Yamaha MT-03
2025 Yamaha MT-03: 42 hp A2 naked bike, 167 kg, €6,599, Euro 5+ and smartphone connectivity. Full specs, press reviews and generations.
At a glance
The 2025 Yamaha MT-03 is a 321 cc, 42 hp twin-cylinder naked bike, A2-compliant without a restriction kit. Priced at €6,599, it gains Euro 5+ homologation, smartphone connectivity and a new tail unit this year. Reviewers praise its ease of use, light weight and frugality, but criticise average brakes and an engine weaker than its 400-500 cc rivals.
World press review
Meta-score
9 sources
Press ratings
Docile, faultless engine and excellent agility in town; performance below the A2 limit and criticised original tyres.
Light, stable chassis and comfortable suspension; the engine needs revving, front brake lacks bite, cramped knees for tall riders.
Easy, with a light clutch and low seat, lively at the top end; built to a price, harsh shock for lighter riders.
The most accessible MT: low seat, easy-to-control power, low fuel consumption; soft chassis and not very emotional.
Better looking, more comfortable and better equipped, playful engine and good chassis; average brakes and some finish details.
Easy, balanced, light and playful; the only real weak point is the brakes.
Press synthesis
What the world’s press says
The reviews cover the restyled 2020 MT-03: the 2025 model year keeps the same engine, frame and geometry. It scores 85/100 from Motorcycle.com, 7.5/10 from Moto.it and 3/5 from MCN. BikeSocial, Cycle World, RevZilla, 1000PS, Moto-Net and Le Repaire des Motards tested it without a numeric score.
What reviewers like: how easy it is to ride, its light weight, the low seat, the smooth engine that revs eagerly, the light clutch, frugality, comfort and its big-MT styling.
What they criticise: average brakes, a chassis and equipment seen as budget, disappointing original tyres, little low-down torque and more powerful rivals (KTM 390 Duke, Kawasaki Z400 then Z500). MCN concludes that it isn’t a bad option, just not the best in its class.
Key quotes
"Overall, the MT-03 is a superb little bike and a worthy addition to Yamaha’s MT line – with two glaring problems: the KTM Duke 390 and Kawasaki Z400."
"There’s nothing wrong with Yamaha’s 2020 MT-03 (apart from its tyres) and plenty right."
"If you are after a light, fun and easy-going A2-legal middleweight for urban use that won’t break the bank it isn’t a bad option, it’s just not the best in its class."
"The second generation of the MT-03 (the third, counting the late 660 cc single launched in 2006) has only changed in detail, but the result is convincing: sexier, more comfortable and better equipped, Yamaha's A2 roadster ticks a lot of the right boxes!"
"What is certain is that the MT-03 is a genuinely easy-to-ride machine, balanced, light and playful, fun at every level, with plenty to enjoy on back roads, without taking out a five-year loan and yet enough to lose your licence."
Pros
- Very easy and light (167 kg), low seat
- A2-compliant without a restriction kit
- Frugal: about 4 L/100 km
- Smartphone connectivity for 2025
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Average brakes (single disc, axial caliper)
- Less powerful than the KTM 390 Duke and Kawasaki Z500
- Little low-down torque
- Criticised original tyres
- Oil change every 5,000 km
Our review
What’s new on the 2025 MT-03?
According to Yamaha, the 2025 MT-03 meets Euro 5+ standards and gains smartphone connectivity: through the MyRide app, the LCD screen shows incoming calls and messages. It also gets a redesigned tail unit. The last major update came in 2020, with the twin-eye front end, upside-down fork and LCD screen. The 2025 model year is still the one sold in France in 2026.
How much does it cost?
Yamaha France lists it at €6,599 in all three colours: Ice Storm, Icon Blue and Midnight Black. With 30.9 kW, it is A2-compliant without a restriction kit. Like every 2025 Yamaha, it comes with a 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty.
How good is the engine?
The 321 cc twin (68 x 44.1 mm), with a 180-degree crank and derived from the YZF-R3 sports bike, makes 42 hp at 10,750 rpm and 29.5 Nm at 9,000 rpm. Reviewers find it smooth and easy to control (BikeSocial, 1000PS), and lively at the top of the rev range (RevZilla, Moto-Net). Cycle World notes, however, that it needs revving, with little torque below 6,000 rpm.
Its main limitation is the competition. Motorcycle.com and MCN point out that the KTM 390 Duke and the Kawasaki Z400, now replaced by the Z500, offer more capacity and power.
How does it ride?
At 167 kg wet with a 780 mm seat, the MT-03 is very easy to get on with. Moto-Net and Le Repaire des Motards find it playful and well balanced, and Motorcycle.com rates the suspension as well sorted.
The reservations concern:
- the brakes, a single 298 mm disc with an axially mounted two-piston caliper, rated average by MCN, Cycle World, Moto-Net and Le Repaire des Motards;
- a soft chassis (1000PS) and a shock that is harsh for lighter riders (RevZilla);
- the original tyres (BikeSocial, MCN);
- a cramped knee angle for tall riders (Cycle World, 1000PS).
Fuel consumption and maintenance
Yamaha quotes 4.0 L/100 km. Tests record 3.8 to 4.0 L/100 km, giving a range of about 350 km from the 14-litre tank. The 2025 owner’s manual specifies oil changes by the oil change indicator, which comes on every 5,000 km after running-in, and a valve clearance check every 40,000 km. MCN finds the oil change intervals a little short.
Recalls
No recall was found for the MT-03 in France (RappelConso). In the United States, two recalls affected 2020 MT-03s (rear reflector and VIN label), with no known European equivalent.
Specifications
| Displacement | 321 cc |
|---|---|
| Power | 42 hp (30.9 kW) @ 10,750 rpm |
| Torque | 29.5 Nm @ 9,000 rpm |
| Weight | 167 kg (wet, full tank) |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 3.98 |
| Seat height | 780 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 14 L |
| Fuel consumption | 4.0 L/100 km — 94 g/km CO2 |
| Maintenance interval | Oil change every 5,000 km (oil change indicator) — Valves: 40,000 km (2025 Yamaha owner's manual) |
| Engine type | 180-degree parallel twin, 4-stroke, DOHC, 8 valves, liquid-cooled |
| Cooling | liquide |
| Transmission | 6-speed, chain drive |
| License | A2 |
| MSRP | €6,599 |
Engine detail
| Bore x stroke | 68 x 44,1 mm |
|---|---|
| Compression ratio | 11,2:1 |
| Fuel system | Electronic fuel injection, cable throttle |
| Valve train | DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder |
| Max power RPM | 10750 units.rpm |
| Max torque RPM | 9000 units.rpm |
| Starter | Electric |
| Euro standard | Euro 5+ |
Chassis & running gear
| Frame type | Diamond-type tubular steel frame, asymmetric swingarm |
|---|---|
| Rake angle | 25 ° |
| Trail | 95 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1380 mm |
| Ground clearance | 160 mm |
| Front suspension | 37 mm upside-down fork, non-adjustable, 130 mm travel |
| Rear suspension | Preload-adjustable monoshock, 125 mm travel |
| Front brake | Single 298 mm disc, 2-piston caliper |
| Rear brake | Single 220 mm disc, single-piston caliper |
| Front tire | 110/70 R17 |
| Rear tire | 140/70 R17 |
| ABS system | 2-channel ABS as standard (not lean-sensitive) |
Electronics & rider aids
| Traction control | No |
|---|---|
| Anti-wheelie | No |
| Quickshifter | No (connector provided for an accessory quickshifter) |
| Cruise control | No |
| Dashboard | LCD |
| Connectivity | Yamaha MyRide (call and message notifications) |
| Other features | ABS as standard, No riding modes, Full LED lighting, USB-A socket, Oil change indicator |
Ergonomics & rider fit
| Riding position | Upright, raised handlebar (naked) |
|---|---|
| Wind protection | Minimal (naked) |
| Payload | 160 kg |
The MT-03 offers an upright naked-bike riding position, with a handlebar raised by 39 mm and moved 19 mm closer since 2020 according to BikeSocial and RevZilla. The 780 mm seat is low and reassuring for shorter riders. Cycle World and 1000PS, however, find the knee angle tight for tall riders. There is no wind protection. The owner’s manual limits the load (rider, passenger and luggage) to 160 kg.
Ownership & maintenance
3.8-4.0 L/100 km (tests: MCN ≈ 3.8 L, 1000PS 3.9 L, BikeSocial ≈ 4.0 L)
L/100km
Real-world consumption
~~350 km (estimated: 14 L tank / 4.0 L/100 km)
km
Estimated range
| Oil change | every 5,000 km |
|---|---|
| Valve check | every 40,000 km |
| Spark plugs | every 20,000 km |
| Chain | Check, adjust and lubricate every 800 km and after riding in the rain |
Warranty
5 years / Unlimited (3-year factory + 2-year Yamaha Motor France extension for the 2025 model year)
Yamaha’s 2025 owner’s manual specifies an oil change at 1,000 km, then every time the oil change indicator comes on, i.e. every 5,000 km. It also specifies spark plug and air filter replacement every 20,000 km and a valve clearance check every 40,000 km. Coolant is replaced every 3 years and brake fluid every 2 years; the chain should be checked and lubricated every 800 km. Yamaha France provides a 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty for the 2025 model year (3-year factory + 2-year extension), provided the service schedule is followed.
Direct competitors
Compare →| Model | MSRP | Power | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha MT-03 | €6,599 | 42 hp (30.9 kW) @ 10,750 rpm | 167 kg (wet, full tank) |
| Kawasaki Z5002027 | €6,099 | 45 hp | 167 kg (wet) |
| KTM 390 Duke2026 | €6,299 | 45 hp | 165 kg (full tank) |
| Honda CB500 Hornet2026 | €6,199 | 47.6 hp | 188 kg (kerb weight) |
Generations
- MT-03 660 (monocylindre)2006 – 2014
660 cc · 48 hp · 56.2 Nm · 192 kg (road-ready)
Naked bike with a 660 cc single derived from the XT660 and an MT-01-inspired side-mounted shock. No technical link with today's MT-03.
- MT-03 321 (1re version)2016 – 2019
321 cc · 42 hp · 29.6 Nm · 168 kg (road-ready)
New bike derived from the YZF-R3: 321 cc twin, steel frame, 41 mm fork and ABS.
- MT-03 321 (restylage 2020)2020 – 2024
321 cc · 42 hp · 29.6 Nm · 168 kg (road-ready)
Twin-eye LED front end, 37 mm upside-down fork, LCD dash and raised handlebar; Euro 5 later on.
- MT-03 321 (Euro 5+)2025 – today
321 cc · 42 hp · 29.5 Nm · 167 kg (road-ready)
Euro 5+ homologation, MyRide smartphone connectivity and a new tail unit.
| Generation | Displacement | Power | Torque | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT-03 660 (monocylindre)2006 – 2014 Naked bike with a 660 cc single derived from the XT660 and an MT-01-inspired side-mounted shock. No technical link with today's MT-03. | 660 cc | 48 hp | 56.2 Nm | 192 kg road-ready |
| MT-03 321 (1re version)2016 – 2019 New bike derived from the YZF-R3: 321 cc twin, steel frame, 41 mm fork and ABS. | 321 cc | 42 hp | 29.6 Nm | 168 kg road-ready |
| MT-03 321 (restylage 2020)2020 – 2024 Twin-eye LED front end, 37 mm upside-down fork, LCD dash and raised handlebar; Euro 5 later on. | 321 cc | 42 hp | 29.6 Nm | 168 kg road-ready |
| MT-03 321 (Euro 5+)2025 – today Euro 5+ homologation, MyRide smartphone connectivity and a new tail unit. | 321 cc | 42 hp | 29.5 Nm | 167 kg road-ready |
Manufacturer figures (otherwise specialist press). Weighing conditions differ between generations: compare weights with care.
Available colors
Manufacturer recalls
No known recalls for this model.