Bikes · middleweight naked twin

Yamaha MT-07 upgrades

Per owner, few bikes get modded harder than the MT-07 — cheap, torquey, everywhere, and deliberately built to a price on suspension and fueling. The canon fixes are so well mapped they read like a service schedule, and the same money that buys a liter-bike slip-on transforms this whole motorcycle.

MT-072015–present (sold as FZ-07 through 2017 in the US)
FIG. 1 — Yamaha MT-07middleweight naked twin
01 — The platform

Spec plate & generations

Claimed figures and the generation map. The year splits decide whether a part fits.

UNSTOCKED · SPECREV 18.07.2026
Yamaha MT-07claimed figures
  • Engine689 cc CP2 parallel twin, 270° crank
  • Power~73 hp (claimed)
  • Wet weight406 lb (claimed, 2021–24; 403 lb 2025+)
  • Seat height31.7 in
  • Front brakesdual 298 mm discs (2021+); radial calipers from 2025

Generation map

  • FZ-072015–2017

    US launch years under the FZ-07 name. Same CP2 bones as every later year — search both names or you'll miss half the listings and most of the used parts.

  • MT-07 restyle2018–2020

    Rename plus restyle with suspension tweaks. Mechanically close to the FZ-07 — many parts listings legitimately span 2015–2020.

  • Euro5 update2021–2024

    New styling, larger 298 mm front discs, Euro5 fueling, new bars and LCD. Most parts carry within 2021–24; brake and front-end items split from earlier years.

  • 2025 redesign2025+

    The big split: ride-by-wire (first cable-free CP2), ride modes and traction control, optional Y-AMT automated shifting, 5-inch TFT, 41 mm inverted fork and radial four-piston calipers. Treat 2025+ as a different bike for fitment purposes.

02 — Order of operations

Street path & track path

Two ordered sequences for the same machine. The order is the advice: spend where the next problem is, not where the catalog is loudest.

Street path 6 steps

  1. Tail tidy and protection

    The fender eliminator is the consensus first mod on this bike — the stock hanger is enormous. Frame sliders and adjustable levers round out weekend one.

  2. Exhaust

    Slip-on for the budget, full system for the character — the Akrapovič full titanium is the classic MT-07 order, with SC-Project and LeoVince covering other budgets. Full system buyers: read stage 3 first.

  3. Flash the ECU

    The CP2 flash smooths the on/off throttle abruptness, removes restriction and keeps the check-engine light away after exhaust work. 2WDW and Vcyclenut are the names the forums repeat.

  4. The suspension transformation

    The known weakness. Fork cartridges (or at minimum springs and oil) plus a rear shock sprung for your weight — this is the mod owners consistently say they should have done first.

  5. Brakes and rubber

    HH sintered pads wake up the calipers on pre-2025 bikes, braided lines help feel, and modern sport tires finish the chassis work.

  6. Seat

    The stock seat is the platform's #1 comfort complaint. Aftermarket or reshaped foam turns the MT-07 into a bike you can ride all day.

Track path 6 steps

  1. Tires

    Trackday DOT rubber in middleweight sizes — inexpensive and long-lasting on a 400 lb twin. Everything else waits.

  2. Braking system

    Track pads, braided lines, high-temp fluid. Pre-2025 bikes run axial calipers and a modest master cylinder — the used R6/R1 radial master swap is the community-reported step beyond consumables.

  3. Suspension, both ends, properly

    Cartridges up front (Andreani, K-Tech, Matris) and a real shock out back, all sprung for your weight. On track this is the difference between a commuter and a corner tool.

  4. Crash-ready ergonomics

    Case covers and sliders, rearsets for cornering clearance and repairability, tank grips for body position. Naked track bikes crash cheaper than faired ones — keep it that way.

  5. Full system, flash, gearing

    Full exhaust with the flash, then a 520 conversion with shorter gearing to make the most of the twin's drive off corners.

  6. Shift assist

    A strain-gauge standalone quickshifter (Annitori, HealTech) suits the cable-throttle years. Skip this stage entirely on a 2025+ Y-AMT bike — there's no shift lever to assist.

03 — Category by category

Parts notes for the MT-07

What fits and what the community runs, category by category. Typical street prices sit at the other end of the links.

Exhaust

Akrapovič's full titanium system is the canonical MT-07 exhaust; SC-Project brings the louder Euro flavor and LeoVince the budget entry. Decat and full systems routinely set a check-engine light without fueling work — plan accordingly.

Some links may earn Unstocked a commission at no cost to you. Prices shown are typical street prices — always verify fitment and price at the retailer. Model-specific parts (exhausts, rearsets, bodywork) can run 2–3× between platforms — the sheet shows a typical figure.

Tune

Vcyclenut and 2WDW own the CP2 flash conversation ('if you're on the fence, just do it' is a direct community quote). Intake-side, the Hordpower airbox is the famous MT-07-specific upgrade, usually paired with a tune.

Some links may earn Unstocked a commission at no cost to you. Prices shown are typical street prices — always verify fitment and price at the retailer. Model-specific parts (exhausts, rearsets, bodywork) can run 2–3× between platforms — the sheet shows a typical figure.

Suspension

The single most agreed-on weakness. Fork cartridges from Andreani, K-Tech or Matris, or springs-and-oil on a budget; Öhlins, Nitron and YSS cover shocks from premium to entry. Spring rates for your weight matter more than brand.

Some links may earn Unstocked a commission at no cost to you. Prices shown are typical street prices — always verify fitment and price at the retailer. Model-specific parts (exhausts, rearsets, bodywork) can run 2–3× between platforms — the sheet shows a typical figure.

Brakes

EBC HH pads and braided lines transform the stock axial setup on 2014–24 bikes. The 2025 redesign moves to radial four-piston calipers — a different parts list entirely.

Some links may earn Unstocked a commission at no cost to you. Prices shown are typical street prices — always verify fitment and price at the retailer. Model-specific parts (exhausts, rearsets, bodywork) can run 2–3× between platforms — the sheet shows a typical figure.

Rearsets

The most complained-about stock part. Sargent, Corbin and Luimoto cover the spectrum from touring rebuild to sporty cover.

Some links may earn Unstocked a commission at no cost to you. Prices shown are typical street prices — always verify fitment and price at the retailer. Model-specific parts (exhausts, rearsets, bodywork) can run 2–3× between platforms — the sheet shows a typical figure.

Crash Protection

R&G, Shogun and GB Racing cover sliders and case protection. On a naked bike this is cheap insurance with no bodywork in the way — no excuse to skip it.

Some links may earn Unstocked a commission at no cost to you. Prices shown are typical street prices — always verify fitment and price at the retailer. Model-specific parts (exhausts, rearsets, bodywork) can run 2–3× between platforms — the sheet shows a typical figure.

Tail Tidy & Billet

TST Industries, New Rage Cycles and Evotech all make clean model-specific kits — this is the highest-volume MT-07 purchase there is.

Some links may earn Unstocked a commission at no cost to you. Prices shown are typical street prices — always verify fitment and price at the retailer. Model-specific parts (exhausts, rearsets, bodywork) can run 2–3× between platforms — the sheet shows a typical figure.

Quickshifter

Cable-throttle years (through 2024) take strain-gauge standalones like Annitori QS Pro or HealTech iQSE. The 2025 ride-by-wire platform changes the picture, and Y-AMT bikes have no conventional shift lever at all — check your exact drivetrain before ordering.

Some links may earn Unstocked a commission at no cost to you. Prices shown are typical street prices — always verify fitment and price at the retailer. Model-specific parts (exhausts, rearsets, bodywork) can run 2–3× between platforms — the sheet shows a typical figure.

04 — Read before buying

Gotchas & fitment traps

The year splits and part quirks that eat money on this platform.

Check-engine light after exhaust or decat work is a documented, recurring MT-07 story — 'no tune needed' claims from exhaust sellers are optimistic. An O2 workaround or a flash is part of the real budget.
The 2025 split is the biggest in the model's history: ride-by-wire, optional Y-AMT, inverted fork and radial calipers mean throttle parts, quickshifter kits, fork hardware and brake components all change. Verify fitment for your exact year and market.
FZ-07 vs MT-07 naming: same bike, renamed in the US for 2018. Search both names for parts and used listings or you'll miss half the market.
Front brake spec changed twice — larger 298 mm discs in 2021, radial calipers in 2025. Rotors, pads and lines are year-specific.
Most 'the MT-07 handles badly' complaints are spring rate, not geometry. The fork dives hard under braking with stock springs — respring before blaming the chassis.

Cross-model interchange

Community-reported. Paddock folk knowledge, not manufacturer fitment data. Verify part numbers for your exact year and market before spending.

  • The XSR700 shares the MT-07's frame and engine — many mechanical parts cross, though bodywork and subframe don't (community-reported).
  • CP2 engine parts and covers interchange across the family: R7, XSR700 and Ténéré 700 share the engine, and protection brands cross-list covers (community-reported).
  • The used R6/R1 radial master cylinder swap is the community-reported brake-feel upgrade for pre-2025 bikes.
05 — Asked constantly

Yamaha MT-07 FAQ

Do I need a tune after putting an exhaust on the MT-07?

With a slip-on and the cat intact, usually no. Full systems and decat pipes routinely set a check-engine light and run lean — plan the flash as part of the exhaust budget, not an afterthought.

What's the difference between the FZ-07 and MT-07?

The name. Yamaha sold the same bike as FZ-07 in the US from 2015–2017, then aligned with the global MT-07 name in 2018. Parts for 2015–2020 broadly interchange; check each listing's years.

Is the MT-07 good for track days?

Yes, once the suspension is sorted — sprung and damped for your weight it's a genuinely quick, confidence-building track bike. If you're going full track-rat, the R7 wraps the same engine in supersport hardware from the factory.

Why does everyone upgrade the MT-07's suspension?

Because Yamaha built it to a price and it shows: soft springs, minimal damping, big fork dive under braking. Cartridges and a shock sprung for your weight are the platform's defining mod — more transformative than any exhaust.

07 — Ride what you build

Builds on the MT-07

Reference sheets assembled by the shop — every part at typical street prices. Open one and steal the order.

Prices are typical US street prices at publish time and drift with sales and supply — verify at the retailer. Fitment is advisory: always confirm the exact part number for your year, generation and market before buying.