2018 Yamaha motorcycles revealed ahead of EICMA

Heading into the 2017 EICMA show, Yamaha Motor Europe has shown what’s in store for its motorcycle and scooter range for 2018. These include updates to the very popular Yamaha MT naked sports bike range, which sees updates for the MT-09 and MT-07, and the addition of the MT-09 SP.

Receiving the “SP” suffix that Yamaha reserves for its high-performance models, the 2018 Yamaha MT-09 SP features a fully-adjustable Ohlins rear shock coupled with a Kayaba front fork adjustable for rebound and compression. The Kayaba adjustable fork also makes it as standard equipment to the base model 2018 MT-09.

Finished in a Silver Blu Carbon paint scheme that ties it in with the top-of-the-range MT-10 SP, the MT-09 SP also comes with lightweight 10-spoke alloy wheels with MT-09 graphics. Another SP touch is blue stitching in the seat and blacked-out handlebars, brake and clutch levers, and handlebar crown.

Also updated for 2018 is the Yamaha MT-07, a model which is very popular in Malaysia due to its price-to-performance ratio. For the new year, the MT-07 gets a completely new seat design which gives an improved riding position for riders of all sizes.

The new seat now extends to the sides of the rear of the fuel tank, giving increased comfort and visually integrating the look of the MT-07. Adding to ride comfort for the MT-07 are revised settings to the front fork and the rear monoshock now comes with a reworked rebound damping adjuster – something we remarked upon when reviewing the 2016 Yamaha MT-07.

New bodywork graces the MT-07, wth newly styled “air intakes” and there is a new headlight and the taillights resemble the units on the MT-09. There will be three colour choices for the MT-07 – Night Fluo, Yamaha Blue and Tech Black – and the 2018 Yamaha MT-09 will be available in January 2018, while the MT-07 hits Yamaha Europe dealer showrooms in March 2018.

On the sports-touring side of things, the 2018 Yamaha Tracer 900 and Tracer 900GT make their appearance, for riders who wish to extend their travel range across a wide variety of riding disciplines. The 2018 Tracer 900 comes with improved wind protection, due to a taller windscreen which nows features manual adjustment.

The back-end of the Tracer 900 has been given a make-over for 2018, and a newly designed aluminium swingarm as well as revised rear shock settings increase rider comfort. This also extends to rider’s and passenger’s seats, and the rider’s seat now comes with two-level adjustment, while the passenger accommodation features a revised passenger footrest assembly together with the newly designed grab bars.

Higher up the Tracer model range is the 2018 Tracer 900GT, which takes Tracer performance up a notch with a TFT LCD instrument panel in the cockpit and colour-matched side cases as standard fitment. Also standard equipment on the 900GT is a Yamaha quick-shifter system (QSS) and rear shock with remote preload adjuster, while inside the cockpit, the rider gets cruise control and heated grips.

It is somewhat unfortunate that riders in Malaysia do not get the Yamaha adventure bike range, as the brand has built a fair bit of its off-roading reputation on the Tenere series machines. At EICMA, we will be getting a first-hand look at the Tenere 700 World Raid prototype, a.k.a. the T7, which comes with a 689 cc Crossplane 2 power plant, and lightweight chassis.

Closer to the production side of things but still not on general sale, is the 2018 Yamaha Tenere 700 World Raid, which differs from the T7 prototype with steel chassis and lower seat height, with a slightly larger fuel tank to provide more useful range. Carbon-fibre is used for the body panels, and the headlight is a four-unit projector lamp assembly.

The big boy in Yamaha’s Tenere-series adventure machines is the Yamaha XT1200ZE Super Tenere Raid Edition, affectionally known amongst local riders as the “Super Ten”. For the new year, the Super Ten comes with newly designed dual 37-litre aluminium side cases for 74 litres of carrying capacity, and larger windscreen and wind deflectors.

Tuned for greater torque, the 1,199 cc two-cylinder mill has a 270-degree crank for higher torque numbers. The Super Ten’s shaft drive comes with clutch and shaft dampers to remove driveline judder, and electronically controlled suspension improves ride handling and comfort.

Seat height on the Super Tenere is adjustable between 845 mm and 870 mm, while fuel is carried in a 23-litre tank. The 2018 XT1200ZE Super Tenere Raid Edition comes in two colour options – Yamaha Blue or Tech Black, with Raid Edition graphics – and availability in Europe will be in March 2018.

GALLERY: 2018 Yamaha MT-07

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