operation are the sophisticated electronics in the YCC-T that can instantaneously alter the engine character by adjusting throttle opening, ignition timing and fuel injection volume. The ‘Standard’ Mode gives a smooth feeling to the engine character throughout the entire rpm range, and is designed for use in a variety of riding conditions. ‘A’ Mode delivers a sportier engine character in the low to mid speed ranges for added excitement and enjoyment, while ‘B’ Mode delivers a milder response and is designed to be used in situations where more sensitive throttle use is appropriate – such as slippery surfaces or congested streets. There is also a 3-mode Traction Control System that can be deactivated if required. The system works by monitoring any slippage in the rear tyre, and when this is detected the YCC-T automatically controls throttle opening, ignition timing and fuel injection volume to restore rear wheel traction for increased control.

Additional goodies comprise of newly designed intake, exhaust and fuelling systems, lightweight forged pistons, carburized fracture-split con rods, a 4-2-1 titanium midship muffler with new exhaust valve design, and more.

The Yamaha MT-10’s chassis has been developed from the chassis used on the YZF-R1 that is widely considered to be one of the most sophisticated and best handling supersport bikes in the market. While the latter is a full-on supersport bike, the MT-10 is aimed at those riders looking for a thrilling and versatile performance bike that can be used in a range of situations. To enhance the new MT’s all round comfort in typical day-to-day usage, the Deltabox frame has a revised strength/rigidity balance that delivers outstanding handling agility together with class leading controllability and accurate feedback.

The new MT-10 runs with an ultra-short 1400mm wheelbase – a full 35mm less than the nearest competitor, making it the most compact one-litre naked bike in its class. Combined with the extra-long YZF-R1 type aluminium upward truss swingarm and subtle revisions to the chassis geometry, the 1400mm wheelbase gives light and neutral handling performance together with improved straight-line stability during acceleration.

On the suspension side, the front KYB upside-down cartridge forks feature 43mm tubes and offer 120mm of travel. At the rear, the MT-10 is equipped with YZF-R1-type upward truss type swingarm that pivots close to the machine’s centre to give enhanced straight-line stability. The MT-10 is fitted with dual 320mm diameter floating front discs that feature radial-mount 4-pot opposed piston callipers with sintered pads. The supersport-class front braking system is matched with a 220mm rear disc with a pin-slide calliper that gives plenty of feel and precise feedback, and ABS is fitted as standard.