2022 Yamaha MT-10 SP Review - First Ride

After a long wait, Yamaha is finally bringing over the MT-10 SP to the US. But are electronic suspension and steel-braided brake lines really worth the wait? Road Test Editor Troy Siahaan rode the bike in the canyons and at the racetrack to see what all the fuss is about.

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[cliveomahoney]

It's not underrated in the UK, we love it. Best seller.

[chicagoui]

Can't beat what this bike offers with the price it's offering. Period. This is one hell of a street bike.

[scorpion-ninja]

Yamaha still uses 1 low beam, 1 high beam headlight system . . . instead of giving us 2 low beams together, 2 high beams together! So many manufactures do this still! Riding at night it will make a difference man!!!
Good review, thanks for the 411 on how it handles at the track. As someone whos a casual trackday rider, but mostly street. This is good to hear about!

[LesterOng-idgj]

I am hoping that this review is made by you, Troy. I'm glad you're the right one to review this bike!

[tsquine]

I may be the odd man out with this comment. However, I suggest prospective MT-10 SP buyers take this review with a grain of salt. It highlights many negatives that I dont see in my recently acquired 2023 MT-10 SP with less than 500 mi ridden. Brakes are fantastic, quickshifter is superb, even at low-mid RPM, power delivery is spot on in A1 mode. Suspension is still an area I'm getting used to as semi-active is a first for me. It's stiff when I need it and compliant when it should. My other ride is a 2019 stage 3 tuned KTM Superduke 1290 R with multiple A-group trackdays on the same track as the reviewer in this video. The KTM is raw and aggressive, but I think my new MT-10 would hang with the pack very well in the same setting. To that end, I question the reviewer's riding capabilities - both in canyon and on track, his line choices were terrible. A single day at California Superbike School would break those bad habits and the bike might not be the recipient of such faults.

[eman]

So a yamaha R1 would probably be better for track use! Never would have guessed 😉

[njohnson]

I know I'm chronic complainer, but it seems all the MT-10's in my area are:
A) bought up by the various training schools
B) bought up by other entities (tire testers, rental places)
C) reserved 6 months in advance at my local shops or on back order
D) used market examples are heavily modified, but sketchy histories
E) all of the above (none available)

[yassim]

Don’t forget about the paint scheme from the r1. It’s beautiful

[kleinbottled]

Rode it recently, loved it. Does pretty much everything very well indeed. Only gripe for me is the tank range. If they changed it to a 5(+) gallon tank this thing would be able to stretch into the tourer niche in more people's garages. Living in SW USA that tank range is unacceptable for crossing deserts. (Edit: Perhaps Yamaha are intentionally leaning into the 'Empty-10 meme' dunno.)

[petea]

Hey man, thanks for the details on the suspension - this is my main concern about the SP. I have a 2017 Multistrada Pikes Peak with manual Ohlins and rode my buddies Multi with the Skyhook suspension and didn’t like the adaptive suspension at all, felt very strange to me.

Food for thought

[Firestorm]

It seems like overnight most liter naked bikes are $20, 000 plus. Many near $30, 000. Harley just as expensive. I would rather a car. Enter the middle category or this new MT 10. This MT 10 a lot for the money. That new Hornet, Aprilia 660, and Trident 660 all are usable street power. Love ur video

[HeyAddieImTojo]

Am i the only one that don’t prefer the brakes?

[Chris-gich]

Frankly I'm willing to sacrifice some performance/handling for a simple oil change procedure, and reliability. That's where Yamaha wins me over the European bikes.

[aluisious]

I prefer a soft initial bite on any road vehicle. My Multi has Brembo M50s that are soft initially and with a little more squeeze they're very powerful, I can't imagine wanting more powerful brakes.
Same as my car, a CTS V sport, 6 pot Brembos up front, soft initially, but if I step on it my PS4S tires will give up before the brakes.
Why would you want jerky brake application on the street?

[exothermal.sprocket]

So...
Buy the base model MT-10.
Buy fork cartridges, springs, and a 3-way rear shock. Install.
Buy full exhaust and filter. ECU flash with a tune.
Better than MT-10SP.

[Firestorm]

Suspension should change with modes? Again, most average riders probably can not tell the difference Steel vs rubber brakes lines. Just as long as brakes stop

[ferociousfrankie]

Cool engine, wished they used it on a sports tourer.

[MEDFLIGHT]

I just put a deposit down on a 2023 mt10 sp any suggestions !!!! pick it up April 6th

[antoniocamacho]

Great video review, as an fz10 owner I was wondering what race quick shifter up and down do you recommend?

[nickrider]

I like the mt10, not enough to have bought one ! It seems Yamaha have saved money with the conrods and valves. Think I'd prefer quality manual suspension and save some money.