amcn.com.au 103
Yamaha MT 10The beat goes on
YAMAHA’S MT-10 has been
a member of our long-term
f leet for a year now, and I’m
still enjoying riding it as
much as the day it arrived.
The versatility of the big-
bore naked when combined
with the wide selection of
genuine Yamaha accessories
available from the Y-Shop
has meant there’s always
been a project on the go.
Over the past 12 months I’ve
blasted the MT-10 through
my favourite mountain runs
with mates, and fitted a
screen, panniers and topbox
for some long-range touring
with the wife. Things got a
little crazy when I stripped it
down to its bare bones, fitted
a titanium Akrapoviþ system,
rearsets, and a quickshifter,
and allowed Dave from
Dynobike to turn it into a
trackday weapon. Through
allthisI’vecontinuedto
useitasmydailyrideto
the office – and it has done
everything brilliantly.
The good news is that the
ride is far from over. After
testing the MT-10SP (Vol 67
No 05) I realised the standard
MT-10s suspension has a lot
of room for improvement,
especially if I’m planning
on a little more track time
in 2018. I’ve spoken w ithByronDraperfromÖhlins
Suspension, and the plan is
tochangetherearshockand
install Öhlins cartridges in
the fork legs. If you own an
MT-10, this is an upgrade you
will want to see.
That’s all happening once
everyone is back on deck
after their Christmas/New
Year break. Until then, I’m
just going to keep avoiding
the phone calls and emails
from Yamaha asking where
their bike is.
CHRIS DOBIEYamaha YZF-R3IT’S ALWAYS A sad day when you
return a favourite long-termer,
but watching my YZF-R3 racebike
depart Gassit HQ also meant the
end of two seasons of great times
and hanging out with some cool
people. Unless I wake up one
morning blessed with the skills
of Rossi, competing in the ASBK
R3 Cup on a bike provided by
Yamaha Australia and prepared
by the guys at Race Center will
probably be the highlight of my
short racing career.Jed Metcher, Darren Sciberras
and Phil McCourt helped me
become a much better racer and
rider during that time, and we had
plenty of laughs along the way.
Handing the R3 over to young
up-and-coming riders like Tayla
Relph and Harry Khouri was also
a highlight.
Now that the racing bug has
bitten, I’m sure I’ll end up leasing a
ride on an R3 at one or two rounds
of the ASBK this year.
CHRIS DOBIENot just a bike, an experience
With a touring
kit from Y-Shop
fitted, the MT-10 is
ready to travelRearset ’pegs provide more ground
clearance for track action