Bike.com’s 2022 Yamaha MT-10 SP Semi Lengthy Time period Undertaking Bike

Lengthy-term take a look at bikes aren’t one thing we usually do right here at Bike.com, however when Yamaha’s PR man Gerrad Capley stated I might take the MT-10 SP house after the press intro, it was a proposal that was laborious to withstand. Once I requested him how lengthy I might have it, he principally shrugged his shoulders and winked. “Can I modify it?” I requested. “Provided that you give it again to us in inventory kind,” he stated. Identical to that, I dashed away with an MT-10 SP for an indefinite period of time. Good.

When you bothered to learn deep into the feedback part of my 2022 Yamaha MT-10 SP First Experience evaluation, you might need seen that I used to be going to do one thing like this. I suppose placing it in writing with its personal submit makes it official. The plan is to place some miles on it, clearly, but in addition so as to add some bang-for-the-buck modifications to essentially extract essentially the most out of it with out getting too loopy. I additionally don’t wish to value this factor into the class of a few of its European opponents, which in inventory kind would nonetheless be higher than the MT anyway. And because the bike is predominantly going to be in my palms, it’s going to see a life full of racetrack miles to go together with the miles spent on the freeway and canyons. However because the MT will likely be ridden in between different take a look at bikes floating round right here at MO, don’t count on to see mega miles or upkeep alongside the best way. Though, if the bike does require any unplanned repairs, that’ll be famous in future installments. 

2022 Yamaha MT-10 SP Overview – First Experience

What’s The Plan?

I’ve a delicate spot for Yamaha’s MT-10 and I believe it actually boils all the way down to the crossplane crankshaft. The sound it makes with its uneven firing order actually will get me labored up. However using it, a minimum of in inventory kind, tends to go away me disenchanted – primarily as a result of it feels so blatantly muted from the manufacturing facility. It’s a case of engineers constructing one thing cool, solely to get stymied by a bunch of legal professionals who don’t need the PoPo respiratory down their necks. All producers have the same difficulty to a point, however when using the MT-10 SP, I couldn’t assist however assume “I’m wondering what this might really feel like uncorked.” When Capley supplied me the keys and an open finish date, it felt like destiny telling me to seek out out.  

So, right here’s what I’ve in retailer, so as of significance, and why: 

ECU reflash ($350)

The MT-10 (and R1) engine in inventory kind leaves a lot efficiency on the desk. ECU tuners have been unlocking this potential for years, and now I’ll have the ability to expertise this potential for myself. The MT-10 particularly has been unlocked by a number of tuners, however I went with 2 Wheel Dynoworks in Kirkland, Washington as a result of, in talking with their operations supervisor Nate Phipps over the telephone, it was clear he knew this bike forwards and backwards. I’ll cowl the particulars of the flash within the subsequent installment, however the gist is that Phipps was positive his tune would unlock a great deal of energy up high, but in addition all through the rev vary. All this whereas nonetheless protecting the inventory exhaust system 100% intact. Plus, the method is tremendous simple. Simply take out the ECU (which will likely be lined in a future installment) and mail it over. Nate reflashes it the day it arrives within the mail, then ships it again the following day. Straightforward.   

Brake pads ($80)

Yamaha sportbikes are infamous for having delicate brakes. It’s not a lot that the braking system is weak, but it surely lacks chunk and really feel. I harp lots about how a set of pads can remodel a set of brakes, this is a chance to place my cash the place my mouth is. EBC despatched over a set of its HH sintered brake pads – its most aggressive compound – to resolve the MT’s braking woes as soon as and for all. It affords robust preliminary chunk, which is what I like, and needs to be the exact opposite of the inventory pads. Because the bike already has a Brembo grasp cylinder and metal brake strains, there’s no want to the touch both of these. Theoretically, anyway.

Leo Vince cat-delete midpipe ($290)

I stated earlier the sound of the crossplane crank captured my coronary heart. The inventory catalytic converter retains a lot of that sound – and outgoing air – to itself. Leo Vince’s cat-delete midpipe frees up the exhaust path, saves a ton of weight, and along with the ECU flash, yields slightly extra energy. Nonetheless, I’m protecting the inventory silencer in place for just a few causes: First, that is nonetheless a avenue bike in any case. Second, I truly like my neighbors. Third, the sound remains to be throaty with out being obnoxious (from what I can inform on Youtube movies anyway). And fourth, an aftermarket exhaust is some huge cash for little achieve. Phipps confirmed that the catalytic converter is the massive bottleneck on the subject of the MT-10’s airways. The inventory airbox and air filter are very environment friendly already at letting air in, and the exhaust headers and silencer are fairly good at letting air out. The one factor left is the cat. And in case you’re questioning – Sure. Technically, eradicating the cat and changing it with this midpipe is unlawful to be used on public roads. 

Tires

I’m envisioning this bike will likely be a revolving door of various tires to see how they carry out on the road and on the monitor. First up, the Dunlop Q5.

Windscreen

I’m nonetheless unsure about this one since I’m afraid to lose the bare bike aesthetic, however Yamaha already has a taller windscreen for the MT-10 in its components catalog, so I would capitulate for the sake of freeway consolation.

What Now?

Subsequent comes placing the components on the bike and seeing how a lot of a distinction they make. For my part, bang-for-the-buck upgrades also needs to be pretty easy to put in. So, no inside engine modifications right here. Partially two, I’ll present how a lot effort it takes to put in every half, adopted by a visit to the dyno, and using impressions. There could even be a visit to Chuckwalla thrown in to see how the whole lot works on the restrict. Keep tuned.